USEFULNESS OF ANIMALS TO MAN. 
153 
were created before man ; but some of them were ap- 
parently endowed with their useful and valuable prop- 
erties for his comfort and assistance ; for he had the 
dominion of them consigned to him, and was commis- 
sioned to subdue them. Having used their products 
for food and clothing, conjointly with the fruits and 
seeds of the vegetable world, and their bodies for the 
carriage of his burdens, after a long age of abstinence 
he began to feed on their flesh ; and they have con- 
tinued his faithful and assiduous servants, contented 
with their destiny, and submissive to his desires. He 
gives them food and shelter in payment of service, at- 
tending them with diligence and care : all this may be 
for his own emolument and pleasure, yet the well-being 
of the creature, had it continued wild, would not have 
required it : most of them live longer, and have more 
enjoyment in a wild and unreclaimed state, than when 
domesticated with him. By art, and for profit, he has 
in many instances altered the very nature of the animal, 
and created ailments, rendering his cares and attentions 
necessary, which in a state of nature are not required. 
The lives of many of them, even when subjected to the 
best of treatment, are consumed with labor and fatigue ; 
and when their unhappy destiny consigns them to the 
power of poverty and evil passions, what an accumula- 
tion of misery and suffering do these wretched creatures 
undergo ! If these arguments have any foundation in 
truth, it will appear, that animals are not necessarily 
dependent on man, and generally derive no benefit from 
their intercourse and association with him ; but that, in 
conformity with original appointment, they aid him to 
acquire the enjoyments and accomplish the necessities 
of civilized life. Yet there is one creature, that seems 
designed by its natural habits to be the servant and de- 
pendant of man ; and of all that fall under his dominion, 
not one receives an equal portion of his care, or is more 
exempt from a life of exhaustion in his service. The 
dog is fed with him, housed, and caressed ; associates 
with him in his pleasures, is identified with and enjoys 
them with his master ; living with him, he acquires the 
high bearing and freedom of his lord ; feels he is the 
