62 MOST REVEREND, GRAVE, AND POTENT SIGNORS. 



be knocked to pieces, it really would be an infringe- 

 ment on the boasted liberty of the subject to prevent 

 them. I leave it to abler controversialists than I to 

 decide how far in a national point of view the Ring 

 may have a prejudicial or beneficial effect on the 

 conduct of the lower classes. I believe, as we are 

 told in I forget the play " much may be said on 

 both sides." I am no casuist ; but really when men 

 from inclination place themselves in a situation where 

 they are certain to get more or less of a sound 

 thrashing even if they win, we have a right to infer 

 that all in all they like the thing, and I think I 

 deserve the approval rather than the censure of 

 ladies for my philanthropic feelings in going to see 

 such men enjoy themselves. 



Bull-baiting, dog-fighting, bear and badger baiting, 

 are all in themselves such atrocious acts of useless 

 and wanton barbarity, that they have been at last put 

 a stop to ; that is, if attempted in public. I should, 

 however, be extremely sorry to be guilty of so glaring 

 an act of injustice as to accuse our Legislature of 

 having interfered with these gentlemanlike amuse- 

 ments from any feelings of kindness or mercy towards 

 the animals engaged in them ; for let any person 

 from motives of humanity propose any act or any 

 new law that has for its purpose the mere protection 

 of animals from oppression and cruelty, his proposi- 

 tion will be certain to be met with not only neglect 

 but ridicule and contempt : the collecting a crowd of 

 idle persons together in the public highways, or on 

 another's lands, is what is objected to; and this would 

 be objected to if the same crowd collected to see half 

 a dozen dogs, bears, or badgers eating calf 's foot jelly. 

 The proposal to extend the prevention of dogs being 



