OF THE BRUTE CREATION. 
667 
the air, and the water, and over the earth, until not an atom of it 
can be identified, the living principle is still safe in the keeping of 
the Eternal One, to whom endless duration is one simple and indi- 
visible now. 
This brings us to the philosophical proof of the doctrine of “ the 
immortality of the brute creation.” The only knowledge that we 
can have of mind, bears a very close resemblance to our abstract 
notion of matter ; and, as it is utterly inconsistent with our views 
and notions of mind to suppose it capable of any dissolution, there 
is really no species of death to which mind can be subjected. It 
must, therefore, be very palpable to the understanding of every one 
who can think, that one created spirit can no more annihilate ano- 
ther, than one material body can turn another material body into 
nothing. “ Nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it,” 
said the Inspired Writer. No creature can create or add any 
thing to God’s work, nor annihilate the least particle of it. Creation 
and annihilation are acts eternally and incomprehensibly far out of 
the reach of any being, except God himself. Amidst the perpe- 
tual transformations and changes that are going forward throughout 
universal nature in all its departments, no particle of matter is ever 
lost, or reduced to nothing. Is it not, then, very improbable that the 
reasoning principle in animals can ever be destroyed 1 If annihi- 
lation forms no part of the plan of the Creator in the material 
world, it must be inconsistent to suppose that a system of annihi- 
lation is in incessant operation in the world of mind. 
[To be continued.] 
REPORT BY THE ROYAL AND CENTRAL SOCIETY OF 
AGRICULTURE ON THE MEMOIRS AND CASES PRE- 
SENTED BY CERTAIN VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
The Royal and Central Society of Agriculture in Paris stands 
first in the numerous lists of associations of this description with 
which every part of France abounds. It is established and sup- 
ported by the government of that country. It has, from the begin- 
ning, wisely considered every thing connected with agriculture as 
deserving its attention. The flocks and herds of the farmer con- 
stitute a very important portion of his wealth ; and to lengthen the 
services of the horse and the ox, and to heal or prevent the nume- 
rous diseases to which these animals are subject, are regarded, and 
wisely, by the Central Society and all its affiliated branches, as an 
object worthy of their most serious attention. 
This Society has, therefore, been in the habit of offering annually 
