FEEDING THE SENSES. 8$ 



vigorous, by beautiful views, just so does the ear 

 fatten upon sweet sounds, and the nose upon grate- 

 ful perfumes. We must not be startled at the im- 

 measurably small quantity which is added, or passes 

 from object to organ in "these cases, because sup- 

 posing that size and weight are necessary for the 

 accomplishment of nature's purposes, and that the 

 purpose effected is in proportion to either of these, are 

 among the prejudices against which we must espe- 

 cially guard. In common materials, size and weight 

 are so far the measures of strength, but beyond a 

 certain extent they become weaknesses ; and there is 

 an elevation, and not a very high one, to which, if 

 reared, a tower would crush its foundations, though 

 of adamant, or a mountain reduce its granite to dust. 

 But, in all cases where there is natural action, we 

 must bear in mind that size and weight, instead of 

 being elements of that action, or assistants to it, are 

 clogs and hinderances, and probably the only clogs 

 and hinderances by which it is restrained and di- 

 minished. It is, indeed, the same in all action, 

 whether natural or artificial. Action is exactly the 

 same thing with motion ; and in all cases of change 

 of matter, which is the only evidence we can have 

 of action, there is change of place, though in many 

 instances that change is so small that we are unable 

 to perceive it. When brine, that is, water holding 

 common salt dissolved or in a liquid state, is boiled, 

 and allowed to evaporate until the salt crystallizes 

 or forms into little solid lumps, there is motion in 

 the case ; and we can trace the process backward 

 till we find motion, and motion alone, for which we 

 cannot account. The invisible atoms of salt which 

 were scattered through the clear brine must move 

 towards each other in order to form the little crys- 

 tals ; and the law which regulates their invisible 

 march is as perfect and as uniform as that which 

 regulates the motion of the earth upon its axis or 

 round the sun ; for, unless in cases where we can 

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