OF NATURAL HISYORY. 2$3 



nuous minds, afford the moll exemplary admonitions to vir- 

 tue and conjugal attachment. 



Befide this forcible impulfe of fele<Sl;ion implanted by Na^ 

 ture in man, and in every other pairing animal, fome other 

 fa^ts deferve to be noticed. In all pairing anim.als, including, 

 of courfe, the human race, the males and females produced 

 are nearly equal. This is a pkin indication that Nature 

 deftined thefe animals to pair, or to maray. Injuftice, jeal- 

 oufy, animoiity, and every animal calamity, would enfue, if 

 this order of Nature were encroached upon in creatures who 

 are endowed with the inftincV of fexual fele£lion. 



It is not incurious to remark, that human inftitutions often 

 contradi6l the laws of Nature. The dunghill cock and hen^ 

 in a natural flate, pair. In a domeftic flate, however, the 

 cock is a jealous tyrant, and the hen a proftitute. But, even 

 in this unnatural fociety, a feledlion is fometimes to be ob- 

 ferved. The fame phenomenon is exhibited among man-^ 

 kind, when placed in certain fltuations. Like domeftic 

 poultry, the Turks, and fome Aliatic and African nations, 

 influenced by an accurfed government, and by an execrable 

 religion, rebel againft the law of love, and of reciprocal at-* 

 tachment. In thefe countries, a rich man not only engroll^ 

 es, but imprifons and tortures, as many beautiful women aa 

 his fortune enables him to fupport. Deftitute of all thofof 

 endearments which arife from mental communication, from 

 parental tendernefs and afFe6lion, from mutual confidence 

 and folace, he is, while young, perpetually tormented with 

 jealous apprehenlions. As he advances in life, his jealoufy 

 and Ills terror augment. Though his females are fcrupu- 

 loufly guarded from every intrufion, by fervile and mutilat-* 

 cd wretches, his fears incrcafe with his years and debility:^ 

 frill a premature and comfortlefs old age puts a period to his 

 infignificant and liftlefs exiftence. 



In general, it is to be remarked, that all thofe fpecies of ani* 

 mals^ whcfe oltspring require, for fome time, the induftry and 



