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THE PLAN.

In the fecond volume, when treating of Mental Stimuli*, we attempted to fhew how thefe, when in a due proportion, were conducive to health. Here we fhall confider, first, the Progress of the Mind, and its vaft Power of Improvement, which conducts us to the Principles of Moral Philofophy; we shall next contemplate the Effects of great mental Excitement; and laftly, its Operation when in an under Proportion.

I believe an attempt to fet forth all the Emotions of the mind, and their Effects on the animal economy, would be a work extremely acceptable to the majority of readers: but our present task is only to confider some few emotions; though the variety of these is great, and worthy in every branch of that variety of an attentive investigation. The more accurately we search into the human mind, the stronger traces we shall every where find of HIS wisdom who made it. If a difcourfe on the use of the parts of the body may be confidered as an hymn to the CREATOR; the ufe of the paffions, which are the organs of the mind, cannot be barren of praife to HIM, noг unproductive of that union of science and admiration to ourselves, which a contemplation of the works of INFI*From Sect. XIV. to Sect, XXVIII.

NITE

NITE WISDOM can alone afford to a rational mind ; whilft, referring to HIM whatever we find of right, or good, or fair, in ourselves, discovering HIS ftrength and wisdom in our own weakness and imperfection, honouring them where we discover them clearly, and adoring their profundity where we are loft in our search, we may be inquifitive without impertinence, and elevated without pride; we may be admitted, if I may dare say so, into the counfels of the ALMIGHTY by a confideration of his works.

The elevation of the mind ought to be the principal end of all our studies. Whatever turns the foul inward on itself, tends to concenter its force; and to fit it for greater and stronger flights of science. By looking into phyfical causes, our minds are opened and enlarged; and in this pursuit, whether we take, or whether we lose our game, the chace is certainly of fervice. If we can direct the lights we derive from fuch speculations, whilst we investigate as far as poffible the springs, and trace the effects of our emotions, we may not only communicate to the taste a sort of philofophical folidity, but we may reflect back on the feverer fciences, fome of the graces and elegancies of tafte, without which the greatest proficiency in those sciences will always have the appearance of something difguftful and illiberal.

I

FIRST,

FIRST,

OF

DIRECT NERVOUS STIMULI.

VOL. IV.

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WE will firft confider the nature of man in his moft favage or wild state. His Majefty GEORGE I. was out a hunting with his attendants in the forett of Hertfwold, in the electorate of Hanover, when PETER, the wild boy, as he was afterwards called, was found in the hollow of an oak, and appeared to have fubfifted upon leaves, berries, and the bark of trees, for a confiderable time. He was about 12 or 13 years of age. In the following year he was brought over to England. Upon the approach of bad weather he always appeared fullen, and uneafy. At particular seasons of the year he shewed a strong propenfity to steal into the woods, and would eagerly feed upon raw cabbage leaves, acorns, berries, and devour the young bark of trees, which evidently proved, that he had fubfifted in that manner for

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