USEFULNESS OF ANIMALS TO MAN. 153 



were created before man ; but some cf them were ap- 

 parently endowed with their useful and valuable prop- 

 erties for his comfort and assistance ; for he had the 

 dominion of them consigned to him, and was commis- 

 sioned 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 con- 

 tinued his faithful and assiduous servants, contented 

 with their destiny, and submissive to his desires. He 

 gives them food and shelter in payment of service, at- 

 tending 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 

 enjoyment 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 labor and fatigue ; 

 and when their unhappy destiny consigns them to the 

 power of poverty and evil passions, what an accumula- 

 tion of misery and suffering do these wretched creatures 

 undergo! If these arguments have any foundation in 

 truth, it will appear, that animals are not necessarily 

 dependent on man, and generally derive no benefit from 

 their intercourse and association with him ; but that, in 

 conformity with original appointment, they aid him tq 

 acquire the enjoyments and accomplish the necessities 

 of civilized life. Yet there is one creature, that seems 

 designed by its natural habits to be the servant and de 

 pendant of man ; and of all that fall under his dominion, 

 not one receives an equal portion of his care, or is more 

 exempt from a life of exhaustion in his service. The 

 dog is fed with him, housed, and caressed ; associates 

 with him in his pleasures, is identified with and enjoys 

 them with his master; living with him, he acquires the 

 high bearing and freedom of his lord ; feels he is the 



