sprightly and the most horrible ideas?. There seems to be much exercise, during sleep, of that power in the mind of concatenating ideas, and of running from one to another by a very slender thread; and I can't but think that, when both body and mind are in their usual frame, we are susceptible of the same sort of ideas, and of the same variety of them, when asleep as when awake; allowing, at the same time, that an extraordinary velocity of the fluids may determine the train of thinking more forcibly when asleep than when awake. A bad conscience I take to be an excellent thing for procuring anxious dreams.

I AM much taken with your last thought, of investigating the genius and character of a man from his nightly visions. What makes me think it a reasonable and probable way, is the analogy which commonly takes place between ones waking and sleeping thoughts, words, and actions. Experience confirms me of this in my own particular case; for I remember not ever to have acted a part during sleep but what was eminently agreeable to my natural temper. When one is in some measure satisfied of the probability of this,

the advantages which obviously arise from it are twofold. 1. It is a new way to judge of the character of another *; a thing so very difficult as to stand in need of every help; and by means of this, if we can betray a person into the rehearsal of his dreams, we can draw conclusions without any sort of suspicion; at least if we take it for granted that this way of judging is not yet got abroad into the world. 2. The second advantage is like the first, in a matter perhaps of as great difficulty, and of greater importance to every individual, to assist him in forming a just notion of his own character. Our waking actions, and even our sentiments on events, are often so blended and darkened in their principles and motives, that we ourselves are often at a loss to say what and how many motives went to determine us, as the writers on morality witness. By attending and reflecting, therefore, on our sleeping thoughts, words, and actions, the view of our own history is enlarged; we can see our behaviour in a greater variety of scenes, and, of consequence, are better enabled on the whole to form a judgment.

• See on this subject, a Discourse on Dreams, by Mr SMELLIE, in his Philosophy of Natural History, vol. ii. 361.

I FIND I could say a great deal upon this topic. The thought pleases me, and I thank you truly for the hint; but my half sheet forbids a prosecution for the present. If you like the theme, you'll favour me with another folio upon it. If you pleased you could sometimes favour me with a letter oftener than once a fortnight. You could write at any time through the week. For example, what would enable me to cut a figure in these parts, an account of the philosophy of hard and soft water; and leave it at the recepta culum epistolarum.

Your account of the effects of thunder appears to be very rational: Only, I think there should be something more requisite to extrude the fæces, and to make the hinds calve, than a mere relaxation of the sphincters. In the common performance of these functions, the abdominal muscles are brought into play, not to say the diaphragm likewise; and I know not but the rectum in the one operation, and the uterus in the other, may likewise have their share in the drama.

Je juis le votre.

No. XXXVII.

To Mr WILLIAM SMELLIE from

DEAR SMELLIE,

**

No date.

I REMEMBER YOu once proposed that we should write, if possible, on topics unattempted yet in prose or numerous verse. I am no way averse from the proposal, nor do I know a properer man in the world to start such subjects than you; nor a properer person to prosecute them, when started, than your humble servant, provided always that they overleap not the circuit of all human comprehension. You know that my meditations this summer bear clean away from the three kingdoms, except now and then an accidental touching at some of their islands.

WHAT Would you think of a discourse in your Magazine* upon the theme of Hybrids ? We might spoilzie † the Orator for instance, and add of our own what we may.

Mr SMELLIE was at this time corrector to MURRAY and COCHRANE, and had the superintendance of the Scots Magazine, then the property of his masters.

† A Scots expression, meaning to pilfer from the lectures of Dr HOPE, on the subject proposed for a joint essay.

THERE are several more vulgar things which I greatly need to have your thoughts upon. Such as, firstly, the Curdling of Milk. The calfs stomach with its contents, salted, is it seems employed for this purpose, and likewise the stomach of a pregnant cow, if my information be just. Your chemistry

will bear you out in the solution of this; and I will trouble you with no more at present, as I fear me a whole sheet of your spargality will scarce contain a response.

P. S. WILL you now permit me to trouble you with a tender of my respects to Mr WALKER, and an earnest desire to borrow of him his written French Exercises, to assist me in my tutorage. I too wrote them once, but on the Sybils leaves. Finally, it is sperated that any esternism pervading the above schedule, I mean the supra-schedula, will be promptly exculpated by one of your orientality*. I never subscribe my name, but to letters of religion, so you must excuse it for the present; nevertheless, as the above contains a

* This alludes to some comments on passages in the Old Testament, which are here omitted; as however properly they might occupy the attention of ingenious young men in private discussion, they do not seem precisely suitable in a work like the present.