164- • THE PHILOSOPHY 



This view of inftir.61 is fnnple, removes every objeftion to 

 the exiilence of mind in brutes, and unfolds all their a6tions, by 

 referring them to motives perfectly fimilar to thofe by which 

 man is adiuated. There is, perhaps, a greater difference be- 

 tween the mental powers of fome animals than between thofe 

 of man and the mod fagacious brutes. Inftindls may be con* 

 fidered as fo many internal fenfes, of which fome animds have 

 a greater and others a fmaller number. Thefe fenfes, in dif- 

 ferent fpecies, arc like wife more or lefs dudile ; and the ani- 

 mals pofTeffing them are, of courfe, more or lefs fufceptible of 

 improving, and of acquiring knowledge. 



The notion that animals are machines, is perhaps too ab- 

 furd to merit refutation. Though no animal is endowed with 

 mental powers equal to thofe of man, yet there is not a faculty 

 of the human mind, but evident marks of its exigence are to be 

 found in patticular animals. Scnfes, memory, imagination, the 

 principle of imitation, curiofity, cunning, ingeniaity, devotion, 

 or refpe£l for fuperiors, gratitude, are all difcoverable in the 

 brute creation. Neither is art denied to them. They build in 

 various ftyles ; th.cy dig j they wage war ; they extraA pecu- 

 liar fub^ances from water, from plants, from the earth ; they 

 modulate their voices fo as to communicate their wants, their 

 fentiments, their pleafures and pains, their apprchenfions of dan- 

 ger, and their profpe£ls of future good. Every fpecies has its 

 own language, which is perfc(5lly undcrftood by the individuals. 

 They afli and give afliftance to each other. They fpeak of their 

 necelTities ; and this branch of their language is more or lefs ex- 

 tended, in proportion to the number of their wants. Geftures 

 and inarticulate founds are the figns of their thoughts. It is ne- 

 ccffary that the fame fentiments flrould produce the fame founds 

 and the fame movements ; and, confequently, each individual of 

 a fpecies muft have the fame organization. Birds and quadru* 

 psdsj accordingly, are incapable of holding difcourfe to cack 



