STORY OF A SPANIEL. 271 



proportioned to the rank of the creature that is endow- 

 ed with them. Man, partaking of the animal nature, 

 though endowed with the noble faculty of reason, is 

 first subject to the influence of instinct. Quadrupeds, 

 after man, are the most intelligent of the lower world, 

 and the most capable of deviating from the instinctive 

 impulse ; as is evinced by innumerable well-attested 

 instances of sagacity, that seem to be the result of re- 

 flection and experience in the horse, the dog, and the 

 half-reasoning elephant. One of these occurs to my 

 recollection, and supports my theory so completely, 

 that I must relate it. 



The late Hon. General Murray, governor of Quebec, 

 a short time before his death, when become feeble, 

 walking out one morning in his grounds at Beauport, 

 near Hastings, attended only by a little spaniel, fell, 

 and was unable to rise. The dog immediately ran 

 into the house, barked, and pulled the servants by their 

 clothes ; but failing to gain their attention, he ran about 

 till he found a labourer, whom he succeeded in leading 

 to the spot where the general still lay, unable to rise.* 

 Instinct alone could never teach him to seek assist- 

 ance in this manner, to raise up his fallen master. 



Birds seem to hold the next rank to quadrupeds; 

 fishes to birds ; and lastly, the beautiful, active, and 

 diminutive race of insects, appear most entirely under 



* Mrs. Davies Giddy. 



