THE HOUSE. 9 



Finding, then, that not only man, but birds and 

 flowers, as well as many things, intended perhaps 

 less for use than ornament, are capable of undei'- 

 going mutations of various kinds, it would be folly 

 to suppose that animals adapted and given to man 

 for his necessities, are not capable of similar changes 

 without detriment to their streno'th and constitution. 

 I', is true, that, like the plants before alluded to, those 

 animals would degenerate without proper care; but 

 the same all-seeing Providence that has so bounti- 

 fully provided these " creatures to our uses," has 

 also endowed us with reasoning faculties, so as to 

 enable us to reap the full advantage from them. 

 Although it is impossible to prevent the infirmities 

 of age, it is at ail events in our power to avoid or 

 protect the beasts of the field, sent as they are for 

 our good, from wanton or inconsiderate ill-treatment. 

 Much of tlieir present sufferings, without any maud- 

 lin sensibility, might be alleviated by the diffusion 

 of more knowledge on the subject amongst persons 

 who ought to feel interested in such matters. It is 

 our duty to use, not abuse, the creatures made for 

 our service, and for that purpose to avail ourselves 

 of any means best calculated to prolong their exist- 

 ence. Such must be, in fact, the wish of every re- 

 flecting man, who keeps, in particular, a horse, or 

 horses, not only from feelings of humanity, but slso 

 for the sake of profit ; and Vv-e niay feel assured that 

 in all cases, the best and wisest policy is to treat a 

 horse with kindness and gentleness. The tendency 

 to act wrong in this respect, ]iroceeds less from hard- 

 ness of heart than from the absence of competent 

 knowledge on the subject, as we have already hinted, 

 the mass of information concerning it being spread 

 over, or scattered through, so many extensive works, 

 that few people have leisure for the perusal of them. 



The best horsemen are to be found among noble- 

 men and gentlemen. They feel proud of the accom- 



