LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHX. 11 



he would have found it a very troublesome affair. 



I do not pretend to say that the several ideas 

 composing the series would have occurred in the 

 particular order in which I have arranged them. 

 I only say, they must have arisen one after another ; 

 and that of the mere image must have been the 

 first : for, surely, it seems absurd to suppose that 

 the idea of a peculiar set of instruments of motion 

 could occur before the idea of something peculiar 

 to be moved by them that the idea of a peculiar 

 system of nutrition should present itself before the 

 idea of a peculiar something to be nourished 

 the idea of a peculiar source of motive power 

 before the idea of a something to be put in motion ; 

 or that the idea of a peculiar system of organs of 

 sense, which may justly be termed organs for the 

 admission of pleasure and avoidance of pain, should 

 precede the idea of something to be pained or 

 pleased. 



Besides, all the other parts of the body are 

 subservient to the mere image ; and we can assign 

 a distinct purpose to every part of the body, except 

 the bony skeleton. Thus, if one be asked, Why the 

 muscular system exists? the answer is ready to 

 move the bones. Why the nutritive system ? to 

 enable the bony edifice, together with its motive 



