and as stealing is a rare crime in the wealthy classes, we can hardly
account by accidental coincidence for the tendency occurring in two or
three members of the same family. If bad tendencies are transmitted, it
is probable that good ones are likewise transmitted. That the state of
the body by affecting the brain, has great influence on the moral
tendencies is known to most of those who have suffered from chronic
derangements of the digestion or liver. The same fact is likewise shewn
by the perversion or destruction of the moral sense being often one of
the earliest symptoms of mental derangement (47. Maudsley, Body and
Mind, 1870, p. 60.); and insanity is notoriously often inherited.
Except through the principle of the transmission of moral tendencies,
we cannot understand the differences believed to exist in this respect
between the various races of mankind.
Even the partial transmission of virtuous tendencies would be an
immense assistance to the primary impulse derived directly and
indirectly from the social instincts. Admitting for a moment that
virtuous tendencies are inherited, it appears probable, at least in
such cases as chastity, temperance, humanity to animals, etc., that
they become first impressed on the mental organization through habit,
instruction and example, continued during several generations in the
same family, and in a quite subordinate degree, or not at all, by the
individuals possessing such virtues having succeeded best in the
struggle for life. My chief source of doubt with respect to any such
inheritance, is that senseless customs, superstitions, and tastes, such
as the horror of a Hindoo for unclean food, ought on the same principle
to be transmitted. I have not met with any evidence in support of the
transmission of superstitious customs or senseless habits, although in
itself it is perhaps not less probable than that animals should acquire
inherited tastes for certain kinds of food or fear of certain foes.
Finally the social instincts, which no doubt were acquired by man as by
the lower animals for the good of the community, will from the first
have given to him some wish to aid his fellows, some feeling of
sympathy, and have compelled him to regard their approbation and
disapprobation. Such impulses will have served him at a very early
period as a rude rule of right and wrong. But as man gradually advanced
in intellectual power, and was enabled to trace the more remote
consequences of his actions; as he acquired sufficient knowledge to
reject baneful customs and superstitions; as he regarded more and more,
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