USEFULNESS OF ANIMALS TO MAN. 



apparent dependences of animals on man ; yet, if 

 we consider the relative situations of both, we shall 

 find them existing, with very few exceptions, inde- 

 pendent of him, and that he is more indebted to 

 them for their services than they are for his pro- 

 tection and support. Man from the earliest periods 

 began to subject the animal world to his dominion, 

 and avail himself of its properties and powers to 

 improve his own condition. As his wants or pro- 

 pensities occurred, he compelled to his aid such 

 animals as he could subdue, or were adapted to 

 his purposes. The chief objects for which we 

 require the aid of animals, are for food, clothing, 

 vigilance, and strength. Though the two former 

 are highly essential to our comforts, they are not 

 indispensable ; the vegetable world supplies them 

 in abundance to large portions of the inhabitants 

 of the globe, and the companionable qualities, 

 watchfulness, and swiftness of the dog might be 

 dispensed with. It is the strength of animals that 

 makes us sensible of our own weakness. By their 

 power we build our dwellings, effect an intercourse 

 with distant places, obtain much of our food, and 

 the fuel of our hearths : a state of civilization re- 

 quires, as an indispensable requisite, these things 

 and others, rendering most manifest our obligations 

 to the animal world. Animals were created before 

 man ; but some of them were apparently endowed 

 with their useful and valuable properties for his 

 comfort and assistance ; for he had the dominion 

 of them consigned to him, and was commissioned 



