On Natural and Moral PInlosophy, 391 



the conclusion would be the same, it is sufR- 

 cient that it is a provisionar)' gift, that the ca^ 

 pacity of intellect is not his own creation. If 

 he had such a powef, the very will to possess it 

 would be argument of a pre-existent intel* 

 lect. Man, therefore, in one great character of 

 mind, is conformed to the plan which in so large 

 a sun'ey of nature we have found to be uni- 

 formly observed. Designed to be a rational 

 being, and act with a deliberate purpose to an 

 end, he has a provisionary constitution of mind 

 fitting him for this dignified walk. 



But whence is derived to him the worth and 

 importance of the various ends and enjoyments, 

 to the attainment of which intellect is so valu- 

 able a minister ? One of these ends is the 

 gratification of appetite, the delight in food. 

 This is not simple as in other animals ; appe- 

 tite in him comprehends a diversity of tastes, 

 multifarious almost as the supply of the vegeta- 

 ble and animal kingdoms. This character, 

 though not to the same extent in all, and sub- 

 ject to the controul of higher considerations, 

 to which in their order we shall advert, is ge- 

 neral in man. It is difficult to ascertain the 

 precise limits which separate the different 

 classes of animal being, to say where one spe- 

 cific character absolutely begins, and where it 

 ends, and therefore in a few animals an ap- 



