ON THE RIGHTS OF BEASTS. I25 



ing been hamftrung, and otherwife treated with 

 the mod diabolical cruelty. 



It refults from fuch premifes, that unlefs you 

 make legal and formal recognition of the Rights 

 of Beads, you cannot punifli cruelty and ag- 

 greffion, without trefpaffing upon right of pro- 

 perty. Dived property of the ufurped and fic- 

 titious addition to its right, and you have the 

 means of protecting animals, and fecuring the 

 deareft interefls of morality. 



A law of this nature would effectually fweep 

 away all thofe hellifh nuifances, mifcalled fports ; 

 fuch as the baiting and torturing animals to 

 death, throwing at cocks, hunting tame ducks, 

 fometimes with a wretched owl fattened to their 

 backs, eating live cats, and the like ; in which 

 favage exercitations, the unnatural and prepof- 

 terous idea is foftered and encouraged, that one 

 animal can derive fportive and pleafing fenfa- 

 tions, from witneflins: the linsferin^ tortures and 

 excruciated fenfibility of another. An idea in 

 which human reafon is totally overfet by bar- 

 barous cuflom ; and a fignal one, among innu- 

 merable proofs, of the necefhty of a perpetual 

 recourfe to firft principles. 



No true and lawful, that is to fay, rational, 

 ufeful, and delightful fports, would be inter- 

 rupted by this regulation, but rather confirmed, 

 illuftrated, and improved. No right of pro- 

 perty would be infringed in the fmalleft degree. 



The 



