MAN

On Cruelly to inferior Animals.

TAN is that link of the chain of univerfal exiftence by which spiritual and corporeal beings are united: As in the numbers and variety of the latter his inferiors are almoft infinite, fo probably are those of the former his fuperiors; and as we fee that the lives and happiness of thofe below us are dependent on our wills, we may reasonably conclude, that our lives and happiness are equally dependent on the wills of those above us; accountable, like ourselves, for the use of this power, to the Supreme Creator and Governor of all things. Should this analogy be well founded, how criminal will our account appear, when laid before that juft and impartial Judge! How will man, that fanguinary tyrant, be able to excufe himself from the charge of thofe innumerable cruelties inflicted on the unoffending fubjects committed to his care, formed for his benefit, and placed under his authority by their com mon Father, whofe mercy is over all his works, and who expects that his authority should be exercised, not only with tenderness and mercy, but in conformity to the laws of juftice and gratitude!

But to what horrid deviations from thefe benevolent intentions are we daily witneffes! No fmall part of mankind derive their chief amusements froth the deaths and fufferings of inferior animals; a much greater confider them only as engines of wood or iron, useful in their feveral occupations. The carman drives his horfe, and the carpenter his nail, by repeated blows; and fo long as thefe produce the defired effect, and they both go, they neither reflect nor care whether either of them have any fenfe of feeling. The butcher knocks down the ftately ox with no more compaffion than the blacksmith hammers a horse-shoe; and plunges his knife into the throat of the innocent lamb with as little reluctance as the taylor fticks his needle into the

collar of a coat.

If there are fome few, who, formed in a softer mould, view with pity the fufferings of these defencelefs creatures, there is fcarce one who entertains the leaft idea, that justice or gratitude can be due to their merits or their fervices. The focial and friendly dog is hanged without remorse, if, by barking in defence of his master's perfon and property, he happens unknowingly to disturb his reft: The generous horse, who has carried his ungrateful master for many years with ease and safety, worn out with age and infirmities contracted in his fervice, is by him condemned to end his miferable days in a duft-cart, where the more he exerts his little remains of fpirit, the more he is whipped, to fave his ftupid driver the trouble of whipping fome other lefs obedient to the lafh. Sometimes, having been taught the practice of many unnatural and useless feats in a riding houfe, he is at laft turned out, and configned to the dominion of a hackney-coachman, by whom he is every day corrected for performing those tricks, which he had learned under fo long and fevere a discipline. The fluggish bear, in contradiction to his nature, is taught to dance, for the diverfion of a malignant mob, by placing red-hot irons under his feet: And the majestic bull is tortured by every mode which malice can invent, for no offence, but that he is gentle, and unwilling to affail his diabolical tormentors. These, with innumerable other acts of cruelty, injustice, and ingratitude, are every day committed, not only with impunity, but without cenfure, and even without obfervation; but we may be affured that they cannot finally pass away unnoticed and unretaliated.

The laws of felf-defence undoubtedly justify us in deftroying those animals which would deftroy us, who injure our properties, or annoy our perfons; but not even thefe, whenever their fituation incapacitates them from hurting us. I know of no right which we have to shoot at a bear on an inacceffible island of ice, or an eagle on the mountain's top; whofe lives cannot injure us, nor deaths procure us any benefit. We are unable

to

to give life, and therefore ought not wantonly to take it away from the meaneft infect, without fufficient reafon; they all receive it from the fame benevolent hand as ourselves, and have therefore an equal right to enjoy it.

God has been pleased to create numberlefs animals intended for our fuftenance; and that they are fo intended, the agreeable flavour of their flesh to our palates, and the whole fome nutriment which it adminifters to our bodies, are fufficient proofs: Thefe, as they are formed for our ufe, propagated by our culture, and fed by our care, we have certainly a right to deprive of life, because it is given and preferved to them on that condition; but this fhould always be performed with all the tendernefs and compaffion which fo difagreeable an office will permit; and no circumftances ought to be omitted, which can render their executions as quick and eafy as poffible. For this, Providence has wifely and benevolently provided, by forming them in fuch a manner, that their flesh becomes rancid and unpalatable by a painful and lingering death; and has thus compelled us to be merciful without compaffion, and cautious of their fuffering, for the fake of ourselves: But, if there be any whofe taftes are so vitiated, and whofe hearts are fo hardened, as to delight in fuch inhuman facrifices, and to partake of them without remorse, they fhould be looked upon as dæmons in human shape, and expect a retaliation of thofe tortures which they have inflicted on the innocent, for the gratification of their own depraved and unnatural appetites.

So violent are the paffions of anger and revenge in the human breaft, that it is not wonderful that men fhould perfecute their real or imaginary enemies with cruelty and malevolence; but that there fhould exist in nature a being who can receive pleasure from giving pain, would be totally incredible, if we were not convinced, by melancholy experience, that there are not only many, but that this unaccountable difpofition is in fome manner inherent in the nature of man; for, as he cannot be taught by example, nor led to it by temp

tation, or prompted to it by intereft, it must be derived from his native constitution; and is a remarkable confirmation of what revelation fo frequently inculcates— that he brings into the world with him an original depravity, the effects of a fallen and degenerate state; in proof of which we need only obferve, that the nearer he approaches to a state of nature, the more predomi. nant this difpofition appears, and the more violently it operates. We fee children laughing at the miseries which they inflict on every unfortunate animal which comes within their power; all favages are ingenious in contriving, and happy in executing, the moft exquifite tortures; and the common people of all countries are delighted with nothing fo much as bull-baitings, prizefightings, executions, and all spectacles of cruelty and horror. Though civilization may in fome degree abate this native ferocity, it can never quite extirpate it; the most polished are not afhamed to be pleased with scenes of little less barbarity, and, to the difgrace of human nature, to dignify them with the name of fports! They arm cocks with artificial weapons, which nature had kindly denied to their malevolence, and, with shouts of applause and triumph, fee them plunge them into each other's hearts: They view with delight the trembling deer and defencelefs hare, flying for hours in the utmost agonies of terror and despair, and at laft finking under fatigue, devoured by their merciless purfuers I They fee with joy the beautiful pheasant and harmless partridge drop from their flight, weltering in their blood, or perhaps perishing with wounds and hunger, under the cover of fome friendly thicket, to which they have in vain retreated for fafety! They triumph over the unfufpecting fish, whom they have decoyed by an infidious pretence of feeding, and drag him from his native element by a hook fixed to and tearing out his entrails! And, to add to all this, they fpare neither labour nor expence to preferve and propagate these innocent animals, for no other end but to multiply the objects of their persecution!

What

What name fhould we beftow on a fuperior being, whofe whole endeavours were employed, and whofe pleasure confifted, in terrifying, enfnaring, tormenting, and deftroying mankind? Whofe fuperior faculties were exerted in fomenting animofities amongst them, in contriving engines of deftruction, and inciting them to use them in maiming and murdering each other? Whofe power over them was employed in affifting the rapacious, deceiving the fimple, and oppreffing the innocent? Who, without provocation or advantage, fhould continue from day to day, void of all pity and remorse, thus to torment mankind for diverfion, and at the fame time endeavour with his utmost care to preferve their lives, and to propagate their fpecies, in order to increase the number of victims devoted to his malevolence, and be delighted in proportion to the miferies he pecafioned? I fay, what name deteftable enough could we find for fuch a being? Yet, if we impartially confider the cafe, and our intermediate fituation, we must acknowledge, that, with regard to inferior animals, juft fuch a being is a sportsman.