Humanity Against Cruelty to Animals in Historical Literature, Timeline of Animal Rights History

Animal Rights History »»Samuel Argent Bardsley

1781 | Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester

That there should be found such… bloody and barbarous diversions of cock-fighing and bull-baiting, is both a subject for suprize and regret.—That they should not have entirely yeilded to the improved state of manners—or the interference of the laws, is a subject of just reproach to us by foreigners, and of deserved reprobation by the humane and relecting of our contrymen.…Cruelty in every shape is unjustifiable;—but wanton, deliberate barbarity is dishonourable to our nature, and contrary to the principles of natural religion, honour, justice and humanity. (Samuel Argent Bardsley, Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester [1781], "On the Use and Abuse of Popular Sports and Exercises")

Throwing at cocks is another specimen of unmeaning brutality confined soley to our own country. After being familiarized to the barbarous destruction of this courageous bird in the cock-pit, it was only advancing one step further in the progress of cruelty, to fasten this most gallant animal to a stake, in order to murder him pieced-meal.—This destestable barbarity has declined as our manners have become more pollished and humane; but the strong hand of the law was obliged to interfere in many places to hasten its abolition. (Samuel Argent Bardsley, Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester [1781], "On the Use and Abuse of Popular Sports and Exercises" )

Can it be ncessary to prove, that habits of indifference to human suffering are acquired by repeated acts of cruelty to brutes; and that the sympathy of our natures must be blunted in proportion to our familiary with scenes of unnecessary and wanton barbarity?…Let all barbarous diversions be entirely abolished; but especially the sport of bull-baiting be the first offering to be sacrificed a the shrines of humanity and justice! (Samuel Argent Bardsley, Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester [1781], "On the Use and Abuse of Popular Sports and Exercies," 200)

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1781 | Samuel Argent Bardsley, M.D., "On the Use and Abuse of Popular Sports and Exercies" in Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester [First Edition: London, 1781] Second Series (London, 1805; Digitized by Google, 2005).

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