things: but when I behold a lump of deformity and diseases, both in body and mind, smitten with pride, it immediately breaks all the measures of my patience; neither shall I be ever able to comprehend how such an animal, and such a vice, could tally together." To look upon man and animals in the light of such a comparison may be called humiliating, but it is painfully correct, and consistent with Christian precepts. The want of innocence, and the possession of pride, are the features, when compared with animals, which are characteristic of man. Hence arise the host of human ills-in the knowledge of good and evil, and pride in the acquirement. "knowledge of good lost, and evil got, Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill." This is man's prime difference from brutes, which he follows up by vaunting all this knowledge, and taking an eager pride in the smallest superiority, either above beasts or fellow men. Man, as differing from other animals, may be defined, a creature seek ing praise; the food of pride, a necessary of his existence. In the desire of this arise "hatred, envy, malice, and all uncharitableness." The purest lightness, the most undisguised simplicity, resembling most the artlessness of uncorrupted nature; these are the qualities exposed the most to those detested vices; against which they level all their wiles. There are no conspiracies of evil to degrade superior innocence, to annoy superior endowment; no envy of superior happiness, and schemes of malice to poison it, found amid the animal creation, inferior to man; and surely all our capacity for good, and all our actions of that kind, are fully counterbalanced by our propensity and pride in wrong. On what is Christianity founded but on a sense of this humilitation and abasement? the light which is to illuminate our darkness comes not from us, the hand of Infinite condescension that is to raise us is not our own. On what then do we ground our despite of animals? not upon their mortal structure. We have all the breath of life; in holy writ, the beast, as well as the man, is said to have a "living soul” "That which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them : as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity." "All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again." This is the picture of our mortality, and it is only by using the immortal faculties-gentleness, mercy benevolence, that we can establish a higher claim. No more, at least, will legislation be opposed upon the deceptive grounds of pride; the first measure though rejected, nevertheless, in the concluding language of the magnanimous projector (in the wreath of whose well-earned honours this is the sweetest and most gracious flower), has indeed become not only" an honour to the country, but an era in the history of the world." That principle is now acknowledged, which was defended, but in vain, by another legislator,* * Speech of Sir Samuel Romilly, June, 1809, on Lord Erskine's Bill: It was a great public interest that the people of this country (and whose words and the words of all who raised their voices in the first defence of animals, should be carefully and reverentially preserved as the first relics of a blessed dawn,) that cruelty to animals cannot improve our national character; and following the path of truth, which law at last has sanctioned, we shall be led through wandering mazes and gentle plains to edifices like enchanted castles of humanity, which as yet we dream not of, and shall behold in time, 66 scenes surpassing fable, and yet true, Scenes of accomplished bliss." We have passed through all classes, addressed our advice to all: let us exert the concluding effort of persuasion. "So from the root Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves Charities are the flower and emblem of a Christian commonwealth-their cultivation, in these days of should not be cruel, and it was well known that cruelty to animals, led the way to cruelty to our fellow creatures. We really peace, the pre-eminent avocation of a Christian Ruler; and where, in all the circuit of humanities, shall one be found more kindred to the female heart, more appropriate to that sex in which compassion forms the brightest ornament, than the protection of these thralls of Human Empire? Under the sanction of a female reign, unusual acts of kindness may be performed, ancient customs of cruelty swept away. Before the will of mercy in a female Sovereign all must bow; it being at once her sex's right and duty to command. The object of regal cruelties is ended—let their extinction follow. The monarch Patroness of a society for the defence of animals, the spirit should fulfil the letter to the extreme. The Roman poet, concluding his resounding strain, deemed he had worked out an everlasting monument, more durable than brass or marble, beyond the tooth of sword, or fire, or time; yet what is this, what are the glories of the Cæsars, what the fame of the first emperor of the earth, what believe this Bill might be considered in a great degree a Bill for the prevention of cruel murders." |