7 o REMARKS on LAP-DOGS, 
fed, and the kind intentions of providence perverted ! Thus we 
may fometimes fee a fine lady, ad as if fhe thought the dog, 
which happens to be under her precious care, is incomparably 
of more value, in her eyes, than a human creature, which is un- 
der the care of any other perfon, or perad venture, under no care 
at all. From hence we may conclude, that an immoderate love 
of a brute animal, tho’ it may not dedroy a charitable difpofi- 
tion, yet it often weakens the force of it. Where u the milk of 
human kindness,” where the choiceft powers of humanity pre- 
vail mod, there moil care ought to be taken to find the proper 
objed of them, left this difpofition, excellent and admirable in 
itfelf, fhould degenerate into a foolifh and abfurd tendernefs, or 
an undiftinguifhing regard for the noblest or vilest of god’s 
creatures. 
We fometimes fee infiances, where cruelty is fhewn to all the 
animated works of the almighty, except half a dozen birds, 
and as many four-footed beads. Betty and john are confi- 
dered as inferior beings to tabby and pompey. The codly 
chicken is ordered for the cat or dog, by her who never thinks 
of giving a morfel of bread to relieve the hunger of a man. 
This is drange ; but it fometimes happens to thofe who permit 
their affedions to take a wrong bias ! 
We are told that a merciful man is merciful to his bead. 
This conveys more fenfe than we are generally aware of ; and 
fhews the contradidions there are in the charader and condud 
of nations, as well as private men. In great Britain we com- 
pliment ourfelves, and perhaps judly, with the reputation of 
3 g reat 
