PHILOSOPHISTIC IDOLS. 205 



unusual to delegate the process of cloud-making to 

 electricity, to magnetism, and to the aurora borea- 

 lis; but in all probability, though there may be other 

 and accompanying appearances of those states of 

 the atmosphere that precede or accompany rain, we 

 have no more reason to believe that they are primary 

 or active agents than we have for believing that a 

 Lapland witch can raise wind, or fairies prank the 

 sward with circles. Those last-mentioned causes 

 were once in as high repute as any of the witch and 

 fairy superstitions of philosophy ; and though those 

 who know better have discarded the witch and the 

 fairy, there are people who still bow down to the 

 other idols. 



Electricity, and the other supposed disturbing 

 causes of the atmosphere that have been mentioned, 

 are mere appearances which matter under circum- 

 stances, some of which we do and some we do not 

 understand, puts on; and as it is contrary to the 

 whole tenor of our observation to believe that a 

 mere appearance can act, in any way whatever, we 

 should treat those appearances as sensible people 

 treat all appearances that is, we should say nothing 

 about them which we do not understand. That 

 which we call a substance, or matter, is not mere 

 appearance, or even an accumulation of appearances, 

 it is an inference from those appearances and the re- 

 lations in which we observe them ; and as that infer- 

 ence and the perception of those relations, are acts 

 of the mind subsequent upon observation by the 

 senses, we may conjecture and speak of it, and make 

 discoveries with regard to them by the mind only, 

 even though all our senses should become oblite- 

 rated ; but with regard to mere appearances they can 

 be known only through the medium of the senses ; 

 and beyond observation every attempt is an error. 

 Nor is there any necessity for inventing new powers 

 or principles, for the three that have been stated, 

 tire perfectly sufficient to produce every appearance 

 S 



