a greater number of faculties, they always reduce them to these two principal ones. According to Aristotle, the soul of man has faculties which are common to it with animals; sensibility, appetite, and the power of motion. It has, also, faculties which belong to it exclusively; the intellect passive, the intellect active, the intellect speculative, and the intellect practical. Bacon distinguishes two souls; the soul rational, and the soul sensitive. The faculties of the rational soul, are the understanding, reason, reasoning, imagination, memory, appetite, and will. The faculties of the sensitive soul are voluntary motion, and sensibility. Descartes recognised four principal faculties; will, understanding, imagination, and sensibility. Hobbes admits only two principal faculties; knowledge and motion. Locke admits understanding and will. Bonnet recognises understanding, will, liberty, and, in his introduction, sentiment, thought, will, action. Condillac admits six faculties in the understanding, or seven, counting sensation, the common origin, according to him, of the understanding and the will; sensation, attention, comparison, judgment, reflection, imagination, reasoning; and all these faculties are only sensations transferred or modified. He maintains that all the operations of the soul, thought, intelligence, reason, liberty-all the faculties of a spiritual substance, are only sensation transformed; that all the knowledge which the human intellect can attain, all intellectual and moral ideas-all, without an exception, are so many transformations of sensation. In the system of Kant, the primitive faculties or functions, pure conceptions, and ideas a priori, exist to the number of twenty-five, viz. two forms of sensibility, space and time; twelve categories, or pure notions of the understanding, viz. unity, plurality, totality, affirmation, negation, limitation, inherence, and subsistence, causality and dependence; society; possibility and impossibility, existence and non-existence, necessity and contingence; eight notions which depend on these, viz. identity, diversity, agreement, contradiction, interior, exterior, matter, and form; in fine, three forms of reason, consciousness and the soul, God, the universe. According to M. de Tracy, to think is only to feel, and to feel is, for us, the same thing as to exist; for sensations inform us of our existence. The ideas or perceptions are either sensations, properly so called, or recollections, or relations which we perceive, or, finally, desires which we experience, springing out of these relations; the faculty of thinking, therefore, divides itself into sensibility, properly so called, into memory, judgment, and will. To feel, properly speaking, is to have the consciousness of an impression; to have memory, is to feel the recurrence of an impression formerly felt; to judge, is to perceive the relations among our perceptions; finally, to wish, is to feel desire. By these four elements, sensations, recollections, judgments, desires, are formed all compounded ideas. Attention is only an act of the will; comparison cannot be separated from judgment, since we cannot compare two objects without judging; reasoning is only a repetition of the act of judging; to reflect, to imagine, is to compound ideas decomposable into sensations, recollections, judgments, desires. That species of imagination, which is only a true and faithful memory, cannot be distinguished from it. M. Laromiguiere forms the system of the faculties of the soul of two systems-the system of the faculties of the understanding, and the system of the faculties of the will. The first comprehends three peculiar faculties-attention, comparison, and reasoning; the second equally comprehends three - desire, preference, and liberty. "These three faculties are indispensable, and they suffice for all our knowledge, for the most simple of all systems, as well as for the vastest of all sciences. Attention, comparison, reasoning; these are all the faculties which have been assigned to the most intelligent of created beings. By attention, we discover facts; by comparison, we seize their relations; by reasoning, we reduce them to system. "Sensibility or the capacity of perceiving, and activity or the faculty of acting, are two attributes inseparable from the soul." M. Laromiguiere admits the action of the object on the organ, of the organ on the brain, and of the brain on the soul; the action or reaction of the soul on the brain; the communication of the movement received by the brain to the organ which forms the object, or which directs itself towards it. He allows, that the difference in minds does not proceed from the greater or less amount of sensations; "but," says he, "it can proceed only from the activity of some causes, and the inactivity of others; for, in the human mind, everything can be referred to three causes; to sensations, to the labor of the mind on these sensations, and to the ideas, or the knowledge resulting from this labor." In fine, M. Laromiguiere proposes this question, viz. :Do the operations of the mind vary with the objects to which they are applied; or, can we circumscribe them within bounds, and even very narrow ones? By attention, comparison, and reasoning, we can raise ourselves to a knowledge of the structure of the universe, and, consequently, to that of its Author; by desire, preference, and free will, we are, in some sort, the arbiters of our destiny. "Six faculties then suffice," concludes M. Laromiguiere, "for all the wants of our nature. Three have been given us to form intelligence; we call them intellectual faculties; three to fulfil the wishes of our hearts, and we call them moral faculties." THE WHITE THORN. THERE are now in Kensington Gardens, two most beautiful trees; one of them literally bending under the weight of its blossoms, the aroma from which, exhaled by the powerful rays of the sun, diffuses itself in the richest fragrance to a distance almost incredible. They are in the high walk from Victoria Gate to Bayswater, and having flowered so late as July, they are regarded with much interest. We frequently pass them; sometimes, twice daily. In the morning early, the perfume is exquisitely delicious. TO CORRESPONDENTS. WILLIAM BURTON, who writes us a most insulting letter, dated "Lower Tottenham," and requests us to publish it in our JOURNAL, will if he be wise, thank us for not doing as he wishes. Our mission is to cement peace, not to scatter firebrands. If our correspondent bears such ill-will to us, all we can say is, we regret it. Let us thank him for his "support," as he calls it, thus far; we do so, readily. Perhaps, by and by, he will join our standard again. Let us hope so. COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED. COCAO. We have noticed your letter in another part of our paper.-J. M., GLAS GOW. Many thanks.-BOMBYX ATLAS. Excellent! In our next.-A LONDON FOOTMAN. Our "Treatise on the Canary" commenced in No. XI., and terminated in No. XXIII. It may be obtained of our Publisher. Your hen Canary is well adapted for breeding from. Goldfinches will breed, year after year. As you are so fond of birds, you really cannot do better than take in this JOURNAL. Your questions prove to us, that we have already written much that will delight and assist you. PRIVATE LETTERS. Of these we daily receive such immense quantities, that we must really beg the writers to excuse our not replying to them; our time being overwhelmingly occupied with PUBLIC duties. CORRESPONDENTS Sending in any "facts" connected with Science or Natural History, are requested in every case to append their names and places abode. In no instance, however, will their names be published without their express sanction. To obtain this Paper without any difficulty, our readers need only ORDER it to be sent to them by any of their local Booksellers or Newsvendors. It is published simultaneously with all the other weekly periodicals. KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL, Saturday, July 10, 1852. HAD THE "MAN OF Uz" been the Editor of this JOURNAL, we question whether he would have carried off the prize for "patience." Toil as we may, be generous as we may, and good-natured to a fault, yet are "some people " never satisfied with us. For instance, a correspondent, signing herself "Cocao," and residing at Acton dear little Acton! as we call it-writes and threatens to purchase no more of our papers,* because we have refused to take notice of her friend, E. C. B., of Rouen, who a long time since sent us a communication about a suffering dog! we This affords us a fair opportunity for complaint. We inserted the said communication (see Vol. I., page 283) immediately after received it; indeed we put ourselves out of the way to give it the earliest insertion. But some of our subscribers never read the JOURNAL when they have bought it; and hence we get blamed when we do not deserve it. If our fair correspondent, with whom indeed we cannot be angry under any cir cumstances, will consult the INDEX just * Extract:-"Cocao" begs to inform Mr. Kidd [formal, very!] that if he does not think it worth while [cruel!] answering his correspondents, she shall discontinue taking his Journal." [This to us!!] published, she will therein find her friend's letter referred to, and also remarks on the distemper in dogs (see p. 201, 248, 283, 380, Vol. I.). We do entreat some little consideration at the hands of our patrons. If our paper is not worthy a perusal, of course we cannot wish any one to procure it. But to purchase it and not read it, and then fall foul of us for faults not committed-this is grievous. The present is not the first case of the kind, by many. We notice it to-day with a view to its being rectified. We are in perfect good humor nevertheless, and mean to continue "wind and weather permitting," all through the year. 80, NOTWITHSTANDING THE LONG-CONTINUED RAINS of the month of June, and the wildness of the gardens, trees, and woods; yet has it been delightful to go forth between the showers, and admire the hand of our CREATOR, so observable at every turn. All out-of-doors is perfect loveliness. The sun, although hidden at intervals from our sight, has nevertheless not failed to shed on us his genial warmth and radiant heat; and, as we have wandered abroad, we have been made sensible of his quickening powers by the universally-diffused fragrance so peculiar to this month of flowers. Now is the very time for inhaling such odors as We have been asked, recently,-in what particular spot near London our summer vocalists can be heard to the best advantage? This is the very time to answer the question; and perhaps no better season was ever known than the present for hearing them in their glory. The all-but incessant rains of Spring, and the chilliness of the season, have so materially checked their vernal melody, that many of them seem to have reserved their full powers until now. Among these are the blackbird, thrush, robin, wren, titlark, woodlark, skylark, blackcap, and others. We need not go far from London to enjoy the voices of all these. Let us enumerate the neighborhoods of Acton, Ealing, Kew, Chiswick, Hammersmith, and Richmond,not forgetting Twickenham and its lovely meadows. At each one of these places, the trees, fields, and hedges, rejoice in the com pany of nearly every one of our summer songsters. Perched aloft, you may hear the blackbird all day pouring forth gushes of the purest melody. These no doubt are intended for the ear of his mate, who is seated on her nest. Nor are those who take a lower flight less eloquent in the brushwood. The skylark is now high on the wing, seeking "Heaven's gate" with a voice that seems to gain him entrance; for as he again nears the earth his strains are more seraphic than ever. The wren and robin too seem hardly able to get through all their songs of praise. As for the titlark, woodlark, and blackcap,- we have never before heard them in such beautiful song. Kew Gardens, and Friar's Place (near Acton), seem particularly blessed this year with these lovely visitants, of whom, did space permit, we should never cease writing. We are sometimes guilty of talking about these matters to folk who reside in our great city; and we try hard to inoculate them with our ideas of a country life; but alas! we cannot succeed. If we were to suggest a trip to Gravesend, a ramble to Rosherville, a journey to Blackwall or Greenwich (to eat white bait), or indeed a visit to any other place of excitement; then should we find a ready response. How true it is, that to all who are engaged in the pursuits of the world, rural sights, and sounds and smells" indeed all the pleasures res of innocence and simplicity, are perfectly insipid! wooingly of "Venus' looking glass," and "Love lies bleeding." They speak, it is true, in praise of stocks, but not our "Tenweeks' stocks;" and they intimate a desire to visit the " diggings;" yet did they never handle a spade in their lives. In a word, while they are incessantly advocating the game of speculation, we are as eternally contending for the enjoyments of a fine day, a beautiful garden, a rural stroll while leaning devotedly on the arm of a "fair and much-loved friend," and all such delectable country joys. Surely NATURE never did betray The heart that loved her! 'Tis her privilege BEHOLD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS, We have before spoken of the joys of the hayfield; and now, of the birds, the flowers, the fields, and the gardens. Let us indulge the hope that some few, at least, will come and see if our picture be " after Nature." Talking of Nature, reminds us, in connection with the rays of a brilliant sun now streaming through our open window, that of "Pic-nics" is at hand. "Pic-nics!" There is magic in the word! What say our brother Cits, and our friends in the Great Metropolis, to getting up something of this sort on a grand scale, and appointing us "Arbiter elegantiarum" for the day? We are "immense" at anything of this kind, either on the water, in the woods, the forests, or the creeks. Let them bring with them as many of their "interesting friends" as they will, the more the better,-we undertake to find " animal spirits" for the whole; and to do the honors of the "spread" on the green sward in a manner that shall be pronounced truly unexceptionable. Whether the scene of action be Epping Forest, Norwood, Hanger Hill, Harrow, Twickenham, or Richmond, we The odor of flowers, the purling of streams, the song and plumage of birds, the sportive innocence of the lamb, the fidelity of the dog, and a thousand other rational enjoyments, these have no charm for a citizen of London. He recognises no bird but the sparrow, and cares nothing for flowers beyond eyeing them with listless apathy as he saunters through Covent Garden Market. Only just imagine our asking such a man, to stroll out with us some vernal evening in the garden, just after a shower, when every leaf breathes fragrance and freshness! Why, he would see ten times more beauties in the pestilential fumes of tobacco; and consider us a bore, a perfect Mar-all to his " enjoyments" of-SMOKE!! Every man has a right to do as he will, and we never disputed that right; but we really do wish we could work a renovation among some of our brother citizens. They live a life of constant excitement, and never know rest either of mind or body. Many of them take in our JOURNAL, and say they are delighted with it. How can this be? While they are for noise, racket, confusion, agitation, smoke," and ambition, WE eloquent about simple pleasures and "sweet- the decided romps. But take care that they keep care not a rush. Let the day be named, and ourselves appointed; and we pledge our word that we will do our best to make every one of the party IN LOVE WITH THE COUNTRY, AND ITS INEXPRESSIBLE DELIGHTS. This is our own proper vocation. Why should we be backward in exercising it? ROMPING.-Never find fault with girls if they smelling flowers." Loud are they in praise Better to be an innocent romp, than to have a of "bulls and bears," whilst we speak narrow chest and flushed cheek. ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. are we not sufficiently learned in their nature to give the information sought for. Will some of our good friends be pleased to answer for us in this matter, and give us the benefit of their ex Where can I hear a first-rate Blackbird sing? -I have been so delighted, Mr. Editor, with your remarks from time to time about the Black-perience?] bird's song, that I am most anxious to hear him. Can you tell me where I can gratify my desire in the immediate neighborhood of London? I think nothing at all of the song of birds in confinement. I want to hear the pure, wild note. Will you, "dear Mr. Kidd," take my request into consideration? Then will your fair petitioner ever pray, &c.-JULIA A. [The breathing of your sweet voice, Miss JULIA, has entered our ear, and found a restingplace in our heart; consider this, and every other wish of yours, so far as our ability extends, most readily and joyfully granted. We shall do you more good than you imagine by our remarks. Listen. To hear the blackbird, JULIA, at his "matins," you must rise at 5 A.M., and be in Kensington Gardens by 6. There, as you walk (take some "interesting friend" with you) beneath the lofty trees, you will hear him chanting; first to his Maker (a noble example for us), and then to his mate. They are now engaged in preparing, some for a second, others for a third family. The blackbird's song, just now, is sweet beyond description; but as it will not last long, you must lose no time. As you journey to and fro, you will also hear the blackcap discoursing. This alone is worth a morning stroll. Of all our Summer visitors, he is the most joyous, the most lovely. Now remember, Miss JULLA, if your morning ramble is a delightful one, repeat it, and do get into the habit of rising early. Your countenance now may be lovely-we dare say it is; but what can equal the beauty imparted by wandering through the morning dews of summer? The rude glow of health is worth a slight effort to obtain; and lie-a-beds in summer never can be WELL. Excuse our frankness, Miss JULIA, caused by the interest we feel for your welfare.] "Nature and Art." - Do tell me, "dear Mr. Kidd," whether a girl who loves nature as I do (and who of course reads "OUR" JOURNAL), ought to be rigidly trained to the rigidly strict observance of dry formalities in every-day life? I move in a high circle, truly; but there is so much artificial nonsense, as I call it, pervading the society we keep, that my heart feels sick at being obliged to go through the various "conventional rules." I must not "laugh" when I am pleased; I must not run; I must not romp; I must not "enjoy" anything. In a word, I must live, if I can, to please the world, not myself. If I follow the dictates of nature, I am "vulgar; if I am joyous, I am "rude," and a disgrace to the family! Do tell me, "dear Mr. Kidd," what shall I do?-LEONORA. " [You have done wisely in sending us your name and address, Miss LEONORA; and have chosen a signature which we shall always recognise as "your own." Your grievances are great, and we have published a portion of your letter pro bono. There are thousands of amiable girls, who, like yourself, die victims to the follies of fashion; but how can we aid them? The better feelings of nature either become stifled by habit ("use is second nature"), or the spirit becomes broken, and sinks to its final rest in a premature grave. These things happen daily. In your case, being a minor, you cannot act for yourself, and we dare not advise disobedience. However, we should shudder to believe that with such amiable feelings as yours, you could be "sacrificed" at the shrine of fashion. By all means cultivate your present natural feelings. They do you honor. If you must bow to the follies of high life, let it be by constraint, not from choice. When you are of age, only two years removed, you are entitled to do as you consider best. We know not what the "sacrifice" might be. This, of course, you will have to reflect upon. Your secret is "safe" with us; you know this well. You are the inmate of a family, of whom DR. CHALMERS thus speaks in one of his Sermons: -"There is a set of people whom I cannot bear the pinks of fashionable propriety -whose every word is precise, and whose every movement is unexceptionable, but who, though well versed in all the categories of polite behavior, have not a particle of soul or of cordiality about them. We allow that their manners may be abundantly 'correct.' There may be elegance in every gesture, and gracefulness in every position; not a smile out of place, and not a step that would not bear the measurement of the severest scrutiny. This is all very fine; but what I want is, the heart and the gaiety of social intercourse-the frankness that spreads ease and animation-the eye that speaks affability to all, that chases timidity from every bosom, and tells every wan in the company to be confident and happy. This is what I conceive to be the virtue [Although some of these animals have claimed of the text, and not the sickening formality of a right to our family-title (spelt "short"), yet | those who walk by rule, and would reduce the Profit derivable from keeping Poultry.-Allow me, Mr. Editor, to call your attention to a subject that may be useful at this season of the year. From February to September, our tables are with difficulty supplied with poultry. This might easily be remedied by art. The same method that provides us with capons, might also provide us with very large turkies, geese, and guinea fowl. Rabbits, also, might be similarly increased in size and weight, as well as flavor. I cannot help thinking that a suggestion of this kind, appearing in the Public's "OWN JOURNAL," would induce many practical men to make the experiment.-VERBUM SAT. Goats, proper Management of. -Can any of your readers, Mr. Editor, tell me the proper method of rearing, keeping, and tending Goats? I know not of any book that treats of them. I have a fine young "Billy," of the pure Turkish breed; two "Nannies," and a young "Nanny Kid." These are all at present quite healthy. -S. B. W., Hampstead. whole of human life to a wire-bound system of misery and constraint."-If you were a sister of ours, how should we glory in being known as your brother! Your letter convinces us that we were, both, born under one and the same planet. Patience, gentle LEONORA. We share your sorrows, and hope some day to rejoice in your happiness. Meantime, if we can aid you, how glad shall we be to do it!] A desperate Encounter between an Eagle and a Salmon.-Mr. Editor,-I have just been reading a very graphic account (in a book called Life in the Woods) of a fight between an eagle and a salmon. Being peculiarly adapted for a periodical like yours, which circulates so largely in families, I have copied it, and herewith send it you. The narration carries with it an air of truth that will give it a double interest :- " I have often been struck with the singular attachment hunters sometimes have for some bird or animal, while all the rest of the species they pursue with deadly hostility. About five hundred yards from Beach's hut stands a lofty pine tree, on which a grey eagle has built its nest annually during the nine years he has lived on the shores of the Raquette. The Indian who dwelt there before him, says that the same pair of birds made their nest on that tree for ten years previous-making in all nineteen years they have occupied the same spot, and built on the same branch. One day, however, Beach was near losing his bold eagle. He was lying at anchor, fishing, when he saw his favorite bird, high up in heaven, slowly sweeping round and round in a huge circle, evidently awaiting the approach of a fish to the surface. For an hour or more, he thus sailed with motionless wings above the water, when all at once he stopped and hovered a moment with an excited gesture-then, rapid as a flash of lightning, and with a rush of his broad pinions, like the passage of a sudden gust of wind, came to the still bosom of the lake. He had seen a huge salmon trout swimming near the surface; and plunging from his high watch tower, drove his talons deep in his victim's back. So rapid and strong was his swoop, that he buried himself out of sight when he struck, but the next moment he emerged into view, and, flapping his wings, endeavored to rise with his prey. But this time he had miscalculated his strength-in vain he struggled nobly to lift the salmon from the water. The frightened and bleeding fish made a sudden dive, and took eagle and all out of sight, and was gone a quarter of a minute. Again they rose to the surface, and the strong bird spread his broad dripping pinions, and, gathering force with his rapid blows, raised the salmon half out of water. The weight, however, was too great for him, and he sank again to the surface, beating the water into foam about him. The salmon then made another dive, and they both went under, leaving only a few bubbles to tell where they had gone down. This time they were absent a full half minute, and Beach said he thought it was all over with his bird. He soon however reappeared, with his talons still buried in the flesh of his foe, and again made a desperate effort to rise. All this time the fish was shooting like an arrow through the lake, carrying his relentless foe on his back. He could not keep the eagle down, nor the bird carry him up-and so, now beneath, and now upon the surface, they struggled on, presenting one of the most singular yet exciting spectacles that can be imagined. It was fearful to witness the blows of the eagle, as he lashed the lake with his wings into spray, and made the shores echo with the report. At last the bird thinking, as they say west, that he had 'waked the wrong passenger,' gave it up, and loosening his clutch, soared heavily and slowly away to his lofty pine tree, where he sat for a long time sullen and sulky, the picture of disappointed ambition. So night a wounded and baffled lion lie down in his lair and brood over his defeat. Beach said that he could easily have captured them, but he thought he would see the fight out. When, however, they both stayed under half a minute or more, he concluded he should never see his eagle again. Whether the latter in his rage was bent on capturing his prize, and would retain his hold, though at the hazard of his life, or whether in his terrible swoop he had struck his crooked talons so deep in the back of the salmon that he could not extricate himself, the hunter said he could not tell. The latter, however, was doubtless the truth, and he would have been glad to have let go long before he did."-This must have been a sight worth witnessing, Mr. Editor, must it not ? How exciting, when the eagle disappeared under water with the salmon!-G. H., Stepney. [We thank you for your vigilance. This is indeed a very interesting anecdote.] Goldfinch Mules, Hints to Breeders of. Considering, Mr. Editor, that the results of all "experiments" should be made known in the Public's "OWN JOURNAL," I send you the following. I recently put up a male goldfinch with a hen canary. Their nest was soon made. Five eggs were laid in as many days. On the fifth day, I removed the goldfinch to another hen, leaving his first wife to "sit." [It would appear that the genus "Goldfinch" are allowed a plurality of wives. It was so when we were young; and it appears to be so now.] Just two days previous to the natural time for hatching, I examined the nest. Instead of five eggs, I found no fewer than eight! On experimenting with these, I found six were good, and two bad; the latter were destroyed. The thirteenth day arrived, but no young ones. A week passed; the same result! Five more days, and three young appeared; two days subsequently, and the whole number made five. They are all doing well. I imagine all this extra time in the hatching was required by the deficiency of heat; the poor little hen did not possess warmth sufficient for eight eggs. Placed in a balance, I imagine the latter would have been heavier than the mother! As a rule, I am a decided advocate for "trying" all eggs on the twelfth evening after sitting. The heat of the water should be 100 degrees only. Three minutes would test which of the eggs had life, and which were addled. If this were always done, fewer young would be lost. The eggs must never be wiped nor dried, simply returned to the nest in a warmed spoon. A new nest ought to be got ready while the eggs are being tested. |