The Wrongs of the Animal World. To which is subjoined the speech of Lord Erskine, on the same subject

Front matter

THE WRONGS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD. TO WHICH IS SUBJOINED, THE SPEECH OF LORD EKSKINE, ON THE SAME SUBJECT. H\ DAVID MUSHET, ESQ. LONDON: HATCHARD AND SON, PICCADILLY; HAMILTON & CO., PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1839. WILLIAM TYLER, PRINTER, 5, BOLT-COURT, LONDOX- DEDICATION. TO • • When Eve, our first mother, walked in the garden of Paradise, surrounded with every beast of the field, and every winged bird, and every creature bearing life — rejoicing in her presence who rejoiced with them ; purity which is now lost on e-:rth, simplicity that sin has corrupted, trueness of heart which wrong has wounded, circled her heart like a chaplet of shining flowers ; and Divine benevolence over all, sealed the bond of inter course between the reasoning and the unreasoning world. DEDICATION. IV These bright qualities are corrupted to their opposites, and the primitive order confounded : but from amid this wreck and this confusion, let me point to you — as one across whose soul of light no cloud has passed ; where purity, simplicity, truth, and faithfulness are planted in such perfection, that the fruits which kindness bore with our first parents may be seen again displayed ; a power of calling forth the attachment of the inferior world, which resembles the illusions of enchantment, placing before the scarce believ ing eyes the pure communion of primeval innocence ; a sympathy indeed so wonderful in kindling all their brightest and their loveliest qualities, that in every sense it may be uttered with the poet — " that you, O you.

So perfect, and so peerless, are created Of every creature's best." To you, then, of right, these pages must be in scribed, the fountain of their best thoughts, not as mere praise, but for the instruction of others, to DEDICATION. V record the charm of perfect companionship, proved by your example ; the instinctive homage even of brutes before the magic of an amiable and gene rous heart, without a selfish trace. Accept the gift : a drop from the golden stream your soul delights in, weigh not its value but its source ; let the rich sunshine of your favour tinge it with a borrowed worth, though no equivalent, the effort is your due, who lead these creatures with a surpassing influence imagination had not dared to conceive — not the too frequent tie of fear, but the compulsion of the strong bond of love, honourable, cheerful, and delighting to all who feel or who behold its power.

Were all hearts tuned like yours, an appeal to human justice would not be needed : — Then to your name a fitter title might be inscribed — the Wrongs of Animals ceased for ever, the dubious vestiges of Eden might become the certain foot-prints of our daily practice ; and cruelty and suffering be known no more. a

Preface

. To place before the public an Essay stamped with a certain mark of inferiority by the tribunal of a public competition, demands, in the plainest manner, an apology. Upon all the usual subjects of discussion which have been examined, and are known so well, that the conscious heart ever accuses the deficient practice, an adequate excuse with difficulty might be found. But on the duties the following pages are intended to enforce, much less has been written than they deserve, and the just line of conduct but partially discriminated. Faults are committed with an unconsciousness of error, sometimes even with a belief of innocence and propriety. The creatures we are called on to defend, are the Pariahs of another caste, and suffer from pre judice. Children of bondage : once dwellers with us in the paternal home of paradise ; like the

PREFACE.

. VIII offspring of Hagar they have been banished to the wilderness, and scattered like arrows to the four winds of heaven. Their hand is against every man, and every man's hand is against them. The first born of the earth : figuratively, the hairy children of creation, they have been disinherited by the smooth Jacob ; and driven from our society, like other slaves ; while with one of slavery's accursed features, we hate the servile fear we have ourselves engendered. The voices only of a few have ever been raised in their defence, and in the host of human literature their interests form comparatively an uncultivated field. It might be urged that inferiority is not worthlessness, nor all exertions useless which do not reach the goal. But this is not the ground of our excuse. On the reverse, had it been ascer tained this treatise were the meanest and the poorest effort in the animal behalf ; it would best perform the end of inviting others to communicate what they have written ; who with greater modesty though superior merit, may not have dared to plunge into the uncertain stream, and risk the im putation of assuming rashness ; and set an example which might open to the public eye all that has been composed, where many flowers must be scattered, though all the necessary conditions which

PREFACE.

. IX might warrant the sanction of a public body, and shelter with impunity under its approval, may not have been fulfilled. It is unnecessary to dis claim a motive of dissatisfaction or of appeal, the fondest of the irritable genus could not rebuke the justice of the tribunal — to the decision of which he voluntarily had submitted. On the contrary, the Author can do no less than offer a sincere acknow ledgment for the satisfaction and advantage the composing this Essay has afforded him. Dispute is odious amid those who claim a more refined humanity. In gracing this volume with the advocacy of an illustrious individual, without which record of the first appeal to law, no treatise would be com plete, a sanction and an interest is thrown over the whole subject, which nothing coidd equally confer.

In the momentous events which at the time and subsequently, absorbed the attention of Europe, his efforts passed comparatively unnoticed ; and that so great a man was the first senator who vindicated the legal claims of animals is by no means adequately known. Covered with distinction, no visionary of the closet, but steeped in affairs, and conspicuous in them all ; occupied with important human in terests, from which only the strong power of a

PREFACE.

. X just and warrantable feeling could have raised his mind: this speech affords at once a noble monu ment to his memory, and the force of unanswerable authority to the subject which it treats of; con futing by his name that accusation too frequently indulged, that sentiments of humanity to inferior beings are the depraved delusion of an idle and frivolous mind. While the arguments which opposed his efforts have become a fading shadow, buried with their authors beneath the unforgiving grave, and recol lected only by the contrast of his humanity, an ever lasting tree of mercy springs above his tomb, and shades with grateful freshness the memory of him who first for beasts asserted a claim to legal surety. Nor is there an event more singular and sublime, more foreign to the class of party and its pretended ends ; than that first freedom of spirit, which, setting foot on prejudice and blind custom, dared to look with candour on these humble slaves, and made the senate walls reverberate in their defence ; with accents so different to the grating contests of the world and its self-interested voice, that we exclaim, " This is no mortal business, nor no sound That the earth owes."

ADVERTISEMENT.

. In the latter months of the year 1837 an Advertise ment appeared in the name of the Society for the Pre vention of Cruelty to Animals, offering a premium for the best Essay on " The Obligation of Man as regards the Brute Creation." The following extract will best explain the nature of the work required, and afford a standard to examine in what degree these pages, written in that competition, have fulfilled their object. The Adjudicators named for the office of examination, were the Earl of Caernarvon, President of the Society, the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, and Mr. Serjeant Talfourd. " The Committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have the pleasure of announcing to the Public the Donation of a benevolent Friend to the cause of Humanity. " This humane individual intends to confer the sum of one hundred poDNDS upon the Writer of that Essay which,

ADVERTISEMENT.

. XII in the opinion of Arbitrators, to be appointed by the Society, shall combine in the highest degree literary merit, with a judicious treatment of the subject, and the best practical, moral, and religious application. " The Essay required is one which shall morally illustrate, and religiously enforce, the obligation of man towards the inferior and dependent creatures — their protection and security from abuse, more especially as regards those engaged in the service, and for the use and benefit of mankind — on the sin of cruelty — the infliction of wanton or unnecessary pain, taking the subject under its various denominations — exposing the specious defence of vivi section on the ground of its being for the interests of science — the supplying the infinite demands on the poor animal in aid of human speculations by exacting extreme labour, and thereby causing excessive suffering — humanity to the brute as harmonious with the spirit and doctrines of Christianity, and the duty of man as a rational and accountable creature." CONTENTS.

189 THE PRACTICE OF VIVISECTION. CONCLUSION