MAN'S RELATION TO ANIMALS. 353 



In speaking of animal natures in connection with our own, 

 we cannot forbear extract of a few remarks bearing on the 

 subject, by an American writer who has broached some new 

 and intelligent ideas on the development of mind. 



He considers (this, however, but in common with other 

 thinkers) that " the character of all the lower orders of creation 

 has suffered a change in consequence of that in the condition 

 of man, the extent of which cannot be measured." 



Eelative to poetry, as the language of things, not words, he 

 observes : 



"Everything which surrounds us is full of the utterance of 

 one word completely expressive of its nature. This word is its 

 name, for God even now (could we but see it) is creating all 

 things, and giving a name to every work of his love, in its 

 perfect adaptation to that for which it is designed. But man 

 has abused his power, and has become insensible to the real 

 character of the brute creation, still more so to that of inani- 

 mate nature, because, in his selfishness, he is disposed to reduce 

 them to slavery. 



" We find the animal world either in a state of savage 

 wildness or enslaved submission. It is possible, that as the 

 character of man is changed they may attain a midway con- 

 dition removed from both. As the mind of man acknowledges 

 its dependence on the Divine Mind, brutes may add to their 

 instinct submission to human reason, preserving an unbroken 

 chain from our Father in heaven to the most inanimate parts 



