James Plumptre
Discourses on Animal Creation and Duties of Man to Them
「1816」 Rev. James Plumptre, Three Discourses on the Case of the Animal Creation, and the Duties of Man to Them [Google Books] (London, 1816).
The following discourses comprehend the substance of a Discourse on “The Duties of Man to the Brute Creation, preached before the University of Cambridge, on Sunday, May 8th, 1796, in the afternoon.” …The subject was then considered by many as trifling, and beneath the dignity of the pulpit, and especially that of the university. It was suggested to the preacher by the repeated perusal of Cowper’s Task. Much has been done since, however, to interest the minds of the public at large on the subject. (v)
The cause of the Brute Creation has been repeatedly before Parliament, and has been a theme for the eloquence of Lord Erskine. An annual sermon has been founded at Bath, in behalf of the Animal Creation, and another at Southampton: a society has been established at Liverpool, for the express purpose of preventing cruelty to Brute Creatures; and it is, also, one of the objects of the Society for the Suppression of Vice. Several valuable works have been published on the subject: amongst which must be mentioned Mr. Young’s Essay on Humanity to Animals, published in 1798; several of the Sermons [by the Rev. Charles Daubeny, the Rev. Leigh Richmond, and the Rev. Richard Mant.] preached at the before-mentioned places; and, also, one preached by Dr. Barry, at Reading; and, though last, not least, Mr. Pratt’s Poem of the Lower World. Should these Discourses, thus expanded and revised, tend to promote the same good cause, the author will account himself happy and honoured in his work. There is also, an excellent little tract… entitled, “Thought on the Duty of Mercy and Sin of Cruelty to Brute Creation,”…by Dr. Primatt, published in 1776…Mr. Parkinson’s “Dangerous Sports;” and, in a very humble way, The Vocal Repository Tract, entitled, A Word for the Dumb.(vi)
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Critical Review: “It is justly observed, that humanity to the inferior animals…has been recommended from high authority; it has been the subject of discussion in Parliament; annual sermons at Bath and at Southampton have been devoted to it, and a society has been established at Liverpool for the protection of these helpless creatures. Several valuable works have also been published in their defence, and among these are Mr. Young’s Essay on Humanity to Animals, and Mr. Pratts poem of the Lower World” Critical Review 4 (1816-Jul): 99.
Literary Panorama: “We are far from thinking the subject treated on in these Discourses, either trivial, or unbecoming the attention of a Christian auditory.…Many are guilty, in various ways, without compromising their character amongst the public by any overt act of cruelty.…We are of opinion, that those who unnecessarily cause their horse, &c. to labour on the Sabbath, have a crime to answer for, in addition to that of violating sacred time” Literary Panorama 4 (1816 Jul): 595-7.
