27 
proper restrictions, has been the cause of vast loss of what other- 
wise might have remained for an indefinite period valuable sources 
of food and commerce. The cruelties perpetrated in prosecuting 
some of these Avasteful trades are fearful beyond conception, and on 
sucli a scale as to cause even those inured to such scenes to sicken 
at their Avork and cry shame that the laAv alloAvs it ; nor have Ave 
always necGssity to allege in palliation, mere luxury or ephemeral 
fashion, a now fur, a coveted Aviiig or plume to grace (?) a lady’s 
bonnet, may, should the f\\shion last long enough, cause the exter- 
mination of AV’holo races. 
dime Avill not alloAv mo to give you particular instances in 
support of what I have just .said, nor do I think it needful; for 
many cases in point must bo fresh in your memory, and avo haA’o 
already supped sufficiently full of horrors; nor do I quite see 
hoAv to apply the lesson Avhich avo ought as a nation and in- 
dividuals to learn from the mistakes of the past — the Avholo 
question is one of such great difficulty — but I think it very de- 
sirable that AVO should not hide from ourselves the sins avo have 
been guilty of, and avIio can tell Avhat intluence he may' some day 
possess in the cause of humanity. 
I Avish to say just one Avord more, by Avay of explanation, lest it 
should be thought that I am humanitarian overmuch. I quite 
recognise the right of man to make a just and proper use of the 
creatures he finds in the world around him, even to the practice of 
so-called vivisection, under proper restriction.^, as I belicA'C the 
good to man and animals Avhich has arisen from such researches 
has incalculably exceeded the evil ; all I plead for is that Ave should 
bo actuated by feelings of humanity — may I say of loA'C — to every 
creature, and that should our Avants demand their sacrifice, that life, 
should be taken as mercifully as possible, and as sparingly as our 
requirements permit. 
