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I!) 



Brute, us of the operations of intelligence, and the labours 

 u-v _ of ingenuity. It might perhaps be thought thut 

 they approach nearer to man in affection than in un- 

 derstanding ; but the symptoms of their attachment 

 to one another are generally of a very different cha- 

 racter from the indications of human kindness. The 

 rr(y of the dam for her brood operates only so 

 long as they require her assistance and protection, 

 and from the moment when they become indepen- 

 dent, \vc .,n- the cu-ature which fostered her young 

 o tenderly, ar;d blieltered them so vigilantly under 

 the covert of her wings, *' hardening herself against 

 them as though they were not hers." How differ- 

 ent from that maternal fondness in the human species, 

 which no lapse of time can ever detach from those 

 who were once caressed as babes and suckliugs ! The 

 most pernjai ent attachments of other animals appear 

 to be those which are acquired. Some of them are 

 highly susceptible of gratitude ; and we would not 

 easily give credit to an account of a dog deserting 

 a master by whom he had been affectionately treated, 

 however great the extremity of danger by which he 

 might be threatened. A sense of shame, and a spi- 

 rit of emulation, are likewise deeply rooted in some 

 of them ; and that they are subject to jealousy, has 

 been affirmed by many authors. " Ammalia (says 

 Lud. Vives) qucedam zdotypia tanguntur, ut olores, 

 eohtmbae, galli, tauri, oli metum coinmunionis." 

 Every one who attends to the domestic animals must 

 have observed proofs of resentment and envy when 

 there is any appearance of too liberal a share of par- 

 tiality being bestowed on a new favourite. With 

 the exception of beasts of prey in their natural state, 

 all animals arc eminently social ; and some of them 

 are capable of combining in great bodies for the ac- 

 complishment of ends which could not be attained in 

 a state of separation. The beaver and the bee are 

 the most remarkable instances of such a union ; but, 

 in addition to these instinctive associations, we ob- 

 serve attachments taking place occasionally among 

 creatures of very dissimilar characters and habits. 

 There appears, however, to be no evidence that brutes 

 are actuated by any moral impressions, or that they 

 can discern between what is good and evil in con- 

 duct. They may be incited by hope, or deterred by 

 the apprehension of punishment they may be de- 

 pressed by disappointment and sorrow, or elevated 

 by gladness, as in the case of recognising an ac- 

 quaintance after a considerable period of absence. 

 They express these feelings by sounds which are in- 

 telligible, but only to their own species ; and they 

 seem to understand the various notes of sadness, 

 threatening, displeasure, commiseration, and endear. 

 ment, uttered by man and by other creatures. They 

 seem frequently to be moved with sympathy ; and 

 though there is perhaps more fancy than nature in 

 Virgil's description, it is certain that some animals 

 are capable of mourning the death of men : 



Port bfltator eyuw*. potitia insignibut, JEtkon, 

 It Licrynant, guttittjve hvmectat grandibiu ora. 



xi. 



Up* the whole, hewever, we may conclude, that 



B R U 



the difference between the human and the brutal con- 

 stitution, is a difference of kind as well as of de- 

 gree. See Arittot. ; JElium Hut. Animal. C. Plio. 

 DC Animal. &c. (A) 



BRUTON, or BHKWTOWN, the name of a mar. 

 kct town in the county of tiomerw t, situated tiear 

 tin- head of the river Brew, over which there M a 

 stone bridge. The town is pleasantly situated and 

 well built. It consists chiefly of three streets, in 

 the centre of which is the market-place. In the 

 high-street is the market-house, which wan bu:lt by 

 a subscription of the farmers who frequented the 

 town. Over the market-house is a spacious hall, in 

 which the quarter sessions for the eastern division 

 of the county are sometimes held. The church is 

 handsome building, and has two quadrangular towers, 

 one at the north, and the other at the west aisle. 

 There is also a free school at Bruton, founded by 

 Edward IV., and a noble aims house, endowed by 

 Hugh SuXi-y, Esq. auditor to Queen Elizabeth. 

 Its annual income is about L..2500. The old hex- 

 agonal market-cross, which was lately removed, was 

 supported by six pillars at the angles, and a large 

 one in the centre. It was 18 feet high, and was built 

 by John Ely, the last abbot of Bruton. The only 

 manufactures of the town are, a small one of stock- 

 ings and inferior kinds of woollen goods, and ano- 

 ther of silk throwing, which is performed by ma- 

 chinery. Number of houses 333. Population in 1801, 

 1631, of whom 180 were returned as employed in 

 trade and manufactures. See Maton's Tour tnrougk 

 the Western Counties, vol. ii. ; and Collinson's Histo- 

 ry of Somersetshire, vol. i. ( *) 



BRUTUS, Lucius JUNIUS, was a son of Marcus 

 Junius and Tarquinia, daughter of Tarquin the 

 Proud. His name was held in great veneration by 

 the Romans, who regarded him as the author of their 

 liberties, and founder of the Roman republic ; and, 

 as commonly happens, this veneration, aided by anti- 

 quity, has caused too much of the marvellous to be 

 admitted into his history. Livy informs us, that 

 Brutus, having seen the chiefs of the city, and among 

 them his brother, cut off by the tyrant, resolved to 

 save himself if possible from the jealousy of Tarquin, 

 by allowing his property to be alienated without op- 

 position, and by assuming such a character of stupi- 

 dity, and even fatuity, as gained him the name of 

 Brutus among his countrymen. Notwithstanding 

 when Tarquin, alarmed at the portent of a serpent 

 in the palace, resolved to send confidential messenger* 

 to consult the oracle at Delphos, Brutus was chose* 

 to accompany two of his sons on an errand which 

 was held of the greatest import, and in a voyage 

 which must have appeared at that time long and cri- 

 tical. It is added, that Brutus, in allusion to his dis- 

 guise of his true character, made an offer to Apollo 

 of a staff of gold inclosed in a wooden tube ; and 

 that when in reply to the enquiry of the Tarquins, 

 " which of them should reign in Rome ?" a voice 

 issued from the cave, which declared, " that he should 

 have the supreme authority at Rome who should first 

 salute his mother with a kiss." Brutus, in order to 

 determine the accomplishment of the oracle upon 

 himself, fell to the earth as if by accident, and sal. 



