§ MR. C. C. CLIFFORDsaid, he would beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a case brought before the Bench of Magistrates in Hampshire, concerning the torture of a fox, which which had excited great disgust in all classes of the community, especially among foxhunters. And whether, in his opinion, it would not be advisable to extend the provisions of the Act 12 & 13 Vict., c. 92, by making penal the torturing of other animals besides domestic animals.
§ MR. HARDYsaid, that in answer to the hon. Gentleman's question he begged to state that his attention had not been drawn to the matter officially; but, in consequence of the intimation he had received of the question, he had looked into the newspapers, and had there read an account which, if true, certainly disclosed a case of the utmost cruelty and barbarity. At the same time the obtaining of evidence of cruelty to animals was attended with so much difficulty, that, although he could not undertake to bring in a Bill on the subject himself, he would he happy to consider the provisions of any Bill introduced by any private Member.