273 THE PHILOSOPHY 



li€re I muft ftop. To do juftice to this mterefting fubie(nE 

 would require volumes. 



The love of offspring, which, though not univerfal, is per- 

 haps the ftrongeft and moft adlive principle in human na- 

 ture. It overcomes the fenfe of pain, and fometimes even 

 the principle of felf-prefervation. A remarkable and a me- 

 lancholy example of the flrength of parental afFe(Stion wa3 

 lately exhibited, and, for the honour of our fpecies, defervea 

 to be recorded. In the beginning of January 1786, the 

 Halfewell Eafl Indiaman, Captain Richard Peirce, was un- 

 fortunately wrecked on the coaft of Dorfetfliire. Belide fe- 

 veral other ladies, Captain Peirce had two of his own daugh-* 

 ters on board. When the fliip was in the extremity of dan- 

 ger, fome of the company, by fwimming, and other feats of 

 activity, got upon a rock. In this dreadful lituation. Cap- 

 tain Peirce aflied Mr. Rogers, his third mate, if any plan 

 could be devifed for faving the ladies ? Mr. Rogers repli- 

 ed, < It is impoffible \ but you may fave yourfelf.' Upon 

 which the Captain, addreffing himfelf to his daughters, and 

 enfolding them in his arms, fliid, * Then, my dear children, 

 « we ihall not part ; we fhall perifh together !' Mr. Rogers 

 quitted the fliip and reached the rock : An univerfal iliriek 

 of defpair was heard, in which the voices of female diftrefs 

 and horror were lamentably diftinguifliable. In a few mo* 

 ments all v^^as huflied , the fliip, with every perfon on board, 

 had then gone to the bottom. Parents chearfully fubmit to 

 the hardell: labour, and expofe themfelves to the greateft 

 dangers in order to procure nourifliment to their young, or 

 to proteft them from injury. 



A bitch, during the operation of difTetSlicn, licked her 

 young, v/hofe prefence feemed to make her forget the moft 

 excruciating tortures j and^ Vvdien they were removed, ihe 

 tittered the moft dolorous cries. Certain .fpecies of fpiderg 

 mclofe their eggs in a fiiken bag fpun and wove by them- 



