The poetic mind, from its sensibility, is peculiarly ready to sympathise with the general mind, and it is that sympathy that produces common sense. Common sense is instinctive; and in its origin allied to that which in the higher acts of the poet's mind is called Inspiration. Therefore it is native to his mind. It is an inspiration of his mind as much as poetic Imagination. BULLER. Has Seward said what you meant to say, Talboys? TALBOYS. He has--why did not you? But observe, Buller, common sense is not solely employed upon a man's own conduct: it has all the world besides for its object. The common sense of a Poet in his own case may be disturbed by his sensibilities, which are greater than common; while yet, in all other cases, it may be truer than the magnet. BULLER. Good. TALBOYS. I will trouble you, if you please, for an Obs. BULLER. I have long desired a definition of Common Sense. It seems to me rather a commonplace thing. I suppose it is called Common Sense, as being common to men, so that you may expect it in 9 out of 10, or 99 out of 100. TALBOYS. Pretty good. BULLER. Common Life seems to be the school of it. It seems a practical faculty, or to respect practice. Obvious relations are its domain--obvious connexions of cause and effect--means and end. A man of common sense effects a plain object, quickly and cheaply, by ready and direct means. High reach of thought is distinguished from common sense on the same side, as downright folly is on the other. Yet the interests dealt with need not be, if they frequently are, low; only the relations obvious. Perhaps the phrase is oftener brought out by its violation than its maintenance. He who wants common sense employs means thwarting his end. I propose that Common Sense is a combination of common understanding and common experience. TALBOYS. I asked you, my dear Buller, for an Obs--one single Obs--you have given us a dozen--a Series. Let us take them one by one, and dissect the-- BULLER. Be hanged if we do! I am afraid that my notion of Common Sense is but a low one. I think that a blacksmith may acquire common sense about shoeing of horses, and a housewife about her kitchen and laundry. _Sound sense_ applicable to high matters is another matter--_une toute autre chose_. TALBOYS. Be done, dear Buller. BULLER. In a moment. Moreover, I can imagine a strong, clear, sound sense _confined_ to a special _higher_ employment--a lawyer who would manage the most difficult and hazardous cause with admirable discretion, and make a mere fool of himself in marrying. TALBOYS. Be done--be done.