"Life and Writings of Dr. Gregory. 89 



The recent improvements which have been 

 rnade in the art of midwifery, and in the methods 

 of nurfing children, are owing to the obferva- 

 tions of nature, and the imitation of its inftinc- 

 tive propenfities. 



In this firft difcourfe, our author propofes 

 many improvements of the health and faculties 

 of the human race, by deferting a luxurious and 

 artificial, and following a natural courfe of life. 

 In this manly way of thinking, he is conftantly 

 afTifted by keepihg in view the natural hiftory of 

 animals, and the manners of favage nations, 

 which refemble them, in following their inftinc- 

 tive propenfities. 



In the fucceeding difcourfes, in which he 

 treats with great perfpicuity, tafte, and difcern- 

 ment, of the fupcrior faculties which diftingiiilh 

 man from the reft of the animal creation, and 

 of the fciences and arts founded upon them, he 

 diverges from this comparative view, and lofes 

 fight of the inferior part of the creation, until he 

 arrives at the following concKifion of this enter- 

 taining and ingenious work. " The advantages 

 which arife to mankind from thofe faculties 

 which din;inguifh them from the reft of the 

 ' animal world, do not feem correfpondent to what 

 might be reafonably expedled from a proper 

 exertion of thefe faculties, not even among the 

 few who have the greateft abilities, and the 

 greateft leifure to improve them. The capital 



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