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LXXIV. Some Speculations on the Analogy hetwten Man 

 and the Brute Creation. By Akthuu Mower, Esq. 



[No, HI.] 



±N endeavouring to prove that the lower animals possess 

 an intelieciuai priiici])le, whose powers and t'acidties answer 

 to the definition ot llie liunian soul ; 1 have, it is true, cited 

 only one insiance, and that of a domestic quadruped. I 

 conceive, however, that it it is satisfactorily shown, that 

 even one individual of the brute creation has displayed lu 

 its actions a power of perception, memory, intelligence, 

 and volition; and if at the same time it is. certain that 

 these powers and faculties c?,n be exerted only by some 

 principle essentially the same, or analogous to the soul of 

 niHii, then it must be a fact firmly established, that other, 

 animals besides our ovin species possess some such same 

 or analogous principle. 



It is not by simply attending to the more intricate actions 

 of the lower animals, that we alone discover signs of an in- 

 tellectual principle more independent in its operation than 

 the law of instinct; we must ascend yet higher: let us re- 

 flect on the passions and feelings which supply motives to 

 such actions, and we shall then be sensible of a closer ana- 

 logy between men and the brutes, than the pride of many 

 ot the former, peihaiis, will sufier them, to acknowledge. 

 Observe a Newfoundland dog plunge into tlie water, and, 

 seizing the hair of his drownnig niasier,draw him in safely 

 to the shore. Look at a terrier guarding lor ihree months 

 the remains of his benefaclor, his friend and companion, 

 who perished on a 'mountain. Shall we say that these ani- 

 mals acted mciily from instinct? from no other cause 

 than a certain blind impulse, and without any view to con- 

 sequences ? Shall we assert that Providence had so or- 

 ganized their frames, had so subjected them to the myste- 

 rious uncoturollablc iiiiiuence or a certain law, that they 

 could not have acted othetwije? Will the warmest advo- 

 cate tor the superiority of his species .deny, that in the first 

 iiistancc a dog fell as deeply, rea^oned as acutely, and 

 acted as xriseK^ as lie himself could have done? When the 

 little terrier lost his iviasier, is it tanciiul to suppose that 

 hi'j mind dwelt wit!) gratitude on the remembrance of a be- 

 nefaclor w ho had so oiteii fed, so Knderly caressed him i — 

 No : — he doubtless recalled lo his recuUection a thousand 

 acts ot kindness ; at the expiration of three months he was 

 t>till watching his remains: — and did not this creature di- 



\'oi. 38. J\o. 164. Dec. 181 I. Cc splay 



