78 Mr. French on the nature of Instinct. 



Hancock remarks in allusion to this fact, " It would be difficult 

 to conceive any punishment more aptly contrived, or more com- 

 pletely in character. Indeed, if it were fully analysed, an ample 

 commentary might be written, in order to shew what a variety of 

 comparisons^ and motives^ and generous feelings ^ entered into the 

 composition of this act. It supplies at least a good moral lesson. 

 It shozcs the difference between viugnanimitij and meanness., and 

 by Avhat lawful means the former may correct the latter." At 

 page 98, we read as follows : " Many animals, when domesti- 

 cated or trained to useful purposes, and associated with civilized 

 man, display signs of affection, gratitude, and ingenuity, with 

 other noble and excellent traits of character, which, considering 

 they are not bound by the obligation of any moral duties^ are 

 truly wonderful." — " It would be easy to add anecdotes of many 

 other animals to those I have collected : and I would just repeat 

 the observation, that in contemplating the acts in question, there 

 is every reason to think, the animals are in a good degree consci- 

 ous of the end and design of such acts, perhaps as much so as 

 many of our fellow creatures are when lending their assistance to 

 us in the same way. But this cannot be proved : nor can it ever 

 amount to more than a high degree of probability ; for the want 

 of artificial signs,- without dobut very wisely, prevents all mental 

 intercourse between man and the brute. So that we can never 

 understand to what degree they are conscious agents, beyond the 

 outward evidence of natural language. If it should be thought by 

 some a mark of the irrational or brute nature not to comprehend 

 the connextion of means and ends, and to be unconscious of design, 

 it is on the other hand sufficiently clear, that like the lower animals 

 in many instances, multitudes of our fellow creatures suffer them- 

 selves to be employed in various operations, and frequently act 

 without having any clear knowledge of the complicated means or 

 end which the superior understanding, whatever it is, to which 

 they submit themselves, has in view." 



Upon this passage, I would remark, that if these displays of 

 *' affection, gratitude, and ingenuity," with other " noble and ex- 

 cellent traits of character," are observed in brutes, and if " there 

 is every reason to think the animals are in a good degree conscious 



