4i6 T H E P H I L O S O P H Y 



That the affociating principle is inftindtive hardly requires a proof. 

 An appeal to the feelings of any human being, and to the univerfal 

 condition of mankind, is fufficient. Thefe feelings, it may be faid, 

 are acquired by education and habit. By thefe caufes, it is true, oue 

 focial feelings are ftrengthened and confirmed ; but their origin is 

 coeval with the exiftence of the firft human mind. Let any man at- 

 tend to the eyes, the features, and the geftures of a child upon the 

 breaft, v/hen another child, is prefented to-it; both inftantly, previous 

 to the poflibility of inftrudion or habit, exhibit the mod evident ex,- 

 prefTions of joy. Their eyes fparkle, their features and geftures de- 

 monftrate, in the moft unequivocable manner, a mutual attachment, 

 and a ftrong defire of approaching each other, not with a hoftlle in- 

 tention, but with an ardent affedtion, which, in that pure and uncon- 

 taminated ftate of our being, does honour to human nature. When 

 farther advanced, children who are ftrangers to each other, though 

 their focial appetite is equally ftrong, difcover a mutual ftiynefs of 

 approach. This fhynefs or modefty, however, is foon conquered by 

 the more powerful inftinfl: of aflbciation. They daily mingle and 

 fport together. Their natural affedions, which, at that period, are 

 ftrong, and unbiafted by thofe lelfifti and vicious motives which too 

 often conceal and thwart the intentions of Nature, create warm 

 friendfliips that frequently continue during their lives,, and produce 

 the moft beneficial and cordial effeds. When we thus fee with our 

 eyes, that the affociating principle appears at a period much more 

 early than many of our other inftinds, who will liften to thofe wri- 

 ters who choofe to deny that man is, naturally, an affociating or 

 gregarious animal ? 



With regard to the advantages we derive from aflbciation, a vo- 

 lume, would not be fufficient to enumerate them. Man, from the 

 comparatively great number of inftinds v^ith which his mind is en- 

 dowed, neccffarily pofTeffes a portion of the reafoning faculty highly 



fuperlor 



