are, and thereafter, what their causes are, it ANIMAL KINGDOM, considered Anatomically, revolves incessantly round the already plain Physiologically, and Philosophically:" that is, fact of their bare existence, casting it into a at first in its dead truths; secondly, in its new jargon, looking idly at its uniform surface relations with the physical universe, which on every side, and ending, for the most part, sways it with motion, as the herald of vitality; not by realizing any thing, but by questioning and thirdly, as possessing our common sense, the reality of even that mean object of thought. in the lowest degree: the first volume treats Such philosophy, therefore, consists of a few of the Viscera of the Abdomen; the second, of the poorest generalities of common sense, of the Viscera of the Thorax, or Chest; and spoiled by interpolation with various formulas the third, of the Organs of Sense; which has of ignorance. Now Swedenborg first brushes not yet been translated. The first and second away the irresolvable terms of the current make two large octavo volumes, which sell at philosophies, and leaves behind the small nu- $7.50. The new doctrines and the general cleus to its rightful place under common sense, method of the ECONOMY of the Animal Kingor the sciences, from which it was stolen at dom, are pursued in this work; but they are the beginning, only to be modified for the pressed to results far exceeding those of the worse. Of the bare existence of things, the former. The author says in his Preface, clown is bester aware than the metaphysician," Not very long since I published the Economy because he has not made it his business to question them: to him, therefore, the true philosopher would rather appeal on gross questions of fact, than to the other.

"He knows what's what; and that's as high As metaphysic wit can fly.”

mined to allow myself no respite until I have run through the whole field, to the very goal, until I have traversed the universal animal kingdom, to the Soul. Thus, I hope, that by bending my course inwards, continually, I shall open all the doors that lead to her, and at length, by the Divine permission, contemplate the Soul Herself."

of the Animal Kingdom, and before traversing the whole field in detail, I made a rapid passage to the Soul, and put forth a prodromus respecting it: but, on considering the matter more deeply, I found that I had directed my course thither both too hastily and too fast: after exBut on the question of Cause and Reason, ploring the blood only, and its particular organs, there is no light to be gained from either; nor I took the step, impelled by an ardent desire is there any difference between the two, save for knowledge. But as the Soul acts in the the difference between ignorance, culpable and supreme and innermost things, and does not innocent, conscious and unconscious, personal come forth, until all her swathings have been and accidental. The upshot hitherto has successfully unfolded, I am therefore deterbeen, that what is true in philosophy is not new; but existed as well, and better, before philosophy was born; also exists better at this moment in the common world, where philosophy is unknown. And the conclusion is, that in regard to the affections, metaphysics, after a two thousand years' opportunity given, has done nothing more, than obstruct and regurgitate the current of the lifeblood of humanity; 131. The plan of this great undertaking is and in regard to the understanding, nothing thus alluded to in the Prologue :more than deepen our initial ignorance of all "I intend to examine," he says, "physically things, by actuating it into pernicious falsity. and philosophically, the whole Anatomy of the 129. A Hieroglyphical Key to Natural and body; of all its Viscera, Abdominal and Thoracic; Spiritual Mysteries, by way of Representatives of the Genital Members of both sexes; ond of the and Correspondences is a small work, which Organs of the five senses. Likewise, belongs to the same series as the Economy; it is mentioned in the Third Part of that work nalis. as the Part on Correspondences. This Tract "Afterwards, the cortical substance of the two is an attempt to eliminate a natural doctrine brains, and their medullary fibre; also the nervof correspondences, and to show its application ous fibre of the body, and the muscular fibre; and by examples; and although it may appear little the causes of the forces and motion of the whole successful, in comparison with the plenitude organism; Diseases, moreover; those of the head particularly, or which proceed by defluxion from of bodily truth on the same subject, in the the Cerebrum. author's theological works, yet, it should be observed, that the aim in the two cases. is somewhat different, and that the truth of one series does not exclude that of the other; analogies of nature to nature, being perfectly compatible with the more vital or concrete analogies between the spiritual world and the natural.

The Animal Kingdom.

The Anatomy of all parts of the Cerebrum, Cerebellum, Medulla Oblongata, and Medulla Spi

"I propose afterwards to give an introduction to Rational Psychology, consisting of certain new doctrines, through the assistance of which we may be conducted, from the natural organism of the Body to a knowledge of the Soul, which is Immaterial: these are, the Doctrine of Forms: the Doctrine of Order and Degrees: also, the Doctrine of Series and Society: the Doctrine of Influx: the Doctrine of Correpondence and Representation: lastly, the Doctrine of Modification.

"From these Doctrines I come to the Rational 130. In 1744 and 1745, at the ages of 56 Psychology itself; which will comprise the suband 57, he published another work "THE jects of action; of external and internal sense; of

imagination and memory; also of the affections of the animus. Of the intellect, that is, of thought and of the will; and of the affections of the rational mind also, of instinct.

"Lastly, of the Soul; and of its state in the Body, its intercourse, affection, and immortality; and of its state when the body dies. The work to conclude with a Concordance of Systems."

and the third, long prior to his time; but he shows that it was never delineated after such a manner, nor in any way that could convey a precise idea respecting it; much less was implied the existence of the Foramen he describes.

The channel of communication seemed to be referred, chiefly, to the posterior part of the lateral ventricles, whilst the Foramen of Monro, is situated at their anterior part.

Now in the Regnum Animale, p. 207, note (") the following striking observation occurs : "The communicating Foramina in the Cerebrum are called Anus and Vulva, BESIDES the passage or emissary canal of the lymph; by these the lateral ventricles communicate with each other, and with the third ventricle."

132. This design, be it observed, was not laid out in nubibus and built up there like the magnificent philosophy of Coleridge, but, for the most part, was actually realized in the course of a few years. The first part of the work, treating of the Abdominal Viscera; the second part, treating of the Thoracic Viscera; and the third part, treating of the skin, the senses of touch and taste, and organic forms generally, by way of introduction to the superior region, - were published in 1744 and 1745. Many of the remaining subjects were or three years before its publication: hence the foramen here spoken of must have been also prepared for the press, and, the manudescribed by Swedenborg from ten to twelve scripts having been carefully preserved, are now in the course of publication. The cir-years prior to the earliest notice taken of it by

This work was printed in the year 1714-15; but written, as we have reason to think, two

Dr. Monro.

cumstance which occasioned the author to 135. We confess, however, to the justice abandon these labors, was the opening of his spiritual sight, of which we shall speak in the of a remark by Wilkinson on this subject. "Swedenborg is not to be resorted to as an next chapter.

133. From the above summary of the plan of Swedenborg's labors, it is easy to see the goal towards which the great philosopher was tending.

Sup

authority for anatomical facts. It is said, indeed, that he has made various discoveries in anatomy, and the canal named the 'foramen of Monro' is instanced among these. posing that it were so, it would be dishonoring "When my task is accomplished," he says, "I Swedenborg to lay any stress upon a circumam then admitted by common consent to the soul, stance so trivial. Whoever discovered this fowho sitting like a queen in her throne of state, the body, dispenses laws, and governs all things by ramen was most probably led to it by the lucky her good pleasure, but yet by order and by truth. slip of a probe. But other claims are made This will be the crown of my toils, when I shall for our author by his injudicious friends. It have completed my course in this most spacious is said that he anticipated some of the most arena. But in olden time, before any racer could valuable novelties of more recent date, such as merit the crown, he was commanded to run seven the phrenological doctrine of the great Gall, times round the goal, which also I have deter

mined here to do."

134. Those who are skilled in anatomy and have read his Economia Regni Animalis, state, that Swedenborg was familiar with many truths in anatomy, which were unknown to other learned men of his day. A passage of communication between the right and left, or two lateral ventricles of the cerebrum, was thought to have been first discovered by a celebrated anatomist of Edinburgh. But this is a mistake.

The first discovery and description of this passage was claimed by the celebrated anatomist, Dr. Alexander Monro, of Edinburgh, and has since been conceded to him by succeeding anatomists: hence it goes by the denomination of the Foramen of Monro. Dr. Monro read a paper before the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh, on this subject, December 13th, 1764; but in his work entitled, 'Observations on the Structure and Functions of the Nervous System,' he says that he demonstrated this Foramen to his pupils so early as the year 1753. He allows that a communication was known and asserted to exist between those ventricles

and the newly-practised art of animal magnetism. This is not quite fair: let every benefactor to mankind have his own honorable wreath, nor let one leaf be stolen from it for the already laurelled brow of Swedenborg. True it is that all these things, and many more, lie in ovo in the universal principles made known to him, but they were not developed by him in that order which constitutes all their novelty, and in fact their distinct existence."

136. Swedenborg's object was not to astonish the world by discoveries in natural science; hence no pains were taken to give circulation to his discoveries. He affirms with the most characteristic innocence, that "he knows he shall have the reader's ear, if the latter be only persuaded that his end is God's glory and the public good, and not his own gain or praise." 137. Again, at the close of the Principia, he says:

"In writing the present work, I have had no aim at the applause of the learned world, nor at the acquisition of a name or popularity. To me it is a matter of indifference whether I win the favorable opinion of every one or of no one, whether I

gain much or no commendation; such things are 140. With this admirable spirit, and with not objects of regard to one whose mind is bent on talents only equalled by their modesty and untruth and true philosophy; should I, therefore, selfishness, our author produced, in his fiftygain the assent or approbation of others, I shall fifth and fifty-seventh years, the 66 Animal receive it only as a confirmation of my having pursued the truth. I have no wish to persuade any Kingdom." There is in it, the clearness of the one to lay aside the principles of those illustrious faultless logician; the utmost severity of the and talented authors who have adorned the world, inductive reasoner; the order of the consumand in place of their principles to adopt mine: for mate philosophical architect; the beauty, freethis reason it is that I have not made mention of dom, and universal cordiality of the mighty so much as of one of them, or even hinted at poet; the strength of a giant, and the playfulhis name, lest I should injure his feelings, or seem ness of a child. Never was the path of to impugn his sentiments, or to derogate from the praise which others bestow upon him. If the science so aspiring, or strewn with such lovely principles I have advanced have more of truth in and legitimate flowers, as in these two asthem than those which are advocated by others; tounding volumes. But praise is a needless if they are truly philosophical and accordant with tribute of their goodness; they point only to the phenomena of nature, the assent of the public applications and works, and beseech us, not to will follow in due time of its own accord; and in stand long in the stupefaction of amazement, this case, should I fail to gam the assent of those but to gather up our energies, and summon whose minds, being prepossessed by other principles, can no longer exercise an impartial judgment, still I shall have those with me who are able to distinguish the true from the untrue, if not in the present, at least in some future age. Truth is unique, and will speak for itself."

our understanding, for whatever the arts and sciences have yet to contribute to the true advancement of our race. Those only follow their spirit, who are actively endeavoring to extend their principles in new fields, unex138. Again, he observes in the Economy: plored even by the renowned author himself. "Of what consequence is it to me that I should 141. The doctrines made use of by Swepersuade any one to embrace my opinions? denborg in the "Animal Kingdom," are the Let his own reason persuade him. I do not Doctrines of Forms, of Order and Degrees, undertake this work for the sake of honor or of Series and Society, of Influx, of Correemolument; both of which I shiun rather than spondence and Representation, and of Modifiseek, because they disquiet the mind, and be- cation. These doctrines themselves are truths cause I am content with my lot: but for the arrived at by analysis, proceeding on the basis sake of the truth, which alone is immortal, of general experience; in short, they are so and has its portion in the most perfect order many formulas resulting from the evolution of nature; hence in the series of the ends of of the sciences. They are perpetually illusthe universe from the first to the last, or to trated and elucidated throughout the "Animal the glory of God; which ends he promotes: Kingdom," but never stated by Swedenborg thus I surely know who it is that must reward in the form of pure science, perhaps because me." Of his sincerity in these declarations, it would have been contrary to the analytic the repose which pervades his books, and the hearty pursuit of his subject at all times, bear incontestable witness.

method to have so stated them, before the reader had been carried up through the legitimate stages, beginning from experience, or the lowest sphere. Each effect is put through all these doctrines, in order that it may disclose the causes that enter it in succession, that it may refer itself to its roots and be raised to its powers, and be seen in connection, contiguity, continuity, and analogy with all other things in the same universe.*

139. The absence of his laurels never troubled him, he was not afraid of pillage or plagiarism, there was none of the fire of competition in him, he was never soured by neglect, or disheartened by want of sympathy. It is, however, remarkable how entirely the foregoing works were unknown even to those who knew him best personally. His intimate 142. One of the most important discoveries friend Count Höpken says, that "he made in the "Animal Kingdom," is that the lungs surprising discoveries in anatomy, which are supply the body and all its parts with motion. recorded somewhere in certain literary transac- This is a discovery, not less wonderful in its tions," evidently in complete ignorance of the consequences, than in its simplicity and obvigreat works that he had published, and more-ous truth. If the reader can once succeed in over ill informed upon the subject of the apprehending it, there will be no danger of "Transactions." And yet Swedenborg was his letting it go again even among the perilnot mistaken in his estimate of his own ous quicksands of modern experience. It is powers, or in the belief that posterity had one of those truths that rest upon facts within work and interest in store in writings that, the range of the most ordinary observation, at the time, were utterly neglected. The his- and require but little anatomical investigation tory of literature is eloquent upon the fate to confirm and demonstrate them. It is visible of those who were before their age, and that in its ultimate effects during every action that fate was never more decisive for any man, or we perform and at every moment of our lives. more cheerfully acquiesced in by any, than Swedenborg.

By a universe, Swedenborg appears to mean any complete series as referable to its unities.

Perhaps there is nothing in the history of tracts differently, according to the predicates physical science that is more illustrative of just mentioned; the intestines, for instance, the native ignorance of the mind, or that bet- from articulation to articulation, to and fro; ter shows how far we have departed from the the kidneys, from their circumference to their simplicity of nature, than the manner in which sinuosity or hilus, and vice versa, the neighthis grand office of the lungs has been over-borhood of their pelvis being their most quiet looked; particularly when coupled with the station and centre of motion: and so forth. fact, that it should have required a great and In a word, the expansion as a force assumes peculiarly instructed genius, by an elaborate the whole form of the structure of each organ. process, to place it once again under our men- In all cases the motion is synchronous in tal vision. But nature is simple and easy; it times and moments with the respiration of the is man that is difficult and perplexed. Not lungs. The fluids in the organs follow the only in the lungs, but in the whole body, the path of the expansion and contraction, and primary office is disregarded, and the second- tend to the centre of motion, from which these ary substituted for it. It has been supposed motions begin, to which they return, and in that the lungs inspire simply to communicate which they terminate. The lungs, however, certain elements of the air to the blood; and only supply the external moving life of the expire for no other end than to throw out by body; but were it not for them, the whole means of the returning air certain impurities organism would simply exist in potency, or from the blood. Under this view, their mo- more properly speaking, would cease to be; tion is only of use for other things, or instru- or were it permeated by the blood of the mentally, and not as a thing in itself, or prin- heart, -a condition which can by no means cipally. And yet it is not confined to the be granted, the latter would rule unconsphere in which these secondary offices of the trolled in all the members, subjugate their inlungs are performed, but pervades the abdo- dividualities, and not excite them to exercise men as sensibly as the chest, and according to any of the peculiar forces of which they are the showing of the experimentalists, extends the forms. In a word, the whole man would also to the heart, the spinal marrow, and the be permanently in the fetal state, forever inhead. It was therefore incumbent on the choate and ineffective. physiologist to show what its function was in 143. There is no part of Swedenborg's sysall the regions where it was present, and to tem which is better worthy of attention than declare its action as a universal cause, as well the doctrine of the skin. As the skin is the as its action as a particular cause. Now the continent and ultimate of the whole system, motion itself which the lungs originate is their so all the forms, forces and uses of the interigrand product to the system; the inspiration or parts coexist within it. Moreover as it is and expiration of the air are but one part of the extreme of the body, and the contact of its necessary accompaniments, being performed extremes, or circulation, is a perpetual law of in the chest alone. Granting that the inspi- nature, so from the skin a return is made to ration and expiration of the air are the partic- the other extreme, namely, to the cortical ular use of this motion in the chest, what then substances of the brain. Hence the first is the use of the rising and falling which the function of the skin is, "to serve as a new lungs communicate to the abdomen, the heart, source of fibres." For the fibres of one exthe spinal marrow, and the brain? What office, treme, to wit, the brain, also called by Sweanalogous to respiration, does the motion of denborg the fibres of the soul, could not of these parts communicate to the organs? It themselves complete the formation of the body, manifestly causes them all to respire, or to but could only supply its active grounds; and attract the various materials of their uses, as therefore these fibres proceed outwards to the the lungs attract the air. For respiration is skin, which is the most general sensorial expredicable of the whole system as well as nu- panse of the brain, and there generate the trition otherwise the head would not be the papillæ ; and again emerging from the papillæ, head of the chest, nor the abdomen the abdo- and convoluted into a minute canal or pore, men of the chest; but the human body would they take a new nature and name from their be as disconnected, and as easily dissipated, new beginning, and become the corporeal fibres, as the systems that have been formed respect- or the fibres of the body, which proceed from ing it. The universal use, therefore, of the without inwards to the brain, and unite themrespiratory motion to the body, is, to rouse selves to its cortical substances. These are every organ to the performance of its func- the passives of which the nervous fibres are tions by an external tractive force exerted the actives; the veins or female forces of upon its common membranes; and by causing the gentle expansion of the whole mass, to enable the organ, according to its particular fabric, situation, and connection, to respire or attract such blood or fluid, and in such quantity, as its uses and wants require, and only such. Each organ, however, expands or con

which the nervous fibres are the arteries or males; and "they suck in the purer elemental food from the air and ether, convey it to their terminations, and expend it upon the uses of life."

144. Besides this, the skin has a series of other functions which there is not space to

dwell upon at present. Inasmuch as it is the but a few lines to each detail of his excessive most general covering of the body, therefore fruitfulness. Suffice it to say, that there is no it communicates by a wonderful continuity inquirer into the human body, either for the with all the particular coverings of the viscera purposes of medical or general intelligence, and organs, and of their parts, and parts of above all, there is no philosophical anatomist, parts. And as it communicates with all by who has done justice to himself, unless he has continuity of structure, so it also communi- humbly read and studied-not turned over cates by continuity of function; the whole and conceitedly dismissed - the Economy and body being therefore one grand sensorium of Animal Kingdom of Swedenborg. These the sense of touch. In short, the animal spirit works of course are past as records of anatomis the most universal and singular essence of ical fact, but in general facts, that are bigge the body and all its parts; the skin, the most than anatomy, they have not been excelled, general and particular form corresponding to and none but a mean pride of science, or an that essence. inaptitude for high reasons, would deter the 145. The professional reader of the "Animal inquirer from the light he may here acquire, Kingdom" will not fail to discover that the in spite of meeting a few obsolete notions, or author has fallen into various anatomical errors a few hundreds of incomplete experiments. of minor importance, and that there are occa- 148. In this connection we extract from the sionally marks of haste in his performance. London "Forceps" for Nov., 1844, the followThis may be conceded without in any degree ing summary view of the "Animal Kingdom.” detracting from the character of the work. "This is the most remarkable theory of the huThese errors do not involve matters of prin- man body that has ever fallen into our hands; and ciple. The course which Swedenborg adopt- by Emanuel Swedenborg, too! a man whom we ed, of founding his theory upon general expe- had always been taught to regard as either a fool, rience, and of only resorting to particular a madman, or an impostor, or perhaps an undefinafacts as confirmations, so equilibrates and ble compound of all the three. Wonders, it seems, never will cease, and therefore it were better compensates all misstatements of the kind, henceforth to look out for them, and accept them that they may be rejected from the result as whenever they present themselves, and make them unimportant. To dwell upon them as serious, into ordinary things in that way. For thereby we and still more to make the merit of the theory may be saved froin making wonderful asses of hinge upon them, is worthy only of a "minute ourselves and our craft, for enlightened posterity philosopher," who has some low rule whereby to laugh at. "To return to our book, we can honestly assure to judge a truth, instead of the law of use. our Such unhappily was the rule adopted by the to do in all cases), that we have carefully read readers (which is more than it would be safe reviewer of the "Animal Kingdom" in the through both volumes of it, bulky though they be, "Acta Eruditorum Lipsiensia (1747, pp. and have gained much philosophical insight fron 507-514): the book was despised by this it into the chains of ends and causes that govern critic because Swedenborg had committed an in the human organism. What has the world error in describing the muscles of the tongue, been doing for the past century, to let this great and because he had cited the plates of Bidloo and Verheyen, which Heister and Morgagni had then made it a fashion to disparage; and for other equally inconclusive reasons. All they amounted to was, that Swedenborg had not accomplished the reviewer's end, however thoroughly he had performed his own.

system slumber on the shelf, and to run after a host of little bluebottles of hypotheses which were never framed to live for more than a short part of a single season? It is clear that it yet knows nothing of its greatest men.' The fact is, it has been making money, or trying to make it, and grubbing after worthless reputation, until it has lost its eyesight for the stars of heaven and the sun that is shining above it.

146. But fortunately such criticisms are never decisive; a single truth can outlive ten thou- the widest thing of the kind which medical litera"Emanuel Swedenborg's doctrine is altogether sand of them. The "Animal Kingdom" ap- ture affords, and cast into an artistical shape of peals to the world at this time, a hundred consummate beauty. Under the rich drapery of years since the publication of the original, as ornament which diversifies his pages, there runs a a new production, having all the claims of an framework of the truest reasoning. The book is unjudged book upon our regards. For during a perfect mine of principles, far exceeding in inthat hundred years not a single writer has ap-finest efforts of Lord Bacon's genius. It treats of tellectual wealth, and surpassing in elevation, the peared in the learned world, who has in the the loftiest subjects without abstruseness, being slightest degree comprehended its design, or all ultimately referable to the common sense of mastered its principles and details. - Intro- mankind. Unlike the German transcendentalists, ductory Remarks to the Animal Kingdom, by this gifted Swede fulfils both the requisites of the J. J. G. Wilkinson.

147. In stating, however, any one point as remarkable in such a genius, we are in danger of having it understood that his claims in this respect can be enumerated by any critic or biographer. On the contrary, we should have to write a volume were we barely to devote

true philosopher; he is one to whom the lowest things ascend, and the highest descend, who is the equal and kindly brother of all. There is no trifling about him, but he sets forth his opinions, irrespective of controversy, with a plainness ef affirmation which cannot be mistaken; and in such close and direct terms, that to give a full idea of his system in other words would require that we