OF NATURAL HISTORY. 271 



Men of fortune and of opulence have it in their power to obey 

 the laws of Nature and of love ; and fome examples, though few in 

 nunibc orcafionally happen of rich men a£ling a difinterefted part 

 in their matrimonial engagements. Inftead of following the dic- 

 tates of Nature, many men of fortune and independence, difregard- 

 ing the high privilege they enjoy, facrifice their tafte, their pafTion, 

 and often their happinefs during life, at the flirine of Gold. To ac- 

 complifli this fordid end, they often embrace deformity, difeafe, ig- 

 norance, peevifhnefs, and every thing that is dilgufting to human 

 nature. Let fuch individuals fufFer their punifhment. But what 

 are the confequences to the public? Men of rank, in all nations and 

 governments, not only regulate, in a great meafure, the manners of 

 their inferiors, but are the natural guardians of the ftate. For thefe 

 important purpofes, their minds (hould be noble, generous, and bold; 

 and their bodies fliould be ftrong, mafculine, fit to encounter the fa- 

 tigues of war, and to repel every hoftile aflault that may be made upon 

 their country. But, when men of this defcription, whatever be their 

 motives, intermarry with weak, deformed, puny, or difeafed females, 

 their progeny muft of neceffity degenerate. The ftrength, beauty, 

 and fymmetry of their anceftors are, perhaps, for ever loft. What 

 is ftill more to be regretted, debility of body is almoft univerfally 

 accompanied with weaknefs of mind. Thus, by the avarice, ambi- 

 tion, or inattention, of one individual, a noble and generous race is 

 completely deRroyed. By reverfing this condudl:, it is true, the 

 breed may again be mended ; but, to repair a fingle breach, many 

 generations, endowed with prudence and circumfpedion, will be re- 

 quifite. A fucceffive degeneration, however, is an infallible confe- 

 quence of imprudent or interiefted marriages of this kind. One 

 puny race may for fome time be fucceeded by another, till at laft- 

 their conftitutions become fo feeble that the animals lofe the faculty 

 of multiplying their fpecies. This gradual degeneration is one great 

 saufe of the total extiridion of confpicuous and noble families. That 



it 



