ASPCA Letter book, 1868

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been called to an account for outrageous treatment of animals in their power, but they have managed to wriggle out of the hands of justice.

On the score of health, I think they can be [proceeded?] against; and [if?] you [illegible] [in?] opinion with me, it would be serving [the?] cause of justice & humanity [to?] enquire into their conduct. I have the honor to be your obt servant Henry [underlined] Bergh [underlined] Pres

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25 August 8.

[illegible] Esq

Sp[illegible] N.Y.

Dear Sir.

Your esteemed favor of 24th is [received?] and [hasten?] to reply to its contents.

Your can best subserve the good work of Mercy to "Our Dumb Animals" [illegible] calling on your fellow [townsmen?] [Messrs?] D.P. Phelps and I.L. Boggs [waging?] and uniting with them in forming a Society in your city, to carry out by organized effort the [great?] object of preventing cruelty to this vast portion of God's creation.

The two gentlemen named have expressed deep feeling on this subject, and we wrote Mr. Phelps on 13 May 1867 [very?] fully with documents [being?] [therein?], also to Mr. Bogg on 17 March 1868 [very?] fully with duplicate documents.

We regret that no action has been taken by these gentleman to organise an Institution for Onondaga County and our hopes are again raised by your letter that steps will immediately be taken to carry out this [much?] to be desired object.

These two gentlemen have the [fullest?] information, documents furnished them by me and if you will call on them, there is no doubt that you will find them able & willing [coadjutors?].

It would afford us pleasure to hear from you again and in the [illegible] [illegible]

Your Very Respy J Mudie Chief Clerk

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Aug 30 8 Mr Abraham Brown Supt Belt Road 1st av & 36th st

Dear Sir

My personal friend, Mr. A. H. Campbell, was most outrageously assaulted & insulted by one of the drivers of the Beltline of Railroad on the 26th inst; by abusing him & actually spitting [underlined] in his face! Now Sir for the sake of common decency, as well as interest, I recommend that this [scamp?] be dismissed [your?]service without delay. To retain such a fellow in the employ of your [illegible], would be to endorse the acts of one, who [would?] only be [suffered?] to associate with [swine?], & could not fail to bring the Co, into great discredit. I ask, therefore, that this creature be discharged immediately; and write thank you in advance for so doing.

The name of the fellow alluded to is John [Faloy?] Car 57

Respectfully, Henry [underlined] Bergh [underlined]

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1 Sept. 8

Mrs. Rebecca Weaver Boston Mass.

Dear Madam,

Your esteemed letters came [duly?] to [hand?]. The reason, that your first one was not answered, was I did not know your address, you having written the letter without any date or place.

The request however, made by you, that a copy of our 2nd Annual Report [&c?] be forwarded to Mr. Thos. Steere, editor of The Morning Herald, was immediately complied with, and the documents forwarded by mail on 09 Aug.

The excitement exisiting in the public mind in regard to the cattle plague, will have a good effect in opening the eyes of the people to the fact of the cruelties practised upon the cattle brought by rail to the Eastern seaboard, & there is no doubt that they have been the [predisposing?] cause of the fearful epidemic now raging among them, we trust, in view of the dangers [hovering?] over us, that our Legislation, if they have no regard for the poor brutes, will have some regard for themselves & their [constituents?], & enact laws for the better [care?] of animals brought by railroad, & made to yield up their lives for the sustenance

21

of mankind. what their want of humanity has rendered them indifferent to, their fears as to themselves, will in all probability cause them to do.

While I & my colleagues perfectly agree with you in regard to your article "Concerning crabs" we deem it prudent, in the present state of the [public?] mind, not to interfere, but we think such articles are admirably [illegible] to arouse the attention of the public, and by their [fears?] compel them to refrain from purchasing the creatures, & the restaurant keepers & other dealers in such commodities will be taught through their purses, to exercise a more humane method of keeping them, until [required?] for the table.

You can [underlined] be very useful in furthering the objects of this Institution, by your pen & your womanly influence, men may sneer and consider that it is none of a woman's business, nevertheless there are very few men who do not care for one of your [sex's] indignant words & contempt, & their appeals in aid of such a good [cause?] will [underlined] sink into their hearts & produce in time the desired change.

Let us hear from you as often as you find it convenient to do so and believe me to be

Dear Madam Yours Very Respectfully

J Mudie Chief Clerk