VL] CULTIVATION. 



gentle, the patient, and the laborious ox, which I 

 do not wonder was pointed out to us as an ol>iect 

 of our especial consideration and humanity ; but, 

 in this case, his anticipation of enjoyment would 

 be destructive of future and greater benefit, even 

 to himself. It is here, therefore, for the reason 

 of man to interfere, as it is in the case of child- 

 ren, or other thoughtless beings, who destroy 

 things of this sort because they know not their 

 value. 1 despise the canting of wretches, who 

 affect to weep over what they call the cruelty of 

 drovers and butchers, and who, the next minute, 

 will devour parts of the animals with the blood 

 almost running out of the corners of their 

 mouths > and, which is a great deal worse, will 

 leave, without a sigh, those who toil upon their 

 estates, or in the country from which they draw 

 their means, to perish with hunger and with cold 

 and to suffer degradation and live on food, un- 

 known to the cattle in England. Animals are 

 fatted for the purpose of being killed ; to be 

 eaten they must be taken to the spot where the 

 eaters reside ; and in the taking them thither and 

 the killing of them, it is quite impossible to pre- 

 vent those occurrences in their treatment, of 

 which this sham humanity so ostentatiously com- 

 plains. But, the animals that labour are entitled 

 to great consideration from every one to whose 

 care they have, by circumstances, been commit- 

 f2 



