CON DILLAC, S it.runs BONNE l' nE, a celebrated French metaphysician, whose writings throw around his name a distinguished lustre, while his private history is involved in singular obscurity. 11c first became known to the world as an author in 1746, when he published his "Essay on the Origin of Human Knowledge." Ills object in this work is to develope the faculties of the human mind, 1w tracing historically the progress of its opera tions. in his next work, entitled, ".1 Treatise on Sensa tions," he endeavours to account for the origin of me mory, judgment, and the mental affections, and the gradual formation and correction of sensible ideas, by imagining to himself a statue, provided at first with a single sense, and with the others in succession. The fame of his writings had procured him the honourable situation of preceptor to Don Ferdinand, Prince of Parma, for whose instruction he drew up " .4 Course of Study," bee. which she afterwards published in 16 duodecimo volumes. In the introduction to these volumes, he enters into a discussion of the comparative advantages of the different modes of instruction, judiciously giving a decided preference to the mode of advancing gradually from particular facts up to general principles. Logic,
metaphysics, and the philosophy of the human mind, arc comprehended among the earlier stages of this course of study ; from which he proceeds to the study of history, of which he has given an ample and well-arranged abridgment, in eleven volumes. Condillac likewise pub lished a " Treatise on .lnimals," in which he endeavours to refute the notions of Descartes and Huron, concern ing the mechanical nature of brutes, and to show in what manner their faculties arc derived ; and a small work, entitled, " Commerce and Government consdered relatively to each other." Ile died in 1780, leaving be hind him a splendid reputation, deservedly acquired by the extent of his knowledge, the soundness of his judg ment, and the clear and comprehensive dews which he took of every subject toff ards which his mind was directed. (k)