134 THE HORSE. 



nions of men of somewhat high pretension, who, being 

 apprised of the custom, very coolly view and descant 

 upon it as a measure which the interest of the seller 

 renders necessary. Let us, for a moment, take this 

 for granted — what follows ? It is an interest foully 

 obtained through the medium of injustice and cruelty. 

 A man has an undoubted property in his animal ,• on 

 the other hand, that animal, in foro consciefitia, in 

 sound morality, and, as it ought to be, in the eye of 

 the law, has an equally valid claim upon the justice 

 and compassion of his proprietor. That system of 

 laws in a state, which does not include the protection 

 of animals, however perfect in other respects, is, pro 

 tantOy defective and barbarous. 



I recall the above momentary grant, on experience 

 probably as long as that of any man. The abuse 

 rests on a ground totally different from that of ne- 

 cessity, in fact, it is an abuse which no necessity of 

 the species pointed out can justify. Its only neces- 

 sity resides in a custom handed down to us from the 

 barbarians of former days, and is held fast as the 

 dear delight and gratification of those inconsiderate 

 mortals, who can derive pleasure from the wounded 

 feelings and miseries of animals, whether it be use- 

 lessly and wantonly torturing horses with whips and 

 goads, or baiting to a slow and lingering death, bulls 

 and badgers. I have seen boys engaged in a stable, 

 obviously at the command of the proprietors, and 

 apparently as at a most delightful amusement, 

 striking with sticks and whips, the most decrepit 

 and worn down of the horses about to be led out, in 

 their tenderest parts. Indeed, such is the pleasure, 



