55 



171. Desire of society, this also seems instinctive; for from 

 our infancy perfect solitude is shunned with horror. Even 

 the deaf, who cannot communicate with each other or with 

 any one else, prefer company to solitude. The aversion of 

 the savage of Aveyron to society proceeded from original ill 

 treatment received by him. Yet this desire, as far as it is 

 instinctive, extends only to the society of two or three persons 

 or families ; its farther extension arises from reflection on its 

 utility for defence against enemies or wild beasts, or assistance 

 in laborious works. The pleasure received from its enjoy- 

 ment is increased by similarity of language, habits, manners 

 and pursuits ; and diminished by dissimilarity in those res- 

 pects. 



172. Desire of communication, this comprehends colloquial 

 intercourse and sympathy. Both may be had, even with the 

 dead, by means of reading, and often more agreeably than 

 with the living. The former is encreased in proportion to the 

 interest it inspires, and the attention given to it; z.nd dimi- 

 nished by inattention, rude interruption, blunt contradiction, 

 arrogant imperious dictation. Of the nature of sympathy, 

 mention has been already made. No. 127 : to its desire that 

 of seeing theatrical representations, pantomime shews, and 

 of contemplating expression of the passions, either by paint- 

 ing, statuary, or music, or by affecting tales either in prose 

 or verse, must be ascribed. Pleasures of the comic kind are 

 derived from a different source. 



173. The 



