The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-10-17 00:00:00

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

The eases of this description, which have come
within the knowledge of the Society for the Sup-
pression of Vice are not numerous, but such as
hive been communicated to them hive not ineffica-
ciously called forth their interference. One in-
stance of systematic brutality, in which they have
interfered with effeet, deserves particular notice.
The society having been informed that the prac-
tice of bear-baiting was carried on, with the most
savage ferocity, at a house in Black Boy-alley,
Chick-lane, found, upon investigation, that this sport
was, on one occasion, attended with the following
circumstances :

The bear was confined by a chain fixed in the
wall, and dogs were from time to time let loose up-
on him, the number of which, in reserve, it was
supposed, amounted to 0/ g. The poor animal was
not suffered to rest, but, when worn out with fa-
tigue, was again forced to exertion, by the applica-
tion of some pungent liquid to his wounds. This
inhuman mode of stimulating him to anion was
frequently repeated: in addition to which, it was
olacerved, that a glass of spirits was occasionally
administered to him. This brutal sport was couti-
nued for some hours with the same animal'•. It
further appeared that the above place was opened,
for the same purp.ise, every night of the week ex-
cept Saturday, and that 6d. was taken of each per-
son for admission.

The society thought it their duty to lay such a
case before the magistrate of the clistrid, who or-
dered the officer• to attend one of these meetings,
and to bring before them the keepers of the bear,
and such other persons as might be implicated in
abetting the offence. On their appearance, the
magistrates having, from the evidence, established
a complete case, amply sufficiest to ground a pro-
secution, refLered it to the consideration of the
society, uhetber the submission of the delinquents,
and their promise not to offend again, might not be
accepted: with this proposal the society concurred,
and the offenders were dismissed.

This lenity. however, soon appeared to have been
iLeffeetual, for the society were shortly after inform-
ed that, disregarding their engagements, the offen-
ders still persisted in the pratlices from which they
had promised to abstain.
The society, en receiving this information, dis-
patched a person to establish the evidence of the
fad, who, on discovering that the same sports were
carried on as before, immediately communicated the
information to the magistrates, who sent a strong
party of police officers, to apprehend the principals ;
these were brought before the magistrates, and
severally bound over to th- next session, themselves
in 501. each, and sureties in 444. each. _

A drover, who was foun.t treating his sheep with
extreme cruelty, was apprehended by a member of
the society, and carried before the sitting alderman,
who conviaed him in the penalty of twenty shillings,
silsich being unable to pay, he wan sentenced to
one month's imprisonment in Bridewell, and, the case
being attended with circumstances of aggravated
cruelty, he was win Ily deprived of his number.
Another case of great barbarity to an ox was
noticed by the society. The drover, after a very
determined resistance, was apprehended by a mem-
ber of the society, and taken before a magistrate in
Bow.strctt, who convieted him in the full penalty of
20s. and, on account of his resistance, wholly de-
pris•ed him of his number. .
Another gross case of cruelty to a sheep has re-
cently been brought fors:•trd by the society, and the
offender has been convimled by the magistrates at
Union•hall, and made to pay the full penalty is.
It would greatly conduce to the correition of the
prevailing evil of cru •lty to animals, if individuals
would resolve to int,' ft re, like the members of the
society, who are ab me noticed, in order to bring
offenders to justice. Drovers often escape detec-
tion, by concealing their number, which they aught
to wear visibly on the tO of the arm. But this
concealment subjeas them to a penalty, and it would
operate as a salutary restraint upon them, to take
them before a magi•trate, whenever they are found
to offend in that respect.
• At one of these meet,ngs, th• bear, being found too pow-
erful lot th dogs, was fastens Ito the door, and his teeth wee •

half sawn off. A supply of these Tallinn :of cruelty is easily
obtained, es they are known to be bred in the •ie-nity of the
metropolis. Badgers were aka baited at the same p'ace. Cruel-
ties, similar to those here des,ribed, frequently occur at that no
lees inhuman sport, called ball-beitine. tSn such isecutions it
is net unusii d fur the pour animal to be so exhausted with
wounds soul fatigue, as tii be unable to return in the i vorolne,
tliongh subjetled en the maul to fresh bactot", to the
whence he was driven us the morning, for the diversion of those
elan can be diverted by such savage scenes.
+ Ist CM% rase the OfrOdef was the owner of the sheep.--
This circumstance Stir society think proper to notice, fir the
purp.He of remq,,ng sit erroneous npinson, wliach has generally
prevailcrl, that a person is not liable to pUIIiSIIIIItOI for cruelly
trotting art animal which is his own property.

A short time ago we gave an account *ldle good
condua and bravery of Captain Cesium., and the
crew of the Apollo brig (d small Gnineaman about
120 tons only), in heating off a French privateer of
much suNrior force. to windward of Haihadoes, in
March List, and afterwards conducting the Apollo
safely to her destined port. We are happy in having
it in our power to announce to the public, that al.
though those men could not be considered as en-
titled to reward Iron the Patriotic Fund at Lt.° D's,
yet, to the honour of the Underwriters on the .4poeu
and her cargo, they have not been otherways for-
gotten, as 'ae find that the Underwriters, on such
part as was insured at Liverpool, immediately pre-
sented Captain Cummins with a piece.of plate. Else
London Underwriters, as soon as they were inform-
ed of the circumstance, immediately signed off two
guineas per erat. This subscription, so trivial in-
dividually, amounted in the aggregate to 1131. Ss.
On Sunday the 30th ult. a colleainri, amounting
to upwards of:err/ay ponad,, was made in the Inde-
pendent Chapel at Iluddetsfield, in aid of the mis-
sions for the propagation of the gospel in Africa,
and the Islands in the South Sea. When the amount
of the colleltion was knows, a labouring man in the
neighbourhood, who has a wife and several did.
dren, dependent upon hi, labour, stepped forward,
and, unsolicited, counted down Arne, gur.ros on the
table, all of which he ge ierously added to the col-
leCtion ! saying, that he c nth! not Apply the fruits
of his industry and sobrie. y to a better purpose, than
that of contributing to instrua others in the know-
ledge of a religion, which had tang:lt him to prac-
tise virtue,, and which had also led him to
place his happine a on r..i.ss that fade nut away.

!4APAL INTELLIGENCE.

PLYMOVTI4, OrT. 15.

Came' in the Samuel, Peterson, from St. Croix,
for Copenhagen, with the less of her rudder.—
Wind S.S.W.

DEAL, OCT. 15.
This morning sailed the Leopard man of war,
Rear-Admiral Louis, with the squadron under his
command, for Dungeness; rouragriir man of war,
for Plymouth; Greyhimoid. frigate, on a cruise, off
Havre; Sir Andrew Mitchell armed ship, for Leith;
William and &wry., Nuell ; and the L4)aaiirt, Lauder,
for Jamaica, with several outward-bound vessels,
fot Portsmouth.—Wind