DESTRUCTION OF ANIMALS. 405 
and liberal to the brute creation, than those with us 
in the south-west. 
Destruction of Animals.—The inconsiderate 
manner in which we destroy animals is deserving 
of great condemnation in the present boasted day 
of enlightened and philosophical refinement. In 
proportion as we enjoy this advantage of extended 
learning, shall we be expected to act with a becom- 
ing dignity and liberality towards God’s creatures,— 
equally worthy of life and the subjects of His 
consideration with ourselves as physical beings. 
Next in importance to the study of ourselves as 
moral agents, is the study of created matter and of 
the intentions of God relative to our conduct in the 
world as physical beings endowed with dominion 
over all others. Exercising this power hitherto to 
its utmost, and without discretion or judgment, 
temporary convenience has been at best the only 
result in many cases, and in others a permanent 
evil, the origin of which remaining hidden through 
prepossession and obstinate caprice. Many kinds 
of creatures ought by their natures to give place to 
the advancement of civilized man on his assumption 
of any new territories, and a great many also are 
destined to become his prey and continued suste- 
nance; but itis mere wanton caprice and cruelty in 
us, to take the lives of creatures which act not 
in the main inimical to our interests, and some- 
times even favourably towards them. ‘Thus, in 
my neighbourhood gamekeepers are suffered to 
kill Woodpeckers, Hedgehogs, Squirrels, Nightjars, 
Owls, &c. and there are persons sufficiently unmanly 
and cruel to shoot every sort of bird haunting their 
gardens during summer,—Flycatchers, Blackcaps, 
&c. &c. besides destroying every Toad, Slow-worm, 
and Snake, which crosses their paths. If due 
consideration were had, a great many kinds which 
at periods do us slight damage, would yet receive 
