or to defend abfolute decrees, and yet free the Deity from being the author of fin, has been found hitherto to exceed all the skill of philosophy. Happy, if the be thence fenfible of her temerity, when the pries into these fublime mysteries; and leaving a scene fo full of obscurities and perplexities, return, with fuitable modefty, to her true and proper province, the examination of common life; where he will find diff culties enow to employ her enquiries, without launching into fo boundless an ocean of doubt, uncertainty, and contradiction!

SECTION

SECTION

A

IX.

Of the REASON of ANIMALS.

LL our reasonings concerning matter of fact are founded on a species of ANALOGY, which leads us to expect from any cause the fame events, which we have obferved to refult from fimilar causes. Where the causes are entirely fimilar, the analogy is perfect, and the inference, drawn from it, is regarded as certain and conclufive: Nor does any man ever entertain a doubt, where he sees a piece of iron, that it will have weight and cohesion of parts; as in all other inftances, which have ever fallen under his observation. But where the objects have not fo exact a fimilarity, the analogy is lefs perfect, and the inference is less conclufive; tho' ftill it has fome force, in proportion to the degrees of fimilarity and refemblance. The anatomical obfervations, formed upon one animal, are by this fpecies of reafoning, extended to all animals; and 'tis certain, that when the circulation of the blood, for inftance, is proved clearly to have place in one creature, as a frog or fish, it forms

forms a ftrong presumption, that the fame principle has place in all. These analogical obfervations may be carried farther, even to this fcience, of which we are now treating; and any theory, by which we explain the operations of the understanding, or the ori.. gin and connexion of the paffions in man, will acquire additional authority, if we find, that the fame theory is requifite to explain the fame phænomena in all other animals. We fhall make trial of this, with regard to the hypothefis, by which, in the foregoing difcourfe, we have endeavoured to account for all experimental reasonings; and 'tis hoped, that this new point of view will ferve to confirm all our former obfervations.

First, Ir feems evident, that animals, as well as men, learn many things from experience, and infer, that the fame events will always follow from the fame caufes. By this principle, they become acquainted with the more obvious properties of external objects, and gradually, from their birth, treafure up a knowlege of the nature of fire, water, earth, stones, heights, depths, &c. and of the effects, which refult from their operation. The ignorance and inexperience of the young are here plainly diftinguishable from the cunning and fagacity of the old, who have learned, by long obfervation, to avoid what hurt them, and to pursue what gave eafe or pleafure. A horfe, that has been accustomed to the field, becomes acquainted

An

with the proper height, which he can leap, and will never attempt what exceeds his force and ability. old greyhound will truft the more fatiguing part of the chace to the younger, and will place himself so as to meet the hare in her doubles; nor are the conjectures, which he forms on this occafion, founded in any thing but his obfervation and experience.

THIS is fill more evident from the effects of difcipline and education on animals, who, by the proper application of rewards and punishments, may be taught any courfe of action, the most contrary to their natural instincts and propenfities. Is it not experience, which renders a dog apprehensive of pain, when you menace him, or lift up the whip to beat him? Is it not even experience, which makes him anfwer to his name, and infer, from fuch an arbitrary found, that you mean him rather than any of his fellows, and intend to call him, when you pronounce it in a certain manner, and with a certain tone and accent?

In all these cafes, we may observe, that the animal infers fome fact beyond what immediately ftrikes his fenfes; and that this inference is altogether founded on past experience, while the creature expects from the present object the fame events, which it has always found in its obfervation to refult from fimilar objects.

Secondly,