poor little animal bears it all with patience, and 
without a groan ; and, conscious of his own imbe- 
cility, does not oiler even to move. 
Notwithstanding the stupid heaviness of his air, 
he may be educated with as much ease as any 
other animal ; and several have been brought up 
to perform, and exhibited as a show. In general, 
however, the poor animal is entirely neglected. 
Man despises this humble useful creature, whose 
efforts are exerted to please him, and whose ser- 
vices are too cheaply purchased. The horse is the 
only favourite, and upon him alone all expense and 
labour are bestowed. He is fed, attended, and 
stabled, while the ass is abandoned to the cruelty 
of the lowest rustics, or even to the sport of chil- 
dren, and, instead of gaining by the lessons he 
receives, is always a loser. He is conducted along 
by blows ; be is insulted by unnecessary stripes ; 
he is overloaded by the lazy ; and, being generally 
the property of the poor, he shares with them in 
their wants, and their distresses. Thus this faith- 
ful animal, which, were there no horses, would be 
the first of the quadruped kind in our esteem, is 
now considered as nothing ; his properties and 
qualifications being found in a higher degree else- 
where, he is entirely disregarded ; and, from being 
the second, he is degraded into one of the most 
useless of the domestic quadrupeds. 
For this reason, very little care has been taken 
to improve the breed ; it is suffered to degenerate ; 
and it is probable, that of all other animals this 
alone is rendered feebler and more diminutive, by 
being in a state of domestic servitude. The horse, 
the cow, and the sheep, are rendered larger by the 
assiduity of man ; the ass is suffered to dwindle 
every generation, and particularly in England, 
where, some have asserted, it is probable that, but 
for the medicinal qualities of its milk, the whole 
