Chapter XII: Jenyns. 1704-1787

A supporter of the Walpole Administration, he represented the county of Cambridge, and during twenty-five years held the office of Commissioner of the Board of Trade. He wrote papers in _The World_ and other periodicals, and published two volumes of Poems. His principal book is the _Free Enquiry into the Origin of Evil_, in which he seeks to reconcile the obvious evils in the constitution of things with his optimistic creed. Johnson, who, with all his orthodoxy, was pessimistic, severely criticised this apology for Theism. In striking contrast with the indifferentism of the vast majority of his class, his just and humane feeling is sufficiently remarkable. The line of reasoning, in his comprehensive arraignment of the various atrocities perpetrated, sanctioned, or condoned by English Society or English Law in the last century, and which, for the most part, still continue (it is scarcely necessary to add), _logically_ leads to the abolition of the Slaughter-House--the fountain and origin of the evil:--

“How will Man, that sanguinary Tyrant, be able to excuse himself
from the charge of those innumerable cruelties inflicted on his
unoffending subjects, committed to his care, and placed under
his authority, by their common father? To what horrid deviations
from these benevolent intentions are we daily witnesses! No small
part of Mankind derive their chief amusement from the deaths and
sufferings of inferior Animals. A much greater part still, consider
them only as engines of wood or iron, useful in their several
occupations. The Carman drives his Horse as the Carpenter his nail
by repeated blows; and so long as these produce the desired effect,
and they both go, they neither reflect nor care whether either of
them have any sense of feeling.

“The Butcher knocks down the stately Ox with no more compassion
than the Blacksmith hammers a horse-shoe, and plunges his knife
into the throat of the innocent Lamb with as little reluctance as
the Tailor sticks his needle into the collar of a coat.[307] If
there are some few who, formed in a softer mould, view with pity
the sufferings of these defenceless beings, _there is scarce one
who entertains the least idea that Justice or Gratitude can be due
to their Merits or their Services_.

“The social and friendly Dog, if by barking, in defence of his
master’s person and property, he happens unknowingly to disturb
his rest--the generous Horse, who has carried his ungrateful
master for many years, with ease and safety, worn out with age
and infirmities contracted in his service, is by him condemned to
end his miserable days in a dust-cart, where the more he exerts
his little remains of spirit, the more he is whipped to save his
stupid driver the trouble of whipping some other less obedient
to the lash. Sometimes, having been taught the practice of many
unnatural and useless feats in a Riding-House, he is, at last,
turned out and consigned to the dominion of a hackney-coachman, by
whom he is every day corrected for performing those tricks which he
has learned under so long and severe a discipline. [Add the final
horrors of the _Knackers’ Yard_, to which sort of hell the worn-out
Horse is usually consigned.]

“The Sluggish Bear, in contradiction to his nature, is taught to
dance, for the diversion of an ignorant mob, by placing red-hot
irons under his feet. The majestic Bull is tortured by every mode
that malice can invent, for no offence but that he is unwilling
to assail his diabolical tormentors.[308] These and innumerable
other acts of Cruelty, Injustice, and Ingratitude are every day
committed--not only with impunity, but _without censure, and even
without observation_....

“The law of self-defence, undoubtedly, justifies us in destroying
those animals that would destroy us, that injure our properties,
or annoy our persons; but not even these, whenever their situation
incapacitates them from hurting us....

“If there are any [there are vast numbers even now], whose tastes
are so vitiated, and whose hearts are so hardened, as to delight in
such inhuman sacrifices [the tortures of the Slaughter-House and of
the Kitchen], and to partake of them without remorse, they should
be looked upon as demons in human shape, and expect a retaliation
of those tortures _which they have inflicted on the Innocent for
the gratification of their own depraved and unnatural appetites_.

“So violent are the passions of anger and revenge in the human
breast, that it is not wonderful that men should persecute their
real or imaginary enemies with cruelty and malevolence. But that
there should exist in Nature a being who can receive pleasure from
giving pain would be totally incredible, if we were not convinced
by melancholy experience that there are not only many--but that
this unaccountable disposition is in some manner inherent in the
nature of men.[309] For as he cannot be taught by example, nor led
to it by temptation, nor prompted to it by interest, it must be
derived from his native constitution.[310]

“We see children laughing at the miseries which they inflict on
every unfortunate animal who comes within their power. All Savages
are ingenious in contriving and executing the most exquisite
tortures, and [not alone] the common people of all countries
are delighted with nothing so much as with Bull-Baitings,
Prize-Fightings, ‘Executions,’ and all spectacles of cruelty and
horror.... They arm Cocks with artificial weapons which Nature had
kindly denied to their malevolence, and with shouts of applause and
triumph see them plunge them into each other’s hearts. They view
with delight the trembling Deer and defenceless Hare flying for
hours in the utmost agonies of terror and despair, and, at last,
sinking under fatigue, devoured by their merciless pursuers. They
see with joy the beautiful Pheasant and harmless Partridge drop
from their flight, weltering in their blood, or, perhaps, perishing
with wounds and hunger under the cover of some friendly thicket,
to which they have in vain retreated for safety.... And to add to
all this, they spare neither labour nor expense to preserve and
propagate these innocent animals for no other end than to multiply
the objects of their persecution.

“What name should we bestow upon a Supreme Being whose whole
endeavours were employed, and whose whole pleasure consisted, in
terrifying, ensnaring, tormenting, and destroying mankind; whose
superior faculties were exerted in fomenting animosities amongst
them, in contriving engines of destruction, inciting them to use
them in maiming and murdering each other; whose power over them
was employed in assisting the rapacious, deceiving the simple, and
oppressing the innocent? Who, without provocation or advantage,
should continue, from day to day, void of all pity and remorse,
thus to torment mankind for diversion; and, at the same time,
endeavouring, with the utmost care, to preserve their lives and
propagate their species, in order to increase the number of victims
devoted to his malevolence? I say, what name detestable enough
could we find for such a being. Yet if we impartially consider the
case, and our intermediate situation, with respect to inferior
animals, just such a being is a ‘Sportsman,’ [and let us add,
by way of corollary, _à fortiori_ one who consciously sanctions
the daily and hourly cruelties of the Slaughter-House and the
Butcher.”]--_Disquisition II._ “On Cruelty to Animals,” by Soame
Jenyns.