re a different line of
argument; but as in breeding they only acted in obedience to an instinct
with which they are endowed on purpose that they may supply man, I
submit to you that you cannot prove these fish to be yours more than
mine. As for feeding with the idea that they were your own, that is not
an unusual case in this world, even when a man is giving bread and
butter to his children. Further--but I have another bite--I beg your
pardon, my dear sir. Ah! he's off again--"

"Then, Mr Easy, you mean to say that the world and its contents are
made for all."

"Exactly, sir, that is my father's opinion, who is a very great
philosopher."

"How then does your father account for some possessing property and
others being without it?"

"Because those who are the strongest have deprived those who are
weaker."

"But would not that be always the case even if we were in that state of
general inheritance which you have supposed. For instance, allowing two
men to chase the same animal, and both to come up to it at the same
time, would not the strongest bear it off?"

"I grant that, sir."

"Well, then, where is your equality?"

"That does not disprove that men were not intended to be equal; it only
proves that they are not so. Neither does it disprove that everything
was not made for the benefit of all; it only proves that the strong will
take advantage of the weak, which is very natural."

"Oh! you grant that to be very natural.--Well, Mr Easy, I am glad to
perceive that we are of one mind, and I trust we shall continue so.
You'll observe that I and my keepers being three, we are the strong
party in this instance, and admitting your argument, that the fish are
as much yours as mine, still I take advantage of my strength to
repossess myself of them, which is, as you say, very natural.--James,
take those fish."

"If you please," interrupted Jack, "we will argue that point--"

"Not at all; I will act according to your own arguments--I have the
fish, but I now mean to have more--that fishing-rod is as much mine as
yours, and being the stronger party, I will take possession of it.--
James, William, take that fishing-rod--it is ours."

"I presume you will first allow me to observe," replied Jack, "that
although I have expressed my opinion that the earth and the animals on
it were made for us all, that I never yet have asserted that what a man
creates by himself, or has created for him for a consideration, is not
h