THE DEPRECIATION OF ANIMAL CHARACTER.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—There is a passage in Bacon's " Essay on Atheism" which is entirely in harmony with the views expressed in your article, " The Depreciation of Animal Character " (Spectator, September 8th). It is doubtless familiar to most of your readers, but it will repay a fresh perusal :—" They that deny a God destroy a man's nobility : for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body ; and if he be not of kin to God by his spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature. It destroys likewise magnanimity, and the raising of human nature : for take an example of a dog, and mark what a generosity and courage he will put on when he finds himself maintained by a man; who to him is instead of a God, or atelier ushers; which courage is manifestly such as that creature without that confidence of a better nature than his own, could never- attain. So man, when he resteth and assureth himself upon divine protection and favour, gathereth a force and faith, which. human nature in itself could not obtain."—I am, Sir, Az.,
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