POWERS OF CORRESPONDENCE. 225 



It is now time that we should speak of the visceral system as it 

 is connected with life and feeling, and explain the principles upon 

 which such connections proceed. 



For the latter point we have assumed as our organon, that the 

 physical and mental are not dissimilar, though different things j on 

 the contrary, they are so similar that their likeness or congeniality 

 is their bond of coherence. This similarity we express by the term, 

 Correspondence. We find that the body and the soul do the same 

 errands in different spheres; that the man respires objects and the 

 mind thoughts, while the brain respires spirits and the lung, airs ; 

 which two latter are objects and thoughts, inanimate in various 

 degrees ; also that the will circulates affection and feeling, while the 

 heart circulates blood, which is bodily affection and feeling. Again, 

 that the areas thus equated influence each other by correspondence 

 or similarity ; the parts of each, touching and associating with the 

 parts of the other which are likest to them. Thus respiration draws 

 thought, and blood invites life, to incarnation. We shall recur to 

 this law in the sequel, where it will be better understood. 



In the meantime we anticipate further, that correspondence al- 

 ways implies some point of likeness or ground of association between 

 things or persons ; and communication to the same extent. Cor- 

 respondence by letter implies a common interest of some kind, and 

 communication within that interest. In assuming correspondence 

 between the soul and the body, we assume intercourse also. The 

 similarity between the two terms is the principle that we take, and 

 the details of the similarity are the science which we desire v We 

 see two persons — the inner and outer man — associated together \ 

 and when we find the objects that they have in common, we know 

 the ground of their intercourse; but if they have all objects in com- 

 mon, though different fields to work in, we are certain that they 

 were reciprocally made for each other, and will explain as well as 

 supply each other's wants. We take Correspondence for granted ; 

 for the more of truth we take for granted, the more we gain j the 

 inherited fortune of common sense sets us up in business in the 

 sciences. Otherwise we must take for granted the dissimilarity 

 between the body and the soul ; and the non-correspondence ; and 

 then reason will not hear of intercourse between two things that 



