66 THEPHILOSOPHY 



almofl: tKe whole of this tribe to a doraeftic ftate. But, in all this 

 gracioufnefs of afped and traftability of temper, the animals them- 

 felves have no merit. Their motions and adions are neceffary re- 

 fults of the organs which Nature has beftowed on them. It is ob- 

 vious, therefore, that the diverfity of taftes and difpofitions exhibited 

 by different animals, arifes not folely from any fuperior agreeable- 

 nefs of particular kinds of food to their palates, or to a peculiar bias 

 of their minds to benevolence and peace, but from a phyfical caufe 

 depending on the ftrudure of their bodies. 



From what has been advanced, it follows, that man, whofe ftc- 

 mach and inteftines are proportionally of no great capacity, could 

 not live upon herbage alone. It is an inconteflible fad, however, 

 that he can live tolerably well upon bread, herbs, and the fruits, 

 roots, and feeds of plants ; for we know whole nations, as well as 

 particular orders of men, who are prohibited by their religion from 

 eating any animal fubftance. But thefe examples are not fufficient 

 to convince us, that the health, vigour, and multiplication of man- 

 kind would be improved by feeding folely upon pot-herbs and bread. 

 Befides, his ftomach and inteftines are of a mean capacity betweea 

 thofe of the carnivorous and herbivorous animals. From this cir-r 

 cumftance alone we are warranted to conclude, that Nature intended 

 him to feed partly on animal and partly on vegetable fubftances : 

 And daily experience teaches us, that men fed in this manner are 

 larger, ftronger, and more prolific, than thofe who are confined to a 

 vegetable diet. If man had no other fources of fuperiority over the 

 other animals than thofe which originate from the ftrudture of his bo- 

 dy, his difpofitions ought to be a medium between thofe. of the carnir 

 vorous and herbivorous tribes. Wheu confidered merely as an ani- 

 mal, this appears to be really the cafe. Vulgar and uninformed men, 

 when pampered with a variety of animal food, are much more cho- 

 leric, fierce, and cruel in their tempers than thofe who, live chiefly 



on 



