Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Given By The Dumb Philosopher.
open my mind with the same unreservedness to you : but to proceed f I shall in this letter give you an account of some extraordinary pieces of curiosity , which are treasured up in my friend's excellent library ; the first thing which , at this time , fixed my attention was a curious : watch , of a something larger size than ordinary , which my friend telling me he had bought at Mecca , he distinguished by the name of a PHILOSOPHICAL WATCH , and gave me the following account of it . ¦ ' The invention of a . philosophical watch , ' said he , ' is a matter of so great importance , curiosity , and use , that I believe you will not think the time mispent , if I am particular in my description of it .
' I must beg leave to premise , that there are as many different kinds of perfection as there are beings capable of attaining to them . They may , however , be brought under three general heads ; viz . the vegetable , the animal , and the intellectual perfections : but it is to the latter only my watch is applicable . ' A man may be said to live up to the highest perfection of his speciesif he has attained to a true knowled of his duty to the
, ge Supreme Being , to himself , and to his fellow-creatures , and squares all his actions according to the dictates of that knowledge . 'This may properl y be called the RATIONAL or PHILOSOPHICAL LIFE of MAM , the length of which my watch has the singular virtue to measure with the greatest accuracy . It shews , ' I say , ' with the greatest exactitude , how' long a person may be said to have lived ;
taking that word into the most perfect , acceptation it will bear . ' Whatever the common opinion ofthe world may be , we cannot properly be said to live the time we spend in dressing , gaming dancing , prattling , laughing , and the like . We live no longer than we act according to tlie true diftates of solid reason and sound iindeistanding . At least in this sense it is that my watch shews how long a man has really lived , with regard only to such perfections as cannot come within the compass of those which are common to the vegetable or animal life .
' To outward appearance , you see , ' continued my friend , ' that this watch differs from a common pocket-watch only in the dial-plate , and the motions ofthe hands . The circle , which , in common watches ; shews the minutes , is here " divided into 3 60 degrees . Thirty of them is a philosophical month , and each single division a philospbical day , which is something longer than a natural daybecause 3 60 make " a
, year . The inward circle is . divided into 24 hours , with their subdivisions as in common watches ; but the motions of the hand are just the reverse . The hour-hand moves round its whole circle , while that which is called the minute-hand in other watches , is moving the 3 60 th part of its circumference ; and both move either backwards or forwards as circumstances require .
' The use of this watch is exceedingly plain and easy : whenever I desi re to know the philosophical life of any person , I need only hold h so hear him , that it is within the reach of the effluvia that proceed tfom'his body ; keeping my finger upon a certain spring , which " pre-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Given By The Dumb Philosopher.
open my mind with the same unreservedness to you : but to proceed f I shall in this letter give you an account of some extraordinary pieces of curiosity , which are treasured up in my friend's excellent library ; the first thing which , at this time , fixed my attention was a curious : watch , of a something larger size than ordinary , which my friend telling me he had bought at Mecca , he distinguished by the name of a PHILOSOPHICAL WATCH , and gave me the following account of it . ¦ ' The invention of a . philosophical watch , ' said he , ' is a matter of so great importance , curiosity , and use , that I believe you will not think the time mispent , if I am particular in my description of it .
' I must beg leave to premise , that there are as many different kinds of perfection as there are beings capable of attaining to them . They may , however , be brought under three general heads ; viz . the vegetable , the animal , and the intellectual perfections : but it is to the latter only my watch is applicable . ' A man may be said to live up to the highest perfection of his speciesif he has attained to a true knowled of his duty to the
, ge Supreme Being , to himself , and to his fellow-creatures , and squares all his actions according to the dictates of that knowledge . 'This may properl y be called the RATIONAL or PHILOSOPHICAL LIFE of MAM , the length of which my watch has the singular virtue to measure with the greatest accuracy . It shews , ' I say , ' with the greatest exactitude , how' long a person may be said to have lived ;
taking that word into the most perfect , acceptation it will bear . ' Whatever the common opinion ofthe world may be , we cannot properly be said to live the time we spend in dressing , gaming dancing , prattling , laughing , and the like . We live no longer than we act according to tlie true diftates of solid reason and sound iindeistanding . At least in this sense it is that my watch shews how long a man has really lived , with regard only to such perfections as cannot come within the compass of those which are common to the vegetable or animal life .
' To outward appearance , you see , ' continued my friend , ' that this watch differs from a common pocket-watch only in the dial-plate , and the motions ofthe hands . The circle , which , in common watches ; shews the minutes , is here " divided into 3 60 degrees . Thirty of them is a philosophical month , and each single division a philospbical day , which is something longer than a natural daybecause 3 60 make " a
, year . The inward circle is . divided into 24 hours , with their subdivisions as in common watches ; but the motions of the hand are just the reverse . The hour-hand moves round its whole circle , while that which is called the minute-hand in other watches , is moving the 3 60 th part of its circumference ; and both move either backwards or forwards as circumstances require .
' The use of this watch is exceedingly plain and easy : whenever I desi re to know the philosophical life of any person , I need only hold h so hear him , that it is within the reach of the effluvia that proceed tfom'his body ; keeping my finger upon a certain spring , which " pre-