280 



HISTORY OF 



from their annoyance ; and the most beautiful landscapes of na- 

 ture only serve to invite their rapacity. As these are injurious, 

 from their multitudes, so most of the larger kinds are equally 

 dreadful to him from their courage and ferocity. In the most 

 uncultivated parts of the forest these maintain an undisputed 

 empire ; and man invades their retreats with terror. These are 

 dreadful -, and there are still more which are utterly useless to 

 him, that serve to take up the room which more beneficial crea- 

 tures might possess ; and incommode him rather with their num- 

 bers than their enmities. Thus, in a catalogue of iand-animals, 

 that amounts to more than twenty thousand, we can scarcely 

 reckon up a hundred that are any way useful to him ; the rest 

 being either all his open or his secret enemies, immediately attack- 

 ing him in person, or intruding upon that food he has appro- 

 priated to himself. Vegetables, on the contrary, though exist 

 ing in greater variety, are but few of them noxious. The most 

 deadly poisons are often of great use in medicine ; and even 

 those plants that only seem to cumber the ground, serve for 

 food to the race of animals which he has taken into friendship 

 or protection. The smaller tribes of vegetables, in particular, 

 are cultivated, as contributing either to his necessities or amuse- 

 ment ; so that vegetable life is as much promoted by human 

 industry, as animal life is controlled and diminished. 



Hence it was not without a long struggle, and various com- 

 binations of experience and art that man acquired bis present 

 dominion. Almost every good that he possesses was the result 

 of the contest ; for, every day, as he was contending, he was 

 growing more wise : and patience and fortitude were the fruits 

 of his industry. 



Hence, also, we see the necessity of some animals linng 

 upon each other, to iiil up the plan of Providence ; and we may, 

 consequently, infer the expediency of man's living upon all. 

 Both animals and vegetables seem equally fitted to his appetites ; 

 and, were any religious or moral motives to restrain him from 

 taking away life, upon any account, he would only thus give 

 existence to a variety of beings made to prey upon each other ; 

 End, instead of preventing, multiply mutual destruction. 



