XXII

ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND

principles of his do£hine on this fubjeft are com-prehended in the following propofitions:

1. It is from our own experience alone, that wecan form any idea of what palfes in the mind ofanother perfon on any particular occafion; andthe only way in which we can form this idea, isby fuppofmg ourfelves in the fame circumftanceswith him, and conceiving how we fhould be affect-ed if we were fo fituated. It is impoffible forus, however, to conceive ourfelves placed in anyfituation, whether agreeable or otherwife, withoutfeeling an effect of the fame kind with what wouldbe produced by the fituation itfelf; and of confe-quence the attention we give at any time to thecircumftances of our neighbour, mull affect usfomewhat in the fame manner, although by nomeans in thefame degree, as if thefe circumftanceswere our own.

That this imaginary change of place with othermen, is the real fource of the intereft we take intheir fortunes, Mr Smith attempts to prove byvarious inftances, “ When we fee a ftrokeaimed,“ and juft ready to fall upon the leg or arm of

another perfon, we naturally flirink and drawtl back our own leg or our own arm; and when“ it does fall, we feel it in fome meafure, and aretc hurt by it as well as the fufferer. The mob,

when they are gazing at a dancer on the flack“ rope , naturally writhe and twill and balance