Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-05-26

REFLECTIONS ON THE WESTERN coUH-
Mr. Printer,
After what has been said in the first
number as TO the probable formation Of
the earth, it might reasonably be expect
ed that the author would proceed on to
give his conjectures respecting the for
nation of man. or the origin OF what Is
called animate nature; but here all pro-
bable, philosophical theory ends' and we
are obliged. as dernier resort 10 nave
recourse to revelation.
But, improbable as any thing may ap-
pear without this light, let US try how 1t
may it be accounted for by philoso'
ply. Reason will disarm error OF its
shafts; therefore the enquiry will not
tend to demoralize but may produce o
spirit Of investigation.
Then, let us suppose. that after part
Of the earth arose from its watery bed,
the Influence Of the sun extracted from
it the latent principles OF animation, till
then chemically combined with inert
matter. Insects crawled, birds flew, and
man majestically walked, as lord OF the
new creation. Our next enquiry would
be, what gave man this Pre-emlnence :
The answer will be, the more complete
conjecture Of his formation.--Vested
with more senses, susceptible Of longer
existence, and having a brain sufficiently
capacious for a reservoir OF a greater Por-
tion of that etherea fluid, which, we will
here call the soul Of she universe. The
enquiry which will next strike the minds
is to know, what this fluid isi We will
answer electricity. Now, this will re-
auire notifications as to the term, and an
immense field opens to show the regions
which it invade. The electricity OF the
atmosphere, by passing into the lungs
with xygen gas, must necessarily un
dergo SEINE change or admixture; tor the
nervous chords do not appear to be pre-
per conductors of electricity yet we can
conceive NO other substance sufficiently
quick iu its action TO move distant
member from the sensorium in the twink
ling Of an, eye; and it is as probable that
oxygen can modify the electrical suId'
as that electrical sparks can assist in its
oxydizing other substances This gives
US the capacity of comparing external OBJ
jects; it is the principle of each sense
in short, the mind. No doubt, this fuid
filled our nervous tubes, whilst in utero /;
but then we were not presented with sx'
terual objects-of course, no impressions
were made. II l might be permitted TO
make comparison here, -ouid COM
psre the body to wind instrument inc t
of itself, till acted on by the stimuli Of
the mind, CT till stimulated by external
objects, conveyed through the medium Of
the senses, and modified by the ethereal
fluid which pervades our system. We
are charmed with the melodious sound OF
a flute willis, in the hands Of skilful
musician but break the instrument, and
il is merely piece Of inorganized mat
ter. unfit for use so with our bodies
ve can reason, act, &c as long as the
stimuli of electricity acts, in a peculiar
way on our organization, producing thai
consequence called mind; but as in the
flute, destroy the texture, or stop the
avenues leading to the sensorium' ant
what are WEI Matter devoid Of mind
1t is not to be supposed, that this hnld
or its influence, is peculiar to man. Ih'
meauest reptile which crawls on tn
earth. receives a portion adapted to 1t
capacity though perhaps, in an micro
degree land owing to the shortne's O
their lives, they cannot reason from caus
to efect-and owing to their want Q
powers, they cannot convey the ideas re
ceived through The medium Of their con
tracted senses. Yet it will not do t
say, that any part Of the animal cteatio