THS DOG. 41 



gar by his clothes, his voice, or his gestures, and ge- 

 nerally forbids his approach with marks of anger. At 

 night, when the guard of the house is committed to 

 his care, he seems proud of the charge : he continues 

 a watchful sentinel, goes his rounds, scents strangers 

 at a distance, and, by barking, gives them notice of 

 his being upon duty: if they attempt to break in 

 upon his territories, he becomes fiercer, threatens, 

 flies at them, fights, and either conquers alone, or 

 alarms those who have most interest in coming to his 

 assistance : however, when lie has obtained a victory, 

 he quietly reposes upon the spoil, and abstains from 

 what he has deterred others from abusing. 



Hence we see of what importance this animal is to 

 us in a state of nature. Supposing fora moment that 

 the species had not existed, how could man (without 

 the assistance of the dog) have been able to conquer, 

 tame, and reduce to servitude, every other animal? 

 How could he discover, chase, arid destroy, those that 

 were noxious to him ? In order to be secure, and be- 

 come master of all animated nature, it was necessary 

 for him to begin, by making a friend of part of them, 

 to attach such of them to himself, by kindness and ca- 

 resses, as seemed fittest for obedience and active pur- 

 suit. Thus, the first art employed by man was in 

 conciliating the favour of the dog; and the fruit of 

 this art was the peaceable possession of the earth. 



The generality of animals have greater agility, 

 greater swiftness, and more formidable arms from na- 

 ture than man ; their senses, and particularly that of 



