202 DISTINCTIONS OF MAN, 



The man-like monkey, the almost reasonable elephant, the 

 docile dog, the sagacious beaver, the industrious bee, cannot 

 be compared to him. In none of these instances is there 

 any progress either in the individuals or the species. 



In most of the feelings of which other individuals of 

 the species are the objects, and in all which come under 

 the denomination of moral sentiments, there is a marked 

 difference between man and animals, and a decided infe- 

 riority of the latter. The attachment of the mother to the 

 oftspring, so long as its wants and feebleness require her 

 aid and defence, seems as strong in the animal as in the 

 human being, and bears equally in both the character of 

 actions termed instinctive. Its duration is confined in the 

 former case, even in social animals, to the period of help- 

 lessness ; and the animal instinct is not succeeded, as in 

 man, by that continued intei'course of affection and kind 

 offices, and those endearing relations, which constitute the 

 most exalted pleasures of human life. 



Of courage, the animal kingdom offers many examples ; 

 and the moralists have celebrated the attachment of the 

 dog to his master. It may be doubted whether we can find 

 any instances of such feeling between animals themselves, 

 excepting some cases of sexual unions. In general, they 

 seem entirely destitute of sympathy with each other, indif- 

 ferent to each other's sufferings or joys, and unmoved by 

 the worst usage or acutest pangs of their fellows. Indeed, 

 if we except some associated labours in the insect class, 

 principally referring to the continuation of the species, and 

 securing a supply of food, and some joint operations of the 

 male and female in the higher classes, animals seem entirely 

 incapable of concert or co-operation for common purposes, 

 of combining various exertion :. for the attainment of a 

 common end. This appears to arise from the limited nature 

 and extent of their knowing and reflecting powers; to 

 which probably we must refer their incapability of con- 

 ceiving moral relations. 



Laughter and weeping are natural signs in man of cer- 

 tain mental afiections, and probably are also peculiar to 



