APPENDIX. NOTE I. NATURAL LAWS.-Text, p. 3. In the text it is mentioned, that many philosophers have treated of the Laws of Nature. The following are examples: Mr Stewart says, 'To examine the economy of nature in the phenomena of the lower animals, and to compare their instincts with the physical circumstances of their external situation, forms one of the finest speculations of Natural History; and yet it is a speculation to which the attention of the natural historian has seldom been directed. Not only Buffon, but Ray and Derham have passed it over slightly; nor, indeed, do I know of any one who has made it the object of a particular consideration but Lord Kames, in a short Appendix to one of his Sketches.-Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind, vol. iii, p. 368. cease to be. When he put that matter into motion, he established certain laws of motion, to which all moveable bodies must conform.'-'If we farther advance from mere inactive matter to vegetable and animal life, WE SHALL FIND THEM STILL GOVERNED BY LAWS; more numerous, indeed, but equally fixed and invariable. The whole progress of plants, from the seed to the root, and from thence to the seed again;-the method of animal nutrition, digestion, secretion, and all other branches of vital economy;-are not left to chance, or the will of the creature itself, but are performed in a wondrous involuntary manner, and guided by unerring rules laid down by the great Creator. This, then, is the general signification of a law, a rule of action dictated by some superior being; and in those creatures that have neither power to think, nor the will, such laws 3 Mr Stewart also uses the following words :- Num- must be invariably obeyed, so long as the creature itberless examples show that nature has done no more self subsists; for its existence depends on that obefor man than was necessary for his preservation, leav-dience.-Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of ing him to make many acquisitions for himself, which England, vol. i, sect. 2. she has imparted immediately to the brutes. I 'My own idea is, as I have said on a different occasion, that both instinct and experience are here concerned, and that the share which belongs to each in producing the result, can be ascertained by an appeal to facts alone.'-Vol. iii, ch. 338. Montesquieu introduces his Spirit of Laws by the following observations: Laws, in their most general signification, are the necessary relations derived from the nature of things. In this sense, all beings have their laws; the Deity has his laws; the material world its laws; the intelligences superior to man have their laws; the beasts their laws; man his laws. 'Those who assert that a blind fatality produced the various effects we behold in this world, are guilty of a very great absurdity for can any thing be more absurd than to pretend that a blind fatality could be productive of intelligent beings? "There is, then, a primitive reason; and laws are the relations which subsist between it and different beings, and the relations of these beings among them selves. 'God is related to the universe as creator and preserver; the laws by which he has created all things are those by which he preserves them. He acts according to these rules, because he knows them : he knows them because he has made them; and he made them because they are relative to his wisdom and power, &c. Man, as a physical being, is, like other bodies, governed by invariable laws.'-Spirit of Laws, b. i, c. i. Justice Blackstone observes, that Law, in its most general and comprehensive sense, signifies a rule of action; and is applied indiscriminately to all kinds of action, whether animate or inanimate, rational or irrational. Thus we say, the laws of motion, of gravitation, of optics, or mechanics, as well as the laws of nature and of nations. Thus, when the Supreme Being formed the universe, and created matter out of nothing, he impressed certain principles upon that matter, from which it can never depart, and without which it would The word law,' says Mr Erskine, is frequently made use of, both by divines and philosophers, in a large acceptation, to express the settled method of God's providence, by which he preserves the order of the MATERIAL WORLD in such a manner, that nothing in it may deviate from that uniform course which he has ap pointed for it. And as brute matter is merely passive, without the least degree of choice upon its part, these laws are INVIOLABLY OBSERVED in the material creation, every part of which continues to act, immutably, according to the rules that were from the beginning prescribed to it by infinite wisdom. Thus philosophers have given the appellation of law to that motion which incessantly pervades and agitates the universe, and is ever changing the form and substance of things, dissolving some, and raising others, as from their ashes, to fill up the void: Yet so, that amidst all the fluctuations by which particular things are affected, the universe is still preserved without diminution. Thus also they speak of the laws of fluids, of gravitation, &c. and the word is used, in this sense, in several passages of the sacred writings; in the book of Job, and in Proverbs viii, 29, where God is said to have given his law to the seas that they should not pass his commandment.'-Erskine's Institutes of the Law of Scotland, book i, tit. i, sect. 1. Discussions about the Laws of Nature, rather than inquiries into them, were common in France, during the Revolution, and having become associated in imagination, with the crimes and horrors of that period, they continue to be regarded by some individuals, as inconsistent with religion and morality. A coincidence between the views maintained in the preceding Essay, and a passage in Volney, has been pointed out to me as an objection to the whole doctrine. Volney's words are the following:-'It is a law of nature, that water flows from an upper to a lower situation; that it seeks its level; that it is heavier than air; that all bodies tend towards the earth; that flame rises towards the sky; that it destroys the organization of vegetables and ani mals; that air is essential to the life of certain animals; that, in certain cases, water suffocates and kills them; that certain juices of plants, and certain minerals, attack their organs, and destroy their life ;--and the same of a variety of facts. 'Now, since these facts, and many similar ones, are constant, regular, and immutable, they become so many eal and positive commands, to which man is bound to conform, under the express penalty of punishment attached to their infraction, or well-being connected with their observance. So that if a man were to pretend to see clearly in the dark, or is regardless of the progress of the seasons, or the action of the elements; if he pretends to exist under water, without drowning; to handle fire without burning himself; to deprive himself of air without suffocating; or to drink poison withput destroying himself; he receives for each infraction of the law of nature, a corporal punishment proportioned to his transgression. If, on the contrary, he obzerves these laws, and founds his practice on the prezise and regular relation which they bear to him, he preserves his existence, and renders it as happy as it is capable of being rendered; and since all these laws, considered in relation to the human species, have in view only one common end, that of their preservation and their happiness; whence it has been agreed to assemble together the different ideas, and express them by a single word, and call them collectively by the name of the "Law of Nature."-VOLNEY'S Law of Nature, 3d edit. pp. 21, 24. I feel no embarrassment by this coincidence; but remark, first. That various authors, quoted in the text and in this note, advocated the importance of the laws of nature, long before the French Revolution was heard of; secondly, That the existence of the laws of nature is as obvious to the understanding, as the existence of the external world, and of the human mind and body themselves to the senses; thirdly, That these laws, being inherent in creation, must have proceeded from the Deity; fourthly, That if the Deity is powerful, just, ard benevolent, they must harmonize with the constitution of man; and, lastly, That if the laws of nature have been instituted by the Deity, and been framed in wise, benevolent, and just relationship to the human constitution, they must at all times form the highest and most important subjects of human investigation, and remain altogether unaffected by the errors, follies, and crimes of those who endeavour to expound them; just as religion continues holy, venerable, and uncontaminated, notwithstanding the hypocrisy, wickedness, and inconsistency of individuals professing themselves her interpreters and friends That the views of the natural laws themselves, advocated in this Essay, are diametrically opposite to the practical conduct of the French revolutionary ruffang, requires no demonstration. My fundamental principle is, that man can enjoy happiness on earth only by placing his habitual conduct under the supremacy of the moral sentiments, and intellect, and that this is the law of his nature. No doctrine can be more opposed than this to fraud, robbery, blasphemy, and murder. It may be urged, that all past speculations about the laws of nature have proved more imposing than useful; and that while the laws themselves afford materials for elevated declamation on the part of philosophers, they form no secure guides even to the learned, and much less to the illiterate, in practical conduct. In answer, I would respectfully repeat what has frequently been urged in the text, that, before we can discover the laws of nature, applicable to man, we must know, first, The constitution of man himself; secondly, The constitution of external nature; and, thirdly, We must compare the two. But, previous to the discovery of Phrenology, the mental constitution of man was a matter of vague conjecture, and endless debate; and the connexion between his mental powers and his organized system, was involved in the deepest obscurity. The brain, the most important organ of the body, had no ascertained functions. Before the introduction of this science, therefore, men were rather impressed with the unspeakable importance of a knowledge of the laws of nature, than acquainted with the laws themselves; and even the knowedge of the external world actually possessed, could not, in many instances, be rendered available, on account of its relationship to the qualities of man being unascertained, and unascertainable, so long as these qualities themselves were unknown. NOTE II. ORGANIC LAWS.-Text, p. 21. It is a very common error, not only among philosophers, but among practical men, to imagine that the feelings of the mind are communicated to it through the medium of the intellect; and, in particular, that if no indelicate objects reach the eyes, or expressions penetrate the ears, perfect purity will necessarily reign within the soul; and, carrying this mistake into practice, they are prone to object to all discussion of the subjects treated of under the 'Organic Laws.' in works designed for general use. But their principle of reasoning is fallacious, and the practical result has been highly detrimental to society. The feelings have existence and activity distinct from the intellect; they spur it on to obtain their own gratification; and it may become either their slave or guide, according as it is enlightened concerning their constitution and objects, and the laws of nature to which they are subjected. The most profound philosophers have inculcated this doctrine; and, by phrenological observation, it is demonstrably established. The organs of the feelings are distinct from those of the intellectual faculties; they are larger; and, as each faculty, cateris paribus, acts with a power proportionate to the size of its organ, the feelings are obviously the active or impelling powers. The cerebellum, or organ of Amativeness, is the largest of the whole mental organs; and, being endowed with natural activity, it fills the mind spontaneously with emotions and suggestions which may be directed, controlled, and resisted, in outward manifestation, by intellect and moral sentiment, but which cannot be prevented from arising, nor eradicated after they exist. The whole question, therefore, resolves itself into this, Whether it is most beneficial to enlighten and direct that feeling, or (under the influence of an error in phrlosophy, and false delicacy founded on it,) to permit it to riot in all the fierceness of a blind animal instinct. withdrawn from the eye of reason, but not thereby deprived of its vehemence and importunity. The former course appears to me to be the only one consistent with reason and morality; and I have adopted it in reliance on the good sense of my readers, that they will at once discriminate between practical instruction concerning this feeling, addressed to the intellect, and lascivious representations addressed to the mere propensity itself; with the latter of which the enemies of all improvement may attempt to confound my observations. function of the mind and body is instituted by the Creator; all may be abused; and it is impossible regularly to avoid abuse of them, except by being instructed in their nature, objects, and relations. This instruction ought to be addressed exclusively to the intellect; and, when it is so, it is science of the most beneficial description. The propriety, nay necessity, of acting on this principle, becomes more and more apparent, when it is considered that the discussions of the text suggest only intellectual ideas to individuals in whom the feeling in question is naturally weak, and that such minds perceive no indelicacy in knowledge which is calculated to be useful; while, on the other hand, persons in whom the feeling is naturally strong, are precisely Every those who stand in need of direction, and to whom, of | all others, instruction is the most necessary. Fortified by these observations, I venture to record some additional facts communicated by persons on whose accuracy reliance may be placed. A gentleman, who has paid much attention to the rearing of horses, informed me, that the male racehorse, when excited, but not exhausted, by running, has been found by experience, to be in the most favourable condition for transmitting swiftness and vivacity to his offspring. Another gentleman stated, that he was himself present when the pale gray colour of a male horse was objected to; that the groom thereupon presented before the eyes of the male another female from the stable, of a very particular, but pleasing, variety of colours, asserting, that the latter would determine the complexion of the offspring; and that in point of fact it did so. The experiment was tried in the case of a second female, and the result was so completely the same, that the two young horses, in point of colour, could scarcely be distinguished, although their spots were extremely uncommon. The account of Laban and the peeled rods laid before the cattle to produce spotted calves, is an example of the same kind. Portal mentions the hereditary descent of blindness and deafness. His words are: Morgagni has seen three sisters dumb "d'origine. Other authors also cite examples, and I have seen like cases myself.' In a note, he adds, I have seen three children out of four of the same family blind from birth by amaurosis, or gutta serena.'-Portal, Memoires sur Plusieurs Maladies, tome iii, p. 193. Paris, 1808. In the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, No. I, there are several valuable articles illustrative of the Organic Laws in the inferior animals. I select the following examples: Every one knows that the hen of any bird will lay eggs although no male be permitted to come near her; -and that those eggs are only wanting in the vital principle which the impregnation of the male conveys to them. Here, then, we see the female able to make an egg, with yolk and white, shell and every part, just as it ought to be, so that we might, at the first glance, suppose that here, at all events, the female has the greatest influence. But see the change which the male produces. Put a Bantam cock to a large sized hen and she will instantly lay a small egg; the chick will be short, in the leg, have feathers to the foot, and put on the appearance of the cock; so that it is a frequent complaint where Bantams are kept, that they make the hens lay small eggs, and spoil the breed. Reverse the case; put a large dung-hill cock to Bantam hens, and instantly they will lay larger eggs, and the chicks will be good-sized birds, and the Bantam will have nearly disappeared. Here, then, are a number of facts known to every one, or at least open to be known by every one, clearly proving the influence of the male in some animals; and as I hold it to be an axiom that nature never acts by contraries, never outrages the law clearly fixed in one species, by adopting the opposite course in another, therefore, as in the case of an equilateral triangle on the length of one side being given we can with certainty demonstrate that of the remaining; so, having found these laws to exist in one race of animals, we are entitled to assume that every species is subjected to the self-same rules, the whole bearing, in fact, the same relation to each other as the radii of a circle.' A Method of obtaining a greater number of One Sex, at the option of the Proprietor, in the Breeding of Live Stock-Extracted from the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, No. I, p. 63. In the Annales de l'Agriculture Française, vols. 37, and 38, some very interesting experiments are recorded, which have lately been made in France, on the Breeding of Live Stock. M. Charles Girou de Buzareingues proposed, at a meeting of the Agricultural Society of Séverac, on the 3d of July, 1826, to divide a flock of sheep into two equal parts, so that a greater number of males or females, at the choice of the proprietor, should be produced from each of them. of the members of the Society offered their flocks to become the subjects of his experiments, and the results have now been communicated, which are in accordance with the author's expectations. Two "The first experiment was conducted in the following manner: He recommended very young rams to be put to the flock of ewes, from which the proprietor wished the greater number of females in their offspring; and, also, that during the season when the rams were with the ewes, they should have more abundant pasture than the other; while, to the flock from which the proprietor wished to obtain male lambs chiefly, he recommended him to put strong and vigorous rams four or five years old. The following tabular view contains the result of this experiment. Two strong rams, flock. Two years, Total, N. B. There were three twin births] Two years, Total, Five years and older, Total, N. B. There were no twin births fifteen months, the other nearly two one four, the other five years old, servin this flock. Two rams served it, one in this years old. Jed it. 67 Age of the Mothers Sex of the Lambs. Age of the Mothers. Males. Females. 14 26 16 17 13213 During the summer of 1826, M. Cournuéjouls kept, upon a very dry pasture, belonging to the village of himself, and 22 to his shepherds. Towards the end Bez, a flock of 106 ewes, of which 84 belonged to of October, he divided his flock into two sections, of 42 heads each, the one composed of the strongest ewes, from four to five years old; the other of the The first was destined to produce a greater number of weakest beasts under four or above five years old. females than the second. After it was marked with pitch in my presence, it was taken to much better pasture behind Panouse, where it was delivered to four male lambs, about six months old, and of good promise. The second remained upon the pasture of Bez, and was served by two strong rams, more than three years old. 'The ewes belonging to the shepherds, which I shall consider as forming a third section, and which are in general stronger and better fed than those of the master, because their owners are not always particular in preventing them from trespassing on the cultivated lands, which are not enclosed, were mixed with those of the second flock. The result was that the also Two, Males. Females. Besides these very decisive experiments, M. Girou relates some others, made with horses and cattle, in which his success in producing a greater number of one sex rather than another also appears. The general law, as far as we are able to detect it, seems to be, that, when animals are in good condition, plentifully supplied with food, and kept from breeding as fast as they might do, they are most likely to produce females. Or, in other words, when a race of animals is in circumstances favourable for its increase, nature produces the greatest number of that sex which in animals that do not pair, is most efficient for increasing the numbers of the race: But, if they are in a bad climate, or on stinted pasture, or, if they have already given birth to a numerous offspring, then nature, setting limits to the increase of the race, produces more males than females. Yet, perhaps, it may be premature to attempt to deduce any law from experiments which have not yet been sufficiently extended. M. Girou is disposed to ascribe much of the effect to the age of the ram, independent of the condition of the ewe.' NOTE III. DEATH.-Text, p. 35. The decreasing Mortality of England is strikingly supported by the following extract from the Scotsman of 16th April 1828. It is well known that this paper is edited by Mr Charles Maclaren, a gentlemen whose extensive information, and scrupulous regard to accuracy and truth, stamp the highest value on his statements of facts: and whose profound and comprehensive intellect warrants a well-grounded reliance on his philosophical conclusions. contains a large proportion of young persons, among whom the proportional mortality is low, and a small proportion of the old who die off rapidly. A community in which the births are numerous, is like a regiment receiving a vast number of a young and healthy recruits and in which, of course, as a whole, the annual deaths will be few compared with those in another regiment chiefly filled with veterans, though among the persons at any particular age, such as 20, 40, or 50, the mortality will be as great in the one regiment as the other. It may thus happen, that the annual mortality among 1000 persons in Ohio may be considerably less than in France, while the Expectation of Life, or the chance which an individual has to reach to a certain age, may be no greater in the former country than in the latter; and hence we see that a diminution in the rate of mor tality is not a certain proof of an increase in the value of life, or an improvement in the condition of the people. But the effect produced by an increased number of births is less than might be imagined, owing to the very great mortality among infants in the first year of their age. Not having time for the calculations necessary to get at the precise result, which are pretty complex, we avail ourselves of some statements given by Mr. Milne in his work on Annuities. Taking the Swedish tables as a basis, and supposing the law of mortality to remain the same for each period of life, he has compared the proportional number of deaths in a population which is stationary, and in one which increases 15 per cent. in 20 years. The result is, that when the mortality in the stationary society is one in 36. 13, that in the progressive society is one in 37. 33, a difference equal to 3 1-3 per cent. Now, the population of England and Wales increased 34.3 per cent. in the 20 years ending in 1821, but in the interval from 1811 to 1821. the rate was equivalent to 39 1-4 per cent, upon 20 years; and the apparent diminution of mortality arising from this circumstance must of course have been about 8 1-2 per cent. We are assuming, however, that the population was absolutely stationary at 180, which was not the case. According to Mr Milnes (p. 437.) the average annual increase in the five years ending 1784. was 1 in 155; in the ten years ending 1821, according to the census, it was 1 in 60. Deducting, then, the proportional part corresponding to the former, which is 3 1-4 there remains 5 1-4. If Mr Milne's tables, therefore, are correct, we may infer that the progressive state of the population causes a diminution of 5 1-4 per cent. in the annual mortality—a diminution which is only apparent, because it arises entirely from the great proportion of births, and is not accompanied with any real increase in the value of human life. 'A much greater change-not apparent but realwas produced by the introduction of the vaccination in 1798. It was computed, that, in 1795, when the popu lation of the British Isles was 15, 000,000, the deaths produced by the small-pox amounted to 36,000, or nearly 11 per cent. of the whole animal mortality. (See article Vaccination in the Supplement to Encylopedia Brittanica, p. 713.) Now, since not more than one case in 330 terminates fatally under the cow-pox system, either directly by the primary infection, or from the other disease supervening the whole of the young persons destroyed by the small-pox might be considered as saved were vaccination universal, and always proper DIMINISHED MORTALITY IN ENGLAND. The diminution of the annual mortality in England amidst an alleged increase of crime, misery, and pauperism, is an extraordinary and startling fact, which merits a more careful investigation than it has received. We have not time to go deeply into the subject: but we shall offer a remark or two on the question, how the apparent annual mortality is affected by the introduction of the cow-pox, and the stationary or progressive state of the population. In 1780, according to Mr Rickman, the annual deaths were 1 in 40, or one-fortieth part of the population died every year; in 1821, the proportion was 1 in 58. It follows, that, out of any given number of persons, 1000 or 10,000 scarcely more than two deaths take place now for three that took place in 1780, or the mortality has diminished 45 per cent. The parochial registers of burials in England, from which this statement is derived, are known to be incorrect, but as they continue to be kept without alteration in the same way, the errors for one year, are justly conceived to balance those of another, and they thus afford comparative results upon which considerable reliance may be placed. A community is made up of persons of many variously performed. This is not precisely the case, but one ages among whom the law of mortality is very different. Thus, according to the Swedish tables, the deaths among children from the moment of birth up to 10 years of age, are 1 in 22 per annum; from 10 to 20, the deaths are only 1 in 185. Among the old again, mortality is of course great. From 70 to 80, the deaths are 1 in 9; from 80 to 90, they are 1 in 4. Now a community like that of New York or Ohio, where marriages are made early and the births are numerous, necessarily or one and a-half per cent. will cover the deficiencies; and we may therefore conclude, that vaccination has diminished the annual mortality fully nine per cent. After we had arrived at this conclusion by the process described, we found it confirmed by the authority of Mr Milne, who estimates in a note to one of his tables, that the mortality of 1 in 40, would be diminished to 1 in 43 5, by exterminating the small-pox. Now, this is almost precisely 9 per cent. 1 こ 'We stated, that the diminution of the annual mor- may not be legitimately drawn from phenomena collect tality between 1780 and 1821 was 45 per cent., accord-ed from the whole period of corporeal existence. ing to Mr Rickman. If we deduct this from 9 per cent. NOTE IV. INFRINGEMENT OF THE MORAL LAWS.-Text, p. 44. trates. for the effect of vaccination, and 5 per cent. as only apparent, resulting from the increasing proportion of births-31 per cent. remains, which, we apprehend, can only be accounted for by an improvement in the habits, The deterioration of the operative classes of Britain morals, and physical condition of the people. Inde- which I attribute to excessive labour, joined with great pendently, then, of the two causes alluded to, the value alternations of high and low wages, and occasionally of human life since 1780, has increased in a ratio which with absolute idleness and want, is illustrated by the would diminish the annual mortality from in 40 to 1 following extracts :in 52 1-2, a fact which is indisputably of great impor'UNEMPLOYED WEAVERS IN LANARKSHIRE. On tance, and worth volumes of declamation in illustrating Saturday last, a meeting of weavers' delegates from the the true situation of the labouring classes. We have various districts in this neighbourhood, was held in the founded our conclusion on data derived entirely from usual place. The object of the meeting was to receive English returns; but there is no doubt that it applies from the several districts an account of the number of equally to Scotland. It is consoling to find, from this weavers out of employment, which statement it was very unexceptionable species of evidence, that though intended to lay before the Lord Provost and Magisthere is much privation and suffering in the country, the The following are the returns given in :—Ãnsituation of the people has been, on the whole, progresderston contains 708 looms, of which 386 are idle. sively improving during the last forty years. But how Baillieston-toll contains 150 looms, of these 98 are much greater would the advance have been, had they empty. The district of North Bridgeton contains, in been less taxed, and better treated? and how much whole, between 400 and 500 looms. The returns are room is there still for future melioration, by spreading only from about one half of this district, which coninstruction, amending our laws, lessening the temp-tains 150 empty looms. For the centre and south distations to crime, and improving the means of correction tricts of Bridgeton, the accounts are incomplete. In and reform In the mean time it ought to be some en- the former 180 and in the latter 60 empty looms were couragement to philanthropy to learn that it has not taken up. In Charleston there are 132 idle. In to struggle against invincible obstacles, and that even Cowcaddens, of 300 looms, 120 are idle. In Clyde, Bell, when the prospect was least cheering to the eye, its ef- and Tobago Streets, of about 500 looms, there are 74 idle; forts were silently benefitting society.' and 100 working webs which cannot average 7d. a-day. In Drygate, there are 105 idle; In Drygate-toll 73; in Duke Street 18. In Gorbals, containing 365 looms, there are 223 idle. In Havannah, out of 130 looms, there are 48 idle. In the district of Keppoch-hill, of 70 weavers, there are 20 idle. The district of King Street is divided into ten wards; returns are only given in from four, which contain 70 empty looms. In Pollockshaws, containing about 800 looms, there are 216 idle. In Rutherglen there are 167 idle. In Springbank, of 141 weavers, there are 58 unemployed; and in Strathbungo, containing 104 looms, there are 28 idle, 25 of whom are married men. Parkhead, Camlachie, and some other extensive districts, have not yet given in their returns. The delegates, before separating, appointed a general meeting to be held in the Green this day, to decide upon an address to the Magistrates, requesting them to endeavour to procure employment for the idle hands.'-Glasgow Chronicle, Tuesday, March, 1826. swer, It has been mentioned to me, that the late Dr Monro, in his anatomical lectures, stated, that, as far as he could observe, the human body as a machine, was perfect. that it bore within itself no marks by which we could possibly predicate its decay,-that it was apparently calculated to go on for ever,-and that we learned only by experience that it would not do so; and some persons have conceived this to be an authority against the doctrine maintained in Chap. III, Sect. 2, that death is apparently inherent in organization. In anI beg to observe, that if we were to look at the sun only for one moment of time, say at noon, no circumstance, in its appearance would indicate that it had ever risen, or that it would ever set; but, if we had traced its progress from the horizon to the meridian, and down again till the long shadows of evening prevailed, we should have ample grounds for inferring, that, if the same causes that had produced these changes continued to operate, it would undoubtedly at length disappear. In the same way, if we were to confine our observations on the human body to a mere point of time, it is certain that, from the appearances of that moment, we could not infer that it had grown up, by gradual increase, or that it would decay; but this is the case only, because our faculties are not fitted to penetrate into the essential nature and dependences of things. Any man, who had seen the body decrease in old age, could, without hesitation, predicate, that, if the same causes which had produced that effect went on operating, dissolution would at last inevitably occur; and if his Causality were well developed, he would not hesitate to say that a cause of the decrease and dissolution must exist, although he could not tell by examining the body what it was. By analysing alcohol, no person could predicate, independently of experience, that it would produce intoxication; and nevertheless, there must be a cause in the constitution of the alcohol, in that of the body, and in the relationship between them, why it produces this effect. The notion, therefore, of Dr Monro, does not prove that death is not an essential law of organization, but only that the human faculties are not able, by dissection, to discover that the cause of it is inherent in the bodily constitution itself. It does not follow however, that this inference 'SHEEP TRADE. The late commercial crisis, like a death-blow, has paralysed the whole activity of the country, and left scarcely a single branch of its trade and industry unscathed. It was at first fondly hoped that the storm would pass without such remote districts as our own having much reason to complain of its visitation; but nothing, as the present instance proves, is more certain than that the distresses of the commercial, must also in all cases be more or less felt by the agricultural classes of the community. The demand for wool has now so far ceased as to operate most injuriously upon the price of sheep, which cannot presently be sold but at a very considerable loss to the farIn the latter part, or "back season," as it is called, of 1824, black-faced ewes—their example applies equally to the other kinds-were bought in for wintering at from 8s. to 12s. a head; and in the spring of 1825, immediately before lambing-time, these were disposed of in the English markets at so great a profit, that every farmer who could at all enter into the speculation, bought up at the end of the ensuing harvest, as much of that description of stock as his quantity of keep would reasonably permit. The number of sheep over those of the preceding year, which were bought up for this purpose, may be judged of from the fact, that the highest inlay price of 1824 was the lowest of mer. 266708B |