296 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



by man, has nerves, blood — as sensitive as 

 your own — as " fearfully and wonderfully 

 made," and is the production of the same 

 mighty power as yourself! 



It would need no laboured detail to show 

 that in the treatment of our quadruped ser- 

 vants, that humanity and interest might go 

 hand in hand ; that the advantage which we 

 derive from our slaves would be commensu- 

 rate with the care we took to put them in a 

 condition to labour ; to maintain them in that 

 condition; to give them the disposition will- 

 ingly to exert themselves for us ; not to tax 

 them beyond their natural powers ; to restrain 

 our own occasional ill-temper, which would 

 lead us to transgress the rules which self- 

 infterest had established, and which might 

 gradually form in us a habit of passion or 

 cruelty inconsistent with these rules r to re- 

 strain deviations from them in others, and for 

 the same reason, lest habits should be formed 

 inconsistent with the general interest, and bad 

 ■jjxample should give them extension ; and by 

 degrees to associate with this principle of in- 

 terest the aid of eeling, a ffeeling honourable 

 and pleasing, aye, and beneficial too ; the 

 feeling of humanity. 



It is melancholy to reflect that with a large 

 paid church establishment, the moral feelings 

 of Englishmen towards the lower creation of 

 animals are in a more degraded state, than, 

 we believe, in any other nation. We wish 

 we could arouse the clergy, whether volun- 

 tary paid or otherwise, to denounce from their 

 pulpits this barbarous and national disgrace, 

 »nd that throug-h the influence of their imme- 

 diate hearers, it would extend to the lower 

 grades of society, and extirpate for ever those 

 al»ominable cruelties towards the Horse, which 

 oo man of humanity can witness even in the 



streets of London, without his feelings being" 

 lacerated to the quick. 



We allude particularly to those abominable 

 nuisances Cabs and Omnibusses. [We object 

 not to the use but the abuse.] We behold 

 daily racing in the crowded streets of London, 

 as perilous to its perambulants as it is cruel to 

 the Horse. Good God ! if a list of the killed 

 and wounded were published that have fallen 

 martyrs to these villainous drivers, in the last 

 ten years, it would form an army. Who are 

 to blame? we say the Legislature — the Go- 

 vernment — " salus populi suprema lex." 



It is no satisfactory answer to me, when I 

 expostulate with an omnibus driver, as to his 

 senseless, mad, and dangerous career, to be 

 told that Mr. So-and-so's omnibus is coming 

 up, and if he does not get before him, he will 

 be driven off the road. 



If private speculations of this nature are 

 allowed to take place detrimental to the safety 

 of the public, it then becomes the duty of 

 Government to provide such restraints, as 

 shall guarantee its safety, or in the failure of 

 those restraints, take the whole responsibility 

 on itself, by appointing such officers as shall 

 ensure safety to the public and free the noble 

 animal from those exorbitant and unjust de 

 mands upon his strength, which constitute 

 cruelty. 



It may be considered presumption in the 

 writer of this article to propose any plan for 

 the adoption of the Legislature that would 

 effect an alteration so devoutly to be wished 

 for, as the prevention of cruelty to the Horse, 

 as well as to provide for the safety of the in- 

 habitants of this great metropolis in putting 

 down racinq: or violent drivino;. 



Jf asked for his opinion, however, he should 

 be about as laconic in his replies, as the sailor 



