the cause of pally almost always refides in the brain, this fact appears equally inexplicable, on the opinion of a diftinct living principle, or of a nervous energy independent of the brain.

5. When nerves are regenerated, after being cut through, fenfation and voluntary motion. are not always restored to the parts beneath the divifion the reftoration was never made in Dr. Monro's experiments*. But on the fuppofition of a diftinct nervous power, the nerve, after its re-union, ought to refume all its offices.

6. Dr. Whytt afferts, that when the spinal marrow of a frog is deftroyed, after decollation, no contraction can be excited in the limbs by cutting or tearing the mufcles†.

While fo many doubts occur respecting the proof of a vital principle, and while the fuppofition includes fo many difficulties, in its own nature, it is allowable to fufpend our judgment on the fubject, till more convincing proofs of its existence fhall appear, than have as yet been offered to the public.

At present, it is evident that we gain nothing by admitting the fuppofition, as no diftinct account is given of the nature or production of this principle, and as an investigation of facts feems to lead us back to the brain, as the fource of fenfibility and irritability.

• Obfervations, p. 27.

+ Obf. on Irritab. and Senfib. p. 284.

In the course of this paper, I have uniformly confidered the action of the mind and brain on the body as identical, without reference to the question of materialism, because with respect to our facts, and indeed to all medical facts, this notion is fufficiently complete. I have alfo avoided all difquifitions refpecting the peculiar nature of the nervous energy, convinced, that in the present state of our knowledge it is of more confequence to examine one opinion, which is faid to be fupported by facts, than either to reject or advance many plaufible hypotheses. I have purposely omitted to confider the application of the doctrine of a vital principle to pathology, as the fubject would lead to difquifitions inadmiffible by the rules of the Society.

On the COMPARATIVE EXCELLENCE of the SCIENCES and ARTS; by Mr. WILLIAM ROSCOE.

municated by Mr. M. NICHOLSON.

Com

READ MARCH 28, 1787.

HERE is perhaps no circumftance more

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injurious both to our improvement and happiness, than a propenfity to engage, and perfevere, in the study of particular branches of

VOL. III.

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fcience,

fcience, without first taking that enlarged and general view of our nature and destination, by' which we ought to afcertain, and arrange in due fucceffion the proper objects of our pursuit. For want of attention to this important fubject, learning and industry have frequently been exerted on unworthy objects; and genius and tafte trifled away, without either affording advantage to mankind, or obtaining reputation to their poffeffor.

If, from the time of our entrance on the world, we were enabled fully to exercise those powers of mind which are but gradually unfolded, this would be the first confideration which would fuggeft itself to a rational being; and though thofe powers are developed only by degrees, yet there is a period in the life of every man, when collecting together thofe ideas, which have been fuffered to wander almoft unrestrained over the fields of amusement, it behoves him to confider with ferious attention that tablet, which is to contain, in eternal colours, the picture of his future life; and, like a skilful artift, to obferve what requires his first attention, and what are only fecondary objects of his regard.

As it is the first aim of the painter to produce on his canvas fome great and ftriking effect; and by a proper arrangement of parts, to form a beautiful, and confiftent whole; fo it is the business of every man in the conduct of life, to exhibit to the world a great and confiftent charac

ter.

ter. In order to accomplish this end, it is neceffary to keep one grand object in view, and never fuffer ourselves to be drawn from it by too minute an attention to lefs important parts; for though these may be in themselves commendable, yet, if the principal object has been neglected, in order to bestow more affiduity on these inferior parts, it betrays a deficiency in judgment and true taste, which it will be impoffible any other merit can fully compenfate.

It is however much to be apprehended, that many perfons have past through the world, not only without difcovering, but without once reflecting on the proper objects of their pursuit; and the number is not lefs, perhaps, of those who, having formed clear and determinate ideas of their duty, have in the course of their conduct loft fight of them; and fuffered those things which required their immediate exertions totally to superfede the higher ends, to which they ought only to have been auxiliary.

In general life, what is more common than to suffer the laudable defire of acquiring independence to degenerate into an eagerness for accumulating riches, without a reference to any further end. But can we avoid pitying the man who employs his time in gilding the frame, when he fhould be finishing the picture?

In the pursuits of science, this error continually occurs; we fuffer fome particular study, which, perhaps,

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perhaps, accident rather than choice first suggested, to claim the continual facrifice of our time, and the full exertion of our talents; whilft fubjects remain neglected of far more importance, and, perhaps, in fact more fuited to our tempers and abilities.

The difficulty of divefting ourselves of particulars, and looking on things in a general view, will, however, decrease in proportion as we habituate ourselves to fuch employment; and it is rather for the purpose of illuftrating the propriety of the practice, than with the expectation of facilitating it, that I beg the attention of this refpectable Society, whilft I enter more fully into the fubject.

Man, in his original conftitution, is endowed with a variety of faculties, different in their ends and nature; but, I conceive, they may be reduced to the three following, viz. the moral fenfe, or that which diftinguishes virtue and vice; the rational faculty, diftinguishing truth and falfehood; and the fentimental faculty, or, as it is ufually called, tafte, which diftinguishes beauty from deformity. To the acquifitions made in improving the rational and moral powers we give the name of Science; whilft the fentimental faculty is the foundation of the pleasures we receive.from the study of the polite arts.

As these faculties may be improved by exercife, fo they may be injured, and decay by neg

lect,