PHILOSOPHY OF NATURE 45 



Bartram, however, is not always so cautious in stating that he 

 is speaking only o£ a particular bird and not of a " whole race." 

 More often his scientific curiosity is tinged with his humani- 

 tarianism and his studies in animal psychology are at the same 

 time a defense of the whole animal kingdom. His father, John 

 Bartram, writing earlier in the century, was of the opinion that 

 " the creatures commonly called brutes possess higher qualifica- 

 tions, and more exalted ideas, than our traditional mystery- 

 mongers are willing to allow them."^® William Bartram on the 

 same subject expressed not merely an '" opinion " but a positive 

 conviction which was an integral part of his whole philosophy 

 of life. In the lengthy general dissertation found among his 

 manuscripts he states that he considers it 



... as a duty incumbent on me to declare my sentiments freely on a 

 subject though of little moment to Mankind in general at this time. 

 Yet to me of much importance. Namely of the Dignity of Animal 

 Nature, with respect to the Station or Degree they hold in the grand 

 System of Creation in this world. When considered in a Physiological 

 sense, The great Naturalist & Phylosopher Linnaeus has constituted the 

 whole terrestrial system under Three grand divisions which he calls 

 kingdoms in Nature, Viz. the Mineral, a confused mass of inanimate 

 matter, mixed together, consisting of four elements, namely, Earth, 

 Water, Air & Fire. 2dly Vegetables, which are organical bodies ani- 

 mated, but not having sensation. 3, Animates, which are Living organ- 

 ical self-moving Bodies endowed with sentiment. At the head, or first 

 in the Animal Kingdom he hath placed Man. A being endued with 

 Wisdom the power & prerogative (above all other Terrestrial beings) 

 of knowing himself and his Creator. This wisdom (sapientia) he 

 imagins to be a Ray, emanation or particle of the Divine Intelligence 

 communing with this Spirit or Mind of Man. . . . 



We have no certain knowledge that Animals below the order of 

 Mankind have no Intellectual powers. . . . After all the pains & labour 

 which Buffon has taken to explain away their Intellectual & Rational 

 Powers. He has thereby sufficiently established a truly wonderful 

 Instinct, an Intuitive knowledge or understanding which he at the same 

 time asserts to be the same in common with Man. ... I cannot believe, 

 I cannot be so impious, nay my soul revolts, is distressed, by such con- 

 jectures as to . . . imagin that Man, who is guilty of more mischief & 

 wickedness than all other Animals together in this world should be 



" Sketch of John and William Bartram." Popular Science Monthly, XL, 834. 



