Samuel Argent Bardsley
Memoirs—Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester
On the Use and Abuse of Popular Sports and Exercise
「1781」Samuel Argent Bardsley, M.D., “On the Use and Abuse of Popular Sports and Exercise<” in Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester「Google Books」(1781; London, 1805).
That there should be found such abettors bloody and barbarous diversions of cock-fighting and bull-baiting, is both a subject for suprize and regret.—These two amusements seem to have survived the destruction of many other sports equally as unmeaning and barbarous; but that they should not have entirely yielded to the improved state of manners—or the interference of the laws, is a subject of just reproach to us by foreigners, and of deserved reprobation by the humane and reflecting of our countrymen.…This picture confirms the general truth of the position:—That as a nation a nation improves in manners and civilization, it loses its high relish for inhumane and ferocious diversions. (190-1)
Cruelty in every shape is unjustifiable;—but wanton, deliberate barbarity is dishonourable to our nature, and contrary to the principles of natural religion, honour, justice and humanity. (196-7)
Of all the cruel sports, bull-baiting, as generally practised, is, perhaps, the least defensible. It is not only cruel, but a foolish and detestable diversion. That the spectacle of two animals endowed with courage, strength and activity, exerting their antipathies to each others destruction.…That any human being should delight in beholding a noble and useful animal ties to a stake, and deprived in great measure of the means of offence and defence, and then worried and tormented by dogs and men, is a port so insipid, so unsportsman-like and so cruel, as to excite wonder as well as detestation. But the advocates of these and similar cruel diversions, exclaim in a tone of triumphant Interrogation—”Do not these sports inspire manly courage and contempt of danger?”—Certainly not. They are only calculated to generate cruelty and a thirst for blood. They may, indeed, inspire ferocity and insensibility to danger, but they are unfit to impart genuine and manly fortitude. (197-8)
Throwing at cocks is another specimen of unmeaning brutality confined solely to our own country. After being familiarized to the barbarous destruction of this courageous bird in the cock-pit, it was only advancing one step further in the progress of cruelty, to fasten this most gallant animal to a stake, in order to murder him piece-meal.—This detestable barbarity has declined as our manners have become more polished and humane; but the strong hand of the law was obliged to interfere in many places to hasten its abolition. (197-8)
Can it be necessary to prove, that habits of indifference to human suffering are acquired by repeated acts of cruelty to brutes; and that the sympathy of our natures must be blunted in proportion to our familiarly with scenes of unnecessary and wanton barbarity?…Let all barbarous diversions be entirely abolished; but especially the sport of bull-baiting be the first offering to be sacrificed at the shrines of humanity and justice! (200)
We are informed by the public prints, that Dr. Bardsley has lately laid before the philosophical Society of Manchester, an elaborate paper on the use and abuse of popular sports and exercises, as a national object. The doctor, in his disquisition on the various sports or modes of amusement adopted by both the ancients and moderns, very humanely and rationally condemns all such as cannot be exercised without wanton cruelty and injustice, ranging in this class particularly the baiting of animals.—Discriminator, letter to the editor, “On Humanity to Beasts,” Universal Magazine 5 (1806-Jun): 489-91.
