522 



THE PHILOSOPHY 



fpecies into cafts or ranks. To fom'e fhe gives fuperior genius and 

 mental abilities ; and, even of thefe, the views, the purfuits, and the 

 taftes, are moft wonderfully diverfified. 



In the talents and qualities of quadrupeds of the fame fpecies, 

 there are often remarkable differences. Thefe differences are confpi- 

 cuous in the various races of horfes, dogs, &c. Even among the 

 fame races, fome are bold, fprightly, and fagacious. Others are com- 

 paratively timid, phlegmatic, and dull. 



Our knowledge of the chain of intelledual and corporeal beings 

 is very imperfe<a ; but what we do know gives us exalted ideas of 

 that variety and progreffion which reign in the univeTle. A thick 

 cloud prevents us from recognifing the moft beautiful and magnifi- 

 cent parts of this immenfe chain of being. We fliall endeavour, 

 however, to point out a few of the more obvious links of that chain, 

 which falls under our own limited obfervation» 



Man, even by his external qualities, ftands at the head of this 

 world. His relations are more extenfive, and his form more advan- 

 tageous, than thofe of any other animal. His intelleflual powers, 

 when improved by fociety and fcience, raife him fo high, that, if no 

 degrees of excellence exifted among his own fpecies, he would leave a 

 great void in the chain of being. Were we to confider the characters, 

 the manners, and the genius of different nations, of different pro- 

 vinces and towns, and even of the members of the fame family, we 

 fliould imagine that the fpecies of men were as various as the num- 

 ber of individuals. How many gradations may be traced between 

 a ftupid Huron, or a Hottentot, and a profound philofopher ? Here 

 the diftance is immenfe ; but Nature has occupied the whole by al- 

 • moft infinite fhadesof difcrimination. 



In 



