as you say, "present a most remarkable show of consistent relations."

Do you continue disposed to go on next to the evidences derivable from deficient senses and defective or impaired organs? Dr. Howe is strong upon the point that our only effectual knowledge of structure and function is had from observation of disease or deficiency. The exclusive study of the healthy and perfect may go on for centuries comparatively without result.

XII.

H. G. A. To H. M.

Man appearing to be the highest development of nature, and his mind being evolved from this development, a glimmering light in the midst of infinite darkness, nevertheless in its inter-relations presenting, as far as it goes, a true impress of what is, (and, if not true in relation to the universe and to absolute truth, at least true in relation to Man, and as a corresponding harmony, which is all that we need desire,)—it is reasonable to suppose that Man in his completed growth would possess as many channels of sense as there are different characteristics in external nature and his own body, or distinct

energies or emotions arising from such conditions. But possibly Man has not yet arrived at his fullest development; and some of his powers or sense channels may be still more or less in a state of partial growth, or dormant. The entire body may be considered as the organ of sense; eye, nose, mouth, ear, skin, flesh, bones, muscles, &c.; or rather, the nerves and nervous condition ramifying and filling, as it were, all parts of the body. Even the brain itself is an organ of sense, as well as being the centre at which all sense impressions arrive, and from which all sensations are evolved. The elementary outward senses are said to be from Light, Sound, Taste, Smell, and Feeling. But under the term Feeling we lump together several distinct faculties, such as touch, sense of temperature, sense of pleasure and pain, and the muscular sensations. Sight may be said to be the most spiritual sense; and then hearing; while smell and taste may be almost classed with the feelings.

By the sense of sight we perceive colours, and light and shade; and through this, objects, forms, spaces, localities, arrangement, number, surface, construction, motion, events, resemblance, natural language, and signs visible. By the ear we perceive simple sounds or noise, tones and harmony; and we perceive also, or, as some would say, judge of, the distance, locality and quality of objects; and, by the voice, indicate our meanings and conditions, by natural expressions, or by artificial language, or sounds corresponding with nature, gesture, and artificial signs visible. The Muscular sense relates to the

F

The

health and energy, passive or active, of the muscular system, or of any part of this, and recognizes fatigue and lassitude. In this sense we may include the sense of action and position: and from the recognition of force by the muscles arises the sense of Weight, by which we become aware of the force of gravity in our own bodies, and in external objects. sense of Temperature must surely be considered distinct from the Muscular sense; and so also that of Touch, by which we recognize surface and forms. And so also the sense of pleasure and pain. The tic and the toothache are certainly no more touch or muscular sense than is taste or smell. The sexual sense may be considered a division of the sense of pleasure, or that faculty which, for distinction's sake, has been termed Common Sensation. We must note all the different characters of this sense; nervous pain,—or pain from diseased parts, or deranged functions, and irregular action; the pain from a cut, from a bruise, a burn, tickling, &c. Now, for instance, it is remarkable that the convolutions of the brain, though not sensible of mechanical injury, are sensible of diseased condition, and sympathize with the condition of other parts,-of the stomach, for instance, and experience great pain which is not felt in the diseased parts. Thus, the pain from mechanical injury and from deranged condition must be distinct ;-for instance, the toothache and the drawing of the tooth. We have aches and acute pains; local and general sensations. A pain from external injury would, as relating to matter out of the body, have more to do

with the faculties of the anterior lobe, situated between Weight and Constructiveness, where is the group of organs relating to manipulations, and adjustment of the muscular movements to an end. We have also the burning sense of fever and chill, with other modifications, besides what sense we may have of electric, magnetic, or chemical conditions, and other higher matters. Thus the senses, or distinct channels of sense that we must recognize, are Sight, Hearing, Taste, Smell, Touch, the Muscular sense, Temperature, and the class which compose what we call Common Sensation;-making eight in all: and if we include, as we ought, a Magnetic sense, we shall reckon nine. Now, all these senses may exist separately, or in various combinations, in deficiency or excess; as it is with the organs of the brain, which together constitute the diversity of character; and differences suited for all situations, with the two extremes of idiocy on the one side, and genius on the other.

In the deficiency or excess of some perceptions, it is often difficult to say whether it is the sense condition or the brain that is in fault. It becomes important, again, to consider how the exaltation and use of one faculty depresses others; and how the depression of one faculty will exalt others, or give them a more sustained force, or new direction and power. We know now by numerous instances of casts taken at different periods of life, that any organ or organs of the brain by use will increase, and by inactivity decrease, just as it is with the muscles;

but to a greater extent. Thus we have the means of actually remodelling a man's brain, as well as of destroying habits, and giving knowledge, and new direction to the faculties. This sounds very hopeful. But why so? Because we have searched into fundamental and material causes, and have perceived (within a certain range) the conditions* and laws which determine our thoughts and actions. Without determining laws† there could be no hope, and no regenerating principle; and all teaching, preaching, and training, would be useless.

We will now consider a few of those facts which occur to me as throwing light upon the nature of the senses. And first, let us look at that strange little animal, the Bat,-that twin oddity with the Ornithorhynchus : for it seems that we shall find most light amidst what is strange, unusual, and eccentric; -amidst all that deviates from the balance and ordinary form of nature. We shall no longer be entangled by the cobwebs of learning which men spin out from their own thoughts, working under the

* "Man, the servant and interpreter of Nature, does and understands as much as he shall really or mentally observe of the order of nature; himself, meanwhile, enclosed around by the order of nature."-Bacon, Conditions of Man. † Appendix E.

"When any one prepares himself for discovery, he first enquires and obtains a full account of all that has been said on the subject by others, then adds his own reflections, and stirs up and, as it were, invokes his own spirit, after much mental labour to disclose its oracles. All which is a method without foundation, and merely turns on opinion."—Bacon, Nov. Org., Aph. 82.