296 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



The DOG. 



THE fervices of this truly valuable creature have 

 been fo eminently ufeful to the domeftic interefts 

 of men in all ages, that to give the hiftory of the Dog 

 would be little lefs than to trace mankind back to their 

 original ftate of fimplicity and freedom, to mark the pro- 

 grefs of civilization through the various changes of the 

 world, and to follow attentively the gradual advancement 

 of that order which placed man at the head of the animal 

 world, and gave him a manifeffc fuperiority over every 

 part of the brute creation. 



If we confider for a moment the ftate of man without 

 the aid of this ufeful domeftic ; — with what arts fliall he 

 oppofe the numerous hofts of foes that furround him on 

 all fides, feeking every opportunity to encroach upon his 

 pofleffions, to deftroy his labours, or endanger his per- 

 fonal fafety ? or how (hall he bring into fubjec"tion fuch 

 as are neceftary for his well-being ? His utmoft vigilance 

 will not be fumcient to fecure him from the rapacity of 

 the one, nor his greateft exertions enable him to over- 

 come the fpeed of the other. To maintain his indepen- 

 dence, to infure his fafety, and to provide for his fup- 

 port, it was neceffary that fome one among the animals 

 fliould be brought over to his alhftance, whofe zeal and 

 fidelity might be depended on: And where, amidft all 

 the various orders of animated being, could one be found 

 fo entirely adapted to this purpofe ? where could one be 

 found fo bold, fo tradable, and fo obedient, as the Dog ? 

 — To confirm the truth of thefe obfervations, we need 

 only turn our attention to the prefent condition of thofe 

 nations not yet emerged from a ftate of barbarifm, where 

 the ufes of the Dog are but little known or attended to, 



