Genre:

Letter, Introduction; Extract

Publications extracted:

Murray 1826

Subjects:

Cruelty, Theology of Nature, Animal Behaviour, Menageries

    The first extract contains Lindley Murray's autobiographical thoughts on his cruelty to animals as a child: 'I ought to have reflected, that all animals have assigned to them, by the Author of nature, a pleasurable existence; and that it is our duty to second his intention, as we have opportunity, and especially to avoid all occasions of inflicting upon them unnecessary pain' (28). A second extract reports an incident in which his tormenting of an elephant was remembered and punished by the elephant.