348 0 « Hunting , Shooting , &V. 
may be added, in juftification of actions, which 
refpedt the lives and happinefs of the brute 
creation. 
Man, as lord of the creation, regards every 
Other animal as intended for his necefiary ufe, 
and fubfervient to his reafonable purpofes. This 
prerogative feems to have been intended for him 
in the original conftitution of things ; and it is 
fully evident, that the proper exercife of it, is not 
more favourable to his own, than to the general 
good. Of fome animals he prolongs the lives, 
and provides for the fupport, to make them con¬ 
ducive to his own convenience. Others, doomed 
to contribute to his fuftenance, are cut off ere 
they attain maturity.* Even if it were not 
expedient to facrifice thefe to the indifpenfible 
wants of man, necejfity would equally prompt 
him to their deftrudiion; fince, if they were 
left uninterruptedly to provide for their own 
fupport, and to propagate their fpecies, their 
increafe would foon be incompatible with 
his exiftence, and probably, with that of their 
own. 
It would, perhaps, be too hafty an affertion, 
to affirm, that death to brutes is no evil. We 
are not competent to determine, whether their 
evidence, like our own, may not extend to fome 
* In the laft clafs may be enumerated moll of the vi&im? 
to the diverfions we fpeak of. 
future 
; \ t c 
