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department is assigned, special attention and honor 

 have always been given to the Hog. While the ox, the 

 horse, the sheep, and the other varieties of the animal 

 kingdom are dismissed with a brief notice, or if comment- 

 ed upon at any length,solely discussed Avith reference to 

 their practicable and serviceable qualities, a higher flight 

 is expected frOm the Chairman of the Committee upon 

 Swine ; and he is permitted, nay, even expected to bor- 

 row from history, poetry and romance, whatever may be 

 best fitted to dignify and emboli isli his subject. It is 

 expected that poetical justice shall be done the Hog 

 on such occasions ; and that he shall be vindicated from 

 the ignominy and unjust rej^roach which the vulgar 

 and unenlightened are sometimes wont to cast upon 

 him ; and that he shall be exhibited in the full light of 

 his many admirable qualities and virtues. 



Nor, indeed, if we reflect upo"a the history of the Hog^ 

 and consider the important part which he has played at 

 different times upon the stage of the world's action, 

 should these tokens of special honor be wondered at 

 Under the Mosaic dispensation, he was specially 

 exempted from the ignominious lot to which the rest of 

 the animal kingdom was subjected; and while the ox, 

 the sheep, the horse, and their kindred varieties were 

 forced to minister to the comfort and support of man, 

 the Hog in luxurious and honorable ease, attained the 

 summit of felicity and years ; and brought a long and 

 happy life to a natural and befitting close. It is true 

 that the great law giver, to whose tenderness the Hog 

 was indebted for this great immunity, cunningly 

 clothed his favor under the garb of an ex-communication 

 or ban, shrewdly pretending that the animal is unclean; 



