voluntary movement of
our own organs; as whilst I endeavour to compress between my hands an ivory
ball into a spheroid. And we are hence taught by experience, that our own
body and those, which we touch, cannot exist in the same part of space.

But this by no means demonstrates, that no two bodies can exist together in
the same part of space. Galilaeo in the preface to his works seems to be of
opinion, that matter is not impenetrable; Mr. Michel, and Mr. Boscowich in
his Theoria. Philos. Natur. have espoused this hypothesis: which has been
lately published by Dr. Priestley, to whom the world is much indebted for
so many important discoveries in science. (Hist. of Light and Colours, p.
391.) The uninterrupted passage of light through transparent bodies, of the
electric aether through metallic and aqueous bodies, and of the magnetic
effluvia through all bodies, would seem to give some probability to this
opinion. Hence it appears, that beings may exist without possessing the
property of solidity, as well as they can exist without possessing the
properties, which excite our smell or taste, and can thence occupy space
without detruding other bodies from it; but we cannot become acquainted
with such beings by our sense of touch, any more than we can with odours or
flavours without our senses of smell and taste.

But that any being can exist without existing in space, is to my ideas
utterly incomprehensible. My appeal is to common sense. _To be_ implies a
when and a where; the one is comparing it with the motions of other beings,
and the other with their situations.

If there was but one object, as the whole creation may be considered as one
object, then I cannot ask where it exists? for there are no other objects
to compare its situation with. Hence if any one denies, that a being exists
in space, he denies, that there are any other beings but that one; for to
answer the question, "Where does it exist?" is only to mention the
situation of the objects that surround it.

In the same manner if it be asked--"When does a being exist?" The answer
only specifies the successive motions either of itself, or of other bodies;
hence to say, a body exists not in time, is to say, that there is, or was,
no motion in the world.

4. _Of the Spirit of Animation._

But though there may exist beings in the universe, that have not the
property of solidity; that is, which can possess any part of space, at the
same time that it is occupied b