properly exercised, increases and acquires more strength. The fact is known to be so, with respect to the muscles of woodcutters, smiths, runners, &c. Now, the brain and its parts are subject to all the laws of organization; they are nourished like the arms and legs. Cerebral activity, therefore, determines the blood towards the head, in the same way as the blood is carried to any other part when irritated, and this law of the organization may enable us to account for the developement of certain parts of the brain of whole nations, and to explain national characters, if individual powers are cultivated during successive generations.

The growth of the organs, however, is not the most important advantage to be derived from proper exercise, for it is certain that organic parts, such as the muscles, the senses, the brain, &c. do not increase in size in proportion to their exercise. The muscles which move the fingers of a musician, for instance, who plays on a piano forte, will acquire more facility and agility than size by the exercise. If we walk little during winter, and take more bodily exercise in the spring, we are easily fatigued at the beginning, but, by degrees, we can make greater excursions without suffering by them. Yet the muscles do not grow in pro

portion as walking becomes easy. In the same way, the size of the organ of tune, or of any other power, will not augment in proportion to its being exercised, but its fibres will act with more facility.

I finish this chapter by repeating the principal points detailed in it: Exercising is the same as putting into action;-each faculty must be exercised for itself;-the means of exercising the powers are of great importance;-exercise of the faculties should take place in proportion as their respective organs are developed ;-exercise must be proportionate to the innate dispositions, too little or too much does harm, but applied in a proper degree, it makes the organs increase in size, modifies their internal constitution, and produces greater activity and facility. The effect of the same exercise is different, on account of the innate dispositions of different individuals. It has been hitherto feeble; but it will be greater, when the innate dispositions of the mind and the laws of exercise are understood and attended to.

CHAPTER IV.

ON THE

MUTUAL INFLUENCE OF THE FACUL

TIES, AS A MEANS OF EXCITEMENT.

THE fourth condition which contributes to increase the activity of the faculties, is their Mutual Influence. To employ this means it is necessary to understand, that each power may be active by its internal energy, or by its being excited by one or several other faculties; and that on the other hand, each power may be inactive either by its want of energy, or by the influence of other faculties. This consideration deserves every attention in practical education. It supposes in the teacher who wishes to reap from it all the advantages possible, a knowledge of the primitive faculties of the mind, of the natural connection of their organs, and of the individual dispositions of him who is to be educated.

It is a general law, that organic parts which contribute to the same function excite one another. The organs of smell and taste, the nerves of hunger and thirst, and the digestive power, are in intimate connection. Smell and taste often whet appetite, and the appetite excites the sense of

taste; it is therefore justly said, that hunger is the best cook. The internal feelings are equally subject to mutual influence. Amativeness, and philoprogenitiveness, frequently excite combativeness, viz. male animals fight more when under the influence of amativeness than at other periods. Females defend their young ones with more courage than any other object. Acquisitiveness and cautiousness, excite secretiveness to act. Attachment may put cautiousness into action, or we may fear for the sake of friends more than for others. Firmness may assist hope and justice, and the former may be assisted by the two latter. In short, each feeling may be stimulated by one or several others.

Mutual influence exists, also, with respect to the intellectual faculties, and is called Association of Ideas. Those persons, however, who consider association as a primitive power, are mistaken, for the activity of at least two powers, whose functions are associated, is necessarily implied in its very existence. Now, this mutual influence takes place among the feelings as well as among the faculties of the understanding, and among feelings and intellectual faculties promiscuously; that is, one or several feelings may excite intellectual operations, and vice versa.

The mutual influence of the faculties is the basis of what is called Mnemonics, or of the art of strengthening memory. This art is very ancient, but in consequence of its principles not being sufficiently understood, it has been rejected by some, and extolled to excess by others. The great errors committed in mnemonics, resemble those committed in all branches of education, and in all sorts of institutions. Teachers of every sort look upon themselves as the standard for the whole of mankind, and commonly have recourse to that faculty which is the most active in them, reproduces the most easily its anterior perceptions, and excites other powers with the greatest facility. They err in overlooking the differences of the innate dispositions and talents of different individuals.

The most common kind of mnemonics is founded on language; that is, words recall individual notions; written signs do the same, in bringing to our recollection sounds and ideas. They depend on the faculty of configuration. If we resolve upon doing a thing in a distant place, and after setting out to go there, forget our design, and recollect it only on returning to the place where the resolution was first made, the power of locality is the means of mnemonics, and many