The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-29 00:00:00

ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OP
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

The 36th annual meeting of the members and
kinds of this society took place yesterday at the St.
James's Hall, Lord CALTHORPE presiding, supported by the
Earl of Essex, Lord Stratford de Kedcliffe. Lord Raynharn,
&Main Grant, Dr. Fraser, the Rey. T. Jackson, Sir
Walter Stirling, M. de Valmer, son of the president of
ike Aaircal Protection Society in Paris, k.c.
-

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, observed
that the experience of the last few days had shown the
seoessity for the existence and encouragement of such an
institution as the present. They were constantly receiving
widowe that the noble animal, the horse, was treated in
a way which was ill-becoming a Christian nation, and which
Gelled for the interference of this society. ilex was
another animal, the dog, which deserved the especial care
of this institution ; and It had been suggested to him that,
is erecting the fountains which were now appearing in
various parts of the metropolis, it was desirable to fix a
trough or stone basin at the foot, so that dogs might be
enabled to allay their thirst. The society bad established
branch institutions io different parts of the United Kingdom,
and every day's experience proved that it was the duty of
the public to support them.
The SECRETARY then read the report of the committee,
which stated that the branch societies of England and
Ireland and the societies of Scotland exhibit evidences of
greater energy and earnestness. To the list of branch
mimetic* important additions have been made, and it now
contains association at Birmingham, Chester, Manchester,
Isle of Wight, and Calcutta, all of which were of most pro-
mising organisation. The infant branch at Birmingham had
'heady achieved great successes, and had a good prospect of
growing into a flourishing institution. Many of the coati-
undid societies were extending their influence throughout
their respective districta by the encouragement of smaller
societies in adjacent cities and towns, whilst all the
European institutions, now upwards of thirty in number,
showed a continued desire to establish a closer intercourse
with this society and with each other. The committee were
la receipt of letters from the Secretary_of State in Belgium,
and from his Excellency M. Van de Weyer, stating that a
law had been passed in that country for the protection of
dumb animals. The report then referred to the successful
operations of the society in Ceylon and the Mauritius, and
went on to siy that a benevolent lady had left 1,0001. for
the establishment of an institutiou in Spain. The Emperor
et the French had, pro tempore, interdicted the practice of
vivisection and other unnecessary operations on living
arrivals a tAlfort, and had, moreover, appointed a commis-
NOD to inquire into the same. The committee had found
that the practice was still followed at several schools in this
country, and with the view of investigating the subject
fally the society intended to bold a congress during the
present season, to which the most distinguished stir.
goons physiologists. and anatomists, would be invited.
'report then proceeded to say that 649 week-
eons under the auspices of the society bad taken
place during the past year. The efforts of private
individuals wore thankfully acknowledged, especial
reference being made to the case of the Earl of Essex, the
announcement of whose name was received with cheers.
The annual subscriptions and donations of the past twelve
months hail exceeded those of last year, but at the same
time the expenditure bad been unusually heavy, and these-
fare the balance in hand had been materially lessened.
• The report was adopted, and a committee appointed for
the ensuing year, the meeting being addressed by Mr.
Mackinnon, M.P., Lord Raynham, Lord Stratford de lied-
elitfe, Captain Grant, the Rev. T. Jackson, Sc.

A special vote of thanks was then passed to the Earl of
Essex and others who had given their time and energy
regard
the past year for the prosecution of offenders ie
to the treatment of animals.
The Earl of Essex, in expressing his thanks for the high
cooipment which had been paid to him, add he was fully
assured that there was no gentleman present on this occa-
ion, whether belonging to the society or not, who was
endowed with common feelings of humanity, who would
sot have acted as he did under the circumstances which had
fatale come beforo the public. If he was entitled to any
reward at all, he had received it not only in the approval of
his own friends and .w.;inaiotances, but in the various letters
which had reached him from people who were strangers to
him. In his opinion, if any thanks were due, they were
certainly due to the honest awl upright magistrate who
presided on the occasion in question, and who administered
the law so justly cud impartially. (Hear, hear.)
Thanks were then voted to the various ministers of
religion who had addressed their congregations, during the
past year, in favour of kindeess to animals, and the meeting
separated with the usual compliment to the chairman.