JAMES MITCHELL. 151 



sessing a more accurate knowledge of the occupations and ha- 

 bits of others, he would probably acquire practical patience, and 

 accommodate himself more completely to the convenience of 

 those around him. 



One of the most promising advantages likely to be conferred 

 on him by the acquisition of language consists in the opportu- 

 nity afforded to his friends to make known to him the utility 

 of an operation for the cataract. It would now be indispensa- 

 ble to obtain his consent before proceeding to any operation. 

 The employment of force would be equally unjustifiable as in 

 the case of any other adult. If he is reluctant, the operation 

 ought to be delayed, and, in the mean time, easy experiments 

 employed, and advantage taken of accidental occurrences, to 

 impress on him the wisdom of submitting to temporary pain 

 for the sake of important subsequent advantages. 



To some it might appear probable that this young man, 

 from beginning to learn language comparatively late in life, 

 would be the better enabled to gratify philosophical inquirers 

 with a comparison between the state of his ideas before and af- 

 ter making that acquisition. On this subject, however, they 

 ought not to entertain very sanguine hopes. Our past impres- 

 sions, especially in their defective points, soon cease to be dis- 

 tinctly traced. The only exceptions to this general fact are 

 those crude ideas of an inexperienced age which give amuse- 

 ment on recollection by their grotesque and incongruous cha- 

 racter. The most prominent revolutions of his mind would 

 probably affeet the ideas which he entertains of the habits and 

 sentiments of other persons* A statement of his views as in 

 this respect improved, though it might be considered as little 

 fitted to elucidate the more recondite doctrines of pneumatolo- 

 gy, could not fail to prove interesting to all who take pleasure 

 in the study of human nature. 



APPENDIX. 



