Griffins, the Phenix, Dragons, &c. 319 no fuch Thing known on the Land, unless by it they meant the Rhinoceros, a Creature vaftly large, with a great Horn growing out of his Nofe; others take it for a Wildbull in thofe Countries. The Syrens, were only poetical Fictions; and as to Mer Men, and Mer-Maids, there feems to have been fuch Creatures, and are still in fome remote Seas. A Perfon told me he faw the Hand of fuch a Monster carried about for a Show, it was of vaft Dimenfions; and the Perfons who showed it told him all the upper Part of the Monster was fhaped like à Man, having a humane Face, a Beard, &c. and that the Distance between his Eyes was twelve Inches, and all other Parts proportional: And I think he faid, they relate fome Things concerning the Female, or Mer-Maid, that appeared at the fame Time, but was not taken. The Fairies are nothing but a monkish Dream, and ShakeSpear's Fancy; and pity it is, that any paft the State of Childhood fhould be deluded into the Belief of any fuch ridiculous Whims.

A. Pray what do you reckon the Accidents common to, or attending all animal Bodies, which you mentioned as the laft Part of our prefent Converfation?

B. They

B. They are fuch as follow, viz.

Health; This arifeth from an apt Conftruction and due Temperament of the Parts, whereby they are capable of performing all the natural Actions, and Functions of Life.

Difeafe; This is that State of an animal Body, which deprives it of the Faculty of exerting every Action proper to it.

Vigilance, or the State of being awake; This arifeth from the Prefence and Action of a due Quantity of animal Spirits through all the Parts of the Body; by Means of which the Organs of the external and internal Senfes, and all the Inftruments of Motion depending on the Will, are properly affected by external Objects, and easily perform all their Actions and Motions.

Sleep; The State contrary to Vigilance; but what is the Caufe, or wherein it doth confift, the greatest Phyfiologists differ in their Determinations, and are puzzled to account for it.

Dream; This is an Action of the reflective Faculty of the Mind, which is always active even in Sleep, and doth therein recollect and review the Ideas which were prefent to it when the Body was waking:

But

Of Hunger, Thirst, and Death. 321 But the Body afleep not admitting the Exercise of the rational Faculty of the Mind, it rangeth those Ideas for the most Part in a confused, unnatural, and imperfect Manner; and this Vifion of Things we call a Dream.

Hunger; This is that Quality which arifeth from a Vellication of the inner Coats of the Stomach, by the Action of the digefting juice; which having no Food whereon to fpend its Force, gnaws on the Stomach it felf, and thereby excites in our Minds the Defire or Appetite of Food.

Thirst; This is fomewhat analogous to Hunger; for a due Quantity of Moisture being wanting in the Stomach, and Parts of the Throat and Mouth, produceth that molefting Senfation which creates in us a Neceflity of Drinking.

Death; This brings an Animal to its laft State; and is nothing but a final Obftruction or natural Ceffation of all the animal and vital Faculties and Functions of the Body; which then remains in a State of perfect Quiefcence, and is entirely paffive to all other Changes and Conditions it meets withal in this World. And, as Death puts an end to all Things, fo I judge it most natural to end this long Reflection on the wonderful Works of God, the great Author of Nature, with the awful Subject of Death; which alfo e'er long will intercept Y

all

all fuch delightful and agreeable Converfe between you and me, as hath hitherto passed

between us.

A. Ah! Were it not for the Prospect of a better, and a more perfect State of Life and Being hereafter, How dreadful would be the Thought of parting with our dear friendly and agreeable Company and Acquaintance, even in this Life of Troubles! I am heartily forry that our Knowledge extends no farther in the Nature of Things; fince it is a Topick, which of all others, gives me the moft ferious and perfect Pleafure in the Contemplation thereof. And, fince you have taken abundant Pains to replenish my Mind with the best Treasure of this Sort of Science; I can but love you, and return you my ample Thanks for the fame.

FINIS