REASON. 257 



acquire a knowledge of the object, and we begin 

 to think about it, and we endeavour to find out 

 what it is. 



First, then, we consider whether we have ever 

 seen any thing resembling it; this is an exercise 

 of memory; then we compart it with surrounding 

 objects; we then taste it, or smell it, and feel it, 

 and thus acquire a knowledge of its sensible quali- 

 ties. We now know a great deal about it, and 

 begin to reflect as to what its nature and uses may 

 be. We judge that it is fit or unfit for food, that 

 it has the same properties as some other known 

 body, and finally we satisfy ourselves upon all 

 points connected with it This done, we seldom 

 forget it. We know something that we were ig- 

 norant of before, and thus by a course of observa- 

 tion we go on acquiring knowledge. 



Nothing of this is ever seen amongst other ani- 

 mals. The most beautiful objects are passed over 

 by them with perfect indifference,, and not the 

 slightest attention is paid by them to any thing but 

 what supplies their simplest wants. 



Thus man stands alone in his pre-eminence of 

 intellect, and well might the greatest of uninspired 

 poets exclaim: "What a piece of work is man! 

 how noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in 

 form and moving how express and admirable! in 

 action how like an angel! in apprehension how 

 like a God! the beauty of the world! the paragon 

 of animals!" 



Y* 



