and also what they probably are." He proves that they are not machines, without, however, considering them as beings whose actions are directed to moral ends, or as accountable creatures, subject to future rewards or punishments.
That brutes are capable of reflection and sentiment, and are susceptible of the kindly as well as the irascible passions, independently of sexual attachment and natural affection, is evident, from the various instances of regard and gratitude daily observable in different animals, particularly the dog: of these and other sentiments, such as pride and glory, many surprizing and indubitable proofs are exhibited by the elephant, of which we shall give some account in its proper place.
But, besides the qualities above alluded to, certain animals seem, on many occasions, to be inspired with a kind of presentiment, with respect to events unforeseen by the rational beings whom they concern; and various instances of this faculty may probably occur to the recollection of most of our readers.
By Divine Revelation, brutes are held out to us as objects of mercy: nothing, therefore, can be a greater reproach to human nature, than cruelty towards dumb and helpless animals. Of the different species of cruelty, none was more general in the metropolis than that of bullock-hunting; but it is to be hoped that by the late legal enactments, together with the vigilance of the magistracy, this barbarous practice will at length be entirely suppressed.
BRYONY, the White, or more properly, the Red-berried Bryony, or Wild-wine; the Bryonia alba or dioica, L. is a native plant, growing in many parts of England, under hedges and thickets. The root is perennial, large, often a foot in circumference; the stem is several yards in length; the leaves nearly hand-shaped; the flowers of a yellowish green colour, appearing in May and June; and the fruit is a smooth red berry, containing five or six seeds. Some curious persons have a method of caning these roots into human figures, and selling them as mandrakes; but this useful production may be converted to much better purposes. By long steeping, and cleansing in several waters, the roots may ultimately be deprived of all their acrimony and bitterness, so as to afford a tolerable flour; from which (if credit be due to the late Rev. Dr.Böhmer, senior of the University of Wittenberg, in Saxony), M. Morand has prepared both starch and bread.
Although this is generally considered as one of the poisonous native vegetables, yet there is reason to believe that, especially in summer, when the bitter juice has in a great measure ascended from the root to the stalk and branches, it may usefully be converted into bread: and as it grows to a prodigious size, a little trouble would be well rewarded.—Mr. Hollefear states, that two or three of the berries have been eaten without any observable effect.
Bryony-root is purgative and acrid: its smell, when fresh, is strong and disagreeable; its taste nauseously bitter. In spring, it abounds with a thin, milky juice, which is so sharp as speedily to excoriate the skin; but a great part of the acrimony, and almost the whole of the scent, is lost by drying. In summer, the root is less juicy, and weaker both in smell and taste. An extract pre-
pared
