ANIMALS. 



171 



evidence ; but the touch still continues the 

 same ; and, though extremely confined in its 

 operations, yet it is never found to deceive. 

 The universe, to a man who had only used the 

 rest of his senses, would be but a scene of 

 illusion ; every object misrepresented, and all 

 its properties unknown. Mr. Button has im- 

 agined a man justnewly brought into existence, 

 describing the illusion of his first sensations, 

 and pointing out the steps by which he arrived 

 at reality. He considers him as just created, 

 and awaking amidst the productions of nature ; 

 and, to animate the narrative still more strong- 

 ly, has made his philosophical man a speaker. 

 The reader will no doubt recollect Adam's 

 speech in Milton as being similar. All that I 

 can say to obviate the imputation of plagiarism 

 is, that the one treats the subject more as a 

 poet, the other more as a philosopher. The 

 philosopher's man describes his first sensations 

 in the following manner." 



I well remember that joyful anxious moment 

 when I first became acquainted with my own 

 existence. I was quite ignorant of what I was, 

 bow I was produced, or from whence I came. 

 I opened my eyes ; what an addition to my 

 surprise ! the light of the day, the azure vault 

 of heaven, the verdure of the earth, the crystal 

 of the waters, all employed me at once, and 

 animated and filled me with inexpressible de- 

 light. I at first imagined that all those objects 

 were within me, and made a part of myself. 



Impressed with this idea, I turned my eyes 

 to the sun ; its splendour dazzled and over- 

 powered me: I shut them once more; and, to 

 my great concern, I supposed that during this 

 short interval of darkness, I was again return- 

 ing to nothing. 



Afflicted, seized with astonishment, I ponder- 

 ed a mo.nent on this great change, when I 

 heard a variety of unexpected sounds. The 

 whistling of the wind, and the melody of the 

 groves, formed a concert, the soft cadence of 

 which sunk upon my soul. I listened for 

 some time, and was persuaded that all this 

 music was within me. 



Quite occupied with this new kind of ex- 

 istence, I had already forgotten the light, which 

 was my first inlet into life ; when I once more 

 opened my eyes, and found myself again in 

 possession of my former happiness. The gra- 



Buffbn, vol. vi. p. 88. 



tification of the two senses at once, was a 

 pleasure too great for utterance. 



I turned my eyes upon a thousand various 

 objects; I soon found that I could lose them, 

 and restore them at will ; and amused myself 

 more at leisure with a repetition of this new- 

 made power. 



I now began to gaze without emotion, and 

 to hearken with tranquillity, when a light 

 breeze, the freshness of which charmed me, 

 wafted its perfumes to my sense of smelling, 

 and gave me such satisfaction as even increas- 

 ed my self-love. 



Agitated, roused by the various pleasures of 

 my new existence, I instantly arose, and per- 

 ceived myself moved along, as if by some un- 

 known and secret power. 



I had scarcely proceeded forward, when 

 the novelty of my situation once more render- 

 ed me immoveable. My surprise returned ; 1 

 supposed that every object around me had been 

 in motion ; I gave to them that agitation which 

 I produced by changing place ; and the whole 

 creation seemed once more in disorder. 



I lifted my hand to my head ; I touched my 

 forehead ; I felt my whole frame : I then sup- 

 posed that my hand was the principal organ 

 of my existence ; all its informations were 

 distinct and perfect, and so superior to the 

 senses I had yet experienced, that I employed 

 myself for some time in repeating its enjoy- 

 ments ; every part of my person I touched, 

 seemed to touch my hand in turn ; and gave 

 back sensation for sensation. 



1 soon found that this faculty was expanded 

 over the whole surface of my body ; and I now 

 first began to perceive the limits of my existence, 

 which I had in the beginning supposed spread 

 over all the objects I saw. 



Upon casting my eyes upon my body, and 

 surveying my own form, I thought it greater 

 than all the objects that surrounded me. I gaz- 

 ed upon rny person with pleasure ; I examined 

 the formation of my hand, and all its motions; 

 it seemed to me large or little in proportion as 

 I approached it to my eyes ; I brought it very 

 near, and it then hid almost every other object 

 from my sight. I began soon, however, to 

 find that my sight gave me uncertain informa- 

 tion, and resolved to depend upon my feeling 

 for redress. 



This precaution was of the utmost service ; 

 I renewed my motions, and walked forward 



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