406 Additional Notes. 



mental acquirements which are derived from a regular educa- 

 tion, and from tha study of books j and refers not to the spe- 

 culative convictions of the understanding, but to that prudence 

 and discretion which are the foundation of successful conduct. 

 Such is the idea which Pope annexes to the word when, speak- 

 ing of good sense, (which means only a more than ordinary 

 share of common sense) he call^ it 



* The gift of Heaven, 

 And though no science, fairly worth the seven.* 



*' To speak, accordingly, of appealing from the conclusions 

 of philosophy to common sense, had the appearance, to title- 

 page readers, of appealing from the- verdict of the learned to 

 the voice of the multitude j or of attempting to silence free 

 discussion by a reference to some arbitrary and undefinable 

 standard, distinct from any of the intellectual powers hitherto 

 enumerated by logicians. Whatever countenance may be sup« 

 posed to have been given by some writers to such an Interpre- 

 tation of this doctrine, I may venture to assert that none is 

 afforded by the works of Dr. Reid. The standard to which he 

 appeals is neither the creed of a particular sect, nor the inward 

 light of enthusiastic presumption j but that constitution of 

 human nature without which all the business of the world 

 would Immediately cease j and the substance of his argument 

 amounts merely to this — that those essential laws of belief to 

 which sceptics have objected, when considered in connection 

 with our scientific reasonings, are implied in every step we 

 take as active beings j and, if called in question by any man 

 in his practical concerns, would expose him universally to the 

 charge of insanity." — Stewart's Life of Reid, p. 118 — 120. 



Note (KK), page 1 QO.— It Is asserted in the abovcmentloned 

 page that Dr. Hartley derived his doctrine of vibrations from 

 Newton. The truth Is, that Dr. William Briggs, who in- 

 structed Newton in anatomy, appears to have been the first 

 who taught the doctrine of nervous vibrations. This he did In 

 his Nova Visioiiis Thcoria, published in iQQl. Newton, tak- 



