STUDY VII. Il 



derdanding of this man and die inflind of an 

 animal. As we have already faid, the duUeft of 

 Mankind can learn the ufe of fire, and the prac- 

 tice of agriculture, of which the mod intelligent 

 of animals is ablolutely incapable; but what I 

 have not yet faid, the fimple ufe of fire, and the 

 pradice of agriculture, are far preferable to all 

 ,NewiOHS difcoveries. 



Agriculture is the art of Nature, and fire her 

 primary agent. From experience we are allured, 

 that men have acquired by means of this element 

 and of this art a plenitude of intelligence, of which 

 all their other combinations, I venture to affirm, 

 are merely confequences. Our Sciences and Arts 

 are derived, for the greateft part, from thefe two 

 fources, and they do not conftitute a difference 

 more real between the underftanding of one man. 

 and another, than there is between the drefs and 

 furniture of Europeans and thofe of Savages. As 

 they are perfe6tly adapted to the neceffities of the 

 one and of the other, they efi:abli{li no real diffe- 

 rence between the underftandings which contrived 

 them. The importance which we affign to our' 

 talents, proceeds not from their utility, but fiom 

 our pride. We fliould take a material ftep to- 

 ward it's humiliation, did we confider that the 

 animals which have no fkill in agriculture, and 

 know not the ufe of fire, attain to the greateft 



part 



