OF NATURAL HISTORY. Igl 



l^nt names, to fignify the fame objecfls of its defire or averfion* 

 BefiJe this natural attempt tou'ards a nomenclature, infants, 

 during the period above mentioned, (for the time varies ac- 

 cording to the health and vivacity of the child), frequently 

 make continued orations. Thefe orations confift both of ar- 

 ticulate and inarticulate founds, of which no man can give 

 an idea in writing. But moft men, and every woman who 

 has narfed children, will perfectly underftand what I cannot 

 exprefs. From the facl, that children aftually Utter differ- 

 ent founds, or give different names to denote the fame ob- 

 jects, I imagine, arifes all that diversity of languages, which, 

 by exhaufting time and attention, retard the progrefs and im- 

 provement both of Art and Science. If any number of chil- 

 dren, Or of folitary favages, fliould chance to affociate, the 

 names of objects would feon be fettled by imitation and con- 

 fent. Ey obfervation and experience the number of names 

 would be augmented, as well as the qualities or attributes 

 of the obje<rts themfelves ; and, in the progrefs of time, a 

 new and artificial language would be gradually formed. 

 "While this operation is going on in one corner of a country, 

 twenty fimilar affociations and cdrnpadts may be forming, or 

 already formed, in different nations, or in different diftridts 

 of the fame nation, all of which would give birth to feparate 

 artiiicial languages. 



OF TOUCH. 



THE fenfations of fmelling, tafting, hearing, and feeing, 

 are conveyed to us by partial organs, which are all confined 

 to the head. But the fenfe of touching, or of feeling, is not 

 only common to thefe organs, but extends over almoft every 

 part of the body, whether external or internal. Though 

 every fenfation may be comprehended under the general ap- 

 pellation of feelings yet what is called the fenfe of touch is 

 properly reftriaed to the different fenfations excited by 



