ty, and who would have filenced his remonftrances by rudeness and abuse. But to his fons, as they walked along, he explained and enforced the indifpenfible obligation we are under, to provide fufficient fupplies of food for

every creature, And he quoted

that is dependent on us : the divine command, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox, when he treadeth out of the corn, as extending to all the animals, which are fubfervient to our benefit. Interest indeed, with respect to many of them, hath conftrained us to pay fome attention to this duty But the poor afs feems to be regarded as an outcast of nature; and after a day of toil and drudgery, he is turned into the lanes, during the hours which fhould be devoted to fleep, to collect a fcanty and precarious meal, which ferves rather to excite, than to fatisfy the cravings of his appetite. His tameness, humility, and patience, instead of raifing pity and regard, have expofed him to contempt, to infult, and oppreffion. We defspise his fervices, because they are purchased cheaply; we overload him with our burdens, because

because he is paffive under them; we fcourge him with capricious feverity, because he submits to the rod; and we deny him proper fuftenance, because he is tolerant of hunger, and contented with the weeds, which other animals reject. Yet is the ass, in that state of freedom for which nature formed him, active, fierce, and impetuous. In the deferts of Lybia and Numidia, and in fome parts of South America, when pursued by the hunter, he runs with amazing fwiftnefs; and neither declivities nor precipices can stop his career. If attacked, he defends himself with courage and intrepidity: But the moment he is overpowered, his spirit becomes depreffed; his ferocity deserts him; and he foon contracts the dulness and ftupidity, which characterise his fpecies, in all thofe countries where he is reduced to fervitude.

The Perfians esteem his flesh a very delicate repaft; but a warm climate feems to be neceffary to its tenderness and flavour. In proportion to his bulk, the afs is stronger than the horfe; he is also more healthy, and lefs liable to start, or ftum

ble.

ble. He is fond of his mafter, although fo often abused by him; fcents him at a distance, and distinguishes him from others in a croud. His eyes are remarkably good, and his fenfe of hearing is acute. The nicety of this animal is worthy of notice. He drinks only of the clearest ftreams, and without putting his nofe into the water; fears to wet his feet; and turns out of the way to avoid the miry parts of a road. The period of his life extends from twenty to thirty years. Mr. Buffon fays, that the fhe-afs exceeds the male in longevity; which he afcribes to the relaxation of her flavery, during the feafons of pregnancy. But the fame obfervation has been made of the hare, which lives in a state of nature; and it may perhaps hold true of a variety of other animals. In the human fpecies it has been fully evinced, that the life of males is much more frail than that of females, even in the earliest stages of it, antecedent to all hardship or excess. *

*See Dr. Price's Treatife on Reverfionary Payments; and the Author's Obfervations on the State of Population in Manchester, and other adjacent Places; Eflays Philofophical, Medical, and Experimental.

The

The fkin of the afs is firm and elastic. Sieves, drums, fhoes, and a fort of parchment for pocket books are made of it. The Orientals alfo manufacture it into what we call fhagreen. It is probable, that the bones of this animal, like the hide, are of a very folid and compact texture. The ancients formed them into flutes; and they are faid to have been peculiarly fonorous. Afs's milk differs effentially from that of the cow. It is neither difpofed to turn four, nor is it capable of being reduced to a curd; though, by standing, it depofites a mucilaginous part, and affords a confiderable quantity of whey. Very little cream is obtained from it; and this cream is not convertible into butter. If the whey be evaporated, it yields a much larger proportion of faline and faccharine matter, than the milk of any other animal. From these qualities are derived the wellknown medicinal powers of afs's milk.

JUL

PRIDE AND PEDANTRY.

ULIUS returned from Cambridge, elated with certain academical honours, which had been conferred upon him. He had anticipated, in his imagination, the joy with which he fhould infpire his parents; the congratulations of his friends; and the respect and deference, which would be fhewn him by all his former companions. Full of fuch ideal importance, he received the compliments of those who came to visit him, with haughty civility, and mortifying condefcenfion. Inftead of obliging inquiries concerning their families or connections, he talked to them only of himfelf, or of his college acquaintance; and eagerly feized every opportunity of displaying the superiority of his knowledge, and the estimation in which he was held by his profeffors, and by fellow commoners of the highest rank. His vanity and oftentation foon excited univerfal difguft; and his pertnefs and paffion for difputing in