LETTER IV.

The Nature of Antipathies examined. Associations producing Aversion. Nature of Prejudice.

HAVING noticed, at fufficient length,

the effect of thofe violent fenfations

of terror which are too often inflicted on the infant mind, let us now difcufs the fubject of averfions and antipathies to particular objects which we have been accustomed, without hefitation, to attribute to Nature.

When we take a view of the inftinctive faculties of animals, and obferve how admirably they are adapted to the preservation of the fpecies and the individual, according to its fituation and circumstances; and when we confider how much, in the

infancy

appear,

infancy of fociety, man must be inevitably expofed to danger, from the bite of noxious animals; it does not, at first view, seem inconfiftent with the order of Providence, that he should be provided with a fimilar defence, and be taught by natural antipathy to avoid what is hurtful. But is this actually the cafe? And does it not rather that the principle of imitation, fo deeply implanted in our natures, and fo fuited to the circumftances of man as a focial animal, is intended, by our wife Creator, as a substitute for that inftinct in which the inferior orders of creation have fo much the advantage of us? That this is, indeed, the cafe, evidently, as I think, appears from the conduct of individuals, which, with regard to the objects of averfion, is fo far from being guided by the steady and unerring impulse of inftinct, that it most frequently feems the offspring of unaccountable caprice. To thofe, indeed, who have obferved the power of fympa

thy

thy and the influence of imitation, it will not be unaccountable. Let a child fee a frog for the first time, in company with a person who has no averfion to the species, who praises the beauty of its fkin, admires its agility, and mentions its inoffenfiveness with fympathy and tenderness; the child will be delighted with its appearance, and attach to it no more idea of disgust than he does to that of a robin red-breast. But alter these circumstances, and let him at the first fight of the frog hear a shriek of terror from his mamma, or fome female friend; let him fee her run from it with abhorrence, and hear her mention it with difguft, and it is ten to one the affociation. thus formed will remain fixed for life...

While fitting in an alcove in a friend's garden last fummer, I faw a darling little girl, whofe mind had been happily preferved from the early dominion of prejudice, bufily employed in collecting pebbles (as I thought) and putting them in her frock, which fhe

had

had gathered up and held in one hand as a receptacle for her treasure. Obferving me, fhe came running towards me with at joyful countenance: "See!” cried fhe,

"See! what a number of beautiful creatures I have got here!" emptying at the fame time the contents of her lap upon mine-a number of large black beetles! I confefs I could have excufed the present: nor could I behold the harmless creatures crawling on me without fhuddering. I had, however, refolution enough to conceal my fenfations, and after thanking my little friend for her kindness, begged the would replace them in her frock, that she might put them down at their own home, fo that they might find their way to their families. Delighted with the employment, in which I could not prevail on myself to affift her, fhe foon freed me from my difagreeable companions, and while I watched the expression of her animated countenance, I could not help reflecting on the

injury I had sustained from that early affo ciation, which could still thus operate upon my mind in defiance of the control of reafon. An averfion to black beetles, it is true, will not often interfere with our happiness, or with the comfort of those with whom we affociate; but why, in any instance, should we injure the mind by false and fictitious prejudices? The recurrence of these painful fenfations, and what sensations more painful than thofe of fear and averfion? deduct much from the pleasure of life. They mislead the understanding and warp the judgment, and are confequently injurious to the fanity of the mind; and yet how little are they guarded against in education? Suffer me, then, my friend, to recommend it to your confideration. Watch, I befeech you, the early operation of the mind; and if you obferve any symptom of its having caught by contagion any of those antipathies fo falfly denominated natural, make it your business, by counter