bearing of any facts, or to arrive at any conclusion to which the mind by itself is competent. From any definite number of premises the correct answer may be obtained, by a process imitating, as far as possible, the natural process of thought.

(96.) By the natural powers of thought the mind also possesses a spontaneiety, a power by which bygone impressions appear, constituting an act of memory. These the mind treats according to all the laws impressed on the brain, and moulds them into one harmonious whole to constitute an act of imagination. This property, ever active in the fertile minds of our dramatic and novelist writers, is never exercised without due regard to the experiences which have been afforded of the sequences of events. The mere conception of an idea would be useless unless its relation to other ideas and other events was fully shown, and the exercise of the faculties of remembering, combining, and comparing ideas, is amply shown in man, and indicates a power of adaptation in his cerebral organization as given by Nature, infinitely superior to any human contrivance however ingenious. We thus perceive, that whether we study the mechanical arrangements of the bones, the optical structure of the eye, the hydrostatic apparatus for the circulation of the blood, the acoustic arrangements for hearing, the mechanism of muscular motion, the generation of force, or that physical structure

which is the instrument of the mind, we are equally astonished at the infinite perfection of their design. This cannot fail to show to man his utter insignificance in nis inventive skill, as displayed in his mechanical contrivances, when contrasted with the wonderful example of creative power which his own beautiful and perfect organization affords, and must make him deeply feel the infinite goodness and power of God.

CHAPTER VIII.

ADAPTATION OF PROCESS OF THOUGHT TO ALGEBRAIC

FORMULE.

(97). Syllogism.—(98). Algebraic Formulæ.

(97). The laws regulating the natural process of thought, can not only be exemplified by mechanical contrivances, but can also be adapted to algebraic formula. In logical works the notation which is used is remarkable for its extraordinary vagueness of character. Thus logicians set out the syllogism

every Y is X

every Y is Z

therefore some rational beings) therefore some Z's

are X's.

die Upon this plan logicians exemplify what they call logical deductions, but the most casual examination will sufficiently explain why no man of sense ever employs logical ambiguities, for how possibly according to the ordinary use of symbols and words can every Y be both X and Z, and yet only some Z's be X's, for the word is or be denotes

equality, coincidence, sameness, and does not admit of limitation. In the logical system the word is used in two senses.

(98). According to the electro-biological view, the assertion, All men die, may be rendered A. (assertion) = Y man + X, mortality; that is, the words man and mortality are always conjoined. According to the second assertion, we find that Y-Z rational beings-U something else, which is unknown, from which we find that Y+X=(Z+U) +X from which we know that man being mortal, some organised beings are mortal. By conducting our formulæ upon this plan, every proposition can be solved according to those true principles which men who are reputed to have common sense, conduet their operations, for no matter how many assertions are given, satisfactory conclusions based upon them can be obtained.

(99). In the comparison of two assertions, ordinary modes of applying symbols can be adopted, for according to the principles which we have developed, when the assertions are unravelled into their component parts, if every part on both sides is identical, the assertion is affirmative; if at any one part a difference exists, the assertion differs; if in any one part its nature is unknown, then the coincidence is only probable; and lastly, if at any one part the nature on both sides is unknown, then the coincidence is only possible.

CHAPTER IX.

VALUE OF THE PRONOUN I.

(100). Natural Process of Thought.-(101). Value of I-(102). Suppression of Opinion.--(103). Effect of.-(104). Practical Application.

(100). In the human brain impressions from the external world are continually being received, are there registered, and remain to produce their influence on the comparison between new and bygone knowledge. As far as the mechanism of the brain exceeds that of any human contrivance, so is the result of the proper application of the mind more trustworthy than the artificial contrivances of reasoning by words, cyphers, or mechanical inventions.

(101). From this cause great respect is paid to any trustworthy person, when he boldly declares that he himself believes that any opinion which he promulgates is true. In writings, therefore, nothing can exceed the value and force of the word I, either implied or used; and although there are