PASSION. 
quently utter a piercing cry, and faint into 
total insensibility. Others are seized witli 
hysterics, or a general convulsion of the 
whole system ; and in slighter degrees of fear 
the eyes are fixed on the object of terror, 
while the feet involuntarily perform the of- 
fice of flight. When the cause of fear 
strikes the soul without a possibility of an 
intervening conception of it, an universal 
start of the nerves and muscles is the con- 
sequence ; the contraction of the skin of 
the head raises the hair upright ; the blood 
rushes back to the heart, which palpitates 
most rapidly; the tnouth opens ; the eyes un- 
dergo the same operation, and are stretched 
in eager gaze after the dreaded object ; and 
an uniform trembling and faintness of the 
limbs take place. The best painters exhibit 
terrified figures with their arms extended 
forward, as if to resist an assault, or rather 
to prevent a substance from rushing against 
them; one of the legs set firmly back, tlie 
mouth open, the eyes glaring, the skin of 
the temple wrinkled, and a deadly paleness 
overspreading their features. 
We shall support our observations on this 
first of the human passions by a short quo- 
tation from a late and approved writer. 
“ Excessive fear is, by far, the most pain- 
ftd of all our sensations. Fear is wholly 
engaged in the contemplation of misery, 
which contains not a single particle in its 
nature, calculated to soothe and mitigate 
its agonizing influence. But still it is the 
vigilant guardian of well-being. It tries 
every expedient, and makes every effort to 
escape the evil so much dreaded. Were 
we indifferent about things pernicious in 
themselves, they would frequently seize us 
totally unprepared, and overwhelm us when 
w'e might have escaped from them.” 
Fear may be generally attributed to an 
apprehension of we know not what cala- 
mity, one which may be traced to a cause, 
perhaps, but not to its full effects. Appre- 
hension is a modification of the same pas- 
sion with sensations of uneasiness and rest- 
less watchings. Terror, on the contrary, 
has its cause in full view ; the eye sees 
it, the ear hears it, and the whole fi-ame 
feels, by anticipation, the moment when it 
shall be crushed or overwhelmed by the ap- 
proaching power. Consternation is a spe- 
cies of fear ; a discovery is dreaded, which 
produces punishment, guilt causes agita- 
tion, and the emotions of consternation of- 
ten occasion suspicion where none was en- 
tertained before. The indications of this 
passion are flushed and deranged features. 
hurried actions, and confused and contra- 
dictoi’y speeches. Each of the above desig- 
nations of passion apply to the universal de- 
sire entertained by man for his own pre- 
servation. 
We shall next proceed to notice a passion 
equally destructive and pernicious in its ef- 
fects upon the body, but far less innocent, 
anger, which is capable of being raised 
from a slight flushing of the face to furious 
rage. The discovery of an intended in- 
jury, a blow unexpectedly received, or in- 
sulting language, excite what is generally 
termed ,anger. Rage, on the contrary, 
more particularly proceeds from a reitera- 
tion of either of the above causes ; such, at 
least, is anger founded on principles capa- 
ble of some slight justification ; but it must 
be admitted, that this passion is often gene- 
rated by causes trivial and unimportant : dif- 
ference of opinion in the course of common 
conversation, a dispute whether a window 
sash shall be opened or remain shut, have 
been known to produce anger, which could 
only be appeased by the shedding of blood. 
Passions arising from causes of this descrip- 
tion, and indulged to excess, place. human 
nature in a most degrading point of view', 
and exhibit the violence of self-love in the 
strongest colours. The soul in this instance 
gives the same warning of probable in- 
jury which takes place in the case of fear, 
with the difference of suggesting means of 
prevention. Anger braces the nerves, the 
muscles become rigid, and the body rises 
into a posture indicating majesty and defi- 
ance, the features are animated with a 
strong expression of energy, and the blood 
flows rapidly to the face. 
Rage may be termed anger degenerated 
into the miserable state of insanity ; in some 
instances the first impulses of rage are too 
powerful for the faculties, and the person 
under its influence either falls dead, or sinks 
into an agitation which disarms him of the 
power of resistance or defence ; he becomes 
pale, and trembles from head to foot, and 
essays in vain to utter the purposes of his 
soul ; in others, where the constitution hap- 
pens to be strong, the features are distorted, 
the muscles of the moutli are drawn back, 
the teeth grind together, the eyes are 
strained outwards, the brows are knit, the 
hands clenched, and every muscle indicates 
sudden exertion ; the heart palpWates, and 
the lungs with difficidty afford air for respi- 
ration, so rapid are the cries and exclama- 
tions of the unhappy'being thus moved, who 
becomes an object of compassion to the 
