292 INSTINCT WEAKENED BY DOMESTICATION. 



friends. I shall then enjoy as much felicity as is to 

 be found, when surrounded by all I love best ; and 

 already anticipate the delightful rides, walks, and con- 

 versations, we shall have together. Our friends, the 

 Palmers, will join our society, and complete our intel- 

 lectual entertainment. 



As instinct has so long been my theme, I shall ter- 

 minate our correspondence with some remarks* on 

 that subject, by Mr. Palmer, which are the result of 

 observation, and have afforded me much gratification. 

 It is matter of curious speculation, to consider how 

 the instinct of animals grows weaker in proportion to 

 their closer approximation towards mankind and their 

 dwellings. 



The beaver, the carcasou, and many other ani- 

 mals in their entire savage state, when seldom ap- 

 proached by human beings, seem to have the do- 

 minion of the wild, and to exercise a degree of fore- 

 thought and wisdom, both in procuring what is neces- 

 sary, and in avoiding what is dangerous, that appears 

 incredible to those who, living in a cultivated coun- 

 try, have no means of tracing the progress of this 

 wonderful sagacity. The cause of this faculty be- 

 coming more obtuse when animals are, to a certain 

 degree, associated with man, when they enjoy his 

 protection and inhabit his domains, is sufficiently ob- 



* I am indebted to Mrs. Grant for these remarks. 



