IT fares with the World of Monsieur Descartes , as with other lately discovered Lands , whereof such different Accounts are given , as often contradict one another . Scarce Mention was made of this New World , but an infinite Number of French , English and Dutchmen resolve to go see it . The Spaniard , however zealous for new Discoveries , understanding it was barren of Mines of Gold and Silver , of Indigo and Ginger , seemed not much concerned about it : Wherefore those that had most contributed unto it were not a little pleased , as believing , they had no Reason to apprehend the Inquisition's coming there to disturb them . Among other Things in that World the Earth takes a Turn about the Sun , as in that of Copernicus : And it is known that M. Descartes hath more than once , Desc . tom. 2. lett . 43 , 75. on that occasion , reflected on the Misfortune of poor Galileus . I cannot tell , but it may be on his Account he hath taken so much Pains to prove this Paradox , Part. 3. pr. n. 26. That the Earth stands still , though at the same Time it is carried about the Sun by that Luminary's Vortex . Let it be how it will , many of those that give out they have best examined that Country , have made their Relations of it , but so differently , that a Man can scarce yet determine what he must believe : If you will credit one Party , they 'll tell you , It is no World at all , but a perfect Chaos : That all lie in Disorder , and wild Confusion : That 't is impossible for a Man to turn himself in it : That there is neither Light nor Colours , neither Heat nor Cold , Drought nor Moisture : That Plants and Animals there don't live . There you have not only Liberty , but positive Orders to doubt of every thing in Nature . Some there shall be that will dispute you out of the Name of a Man ; though you have a Face like other Men ; though you be made up of Flesh and Bone as they ; though you Walk , and Eat , and Sleep , and , in a Word , perform all the Natural Functions of a Man ; yet , I say , there are those that shall contest that Title with you , until having conversed you , and understood you speak consequentially , they shall be convinced that you have Reason .

The Inhabitants look Proud and Scornful , and have not the least Respect for Antiquity . Aristotle , especially is scouled in all Companies , and upon all Occasions , by them , being look'd upon as a Vain Babler , and an Antique Teller of Dreams . It is said , There is neither good Christian nor good Catholick there , since they tamper with Principles too Delicate and Dangerous , in Matters relating to Religion . No Body can tell what to make of their Belief of the Creation of Our World , the Production of Matter and the Providence of God ; who , with them , had no other Care upon him than to order the Cubical Particles of Matter to whirl about their Center : After which he might sit Idle and Unconcerned , since all the rest could be managed without the least of his Assistance .

On the other Side , we are assured , A most excellent Conduct shines through the whole Composition ; That all is admirably contrived , and founded upon the Rules and Laws of Nature : That this World is indeed disburthened of an infinite Swarm of Accidents , Qualities , and Intentional Species , as of an unprofitable Lumber , wherewith the Philosophers have imbroiled and incumbred ours : But yet , notwithstanding it cannot be deny'd , but the Senses are subject to the same Impressions there as here , only with this Difference , that the Causes are more acknowledged , and better explain'd .

As to the Point of Religion , nothing seems more justifiable than the Apology of these Gentlemen , which perhaps some have ingaged too inconsiderately for an Affair of that Weight and Moment . Can we apprehend a greater Idea of God Almighty , than that which M. Descartes hath given ? An Idea that he derived not from the Visible Creatures , that sleight and faint Ray of an infinitely perfect Being ; but which his Mind found impressed upon it self , and which left no room for him to doubt of the Existence of a Sovereign Being , though he possessed neither Heaven nor Earth , nor any Body , nor indeed any other Soul than his : Can the Omnipotence of a Deity be advanced to a more transcendent Degree than he hath done it ? God , according to him , can cause , That Two and Three shall not make Five ; That four Sides shall not bé requisite to make a Square ; That the Whole shall be no bigger than One of its Parts ; Effects that other Philosophers never scruple to place out of the Reach of the God head . But has not an Author of a little Piece , called , A Letter wrote to a Learned Jesuite , clearly shewn , That 't is Descartes World that is described in the first Chapter of Genesis ? Another Book hath since been publish'd in Holland , with the Title of Cartèsius Mosaisans , and is to the same effect . The Author of the Treatise concerning The Influence of the Stars , describes the End of the World upon Descartes his Hypothesis . Monsieur Scottanus , in a late Apology , that he offered for M. Descartes , against those that Endeavoured to render him obnoxious to the Suspicion of Atheism , observes to us the Respect he had for Religion , certifying us , That one of his Reasons for the reducing his Meditations to the Number of Six , was the Consideration of the Six Days which God imployed in the Creation of the World . If we may credit Father Mersennus , a Learned and Noted Minim , and an intimate Acquaintance of Descartes , we shall find nothing of a more Christian Temper , and that inspires us more ravishingly with the Love of God than Descartes Philosophy . In short , there is nothing more edifying than the Letter that Philosopher wrote to the Sorbon Doctors , in dedicating his Meditations to them ; which is so true , that not long since , a Friend of mine , not wont to be very Nice in those Matters , having read by chance the Letter at my House , which touched him ; and finding farther the Title of Meditations in the Front of the Work , he seriously entreated me to lend him that Godly Book , to entertain his Devotions during Passion Week .

This so strange Variety of Opinions , and Relations counter to one another , of a World , otherwise of no little Renown , provoked my Curiosity , and induced me to be convinced of the Truth or Falsity of the Reports , in my own Person . All the Difficulty was to find a Guide to conduct me to a Country , to which there was no Road passable either for Horse or Foot , for Coach or Barge , by Land or Sea : But presently after my Resolve , I was happily favoured with the most lucky Occasion that could be wish'd , for the undertaking my Voyage with all the Pleasure and Ease imaginable . Having sojourned some Months in a Country Town , I strook up Acquaintance with an Old Standard , of about eighty Years , a Man of Parts , and that formerly had conversed much with M. Descartes . That Commerce had begot in him an unaccountable Zeal for the Tenets of that Philosopher , and exasperated him to declaim against the Method and Opinions of the School , the Prejudices of Childhood , and taught him to make external Elogies on the Cartesian Philosophy . He had so given himself up to this Opinion , that he could no ways suffer , in Point of Philosophy , any one to deviate never so little from it . In a Conference that we had together upon such sort of Things , I desired to know if he kept up his Correspondence with any Cartesians of Worth and Reputation . No , ( said he ) I have broke with all Sorts of Persons that call themselves by that Name . I can no longer find among them that Zeal and Observance the first Cartesians , without Reserve attributed to that great Man . Every one now a days builds Systems according to his own Humor , and allows himself the Liberty of Adding or Retrenching what he pleases in the Platform M. Descartes hath laid ; which is a concern of that critical Nature as cannot be once touch'd without spoiling the whole . Since the Death of the Famous M. Chersilier , I have forbore writing to any single Person , for I am persuaded , That the pure and unmixt Cartesianism was buried with him .

You Gentlemen ( reply'd I ) are of a strange Constitution . All the Prefaces of your Books are fill'd with Invectives and Raileries , against those who implicitely espouse the Sentiments of an Author , and profess they will never desert him . It looks as if you , and the rest of the new Philosophers , had banded together in an offensive Confederacy , to make continual War upon the Followers of Aristotle on that Account ; and at the same time you fall into the same Error for which ye reproach them , and are an hundred times more bigotted to your Descartes , than they to Aristotle . For my part , I know not how to blame the Conduct of those that are somewhat moderate , which you are so enrag'd against . If their Reason hath discover'd to them another Path than what M. Descartes trod in , why are you angry if they follow it ? Aristotle held Possession a long time , and reign'd absolute Monarch in Philosophy . The Prescription and Vassalage of several Ages , confirm'd his Title of Prince of Philosophers . Descartes is a Rebel , who durst encourage a Party against his Prince : What Right has he to demand a greater Submission unto him , than he was willing to allow to Aristotle ?

Because ( answer'd he ) Truth and Reason are manifestly on his side . That , reply'd I , is exactly the first step Rebellion ever makes , to inforce the justice of its Cause , and proclaim the publick Welfare does depend upon it . But notwithstanding Sir ( pursu'd I ) I am more inclin'd to Neutrality in this Affair than you imagine . I have determin'd to dive to the bottom of Descartes's Philosophy , of which I have , as yet , but a dark and confus'd Knowledg , having never studied him in his own Works , but in the Books of his Disciples , as soon as they appear'd , and that irregularly , and without Method . But as I am oblig'd to leave this Country very speedily , and have but a short time to advantage my self by your Ability in this Affair , therefore it was that I enquir'd , Whether you had any Communication of Letters , or Friendship with any good Cartesian of Paris , to whose Acquaintance you might recommend me , and who would be willing to instruct a Scholar so apt and forward as I pretend to be ?

That Proposal extreamly inspirited my old Gentleman , and I perceiv'd a sudden Joy diffus'd it self all over his Countenance . Ever since I knew you ( said he , taking me by the Hand ) I have observ'd in you a passionate Concern for Truth ; which is the best , and first Disposition Descartes requires to attain unto it . Trouble not your self , you have still two Months good , which you must stay with me ; and that 's as much time as is required . I shall in a little time receive some News from M. Descartes , whereupon wee 'll take such Measures as shall much shorten your Journey .

Hey day ! News from M. Descartes ! ( said I ) why he has been Dead this forty Years . I should be sorry , answer'd he , to have let that Word escape me in another's Presence , but I let it slip purposely at present , to highten your Desire of hearing from me those Things which few in the World are acquainted with , which presently will surprize you , and the Knowledg thereof will convey you in a trice to the end you desire . Hear me then :

You must know ( continu'd he ) that Cartesius , like the ancient Leaders of Sects of Philosophers , avoided the publishing all the Mysteries of his Philosophy . Some he reserv'd , which he only divulg'd to some particular Friends , of which I had the good Fortune to be one . All the peculiar Discoveries he had made , which he thought might be of Use , and either contribute to Morality , or serve to make any Progress in the Knowledg of Natural Beings , he hath obliged the Publick with . But Prudence advis'd him to suppress such others , as some might have converted to an evil Use . The Immortality of the Soul is one of those Points , wherein he was oblig'd to observe that Method , and certainly is one of the most Important Articles in Philosophy . To prove this in a plain , familiar and intelligible way , such as shall force the Mind to give assent , and leave not the least Scruple behind , is to undermine the chief Foundation of Libertinism and Atheism . This M. Descartes hath done , by demonstrating the distinction of the Soul and Body in a Man , by the only clear and distinct Conception that we have of those two kinds of Being . That Demonstration is one of the most fine and useful places of his admirable Meditations . And he was high-surpriz'd to see it so hotly oppos'd , especially by Gassendus ; which , though before he had ask'd his Permission , gall'd and vex'd him , a little more perhaps than was convenient upon that occasion . Which gave rise to a Reflection in the Mouths of many at that time , and which betwixt our selves was true enough , That M. Descartes did not understand Raillery . But he had Moderation enough in the heat of his Conflict , to decline the submitting to the Temptation , which had often invited him to confirm his Demonstration by Experiment , fearing it might prove of dangerous Consequence : And that is the Mystery which I am about to teach you .

It was his way ( as all know ) to endeavour to make good by Experience , the Truths he had discover'd by the meer Light of his Understanding . He was in hopes , that having demonstrated with so clear conviction the distinction of the Soul and Body , he might make so far a Progress as to penetrate into the Secret of their Union , and at last come to that of separating , and re-uniting them when he pleas'd . The Questions that his Illustrious Scholar , Elizabeth the Princess Palatine , us'd to make upon that Head , and the difficulty he found in himself to invent such Solutions as might be easily understood , put him , in short , upon the Undertaking . One day he propos'd his Design to me , and some other of his Friends . We thought him Whimsical : And I remember I laughing made Reply , That there was but one way imaginable to effect it , which was , to find out the famous Caduceus of Mercury , which that God , they say , sometimes by Jupiter's Orders made use of , to separate the Souls from Bodies , and after a certain term of Years to joyn them unto new ones , according to the Principles of Pythagoras's Transmigration .

That however did not divert Cartesius from raving on his Project , not ascertaining himself of the Success , nor judging yet he ought altogether to despair . That was it , that ingag'd him in a more exact Study than formerly of an Human Body , and occasion'd him to make those most exquisite Discoveries in Anatomy . The first Conclusion that he drew from the Idea he had of the Soul , as of a being perfectly Indivisible , was , That it was not extended through the whole Body , as vulgarly it is taught . He shew'd the falsity of that Master Reason , which was us'd till then to confirm Men in their Prejudices , that in whatever part you prick the Body the Soul is sensible of Pain . Then said the Philosophers , It must be extended through the whole . He exposed the Weakness of that Argument by two Experiments , that manifestly prove the perception of Pain , and the Impression of Objects in Places where our Soul is not . The first is that of those Persons who have lost an Arm , who from Time to Time perceive an Aking in the Place where their Fingers used to be , as if they had their Arm entire , although their Fingers are not there , nor by Consequence their Soul . The second is of a Man that 's Blind , which he often instances , who makes his Staff supply the Loss of his Eyes , to distinguish the Figure and Qualities of Objects : Who knows by the Assistance of his Stick , whether it be Water , Earth or Grass that he touches ; whether the Floor be Rough or Smooth , &c. For it is certain he perceives all this by his Staff , although no one will say , That his Soul is in it . He then demonstrated , That the Impression of Objects upon our Body consisted only in the Vibration of the Nerves and Fibres , that are spread throughout the Parts , it being unnecessary the Soul should be co-extended with them . But it was suffcient to her for the perception of Objects , that that Vibration should be communicated to some principal part where she kept her Residence ; just as the Vibration caus'd by the touch of a soft , or hard , of a rough or smooth Body , communicates it self to the Hand by the Mediation of the Staff ; that as the Staff extended from the Hand to the Body , which it touches , is instrumental to the Soul for the perception of the Qualities of the Body ; so likewise the Nerves drawn out , for instance , from the Brain to the Hand , may be ministerial to its perception of the Body that the Hand doth touch . And that in fine , The Pain , caus'd by the too near approach of a Finger to the Fire , doth no more suppose the Souls actual Presence in that part of the Body , than does the ail of a Finger , of which a certain Maid complain'd from day to day , whose Arm , being gangreen'd , Let. de Desc . was cut off without her Knowledg . For she only felt the Pain , because the Humours , or some other Cause , made a Concussion in the Nerves of her Arm , which ran before to the end of her Hand , and because they strook them in a manner like to that which was formerly requisite to excite a Pain in the Finger , before she lost her Arm.

Having made this first Step , and drawn a Consequence of that Importance and Satisfaction , from so abstracted a Principle as the Indivisibility of the Soul ; it was easy for him to prove , she kept her Court no where but in the Brain . There it is that the Nerves do center , or rather from thence they have their Origin . It is there that the Philosophers , if you except a few , and in those Vanhelmont , who seiz'd with a Whim , plac'd the Soul in the Breast ; it is there , I say , that the Philosophers generally agree to be found that which we call the Common Sense , that is to say , the only place where the Soul can be advis'd of all the different Impressions that external Objects make upon the Senses . But since the Brain is of large Extent , and besides that soft and whitish Substance , which commonly goes by that Name , hath Membranes , Glands , Ventricles or Cavities , it was something intricate to resolve , and precisely to determine in what place the Soul was seated . M. Descartes throughly examin'd the different Opinions of Philosophers and Physicians thereupon , and after having solidly confuted the greatest part of their Sentiments , that were founded upon but weak and unsound Principles , he evidently concludes , The seat of the Soul must have three Conditions : First , it must be one ; to the end that the Action of the same Object that at the same time , strikes two Organs of the same Sense , should make no more than one Impression on the Soul , as to instance , she might not see two Men where there was but one . Tom. 2. Let. 36. Secondly , it must be very near the Source of the Animal Spirits ; that by their means she might easily move the Members . And in the third Place , it must be Moveable ; that the Soul causing it to move immediately , might be able to deter mine the Animal Spirits to glide towards some certain Muscles rather than others . Conditions no where to be met with but in a little Gland call'd Pineale or Conarium , situated betwixt all the Concavities of the Brain , supported and incompass'd with Arteries , which made up the Lacis Choroides . It is that Lacis we may be assur'd that is the source of the Spirits , which , ascending from the Heart along the Carotides , receive the form of an Animal Spirit in that Gland , disengaging themselves there from the more gross parts of the Blood ; and from thence they take their Course towards the different Muscles of our Body , partly dependently , partly independently on the Soul ; as the Author of Nature has order'd it , with reference to the end he propos'd to himself in the production of Mankind .

So far M. Descartes took Reason along with him for his Guide ; and for ought I know he might have stop'd there , had not Fortune , or rather the good Providence of God ( who often encourages the laudable Curiosity of those that apply themselves to the consideration of his wonderful Works ) reveal'd to him in an extraordinary manner the Secret that he was in search of . And that was without doubt one of the most strange Effects of the desires of a Philosophical Soul , P. Malle● branche . which a famous Author stiles a Natural Prayer , that never fails to be heard , when it is joyned with a prudent and exact Management of our Reason .

Should you believe me , added he , if I should tell you M. Descartes had often Fits of Extasy ? Why not ? Said I ; that 's no such incredible thing , of so Contemplative a Man as he was ; nor is it a Case without a President . Who has not heard of those of the famous Archimedes , in which he often lost himself , through his vehement Application to Mathematical Speculations , and in one of them his Life ? Syracuse being taken by the Roman Army , whilst he was drawing Figures in his Chamber with that earnestness of Mind ; the Tumult of a Town taken by Storm , was not loud enough to wake him : And he sooner was run through by the Soldiers that had forc'd his House , than he was apprehensive of their Approach .

Alas ! reply'd he , with a Sigh , you 'll see in the Consequence of what I am relating , That the Extasies of M. Descartes were no less fatal , tho' they were not of the same Nature , and proceeded from a far different Cause . It happen'd one Day , whilst we were at Egmond , a little Town in Holland , which he delighted in , that he entred his Stove very early in the Morning ( which he had caus'd to be built like that in Germany , where he began his Philosophy ) and set himself to thinking , as he us'd to do . Two Hours after , I came in : I found him leaning over the Table , his Head hanging forward , supported with his left Hand , in which he held a little Snush Box , having his Finger near his Nose , as if he was taking Snush . As for the rest he was Immoveable , and held his Eyes open : The noise that I made in entring the Room not causing him to stir , I had the Patience to observe him half an Hour postur'd in that manner , without his perceiving of me . In the mean while there happen'd an Adventure that much surpriz'd me : There stood upon the Cornish of the Wainscot in the Stove , a Bottle of the Queen of Hungary's Water ; I was amaz'd to see it descend , whilst no Body came near it , and to pass through the Air towards M. Descartes . The Cork , with which it was stopt , came out of its own Accord , and the Bottle fastning it self to his Nose , hung there for some time . I protest I durst have swore at that moment , there had been no small Conjuring in the Business of our Philosopher and that some familiar Demon , like that of Socrates , had inspir'd him with all the fine Things he still had taught us . But I was convinc'd not long after that there was nothing less in it , and I desire you to suspend your Judgment thereon . He awaken'd a little while after as in a start , and striking his Hand upon the Table , This time at last , said he , I have it . I thought him still in a Dream : And springing up forth with upon his Chair , transported with Joy , without seeing me , he cut two Capers in the middle of the Room , still repeating , I have it , I have it . I burst out with Laughter to see that Frolick , a thing not customary with M. Descartes , being naturally of a Grave and Melancholy Temper ; who hearing and seeing me at the same time , presently redden'd , and afterwards fell a Laughing as well as I. And as I was urgent with him to give me the Reason of his Joy and Rapture : To punish you , says he , for having observed an Indecorum unbecoming a Philosopher , you shall not know 't so soon : And with that he left the Room in which we were , and entred into his Closet , bolting it upon him . Nevertheless two days after he imparted to me the Mystery .