Dissertations Moral and Critical (Volume 1) - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1783. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... SECT. V. External Associations.--Recapitulations. SOME people contract strange habits of, what may be called, External Association. 1 call it so ; because the body is more concerned in ic than the mind, and external things than ideas. They connect a certain action with a certain object, so, that without the one they cannot easily perform the other; although, independently on habit, there is no connection between them. I have heard of a clergyman, who could not compose his sermon, except when he held a foot-rule in his hand ; and of one, who, while he was employed in study, would always be rolling between his fingers a parcel of peas, whereof he constantly kept a trencher full, within reach of his arm. I knew a gentleman who would talk a great deal in company, by the help of a large pin, which he held between his thumb and fore-finger; but, when he lost his pin, his tongue seemed at the fame instant to lose its volubility; and he never was at ease, till he had provided himself with another implement of the fame kind. Locke speaks of a young man, who, in one particular room where an old trunk stood, could dance very well; but in any other room, if it wanted such a piece of furniture, could not dance at all. The Tatler mentions a more probable instance, of a lawyer, who in his pleadings used always to be twisting about his finger a piece of packthread, which the punsters of that time called, with some reason, the thread of his discourse. One day, a client ofhis had a mind to fee, how he would acquit himself without it; and stole it from him. The consequence was, that the orator became silent in the middle ofhis harangue, and the client lost his cause. Such examples may be uncommon; but many persons are to be met with, who have contracted similar habits. You may fee...