Ill THE ORIGIN OF THE IMPRESSIONS 89 



the immediate antecedents of sensations are 

 changes in the nervous system, with which our 

 feelings have no sort of resemblance, the hy- 

 pothesis that sensations " arise immediately from 

 the object " was out of court ; and that Hume fully 

 admitted the Cartesian doctrine is apparent when 

 he says (I. p. 272) : 



" All our perceptions are dependent on our organs and the 

 disposition of our nerves and animal spirits. " 



And again, though in relation to another question, 

 he observes : 



"There are three different kinds of impressions conveyed 

 by the senses. The first are those of the figure, bulk, motion, 

 and solidity of bodies. The second those of colours, tastes, 

 smells, sounds, heat, and cold. The third are the pains and 

 pleasures that arise from the application of objects to our 

 bodies, as by the cutting of our flesh with steel, and such like. 

 Both philosophers and the vulgar suppose the first of these to 

 have a distinct continued existence. The vulgar only regard 

 the second as on the same footing. Both philosophers and 

 the vulgar again esteem the third to be merely perceptions, 

 and consequently interrupted and dependent beings. 



"Now 'tis evident that, whatever may be our philosophical 

 opinion, colour, sounds, heat, and cold, as far as appears to 

 the senses, exist after the same manner with motion and 

 solidity ; and that the difference we make between them, in 

 this respect, arises not from the mere perception. So strong 

 is the prejudice for the distinct continued existence of the 

 former qualities, that when the contrary opinion is advanced 

 by modern philosophers, people imagine they can almost 

 refute it from their reason and experience, and that their very 

 senses contradict this philosophy. 'Tis also evident that 

 colours, sounds, &c., are originally on the same footing with 

 the pain that arises from steel, and pleasure that proceeds from 



