er of the apple the inert cause. If a bar of iron be
approximated to a magnet, it may be termed the inert cause of the motion,
which brings these two bodies into contact; while the magnetic principle
may be termed the efficient cause. In the same manner the fibres, which
constitute the retina, may be called the inert cause of the motions of that
organ in vision, while the sensorial power may be termed the efficient
cause.

3. Another more common distribution of the perpetual chain of causes and
effects, which constitute the motions, or changing configurations, of the
natural world, is into active and passive. Thus, if a ball in motion
impinges against another ball at rest, and communicates its motion to it,
the former ball is said to act, and the latter to be acted upon. In this
sense of the words a magnet is said to attract iron; and the prick of a
spur to stimulate a horse into exertion; so that in this view of the works
of nature all things may be said either simply to exist, or to exist as
causes, or to exist as effects; that is, to exist either in an active or
passive state.

This distribution of objects, and their motions, or changes of position,
has been found so convenient for the purposes of common life, that on this
foundation rests the whole construction or theory of language. The names of
the things themselves are termed by grammarians Nouns, and their modes of
existence are termed Verbs. The nouns are divided into substantives, which
denote the principal things spoken of; and into adjectives, which denote
some circumstances, or less kinds of things, belonging to the former. The
verbs are divided into three kinds, such as denote the existence of things
simply, as, to be; or their existence in an active state, as, to eat; or
their existence in a passive state, as, to be eaten. Whence it appears,
that all languages consist only of nouns and verbs, with their
abbreviations for the greater expedition of communicating our thoughts; as
explained in the ingenious work of Mr. Horne Tooke, who has unfolded by a
single flash of light the whole theory of language, which had so long lain
buried beneath the learned lumber of the schools. Diversions of Purley.
Johnson. London.

4. A third division of causes has been into proximate and remote; these
have been much spoken of by the writers on medical subjects, but without
sufficient precision. If to proximate and remote causes we add proximate
and remote effects, we shall