bZ STUDIES OF NATURE. 



Deity which has rendered Man fupcrior to the 

 Laws of Nature. It is this inftinâ: which, diffe- 

 rently modified by the paffions, engages the inha- 

 bitants of Ruflia to bathe in the ices of the Neva, 

 during the fevereft cold of Winter, as well as the 

 Nations of Bengal in the waters of the Ganges; 

 which, under the fame Latitudes, has rendered 

 women flaves in the Philippine Iflands, and defpots 

 in the Illand of Formofa; which makes men effe- 

 minate in the Moluccas, and intrepid in Macalfar; 

 and which forms, in the inhabitants of one and 

 the fame city, tyrants, citizens, and flaves. 



The fentiment of Deity is the firft mover of the 

 human heart. Examine a man in thofe unforefeen 

 moments, when the fecret plans of attack and de- 

 fence, with which focial man continually enclofes 

 himfelf, are fupprelfed, not on the fight of a vaft 

 ruin, which totally fubverts them, but fimply on 

 feeing an extraordinary plant or animal : *' Ah, 

 *' my God !" exclaims he, " how wonderful this 

 " is !" and he invites the firft perfon who happens 

 to pafs by, to partake of his aftonifliment. His 

 firft emotion is a tranfport of delight Which raifes 

 him to God ; and the fécond, a benevolent difpo- 

 fition to communicate his difcovery to men; but 

 the focial reafon quickly recals him to perfonal in- 

 tereft. As foon as he fees a certain number of 

 •fp^edators affembled round the objedl of his curi^ 



ofity. 



