418 THE PHILOSOPHY 



CHAPTER XVL 



Of the Society of Animals. 



X. HE afTociatlng principle, from which fo many- 

 advantages are derived, is not confined to the human fpecies, 

 but extends, in fome inftnnces, to every clafs of animals. 



It is remarked by Buffon, and fome other authors, that 

 the ftate of Nature, which had long occupied the attention 

 and refearches of philofophers, was rejected by them after 

 the diicovery was made. In the eftimation of the authors 

 alluded to, the favage ftate is the ftate of Nature. The firft 

 natural condition of mankind is the union of a male and a fe- 

 male. Thefe produce a family, who, from neceffity, or, in 

 other words, from parental and filial affecSlion, continue toge- 

 ther, and affift each other in procuring food and fhelter. 

 This family, like moft families in eftabliftied civil focieties, 

 feel their own weaknefs, and their inability to fupply their 

 ■wants without more powerful refources than their feeble ex- 

 ertions. When this wandering and defencelefs family acci- 

 dentally meet with another family in the fame condition. Na- 

 ture, it is faid, teaches them to unite for mutual fupport and 

 protection. The aflbciation of two families may be confider- 

 ed as the firft formation of a tribe or nation. When a num- 

 ber of tribes happen to unite, they only become a larger or 

 or more numerous nation, A ngle pair, it is true, if placed 

 in a fi.tuatlon where plenty of food could be procured with- 

 out much labour, might, in a fucceflion of ages, produce any 

 indefinitlve number. This is precifely the fituation in which 

 Mofes has placed our firft parents. He has added another cir- 

 cumftance highly favourable to a fpeedy population. Inftead 

 ©f the prefent brevity of human life, he informs us, that 



