among individuals of the fame fpecies, prevents almost entirely the effect of novelty, unlefs diftance of place or fome other circumftance concur; but where the resemblance is faint, fome degree of wonder is felt, and the emotion rifes in proportion to the faintnefs of the refemblance.

The highest degree of wonder arifeth from unknown objects that have no analogy to any fpecies we are acquainted with. Shakespeare in a fimile introduces that fpecies of novelty:

As glorious to the fight

As is a winged meffenger from heaven
Unto the white up-turned wond'ring eye
Of mortals, that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds,
And fails upon the bofom of the air.

Romeo and Juliet.

One example of that fpecies of novelty deferves peculiar attention; and that is, when an object altogether new is feen by one perfon only, and but once. These circumftances heighten remarkably the emotion: the fingularity of the fpectator concurs with the fingularity of the object, to inflame wonder to its highest pitch.

In explaining the effects of novelty, the place a being occupies in the fcale of existence, is a circumftance that muft not be omitted. Novelty in the individuals of a low class is perceived with indifference, or with a very flight emotion:

thus

thus a pebble, however fingular in its appearance, fcarce moves our wonder. The emotion rifes with the rank of the object; and, other circumftances being equal, is ftrongest in the higheft order of existence: a ftrange infect affects us more than a strange vegetable; and a strange quadruped more than a ftrange infect.

However natural novelty may be, it is a matter of experience, that those who relish it the moft are careful to conceal its influence. Love of novelty, it is true, prevails in children, in idlers, and in men of fhallow understanding: and yet, after all, why fhould one be ashamed of indulging a natural propenfity? A diftinction will afford a fatisfactory answer. No man is afhamed of curiofity when it is indulged in order to acquire knowledge. But to prefer any thing merely because it is new, fhows a mean tafte, which one ought to be afhamed of: vanity is commonly at the bottom, which leads thofe who are deficient in tafte to prefer things odd, rare, or fingular, in order to diftinguish themfelves from others. And in fact, that appetite, as above mentioned, reigns chiefly among perfons of a mean tafte, who are ignorant of refined and elegant pleasures.

One final caufe of wonder, hinted above, is, that this emotion is intended to ftimulate our curiofity. Another, fomewhat different, is, to prepare the mind for receiving deep impreffions

of

of new objects. An acquaintance with the various things that may affect us and with their properties, is effential to our well-being: nor will a flight or fuperficial acquaintance be sufficient; they ought to be fo deeply engraved on the mind, as to be ready for ufe upon every occafion. Now, in order to make a deep impreffion, it is wifely contrived, that things fhould be introduced to our acquaintance with a certain pomp and folemnity productive of a vivid emotion. When the impreffion is once fairly made, the emotion of novelty, being no longer neceffary, vanisheth almoft inftantaneously; never to return, unless where the impreffion happens to be obliterated by length of time or other means; in which cafe, the fecond introduction hath nearly the fame folemnity with the firft.

Defigning wifdom is no where more legible than in this part of the human frame. If new objects did not affect us in a very peculiar manner, their impreffions would be fo flight as fcarce to be of any ufe in life: on the other hand, did objects continue to affect us as deeply as at first, the mind would be totally engroffed with them, and have no room left either for action or reflection.

The final caufe of furprise is still more evident than of novelty. Self-love makes us vigilantly attentive to felf-prefervation; but selflove, which operates by means of reafon and

reflection,

reflection, and impels not the mind to any particular object or from it, is a principle too cool for a fudden emergency: an object breaking in unexpectedly, affords no time for deliberation; and, in that cafe, the agitation of furprise comes in seasonably to roufe felf-love into action: furprise gives the alarm; and if there be any appearance of danger, our whole force is inftantly fummoned up to fhun or to prevent it.

CHAP.

CHAP. VII.

RISIBLE OBJECTS.

UCH is the nature of man, that his powers

SUC

and faculties are foon blunted by exercise. The returns of fleep, fufpending all activity, are not alone fufficient to preferve him in vigour : during his waking hours, amufement by intervals is requifite to unbend his mind from ferious occupation. To that end, nature hath kindly made a provifion of many objects, which may be diftinguished by the epithet of rifible, because they raife in us a peculiar emotion expreffed externally by laughter: that emotion is pleasant ; and being alfo mirthful, it moft fuccefsfully unbends the mind, and recruits the fpirits. Imagination contributes a part by multiplying fuch objects without end.

Ludicrous is a general term, fignifying, as may appear from its derivation, what is playfome, fportive, or jocular. Ludicrous, therefore, feems the genus, of which rifible is a species, limited as above to what makes us laugh.

However easy it may be, concerning any particular object, to fay whether it be rifible or not, it feems difficult, if at all practicable, to establish

any