262 PSYCHOLOGY. 



are not present ; they can start data, reason justly upon them, draw 

 inferences, make conclusions. But if those data were to exist at the 

 time, and they were to act justly, which would be putting their reason- 

 ing to practice, they could no more do it than they could fly. They 

 would be bewildered between theory and practice, although their theory 

 was just. 



On the other hand, we shall find people who cannot start a datum, or 

 form a position in their minds, reason upon it, draw inferences, &c. 

 But, if put themselves into the position, and the circumstances were to 

 happen (the same which the other foresaw, but could not act upon), 

 they would take up the natural actions immediately as the circumstances 

 occurred, and act rightly upon them. 



Wish or desire is not instinctive ; it is the union of two principles ; 

 it is the natural, attractive, impulsive act of the living principle, with 

 the knowledge of the thing arising out of the sensitive [principle]. 



The simple desire in the mind to do a thing well is the first means of 

 having it done well ; but it has often two very different or contrary 

 effects on the mind, and of course on the thing done. The simple desire 

 procures the first means of having the thing done well, and the power 

 of doing it is increased by that desire, and it is, in the end, as well done 

 as possible for such powers combined. But when the future is in view, 

 reasoning, or the will, is left free to act, and the voluntary parts are not 

 wholly biassed by affections of the mind. This being the case, the 

 desire may be attended with a species of doubt or anxiety, which always 

 lessens the power of doing a thing well. Anxiety of mind interferes 

 with the will, and lays hold of the voluntary muscles, and the well- 

 performing of any action is in the inverse proportion to the anxiety. 



On Reason. 



Reasoning may be called either immediate or habitual : the imme- 

 diate is when we are obliged to go through the whole process before 

 we can draw the conclusions : the habitual is when we are so well 

 acquainted with the subject as to draw the conclusions at once, as it 

 were jumping over the investigation ; but this often leads us into errors 

 by taking premises for granted. Reasoning is used to determine or prove 

 some fact that is only supposed [to be one] ; or it may be used to prove 

 that which has been already brought to light, but is disputed or reasoned 

 against. 



The improvement of the mind is by sensations. The mind has the 

 power, called ' memory,' of repeating those sensations without the original 

 impressions, and of combining those repetitions so as to form ideas, 

 and then of combining those ideas so as to form a complete action, story, 



