22 AN ESSAY ON 



least, be said to stand opposed to a most ex- 

 tensive analogy. 



To these arguments, a priori, against the 

 opinion of Dr. Reid, I shall now add others, 

 which are derived from a consideration of its 

 consequences. 



First ; Since visible place, as was formerly 

 observed, includes in it visible distance, it is 

 evident that, if both eyes, by virtue of an ori- 

 ginal property, see an object in the same place, 

 distance must also be originally perceivable by 

 sight. Dr. Reid*, however, has himself so 

 ably shown, that we should never have ac- 

 quired, by means of our eyes, any knowledge of 

 distance, unless they had been assisted by the 

 sense of feeling, that I forbear to say any thing 

 more upon this head, than that the existence of 

 no property can be admitted, which leads to the 

 conclusion I have stated. 



Secondly ; If distance be not immediately 

 perceivable by sight, the only manner, in which 

 an original property of the eyes can affect the 

 visible places of bodies, is by occasioning them 

 to appear in certain directions. Now Dr. Reid 

 maintains t, that every external point is seen in 



* Inquiry into the Human Mind, chap. vi. sect. 3 & 20. 

 f Ibid. chap. vi. sect. 12. 



