214- PHILOSOPHY 01' ZOOLOGY. 



are qualified to communicate to the mind. It now remains 

 that we attend to the sensations themselves, in reference to 

 the processes performed upon them by the mind, with the 

 view of becoming acquainted with the faculties of that mys- 

 terious part of our nature. 



In conducting this inquiry, it is difficult to avoid the 

 use of ambiguous phrases ; for almost every term which 

 can be applied to mind, has been loaded with a variety of 

 significations. It will be our aim to render obvious the 

 meaning of the terms here employed, by the descriptions 

 which accompany them. 



When we attend to the phenomena displayed by the 

 mind, we perceive that it exhibits certain relations to the 

 sensations of the body, changes resulting from their produc- 

 tion, and consequent efforts of volition. 



These different states or conditions of the mind have been 

 observed to be regulated by peculiar la ws, and to be subservient 

 to particular purposes in the animal economy. They have 

 had bestowed on them specific appellations, to express their 

 characters ; and they have generally been denominated the 

 Attributes, Faculties, or (in consequence of volition produ- 

 cing change) Powers of the Mind. Trivial objections have 

 been urged against the use of these terms, as implying that 

 the mind is composed of different parts ; and, consequently, 

 not entitled to its prerogative of unity. Of the essence of 

 mind we absolutely know nothing ; and hence the various 

 phrases, Unity, Indivisibility, Immateriality, and others, 

 which have been employed to express the nature of this es- 

 sence, are, in fact, expressions of our own ignorance and pre- 

 sumption. When we witness the mind capable of exciting 

 action in matter, and of being excited to action by matter, 

 exhibiting its identity by its local residence, variable in 

 its relations to matter, variable relatively to its own con- 

 ditions, capable of exercising different functions at the 



