Leyden that he could repeat correctly a long act of parliament, or any similar document, after having once read it.When he was on one occasion congratulated by a friend on his remarkable power in this respect, he replied that instead of an advantage, it was often a source of great inconvenience.This he explained by saying that when he wished to recollect a particular point in any thing which he had read, he could do it only by repeating to himself the whole from the commencement till be reached the point which be wished to recall.Again, "a distinguished theatrical performer, in consequence of the sudden illness of another actor, had occasion to prepare himself in a few hours'
notice for a part which was entirely new to him, and the part was long and rather difficult.He acquired it in a very short time, and went through it with perfect accuracy, but immediately after the performance forgot it to such a degree that, though he performed the character for several days in succession, he was obliged every day to study it anew.
Characters which he had acquired in a more deliberate manner he never forgets, but can perform them at any time without a moment's preparation.When questioned respecting the mental process which he employed the first time he performed this part, he says that he lost sight entirely of the audience, and seemed to have nothing before him but the pages of the book from which he had learned, and that if any thing had occurred to stop this illusion, he should have stopped instantly." I may give another instance."A lady, in the last stage of chronic disease, was carried from London to a lodging in the country; there her infant daughter was taken to visit her, and, after a short inter view, carried back to town.The lady died a few days after, and the daughter grew up without any recollection of her till she was of mature age.At this time she happened to be taken into the room in which her mother died without knowing it to have been so.
She started on entering it, and, when a friend who was along with her asked the cause of her agitation, replied -- "Ihave a distinct impression of having been in this room before, and that a lady who lay in that room, and seemed very ill, leaned over me and wept."'
The work on the " Moral Feelings " does not seem to me so valuable, and this because he cannot in treating of such a subject, have so many of those cases which he as a medical man had so carefully noted.But it is characterized by a fine spirit, and it has a useful tendency.He has some important remarks on the " Analogy between first Truths or Intuitive Principles {408} of Belief in Intellectual and Moral Science." "In applying to these important articles of belief the name of first truths or primary principles of moral conviction, I do not mean to ascribe to them any thing of the nature of innate ideas.I mean only that they come with a rapid or instantaneous conviction, entirely distinct from what we call a process of reasoning in every well-regulated mind, when it is directed by the most ****** course of reflection to the phenomena of nature without and to the moral feelings of which it is conscious within." In his analysis of man as a moral being, he includes: (1) The desires, the affections, and self-love; (2) The will; (3)Moral principle or conscience; (4) The moral relation of man towards the Deity.The discussion of these subjects is not very deep or original, but it is commonly correct and always useful.
