ADVERTISEMENT. In the latter months of the year 1837 an Advertisement appeared in the name of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, offering a premium for the best Essay on "The Obligation of Man as regards the Brute Creation." The following extract will best explain the nature of the work required, and afford a standard to examine in what degree these pages, written in that competition, have fulfilled their object. The Adjudicators named for the office of examination, were the Earl of Caernarvon, President of the Society, the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, and Mr. Serjeant Talfourd. "The Committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have the pleasure of announcing to the Public the Donation of a benevolent Friend to the cause of Humanity. "This humane individual intends to confer the sum of One hundred POUNDS upon the Writer of that Essay which, in the opinion of Arbitrators, to be appointed by the Society, shall combine in the highest degree literary merit, with a judicious treatment of the subject, and the best practical, moral, and religious application. "The Essay required is one which shall morally illustrate, and religiously enforce, the obligation of man towards the inferior and dependent creatures-their protection and security from abuse, more especially as regards those engaged in the service, and for the use and benefit of mankind—on the sin of cruelty-the infliction of wanton or unnecessary pain, taking the subject under its various denominations-exposing the specious defence of vivisection on the ground of its being for the interests of science-the supplying the infinite demands on the poor animal in aid of human speculations by exacting extreme labour, and thereby causing excessive suffering-humanity to the brute as harmonious with the spirit and doctrines of Christianity, and the duty of man as a rational and accountable creature." |