On RYTHMICAL MEASURES. 67 



ments, this difference is undoubtedly confined within certain 

 limits. They can fcarcely be much greater nor much lefs than 

 the intervals marked by thofe natural uniform motions from 

 which our original impreffions of rythmical movement are de- 

 rived, and particularly the motion of our own limbs in walk- 

 ing or running. Perhaps the longeft found which can be con- 

 fidered as a fingle undivided duration, is hardly equal to the 

 time of two feconds ; and the fhortefl: which can be eafily 

 counted without parcelling, is not much lefs than half a fecond, 

 or than the time in which we can diftinclly pronounce the nu- 

 meral names in fucceffion. We can indeed attend to the fingle 

 beats of a watch, but not without a coniiderable exertion of the 

 mind ; we reckon them much more eafily by pairs or by 

 fours. 



It might here be afked, what occafion is there, in order to 

 explain our perception of rythmical proportion, for fuppofing 

 it neceffary that the two oppofite operations of divifion and 

 combination go on at the fame time ? Would it not be more 

 fimple and more natural to fuppofe, that the whole procefs is 

 carried on in the fame direction, and by the fame operation ; 

 and that either the longeft found which occurs in the fucceffion 

 is to be accounted the unit or ftandard, and all the (horter ones 

 formed and conceived as proportional divifions of it ; or elfe, 

 that the ihorteft found is to be taken for the unit, and all the 

 longer founds conceived as formed by combination ? The an- 

 fwer is, that the procefs of dividing and combining appears to 

 be the procefs of nature ; and, for proof of this, appeal might 

 be made to experience. When a perfon is inftrucled in mufic, 

 he is taught to mark the time of a femibreve by four uniform 

 motions of the hand. He is thus accuftomed to confider it, 

 not as one time, but as four times, expreffed, not feparately 

 and diftindtly, but in continuance ; and I may venture to fay, 

 that the mod experienced mufician does not conceive fuch 

 lengthened founds in a different manner. By practice and dif- 



I 2 cipline, 



