THE HORSE. 309 



ger ; but surely it is but a theoretical and second 

 hand mode of acquiring courage, whilst the aspirants 

 themselves are in perfect security and freedom from 

 suffering or danger, witnessing only a poor and help- 

 less beast exposed. The ancient combats between 

 men and beasts must have been a more spirit-stirring 

 spectacle, fellow men being engaged. St. Paul tells 

 us, ' thrice have I fought with beasts at Ephesus' — 

 now if a number of our most dashing and emulous 

 bull baiters could be induced each patriotically to 

 take a bull's place, the example would be great and 

 glorious, and must have a miraculous effect on our 

 national courage. 



The noble Earl Grosvenor lately presented a peti- 

 tion to the House of Lords against bull baiting, and 

 the friends of humanity will be sure of the noble 

 Lord's powerful assistance, whenever a prospect shall 

 arise of favourable legislation on the case, or of eras- 

 ing from our statute books a law which is a national 

 disgrace, the existence of which ought to crimson the 

 cheeks of every Briton with shame. Two of the 

 judges have decided, that balls were not intituled to 

 the benefit of Mr. Martin's act, notwithstanding the 

 comprehensive phrase ' all other cattle,' is explicitly 

 and unreservedly used. A similar legal absurdity in 

 France, referring to the terms sheep and rams, has 

 lately promoted the escape of a felon from justice. 

 This is no doubt a legal profundity which neither I, 

 nor many thousands more of wiser men, are profound 

 enough to bring within the pale of common sense, or 

 possible legal use or necessity, otherwise than in the 

 furtherance of chicane and fraud. But doctors of 



