USEFULNESS OF ANIMALS TO MAN. 217 



to subdue them. Having used their products for 

 food and 'clothing, conjointly with the fruits and 

 seeds of the vegetable world, and their bodies for 

 the carriage of his burdens, after a long age of 

 abstinence he began to feed on their flesh ; and 

 they have continued his faithful and assiduous ser- 

 vants, contented with their destiny, and submissive 

 to his desires. He gives them food and shelter in 

 payment of service, attending them with diligence 

 and care : all this may be for his own emolument 

 and pleasure, yet the well-being of the creature, 

 had it continued wild, would not have required it : 

 most of them live longer, and have more enjoy- 

 ment, in a wild and unreclaimed state, than when 

 domesticated with him. By art, and for profit, he 

 has in many instances altered the very nature of 

 the animal, and created ailments, rendering his 

 cares and attentions necessary, which in a state of 

 nature are not required. The lives of many of 

 them, even when subjected to the best of treatment, 

 are consumed with labour and fatigue ; and when 

 their unhappy destiny consigns them to the power 

 of poverty and evil passions, what an accumulation 

 of misery and suffering do these wretched creatures 

 undergo ! If these arguments have any foundation 

 in truth, it will appear, that animals are not neces- 

 sarily dependent on man, and generally derive no 

 benefit from their intercourse and association with 

 him ; but that, in conformity with original appoint- 

 ment, they aid him to acquire the enjoyments and 

 accomplish the necessities of civilized life. Yet 



