ON THE RIGHTS OF BEASTS. l6l 



means to embitter the miferable remnant of its 

 exiftence : and yet this is the lefTon which our 

 youth are taught ! 



Let us not regret a fmall additional trouble 

 which we may incur, by doing juftice to beads, 

 through which we reap fuch immenfe benefits, 

 were it only, becaufe it is natural for us to ex- 

 pect, juftice ourfelves, both here and hereafter. 

 Virtus in atlione confijlit; and when we give up 

 ourfelves to the fuggeftions of mean and fordid 

 indolence, life becomes a ftagnant pool, and 

 we defeat its firft and grandeft purpofes. Nor 

 let any one fuppofe this fubje£t to be trifling, 

 and of no importance ; it has exercifed the abi- 

 lities of fome of the greatefl men, both of an- 

 cient and modern times : nor yet let us defpair 

 of inculcating into the fufceptible minds of Eng- 

 lifhmen, the inferior duties of humanity ; fince 

 we know they have long fince found admiflion 

 into the hearts of fome of thofe nations whom 

 we ftyle barbarous and favage. The Afiatics, 

 in general, but particularly the Arabians, have 

 been long renowned for their kind and merci- 

 ful treatment of beads; thefe laft feldom or 

 never correct their Horfes, either with whip or 

 fpur ; but carefs and reafon with them, as ani- 

 mals which they perceive to be endowed with 

 a large portion of the reafoning faculty. Hence, 

 in a great meafure (as has been already ob- 

 ferved) the fuperior docility, generofity, and 



vol. i. m affection 



