152 BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS. 



courage is produced or increased by habit, there 

 cannot be a shadow of doubt, but a want of feeling, 

 or rather brutal feeling, is by habit strengthened in 

 a far greater ratio ; possibly, indeed probably, the 

 very lowest orders are not born with such feeling 

 predominating, but early and constant habit of join- 

 ing in brutish sports, finally produces it in its fullest 

 force, and no law can be too stringent in their sup- 

 pression. 



Men being brought up with such habits may justly 

 lay claim to some palliation of their ofi'ences, from 

 what I really believe to be fact, namely, they do not 

 consider they are guilty of the cruelty that they most 

 unquestionably are, in the committal of them. But 

 such plea cannot be brought forward by the man 

 whose education must teach him better — for such a 

 man there can be no excuse ; curiosity may lead a 

 person to witness an exhibition of a barbarous de- 

 scription, but if he goes a second time, we can draw 

 but one conclusion from such circumstance — he ad- 

 mires it, and if he does, brutality lurks in his dis- 

 position, however it may be veiled by his other and 

 general habits. 



