t§s 



THE PHILOSOPHY 



fucceffively odorlferoiiSj favoury, and fonorous. If tKe fame 

 odour were conftantly prefent with him, he would confides 

 himfelf as a favoury, fonorous, and coloured odour, 



7. Of Touching alone. 



The fmalleft degree of fentiment, or feeling, which a man 

 limited to the fenfe of touching could have, would arile from 

 the a6lion of different parts of the body, and particularly 

 from the motion of refpiration. This the ABbe calls the 

 fundamenta/ fentimtritj hecauk with, it life commences. As 

 foon as this fundamental fentiment has undergone any 

 change, the ftatue is confcious of his own exiftence. When 

 not flruck by any external body, and placed in a temperate 

 tranquil air, of an equal degree of heat, he would only re- 

 cognife his exiflence by the confufed impreffion refnlting 

 from the motion of refpiration. He cannot diftinguifh the 

 different parts of his body, and confequently has no idea of 

 extenfion. Different feelings perceived at the fame time 

 convey a confufed fenfation only. But, when heat and cold 

 are felt in fuccefHon, he diftinguilhes them, and retains in 

 his memory the idea of each fenfation. Touching different 

 parts of his body, and of external objedls, gradually unfolds 

 the ideas of extenfion, folidity, foftnefs, hardnefs, diflance, &c. 

 Hence he no longer confounds himfelf with his modifications. 

 He is no longer heat or cold ; but he perceives heat in one 

 part and cold in another. By means of the hand, he diflin-^- 

 guifhes his own perfon from external objeiSts. When he 

 touches the parts of his body, each part returns a fenfation. 

 But, when he touches another body, he feels that it exifts, 

 but returns no fenfation ; and hence he learns that there are 

 bodies which conflitute no part of himfelf. 



Children derive the greateft happinefs from motion. 

 Even falls do not deter them. A bandage on their eyes 

 •^ould give them lefs pain than a reflraint on theufe of their 



