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celebrated Dr. Johnson, who, although a giant in literature, was 

 a p/;/-my in politeness. 



That the hog has some weaknesses, your Committee are prepar- 

 ed to admit, but they are more than counterbalanced by his 

 virtues. In Cincinnati, and other jjork cities of the west, the 

 noble qualities of the hog are acknowledged. The people have 

 studied his character, bear witness to his worth, and almost iden- 

 tify him with the human species. It is even said that the children 

 in Cincinnati learn to squeal before they begin to talk ; and one 

 of the editors, when the question of prohibiting hogs from peram- 

 bulating the streets was brought before the City Council, manifest- 

 ed great indignation. " It is," said he, " a violation of our dear- 

 est personal privileges." 



A learned pundit has happily remarked, that if brains be the 

 measure of intellect, as phrenologists assert, a hog must be the 

 wisest of created animals, for the smallest and most insignificant 

 of the race can boast of a hogs-head full of brains, at the very 

 least ! And this may be the reason why Martin Luther, the re- 

 former, whenever he was troubled with a "fit of the blues," 

 would rush out among the pigs, and hold with those intellectual 

 animals, on his part, a silent conversation. Their happy coun- 

 tenances, vocal rejoicings, and good-natured grunts, exercised a 

 soothing influence on the spirits of this learned theologian, and 

 soon restored his mind to its Avonted vigor. 



It is recorded in history that a flock of geese once saved the 

 Roman Capital. But history is proved by modern documents, to 

 abound more in fables than in facts. It is far more likely that 

 the saviors of Rome were a " drove of sunne^^'' who, lounging 

 around the brow of the precipice, discovered the daring Gauls as 

 they were climbing up the Capitoline hill, and stimulated by the 

 true spirit of patriotism, set up such a squall, or rather squeal, as 

 not only to alarm the sleepy guard, but to strike a panic terror 

 into the souls of the invaders. 



Nor is this the only case in which the hog, by his wisdom and 

 intelligence, has proved useful to man. In ships on the broad 

 ocean, may often be witnessed his sagacity in predicting a storm, 

 and the emphatic and peculiar manner — peering over the bows, 

 snuffing the wind and gambolling about the decks — by which he 

 proclaims the important intelligence. Every ship should be pro- 

 vided with one of these animal barometers. 



jNIany instances might be cited where the alarm-evg of the hog 

 has proved of signal service to individuals, as well as to nations 

 and communities. It is related that a " down-east coaster," 

 during a thick fog, was once at anchor near the mouth of the Pe- 

 nobscot, when the vigilant skipper heard the creaking of blocks 

 and other noises, which ]»lainly indicated that some large vessel 

 was coming down upon him before the Avind. lie had neither 

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