Chap. III.] MORAL SENSE. 87 



now seems comparatively weak ; and then that sense of 

 dissatisfaction will inevitably be felt with which man is 

 endowed, like every other animal, in order that his in- 

 stincts may be obeyed. The case before given, of the 

 Fwaliow, affords an illustration, though of a reversed na- 

 ture, of a temporary, though for the time strongly persist- 

 ent, instinct conquering another instinct which is usually 

 dominant over all others. At the proper season these 

 birds seem all day long to be impressed with the desire 

 to migrate ; their habits change ; they become restless, are 

 noisy, and congregate in flocks. While the mother-bird 

 is feeding or brooding over her nestlings, the maternal in- 

 stinct is probably stronger than the migratory ; but the 

 instinct which is more persistent gains the victory, and at 

 last, at a moment when her young ones are not in sight, 

 she takes flight and deserts them. When arrived at the 

 end of her long journey, and the migratory instinct ceases 

 to act, what an agony of remorse each bird would feel, if, 

 from being endowed with great mental activity, she could 

 not prevent the image continually passing before her mind 

 of her young ones perishing in the bleak north from cold 

 and hunger ! 



At the moment of action, man will no doubt be apt to 

 follow the stronger impulse ; and, though this may occa- 

 sionally prompt him to the noblest deeds, it will far more 

 commonly lead him to gratify his own desires at the ex- 

 pense of other men. But after their gratification, when 

 past and weaker impressions are contrasted with the ever- 

 enduring social instincts, retribution will surely come. 

 Man will then feel dissatisfied with^ himself, and will re- 

 solve, with more or less force, to act differently for the fu- 

 ture. This is conscience ; for conscience looks backward 

 and judges past actions, inducing that kind of dissatisfac 

 tion, which, if weak, we call regret, and if severe, remorse 



These sensations are, no doubt, different from those 



