THE LION. 169 



side, and tear him to pieces. The flesh of the lion is 

 said to have a strong and disagreeable flavour, but, 

 however, it is frequently eaten by the negroes ; and 

 the grease, which is of a penetrating nature, is of use 

 for medical jmrposes. 



The Moors use the skin of the lion as quilts for 

 their beds. It is said to have the remarkable pro- 

 perty of keeping rats or mice out of any room where 

 it is deposited, for a considerable length of time after 

 it is taken from the animal. 



I have now, my dear Sir, conducted you in your 

 range through the deserts and the forests to survey 

 that ferocious tribe of animals, which are terrible 

 to man, as well as other creatures. In these, as in all 

 others, the power of the Creator is conspicuous, al- 

 thounh exhibited in forms of terror. This quc.snou 

 may here naturally arise : How is it consistent with 

 infinite goodness, that animals should devour one an- 

 other, siiul be supported at the expence of one an* 

 other's lives? To judge whether this system of pre- 

 rhice.ous violence among animals can oven, according 

 lo our limited view of the consequences, be deemed 

 a real evil, we onght to take the following cireum- 

 sta)X?es into consideration. 



In the present, state of things immortality w out of 

 the question : the universal law of nature on'.ains, that 

 whatever lives must die; and it does not appear that 

 1 tie Alteration of this la\r could add to the happiness 

 of the animated creation. To man, the present lite, 

 in which evil is invariably mixed with good, is only 

 probationary, and preparatory to another and a hap- 

 pier state of existence, where <*vil shall be excluded, 

 and felicity be permanent and without alloy. To 

 oilier creatures life is a blessing, which they enjoy 

 for a lime without any apprehension of its termina- 

 tion, or any anxiety for future occurrences. The pre- 

 sent moment limits the sphere of their -pleasures and 

 their pains, as \\ell as the extent of their hopes and 

 their fears. The system of prey among animals, iik 

 the impulse of interest among men, is a spring of ac- 

 tivity and motion : pursuit forms the employment, and 

 i 



