52 n 
ON THE INTELLECTUAL AND 
they break down a barrier which Providence lias placed between ns 
and the brutes. We like to study the animal in the situation in 
which nature placed him, or designed him to be placed; and to 
observe in their natural and useful exercise, all the elements of 
reason, ay, and all the motives and feelings worthy of a rational 
creature ;—to observe not only attention and memory, and reflec¬ 
tion and judgment, but a consciousness of truth and duty, affec¬ 
tion, gratitude, disinterestedness, devotedness. We have a 
stronger power of attention than is bestowed upon them ; a more 
comprehensive language, extending not merely to our animal 
wants, but to all our reflections and feelings : we have the ability 
to register our acquirements and impressions, and to derive our 
most important knowledge from the experience, and teachings, 
and traditions of others, and that in every age of the world ; and, 
above all, in every age and in every clime, we have had deeply 
imprinted upon our minds the consciousness of the existence of 
a Supreme Being, and of our accountableness to him. These 
are the circumstances which have given us, or ought to have 
given us, our decided superiority, and have placed us at the head 
of the creation. 
Dr. Abell, in one of his lectures on phrenology, relates a sin¬ 
gular instance both of the generosity and reasoning powers of 
the Newfoundland dog. When this dog left his master’s house, 
he was often assailed by a number of little noisy dogs in the 
street. He usually passed them with apparent unconcern, as if 
they were beneath his notice ; but one little cur was particularly 
troublesome, and at length carried his impudence so far as to 
bite the Newfoundland dog in the leg. This was a degree of 
wanton insult beyond what he could patiently endure; and he in¬ 
stantly turned round, ran after the offender, and seized him by 
the skin of the back. In this way he carried him in his mouth 
to the quay, and holding him some time over the water, at length 
dropped him into it. He did not, however, seem to design that 
the culprit should be punished capitally ; and he waited a little 
while, until the poor animal, who was unused to that element, was 
not only well ducked but near sinking, when he plunged in, and 
brought him out safe to land.” * 
Dr. Hancock, in his excellent u Essay on Instinct,” quotes this 
anecdote, and very appropriately adds, “It would be difficult to 
