SicT.XVI. 7 . OF INSTINCT. i 7s 



as their fingers, and hence we learn the origin of 

 our inclination to faiute beautiful objects with our 

 lips. For a definition of Grace, fee Clafs III. i. 



2. 4, 



VII. There are two ways by which we become 

 acquainted with the paiiions of others: fir ft, by 

 having obferved the effects of them, as of fear or 

 anger, on our own bodies, v, e know at fight when 

 others are under the influence of thefe affections. 

 So when two cocks are preparing to light, each feels 

 the feathers rife round his own neck, and knows 

 from the fame fign the difpofition of his adverfary; 

 and children long before they can fpeak, or under- 

 ftand the language of their parents, may be fright- 

 ened by an angry countenance, or foothed by fmiles 

 and blandiflimcnts. 



Secondly, when we put ourfelves into the atti- 

 tude ihat any paflion naturally occafions, we foon 

 in fome degree acquire that paffion ; hence when 

 thofe that icold indulge themfdves in loud oaths, 

 and violent actions of the arms, they incu.afe their 

 anger by the mode of exprefling' themlelvts : and 

 on the contrary the counterfeited f njle of pleafure 

 in difag r eeable company foon brings along with it 

 a portion of the reality, as is well iliuff rated by Mr. 

 Burke, (flay on the Sublime and Beautiful.) 



This latter method of entering into the paflions 

 of others is rendered of very extenfive ufe by the 

 pleafure we take in imitation, which js every day 

 prefented before our eyes, in the actions of 'chil- 

 dren, and ind.ed in all the cuftoms and fafliions of 

 the world. From this our aptitude to imitation, 

 arifes what is generally underflood by the word 

 fympathy fo well explained by. Dr. Smith of Glaf- 

 gow. Thus the appearance of a cheerful counte- 

 nance gives us pleafure, and oi a melancholy one 

 makes us iorrowful. .vning and fom<aunes 



vomiting are thus propagated by fympathy, and 



to i 



