Library of Animal Rights History » Animal Welfare-Animal Rights Activists-Advocates-Quotes Against Cruelty to Animals

John Lawrence

1753-1839

1796 | John Lawrence, "On the Rights of Beasts," (Online at AnimalRightsHistory.org, 2003) in Vol. 1 of A Philosophical and Practical Treatise on Horse, and on the Moral Duties of Man Towards the Brute Creation, 2 vols. (London, 1796-1798); Online at Google Books.

A Philosophical and Practical Treatise on Horse, and on the Moral Duties of Man Towards the Brute Creation

On the Rights of Beasts

Can there be one kind of justice for men, and another for brutes? Or is feeling in them a different thing to what it is in ourselves? Is not a beast produced by the same rule, and in the same order of generation with ourselves? Is not his body nourished by the same food, hurt by the same injuries; his mind actuated by the same passions and affections which animate the human breast; and does not he also, at last, mingle his dust with ours; and in like manner surrender up the vital spark to the aggregate, or fountain of intelligence? Is this spark; or soul, to perish because it chanced to belong to a beast? Is it to become annihilate? Tell me, learned philosophers, how that may possibly happen.

The grand source of the unmerited and superfluous misery of beasts, exists, in my opinion, in a defect in the constitution of all communities. No human government, I believe, has ever recognized the jus animalium, which surely ought to form a part of the jurisprudence of every system, founded on the principles of justice and humanity. The simple right of these four-legged, and mute citizens, hath already been discussed. Experience plainly demonstrates the inefficacy of mere morality to prevent aggression, and the necessity of coercive laws for the security of rights. I therefore propose, that the Rights of Beasts be formally acknowledged by the state, and that a law be framed upon that principle, to guard and protect them from acts of flagrant and wanton cruelty, whether committed by their owners or others.

1798 | John Lawrence, "On the Philosophy of Sports", in Vol. 2 of A Philosophical and Practical Treatise on Horses, and on the Moral Duties of Man Towards the Brute Creation, 2 vols. [1st ed. London, 1796-1798] 2nd ed. (London, 1802); Online at Archive.org, 2008.

On the Philosophy of Sports

There is a certain proportion of the enjoyments of life due not only to the labouring classes of mankind but even to the beasts themselves which are engaged in the service of man; and whoever unfeelingly wears out these last as he does the soles he treads upon, with unmerciful and incessant toils, withholding from them that degree of repose necessary to their comfort and the cheerful performance of their labour, commits great and crying injustice, whatever brute and savage custom may urge in his behalf.

The baiting of animals, as it is called, that is, chaining and staking down wretched captives, to be worried and torn to pieces by other animals, purposely trained for such useless barbarity, is absolutely unlawful, contrary to the light of reason, and the dictates of humanity, the foul disgrace of common sense, and never ought to be tolerated for a moment, in a government which claims to be instituted for the protection of rights, and the advancement of morality.

1809 | John Lawrence, The Animal-Question," in The Horse in All His Varieties and Uses [First Published as The History and Delineation of the Horse, in all his Varieties (London, 1809)] (London, 1829; Online at Google Books.)

The History and Delineation of the Horse, in All His Varieties

The Animal-Question

My first essay on the duties of man towards those animals committed by nature to his charge was at the early age of fifteen years; and, though in the heat of youth, and during the hurry of the affairs of the world, I regret to have made too many breaches of practice, I have yet cherished the innate principle through life, and feel myself urged to pursue my destiny to the end, in however great a degree ungracious and unpopular the theme. From my first contributions to the periodical press, I have embraced as many opportunities as were in my power of introducing the subject, and have never written any book on the care and management of animals wherein that important branch has been neglected.…Certain critics have made themselves merry with the phrase 'rights of beasts,' the ancient jus anirnalium ; but it is scarcely possible they could be seriously unaware that I could intend nothing further than those natural claims which the brute creation has on the justice and compassion of rational man.

_________

1879 | Edward Byron Nicholson, "Sketch of the Life and Character of John Lawrence," "Lawrence, 'On the Rights of Beasts.'," Lawrence 'On the Philosophy of Sports.'," Lawrence on 'The Animal-Question.," in The Rights of an Animal (London, 1879); Online at Animal Rights History.

I cannot now try to build up a life and character of Lawrence.…I will, however, put down a few things about him which I have gathered from glances at one or two of his writings.…Of his general views with regard, to animals he shall speak for himself, ["On the Rights of Animals", "On the Philosophy of Sports" and on "The Animal-Question"] and I shall be surprised if the reader does not agree with me that few men have better deserved to have carven on their tombs the words of Chaucer "Al was conscience and tendre herte."

1892 | Henry Salt, review of "A Philosophical and Practical Treatise on Horse, and on the Moral Duties of Man Towards the Brute Creation [1796-1798], by John Lawrence " in Animals' Rights Considered in Relation to Social Progress, with a Bibliographical Appendix [First Edition: London & New York, 1892] (London & New York, 1894; Online at Animal Rights History, 2003).

John Lawrence, described as "a literary farmer," was an authority on agriculture and the management of domestic animals. He was a humanitarian; and was consulted by Richard Martin, M.P., on the details of the Ill-Treatment of Cattle Bill, which became law in 1822. Humanity is the most conspicuous feature of Lawrence's writings. "From my first contributions to the periodical press," so he subsequently wrote, "I have embraced as many opportunities as were in my power of introducing the subject, and have never written any book on the care and management of animals wherein that important branch has been neglected."