OF NATURAL HISTORY. 179 



JtD dependence on acutenefs or bluntnefs of hearing, whether 

 in one ear or in both ears. There are many examples of 

 people who may be laid to be half deaf, and yet are both 

 fond of mufic, and fkilful practitioners. An ear for mufic, 

 like a genius for painting, or poetry, is a gift of Nature, 

 and is born with the poiTelTor. 



Befide the innumerable pleafures we derive from mufic 

 and agreeable founds, the extenfion and improvement of ar- 

 tificlal language mull be confidered as obje£ls of the greateft 

 importance to the human race. "Without the fenfe of hear- 

 ing, mankind would forever have remained mute. I men- 

 tion artificial i or improved language, becaufe, from a thouf- 

 and obfervations which every perfon muft have made, it is 

 perfectly apparent, that, if deftitute.of a natural language, 

 neither man nor the brute creation* could poffibly have ex- 

 ited and continued their fpeclef. As brutes, without in- 

 formation or experience, are capable of communicating to 

 each other, by particular founds and gellures, their pleafures 

 and pains, their wants and delires, it would be the highefl: 

 abfurdlty to fuppofe that the great Creator fhould have de- 

 nied to man, the nobleft animal that inhabits this globe, the 

 fame indifpenlible privilege. Without a balls there can be 

 no fabric. Without a natural no artificial language could 

 poffibly have exifted. This point is clearly demonftrated, 

 in a few words, by that mod ingenious, candid, and pro- 

 found philofopher, Dr. Thomas Reid, ProfefTor of Moral 

 Philofophy in the Univeriity of Glafgow. « If mankind,* 

 fays Dr. Reid, < had not a natural language, they could nev- 



* cr have invented an artificial one by their rcafon and inge- 

 ' nuity. For all artificial language fuppofes fome compacSt 



* or agreement to affix a certain meaning to certain ligns ; 



« therefore, there muft be compadts or agreements before 



< the ufe of artificial figns ; but there can be no compacSt or 



• Concerning the language of Beafls, I fhal!, perhaps, be more explicit in a- 

 faturc work. 



