354 PECULIAR GIFT OF MAN. 



of creation. * * * Everything will seem to be conscious 

 of its use, and every man will become conscious of the use of 

 everything." 



This consciousness on the part of animals the writer supposes 

 to be more than instinctive ; but however we opine their instinct 

 to be leavened now and likely to be further mixed with rea- 

 son or some resembling ingredient, we can never imagine them 

 to possess now, or be likely to acquire, one grain of such self- 

 consciousness as is indicated by the power of self-contemplation. 

 This gift of capability to look inwards on ourselves, and, in so 

 doing, of looking towards the Great Centre and Source of life 

 and mind within us this, with all the high improvabilities and 



moral responsibilities it involves, is what we must consider as 





 the most palpable as well as the proudest of all distinctions 



between ourselves and the lower orders of creation. Far be 

 it from us, then, to entertain or to propound the startling sup- 

 position that animals (however improvable or improved their 

 natures) are likely ever to become moral agents. 



We dare, nevertheless, to confess our leaning to, more pro- 

 perly our holding with, the opinion of a few (men intelligent 

 and good), that it is not with the frames that enclose them 

 whether of elephant or emmet that animal intelligence and 

 affection are destined to perish. For the thousands of crea- 

 tures, with natures formed for enjoyment, yet existing here only 

 to groan under the cruel tyranny of man, we must and do 

 contemplate a freer and happier state. 



