the true nature of Instinct. 31 



duce, — the sensible perception of their own individual degrada- 

 tion ? — or, would it not follow, upon such an admission of the 

 rationalitj of brutes, that we should be very likely to see the 

 fable realized of the Mice holding a Council to " bell the Cat," 

 and absolutely devising a successful stratagem to effect their pur- 

 pose ? Is there, upon such a principle, any ground for asserting, 

 that, with proper care, we might not be able to rear a few four- 

 legged philosophers and mechanicians, of at least tolerable eru- 

 dition and science? or rather, the principle being admitted, can 

 it be safely denied that they do not already exist ? 



I am aware that there is a class of actions which are in great mea- 

 sure modifications arising from the influence of education and habit, 

 and which, perhaps, appear more strongly than any others to favour 

 the supposition that brutes are possessed, in some degr^'e, of the- 

 power of analysis and reason; but as this appearance is of so 

 prominent a character, and is so closely allied to their specific 

 mental capabilities, I purpose to enter upon a more particular 

 consideration of it in the course of these Essays. I shall only 

 remark, for the present, that the natures of brutes no doubt 

 evince a strong susceptibility of being influenced, within certain 

 limits, by the human mind ; but this susceptibility of sub- 

 servience to human intelligence, so far from militating against the 

 views here off"ered of the proper nature of brutes, appears rather 

 to strengthen and confirm the position, that they are affected by 

 influences above their own consciousness ; and that the wisdom of 

 the Creator has so constituted their natures as to be affected by the 

 influence of mediate agencies, in order to the production of (he- 

 various ends which it may be necessary should be accomplished 

 through their instrumentality. 



I need scarcely remark that the general views attempted to be 

 established by the foregoing observations, cai'.not be adequately 

 illustrated in the limited survey of a Preliminary Essay : — their 

 further developement must rest upon a more extended examina- 

 tion of the particular functions, which, taken collectively, form the 

 brute economy. Certain it is, however, that the liberty and 

 freedom of the human mind forms the basis of its rationality and 

 intelligence, which is no doubt aided by an influent light and 



