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272 _ TRAVELS
the purpofe, and the end of objects; and while it rambles about -
in the obfcure and boundlefs regions of conjecture, the true fpirit
of enquiry lofes the thread of its obfervations and of its analyfis,
and bounding from one imperfect impreffion to another, is inca-
pable of {topping to obferve, compare and judge: this was the
infirmity of the good Baron. He fancied to himfelf, that the
foul of the perfon afleep was tran{ported to regions of which the
human mind, in conjunction with the body, can form no idea! He
went into particulars ftill more ridiculous, and afferted, for inftance,
that there all the fouls were dreffed in white, and that they enjoyed
in that fcene of delights fuch agreeable fenfations as furpafs all con-
ception. He believed, that in that ftate of fleep they forefaw future
events; and that their fouls being exalted to a higher fphere of
perception, they could fee many things that are invifible to the
material organs of our imperfect vifion. Inftead of interrogating
the fleeper as to the nature of his feelings during his torpor; in-
ftead of trying to found the condition of his phyfical faculties,
or queftioning him as to intelligible objects, his queries were al-
ways concerning the white robes, the paradife, and thofe elyfian
fields where, according to his theory, the fouls are in the fruition
of every fpecies of pleafure, ever perfectly at cafe, and clothed in
their robe de chambre. He was defirous to receive intelligence
from his anceftors, his great grandfather, or his late father; and
they very kindly, in general, fent him their compliments by the
mouths of thofe couriers in white jackets.
From the manner in which I have ftated my remarks, the
reader
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