BOOK III PART II
sion; and afterwards, that it arises from first
or from long possession. Now we may easily
observe, that relation is not confined merely to
one degree; but that from an object, that is re-
lated to us, we acquire a relation to every other
object, which is related to it, and so on, till the
thought loses the chain by too long a progress,
However the relation may weaken by each re-
move, it is not immediately destroyed; but fre-
quently connects two objects by means of an in-
termediate one, which is related to both. And
this principle is of such force as to give rise to
the right of accession, and causes us to acquire
the property not only of such objects as we are
immediately possessed of; but also of such as
are closely connected with them.
Suppose a German, a Frenchman, and a
Spaniard to come into a room, where there are