3–9 March 1823

My brother Edward asks me. Whether I have a right to make use of animals ? I answer "Yes," and shall attempt to give my reasons. A poor native of Lapland found himself in midwinter destitute of food, of clothing and light, and without even a bow to defend him- self from the beasts. In this perplexity he met with a reindeer, which he killed and conveyed to his hut. He now found himself supplied with oil to light his lamp, with a warm covering for his body and with wholesome and strength- ening food, and with bowstrings withal, where- by he could again procure a similar supply. Does any mind question the innocence of this starving wretch in thus giving life and comfort to a desolate family in that polar corner of the world ? . . .Now there is a whole nation of men precisely in this condition, all reduced to the alternative of killing the beasts, or perishing themselves. Let the tender-hearted advocate of the brute creation go there, and choose whether he would make the beasts his food, or be him- self /teW. . . .