1809.] Lord Erskine’s Speech 
lutely corollary to its establishment; ex- 
cept, indeed, that from circumstances in- 
evitable, the enacting part will fall short 
of that which the indispvtable principle 
of the preamble would warrant. 
Nothing, my Lords, is, in my opinion, 
more interesting than to contemplate the 
helpless condition of Man, with all his 
godlike faculties, whenstripped of the aids 
which he receives from the numerous 
classes of inferior beings, whose qualities, 
and powers, and instincts, are admirably 
and wonderfully constructed for his use. 
If, in the examination of these qualities, 
powers, and instincts, we could disco- 
ver nothing else but that admirable and 
wonderful construction for man’s assist- 
ance; if we found no organs in the ani- 
mals for their own gratification and hap- 
pinesss—no sensibility to pain or plea- 
sure—no grateful sense of kindness, nor 
sullering from neglect or | injury—no 
scnses analogous, though inferiur ty our 
own: if we discovered, in short, nothing 
but mere animated matter, obviously and 
exclusively subservient to human pur- 
poses, it would be difficult to maintain 
that the domimon over them was a trust; 
in any other sense, at least, than to nake 
the best use for ourselves of the property 
in them which Providence had given us. 
But, my Lords, it calls for no deep or 
extended skill in natural history, to know 
that the very reverse of this is the case, 
and that God is the benevolent and im- 
partial author of all that he has created. 
For every animal which comes in contact 
with man, and whose powers, and qualities, 
and instincts, are obviously constructed 
for his use, Nature has taken the same 
care to provide, and as carefuliy and 
bountifully as for man himsélf, organs 
und feelings for its own enjoyment and 
happiness. Almost every sense be- 
stowed upon man is equally bestowed 
upen them—sceing, bearing, fecting, 
thinking, the sense of pain and pleasure, 
the passions of love and anger, sensibi- 
hiy to kindness, and pangs from unkind. 
ness and neglect, are inseparable charac. 
teristics of their natures, as much as of 
eur own. Add to this, my Lords, that 
the justest and tenderest consideration of 
this benevolent system of Natare,-is not 
gnly consistent with the fullest domi- 
nion of man over the lower world, but 
establishes and improves it. In this, as 
in every thing else, the whole moral SYS- 
tem is inculcated by the pursuit of our 
Own happiness. In this, as in all other 
things, our duties and our interests are 
inseparable, 1 defy any man to point 
on Cruelty to Animals. 557 
out any one abuse of a brute which is 
property, by its owner, which is not di- 
rectly against his own interest, Is it 
possible then, my Lords, to contemplate 
this wonderful arrangement, and to 
doubt, for a single moment, that our do- 
minion over animals is a trust? They 
are created indeed tor our use, but not 
for our abuse: their freedom and en- 
Joyments, when they cease to be con- 
sistent with our just dominion and enjoy 
ments, can be no part of their na- 
tures; but whilst they are consistent, 
their rights, subservient as they are, 
ought to be as sacred ts our own. And 
although certainly, my Lords, there can 
be no Jaw for man in tivat respect, but 
such ashe makes for himself, yet I can- 
not conceive any thing more sublime, 
or interesting, more grateful to Heaven, 
or more beneficial to the world, than to 
see such a spontaneons restraint imposed 
by man upon himself. 
This subject is most justly treated by 
one of the best peetsin our language. 
Mir. Cowper, in the Task, says :— 
——— ‘f The sum is this— 
If man’s convenience, health, or satery 
Inter.ere, his rights and claims are paramount, 
And must extinguish their’s, else they are 
al]? ———. 
He then proceeds in a most affecting 
and sublime appeal to our humanity and 
Justice. I have not a suificient fecol- 
lection of it, and I will not ‘destroy the 
effect of it by misrepeating it, 
‘The same subject is touched upon, ‘in 
most eloquent prose, in the theological 
works of Mr. Jones, which were put into 
my hands the other day, by my worthy 
and excellent friend at your table. : 
[ Here Lord Erskine read an extract.] 
Mr. Young, of Trinity College, Cam- 
bridge, has also published an excellent: 
treatise on the subject; and many of the 
most worthy and respectable of the 
clergy have done honour to their sacred 
functions, by impressing upon their con- 
gregations the divine command, as it re- 
gards Uhis important duty, 
Livery other branch of our duties, when 
subject to frequent violation, has been 
recognized and inculeated by our laws, 
and the breaches of them repressed hy 
puplyshments ; and why not in. this, 
where our duties are so important, so 
universally extended, and-the breaches 
of thein so frequent and so: abumina- 
ble? . a 
Butin what T am proposing to your 
Lordships, disinterested virtue, as in all 
other cases, will have its own esrtain ree 
ward, 
eee 
