On Hunting) Shooting , &c. 549 
» 
future mode of being, or whether the prefent 
limited fphere is all in which they are interefted! 
On fo fpeculative a queftion, little could be 
advanced with precifion ; nor is it neceffary 
for the inveftigation of the fubjeCt before us. 
If we may be allowed to reafon only from 
what we know, it may lafely be conjectured, 
that death to brutes is no pofitive evil; we 
have no reafon to believe, they are indued 
with the gift of forefight, and therefore, even 
admitting that with them the pleafures of life 
exceed its pains and its cares, in terminating 
their exiftence, they only fuffer a privation of 
pleafure. 
Though the tie of natural affeCtion is, per¬ 
haps, not lefs ftrong in brutes, than in the human 
fpecies, yet it is often necefiarily diftolved, and 
of much Ihorter continuance. It is alfo to 
be remembered, that, on the prefent plan of pur- 
fuing thefe diverfions, fuch a regard is had to 
the circumftances and fituation of animals, that 
no helplefs, feeble progeny is left to bewail the 
lofs of an affeCt ion ate parent; or, from the want 
of its providence and protection, to perifh from 
expofure to rapacious animals, or the more 
cruel attacks of want and famine. The fate 
of an individual may, therefore, be confidered as 
unconnected with that of any of its fpecies; and 
if it be allowed, that an untimely period of its 
exiftence is not to it any evil, the mode of its 
fuffering 
