348 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



CCCCXIV. Wonder, as it produces instanta- 

 neous consequences, and these of an obvious de- 

 scription, is with propriety regarded as a passion. 

 When something is suddenly presented to the 

 mind which is new and strange, it creates a series 

 of emotions from the perplexities and doubts ap- 

 pertaining to the object; and the influence of this 

 is perceived in the pale or vacant expression 

 of the countenance, in the palpitation of the 

 heart, or in the disagreeable sensation of the pree- 

 cordial region. These effects vary little from 

 those characteristic of fear ; and if we minutely 

 observe the manner in which respiration is per- 

 formed on the present occasion, we shall conclude 

 that the same general derangement of this im- 

 portant function is the sole cause of the different 

 phenomena belonging to both. 



CCCCXV. Grief, although the consequence 

 of an immediate impression of an unpleasant 

 kind, and although it is easily traced to its source, 

 from its direct and evident connexion with ante- 

 cedent circumstances, yet differs widely from 

 almost every other passion. It originates in the 

 same manner, but instead of disappearing after a 

 few minutes, which is frequently the case with 

 the preceding, it continues at times for days, 

 weeks, and months, and during the whole of this 

 period we have more or less some of those exter- 

 nal signs which depict the passion and charac- 

 terize the nature of its primary development. 



