1803. Duties of Man towards the Briite Creation, 32^ 



fyftems, of which we do not pretend to be fully converfant in 

 the principles and practice, we do not conceive to be within o\xt 

 province. 



The whole of the firfl: Volume, and a confiderable portion of 

 the fecond, though divided into chapters, as conflitutinjj; integrant 

 parts of a regular whole, contain, in fa6l, a number of detached 

 efTays upon various topics. Thefe are indeed connected with 

 the general fubje6l, horfes ; but frequently indulge in epifodical 

 deviations, in which the connexion is by no means very evident. 

 The introduftory chapter we have already noticed. The others, 

 in the firil volume, are — On the horfe in general — On the rights 

 of beads —On the hackney and hunter — The modern method of 

 riding — On draught cattle — On tlic menage — On flioeing. 



In the fecond volume — On the philofophy of fports — Stable 

 economy — Draught oxen — Purchafe and fale — The turf. 



Then follow a number of chapters, containing our author's 

 propofed fyftem of veterinary practice. And the work concludes 

 with a chapter on the difeaL's of horned cattle, and the proper 

 treatment of cows and calves. 



It would very much exceed our limits to attempt any analyfis 

 of the contents of thofe numerous divifions ; and we have al- 

 ready expreffed our incompetence to decide on the merits of 

 many of them ; befides, our author does not pretend to origin- 

 ality in his veterinary fyftem, which is acknowledged to be com- 

 piled from his favourites, Gibfon and Bracken. 



The third chapter of volume ifl treats on the rights of heafls ; 

 and we confefs that much fatisfadion has been received by us 

 on the examination of it. After difculFing the abftra£l: princi- 

 ciple with confiderable ability, the author declares, that 

 — ' the grand fource of the unmerited and fuperfluous mifery of 

 beafts, exilts, in my opinion, in a defe6l in the conftitution of all com- 

 munities. No human government, I believe, has ever recognifed the 

 jus anhnaliuniy which furely ought to form a part of the jurifprudence 

 of every fyftem, founded on the principles of juftice and humanity. 

 The fnnple right of thefe four-Jegged, and mute citizens, hath already 

 been difcuffed. Experience plainly demonilratcs the inefficacy of mere 

 morality to prevent aggreflion, and the neceflity of coercive laws for 

 the fecurity of rights. I therefore propofe, that the Rights of Beafts 

 be formally acknowledged by the ftate, and that a law be framed upon 

 that principle, to guard and prote£l them from a£ls of flagrant and wan- 

 ton cruelty, whether committed by their owners or others. As the law 

 ilands at prefent, no man is punifliable for an a6l of the moft extreme 

 cruelty to a brute animal, but upon the principle of an injury done to 

 the property of another ; of courfe, the owner of a bcaft has the tacit 

 allowance of the law to infli(fl upon it, if he (ball fo pleafe, the moft: 

 korrid barbarities, ' P* 123. 



It 



