THE ELEPHANT. 3 



rives this germ of fentiment, which man has 

 cultivated and expanded by living long and con- 

 ftantly in fociety with this animal. The dog a- 

 lone was worthy of this diftinguifhed regard ; 

 for, being more fufceptible of foreign impreiiions 

 than any other quadruped, all his relative powers 

 have been brought to perfection by his commeice 

 with man. His fenfibility, his docility, his cou- 

 rage, his talents, and even his manners, are mo- 

 dified and formed by the example and qualities 

 of his mafter. We ought not, therefore, to a- 

 fcribe to him all the powers he appears to poflefs. 

 His moft brilliant qualities are borrowed from 

 us. He has acquired more than other animals, 

 becaufe he is more capable of making acquifi- 

 tions. Inftead of having a repugnance to man, 

 he has a natural bias in favour of the human race. 

 This gentle fentiment, which is always alive, is 

 made evident by the defite of pleafing, and has 

 produced docility, fidelity, perpetual fubmiffion, 

 and, at the fame time, that degree of attention 

 which is necefiary for acting accordingly, and 

 for giving ready obedience to all the commands 

 he receives. 



The ape, on the contrary, is as untraceable as 

 he is extravagant. His nature, in every point, 

 is equally ftubborn. He has no relative fenfibi- 

 lities, no gratitude, no recollection of good treat- 

 ment, or of benefits received. Averfe to the fo- 

 ciety of man, and to every kind of reftraint, he 

 has a violent propenfity to do every thing that 



A 2 is 



