SLEEP AND DREAMS;

TWO LECTURES

DELIVERED AT THE

BRISTOL LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL

INSTITUTION.

BY

JOHN ADDINGTON SYMONDS, M.D.,

CONSULTING PHYSICIAN TO THE BRISTOL

GENERAL HOSPITAL.

LONDON:

JOHN MURRAY, ALBERMARLE-STREET.

BRISTOL:

EVANS AND ABBOTT, 29, CLARE-STREET.

1851.

270.a.73.

TO THE

RIGHT HONORABLE LORD TEIGNMOUTH.

MY DEAR LORD,

I venture to inscribe these

Lectures to your

Lordship, because the publication of them was requested in a resolution which you proposed to my audience, and to which, after it had been kindly seconded by Mr. SUTHERLAND GREME, and accepted by the meeting, I could not but feel myself bound in gratitude to accede. I am glad to have this public opportunity of expressing the deep respect and regard which I entertain towards your Lordship, and my admiration of the untiring activity with which you devote your high talents and attainments to the furtherance of the intellectual elevation, as well as of the moral and religious improvement of your fellow

creatures.

I remain, my dear Lord,

Your obliged and faithful Servant,

JOHN ADDINGTON SYMONDS.

PREFACE.

It is easy to spare books in these days of prolific authorship; and I fear it will hardly be considered a sufficient apology for my offering a superfluous book to the public, that I was impelled to do so by the request of partial friends. Yet I wish to say, that these Lectures, composed under many interruptions, were not designed for publication.

As I am fully conscious how imperfect has been my discussion. of their topics, I cannot do better than point out a few works which the reader who is interested in such subjects may consult with profit and amusement. A large collection of facts will be found in Dr. MACNISH'S "Philosophy of Sleep," and a still larger number, intermingled with ingenious speculations, in a work by Dr. BINNS, entitled "The Anatomy of Sleep." The physiological relations of the subject are admirably treated by Dr. CARPENTER, in an article on Sleep in the Cyclopædia of Anatomy and Physiology. The philosophical reader will consult, with great satisfaction, a chapter on "Dreaming, Insanity, and Intoxication," in Dr. HOLLAND'S "Medical Notes and Reflections," and he will also read with pleasure Mr. DENDY's very elegant volume, entitled the "Philosophy of Mystery." Those who wish to view dreams in their moral and religious aspects, should peruse a little work by Mr. JOHN SHEPPARD, who brings to this subject the same intellectual refinement, conjoined with the same earnestness of moral purpose, which characterizes his other writings. To the lovers of the marvellous, I recommend Mrs. CROWE'S "Night-side of Nature," which abounds in striking and well-told stories; more especially as the following pages will be found to be very sparing of such recitals.