XXXI

ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND

principles of his doflrine on this fubjeft are com-prehended in the following propofitions :

l. It is from our own experience alone, that wecan form any idea of what paffes 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 fliould be a heel-ed if we were fo fituated. It is impoflible forus, however, to conceive ourfelves placed in any•Situation, whether agreeable or otherwife, withoutfeeling an effedlofthe 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, muft alfeét usfomewhat in the fame manner , although by nomeans in thefame degree, as if thefe circumftanceswere our own.

That this imaginary change of place with other.men, is the real four ce of the in ter eft we take intheir fortunes, Mr Smith attempts to prove byVarious inftances. “ When we fee a ftroke aimed,“ and juft ready to fall upon the leg or arm of“ another perfon, we naturally fhrink and draw“ back our own leg or our own arm; and when

it does fall, we feel it in fame meafure, and are<£ hurt by it as well as the fufferer. The mob," when they are gazing at a dancer on die flack* { rope , naturally writhe and twift and balance