X. TO AMWELL. 149 



the distances of the stars, determined their 

 magnitude, ascertained the laws to which 



D * 



they are subservient, and given exact tables 

 of all their revolutions. 



By means of the sciences, man is placed 

 at an immense distance above those animals 

 which are even endowed with the most per- 

 fect instinct. This last faculty is wholly 

 distinct from reason, which is matured and 

 brought to perfection by experience, whereas 

 instinct seems to act by a blind impulse, and 

 governs the actions of animals, instead of 

 being the instrument of their volitions. 

 The ignorance of man in his infancy, the 

 slow and progressive improvement of his in- 

 tellectual faculties, unequivocally attest the 

 pre-eminence of liis nature, and tend to 

 prove the superiority of reason over in- 

 stinct. 



From the moment of its birth, the animal 

 has all the ideas peculiar to its species ; ;md 

 is neither indebted for them to experience, 

 maternal instruction. Tbu larva of the 

 02 b utter iiy 



