122 ON THE RftfHTS OF BEASTS. 



tern of extreme fenfibility ; and in order to 

 carry it to full perfection, it would become ne- 

 ceffary to build hofpitals for lice and fleas. It 

 is true, every cuftom, however ancient or uni- 

 verfally eftablifhed, ought to be fubjecl to the 

 tribunal of reafon ; and this, of killing and 

 feeding upon the flefh of animals will, I appre- 

 hend, abide the fevered fcrutiny. Nature her- 

 felf, by rendering it neceflary, has eftablifhed the 

 legality of putting a period to harmful or ufelefs 

 exiftence ; (he has alfo eftablifhed the carnivo- 

 rous fyftem upon the fame foundation ; and the 

 pretended fuperior falubrity to man, of feeding 

 entirely upon the fruits of the earth, is war- 

 ranted by neither reafon nor experience. By 

 the fcheme of univerfal providence, the fervices 

 between man and beaft are intended to be re- 

 ciprocal ; and the greater part of the latter can 

 by no other means requite human labour and 

 care, than by the forfeiture of life. Were it 

 not permitted to man to deftroy animals, it is 

 evident they would overllock the earth ; and in 

 numberlefs cafes, it is an ac~l of mercy to take 

 their lives. 



Thus much for the theory of right, in ani- 

 mals ; which, 1 truil, will not be controverted 

 by thofe of found minds, and feeling hearts, to 

 whom this chapter is more particularly addreff- 

 ed. But the bare acknowledgment of the 

 right, will be but of fmall avail to the unfortu- 

 nate 



