go COCKER S MANUAL. 



All these amusements must of necessity be cruel, but they are sanc- 

 tioned by the upper classes, and the cruelty is ignored. With respect 

 to the champions of the cock-pit, is it a greater boon for a cock to be 

 well fed and reared to fight a battle, if victorious to be petted for the 

 remainder of his life, with half a dozen little hens for his comfort, or 

 to cut his throat early in life to satisfy the appetite of a carnivorous 

 man. 



It must be clear to every man that in this country there is one law 

 for the rich and another for the poor. The snob sticks to the former, 

 but the thoroughbred gentleman stands by the poor man. In ancient 

 times the gamecock was considered an emblem of divinity by the 

 Synans and Greeks. When Themistocles besieged Dalmatia, he com- 

 manded that two cocks should be fought in the open view of his army, 

 and exorted them to behave as these stout-hearted creatures fought. 

 Pomponius Mela, the historian, asserted that the Roman empire did 

 not begin to decline until cocking had fallen into disrepute among its 

 governors. He proves that Serverus was not able to conquer Britain 

 until he had rendered his principal officers passionately emulous of 

 glory by exhibiting a main of cocks every day before them. The 

 soothsayers warned Mark Anthony to take heed of Caesar, because his 

 cocks were always beaten by him. The great Gustavus told the King 

 of Denmark he had no cause to fear the Imperialists, since they had 

 given up cocking and were devoted to drinking and dancing. Chris- 

 tian, king of Denmark, said: "Were I to lead an army against the 

 great infidel of Constantinople I would choose none but cockers for 

 my commanders, and none but lovers of the sport for my soldiers." 

 Our Henry VIII. built a stately pit in Whitehall, where he often dis- 

 ported himself among his most noble and loving subjects. The dying 

 speech of Sir T. Urquhart, who was wounded at the battle of Naseby, 

 was: "My king and a good cock I have ever loved, and like a good 

 cock in my sovereign's service I gladly now expire." A Mr. Wilson, 

 in the last century, advised all men who take delight in this pleasant 

 and delicious pastime never to forsake or alienate themselves from it, 

 so long as it shall please the Almighty to bless and prosper them ; and 

 he adds that we are bound to encourage cock-fighting among ourselves 

 and discourage it among all foreign nations. If cocking, which for- 

 merly was a great sport with the great nobles of this kingdom, be now 

 a sin, I am au old and hardened sinner. In 1827, in command of 



