CHAP. VI.

On the Extent of Man's Dominion over animated Nature, and the Caution he ought to observe against abusing his Power. On the Sense of Pain in inferior Animals.

Ir should be an important object in the pursuits of Natural History to ascertain the true relation which one animal bears to another, and their utility in the great scale of creation. A knowledge that can only be obtained by long observation, and unwearied investigations of the nature of animals. Such inquiries will go far to shew the real extent of man's dominion over them, and to convince him that he has no right to injure or wantonly to destroy any animal which has been appointed by the infinite wisdom of GoD to fill up some useful link in the vast chain of creation : such inquiries will also assuredly bring the conviction, that every animal has, not only its rights and privileges, but, certain duties

to fulfil, the exercise of which is necessary for the good of the whole.

I am neither a disciple of RITSON*, nor an approver of his most absurd doctrines, well knowing, that it is not only impossible to prevent the waste of animal life, on our part, but, that we have a natural right to sacrifice it to a certain extent, to our own support; notwithstanding the opinion of many pious persons, which condemns the use of animal food, because, in the Mosaical account of the primitive times, and the creation of man, fruits and herbs alone are pointed out to him for his food, by the CREATOR himself. But the organs, the form, the constitution, and the situation, of man, saying nothing of his propensities, afford certain proofs that he was designed to use animal food as one of the means of supporting his existence; and, it is not against the use, but the abuse, of his power

* The apparently insane author of a work entitled “ An Essay on Abstinence from Animal Food, a Moral Duty. 8vo. London, 1802...

over other animals, that I am about to protest.

If I had not at various times, in the course of my studies this way, deeply felt the truth and importance of the following observations, I should have confined them to the solitude wherein they originated; for, of all the vanities arising from the weakness of man, that of ostentatious feeling is the most ridiculous, and contemptible. But I am not without hope, that an honest declaration of sentiments which at one time have filled my heart with the purest delight, and which, at another, have made it the seat of the most poignant anguish, will have some beneficial effects.

In early life, the ardour of my love for the pursuits of Natural History was so great, that I overcame many very serious difficulties, in order to make myself personally acquainted with the lives and manners of various animals in their native haunts; and, with this view, I spent several years in wandering through such parts of Great Britain as were least known. In these

rambles it was my custom, on those occa→ sions when my gun was necessarily laid aside, unless something of unusual importance occurred to prevent me, to spend such days of appointed rest abroad in the fields, or woods, or wildest recesses of nature; as free, and as far, as possible from the intrusion of man: where,-in strolling along the banks of meandering streams, whose sweet murmurs mingled in delightful harmony with the soft music of the wind; or, wandering through verdant fields, bedecked with flowers of every tint; or striding along the summit of some cloud-capt mountain; or, lying on the loftiest pinnacle of some huge o'erhanging rock, in watchful contemplation of the restless billows of the main; or, in penetrating the thickly tangled woods, whose gloom was scarcely pervious to the light of day, I have endeavoured as much as possible to abstract my mind from all frivolous objects, and, shutting out the corroding cares of life, fix its whole attention on the being and attributes of that ALMIGHTY, EVERLASTING, ADORABLE, GOD,

who hath created the wonders of this beau tiful orb, the earth, and all the vast magnificence of the starry heavens.

On such occasions I seemed as a solitary worshipper in the great temple of Nature. Sublimity elevates, at the same moment that it deepens the awe and reverence which accompany, the adorations of the soul. Solitude is propitious to the humble aspirations of conscious frailty, or even of guilt, as well as to the speculations of fancy, and the search of truth. Amidst the beautiful simplicity of nature, human pride finds no objects on which to cast her scorn, and her contumely; nor can the meaner passions be there either gratified or elicited. Songs of gladness rise from a thousand warblers of the grove ;-the fields spread out their sweet verdure, and smile under the rays of a genial sun; the voice of UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE seems to whisper in the passing gale, and promise continued happiness from on high; whilst all around proclaims the infinite power and goodness of Him, who, in the beginning, spake to primeval dark