jt^O THE PHILOSOPHY 



appearance of rationality and of mental capacity. When ftili 

 farther advanced, and after they have acquired fome ufe of 

 language, and fome knowledge of natilral obje£l:s, they begin 

 to reafon ; but their reafonings are feeble, and often pre- 

 pofterous. In this manner they uniformly proceed in im- 

 provement till they are a(Sl"uated by the laft infi:in£V, at or 

 near the age of puberty. After this period, they reafon with 

 fome degree of perfpicuity and juftnefs. But, though their 

 whole inftincSts are now unfolded and in a£lion, every power 

 of their minds requires, previous to its utmoft exertions, to 

 be agitated and polifhed by an examination of a thoufand 

 natural and artificial objects, by the experience and obferva- 

 tions of thofe with whom they afTociate, by pubhc or private 

 inftrucftion, by ftudying the writings of their predeceflbrs 

 and contemporaries, and by their own refleiStions, till they ar- 

 rive at the age of thirty-five. Previous to that period, much 

 learning may have been acquired, much genius may have 

 been exerted ; but, before that time of life, judgment, ab- 

 ftra^lion, and the reafoning faculty, are not fully matured. 

 This progrefs is the genuine operation of Nature, and the 

 gradual fource of human fagacity and mental powers. The 

 fame progrefs is to be obferved in the powers of the body. 

 It arrives, indeed, fooner at perfe6lion than the mind. But, 

 if the progrefs of the mind greatly preceded that of the body, 

 what a miferable and aukvvard figure would human beings, 

 at an early period of their exiflence, exhibit ? A<Stive and 

 vigorous minds, ftimulated to command what the organs of 

 their bodies vv^ere unable to obey, would produce peeviih- 

 nefs, anger, regret, and every diftrefling paflion. 



The bodies of men, though not fo ductile as their minds, 

 are capable, when properly managed by early culture, of 

 wonderful exertions. Men, accuftomed to live in polilhed 

 focieties, have little or no idea of the a<Slivity, the courage, 

 the patience, and the perfevering induflry of favages, when 



