272 THEPHILOSOPHY 



it fhould be fo, is a wife and beneficent inftitution of Nature ; for, if 

 fuch debilitated races were continued, a univerfal degeneration would 

 foon take place, and mankind would be unable to perform the du- 

 ties, or to undergo the labours of life. Nature firft chaftifes, and at 

 laft extirpates, all thofe who a(3; contrary to her cftabliftied laws. 



Befide the pleafures refulting from fociety, and from mutual at- 

 tachment in man, and in pairing animals, the natural love of off- 

 fpring is a fource of the moft engaging endearments. The inno- 

 cence and helplefs condition of infants call forth our pity and pro- 

 tedion. When a little farther advanced, their beauty, their fmiles, 

 and their fprightlinefs, excite the moft agreeable emotions. In their 

 progrefs from infancy to manhood, we obferve with pleafure the 

 unfolding of their mental powers. They imitate our adions long 

 before they can exprefs their defires, or their wants, by language. 

 Their attempts in the acquifuion of language are extremely curious 

 and amufing. Their firft fyftem of grammar confifts entirely of 

 fubftantive nouns. It is long before they learn the ufe of adjedives 

 or of copulatives, and ftill longer before they employ the verb. Their 

 fpeeches are fhort, aukward, and blundering ; but they are ani- 

 mated, and uttered with aftonifhing force and vivacity of expreffion 

 in their eyes, and in the geftures of their bodies. At this period of 

 life, children are folely aduated by Nature and imitation. After 

 they acquire words fufficient for conveying the few ideas they pof- 

 fefs, they begin to reafon, or rather to employ the language of rea- 

 foning; for, at this period of life, children, when they mean to give 

 a reafon why they ihould have any indulgence or gratification, al- 

 moft univerfally argue againft themfelves, and employ a reafon why 

 their defires fhould not be granted. This ridiculous mode of rea- 

 foning excites laughter, and aflFords pleafure and amufement to the 

 parents. It likewife ihows, tiiat our firft attempt toward reafoning 

 is principally, if not folely, the efTedl of imitation ; for the reafoning 



power, 



