brain have a power to transmit themselves to that of another person? The ingenious hypothesis of M. De Mairan, upon the communication of sounds, throws some light upon this mystery. Sounds reach us because there are certain fibres in sonorous bodies, together with parcels of air, the fibres of the ear, and lastly, those of the brain, which form a constant chain of chords which impart their motion to each other. Since the motions of the body, the colour of the face, and the disposition of the eye, point out to others the peculiar state of our minds, have we not reason to conclude there is a chain with chords in unison, which convey to and from one brain the vibrations of the fibres of another?

All nature, is but art unknown to thee;

All chance, direction, which thou can'st not see; All discord, harmony, not understood;

All partial evil, universal good;

And spite of pride, in erring reason spite,
One truth is clear-whatever is, is right.

It is from this secret relation, which the dispositions of our brains have to each other, that sympathy arises, and all our capricious tastes, which cause us to find out a singular pleasure in some ob jects, that others are entire strangers to. What pleases us most, is not always the best for us. If misfortune corrodes the mind, then only gloomy solitude, where joy never approaches, can impart a ray of comfort to the unhappy sufferer. No object makes a more agreeable impression, than that which excites in the fibres

of the brain such vibrations as correspond with those of the soul. These are seǹsations which produce her a particular satisfaction.

There is not any thing in the universe appears so trifling as a new-born infant; yet it is the most delightful of all objects, particularly to those that gave it birth: still this peculiar pleasure is not attached to the person of the child. It is only in poems and romances that we find instances of a discerning instinct of the parent, for it is indubitably certain, the most affectionate mother will embrace as her own son, one who has been put in his place. It appears then, that the tenderness of parents derives its origin from the particular formation of their brain, the

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structure of which is so incomparably contrived, that they cannot without rapture behold the offspring of their love, formed of their own substance, which nature has put under their jurisdiction, from whom, when worn out with age or affliction, they have a right to expect that support which they gave to its helpless infancy-who is. destined to inherit their name, their fortune, their ideas, and affections.

Delightful task! to rear the tender thought,
To teach the young idea how to shoot,
Το pour the fresh instruction o'er the mind,
To breathe th' enliv'ning spirit, and to fix
The generous purpose in the glowing breast.

In order to finish this slight sketch which I have given, relating to the physical nature of sensations, I shall at pre

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sent endeavour to trace out that peculiar part of the brain, which is the seat of pleasure and pain, which receives the impression from adjoining objects, and consequently acts upon our organs. This part must have firmness and vigour, since the characters impressed there cannot be effaced for a space of years. This nervous membrane must hold and touch the utmost part of every nerve relating to sensation, in order to receive all the various impressions of it: it must at the same time have an influence over the origin of every nerve subordinate to motion, to be capable to communicate such motions as are adapted to the vibrations which it feels. All these different marks seem to be joined in the membrane, called by anatomists, the pia mater, which includes