362 OF THE NATURE 



effeds not fo much by flrength or addrefs, as by 

 the fuperiority of his nature. He compells the 

 animal to obey him, by his being poffefled of 

 reafon, which enables him ro projed and to a^fc 

 in a fyftematic manner. The ftrongeft and moil 

 fagacious animals have not the capacity of com- 

 manding the inferior tribes, or of reducing them 

 to a ftate of fervituJe. The ftronger, indeed, 

 devour the weaker : But this ad;ion implies an 

 urgent neceffity only, and a voracious appe- 

 tite, qualities very different from that which 

 produces a train of actions all directed to one 

 common defign. If animals be endowed with 

 this faculty, why do not feme of them aflume 

 the reins of government over others, and force 

 them to furniih their food, to watch over them, 

 and to lelieve them when fick or wounded ? 

 But, among animals, there is no mark of fubor- 

 dination, nor the lead trace of any of them be- 

 ing able to recognize or feel a fuperiority in his 

 nature above that of other fpecies. We fhould, 

 therefore, conclude, that all animals are of the 

 fame nature, and that the nature of man is not 

 only far fuperior, but likewife of a very different 

 kind from that of the brute. 



Man exhibits, by external figns, Vv'hat paiTes 

 within him. He communicates his fentiments 

 by words ; and this fign is univerfal. The fa- 

 vage and the civilized man have the fame powers 

 of 'utterance ; both fpeak naturally, and are e- 

 qually underuood. It is not owing, as fome 



have 



