large in a plan for the conduct of a boarding school for ladies, which I
intend to publish in the course of the next year.

25. _Educatio heroica._ From the kinds and degrees of insanities already
enumerated, the reader will probably recollect many more from his own
observation; he will perceive that all extraordinary exertions of voluntary
action in consequence of some false idea or hallucination, which strongly
affects us, may philosophically, though not popularly, be termed an
insanity; he will then be liable to divide these voluntary exertions into
disagreeable, pernicious, detestable, or into meritorious, delectable, and
even amiable, insanities. And will lastly be induced to conceive, that a
good education consists in the art of producing such happy hallucinations
of ideas, as may be followed by such voluntary exertions, as may be termed
meritorious or amiable insanities.

The old man of the mountain in Syria, who governed a small nation of people
called Assassines, is recorded thus to have educated those of his army who
were designed to assassinate the princes with whom he was at war. A young
man of natural activity was chosen for the purpose, and thrown into a deep
sleep by opium mixed with his food; he was then carried into a garden made
to represent the paradise of Mahomet, with flowers of great beauty and
fragrance, fruits of delicious flavor, and beautiful houries beckoning him
into the shades. After a while, on being a second time stupified with
opium, the young enthusiast was reconveyed to his apartment; and on the
next day was assured by a priest, that he was designed for some great
exploit, and that by obeying the commands of their prince, immortal
happiness awaited him.

Hence it is easy to collect how the first impressions made on us by
accidental circumstances in our infancy continue through life to bias our
affections, or mislead our judgments. One of my acquaintance can trace the
origin of his own energies of action from some such remote sources; which
justifies the observation of M. Rousseau, that the seeds of future virtues
or vices are oftener sown by the mother, than the tutor.

* * * * *

ORDO II.

_Decreased Volition._

GENUS I.

_With decreased Actions of the Muscles._

Our muscles become fatigued by long contraction, and cease for a time to be
excitable by the will; owing to exhaustion of the sensorial power, which
resides in them. After a short inte