List of the Publications issued by the Society. Reports of the first Society. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, at 6d., and No. 6, at 1s. Remarks on the Proceedings of the Voice of Humanity, 3d. A Sermon on the Unjustifiableness of Cruelty to the Brute Creation, and the Obligations we are under to treat it with Lenity and Compassion. By a Clergyman of the Church of England. Price, 8d. The Speech of Lord Erskine in the House of Peers, on the 15th of May, 1809, on the Second Reading of the Bill for Preventing Malicious and Wanton Cruelty to Animals. Price, ls. Zoophilos; or Considerations on the Moral Treatment of Inferior Animals. By Henry Crowe, A. M., late Fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge, and Vicar of Buckingham. Price, 3s., or 3s. 6d. with Appendix, boards. Printed for the Author (Member.) Moral Inquiries on the Situation of Man and of Brutes, on the Crime of committing Cruelty to Brutes, and of sacrificing them to the Purposes of Man: and other Subjects. By Lewis Gompertz. Printed for the Author (Member.) Price, 5s. boards. 2d. Considerations on Humanity as a Christian Duty. By the Rev. G. H. Hatch. Price, Creation's Friend, a Poem. By W. R. Hawkes, Esq. Printed for the Author (Member.) Price, 6d. Letter to the Commentator on the Objects of the first Society. A few Hints on the Treatment of Animals, addressed to the Working Classes, by the Advocates of the Poor, 1d. Westley's Sermon. Price, 6d. Reply to the Speeches against Mr. Martin's Bills of 1824 and 1825. By L. Gompertz. Soame Jenyns on Cruelty to Animals, with Observations by L. Gompertz; and Remarks on Hydrophobia. Letter to the Magistrates. Humanity to Animals the Christian's Duty. A Discourse by William Hamilton Drummond, D. D. First Number and Second Report of the Animals' Friend Society. Price, 6d. A few Hints upon the Sinfulness of Man exercising Cruelty towards Animals placed under his care. N. B. Any person who wishes to prosecute Cases of Cruelty to animals, will receive assistance at the Society's Offices; but all Complaints must be laid before the Magistrate within ten days of the offence. ✓ Wheels which carry their own rail-road or escape obstacles Appendix.-Fable of a Captain and a Sea Gull E. J. K. 6-23-44 DESCRIPTION OF THE ANIMALS' FRIEND SOCIETY. "Taught by the power that pities him, Often as the objects and claims of the Animals' Friend Society have been laid before the public, a brief outline of its nature may still, it is hoped, be admitted with pardon from the Members, for what may to them appear as needless repetition. The Association, called the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, was established in 1824, which for two years rendered great service to the cause; when in consequence of debt it was obliged to stop; and the Rev. Arthur Broome, the first Hon. Secretary, resigned the office to Lewis Gompertz, Esq., who was one of the Committee: soon after which, the Society recovered, and remained actively employed for six years more, according to the plan originally laid down, viz :— 1. "The circulation of suitable tracts gratuitously, or by cheap sale, particularly among persons intrusted with cattle, such as drovers, coachmen, carters, &c. 2. " The introduction into schools of books calculated to humanize the mind of youth. 3. "Frequent appeals to the public through the press, by every mode tending to awaken more general attention to this important and interesting subject. 4. "Delivery of periodical discourses from the pulpit. 5. " The employment of inspectors in the markets and streets. 6. "The prosecution of persons guilty of flagrant cruelty, and giving publicity to the same.' Thus did that Society continue to act as long as the identity of its chief managers remained unchanged, the contingencies of time however depriving the Society of the principal of its most earnest and zealous Members; other gentlemen of different sentiments were introduced, and three resolutions were then passed, which entirely changed the character of that Institution : the first, being to discontinue weekly inspectors to prosecute offenders who ill-treat animals: the second, to exclude jews and other sects from assisting in it according to their own creeds; and the third, to discontinue the issuing of its usual tracts. These resolutions of that Society having been as follows: "At a special meeting of the Committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, it has been resolved :— 1. "That it was desirable and indispensably necessary that the Society should be conducted exclusively on christian principles (and faith.) 2. "The Committee have also deemed it expedient to discontinue the regular and constant employment of weekly inspectors. 3. "It has also been proposed, that for the present, no other publication be sent forth, except the printed Report and appendix." Without wishing to question the motives of these changes, it cannot be supposed that men who had united for the former objects were bound to the new ones which are so different; the Members then who disliked these changes, though fully aware of the evil of schism had no alternative but to adopt the plan they have, or see the cause dwindle, in their opinion, in the hands which had interposed to elevate it. In order then only to perpetuate the original services the Animals' Friend Society has been formed, and in it all sects without distinction are admitted to act according to their respective creeds. Weekly inspectors also are constantly employed in it by whom and by the Members themselves, delinquents against the dumb creation are prosecuted. Many tracts on the duty of mercy to animals are also circulated by it, and all the other objects for the good of the cause performed as far as it is able. So that the Animals' Friend Society is now virtually the old Society, and the old Society the new one. The only questions then to determine are these, first, does the Animals' Friend Society perform any good; second, and good which would otherwise remain undone; third, is not the subject worthy public attention and support, or ought charity to our own species to exclude charity to all others? As to whether the Society performs any good, we refer to its reports and the press generally; and whether this good would be performed without it, we refer to the reports of any other Society which may profess the cause. The use of inspectors has been opposed on the idea that it is cruelty to prosecute the offenders; but this is surely not the ground on which those who object would choose to defend their own persons and property; they can indeed be merciful to offenders when they feel not the smart: laws between man and man which are equals must be in force, and still oftener are they wanted between the power of man and the defencelessness of brutes. But it has been asked, why have we more than one society, we reply we want no more, more weakens rather than strengthens the cause, and in this one, all friends of every sect should unite, and by it every delinquent when possible prosecuted; while every tract that breathes humanity on whatever principles founded should be by it freely circulated: such union only as this can properly promote the cause, and with the public it rests to say whether it shall be done. We want no exclusion of persons or writings owing to the creeds they may profess, if their sentiments are humanity they cannot fail of being christianity, and where the reverse may appear christianity is not understood; but to prove the humanity of any principle from the christianity, would be a far more difficult task, owing to the imperfect knowledge of scriptural authority which many persons possess. Therefore let all sects be admitted-let mercy be established, and christianity will hail the happy change. Into one focus than does this Society draw all who are affected by the sad outrages daily committed on the unoffending dumb, for the mitigation of whose sufferings we appeal to the heart of an opulent and liberal population, for a small pecuniary support to repay the poor brute creation for all the great services it has bestowed, and all the severe pangs ungrateful man has returned." O grant relief, and Heaven will bless your store." THIRD REPORT. The Committee of the Animals' Friend Society has with pleasure to lay before its humane supporters and the public an account of its proceedings during the past year, and to state the prosperous affairs of the Institution, which instead of having increased its debt to the Committee (about £50. of which was incurred in each of the two preceding years) has considerably decreased the arrears, though this report refers only to from the 9th of June to the 9th of April, 10 months instead of 12 as usual, an earlier period having been judged more suitable to its circulation, during which the receipts have been £170 8s. 6d., and the expenditure £137 12s. 114d. The services have gone on as heretofore; about 2000 pamphlets have again been issued, and 117 prosecutions have been effected; out of which 41 defendants have been convicted in penalties and costs or imprisoned, 21 have been amerced in costs, 1 has absconded, 35 have evaded, 12 have been dismissed by the magistrates, 1 lost from an informality, and in 6 the summonses applied for have been refused. The total number of prosecutions from the beginning (nearly three years) have been 401; of which 132 have been convicted in penalties and costs or imprisoned; 70 amerced in costs; 14 have absconded; 116 have evaded; 53 have been dismissed, and 16 summonses refused, or the cases they referred to otherwise settled. A survey of different magistrates, according to their decisions of these cases, presents a remarkable difference in their opinions. Out of 30 cases submitted to Messrs. Traill, Wedgwood, and Murray, during the 10 months, 29 have resulted in fines on the defendants, and 1 has been dismissed; out of 16 submitted to Serjeint Sellon, Mr. Laing, and Rogers, in two years, only 4 have resulted in fines on the defendants, and 12 have been dismissed; 7 offenders have been charged before Mr. Dennett, mayor of Gravesend, and all of them have been fined; out of 5 before the bench at the Greenwich Petty Sessions, (Mr. Smith in the chair,) four defendants have been fined, and 1 has been dismissed; out of 6 before Alderman Brown, 1 defendant has been fined, and 5 have been dismissed. The public are much indebted to many of the magistrates, for the good they have performed in the cause, particularly to Messrs. Traill, Wedgwood, Dennett, and Smith of the Greenwich Petty Sessions, Nethersole, Trecothick, Harvey, Eagle, &c. &c. Besides London, the services of this year have extended to Margate, Ramsgate, Gravesend, West Bromwich, Wednesbury, Stamford, &c. &c. At Margate, the officers have been actively employed, and it is but justice to notice the following testimony of Mr. Henry Dove, R. N. (to whose activity the Society owes much) in favour of one of them.- I do hereby certify, that James Yewen, officer of the Animals' Friend Society of London, has resided here the whole of the month of September, that he has been diligent and persevering in his duties; his presence has been very useful and given satisfaction." HENRY DOVE." The inhabitants of Gravesend having been for a long time greatly annoyed by the cruelty exercised on the asses of that place, and having heard of the good the Society had effected at Margate, &c., wrote to the Secretary, requesting its interference, which was readily granted; and most heartily were its officers welcomed. Mr. Dennett, the mayor, gave them his most cordial and warm support. He said the abuse had existed for years; and now he hoped by means of the Society to stop it. Several cases where then laid before him, and convictions followed free of any charge for commitment, where the accused could not pay. Mr. Arnold also rendered the Society every aid; and even called a meeting, at which, a prohibition was carried into effect against the use of the donkeys for hire on Sundays, which previously was their days of hardest work. To Mr. Staff, the commissioner of police there, the greatest thanks are also due for the valuable assistance he has rendered: he has indeed proposed to form a committee out of the policecommittee, with other persons to forward the objects of the Institution. The Society is likewise deeply indebted to Mrs. Palmer, for her humane exertions and the great services she has rendered it at Gravesend. The visit of the officers has, it is said, produced a change for the better, beyond the most sanguine expectations, and the inhabitants have given the managers their warmest thanks. The business of the Society at West Bromwich and Stamford, have chiefly related to bull-running and bull-baiting, unfortunately however, with only small success. The officers arrived at West Bromwich at the time of the wakes in November; and ineffectual applications having been made to the magistrates to prevent the sport, it commenced on the 3rd as usual; when a bull belonging to William Baites was baited, in which he, and Henry Baites, Joseph Hancock, Joseph Moore, John Holder, and others assisted. In this bait a boy was tossed and almost killed. The poor animal was tied to a stake, and any person was allowed for eight-pence to set his dog on it, but many eagerly seized the liberty without paying; John Holder then set on his dog, a very strong one, which dreadfully tore the bull's nose, but the bull tossed his assailant 15 or 20 yards, and broke two of his ribs, killed two other dogs, and broke the legs of two more. On the 4th the sport was repeated on the same bull; when a fellow, named Turner, slipped his dog at it, while two others were tearing its nose, and the former bit off part of its ear and eat it, upon which, a shout of exultation issued from the mob. William Baites then inclosed the bull, which tossed and much hurt several persons. On the 5th, the owner having been told of the presence of the Society's officers, was afraid to appear and fastened up the bull; but a bullard, named Hall, broke open the door, and took the animal round the town ; which was then baited again, and terribly mutilated by a number of dogs, in which, William Hall was, it is said, most barbariously active; also Emanuel Tinsley and Moses Colins, who were observed to kill their dog, which was much injured, immediately after the bait. Mr. Joseph Wallis and Joseph Bird humanely lent the officers their assistance, and got several of the names among which, was Joseph Hancock, William Moore, Henry and William Baites, (the latter called the ringleader ;) and these men's names have been registered by Mr. Harvey, and the men deprived of parochial relief. The officers followed the bull to Wednesbury, where it was, it appears, to have been baited again—but was not. The officers then being provided with many of the offenders' names, and clear evidence of their guilt, applied to the magistrates for summonses, which they refused, not considering that the statute protected the bull. From this they proceeded to Stamford, and proposed there, that a petition from the magistrates and inhabitants should be presented to parliament to abolish the Stamford bull-running: the inhabitants expressed their solicitude for its abolition; but informed the officers, that on the preceding year, a petition numerously signed had been gotten up, and kept back because the mayor had refused his signature to it. The officers then made unsuccessful attempts to prevent the sport: but the mayor did prevent that its repetition should take place on christmas-day as had been intended. Much expense was incurred by these proceedings, which a liberal contribution, however, from Mrs. Francis Maria Thompson, enabled the managers to meet. |