QUERE? WHENCE does it happen, that after a long drawn out, epistolary silence has continued between two intimate friends, of either sex; whence does it happen, that this suspension of intercourse is suddenly interrupted by a synchronous incitement of their minds, and an associated movement of their pens; and, that, after so many blank vibrations of that inestimable pendulum, the mail, their reciprocal letters should now pass each other on the road, and be opened, perhaps, by each welcoming friend, at the same point and hour of the clock. What have I in continuance for this mysterious speculation; except to ask, is more than accident concerned in this notable occurrence, and, if so, what is "the sum of more?" It is an occurrence which has frequently been experienced by myself; is confirmed by general suffrage; and happens, I apprehend, not unfre quently to all, who are in the habit of occasionally writing to, and hearing from a distant friend. So frequent, indeed, is this incident, that, when we smilingly say, pshaw! it can be nothing more than a chance throw; a whimsical coincidence; an accidental contingence-while we are pronouncing all this, I am by no means satisfied that we are expressing, unreservedly and fairly, the sentiment and feeling of the mind. And yet, if we shall be brought to admit that it is not wholly reasonable to mark with the designation of accident, that which really occurs so generally, then does the inventive faculty seem called upon and challenged to rise, and to explain. But, in the phenomena of mind, explanation is difficult: frequently impracticable; and where the pride of science mounts high, as it is wont to do with small philosophers, it cannot submit, with ease and grace, to be baffled and defied. Yet it happens very often, that the circumstances and the facts which it condescends not to regard, are those in which the greatest difficulty presents itself to talent and to science. This difficulty is grounded in our unacquaintance with the mental or immaterial principle, and our ignorance of physical causes. On all subjects, in all directions, causes are dextrous in eluding our pursuit; commonly setting at nought our limited penetration. To return to the whimsical, little plaything, which we had accidentally taken up: (viz.) synchronous impulse to a wellknown interesting reciprocal act. Here I was about to proceed, when it happily oc-: curred to me that it might be wise to dismiss the enquiry and escape the intricacies which I saw lying in my way, by taking refuge in the convenient Socratic mode, of-modest interrogatory-a mode which has served me a good turn more than once in the course of dull or crabbed lucubration. Quere? Are we then to suppose that two minds shall be so harmonised; that their unison shall be so exquisite; their construction so minutely and mutually exact; their capacities, their powers, and their properties so adjusted; their sympathies so balanced; that they shall, in the first instance, exhaust an equal measure of time in patience and in quietism; then, in the almost unconscious exercise of long endurance; then, in the feeling and long admission of discontent; yet, still delaying; 'till, at length, and at the same determined period and point of time, all compromise with procrastination becomes intolerable, and such simultaneous self-resentment, at delay, is generated, as fixes resolution, and terminates in act?-and now-two letters meet, and pass upon the road. Can all this be so? if, otherwise, enquiry must be committed to some more curious and more acute trifler than the proposer of these queries. |