the blood through the capillary vessels; whence the venous
circulation is owing to the extremities of the veins
absorbing the blood, as those of the lymphatics absorb the
fluids. The great force of absorption is well elucidated by
Dr. Hales's experiment on the rise of the sap-juice in a
vine-stump; see Zoonomia, Vol. I. Sect. XXIII.]

[Footnote: _And from diminish'd oceans_, l. 268. The increase
of the solid parts of the globe by the recrements of organic
bodies, as limestone rocks from shells and bones, and the
beds of clay, marl, coals, from decomposed woods, is now well
known to those who have attended to modern geology; and Dr.
Halley, and others, have endeavoured to show, with great
probability, that the ocean has decreased in quantity during
the short time which human history has existed. Whence it
appears, that the exertions of vegetable and animal life
convert the fluid parts of the globe into solid ones; which
is probably effected by combining the matter of heat with the
other elements, instead of suffering it to remain simply
diffused amongst them, which is a curious conjecture, and
deserves further investigation.]

"Next the long nerves unite their silver train,
And young SENSATION permeates the brain; 270
Through each new sense the keen emotions dart,
Flush the young cheek, and swell the throbbing heart.
From pain and pleasure quick VOLITIONS rise,
Lift the strong arm, or point the inquiring eyes;
With Reason's light bewilder'd Man direct,
And right and wrong with balance nice detect.
Last in thick swarms ASSOCIATIONS spring,
Thoughts join to thoughts, to motions motions cling;
Whence in long trains of catenation flow
Imagined joy, and voluntary woe. 280

[Footnote: _And young Sensation_, l. 270. Both sensation and
volition consist in an affection of the central part of the
sensorium, or of the whole of it; and hence cannot exist till
the nerves are united in the brain. The motions of a limb of
any animal cut from the body, are therefore owing to
irritation, not to sensation or to volition. For the
definitions of irritation, sensation, volition, and
association, see additional Note II