The Sun.
London, England, 1824-05-07 00:00:00

BULL-BAITING.

.SPAIN,
Our dray as Journalists has led us repeatedly
to advert to the observations made in the Senate
respecting cruelty to animals; to the-Bill which
bad passed to restrain and punish unnecessary seve-
rity, and.to some examples which have been made
under the operation of that Statute. A similar
duty' prompts us now to lay before our Readers
those striking acts of cruelty exercised in an-
other country towards animals, who are tortured
in order to be made the subject of sport. This
is from the Work of WM. RAE WILSON, Esq.
" It is lamentable to think that the barbarous
and most reprehensible system of amusement, as
it is falsely called, Buil. BAITING, forms one of
the principal entertainments to a Spaniard, not
only in this capital (Madrid), containing a popu-
lation of about 300,000; but, throughout the
whole kingdom. This chiefly takes place during
the summer months, as the spectators can allow
themAslves to be exposed to the open air, and
when the animal, it is supposed, can command a
greater degree of strength than at any other
season. This is said to have been established so
far back as the 12th century, and what is most
extraordinary, the exhibition particularly occurs
'on the Sabbath day. This savage sport, which
in my apprehension would be far more honoured
in the breach, than in the observance, takes place
near the capital, in a large building called Plaza
de Toras. It is in the form of a Circus, having
four gates in the direction of east, west, north,
and south, for the entry of the Directors, the
bulls, and horses, and removing the mangled
and butchered animals. At the top it is open,
and the whole place is capable of containing
20,000 spectators, surrounded with raised seats`in
rows, like a gallery, which are always crowded
with both sexes. A box is fitted up for the re-
ception of the Royal Family as spectators. In
this shocking Exhibition every species of torture,
by means of fire-works, iron spikes, and sharp
instruments,, that the most vindictive imagination'
can suggest, is employed, in order to inflame the
passions, harrass, provoke, and irritate these poor
dumb animals, and the most bloody' scenes ensue.
This is indeed a species of entertainment of so
darling a nature with Spaniards, even to the very
lowest class of society,- that they will rather
prefer to sell the very shirts on their back to
raise money to procure admission, than be de-
prived of the sport supposed to aril° from it
" which owes its pleasures to others pain."
" Next to this may he added, the 'sdandalous
practice of fighting cocks, with the view-also of
affording what is termed amusement. I stepped
into a place where they were engaged in 'Combat,
and had occasion to observe Ministers of religion,
sitting in front of the circle formed forthe battle,
smoking their segars, and enjoying the cruelty
exercised towards the feathered tribe, where a
competition ends always in the death of one or
both."

The author very properly introduces the fol-
lowing remarks on this national custom.
" The consideration of these national sports,
leads me to remark, that to any man possessed of
the slightest spark of feeling, or reflection, ft,
must be revolting to perceive, the total insensi-
bility manifested to tlie sufferings of dumb animals.
The cause .1 fear will be found to originate iu that
depravity, which lurks in the human heart. The
wanton suffering and violence offered to the brute
creation, which renders to all of us such essen-
tial services and the most willing obedience,
ought to receive the strongest condemnation of
every benevolent mind. The exercise of it ex-
hibits in lordly man a disposition as ungrateful
as it is cowardly and most pusillanimous. This
is obviously a passion of, the most base and ma-
lignant nature, and calculated to extinguish all
those fine feelings of mercy and compassidu which
ought ever to reign predominant in the human
breast towards helpless animals, a continuance of
which must inevitable- lead to a train of outrage,
crime, and bloodshed. That dumb animals In
short should he made the victims of sport and sa-
vage barbarity, were acts pointedly condemned,
both under the Mosaic and Gospel dispensation.

-44 These are systems which have existed in Spdin
from time immemorial, and what is so highly in•
consistent, are encouraged and kept alive in a
country where the exercise 'of pure and uncle=
filed religion has been so much vaunted and ex-
'tolled. No man, however, whose mind has been
in any degree enlightene-d -by principles founded.
on the Gospel, will ever attempt to indulge in
such acts of wantonness and brutality. On the
contrary, human Beings`to whom an unquestion-
able accountability attaches,'will consider-Was- a
branch of duty imperative on them, to maintain
those principles of mercy, whiCh they hope will
be received by themselves from the Throne of
Heaven, and extend them to every living creature
upon the face of this earthy even to the smallest
insect that creepeth about their feet, since "
" corporal punishment it suffereth a pang as great
44 as when a giant dies." Further they will. ex-
tend that mercy, not only from a firm conviction
that it is founded on reason and justice, but that it
forms a most important-part of, thecommandi of
God himself who is the Author. of Mercy, which laid*
chief, and, most exalted -attribute", and .is over all
his works: On this subject I have only further to'
observe, that in again referring to revelation it
has from the earliest .period of time laid down
various-rules to regulate-the conduct of man'tO.;
wards inoffensive animals, and to thew acts of
mercy and tender compassion upon all occasions,
when-they may require to . be called into proper
action in their' behalf,• even'altholigh it should
occur, that they are- the property of his ene-
mies -F..

. _
" These are sentiments which I apprehend can-
not fail to ensure every person who is in the
exercise of them, sensations of the most pleasing
and delightful nature."
We regret that our limits prevent us from ex-
tending farther the observations of the. Author ;
we heartily subscribe to the justice of liii
re-
marks, that man is bound to treat the dumb
anicnals over which the Almighty has given him
controul, and to act with humanity and mercy,
upon all occasions.

* Prov. xi. 9. Nlatth. v. 7. psalm xc. 6.
t Exod. xxiii. 4.. Dent. xxii. 4.