importance, and dignity, fhall beft appear when all around is enwrapt in defolation: taught by which, we fhall regard this tumultuated world as our refidence, not our manfion; and fhall fee, that these occafional inftances of terror are little impediments to our general welfare, have little effect on our principal interests, and hinder not (perhaps rather augment) the propriety of placing us as rational creatures in fo tranfitory a station, where they seem to contrast the usual benignity of creative power toward those inhabitants of the globe, who are next to become the fubjects of our difcourfe.

LECTURE

LECTURE III.

WE

E concluded our laft difcourfe, LADIES and GentleMEN, with mentioning feveral terrific phænomena, whofe ravages seem to forbid the fettlement and increase of inhabitants, on a globe occupied by fuch destructive residents; they seem to counteract the very existence of animated beings, and to render hopeless every effort for their fettlement or fupport, Notwithstanding which state of things, I am now to remind you, that we actually find this globe, our habitation, replete with variety of creatures, of different and diffimilar powers, inclinations, and manners; all of them liable to events ap parently contrary to their well-being, yet all of them maintaining, and perpetuating that ftation in the fcale of exiftents, which appears to have been their original appointment.

There are many, and much worse causes of deftruction at tached to every race and fpecies of creatures, than what we have related as connected with, or arifing from, the globe; every rank has enemies in ranks above or below it; every individual has other individuals who are ftrongly prompted to moleft, or destroy it: nor are these foes deftitute of power, fagacity, or inclination. How then fhall they fail of thei purpofe? Or if fome are disappointed, if they mifs their op

portunity,

or

portunity, or relinquish the chace, what fecurity has the devoted victim of efcaping from others? or what profpect has he of prolonging that existence which now he enjoys?

Ever provident of what might be, while unremittingly attentive to what is, the Great Author of Nature has mingled with every faculty of every creature a certain fomewhat, which enables, as well as difpofes it, to provide for its own welfare; and though the degrees of existence (may we fo term it?) which come under our notice are extremely different, though some creatures feem endowed with numerous privileges, while others feem put off with bare fenfation; yet even the laft, the least, the lowest, has powers fufficient for protection, and defence against furrounding dangers,

If we were to compofe a SCALE OF LIFE, we fhould naturally place lowest on such a scale that living being which poffeffed feweft of those fenfations, or means of fenfation, which feem appropriate to animated matter. We should alfo endeavour to afcertain as the loweft on fuch a fcale, that being which poffeffed in the feebleft degree that fmall fhare of fenfation which belonged to it. From this we should rife gradually to those who poffeffed ftrong degrees in one particular branch or division of sensation; or those who poffeffed several sensations, though in moderate degrees. We should find that the greatest share of fagacity would feem attached to those beings, which, together with various means of fenfation, poffeffed the greatest proportion of impreffion or intenfity in each, feparately confidered.

PART II,

Ꮮ

The

The means of fenfation, or thofe channels which communicate impreffions to us, we term SENSES. I take for granted, that Ideas are received by thefe. Though ALL these qualities are neceffary to the perfection of life, yet life may be supported while attended by only fome of them.

When I affert that Ideas are received by the Senfes, I admit that certain ideas are in their nature distinct from those which it is the office of any fenfe to introduce: for a certain consciousness of perfonal exiftence, or identity, seems independent of the exertion of any fenfe. Creatures deprived of hearing are not less conscious of their exiftence; creatures void of fight are yet aware of their individuality; and, though utterly unable to furvey their own dimenfions, are extremely well acquainted what thofe dimenfions are. There feems alfo, as in-. dependent of the miniftration of the fenfes, an idea of felfprotection and defence: for, without examination of minute circumftances, or fcrutinizing inspection of its affailant, every creature when affaulted has inftant recourse to that mode of protecting itself, in which it is confcious its greatest strength is placed.

I know not how far I may be juftified in placing among ideas diftinct from thofe tranfmitted by the fenfes, the talent of exerting to the best advantage that means of procuring food, which is attached to every creature. If hunger itself may not be thought independent of the fenfes, yet it must be owned, that it fhews itself much too early for us to perceive its pro

grefs

grefs or its relation: for the lamb juft dropped applies inftantly to its mother's teat. What example has it observed, that it may imitate? And the young polypus, just separated from its parent stock, expands its arms that it may catch its prey. Who taught it, that fuch was the mode in which it was to feek its maintenance? Who taught it, that its native element abounded with infects? that these were adapted for its food? that the intent of its arms was to entrap these? Neither fight, nor hearing, nor any other fenfe, had brought information that fuch was the manner of polypi.

The fact seems to be, that the fenfes, though of great importance and concern to life, yet being fometimes, occafionally, or at intervals, fufpended, or capable of being fufpended, they may not be implicitly relied on, where fo great a concern as life is at stake. A certain promptitude or difpofition is therefore fuperadded, whofe intuitive vigilance neither flumbers nor fleeps. This difpofition, I believe I may without offence call INSTINCT; and this we find exerted, as I faid, whenever life is at stake, whether that life be attached to the individual exerting this instinct, or be expected to defcend from it.

The scale of being is diftributed into fo minute gradations, that it is always perplexing to discover where the object which we should call fuperior quits its fuperiority, and that we should term inferior exhibits inferiority. If in two diftinct fpecimens with which we are acquainted, we imagine we discover this division, two other fpecimens of the fame kinds, the fame

natures,