2 WHALE-FISHERY. 



perience, he would gradually discover more safe and 

 effectual methods of resistmg and conquering his 

 irrational enemies ; his general success would be- 

 get confidence, and that confidence at leng<:(i would 

 lead him to pursue in his turn the former objects 

 of his dread, and thus change his primitive defen- 

 sive act of self-preservation into an offensive ope- 

 ration, fonning a novel, interesting, and noble re- 

 creation. Hence we can readily and satisfactorily 

 trace to the principle of necessity, the adroitness 

 and coiu'age evidenced by the unenlightened na- 

 tions of the world, in their successful attacks on the 

 most formidable of the brute creation ; and hence 

 we can conceive, that necessity may impel the 

 indolent to activity, and the coward to actions which 

 would not disgrace the brave. 



If we attempt to apply this principle to the ori- 

 gin of the schemes instituted by man, for subduing 

 the cetaceous tribe of the animal creation, it may 

 not at the first sight appear referable to the exi- 

 gence of necessity. For man to attempt to sub- 

 due an animal whose powers and ferocity he regard- 

 ed mth superstitious dread, and the motion of 

 which he conceived AvOuld produce a vortex i;'ifficient 

 to swallow up his boat, or any other vessel in which 

 he might approach it, — an animal of at least six 

 hundred times his own bulk, a stroke of the tail of 

 w^hich might hurl his boat into tlic air, or dash it 

 and himself to pieces, — an animal inhabiting at the 



