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particular duration of life assigned to different animals can form 

 no part of the objection; because, whatever that duration be, 

 whilst it remains finite and limited, it may always be asked, why it 

 it is no longer. The natural age of different animals varies from 

 a single day to a century of years. No account can be given of 

 this; nor could any be given, whatever other proportion of life 

 had obtained amongst them. The term of life in different animals 

 being the same as it is, the question is, what mode of taking it away 

 is the best even for the animal itself. 



" According to the established order of nature, the three methods 

 by which life is usually put an end to are acute diseases, decay, 

 and violence. The simple and natural life of brutes is not often 

 visited by acute distempers, nor could it be deemed an improve- 

 ment to their lot if they were. Let it be considered, therefore, 

 in what a condition of suffering and misery a brute animal is 

 placed which is left to perish by decay. In human sickness or 

 infirmity, there is the assistance of man's rational fellow creatures, 

 if not to alleviate his pains, at least to minister to his necessities, 

 and to supply the place of his own activity. A brute, in his wild 

 and natural state, does every thing for himself. When his strength 

 therefore, or his speed, or his limbs, or his senses fail him, he is 

 delivered over, either to absolute famine, or to the protracted 

 wretchedness of a life slowly wasted by the scarcity of food. Is 

 it then to see the world filled with drooping, superannuated, half- 

 starved, helpless, and unhelped animals, that you would alter the 

 present system of pursuit and prey ? This system is also to them 

 the spring of motion and activity on both sides. The pursuit of 

 its prey forms the employment, and appears to constitute the 



