X02 THE PHILOSOPHY 



In all the variety of animated beings whofe general ftrudture has 

 been exhibited, the intelligent reader will eafily perceive, that the 

 bodily forms of the different kinds are exadly adapted to the rank 

 they hold in the creation, and that their oeconomy and manners are 

 ftridly and invariably conneded with their ftrudlure and organs. If 

 a new animal appears, and if its figure be uncommon, it may with 

 fafety be pronounced, that its manners are equally uncommon. 

 Change the external or internal form of an animal; diminifh the 

 number of ftomachs in the ruminating tribes ; or give to the horfe 

 a parot's bill ; and the fpecies will be annihilated. 



The comparative power, or flrength, of animals depends not on 

 ftrudure alone. Mental faculties, and docility, or the capacity of 

 receiving inftrudlion, feem to be the greateft fources of animal pow- 

 er. Hence man's unlimited empire over all other creatures. The 

 inventions of language, of arms, of writing, printing, and engra- 

 ving, have been the chief means of extending his influence, and of 

 his acquiring the dominion of the earth. By thefe arts, men tranf- 

 mit the improvements, the inventions, and the acquifitions, of one 

 age to another. By thefe arts, the difpofitions of men are foftened, 

 their manners become more and more civilized, humanity is gra- 

 dually extended and refined, and the grofler animofities yield to 

 external politenefs and decorum at leaft, if the feelings themfelves 

 he not blunted. How far this progrefs of fcience, and the peace- 

 ful arts of life, by the accumulation of ages, may proceed, it is 

 impofl!ible to determine. But the time, it is to be hoped, is not very 

 remote, when the fiercer contentions of nations will ceafe, when 

 felfiflinefs and venality, which at prefent feem to be infeparable from 

 commercial ftates, will give way to generofity of temper, and. up- 

 rightnefs of conduct. 



CHAP. 



