solids yo bavot I dowďa wede PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, Concernwollot en rebau jagodatedT ring the Origin of MEN and of LANGUAGES.19 S 190002 to Jan 90T 2sonsio2 to alsigor¶ & 8791002 zi sh voɔlıb yıɛnimilarq & ebsed sledi molq HETHER there be different traces mobetof men, or whether all men, be of one race without any difference but what proceeds from climate or other external cause, is a question that philofophers differ widely about. As the question is of moment in tracing the history of man, I purpose to contribute my mite. And in order to admit all the light poffible, a view of brute animals as divided into dif ferent races or kinds, will make a proper introduction. As many animals contribute to our wellbeing, and as many are noxious; man would be a being not a little imperfect, were he provided with no means but experience for diftinguishing the one fort from the other. Did every animal make a species by itself (indulging the expreffion) differing from all others, a man would finish his courfe without acquiring 3 as much knowledge of animals as is neceffary even for felf-prefervation : hes would be abfolutely at a lofs with refpect to unknown individuals. The Deity has left none of his works imperfect,, Animals are formed of different kinds, each. kind having a figure and a temper peculiar to itfelf: great uniformity is difcovered among animals of the fame kind; great variety among animals of different kinds. And to prevent confufion, kinds are distinguished externally by figure, air, manner, fo clearly as not to escape even a child *Nor does divine wifden ftop here to complete the fyftem, we are endued with an innate conviction, that each Kind has properties péculiar to itself, and that thefe properties belong to every individual of the kind (a). Our. road to the "And out of the ground the Lord God form❝ed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the "air, and brought them unto Adam to fee what he "would call them. And Adam gave names to all દ cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every (a) See Elements of Criticifm, vol. 2. p. 490. edit. 5. knowledge . knowledge of animals is thus wonderfully shortened: the experience we have of the difpofition and properties of any animal, is applied without hesitation to every one of the kind. By that conviction, a child, familiar with one dog, is fond of others that refemble it; an European, upon the firft fight of a cow in Africa, ftrokes it as gentle and innocent; and an African at voids a tiger in Hindoftan as at home. If the foregoing theory be well founded, neither experience nor argument is requi red to prove, that a horfe is not an afs, or that a monkey is not a man (a). Some animals indeed äre fo fimilar, as to render it uncertain whether they be not radically of the fame kind. But in fuch inftances we need not to be folicitous; for I venture to affirm, that both will be found gentle or fierce, wholefome food or unwholefome. Such questions may be cu rious, but they are of little use. Whether man be provided by nature with a faculty to diftinguifh innocent animals from what are noxious, feems not a clear point fuch a faculty may be (a) See M. Buffon's natural hiftory. thought thought unnecessary to man, being fupplied by reafon and experience. But as reason and experience have have little influence on brute ५ bud doubtedly prute animals, they un * poffefs that of prey would be ill fitted for its station, if nature did not teach it what creatures to attack, what to avoid. A rabbit is the Pray she at of the ferret. dead, to a young 30 10 9010 Prefent a rabbit, leen, a rabbit it throws itfelf body, and bites it with fury. A bound has the fame faculty with refpect t hare; and most dogs have it. Unless di ating rected by nature, innocent animals would not know their enemy till they were in its clutches, A hare flies with precipitation from the first dog it ever fays and a chicken, upon the first fight of a kite, edi tutem to sì on wod.29gs, bas 2986? Brute animals have many inftincts that are denied to man becaufe the want of them can be astra fupplied by education. An infant, must be taught to walk; and it is long before it acquires the art in perfection. Brutes have no teacher but nature. A foal, the moment it fees the fight, walks no lefs perfectly than its parents. And fo does a partridge, lapwing, hgc gare dejen er alls. 309mess Dente lupus, cornu taurus petit; unde nifi intus Monftratum? 21 HORACE. Cowers cowers under its "dam. Social animals, without fcruple, connect with their own kind, and as readily avoid others * Birds are not afraid of quadrupeds; not even med 10 or even of A a cat, till they are taught by experience that a cat is their enemy. They appear to enemyad be as little afraid of a man naturally, and upon that account are far from being thy when left unmolested. In the uninhabialong ted ifland of Vifia Grande, one of the Philippines, Kempfer fays, that birds may be taken with the hand. Hawks, in fome of the South-fea illands, are equally tame. At Port Egmont in the Falkland Islands, geefe, far from being thy, may be knocked down with a ftick. The birds that inha~ bit certain Yocks Hanging over the fea in wal. the island of Annabon, take food readily out of a man's hand. foxes and apes fhow no food i 1 In Arabia Felix, fear of man; the *The populace about Smyrna have a cruel amufement. They lay the eggs of a hen in a ftork's neft, Upon feeing the chickens, the male in amazement calls his neighbouring ftorks together; who, to revenge the affront put upon them, deftroy the poor innocent female; while he bewails his mif fortune in heavy lamentation. |