414 THE PHILOSOPHY 



CHAPTER XVL 



Of the Society of Anmalst 



TH E aflbciating principle, from which fo many advantages are 

 derived, is not confined to the human fpecies, but extends, in 

 forae inftances, to every clafs of animals. 



It is remarked by Buffon, and fome other authors, that the ftate 

 of Nature, which had long occupied the attention and refearches of 

 philofophers, was rejeded by them after the difcovery was made. 

 In the eftimation of the authors alluded to, the favage ftate is the 

 ftate of Nature, The firft natural condition of mankind is the union 

 of a male and a female. Thefe produce a family, who, from ne- 

 ceffity, or, in other words, from parental and filial afFedtion, conti- 

 nue together, and affift each other in procuring food and fhelter. 

 This family, like moft families in eftablifhed civil focieties, feel their 

 own weaknefs, and their inability to fiipply their wants without 

 more powerful lefources than their feeble exertions. When this 

 wandering and defencelefs family accidentally meet with another fa- 

 mily in the fame condition. Nature, it is faid, teaches them to unite 

 for mutual fupport and proteftion. The affociatlon of two families 

 inay be confidered as the firft formation of a tribe or nation. Whea 



a. 



