MAN 
and could break the jaw of a horfe with one blow 
of his fiR", and his thigh with a kick. In war, he 
was always engaged in the foremoft ranks, where 
he difplayed feats of aftivity that could only be 
equalled by his fucce's; and happy had it been 
for him and his fubjefts, if, from being formida- 
ble to his enemies, he had not become fliill more 
fo to his fubjefts. He reigned for fome time at 
enmity with all the world; all mankind williing 
for his death, yet none daring to ftrike the blow : 
and, as if Fortune had refolved, that through life 
he fhould continue unconquerable, he was killed 
at lafi: by his own fubjetls while afleep. 
In more modern ages, we have feveral inftances 
of bodily ftrength, and not a few of amazing 
fwiftnefs; but thefe merely corporeal perfeftions 
are now confidered as of fmall advantage, either 
in peace or war. The fatal invention of gun- 
powder has in fome meafure levelled all flefli to 
one fcandard, and wrought a total change in mar- 
tial education through all parts of the world. In 
peace alfo, the difcovery of new m.achines almoft 
every day, and the application of the ftrength of 
irrational animals to the purpofes of life, have 
rendered human ftrength of lefs value. The 
boaft of corporeal ftrength is therefore configned 
to fav?,ge nations, where, from the deficiency of 
art, it may ftill be ufeful; but, in more polite 
countries, few will plume themfelves much on 
that ftrength which other animals may be taught 
to e^cert v^ith more facility and advantage. 
If the lars;enefs and thicknefs of our mufcles 
are compared with thofe of any other animals, 
we fhall find that in this refpeft we have the ad- 
vantage ; and if ftrength or fwiftnefs depended on 
the quantity of the mufcular flefli alone, we ftiould. 
moft probably be the ftrongeft and moft aftive of 
any. But this is not the cafe ; a great deal more 
than the fize of the mufcles is requifite to confti- 
tute activity and force ; thofe, therefore, v/ho have 
written elaborate treatifes on mufcular force, and 
efti mated the powers of anim^als from the large- 
ncfs of their mufcles, have laboured to little pur- 
pofe. 
Men are much ftronger than women; and, in 
fome countries, the former fex have availed them- 
felves of this fuperiority, in cruelly and tyranni- 
cally enflaving thofe wiio were formed with equal 
pretenfions to participate in all the advantages 
which life can confer. Barbarous nations compel 
their women to fubmit to a life of continual la- 
bour^ on the wife refts all the drudgeries of do- 
meftic duty; while the hufband, reclined at his 
eafe, is firft" ferved with the fruits of his partner's 
induftry. From this indolence he is feldom 
rouzed, except by the calls of appetite, or to make 
fome variety in his entertainments. A favage has 
no idea of taking pieafure in exercife; and he is 
llirprized to fee an European walk backwards and 
forwards for his diverfion and entertainment: for 
his own part, he could be contented to remain for 
ever in the fame fituation, perfecftly fatisficd with 
the enjoyment of fenfual pieafure and undifturbed 
repofe. The women of thefe countries are the 
moft abjeft (laves on earth : fenfible of their im- 
becillity, and unable to refift, they are obliged to 
fubmit to thofe hardftiips which are naturally in- 
flifted by fuch as confider corporeal force as ca- 
pable of eftablifhing pre-eminence. It is not till 
after fome degree of refinemiCnt that vv'omen are 
treated with lenity; and not till politenefs is uni- 
verfally eftablifned, that they are permitted to 
Vol. II. 
MAN 
fhare in all the privileges of the other fex. Th^ 
firft impulfe of favage nature is to confirm their 
flavery; the next, of femi-barbarians, is to appro- 
priate their beauty; and that of the truly polite, 
to engage their affe6tions: in civilized countries, 
therefore, women unite the force of modefty to 
the energy of natural charms ; and thus obtain a 
fuperiority which bodily ftrength could never 
procure them. 
Having traced Man from his infancy to man- 
hood, a period when all the powers are in their 
higheft perfedion, all the fenfes moft entire; we 
may next confider a few of his wants and en- 
dowments, previous to clofing the fcene with 
fome account of old age and death. 
Man, though inverted with fuperior povv^ers, 
and poflefted of more numerous privileges, with 
refpeft to his neceftlties, feems to be inferior to 
the meaneft animals. Nature has introduced him 
into life with a greater variety of wants and in- 
firmities than the reft of her creatures, unarmed 
in the mid ft of enemies. However, the number 
of his wants is merely given to multiply that of 
his enjoyments; fince the poflibility of being de- 
prived of any good teaches him the value of it's 
acquifition. Every want becomes a pieafure in 
the redreffing; and the animal that has moft de- 
fires may be deemed capable of the greateft va- 
riety of enjoyments. Among the many thoufand 
imaginary wants peculiar to Man, he has two in 
common with all other animals, which neverthe- 
lefs he feels in a greater degree than they: thefo 
are the want of flecp, and hunger. Every animal 
with which we are acquainted, feems to endure the 
want of thefe with more patience, and lefs injury 
to health, than Man; and fuch little animals as 
furround our fteps may often afford a lefibn of 
calm refignation, in fupporting hunger andwatch- 
fulnefs, to the boafted philofopher. 
Hunger is a more deftruftive foe to mankind 
than watchfulnefs : but, though fatal without it's 
proper antidote, it may always be removed by 
food; and to acquire this, Men have been known 
to encounter certain death. However, hunger 
appears to be more terrible in it's approaches than 
in it's duration ; for the pain occafioned by famine 
decreafes in proportion to the failure of ftrenp-th. 
At firft the defire of food is dreadful indeed; but, 
after the firft or fecond day, it's pains become lefs 
terrible, and a total infenfibility at length kindly 
relieves the wretched fufferer. But though the 
effe6ls of hunger are terrible to the laft- degree, 
when we inveftigate the caufe that, produces them, 
we find the fubjeft involved in doubt and intri- 
cacy. This longing eagernefs is probably im- 
parted for a very obvious purpofe, namely, to re- 
plenifli the body when wafted by fatigue and per- 
fpiration : the calls of appetite will admit of no de- 
nial; nor can either pleafures or advantages divert 
their cogency. 
The defire of eating has by fome been imagined 
to arife from the attrition of the coats of the fto- 
mach againft each other. Otlicrs have fuppofed 
that it's juices, wanting their neceffary fupply, 
turn acrid, or, as fome fay, pungent; and thus 
fret it's internal coats, fo as to produce a train of 
the moft uneafy fenfations. Eoerhaave unites the 
conjeftures of all who preceded him, and afcribes 
hunger to the combined cftefts of both thefe 
caufes; afierting, that the pungency of the gaftric 
juices, and the attrition of it's coats againft each 
other, excite thofe pains which nothing but food 
can 
I 
