AFFECTIONS OR STATES OF MIND. 257 



Whatever actions affect the mind considerably, and more especially if 

 the affection be joined with reflection, they make in some degree a last- 

 ing impression on it ; or the mind more easily falls into the same state 

 upon the simple recollection of the action and of its cause and effect. 

 Indeed, there are in this affection a great variety of relative circum- 

 stances, which are so many heighteners of the effect ; and the mind 

 will fall into the same [state or affection] although the cause and effects 

 are now become so weak as coidd not of themselves produce the original 

 effect upon the mind : so that the mind now falls into that state merely 

 because it fell strongly into it before. For instance, a man shall be 

 strongly affected by a recent event and all its relative circumstances, 

 &c. Simple recollection of those circumstances, or, what would be 

 still stronger, if he be put into nearly the same situation as when the 

 event happened, without its taking place, the state of his mind will be 

 nearly that which it was in at first, although the original cause does 

 not exist. For instance, a man shall be strongly affected by the death 

 of a friend; and, more so, if there are at the time a great many 

 relative affecting circumstances ; such as the grief of other people, &c., 

 to heighten the distress. But let some time elapse, and the true state 

 of the mind will become really indifferent about the death and all its 

 consequences ; yet that man shall very readily fall into the same 

 state of mind upon a relation of the circumstances, that made the first 

 impressions, especially if in company with those Mends, &c. 



The mind is often in opposition to itself; one state of mind, if strong, 

 shall get the better of another state which is weak, or the stronger state 

 shall not allow the weaker to rise ; although the mind is so circumstanced 

 at the time as to have one state raised, if the other state which is stronger 

 had not already taken possession of the mind, or driven the other out. 

 Nothing could show this better than two interesting facts which took 

 place within myself, both happening at the same time. I went to see 

 Mrs. Siddons's acting. I had a full conviction that I should be very 

 much affected ; but unfortunately I had not put a handkerchief in my 

 pocket ; and the distress I was in for the want of that requisite when 

 one is a crying, and a kind Of fear I should cry, stopped up every tear, 

 and I was even ashamed I did not, nor could not, cry. 



What we think of when awake, we only see in the mind's eye ; but 

 what we think of when asleep appears to be an object immediately of 

 the senses. The objects in the mind's eye, when we are young, are 

 almost real : we then can hardly think without the object presenting 

 itself strongly in the mind ; and if we connect a few of those ideas 

 together so as to make a little train of thinking, it is almost like con- 

 necting real objects together. 



