or any ftory connected in all its parts, may be perused in a fhorter time, than a book of maxims or apothegms, of which a quick fucceffion creates both confufion and fatigue.

A

Such latitude hath nature indulged in the rate of fucceffion: what latitude it indulges with refpect to uniformity, we proceed to examine. The uniformity or variety of a train, fo far as compofed of perceptions, depends on the particular objects that furround the percipient at the time. The present occupation must also have an influence; for one is fometimes engaged in a multiplicity of affairs, fometimes altogether vacant. natural train of ideas of memory is more circumscribed, each object being, by fome connection, linked to what precedes and to what follows it: these connections, which are many, and of different kinds, afford fcope for a fufficient degree of variety; and at the fame time prevent that degree which is unpleasant by excefs. Temper and conftitution alfo have an influence here, as well as upon the rate of fucceffion: a man of a calm and sedate temper, admits not willingly any idea but what is regularly introduced by a proper connection one of a roving difpofition embraces with avidity every new idea, however flender its relation be to those that preceded it. Neither muft we overlook, the nature of the perceptions that compofe the train; for their influence is no lefs with refpect to uniformity and variety, than with respect

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respect to the rate of fucceffion. The mind engroffed by any paffion, love or hatred, hope or fear, broods over its object, and can bear no interruption; and in fuch a state, the train of perceptions must not only be flow, but extremely uniform. Anger newly inflamed eagerly grafps its object, and leaves not a cranny in the mind for another thought but of revenge. In the character of Hotspur, that state of mind is represented to the life; a picture remarkable for likeness as well as for high colouring.

Worcester. Peace, coufin, fay no more.
And now I will unclafp a fecret book,
And to your quick-conceiving discontents
I'll read you matter, deep and dangerous;
As full of peril and advent❜rous spirit
As to o'erwalk a current roaring loud,
On the unsteadfast footing of a spear.

Hotfpur. If he fall in, good night. Or fink or fwim, Send danger from the eaft into the west,

So honour crofs it from the north to fouth;

And let them grapple. Oh! the blood more stirs

To rouse a lion than to ftart a hare.

Worcester. Those fame Noble Scots, That are your prifoners

Hotfpur. I'll keep them all;

By Heav'n, he shall not have a Scot of them:
No, if a Scot would fave his foul, he fhall not;
I'll keep them, by this hand.

Worcester. You ftart away.

And

And lend no ear unto my purposes;
Those pris'ners you shall keep.

Hotspur. I will, that's flat:

He faid, he would not ransom Mortimer;
Forbade my tongue to speak of Mortimer :
But I will find him when he lies asleep,
And in his ear I'll holla Mortimer!
Nay, I will have a starling taught to speak
Nothing but Mortimer, and give it him,
To keep his anger still in motion.

Worcester. Hear you, coufin, a word.
Hotfpur. All ftudies here I folemnly defy,
Save how to gall and pinch this Bolingbroke:
And that fame fword-and-buckler Prince of Wales,
(But that I think his father loves him not,
And would be glad he met with some mischance),
I'd have him poison'd with a pot of ale.

Worcester. Farewel, my kinfman, I will talk to you When you are better temper'd to attend.

First part, Henry IV. act 1. fc. 4.

Having view'd a train of perceptions as directed by nature, and the variations it is fufceptible of from different neceffary caufes, we proceed to examine how far it is fubjected to will; for that this faculty hath fome influence, is observed above. And first, the rate of fucceffion may be retarded by infifting upon one object, and propelled by difmiffing another before its time. But fuch voluntary mutations in the natural course of fucceffion, have limits that cannot be extended by the most painful efforts: which will appear from confidering,

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fidering, that the mind circumfcribed in its capacity, cannot, at the fame instant, admit many perceptions; and when replete, that it hath not place for new perceptions, till others are removed, confequently that a voluntary change of perceptions cannot be inftantaneous, as the time it requires fets bounds to the velocity of fucceffion. On the other hand, the power we have to arrest a flying perception, is equally limited and the reafon is, that the longer we detain any perception, the more difficulty we find in the operation; till, the difficulty becoming unfurmountable, we are forc'd to quit our hold, and to permit the train to take its ufual courfe.

The power we have over this train as to uniformity and variety, is in fome cases very great, in others very little. A train compofed of perceptions of external objects, depends entirely on the place we occupy, and admits not more nor less variety but by change of place. A train compofed of ideas of memory, is still less under our power; because we cannot at will call up any idea that is not connected with the train *. But a train of ideas fuggefted by reading, may be varied at will, provided we have books at hand.

The power that nature hath given us over our train of perceptions, may be greatly strengthened by proper difcipline, and by an early application

See chap, I.

to.

to business; witness fome mathematicians, who go far beyond common nature in flowness and uniformity; and still more perfons devoted to religious exercifes, who pafs whole days in contemplation, and impofe upon themselves long and fe vere penances. With respect to celerity and va riety, it is not easily conceived what length a ha bit of activity in affairs will carry fome men. Let

a ftranger, or let any person to whom the fight is not familiar, attend the chancellor of Great Britain through the labours but of one day,' during a feffion of parliament: how great will be his afto nishment! what multiplicity of law-bufinefs, what deep-thinking, and what elaborate application to matters of government! The train of perceptions must in that great man be accelerated far beyond the ordinary courfe of nature: yet no confufion or hurry; but in every article the greatest order and accuracy. Such is the force of habit. How happy is man, to have the command of a principle of action that can elevate him fo far above the or dinary condition of humanity *!

We are now ripe for confidering a train of per ceptions, with respect to pleasure and pain and to that fpeculation peculiar attention must be given, because it ferves to explain the effects that uniformity and variety have upon the mind. A

This chapter was compofed in the year 1753.

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