oposition； yet it will perhaps be admitted； that almost every reader； when he regards it as a supposition merely； says to himself for a moment； 〃Would I？ Could I？〃
But； to bring the irrationality of man more completely to the test； let us change the supposition。 Let us imagine him to be gifted with the powers of the fabled basilisk； 〃to monarchise； be feared； and kill with looks。〃 His present impulses； his passions； his modes of reasoning and choosing shall continue； but his 〃will is neighboured to his act；〃 whatever he has formed a conception of with preference； is immediately realised； his thought is succeeded by the effect； and no traces are left behind； by means of which a shadow of censure or suspicion can be reflected on him。
Man is in truth a miracle。 The human mind is a creature of celestial origin； shut up and confined in a wall of flesh。 We feel a kind of proud impatience of the degradation to which we are condemned。 We beat ourselves to pieces against the wires of our cage； and long to escape； to shoot through the elements； and be as free to change at any instant the place where we dwell； as to change the subject to which our thoughts are applied。
This； or something like this； seems to be the source of our most portentous follies and absurdities。 This is the original sin upon which St。 Austin and Calvin descanted。 Certain Arabic writers seem to have had this in their minds； when they tell us； that there is a black drop of blood in the heart of every man； in which is contained the fomes peccati； and add that； when Mahomet was in the fourth year of his age； the angel Gabriel caught him up from among his playfellows； and taking his heart from his bosom； squeezed out of it this first principle of frailty； in consequence of which he for ever after remained inaccessible to the weaknesses of other men＇6＇。
＇6＇ Life of Mahomet； by Prideaux。
It is the observation of sir Thomas Browne： 〃Man is a noble animal； splendid in ashes； and pompous in the grave。〃 One of the most remarkable examples of this is to he found in the pyramids of Egypt。 They are generally considered as having been erected to be the tombs of the kings of that country。 They have no opening by which for the light of heaven to enter； and afford no means for the accommodation of living man。 An hundred thousand men are said to have been constantly employed in the building； ten years to have been consumed in hewing and conveying the stones； and twenty more in completing the edifice。 Of the largest the base is a square； and the sides are triangles； gradually diminishing as they mount in the air。 The sides of the base are two hundred and twenty feet in length； and the perpendicular height is above one hundred and fifty…five feet。 The figure of the pyramid is precisely that which is most calculated for duration： it cannot perish by accident； and it would require almost as much labour to demolish it； as it did to raise it at first。
What a light does this fact convey into the inmost recesses of the human heart！ Man reflects deeply； and with feelings of a mortified nature； upon the perishableness of his frame； and the approaching close； so far as depends upon the evidence of our senses； of his existence。 He has indeed an irrepressible 〃longing after immortality；〃 and this is one of the various and striking modes in which he has sought to give effect to his desire。
Various obvious causes might be selected； which should be calculated to give birth to the feeling of discontent。
One is； the not being at home。
I will here put together some of the particulars which make up the idea of home in the most emphatical sense of the word。
Home is the place where a man is principally at his ease。 It is the place where he most breathes his native air： his lungs play without impediment； and every respiration brings a pure element； and a cheerful and gay frame of mind。 Home is the place where he most easily accomplishes all his designs； he has his furniture and materials and the elements of his occupations entirely within his reach。 Home is the place where he can be uninterrupted。 He is in a castle which is his in full propriety。 No unwelcome guests can intrude； no harsh sounds can disturb his contemplations； he is the master； and can command a silence equal to that of the tomb； whenever he pleases。
In this sense every man feels； while cribbed in a cabin of flesh； and shut up by the capricious and arbitrary injunctions of human communities； that he is not at home。
Another cause of our discontent is to be traced to the disparity of the two parts of which we are composed； the thinking principle； and the body in which it acts。 The machine which constitutes the visible man； bears no proportion to our thoughts； our wishes and desires。 Hence we are never satisfied； we always feel the want of something we have not； and this uneasiness is continually pushing us on to precipitate and abortive resolves。
I find in a book； entitled； Illustrations of Phrenology； by Sir George Mackenzie； Baronet； the following remark。 'If this portrait be correctly drawn； the right side does not quite agree with the left in the region of ideality。 This dissimilarity may have produced something contradictory in the feelings of the person it represents； which he may have felt extremely annoying＇7＇。〃 An observation of this sort may be urged with striking propriety as to the dissimilar attributes of the body and the thinking principle in man。
＇7＇ The remark thus delivered is applied to the portrait of the author of the present volume。
It is perhaps thus that we are to account for a phenomenon； in itself sufficiently obvious； that our nature has within it a principle of boundless ambition； a desire to be something that we are not； a feeling that we are out of our place； and ought to be where we are not。 This feeling produces in us quick and earnest sallies and goings forth of the mind； a restlessness of soul； and an aspiration after some object that we do not find ourselves able to chalk out and define。
Hence comes the practice of castle…building； and of engaging the soul in endless reveries and imaginations of something mysterious and unlike to what we behold in the scenes of sublunary life。 Many writers； having remarked this； have endeavoured to explain it from the doctrine of a preexistent state； and have said that； though we have no clear and distinct recollection of what happened to us previously to our being launched in our present condition； yet we have certain broken and imperfect conceptions； as if； when the tablet of the memory was cleared for the most part of the traces of what we had passed through in some other mode of being； there were a few characters that had escaped the diligence of the hand by which the rest had been obliterated。
It is this that； in less enlightened ages of the world； led men to engage so much of their thoughts upon supposed existences； which； though they might never become subject to our organs of vision； were yet conceived to be perpetually near us； fairies； ghosts； witches； demons and angels。 Our ancestors often derived suggestions from these； were informed of things beyond the ken of ordinary faculties； were tempted to the commission of forbidden acts； or encouraged to proceed in the paths of virtue。
The most remarkable of these phenomena was that of necromancy； sorcery and magic。 There were men who devoted themselves to 〃curious arts；〃 and had books fraught with hidden knowledge。 They could 〃bedim
The noon…tide sun； call forth the mutinous winds； And 'twixt the green sea and the azured vault Set roaring war： to the dread； rattling thunder They could give fire； and rift even Jove's stout oak With his own boltgraves at their command Have waked their sleepers； oped and let them forth。
And of these things the actors in them were so certain； that many witches were led to the stake； their guilt being principally established on their own confessions。 But the most memorable matters in the history of the black art； were the contracts which those who practised it not unfrequently entered into with the devil； that he should assist them by his supernatural power for ten or twenty years； and； in consideration of this aid； they consented to resign their souls into his possession； when the period of the contract was expired。
In the animal creation there are some species that may be tamed； and others whose wildness is irreclaimable。 Horace says； that all men are mad： and no doubt mankind in general has one of the features of madness。 In the ordinary current of our existence we are to a considerable degree rational and tractable。 But we are not altogether safe。 I may converse with a maniac for hours； he shall talk as soberly； and conduct himself with as much propriety； as any other of the species who has never been afflicted with his disease； but touch upon a particular string； and； before you are aware of it； he shall fly out into the wildest and most terrifying extravagances。 Such； though in a greatly inferior degree； are the majority of human beings。
The original impulse of man is uncontrolableness。 When the spirit of life first descends upon us； we desire and attempt to be as free as air。 We are impatient of restraint。 This is the period of the empire of will。 There is a power within us that wars against the restraint of another。 We are eager to follow our own impulses and caprices； and are with difficulty subjected to those who believe they best know how to control inexperienced youth in a way that shall tend to his ultimate advantage。
The most moderate and auspicious method in which the old may endeavour to guide and control the pursuits of the young； undoubtedly is by the conviction of the understanding。 But this is not always easy。 It is not at all times practicable fully to explain to the apprehension of a very young person the advantage； which at a period a little more advanced he would be able clearly to recognise。
There is a further evil appertaining to this view of the subject。
A young man even； in the early season of life； is not always disposed to obey the convictions of his understanding。 He has prescribed to himself a task which returns with the returning day； but he i