William Hamilton Drummond
Rights of Animals
Rights of Animals, An Introduction
「1838」 William Hamilton Drummond, “Rights of Animals,” ch. 1 in Rights of Animals, and Man’s Obligation to Treat Them with Humanity 「Google Books」 (Boston, 1838).
There are many men of true benevolence and humanity to their fellowmen who yet seem unconscious that these virtues should be extended to the animal creation. Their compassionate feelings, which are sensibly touched by a tale of human woe, are never excited for the sufferings and labours of animals whose strength is wasted and life sacrificed in the service of man. This want of sympathy must be the result of inattention to a subject which formed no part of their early education, and which had at no time been properly brought before them as a theme for moral consideration. They have never been led to reflect that many animals are as delicately constituted and as sensible to pain as themselves—that all of them, as well as man, have their rights, which it is both unjust and cruel to violate or infringe. (2)
This work comes out opportunely as a Christmas present. A more entertaining or morally instructive volume cannot be put into the hands of young persons; and we fear there are many adults who have yet to learn some of its lessons of compassion and mercy.—Christian Reformer 6 (1839-Jan) 51-2.
This is an admirable book. Its design is excellent: and the execution such as might have been anticipated from the writer’s zeal, learning, and ability, and from the deep sympathy which he has ever manifested in the lot of every thing that lives and feels. The theme of humanity to the inferior tribes of creation, does not now for the first time employ the pen of Dr. Drummond. An excellent Discourse upon the subject was some time since given to the public, at the request of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and frequent references to it are scattered through his other works, but more especially in that interesting poem, the Pleasures of Benevolence; and in the present essay, the whole subject is discussed with clearness and discrimination, with convincing logic, and the eloquence of nature and truth. The acquaintance which Dr. Drummond has cherished with the beautiful and wonderful works of nature, has enabled him to enrich the present essay with an astonishing variety of interesting and pertinent illustrations; which render it not only a decisive argument upon the subject which it is employed in discussing, but a most curious and valuable repertory of facts in natural history, physiology, &c. such as perhaps was never before presented to the world in any volume of the same extent. The book is thus rendered a valuable aid not only to truth and virtue, but to science itself: for it is hardly possible to rise from its perusal without experiencing a great increase of the amount of scientific knowledge previously possessed, and such an interest in the objects and applications of natural history, as must give a powerful impulse to that branch of study. There are two chapters, however, which, we think, ought to be engraven on the memory and heart of every guardian of youth. The first, is that which treats of humanity to animals as a subject of education; one of the most important applications of the principles established in the previous part of the essay.—Bible Christian 1 (1839-Apr) 91-96.
We are glad to meet our respected friend, who deserves so much of the friends of Christian truth, in the walks of humanity and benevolence. There is an intimate union between truth and mercy. Let them ever e conjoined by our advocates. This beautiful and tasteful volumes should be placed in all our congregational libraries.—Unitarian Baptist Advocate 3 (1839-Apr): 93
This is a book which it does one’s head and heart good to read. It evinces extensive scholarship highly cultivated taste, an enlightened philosophy, and it running over with the spirit of the purest Christian benevolence. We have seldom sat down to the perusal of a gook with greater pleasure, or risen from it with greater reluctance. If all men and women, we have said to ourselves, were like the author of “The Rights of Animals,” what a present heaven would not earth become! Knowledge and benevolence would be co-extensive with humanity—the rights of each would be respected by all—each would do all as he or she would wish to be done by—the most insignificant or unsightly thing that creeps or crawls would be regarded, not in words, but in reality, as the workmanship of the same great Being who made man erect in his own image, not that he might in the wantonness of power, and for the sake of a spurious sport, being “even the sparrow” to the ground—but that he might be a co-worker with Himself, with Him whose holiest name is Love, and whose tender mercies are over all his works, in the diffusion of happiness amongst all the creatures which live, move, and have their being in Divine beneficence. But all men, unfortunately, are not like the Poet of Benevolence; and hence the necessity of such works as his present one, on “The Rights of Animals,” being written, printed, and widely circulated…We would very gladly strengthen our recommendatory notice, by more copious extracts; but our limits forbid. The quotations we have given, however, are sufficient, we think, to show that our encomiums are not unmerited; and we trust that their perusal will induce all who can afford it, to procure Dr. Drummond’s book for themselves, and carefully to read and digest its entire contents.—Christian Pioneer 8 (1839-Jun) 236-40
If this my lecture does no other good, it will do well in recommending to your perusal—and as it is not dear, to your purchase, a treatise on the rights of animals, and man’s obligation to treat them with humanity, by our own amiable townsman, Dr. Drummond, whose book on this subject (THOUGH I CANNOT RECOMMEND HIS SERMONS), I can venture to say, is learnedly, feelingly, and persuasively written, and quite free from any taint of his peculiar tenets.—Rev. C. Otway, Intellectuality of Domestic Animals (c1840)
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The volume is rich to overflowing with the kindly and enlightened spirit of humanity.—GLASGOW ARGUS. This book is beautifully written. The author is an able advocate of humanity, and we wish his learned and philanthropise work the utmost circulation possible—BELFAST NEWS LETTER. Throughout this volume Dr. Drummond evinces extensive reading and a humane and highly cultivated mind.—SCOTSMAN. A sober and sensible appeal to the bar of human justice, in behalf of persecuted beings, supported by cogent arguments, and the still sterner evidence of irrefragable facts.—DUBLIN WEEKLY HERALD. A more entertaining or morally instructive volume cannot be put into the hands of young persons.—CHRISTIAN REFORMER. This is a book which it does one’s head and heart good to read. It evinces extensive scholarship, highly cultivated taste, and enlightened philosophy, and it is running over with the spirit of the purest Christian benevolence. —CHRISTIAN PIONEER. This is an admirable book. Its design is excellent, and the execution such as might have been anticipated; the subject is discussed with clearness and discrimination, with convincing logic and the eloquence of nature and truth.—BIBLE CHRISTIAN. (Advertisement for The Pleasures of Benevolence and The Rights of Animals, by William Drummond [in various books by the author.)