_MADAM,_
Your Authours opinion, concerning Dreams,[1] seemeth to me in some part
very rational and probable, in some part not; For when he sayes, that
_Dreams are onely Imaginations of them that sleep, which imaginations
have been before either totally or by parcels in the Sense; and that
the organs of Sense, as the Brain and the Nerves, being benumb'd
in sleep, as not easily to be moved by external objects, those
Imaginations proceed onely from the agitation of the inward parts of
mans body, which for the connexion they have with the Brain, and other
organs, when they be distemper'd, do keep the same in motion, whereby
the Imaginations there formerly made, appear as if a man were waking_;
This seems to my Reason not very probable: For, first, Dreams are not
absolutely Imaginations, except we do call all Motions and Actions
of the Sensitive and Rational Matter, Imaginations. Neither is it
necessary, that all Imaginations must have been before either totally
or by parcels in the Sense; neither is there any benumbing of the
organs of Sense in sleep. But Dreams, according to my opinion, are made
by the Sensitive and Rational Corporeal Motions, by figuring several
objects, as awake; onely the difference is, that the Sensitive motions
in Dreams work by rote and on the inside of the Sensitive organs, when
as awake they work according to the patterns of outward objects, and
exteriously or on the outside of the sensitive Organs, so that sleep
or dreams are nothing else but an alteration of motions, from moving
exteriously to move interiously, and from working after a Pattern to
work by rote: I do not say that the body is without all exterior
motions, when asleep, as breathing and beating of the Pulse (although
these motions are rather interior then exterior,) but that onely the
sensitive organs are outwardly shut, so as not to receive the patterns
of outward Objects, nevertheless the sensitive Motions do not cease
from moving inwardly; or on the inside of the sensitive Organs; But the
rational matter doth often, as awake, so asleep or in dreams, make such
figures, as the sensitive did never make either from outward objects,
or of its own accord; for the sensitive hath sometimes liberty to work
without Objects, but the Rational much more, which is not bound either
to the patterns of Exterior objects, or of the sensitive voluntary
Figures. Wherefore it is not divers distempers, as your Authour sayes,
that cause different Dreams, or Gold, or Heat; neither are Dreams the
reverse of our waking Imaginations, nor all the Figures in Dreams are
not made with their heels up, and their heads downwards, though some
are; but this error or irregularity proceeds from want of exterior
Objects or Patterns, and by reason the sensitive Motions work by rote;
neither are the Motions reverse, because they work inwardly asleep, and
outwardly awake, for Mad-men awake see several Figures without Objects.
In short, sleeping and waking, is somewhat after that manner, when men
are called either out of their doors, or stay within their houses; or
like a Ship, where the Mariners work all under hatches, whereof you
will find more in my Philosophical Opinions; and so taking my leave, I
rest,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend_
_and Servant._
[1] _Leviathan, Part._ 1. _c._ 2.