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Sporting Magazine

1802-Mar | review of "Bull Baiting, A Sermon on Barbarity to God's Dumb Creation [1801], by Rev. Edward Barry," Sporting Magazine, or Monthly Calendar 19 (1802-Mar): 341-343; Digitized by Google; Online at Google Books.

Bull-Baiting, A Sermon on Barbarity to God's Dumb Creation

Rev. Edward Barry

review-Sporting Magazine

BULL-BAITING

A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Wokingham, on Sunday, Dec. 20, 1801, being the day previous to the Annual Bull Bait in that town. By the Rev. Edward Barry. M. D.—Sprags, King-street, Covent-Garden,

[Seldom as it may be, that sermons come within the limits of our plan, the object of the one before us, to say nothing of religion, is founded in the soundest policy, and of course does credit to the head and heart of the writer. From his Preface, it appears, by the following instrument, that Bull-Baiting has been a custom in that town ever since the reign of Charles Ц. established by some person of property.]

Extract from the Printed Account of Charitable Donations given to the Town and Parish of Wokingham.

GEORGE Staverton, by will dated May 15, 1661, gave the whole rent of his Staneshouse, after two lives, to buy a bull for ever; which bull he gave to the poor of the town and parish of Wokingham, being baited, and the offal, hide, and gift-money, to be sold, and bestowed upon the poor children in stockings and shoes. The Alderman and one Staverton, if he live in Wokingham, being to see this work done honestly, one poor's piece not exceeding another in bigness. 'Wise, let the poor have it in a bull presently at Christmas next, and so forward.'—"

But, notwithstanding this truly eloquent sermon of Dr. Barry was preached the day preceding the last bull-bait, it could not prevent the return of the practice; for soon after the bulls were baited on last St. Thomas's Day; one by virtue of this legacy, and another at the cost of the Poor Rates; the respectable Minister of Wokingham kindly addressed a letter to him, the Rev. Dr. Barry, on the subject. As the observations of a gentleman so long resident on the spot where these enormities are suffered to take place cannot but deserve attention, we have taken, the liberty this way, to give them, a wider circulation.

"Dear Sir—The favour which, you conferred on me and my flock on Sunday last, I shall always remember with gratitude. After all the eloquence, however, with which you recommended the duty of tenderness, to inferior animals, I am sorry to inform you that bulls were baited in this, town with as much ferocity as formerly, and attended with as numerous and noisy a multitude. Hence it appears that the most powerful arguments will not persuade men to renounce bad, habits. Horrid as the scene of bull-baiting is, and dreadful the accidents which sometimes attend it, the worst part is not always confined to the day of exhibition. For twenty years past I have watched its effects, and unhappily have found it pernicious to the education, the religion, and the morals of the people whom I am appointed to instruct. Yet we may hope that your elegant reasoning, when published to the community at large, will make a different impression upon those who are not influenced by prejudice and custom.

And I sincerely wish you success in your generous aim of bringing about the suppression of this cruel pastime. With much esteem, I remain, dear Sir, your obliged humble servant, W. Bremner." Wokingham, Dec. 23, 1801. To the Rev. Mr. Barry.

And now a more faithful and striking picture of this detestable and unchristian practice; and as a specimen of the author's style and manner, which wants no commendation, the rest shall be given in his own words, from pages nine, ten, and eleven, of his Discourse, which is very handsomely printed in quarto.—We have only to remark, that he is by no means an enemy to rational amusements, which give cheerfulness to the mind, health to the body, and which dignify, and not debase it.

"It has been said," says our author, "that there is a law which requires a Bull to be baited before it is sold for food, but who has seen that law? on what statute book does it exist? and if even such an obsolete law could be pointed out; on what good argument is it founded? Is it to give publicity that it is the meat of a Bull? the carrion appearance of it will sufficiently do that. Is it to make its flesh more tender? by keeping it a little time, the purpose would be better answered. At Ashbourn, in Derbyshire (I have the information from most respectable authority) Bulls are there let out for the purpose merely of baiting; and are hence, by a little practice, called 'Sporting Bulls;' and for the sake of bringing up 'sporting dogs,' they are brought, when young, at the end of a bait, to lick the bleeding nostrils of the animals.

The first Bull-Bait in this country, is supposed to have been at Stamford, Lincolnshire, 1209, in the reign of King john, and at Tutbury, Staffordshire, 1374. Bull-running was likewise introduced at this latter place, about the same time. The introduction of it at Stamford was as follows—'William, Earl WArren, Lord of this town, standing upon the Castle walls, saw tow Bulls fighting for a Cow, in the Castle Meadow, till all the butchers' dogs pursued one of the Bulls (maddened with noise and multitude) clean through the town. This sight so pleased the Earl, that he gave the Castle Meadow, where the Bulls' dual began, for a common to the butchers of the town, after the first grass was mowed, on condition that they should find a Mad Bull, the day six weeks before Christmas Day, for the continuance of that sport forever.'

"Gracious Lord! Benevolent Parent of the Universe, what a prodigy must he be on a Christian land, who could thus disgrace his nature, by such gigantic infamy, at which the blood of a Heathen, of a very Hottentot, might curdle? To the honour, however, of the Duke of Devonshire (Steward of Tutbury) and not less so of the people of the village, who petitioned against it, the "Bull-running at Tutbury, 'more honoured in the breach than in the observance,' was entirely abolished in the year 1778."

The Rev. Dr. Barry thus concludes—"Two useful animals; the Bull who propagates our food, and the faithful Dog who protects us, to be thus tormented, for what purpose? Does it tend, as some have said to keep alive the spirit of English character? IN answer to this, we must remark, that the barbarous sport (if sport it can be called) was unknown to the ancient bravery of our ancestors, was introduced into this country in the reign of a bad king, and earnestly do I pray to Almighty God, that in this reign of a most pious and benevolent Prince, it may be for ever set aside!—Cowards, all of men the least unmoved, can both inflict and witness cruelties.

"The heroes of a Bull-bait, the patrons of mercenary pugilists, and the champions of a cock-fight, can produce, I should think, but few, if any disciples brought up under their tuition, who have done service to their country, either as warriors or as citizens! but abundant are the testimonies, which have been registered at the fallows of her devoted victims, trained up to these pursuits of BULL-BAITING!!!