1823.] On Bull.boiting. 



and obvious meaning of tlio words of 

 the Act, which autiiorizes any justice 

 of the peace or other magistrate to 

 convict and punish with fine of from 

 10*. to 5/. any person or persons who 

 shall wanlonlyand cruelly beat, abuse, 

 or ill-treat, any kind of cattle. It is 

 indisputably clear tliat the bull is pro- 

 tected by this Act : it is equally clear 

 that no bull ever yet was baited, or 

 ever can be baited, without being 

 wantonly and cruelly ill-treated. In- 

 deed I can call to mind no sort of 

 treatment to wliich any animal is sub- 

 ject, more manifestly and more wan- 

 tonly cruel than this. The practice 

 had been very generally discontinued 

 before the passing of the Act in ques- 

 tion: humanity has dona this, — what 

 remains, the law will accomplish; and 

 it will speedily be known only as an 

 historical record, exciting shame and 

 regret that it was ever permitted. 



However the practice originated, its 

 continuance was promoted in a great 

 measure by persons having, from time 

 to time, bequeathed certain sums, to 

 be applied in the purchase of a bull, 

 to be baited at a particular season of 

 the year. An instance of this is to be 

 found in the town of Wokingham. 



Georga Staverton,by his will, dated 

 15th May, 1661 , gives out of his Staines 

 House 6l. per annum to buy a bull, 

 which bull he gives to the poor of 

 Wokingham town and parish, being 

 baited : the gift-money, hide and offal 

 to be sold, and to be bestowed on the 

 poor children in stockings and shoes, 

 the meat being divided among the 

 poor: the aldcnnan being to see the 

 work done honestly. 



The house at Staines, on which this 

 rent-charge is made, has been for 

 many years in the possession of the 

 corporation of Wokingham as trus- 

 tees, and is now in the occupation of 

 their tenant at I2f. 12s. per annum. 

 Part of this money has been annually 

 appropriated to the purchase of a bull, 

 and a subscription entered into for the 

 purpose of adding sufficient to the 

 overplus to buy another unfortunate; 

 animal. With admirable consistency, 

 these bulls have been annually baited 

 on St. Thomas's Day, immediately 

 after the service of the church for that 

 day. 



As the time is approaching when 

 this annual exhibition is to be repeat- 

 ed or abolished, I am anxious fo 

 direct the attention of those whom it 

 may more immediately concern to the 



501 

 subject, hoping that thereby the neces- 

 sity may be avoided of legal prevention 

 in future by the unwelcome means of 

 punishing the offenders. 



The corporation of Wokingham will 

 pardon me if, in my zeal for the cause 

 of humanity, I suggest the course they 

 ought to pursue, and which I should 

 hope they may have already deter- 

 mined to adopt, of withholding from 

 the lower orders of the people the 

 means of oflendiug. The corporation 

 cannot be compelled to encourage a 

 practice which is an outrage to huma- 

 nity, and moreover forbidden by law.* 

 I need not remind them, that need- 

 lessly to present the temptation is, in 

 fact, to encourage the crime. How 

 far giving the animal under the accus- 

 tomed circumstances, exceeding the 

 bequest in the will, might expose the 

 giver to punishment, may be worthy 

 of consideration ; but I rather appeal 

 to the higher feelings they must all 

 entertain, of a desire to protect the 

 morals and ameliorate the habits of 

 those wljo are in some measure under 

 their care. 



If, however, contrary to all my ex- 

 pectations, the temptation should not 

 be withheld, and the bull be as hereto- 

 fore presented alive to be baited, I 

 entreat those to whom it be given to 

 sustain the cause of humanity ; and, if 

 there be found any who can still take 

 delight in such a practice, and are de- 

 termined to learn what the law is by 

 suffering the punishment, I have only 

 to leave them in the hands of those to 

 whom the execution cf the law is en- 

 trusted, and who, I doubt not, will 

 discharge their duty. F. B. 



Royal Exchuvge, London. 



For the Monthly Magazine. 



THE PHILOSOPHY OF CONTEM- 



POUAKY CRITICISM. 



NO. XXXI. 



New Edinhuryh Review, No. 8. 



HONEST country readers, who 

 are little acquainted with tlie 

 world of literature, are accustomed to 

 take the character of a book, which 

 they have not seen, from the opinion 

 of the review which they chance to 

 read. 



* Not only is the construction of the 

 Act, as heini; applicable to, and prohibi- 

 tory of, the practice of boll- baiting, sanc- 

 tioned by a le(;al opiniou, but tlic Act lias 

 hern enforced ; some persons have been 

 already convicted under it, and piniislied 

 for the oH'cncc. 



