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Animal Rights History Timeline » [1785-1837] Romantic Age » Dennis Rolle

Dennis Rolle

On Humanity to Animals

[1789] Dennis Rolle, Esq. of Devonshire, [An Address to the Nobility and Gentry, Calling for Concurrence in the Great Object of Parochial Reformation and Humanity to Animals, for the Suppression of Cock-Fighting and Bull-Baiting] (1789).

"Not however to tresspass the limits of your Magazine, I must think of concluding:—but ere I do, I shall present you with an extract from a curious and scare work on this subject, that was printed and distributed gratis, in 1789, near Torrington in Devon by D. Rolle, Esq. As that gentleman is a patron of the Society for printing and disbursing small tracts cheap to the poor, on moral subjects, he may be induced to give his excellent tract more than local effect. It was printed previous to an intended bull-baiting. The Cheap Repository however have not entirely passed by the subject. The story of the Cock-Fighter is a good (half-penny) admonition.—John Feltham, "Rights of Animals: A Compilation," European Magazine, and London Review 29 (1796-Jan) 51-3; Google Books Free Online eBooks.

As a magistrate, he was remarkably attentive to the morals of the people within his district, and successfully laboured, though with great and long opposition, in suppressing village-alehouses, cock-fighting, and bull-baiting. Torrington, near which his feat stands, was a place much disgraced with these worse than savage diversions, and Mr. Rolle took extraordinary pains to correct the evil. For this purpose he not only exerted his authority, as a magistrate, with great zeal and impartiality, but circulated large impressions of a pamphlet, written by himself, against such cruel amusements. In 1789 he printed and address to the nobility and gentry, circulated privately, calling for their concurrence in the great object which he had in view, of parochial reformation. In this tract he speaks largely on humanity to animals, whence, it is apprehended the following extract may not be unacceptable.—"The Late Dennis Rolle,"Monthly Magazine and British Register 4 (1796-Oct): 316; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks.

"Obituaries of Remarkable Person; with Biographical Anecdotes: Dennis Rolle," Gentleman's Magazine, (J1797-Jul) 617-618; Supplement for the Year (1797): 1125; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks.

Dennis Rolle, Esq. of Devonshire, "On Humanity to Animals," partially extracted in Sporting Magazine 13 (1799-Jan) 182; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks.