"ticle whatever. But then, if these actual "powers exift but under such and fuch regu"Îations, and that a difpofition of parts by "motion be neceffary to the exertion of every "power, it will equally follow, that the power "of every fyftem will not be the fum of powers "of the fame kind, but be the fum of powers "of different kinds; because, by the different "fituation of parts in a system, a different "power is exerted in every particle, though " each of them would exert the fame power "under the fame circumftance or pofition. "And I much rather take this to be the cafe,

than to fuppofe really different powers "founded on different capacities in the differ"ent parts of matter; for, by experience, we "see that every thing, by change of form, be"comes every thing." This opinion of Collins may poffibly be very juft; but I am totally at a lofs to conceive how it militates against the general principle, that the power of the whole is the fum of the powers, however denominated, of all the parts. "All this," fays Dr. Clarke, in reference to this paffage, is entirely be"fide the purpofe, and ferves only to perplex "a queftion to which it bears no relation."Allowing that the primary particles of matter are, as Mr. Collins fuppofes, endowed with equal powers, though exerted only under certain circumstances; is it not plain, that these powers, all of which are refolvable into modes of motion, when united in the fame fyftem, are actually exerted; though, previous to the formation of the fyftem, they might perhaps be fufpended? When exerted, however, the power of the system is evidently the mere refult VOL. III. C

or

or aggregate of the powers of its component parts. Mr. Hobbes, on the other hand, was of opinion, as Mr. C informs us, that though the properties of a compound must be really fimilar in kind to the properties of the parts in a state of feparation, the properties might inhere in each part fo faintly, and fo approaching to evanefcence, as to be discoverable only in a condensed state in the aggregate. This opinion was, as Mr. C▬▬▬ afferts, ridiculed by Dr. Clarke. But if this opinion is erroneous, it is far from being ridiculous ; and though I have read Dr. Clarke's works as well as the learned gentleman, I recollect no fuch thing. The truth is, that Hobbes applied this principle, which, if admiffible, can be predicated of material combinations and properties only, to the cafe of perception; and maintained, that the power of perception in man might be the refult of an infinite number of inferior and fubordinate perceptions, or tendencies to perception, inhering in the particles of which the corporeal organized fyftem is composed: an opinion which Mr. C regards as extremely ingenious and plaufible; but which was, it must be acknowledged, treated with ridicule and contempt by Dr. Clarke, and deemed by that illuftrious philofopher to be the very acmé of nonfenfe and abfurdity. If the faint and evanefcent perceptions of ten thousand atoms may fo coalefce as to form one human perception, doubtlefs the perceptions of ten thousand human beings may fo coalefce as to form one angelic perception, and a proportionable number of angelic perceptions confequently into a fuper-angelic perception,

tion, and fo on in an afcending feries ad infinitum; which feems a conclufion worthy of the angelic Doctor Thomas Aquinas himself: And if we farther confider, that the inferior percipiences of which the human perception is compounded, muft, upon this hypothefis, be refolvable into percipiences of a still lower order, and fo on in a defcending feries ad infinitum; the fyftem of Mr. Hobbes must be acknowledged very amufing at least, if not very credible. The generality of Materialifts, however, have thought it more expedient to maintain, that perception is the property of the fyftem as fuch; infifting, that the component particles of the system, though themselves impercipient, may poffefs occult powers from which the property of perception may refult. And in strict conformity to this mode of reafoning, these philofophers might with equal plaufibility maintain, that the extenfion or magnitude of mount Atlas is the property of the mountain as fuch; for, allowing the particles of which the mountain is constituted to be themselves deftitute of magnitude, they may nevertheless be endowed with occult and wonderful powers, such as we are unable at prefent to form any conception of, from which the property of extension may refult. Thus it appears from a fair and accurate examination of this hypothefis, fo much applauded for its clearness and fimplicity, that with respect to all material combinations or organized fyftems, the property of the whole, i. e. of all the parts, must be the phyfical refult of the properties of all the parts, i. e. of the whole: or, in other words, that perception, the property to which this axiom is applied,

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is a caufe producing itself, and an effect produced by itself. And whoever presumes to controvert fo obvious a truth, muft fubmit to the difgrace of being claffed with Newton, Hartley, Clarke, and Price, as an abettor of the oldfashioned and vulgar fyftem of Immaterialism.

ESSAY.

ESSAY

XXVI.

OBSERVATIONS on the REIGN of JAMES II:

IT T is extremely remarkable, and it may per haps by fome be confidered as a characteristic trait of that caprice fo frequently ascribed to the English nation, that notwithstanding the vehement and furious efforts which had been fo recently made to effect the abfolute exclufion of the Duke of York from the throne, his acceffion to the crown was not accompanied with any public marks of difguft or diffatisfaction. The ftorm had fpent its rage, and was fucceeded by a dead and fettled calm. This muft not, however, be attributed to any radical change in the public opinion, refpecting the eligibility of this exclufion, in itself confidered, but to a general dread of the alarming confequences which muft have refulted from perfifting in the profecution of a project, in which it was apparent that the King would never be induced to acquiefce. And though the fudden death of Charles preyented that Monarch from executing his intention of convening a Parliament, in which such reftrictions would doubtlefs have been impofed upon the fucceffor as the political fituation

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of