2:S2 THE PHILOSOPHY 



In moft animals, except the human fpecies, parental and 

 filial affetftion ceafe whenever the young are able to provide 

 for themfelves. The pleafures derived from fucking, and 

 from other circumftances formerly mentioned, might for 

 fome time remain ; but the young grow large, unwieldy, 

 petulent, and enter Into competitions for food, which not 

 only contribute to alienate the affe6tion of the parents, but 

 even to excite rcfentment and averfion. Thefe, however, 

 are only fecondary caufes. The purpofes of Nature are ful- 

 filled. The ardour of afFe£lIon, which was indlfpenfably 

 necefTary to the protection and rearing of the young, being 

 now no longer ufeful, is fo totally extingulfhed, that neither 

 the parents nor the offspring are capable of recognizing one 

 another. This temporary and amiable inftinft is obliterated, 

 and never revives till the fervours of love are again felt, and 

 a new progeny appear. 



Marriage or panning, though by no means an unlverfal in- 

 ftltutlon of Natnre, is not unfrequently exhibited in the ani- 

 mal creation. With regard to man, both male and female 

 are inftlnClively impelled to make a feleCtion. The force of 

 this natural impulfe is ftrongly felt by every young and un- 

 corrupted individual. When not retrained by neceffity, or 

 other powerful motives, men and w^omen would intermarry 

 long before it would be prudent in civilized or artificial 

 -ftates of fociety. This unlverfal, and almoft irrefiftlble 

 impulfe of felectlon, is to me the flrongefl argument in fa- 

 vour of monogamy, or the union of pairs, among the human 

 fpecies. 



The fame impulfe, or law of Nature, takes place among 

 many other animals, as the partridge tribes, the fwallow, the 

 linnet, and, in general, all the fmall birds. The afliduity, at- 

 tention, mutual afFe<Slion, laborious vigilance, and fleadfaft 

 fidelity of pairing animals, are truly admirable, and to inge-. 



