MOODS of VERBS. 243 



ftances, or a mafs (not a train) of thoughts, whic 1 are conceived 

 at once, and cannot be feparated and confidered in fucceftion, 

 but by a very laborious effort. Many fingle words, for exam- 

 ple prepofitions, and moft fentences, denote fome kind of rela- 

 tion ; but we cannot, I think, conceive a relation, without 

 thinking at once of the things (two or more) that are related, 

 as well as of the relation (both in its generic and in its fpecinc 

 nature) that fubiifts between them. 



Mathematical proportions are expreflions of co-exiftent 

 thoughts, the objects of which (at lead in pure geometry) bear 

 no relation at all to time ; and thefe, to be conceived rightly or 

 at all, mufl be conceived at once. Any ordinary perfon can do 

 this with refpect to an axiom, or even a very iimple propor- 

 tion ; and good mathematicians can do it with refpecl to very 

 long and complex theorems, fome of which ordinary people 

 find almofl infuperable difficulty in apprehending. Part of 

 this difficulty (as I feel very plainly in myfelf ) arifes from the 

 number of things and relations that are to be thought of at 

 once, and accordingly is not immediately removed, nor is it 

 obviated, by even the moft diftinc"l and juft conception of every 

 one of thofe things and relations taken fingly. Correfponding 

 to this difficulty in a learner, and juft the oppofite of it, is that 

 of a teacher of almoft any fcience, and often of a fpeaker, ei- 

 ther in a public afTembly or in common converfation, who may 

 have a clear and juft conception of a great mafs of thought, 

 which he wifhes to communicate to others, but can fcarce con- 

 trive to do fo, nor knows he well where or how to begin ; and 

 perhaps when he has begun right, or at leaft diftinctly, foon 

 falls into fuch confufion and perplexity, as makes him almoft 

 or quite unintelligible to his hearers, even when he under- 

 ftands himfelf perfectly, and may know that another, more 

 fortunate in the talent of communicating thought, has helped 

 him out, or exprefTed diftinctly and properly that very meaning 

 which he was endeavouring in vain to convey to his hearers, 



H h 2 though 



