LONGEVITY. 215 



such attentions many have attained to a great age ; 

 but this is rather an artificial than a natural exist- 

 ence. Our herbivorous animals, being kept mostly 

 for profit, are seldom allowed to remain beyond ap- 

 proaching age; and when its advances trench upon 

 our emoluments by diminishing the supply of utility, 

 we remove them. The uses of the horse, though 

 time may reduce them, -are often protracted; and 

 our gratitude for past services, or interest in what 

 remains, prompts us to support his life by prepared 

 food, for easy digestion, or requiring little mastica- 

 tion ; and he certainly by such means attains to a 

 longevity probably beyond the contingencies of na- 

 ture. I have still a favourite pony for she has 

 been a faithful and able performer of all the duties 

 required of her in my service for upward of two- 

 and-twenty years and, though now above five-and- 

 twenty years of age, retains all her powers per- 

 fectly, without any diminution or symptom of de- 

 crepitude ; the- fineness of limb, brilliancy of eye, 

 and ardour of spirit, are those of the colt ; and, 

 though treated with no remarkable care, she has 

 never been disabled by the illness of a day, or sick- 

 ened by the drench of the farrier. With birds it is 

 probably the same as with other creatures ; and the 

 eagle, raven, parrot, &c., in a domestic state attain 

 great longevity ; and though we suppose them natu- 

 rally tenacious of life, yet, in a really wild state, 

 they would expire before the period which they at- 

 tain when under our attention and care. And this 

 is much the case with man, who probably outlives 

 most other creatures ; for though excess may often 

 shorten, and disease or misfortune terminate his 

 days, yet naturally he is a long-lived animal. His 

 * threescore years and ten' are often prolonged by 

 constitutional strength, and by the cares, the loves, 

 the charities of human nature. As the decay of his 

 powers awakens solicitude, duty and affection in- 



