126 ON THE RIGHTS OF BEASTS. 



The manners of a people are necefiarily formed 

 by the government under which they live ; and 

 an injunction proceeding from fuch high au- 

 thority, in fupport of natural juftice, and in fa- 

 vour of the helplefs and unoffending part of 

 the creation, would, in procefs of time, have 

 the happieil influence upon the feelings and 

 moral conduct, of men. It would be the firft 

 ftep towards thofe auxiliary meafures necefiary 

 to render the fyftem of humanity effeclual and 

 complete ; which are, to make the rights of 

 beafts a material branch of education, and to 

 afford a fanction to thofe who are emulous to 

 ftand forward volunteers in the noble caufe of 

 juftice and mercy. 



It is now necefiary to attend to the practical 

 part of the fubjecl, to adduce fuch examples as 

 experience and recollection may fuggeft, and to 

 afford fuch hints, as 1 hope, I may flatter my- 

 felf will produce fome fmall tendency towards 

 the defired reformation. I have been by no 

 means unmindful, from the beginning of this 

 chapter, of the cenfure and ridicule to which I 

 am expofmg myfelf from the indolent, the pre- 

 judiced, and the naturally hard-hearted ; and it 

 is pleafant to reflect, that without doubt, fuch 

 have already in their ideas, provided me, with a 

 fnug corner in the holy temple of Methodifrr. 

 But I afiure myfelf, that the humane and phi- 

 lofophic will fupport, with their countenance, 



the 



