24 INSTINCT AND REASON. 



ganized beings, would interfere with previously formed opinions of 

 the ultimate designs of that Being. On this subject there is quite 

 too much cant, and too little ingenuousness in the world. As if, with 

 all the facts which God has spread before us in nature, it would not 

 comport with His wisdom to be equally liberal in his blessings. Hence, 

 lines of distinctions are assumed in the premises, which apply alike to 

 Creative Power, and the conclusions of men, that thus far shalt thou 

 go, and no farther." The feelings which can thus bound the goodness 

 and benevolence of an all-wise Being, by human prejudices and as- 

 sumptions, and for the narrowest of reasons, cannot be envied by an 

 enlightened observer of the works of Nature. 



The Instincts of Plants. If, with this view of the subject we may 

 be allowed the expression, are remarkable, and evidently correspond 

 with the same powers in animals. In some plants they are obviously 

 far more remarkable than in some animals. When, therefore, we are 

 unable to define distinctions, or show reasons why they should exist, it 

 would be much more rational to refer similar effects to similar causes, 

 as in all other modes of reasoning. Where, also, ignorance does not 

 allow men to speak from known facts and clearly established principles, 

 it is safer to doubt than to assume to base conclusions on what is not 

 known. It has been common, however, to follow prejudices in other 

 departments of organic life as well as in this ; for it is inferred, that 

 if ignorance be bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." Thus, the received opin- 

 ion is, in spite of the demonstrations of science and of daily observation, 

 that the whole of the lower orders of animals are without the least 

 evidence of reason ; and, in conformity with this opinion, it has been 

 the universal custom, though none the more rational for its being so, 

 to resolve all the manifestations of mind in the whole world of organic 

 beings, man excepted, into the general powers of " instinct" while 

 the same powers in man are referred to as not less remarkable evidences 

 of his reasoning faculties. This, to say the least, is a very convenient 

 mode of avoiding inquiry, and of settling a point about which little 

 may be known ; but it does not satisfy the ardent and candid student 

 of nature. The elephant, which, on finding it out of his power to 

 reach with his trunk, a potato near the wall opposite from that to 

 which he was confined, carefully extended his probosis in an exact 

 line with the object of his wishes, and with his breath forcibly blowed 

 it against the wall, so that it rebounded to a position within his reach, 

 manifested the same mode of reasoning from effects to causes, that 

 Newton did on seeing an apple fall from the tree. But this is no more 

 remarkable than daily exhibitions of reason in lower animals. The 

 African monkey manifests powers of mind which very many other 

 beings more elevated in name, and belonging to the same regions, rarely 

 evince. All this, however, may be called instinct," ingenuity/' or 

 any other convenient term, in the elephant, the beaver, monkey, or the 



