Elements of the philosophy of the human mind. By Dugald Stewart. Rev. and abridged, with critical and explanatory notes, for the use of colleges and schools. By Francis Bowen ...

DREAMING. 191
to continue after sleep commences. The difference, therefore,
between the state of the mind when we are inviting sleep, and
when we are actually asleep, is this, - that in the former case,
although its active exertions be suspended, we can renew them,
if we please. In the other case, the will loses its influence over
all our powers, both of mind and body; in consequence of some
physical alteration in the system, which we shall never, probably,
be able to explain.
In order to illustrate this conclusion a little further, it may be
proper to rem ark, that if the suspension of our voluntary operations in sleep be admitted as a fact, there are only two suppositions which can be formed concerning its cause. The one is,
that the power of volition is suspended; the other, that the will
loses its influence over those faculties of the mind, and those
members of the body, which, during our waking hours, are subjected to its authority. If it can be shown, then, that the former
supposition is not agreeable to fact, the truth of the latter seems
to follow as a necessary consequence.
1. Volition itself not suspended during sleep. - That the power
of volition is not suspended during sleep, appears from the efforts
which we are conscious of making while in that situation. We
dream, for example, that we are in danger; and we attempt
to call out for assistance. The attempt, indeed, is, in general,
unsuccessful; and the sounds which we emit are feeble and
indistinct; but this only confirms, or rather is a necessary con
sequence of the supposition, that, in sleep, the connection, between the will and our voluntary operations is disturbed or
interrupted. The continuance of the power of volition is demonstrated by the effort, however ineffectual.
In like manner, in the course of an alarming dream, we are
sometimes conscious of making an exertion to save ourselves,
by flight, from an apprehended danger; but in spite of all our
efforts, we continue in bed. In such cases, we commonly dream
that we are attempting to escape, and are prevented by some
external obstacle; but the fact seems to be, that the body is, at
that time, not subject to the will. During the disturbed. rest
which we sometimes have when the body is indisposed, the