1825; ] 
which’ had lost her cubs, and afterwards 
hunted it with the pack, where it dis- . 
played much of the fierceness and cun- 
ning of the fox. From these facts it is 
evident, that the influence the dam has 
over the young it rears, essentially de- 
terniines their character : not that a fox 
nurtured by a lapdog, would have the 
docility of that animal, for it has an 
hereditary character which will be ma- 
nifest ; but it will be less fierce and less 
cunning than if reared by its own spe- 
cies in a wood, 
The principle which is applicable to 
animals, is applicable also to the human 
race. The law is one of nature, which 
we have overlooked in bringing up our 
children: any character is admitted to 
our nurseries; any impression stamped 
on the instinctive faculty of our chil- 
dren. 
But it will be asked, Does not instinct 
cease when reason begins? Certainly 
not. Instinct forms no _ insignificant 
part of the character of the wisest, as 
well as the weakest of men: the impres- 
sions of the child are felt in manhood. 
Let the mind go back as far as recollec- 
tion will reach, and we shall find pour- 
trayed on the instinctive faculty, im- 
pressions which were the embryo of the 
existing character. Reason does not 
destroy our natural wants, our passions, 
or our dispositions; it cannot destroy 
them, for instinct is more influential on 
the mass of society than reason. Dr. 
Reid says, “ Reason cannot direct a 
man when to eat, or what, or how 
much; in all these things, appetite is a 
etter guide. The mild voice of reason 
is lost in the turbulence of passion.” 
Instinct gives the tone to the character ; 
man, without it, would be a tame and 
insipid creature:—his reason, when pro- 
perly directed, might take the helm; but 
the breeze which wafts us onward is in 
the passions. 
This powerful but plastic principle— 
this impulse of our system, which, un- 
corrected and unchastened in childhood, 
leaves man the mere animal, a slave to 
every feeling; so, as the instinct is early 
impressed, man is fierce, oppressive and 
cruel; or sincere, and generous, and 
kind. In this faculty exists the general 
character. In support of this assertion, 
I appeal to the history of our race. 
Passing by our forsaken fellow-crea- 
tures, the residents of the forest, who 
cling to their instinctive impressions 
with a pertinacity which bears down the 
springs of intellect, and excludes them 
from the sympathies and associations of 
their species, we pass on to man in his 
Influence of Early Impressions on the Future Character. 
195 
rudest associated state,—to the tribes 
and families of hunters. To them rea- 
son, at its first dawning, has shewn 
something of their dignity, by putting 
the beasts of the forest into their power. 
If a suspicion of idiocy have fallen on 
the unhappy individuals just noticed, 
on these it cannot fall; they are, indis- 
putably, rational beings,—but reason 
has not yet possessed sufficient power 
to form their character: they are the 
creatures of instinct, in a small degree, 
only, assisted by reason. No tribe of 
Hunters has ever, by their own desire, 
become civilized, or made any effort 
towards that state. To the overtures 
made to the American tribes, the an- 
swer has been, “ When buffaloes are 
scarce, we will attend to you.” 
Why do these people refuse civiliza- 
tion? It may be answered, They have 
not the cares which reason generates ; 
their habits are those of nature, and 
therefore they prefer them:—it has 
been with them a matter of choice, made 
after comparing the two states. Iam 
aware of the wisdom which: has been 
attributed to these tribes; but it is not 
wisdom, but a blind, pertinacious adhe- 
rence to their first impressions; they 
reject instruction, because their minds 
are impenetrable: an influence has the 
ascendancy, which reason cannot sub- 
due. Not that a hunter is incapable of 
tuition, but he will not make instruction 
the rule of his conduct,—he will be no 
other than his father was. Youths of 
various tribes of hunters have been 
brought to Europe, and educated. Being 
young, it was expected that their early 
associations would be lost, and that they 
would acquire the dispositions and cha- 
racter of Europeans; but the experi- 
ment, though often repeated, has as 
often failed. 
Mr. Kolben relates, that one of the 
Dutch Governors at the Cape of Good 
Hope, brought up a Hottentot in Euro- 
pean customs, and gave him a liberal 
education; and, when grown up, ob- 
tained him a respectable office under the 
Governor of Batavia. On the death of 
the Governor, he returned to the Cape; 
and haying paid a visit to his country- 
men, laid his clothes at the Governor’s 
feet, and begged that he might live and 
die in the customs and religion of his 
ancestors. The English East - India 
Company educated two young Hotten- 
tots, with no better success. Catftres, 
New Zealanders, and North American 
Indians, have been treated with. the 
utmost kindness, and the utmost care ; 
but no one has ever been -civilized, or 
2C 2 induced, 
