252 



operation of the mind, and the other an 

 impression on the organs ; and that there- 

 fore, when we speak of the pleasures and 

 pains of each, we ought to keep them 

 quite separate, as belonging to different 

 classes, and governed by different laws. 



Where men agree in facts, almost all 

 their disputes concerning inferences arise 

 from a confusion of terms ; no language 

 being sufficiently copious and accurate to 

 afford a distinct expression for every dis- 

 crimination necessary to be made in a phi- 

 losophical inquiry, not guided by the cer- 

 tain limits of number and quantity ; and 

 vulgar use having introduced a mixture of 

 literal and metaphorical meanings so per- 

 plexing, that people perpetually use w T ords 

 without attaching any precise meaning to 

 them whatever. This is peculiarly the 

 case with the word beauty, which is em- 

 ployed sometimes to signify that congruity 

 and proportion of parts, which in compo- 

 sition pleases the understanding; some- 

 times those personal charms, which excite 

 animal desires between the sexes; and 



