288 THE PHILOSOPHY 



both fexes acquire a modefty and a fliynefs with regard to each 

 other. This aukvvard, but natural bafhfulnefs, by the intercourfe 

 of fociety, as well as by the impulfes of Nature, vanifhes foon after 

 puberty, when the ftate of manhood and of gallantry commences. 

 From this period, to the age of twenty-five or thirty, men's minds 

 aflume a bold, enterprifing, and adlive tone. They engage in the 

 bufinefs of life, look forward to futurity, and have a defire of mar- 

 rying, and of eftablifliing families. All the focial appetites are in 

 vigour ; folid and manly friendlhips are formed ; and man goes on 

 for fome time to enjoy every kind of happinefs which his nature is 

 capable of affording. I wifli the next change had no exiftence. At 

 fifty or fixty, the mental powers, in general, like ihofe of the body, 

 begin to decline, till feeble and tremulous old age arrives, and death 

 clofes the mutable fcene of human life. 



With regard to quadrupeds, both before and after birth, they un- 

 dergo fimilar, and many of them greater, changes of form than thofe 

 of the human fpecies. Their m«ntal powers, likewife, their difpo- 

 fitions and manners, as well as the objects of their attention, vary 

 according to the different ftages of their exiftence. Many of them 

 come into the world blind, and continue for fome time before they 

 receive the fenfe of feeing. How many changes are exhibited in 

 the dog from birth till he becomes a perfect animal, till all his mem- 

 bers are completely formed, and all his inftindts are unfolded and 

 improved by experience and education ? The deer-kind acquire not 

 their magnificent and beautiful horns before the age of puberty; 

 and even tiiefe are annually caft off and renewed. Similar changes 

 take place in quadrupeds of every denomination ; Vv'ith examples of 

 which every man's experience and recollediion will readily fupply 

 him ; and, therefore, it is unneceflary to be more particular. 



Neither 



