ther where it is later. This would be a
degree of knowledge denied even to man,
unless from experience. Ariftotle, with
as little accuracy, maintains, that it is from
a thorough knowledge of the seasons that
birds of paffage change their habitation
twice a year. It is, I admit, the final caufe
of their migration; but undoubtedly blind
inftinct is the efficient caufe. The mag-
py, he observes, covers its neft, leaving
only a hole in the fide to get in and out
at; well knowing that
birds of prey
many
are fond of its eggs. Yet the fame Buffon
obferving, that, when a fparrow builds un-
der a roof, it gives no cover to its neft, co-
vering it only when it builds on a tree;
and that a beaver, which erects a strong
dam-dike to keep a running water always
at the fame height, never thinks of fuch an
operation when it fettles on the brink of a
lake which varies little in height; main-
tains these variations to be the perfection
of inftinct. Is it not apparent that reason
is neceffary to make a being to vary its
conduct according to circumstances; and
that what is obferved of the sparrow and
beaver is evidence of no flight degree of
reflection? Inftinct, on the contrary, is

a

a blind impulse of nature, which prompts always the fame uniform course, without regard to variation of circumstances.

It is obferved by an ingenious writer (a), that nature sports in the colour of domeftic animals, in order that men may the more readily distinguish their own. It is not easy to say why colour is more varied in fuch animals, than in those which remain in the state of nature: I can only fay, that the caufe affigned is not fatisfactory. One is feldom at a lofs to diftinguish one animal from another; and Providence never interpofes to vary the ordinary course of nature, for an end fo little neceffary as to make the diftinction ftill more obvious. I add, that it does not appear, in any inftance, the intention of Providence, to encourage inattention and indolence.

The foregoing particulars are offered to the public as hints merely may it not be hoped, that they will excite curiosity in those who relish natural history? The field is rich, though little cultivated; and I know no other branch of natural history that opens finer views into the conduct of Providence.

(a) Pennant.

SKETCH

SKETCH VII.

Progrefs and Effects of Luxury.

TH

HE wifdom of Providence is in no inftance more confpicuous than in adjusting the conftitution of man to his external circumstances. Food is extremely precarious in the hunter-state; fometimes fuperabounding with little fatigue, sometimes failing after great fatigue. A favage, like other animals of prey, has a ftomach adjusted to that variety: he can bear a long faft; and gorges voraciously when he has plenty, without being the worfe for it. Whence it is, that barbarians, who have fcarce any fense of decency, are great and grofs feeders *. The

In the Iliad of Homer, book 9. Agamemnon calls a council at night in his tent. Before entering on business, they go to fupper, (line 122). An em. baffy to Achilles is refolved on. The ambaffadors again fup with Achilles on pork griskins, (line 271). Achilles rejects Agamemnon's offer; and the fame night Ulyffes and Diomed fet out on their expedition to the Trojan camp: returning before day, they had a third fupper.

Kamfkatkans

Kamikatkans love fat; and a man entertains his guests by cramming into their mouths fat flices of a feal, or a whale, cutting off with his knife what hangs out. Barbarians are equally addicted to drunkennefs; and peculiarly fond of fpiritous liquors. Drinking was a fashionable vice in Greece, when Menander, Philemon, and Diphilus, wrote, if we can rely on the translations or imitations of their plays by Plautus and Terence. Cyrus preparing to attack his brother Artaxerxes, King of Perfia, published a manifefto, that he was more worthy of the throne than his brother, because he could fwallow more wine. Diodorus Siculus reports, that, in his time, the Gauls, like other Barbarians, were much addicted to drinking. The ancient Scandinavians, who, like other favages, were intemperate in eating and drinking, fwallowed large cups to their gods, and to fuch of their countrymen as had fallen. bravely in battle. We learn from the 25th fable of the Edda, which was their facred book, that to hold much liquor was reputed a heroic virtue. Contarini the Venetian ambaffador, who wrote anno 1473, fays, that the Ruffians were abandoned to

drunkenness;

drunkenness ; and that the whole race would have been extirpated, had not ftrong liquors been discharged by the fovereign.

A habit of fafting long, acquired as above in the hunter-ftate, made meals in the shepherd ftate lefs frequent than at prefent, though food was at hand. Anciently people fed but once a-day, a fashion that continued even after luxury was indulged in other refpects. In the war of Xerxes against Greece, it was pleasantly faid of the Abderites, who were burdened with providing for the King's table, that they ought to thank the gods for not inclining Xerxes to eat twice a-day. Plato held the Sicilians to be gluttons, for having two meals every day. Arrian (a) obferves, that the Tyrrhenians had the fame bad habit. In the reign of Henry VI. the people of England fed but twice a-day. Hector Boyes, in his history of Scotland, exclaiming against the growing luxury of his contemporaries, fays, that fome perfons were fo gluttonous, as to have three meals every day.

Luxury, undoubtedly, and love of fo(a) Lib. 4. cap. 16.

VOL. II.

P

ciety,