Dr. Reid doubts whether the "principle of esteem as well as gratitude ought to he reckoned in the order of animal prin ciples, or if they ought not rather to be placed in a higher order." The same a•thor, treating on resentment, has con sidered it as a sudden and instinctive ani mal principle, common to the brute crea tion and mankind ; at the same time he calls deliberate resentment a rational principle.
To pursue theories further would be useless, we shall therefore conclude with the opinion of Dr. Cogan, one of the latest writers on the subject : " Without entering therefore into enquiries of this nature, which for want of data must he conjectural and unsatisfactory, it will be more consistent with my plan, simply to state interesting facts, and leave it to the metaphysician to draw such consequences as he may deem most legitimate. It must be admitted that every passion, emo tion, and affection proceeds from certain impressions or ideas excited concerning the nature, or state, or quality, or agency of the exciting cause. These ideas have undoubtedly their seat in that part of man we distinguish by the appellation of mind." This admitted, the Doctor ad vances, that the exciting cause must change the state of it in relation to any given object ; thus from total indifference the mind becomes in some particular manner interested, consequently the new impression produces a correspondent change upon the body, and in proportion to the impetus, general observation, and universal phraseology founded upon that observation, demonstrates that a per ceptible influence of each violent emotion is directed towards the heart, which feels different sensations, pleasant, or the re verse, over which it has no controul, and from this centre diverges the influence of agitated spirits, the slightest effects of which are not visible to the spectator.
"Nay," adds this gentleman, "the sub ject himself is not conscious perhaps of any thing more than either a change of sentiment on the perception of the stronger influence of a former sentiment connecting with something agreeable or disagreeable in this perception ; a some thing which attaches more strongly to the object, or creates some degree of re pugnance. This state of mind is styled an affection, and it appears to be totally mental ; but stronger influences produce such changes, that the inward disposition becomes obvious to the spectator, through the medium of the corporeal frame. It is now called an emotion, and this may increase in strength until the whole sys. tern becomes agitated and convulsed. From this statement it appears incontes tible, that the affections and passions have their origin in the mind, while emo lions are corporeal indications of what passes within."