32G THE SENSES, 



mulatto children lay bedded within. The woman had married 

 a mulatto. 



Physiologists have frequently discussed the possibility of 

 certain animals being endowed with a sense of which man 

 knows nothing; and metaphysicians the question, What would 

 constitute a new sense 1 ' The essential attribute of a new 

 sense/ remarks Miiller, 'is not the perception of internal 

 objects, or influences which ordinarily do not act upon the 

 senses; but that external causes should excite in it a new 

 and peculiar sensation, different from all the sensations of 

 our five senses. Such peculiar sensation will depend on the 

 powers of the nervous system ; and the possibility of the 

 existence of such a faculty in some animals cannot a priori 

 be denied.' 



Now thus will we dismiss those faithful monitors, as they 

 are called. Faithful yes, but not infallible. They want 

 close watching. Do our very best, they will often deceive 

 vision especially, as even the thimble-rigger can prove. Some 

 amongst us do not do our best : some of us like to be cheated, 

 taking it ill when people set us right. 



Speculating on the probability of an additional sense, it is 

 a comforting belief to cherish, and rational withal, that the 

 same Being that gave us five might have given us more, and 

 may hereafter. Then the mysteries that now perplex many 

 will be unveiled ; things seen now as through a glass darkly, 

 as the sun manifest. 



Uncomfortable, very, to hold the belief with Mr. Bab- 

 bage in eternity of sounds. His notion is, that a sound once 

 evolved never dies, but goes vibrating on for ever. Horrible 

 belief! No wonder he tries to put-down hand-organs and 

 hurdygurdies worse still, German brass-bands ! 



The most remarkable instance of sense-deception that 

 ever came under my notice, was that of a London master 

 printer, who partook of undeniable Yeuve Cliquot in my pre- 

 sence and on a fresh palate, believing it to be gooseberry 



