THE MASTIFF FOR BAITING PURPOSES. 121 



The Duke of Devonshire and the people of Tutbury 

 petitioned against the bull running, which was instituted in 

 1374 at Tutbury Staffordshire, and in 1778 it was entirely 

 abolished. On April 3rd, 1800, a bill was introduced into 

 the House of Commons for the suppression of bull baiting, 

 Mr. Windham strongly and ably opposed it, stating the 

 amusement had existed for a thousand years, and that it was 

 a manly sport. Mr. Canning contended that the sport was 

 a most excellent one, it inspired courage, and produced a 

 nobleness of sentiment, and an elevation of mind. The bill 

 was rejected by a small majority, and a similar attempt in 

 1802 failed. However since the last named year bull baiting 

 has been declared illegal, and bear baiting is now a thing of 

 the past ; and although failing to agree with Mr. Canning 

 that it was in any way calculated to produce wobleness of 

 sentiment, or elevation of mind, yet it was calculated to 

 produce some noble mastiffs, and elevate their muscular 

 development. Some writers whose real knowledge and 

 experience of the breed is limited, have somewhat sneered at 

 the idea of a mastiff attacking a lion or bear, and at the 

 accounts of the same ; and while it would be truly ridiculous 

 to think any of the weak loined, straight hocked, short winded 

 London monstrocities could make any sort of fight even 

 against a wolf, it does not alter the fact that the breed in past 

 times were more capable, and could soon be brought back to 

 the grand old type, by selection of the best specimens for 

 breeding, and by appointing gentlemen for judges who do 

 kno\\ what the mastiff was and should be. It is very easy 

 for journalists to make pasquilant remarks, or write cynically 

 on such subjects, but we may remember the prince of that 



