belonging to Mr. Thomas Richdale, Kigworth, had, in the year 1797, produced three hundred and fifty-five pigs, in twenty litters. The editor, who states these facts in a note to Goldsmith's Animated Nature, mentions, at the same time, an instance of a sow, bred near Donaghadee, which, in the course of nine months, brought its owner, by its produce, within a few shillings of eighty pounds of profit.

The remarkable fecundity of this animal, the nutritious nature of its flesh, in temperate climates, and the ease with which it is reared and fed, point it out as a valuable possession for the poor. Let the consumption be what it may, there will always be an ample supply for the demand. In the country, there are few families that cannot rear at least one pig every year, and thus obtain a cheap and nutritious diet, not to mention the profit arising from the lard, fat, &c., of the animal. Or, if the peasantry are too poor to raise a pig for their own subsistence, they can, at least, by its sale, procure a sufficient sum to enable them to pay their house-rent, and even, in addition, to purchase some necessaries; and, in fact, in very many of the rural districts of England, this is the manner in which the laboring poor contrive to keep the family roof over their heads. The hog is, indeed, peculiarly and emphatically, the poor man's domestic animal.

ELEVENTH WEEK-THURSDAY.

THICK-SKINNED QUADRUPEDS.-THE HORSE AND THE ASS.

DR. MACCULLOCH, in proving that certain animals were distinctly created for the use of man, particularizes, among others, the horse and the ass; and his observations on these wellknown animals are so appropriate, that I need do little more than quote his words. After speaking of the camel, which is only known as the servant and follower of man, which kneels to be loaded, without in

III.

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IX.

struction, and which has a provision in its knees and breast for that purpose, he thus proceeds :

"In spite of much research, and much contest, the wild and original state of the horse is equally unknown. I quote the most recent and sober opinions, divested of all views of the present nature, in saying that this animal is no where wild at this day, except where it appears to have escaped from the domestic state. Was it ever so, any more than the camel? It is more widely necessary to man, and equally adapted to his wants. I know not why it should not have been created with and for him; essentially domestic, his appointed servant. On what grounds is the reverse determined? Men commence by forming an opinion, and are somewhat surprised when asked to assign the reasons; yet it is thus that knowledge is obstructed, and truth becomes unattainable. Were it otherwise, the present argument would not lose a grain in weight, when the temper, dispositions, form, powers, every thing, of this first of all quadrupeds, is considered, with their perfect adaptation to the uses which are derived from it. Its back is that which man would have made for his own use, had he constructed it; the mouth is almost the only one which bears the bit without suffering; it has the only foot (if I except its congeners) which will endure an additional weight under rapid motion; it is the only wild animal, of similar power, which is tamed in a few hours; and nothing but an appointed instinct could have thus taught it to submit, and even to rejoice in its rider. How easily it is attached to man, and to human society, I need not say. But the proofs must not be sought for in our own country, where men are not satisfied unless they gain, by severity and force, that which would be voluntarily and cheerfully given to kind

ness.

To this pointed and comprehensive description, I may add, that the horse, like other domestic animals, is capable of having his faculties improved by the skill of man, an adaptation doubtless intended for a benevolent purpose,

* Attributes of God, vol. iii. p. 131.

although not always worthily employed. Is swiftness the object? an animal is produced that rivals the wind :* Is it strength that we require? look at the English drayhorset which is only excelled in its powers by the elephant: Do we seek for endurance of fatigue? the Toorkomans will furnish an example, whose cavalry are trained to advance and retreat at the rate of a hundred miles a day. The size, the quality, the docility, are all suited to every locality and occasion, which man finds necessary for his use, from the Shetland and Canada pony to the race-horse and courser.||

I shall conclude this slight sketch of the horse, with the wellknown and highly poetical description of the war

* The race-horse Childers ran at the rate of nearly a mile in the minute, or forty-nine feet in a second.

† On Surrey Iron Railway, a horse dragged fifty-five tons, walking at the rate of four miles in the hour.

This account is given by Sir John Malcolm; and he adds, "When I was in Persia, in 1800, a horseman, mounted on a Toorkoman horse, brought a packet of letters from Shiraz to Zeherary, which is a distance of five hundred miles, within six days.

The horse, though not naturally inclined to swim, will sometimes make remarkable efforts in this way. A few years ago, a gentleman residing in the neighborhood of Dumfries, in riding at night along the shore from Skinburness to Boness, on the Cumberland coast, mistook his way in passing a creek, being deceived by a light on the Scotch side. His horse carried him directly across the Solway Frith, and he landed at Newby, not far from Annan. The distance is fully two miles, but the horse did not, perhaps, swim more than a third part of that way, the tide being low. A much more remarkable feat is described by M. de Pages, in his Travels round the World, and confirmed by Sparman, of a horse which saved some seamen ready to perish in a wreck off the Cape of Good Hope. "The sea ran dreadfully high, and broke over the sailors with such amazing fury, that no boat whatever could venture off to their assistance. Meanwhile, a planter determined to make a desperate effort for their deliverance. He alighted, and blew a little brandy into his horse's nostrils, and again seating himself in the saddle, he instantly pushed into the midst of the breakers. At first both disappeared, but it was not long before they floated on the surface, and swam up to the wreck; when, taking with him two men, each of whom held by one of his boots, he brought them safe to shore. This perilous expedition he repeated no seldomer than seven times, and saved fourteen lives; but on his return the eighth time, his horse being much fatigued, and meeting a most formidable wave, lost his balance, and was overwhelmed in a moment. The horse swam safely to land, but his gallant rider was no more."

horse, contained in the thirty-ninth chapter of the book of Job.

"The glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear, and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, Ha! ha!' and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting."

6

Of the ass, a kindred animal, Dr. Macculloch justly observes, that, through a precision of footing which is even augmented in the mule, it is fitted, almost like the goat, for those mountain difficulties, where the horse becomes less serviceable; while its strength, patience, steadiness, and endurance of privation in food, form a combination of qualities, that point to the design, which allotted it as another servant to man. *

From time immemorial, the ass, in eastern climes, has been the slave of man; but, in the latitudes of Europe, its introduction may be considered as comparatively recent, being unknown there in the time of Aristotle. It seems, indeed to be more adapted to the hill country of more southern climates, and especially of the East. In Europe, it is dull, slow, and diminutive in size. In more genial regions, it is large, handsome, and spirited. It is, therefore, frequently used among the Orientals, even at this day, in preference to the horse; and, in ancient times, it was there held in still greater estimation than at present. It will not be forgotten, that when our Lord made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, he was mounted on an ass's colt.

In considering the subject of domestic animals, we

* [In the mountainous districts of Cuba and Jamaica, the horse is used for travelling even more than the mule, as sufficiently sagacious and sure-footed, and perhaps more easy to be procured of good quality. In the United States, generally, the ass is but little used, and in some districts hardly ever seen.-Aм. ED.]

must not forget, that the advantage is not altogether on the side of man. It is an additional proof of Divine benevolence in this arrangement, that the benefit is reciprocal, and that the services bestowed upon us, are requited in our attentions towards them. By cultivation, we increase the quantity of food, not only for ourselves, but for the creatures whose aid we require; and by thus augmenting the number of living beings, augment the sum of enjoyment. The chief happiness of the lower animals, consists in an ample supply of food; and this, man bestows. He protects his herds and flocks from their numerous enemies; for their sakes, destroying the beasts of prey, or affording means of defence which they are themselves incapable of employing. Let any person compare the state of the sheep, the goat, the ox, and the horse, under the protection of man, with the privations and dangers they would have to endure, if left to range at large in the uncultivated forest, and he will at once perceive that their domestication must be considered as a blessing, not more with reference to man, than with reference to themselves.

It is true that there are some evils to be placed in the opposite scale, but these are light in comparison with the advantages. Sometimes a cruel master may overload or overwork his horse or his ox; but the check upon his cruelty is found in his selfishness; for he can never injure his servant without at the same time inflicting punishment on himself; and a kind Providence limits the sufferings of the brute creation to the moment, happily withholding from them, what so peculiarly imbitters the lot of man, the recollection of evils that are past, and the anticipation of evils to come. They are slain for our use; but, even here, there is a beneficent provision; for, as death must come, it is well that it arrives with little pain, and after a state of enjoyment from ample feeding; rather than that the animal should die of famine, or of the infirmities of age, or be torn to pieces by wild beasts. The death of one animal, too, affords place for the subsistence of another, full of vigor, and buoyant with