ASPCA Letter book, 1868

12

That you should have condescended to mention my name in so eloquent an appeal, I [need?] not say honors me beyond [expression?].

Your note of the 21[st inst?] - just received - concludes by a melancholy announcement - and I assure you no stranger [can?] more [sincerely?] pity the poor lady, than [myself?]. Again assuring you of the regret I feel at what I lost by not being present to hear your admirable address.

I have the honor to remain Your most obt Servant Henry [underlined] Bergh [underlined]

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Aug 24 8

Nathan C. Ely Esquire

My dear Sir

I desire to assure you of the sincere regret I experience at not having been present at the last meeting of the Farmers Club, over which you so worthily preside; but, I knew nothing of the subject which was to be discussed, until the day after its delivery, I have, however, read & pondered the beautiful address of Dr. Smith; and the report of the entire proceedings is carefully placed in the [archives?] of [this?] Society.

I feel honored beyond my [merit?], and power of acknowledgement, at your flattering allusion to my humble self , on that occasion; because of the assurace it affords me of your distinguihsed approval of what we are doing, for the defense of the defenseless.-

I have the honor to be

dear sir -

your most obt servant

Henry [underlined] Bergh [underlined]

14

Aug 24 8

Dr. E.H. Dixon

Dear Sir,

I have read, and highly appreciate your excellent article in the Tribune of the [illegible] inst onthe subject of cruelty to cattle: Your admirable treatment of it leaves nothing to desire; it is exhaustive in its scientfic and humane considerations.

Failure in every other effort to mitigate the sufferings of the poor brute while in course of transportation; I last winter went to the Legislature with a Bill requiring [all?] cattle cars to be [provided?] with water [thoughs?], outside the same, always accessible to the animals within them;

15

but - would you believe it possible -- our representatives [underlined] flatly refused to even allow a drop of water to the thirsty creatures, on their way to [yield?] up their lives for the sustenance of mankind!

Have you ever imagined the horrible suffering[s?] of the oxen which are carried along the shore of the Hudson river -- doomed to behold, like Tantalus, the [coveted liquid?], [yet?] denied its possession?

The apathy and indifference of our people to everything under heaven but money making -- even health -- seemes to me to surpass that of any other nation.

Again thanking you for your admirable paper, I have the honor to be your most obt Servant

Henry [underlined] Bergh [underlined]

16

Aug 25 8

Hon: Geo B. Lincoln

Dear Sir

One of our Detectives reports to me, that the slaughter [house?] at the Corner of 1st Avenue [&?] Fourth St is in a filthy condition, dangerous to health, and that the animals are kept standing in the [most?] [offensive?] [dirt?] for days at a time, before they are slaughtered. These foul accumulations are said to be at least one foot deep through[out?] [the?] place when [they?] are confined.

These [parties?] have repeatedly