^6 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* 



rity. Thefe illanders are free belugs, wild 

 enjc^y peace of mind, and health of body, 

 Man is fo organized, that, whetl;ier ovving to 

 moral or phyfical caufes, ht who has the 

 misfortune to think of himfelf is almoft al- 

 ways in a ftate of illnefs. Indeed, when 

 men have a good conftitudon, they affix 

 little value to the advantage they enjoy, in 

 that refpedt, over almoft all their fellow 

 creatures. Our evils, if I may fay fo, are 

 in ourfelyes, and our pleafures in thofc 

 obje^s which procure them to us. Man is 

 a humane, feeling, and compaffionate beingi 

 and it is our conftitudon which irrcfillibly 

 leads us to aflift thofe whom we fee fuffering. 

 It is tha.t falutary organization which, extin- 

 guifliing, as one. may fay, felf-intereft in 

 each individual, fupplies among people 

 who live in a (late of nature the want of 

 laws and of virtues. It is that which pre* 

 vents the robuft favage from robbing child* 



hoodj 



