CRUELTY TO ANIMALS' BILL. (Hansard, 2 June 1809)

§ Lord Erskine

said, he trusted he had how made those amendments to the bill, which would render it less objectionable in the opinion of those noble lords, who on a former day, had expressed their sentiments upon this intended measure. The preamble, "Whereas, it has pleased Almighty God," &c, he wished to continue in those words, which had presented themselves to his mind as the most appropriate to express its introduction. An imperfect obligation of duty was thereby enjoined, which, as he had before observed, coming sanctioned by the authority of their lordships, would not fail to have its due weight upon the people of this country. "No man," said his lordship, "more than myself can pay reverence to the name of God, nor is it used with any impropriety on this great and important occasion." The words which defined the acts of cruelty, he had so altered, as, in his mind they would meet with the approbation of those who very prudently were anxious that great caution should guard the operation of this act. In that part of the bill which was now confined to beasts of draught and burden, he had altered the words to "wound, cut, maim, and with wanton and malicious cruelty, should beat or abuse;" and he trusted the house would feel the propriety of inserting the word "abuse," coupled with the words preceeding; because, upon reflection, several acts of cruelty, requiring the interposition of such a statute, would not easily be comprehended under any other term. "I, one day," continued lord Erskine, "in going along Coventry-street, was struck with honor and disgust at the shocking scene of cruelty which presented itself to my observation. There was a cart, loaded with greens to a most unmerciful extent, drawn by one horse. 852 The poor animal was in such a state that its skin alone covered its bones; and, what was more shocking upon nearer observation I perceived there was no cart-saddle to prevent the chain from cutting through the skin of the animal's back; and, upon still nearer inspection, I saw the blood and matter descending its side. Besides this, the fetlock-joint was dislocated, the skin broken, and, upon every exertion of this wretehed creature, the bone was visible to the eye. My attention being peculiarly extended to the unhappy object's sufferings, I accosted the man who was driving the cart, upon his coming up to the place, and remonstrated with him about the misery of the horse's situation. I was answered with nothing but abuse; which generally is the fate of those who interpose their humanity on such an occasion, The man inquired if I would give him another? I offered him a guinea, provided he would part with the horse. "Why," says the man, "a guinea, Sir! I can work this horse three weeks longer, and after that I can sell him to the slaughter-house, and thereby make four or five pounds." I wish that your lordships would attribute to my conduct no more than the discharge of my duty; the act I performed, was, to my mind, unavoidable; I followed the man and purchased the beast! But this mode of relief cannot always be applied to the sufferings of animals, which meet our eye almost every day, and in almost every street of this metroplis. It is also in cases like that to which I have alluded, the word "abuse" will most aptly apply; and, when preceded by the other words I have adverted to, there can be no danger of the operation. Sorry should I be if any injury could possibly arise from this penal statute, and it is my anxious wish that every precaution should be adopted which may prevent any hazard of the liberty of the subject."—His lordship then stated, that there was another clause by itself, and by way of amendment, which he had framed for the better prevention of cruelty to other cattle, while proceeding to a fair or market, by means of cutting, maiming, and houghing. The house would be astonished if they knew all the cases which had been described to him by letters from magistrates, who particularly desired clauses to be inserted for the prevention of each particular case. He then observed, "During the thirty years of my parliamentary life, I never introduced any al- 853 teration in the law, or any new act of parliament. I possess no ostentation in coupling a statute with my own name; and, on the present occasion, your lordships will, I trust, give me credit for being actuated by the purest of motives (Hear! hear!). I have no desire that the measure in contemplation should be considered as orignating from myself. I would rather the people of this country should consider it as proceeding from the unanimous concurrence of your lordships, whose authority will give clue weight to its operation. On this account, I feel desirous, so to alter and amend the bill, that it may meet the unanimous approbation of this house, and be less likely to incur any objection in another place. After all, if this legislative measure should be attended with any injurious consequences, now unforeseen, I pledge my honour, that I will be one of the first to propose such alterations as shall prevent their recurrence.— There is one point more to which I beg your lordships' attention; although my lords, I have seen with regret the growing evil of cruelty to animals in this land, and have thought it expedient to introduce the bill before you; yet, my lords, in this land, in which our lots are cast to live, there is more honour, there is more humanity, there is a stronger sense of moral duty, than in any other country on the face of the globe. I am proud to say so, and that I live in such a country. And I rejoice I can say, still more, there never were times when more goodness of the people existed, than in the present. There never was more purity in the mind of man, than in this country, and in these times. I do not mean in a certain month or year; but there is a progression of good qualities, up to the, times in which we live, and which have emanated from religious institutions, founded upon the enlightened system of Christianity; the beneficence and mildness of which I have always admired; and, consistently with the principles of which, I have framed this bill.