The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-21 00:00:00

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO

AI,7MALS.

The anniversary meeting of the Royal Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held
yesterday at St. James's-hall, the Right Hon. and
Right Rev. Lord Auckland, Bishop of Bath and
Wells, in the chair. Among others on the plat-
form were the Marquis of Westminster, President
of the Society, Sir James Buller East, M.P., Mr.
Mackinnon M.P., Sir .1. S. Lillie, Sir W. Stirling,
Sir C. Aldis, Capt. Grant, Mr. Curling, the Revs.
I. W. North, T. Jackson, &c. The proceedings were
commenced by about 1,700 of the children from the
surrounding parochial schools singing a hymn com-
posed for the occasion, accompanied on the organ
by Dr. Pech. The chairman said he must first con-
dole with the society at the loss it had sustained by
the death of its patroness, the Duchess of Kent, the
mother of her most gracious Majesty, who had al-
ways been one of its warmest friends, and also at
the loss of its late secretary, Mr. Middleton, a gen-
tleman who had endeared himself to all by his uni-
form kindness and courtesy. He had received a
letter from the chairman of their last annual meet-
ing, the Bishop of Lichfield, regretting his inability
to be present at that meeting. He felt great plea-
sure in taking the chair on that occasion, and sup-
posed that the reason why they chose clergymen as
chairmen was that religion and kindness were in-
separable. The right rev. prelate then cited several
instances from the Scriptures to prove that animals
were meant for our use, and not abuse. Having
condoled with them on their losses, he would now
congratulate them on their successes, which had
been marked by the improvement caused by the re-
moval of Smithfield, where animals were no longer
goaded by brutal drovers armed with spiked sticks
into small pens to be sold : in the condition of the
cab-horses, which was very different now to what
it was some years ago ; and in the abolition, by the
passing of Sir J. East's Bill, of the practice of using
dogs as animals of draught. During last year the
society had used great exertions to put a stop to the
horrible practice of vivisection of animals, which he
did not hesitate to say ought to be put down, for in
many instances it was done not with a view to the
ortencion of cnionoo and tho benefit of othero, but to
show the skill of the operator. The celebrated John
Hunter was said to have been a vivisector, but he
had never heard he had done any good by it, and
the same might be said of Sir Astley Cooper, one of
the first surgeons this country had ever produced.
Sir Charles Bell, too, was another who had adopted
the practice, but his testimony went to prove that
little or no good had resulted, and Professor Owen
had condemned it. He would recommend all who
wished to fully understand the subject to read the
" Life of Dr. John Reid," who was of opinion, al-
though he had practised vivisection himself, that it
should be only occasionally performed. A deputa-
tion of the society had gone during the last year to
the veterinary schools at Lyons and Alfort, where
the practice was largely adopted, horses being
strapped down and students engaged in performing
almost every conceivable operation upon them, until
they were tortured to death ; the deputation had
afterwards waited upon the Emperor, who had re-
ceived them most courteously, and had given them
reason to hope that their efforts would lead to the
removal of the practice. His Lordship then read a
paper from the " Idler," written more than 100
years ago by the celebrated lexiographer Dr. John-
son, in which he denounced the practice of vivisec-
tion, and denied that science was at all benefited by
it. He concluded by addressing a few appropriate
remarks to the children assembled, advising them
to be kind to one another, and, above all things, to
avoid cruelty to animals. Mr. Colam, the secretary,
then read a very lengthy report which referred to
a conference of the friends of humanity which had
been held during the past year at Dresden, and to
the deputations which had twice gone to France
with a view to put a stop to vivisection. It stated
that the various branch associations in Great Bri-
tain and Ireland had lost none of their practical ef-
ficiency, but there are still many great cities of the
empire in which no active measures had been taken
for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and in
which much inhumanity is practised. The income
had exceeded that of last year, and 554 convictions
had been obtained by the society against persons for
cruelty to animals. Several legacies of various
amounts had been left to the society, and sums
amounting to £l6l in all had been contributed to
the special vivisection fund, £lOO of which had been
given by Mr. Buckeridge. Mr. Mackinnon, M.P.,
at some length, moved the adoption of the report,
which was seconded by Sir J. Scott Lillie, and
carried. Sir J. B. East, M.P., proposed the
second resolution, according a vote of thanks to the
deputations which had gone to the conference at
Dresden and to Paris, which was seconded by the
Rev. I. W. North, and also carried. On the motion
proposing the re-electiun of the committee and
officers for the ensuing year a long and animated
discussion took place, in:which the Rev. T. Jackson,
Professor Spooner of the Royal Veterinary College,
Mr. Curling, Sir J. B. East, Dr. Fraser, and other
gentlemen took part, and eventually, after two
amendments had been put and lost, the original
motion was carried. The Marquis of Westminster
then proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman for
presiding, which was seconded by Sir Walter Stir-
ling, and the proceedings terminated.