520 THE PHILOSOPHY 



ftance merits attention. The circulation of the blood is- 

 flower or quicker in proportion to the magnitude of animals. 

 In large animals, fuch as man and quadrupeds, the blood 

 moves flowly, and the fucceffion of their ideas is proportion- 

 ally flow. In the more minute kinds, as mice, fmall birds, 

 fquirrels, &c. the circulation is fo rapid that the pulfes of 

 their arteries cannot be counted. Now, animals of this de- 

 fcription aftonifh us with the quicknefs of their movements, 

 the vivacity of their manners, and the extreme chearfulnefs 

 of their difpofitions. 



Reaumur, Condillac, and many other philofophers, confid- 

 er duration as a relative idea, depending on a train of con- 

 fcious perception and fentiment. It is certain that the na- 

 tural meafure of time depends folely on the fucceflion of our 

 ideas. "Were it poflible for the mind to be totally occupied 

 with a fingle idea for a day, a week, or a month, thefe por- 

 tions of time would appear to be nothing more than fo many 

 inftants. Hence a philofopher often lives as long in one day, 

 as a clown or a favage does in a week or a month fpent in 

 mental inaflivity and want of thought. 



This fubjedt fhall be concluded with a fingle remark : If 

 it be true, and we are certain that it is fo in part, that ani- 

 mals of every fpecies, whatever be the real duration of their 

 lives, from a flow or rapid fucceflion of ideas, and perhaps 

 from the comparative intenfity of their enjoyments, live 

 equally long, and enjoy an equal portion of individual happi- 

 nefs, it opens a wonderful view of the great benevolence of 

 Nature. To flore every portion of this globe with animal 

 life, fhe has amply peopled the earth, the air, and the waters. 

 The multifarious inhabitants of thefe elements, as to the 

 aflual duration of their lives, are extremely diveriified. But, 

 by variation of forms, of magnitude, of rapidity of ideas, of 

 intenfity of pleafures, and, perhaps, of many other circum- 

 flances, fhe has conferred upon the whole nearly an equal 

 portion of happinefs. 



