220 USEFULNESS OF ANIMALS TO MAN. 



apparent dependences of animals on man ; yet, if 

 we consider the relative situations of both, we shall 

 find them existing, with very few exceptions, inde- 

 pendent of him, and that he is more indebted to 

 them for their services, than they are for his pro- 

 tection and support. Man from the earliest pe- 

 riods began to subject the animal world to his 

 dominion, and avail himself of its properties and 

 powers to improve his own condition. As his wants 

 or propensities occurred, he compelled to his aid 

 such animals as he could subdue, or were adapted 

 to his purposes. The chief objects for which we 

 require the aid of animals are for food, clothing, 

 vigilance, and strength. Though the two former 

 are highly essential to our comforts, they are not 

 indispensable ; the vegetable world supplies them 

 in abundance to large portions of the inhabitants of 

 the globe, and the companionable qualities, watch- 

 fulness, and swiftness of the dog might be dis- 

 pensed with. It is the strength of animals that 

 makes us sensible of our own weakness. By their 

 power we build our dwellings, effect an intercourse 

 with distant places, obtain much of our food, and 

 the fuel of our hearths : a state of civilization re- 

 quires, as an indispensable requisite, these things 

 and others, rendering most manifest our obligations 

 to the animal world. Animals were created before 

 man ; but some of them were apparently endowed 

 with their useful and valuable properties for his 



