FACULTIES OF THE MIND. O71 
sire of society, and preceded by the parental and fihal affec- 
tions. This affection exists in its purest form in the hu- 
man species, in the bosom of a family, in the superiority of 
the parents, the obedience of the children, and the desire 
glowing in every breast, to guard from danger, and increase 
the comfort of all. When several families unite their in- 
terests, and form a tribe, we observe, in this patriarchal go- 
vernment, the same subordination prevailing, the same de- 
sires and affections operatng. Beyond this range of poli- 
tical government, there is unquestionably a greater display 
of the energies of our nature; but they are accompanied 
with less disinterestedness and integrity. 
In the inferior animals, where the ties of parental and 
filial affection soon lose their influence, there are few instan- 
ces of the family union lasting beyond a single season. But 
the patriarchal form of government prevails in almost all 
those animals possessed of the desire of society, and ap- 
pears to he regulated by the same principles which operate 
in similar establishments of the human race. We observe, 
a. A Ruler.—In the lower znimals, we do not discover 
any examples of deliberate choice, in the appointment of a 
governor ; but in all cases, the preference is given to the 
largest, the strongest, and the most courageous of the tribe. 
Between what may be termed rival chiefs, there are fre- 
quently furious combats; and the victor, without further 
resistance, assumes the command. This leader is, in gene- 
ral, a male: although, in the common bee, it is a female 
who holds the rems of government, limited, however, in 
her puwer, and subject to the controul of her constituents. 
There is in these statements the free use of terms borrowed 
from human forms; but as we regard these as merely the 
displays of this instinct in a particular species, the well known 
phraseology in which their characters have been detail- 
ed, is peculiarly adapted to our general view of the subject. 
