49C O F, O L D A G E 



Let us now fuppofe a violent death: Can the 

 fufferings of a man, for example, whofe head is 

 carried off by a cannon-ball, be more than in- 

 ftantaneous ; Can the fucceffion of his ideas, du- 

 ring this inftant, be fo rapid as to make the pain 

 feem to continue for an hour, a day, or a cen- 

 tury ? We ihall endeavour to difcufs this point. 



I acknowledge that the fucceffion of our ide- 

 as is the only natural meafure of time, and that 

 we conceive it to be fhorter or longer in propor- 

 tion to the uniformity or irregularity of their 

 motions. But, in this meafure, there is a unit 

 or fixed point, which is neither arbitrary nor in- 

 definite, but is determined by Nature, and cor- 

 refponds Vv^ith the particular organization of in- 

 dividuals. Two ideas, which fucceed each other, 

 muft neceflarily be feparated by an interval ; 

 one thought, however rapid, muft require 

 fome portion of time before it can be follow- 

 ed by another. No fucceffion can take place 

 in an indivifible inftant. The fame remark is 

 applicable to fentiment or feeling. A certain 

 time muft elapfe in the tranfition from pain to 

 . pleafure, or from one painful fenfation to ano- 

 ther. This interval between our thoughts and 

 fenfations is the unit or fixed point formerly 

 mentioned ; and it can neither be extremely 

 long nor extremely fhort, but muft be nearly e- 

 qual in its duration ; becaufc it depends on the 

 nature of the mind and the oro-anization of the 

 body, the movements of which muft have a de- 

 termined degree of celerity. In the fame indi- 



■ vidual. 



