462 
CRUELTY TO HORSES. 
ish, yet we believe, when it is traced in all its directions, the 
most rational, the only true ground, how shall we best derive from 
our quadruped servants the advantage their subjugation affords 
us? It would need no laboured detail to shew that humanity and 
interest would here go hand in hand :—that the advantage which 
we derive from our slaves would be commensurate with the care 
we took to put them in a condition to labour; to maintain them in 
that condition ; to give them the disposition willingly to exert 
themselves for us; to tax them not beyond their natural powers; 
to restrain our own occasional ill temper, which would lead us to 
transgress the rules which self-interest had established, and 
which might gradually form in us a habit of passion or cruelty in¬ 
consistent with these rules; to restrain deviations from them in 
others, and, for the same reason, lest habits should be formed in¬ 
consistent with the general interest, and bad example should give 
them extension; and by degrees to associate with this principle of 
interest the aid of feeling, a feeling honourable and pleasing, ay, 
and beneficial too—the feeling of humanity. 
It would be difficult to point out a departure from this feeling 
which would not be prejudicial to the interest of the individual or 
society ; and if so, which the voice of society and the laws of society 
ought not to restrain. It would be difficult to imagine a single 
instance of cruelty to any animal which would not call for imme¬ 
diate restraint or punishment, on account of the injury done to 
the individual or society, and the greater mischief which might 
result from the influence of bad example. 
The laws relating to animals turn, and properly turn, on this 
principle ; for it is a principle sufficiently extensive for every hu¬ 
mane purpose, if legislators would make it so. The rights and 
comforts of the brute would be perfectly comprehended in the 
rights and welfare of society. We may hereafter take occasional 
opportunity to shew the application of this principle to particular 
cases; its wide extent, and yet its natural limits; its beneficial 
operation, and the strange neglect of the advantages that might 
be derived from it: at present, we limit ourselves to the bearing 
of the principle or law of humanity on the conduct of our pro¬ 
fession. 
