TRAVELS 
272 
the purpofe, and the end of objeCts ; and while it rambles about 
in the obfcure and boundlefs regions of conjecture, the true fpirit 
of enquiry lofes the thread of its obfervations and of its analyfis, 
and bounding from one imperfeCt impreffion to another, is inca¬ 
pable of {topping to obferve, compare and judge: this was the 
infirmity of the good Baron. He fancied to himfelf, that the 
foul of the pcrfon afleep w r as tranfported to regions of which the 
human mind, in conjunction with the body, can form no idea. He 
went into particulars {till more ridiculous, and afferted, for inftance, 
that there all the fouls were drelfed in white, and that they enjoyed 
in that fcene of delights fuch agreeable fenfations as furpats all con¬ 
ception. He believed, that in that {late of lleep they forefaw future 
events; and that their fouls being exalted to a higher fphere of 
perception, they could fee many things that are invifible to the 
material organs of our imperfeCt vifion. Inttead of interrogating 
the fleeper as to the nature of his feelings during his torpor ; in- 
itead of trying to found the condition of his phyfical faculties, 
or queftioning him as to intelligible objeCts, his queries were al¬ 
ways concerning the white robes, the paradife, and thofe elyfian 
fields where, according to his theory, the fouls are in the fruition 
of every {pecies of pleafure, ever perfectly at eafe, and clothed in 
their role de chambre. He was defirous to receive intelligence 
from his anceftors, his great grandfather, or his late father; and 
they very kindly, in general, fent him their compliments by the 
mouths of thofe couriers in white jackets. 
From the manner in which I have Rated my remarks, the 
reader 
