FACULTIES OF THE MIND. 263 
bodily or mental superiority. But among the brutes, it 1s 
confined to bodily superiority, and appears little, if at all, 
influenced by education or habit. 
The desires of imitation, approbation and power, appear 
chiefly to operate on those animals which live in society, 
and perhaps may be regarded as attributes.of the social in- 
stinct, rather than distinct principles of the constitution. 
Before attempting to simplify the desires in this manner, 
however, it would be necessary to examine, with greater care 
than any one appears ever to have done, all the active prin- 
ciples of those animals which are social from imstinct, (not 
necessarily from bodily organization), in order to trace the 
unity of action in their supposed secondary desires. 
9. Life.—The existence of this instinctive principle, as a 
part of our own constitution, is universally recognised. It 
prompts us to a variety of actions, through every period of 
our life, retaining its influence even when in old age our field 
of enjoyment has been very limited. The medical practi- 
tioner avails himself of its influence, in order to compel his 
patient to swallow the most nauseous draughts, or to submit 
to the most pamful and mutilating operations. It is not equal- 
ly powerful in every individual. Its deficiency contributes to 
the formation of the hero, its excess constitutes a coward. 
The love of life displays itself in the active exertions 
which we make to avoid pain, as the prelude to death; or 
any direct attack. If about to fall, we stretch forth our 
hands, so as to restore our controul over the centre ot gra- 
yity, or weaken the shock when approaching the ground. 
That this is not the result of experience, instigating us te 
avoid pain, is obvious from the circumstance of the «mniver- 
sality of the operation, and the similarity of the manner of 
performing it. Besides, we have seen the most palpable 
indications of its existence in an infant of a month old 
