120 ON THE RIGHTS OF BEASTS. 



by the fame paflions and affections which ani- 

 mate the human bread ; and does not he alfo, at 

 laft, mingle his dufl with ours, and in like man- 

 ner furrender up the vital fpark to the aggre- 

 gate, or fountain of intelligence? Is this Ipark, 

 or foul, to perifh becaufe it chanced to belong 

 to a beaft? Is it to become annihilate? Tell me, 

 learned philofophers, how that may polfibly 

 happen. 



If you deny unto beads their rights, and 

 abandon them to the fimple difcretion ol man, 

 in all cafes, without remedy, you defraud them 

 of thofe benefits and advantages, acceded to 

 them by nature herfelf, and commit a heinous 

 trefpafs againft her pofitive ordinances, as 

 founded on natural juftice. You deprive them, 

 in a great meafure, even of compaflion. But 

 previous to an attempt to vindicate the rights 

 of animals, it is no doubt necelfary to deter- 

 mine, fpecifically, in what they confift. They 

 arife then, fpontaneoufly, from the confcience, 

 or fenfe of moral obligation in man, who is in- 

 difpenfibly bound to beftow upon animals, in 

 return for the benefit he derives from their fer- 

 vices, " good and fufficient nourifhment, com- 

 fortable fhelter, and merciful treatment ; to 

 commit no wanton outrage upon their feelings, 

 whilfh alive, and to put them to the fpeedieft 

 and leaft painful death, when it mail be necef- 

 fary to deprive them of life." It is a lamenta- 

 ble 



