Star.
London, England, 1826-03-23 00:00:00

BBAR BAITING AT BOULOGNU.

TO THE EDITOR Oft THE STAR.
&moos; sus Mu, Mamas it, 11146.
tilt,-.-A disgraceful exhibition of one of the most
!erocious animal fights that has ever Outraged civilized
laciety tank place here lately, and as 4n idea prevailed
among the F`rersch that such brutal sports ate " the
popular and favourite amusements of the English," 1
am anxious to vindicate my countrymen resident here
from such a charge. The fact is, that when this Bear
Baiting was announced, a subscription was commenced
by several English Ladies, in order to indemnity tt•e
Pruprie,or o' the Bear for the expence incurred in its
purchase and conveyance hither, on the condition of
saving it from what is justly termed a:brutal persecution
—unto, tunately, however,- the subscription was tom
menced too late.

The expression of British feeling on this occasion,
together sith. the following very just and spirited re-
.fl!ct loos on the subject, which appealed in the Boulogne
.41Guin, have, hoot ever, had one good effect, that of
procui in_! an assurance on the part of the French autho-
rities, " that no further exhibition of such disgusting
scenes vtillobe again permitted within their jurisdiction.'
f llos ios is the article from the Boulogne Album.
to which I have alluded.-1 am, &c.
" It is .t the express desire of several English Gentlemen, that
we should publicly express how unfounded and untrue the impres-
sion is, that these Russian-sports are in the taste of the English ge-
nerally ; and to state also, that the late disgusting exhibition was
neither wished fur or promoted by them ; and that several names
were even inserted in the subscribers' list without leave of the par-
ties—some of whom entertain the greatest and most marked abhor-
rence to a practice so base—and that many Gentlemen had put
down their names, thinking it fur the charity only,' (as really in-
tended by the Ladies' subscription afterwards projected, so highly
to the honour of our female competitors sbroad,) of purchasing the
bear for a deserving man., without the idea of a rams Su far front
being a general feeling of the better classes of society in England, the
contrary is the fact. And we would observe, that mess who really
and truly can derive a pleasure fron► coolly and deliberately seeing an
unoffendiog animal tied to a stake, for the purpose of being lacerated
and torn to pieces by hrocious dogs; and to see those dogs, who
were trained by their more cruel masters, lacerated and mangled in
all the horror we have described; (the description gives true in
every part of its detail,; as it is, it could he but now a needless har-
rowing of every benevolent feeling to repeat) silents, by the plea-
sure they experience, their ruling passion to be cruelty.' The Editor
. concludes by recommending his fair countrywomen, in his warm-

hearted appeal to their ever anticipated sympathy, that evety wo-
man should turn with disgust from the voice, and shrink from the
touch of the man who can pay her so ill a compliment as to derive
as great, aini pet haps greater pleasure, front deliberately causing, and
enthusiastically witnessing, the blood, cries, and excruciating agonie
of living creatures, as in the charms of her accomplishments and the
delights of her society. Men who are really cursed with cruel pro..
pensities, should ue hunted to herd in their own circle of similar
spirits--out of the pale of civilized society."
• Mr. EJlzasu, the proprietor of a Menagerie on the Continent,
having lost his entire collection, as well as a large sum of money in
qiecie, in a vessel shipwrecked on the Dutch coaat, subscription bad
lira) made both among this French and English to afford him the
weans of forming a new establishment ; under which idea another
,ollectinu was set on foot, by which many were misled, fur Jarmo,
as well as buying for hint, a very fine 0 darer bear!"