10 



ADDRESS OF MR. LORIK'G. 



first step in agriculture, I have, of necessity, been led 

 to the consideration of the animals which support us in 

 our business, and are the active force of all husbandrv. 



Besides— I have regretted with you all, the necessary 

 absence of those old friends, whose presence has always 

 given the chiefest interest to our exhibitions, who have 

 given their name to our shows, and whose condition 

 tells as nothing else can, the story of soil and climate 

 and agriculture. The ravages of a dangerous distemper,, 

 which threatened to extend throughout our country, and 

 which nothing but the most energetic and decided 

 measures succeeded in checking and I hope removing^ 

 have appealed to our prudence, and the public exhibi- 

 tion of cattle has, for this reason, been almost universally 

 suspended.* Ouj: thoughts are directed therefore more 

 particularly to our cattle, because they are not here ;. 

 and out of consideration for their misfortunes and our 

 own, I propose to discuss our dumb companions in this 

 work, open as I may be to the charge of repeating a 

 " twice-told tale.'' 



The subjugation of the animal kingdom to the wants 

 and luxuries of man, constitutes one of the most inter- 

 esting chapters in the history of practical human 

 advancement. In the beginning, man was created " to 

 have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the 

 fowl of the air, and over the cattle f and when by his 

 " first disobedience'' he was obliged to resign the enjoy- 

 ment of reaping the spontaneous productions of the 

 earth, for an unequal contest with thorns and thistles, 

 ao decree went forth to release the " beasts of the field" 

 from their predestined bondage. The " bleating flocks'" 

 ivhich welcomed the dawn of creation; were sacrificed to 



