Il8 THE MASTIFF FOR BAITING PURPOSES. 



of the bull ring let him take what comes." The usual public 

 ejaculation followed "for the safety of the King and the 

 Mayor of the City." After which the amusement commenced, 

 and the dogs were immediately slipped. 



Dr. Cooper, when Mayor in the reign of George iiird, is 

 said to have put a stop to the attendance ot the corporate 

 body on those days; and Alderman Broadhurst in his Mayor- 

 alty, made an ineffectual effort to suppress these public 

 baitings in the same reign. Professor Lowe mentions that 

 on the accession of George iiird, there was scarcely a 

 considerable town in England in which there was not a bear 

 garden, or some such place set apart for such exhibitions. 



Strutt mentions that asses were also baited at times, and 

 he adds, probably the poor beasts did not afford sufficient 

 sport in the tormenting. This however is somewhat a mistake 

 on Strutt's part, as the French have baited the ass until quite 

 recent times, and the animal affords excellent sport. An 

 example of which was exhibited in a fight between a mastiff 

 and ass, both the property of Mr. Waddington, of Blackpool ; 

 an account of which appeared in the weekly papers, Nov. 8th, 

 1879. And in The Illustrated Police News of Nov. 22nd, 

 1879, there is a rough but spirited engraving, showing the 

 conflict, and shooting the dog, which represents a fine 

 muscular animal, with broad, heavy, blunt muzzle, stout 

 muscular limbs, and fine stern. 



According to the accounts the donkey was a fine young one, 

 and was grazing in the field, when the mastiff rushed at it in 

 a furious manner, and fastenend on to its nose, the donkey 

 did not decline the challenge, but shaking the dog off, bit it 

 about the head and shoulders, trampled and struck it with 

 its fore feet, the dog again seized the donkey, and all efforts 



