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9

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
826. Broadway. May 19th 1866.

John Kerr Esq
Prest Smith Avenue R.R.Co. Sir.

Your note of the date 17th inst [as?] received. - You therein state that a previous communication from this Society, in relations to the same car, which forms the subject of the second note, did not reach you. This circumstance I was not aware of, nor was I at liberty to infer as much, on seeing the same offence of which is complained still in active operation mnore than ten days thereafter.- There is no desire to be [illegible], on the part of this Society, where a disposition is [evinced?] to show mercy to a suffering brute. This is proved by its having written a cautious note, and then another, calling your attention to the Case, instead of enforcing the Law, as is had a right to do, without such appeal.

You further say that "this company has no intention to use any inhumanity to its own detriment."- I beg to remark that this Society has nothing to do with any matter relating to the pecuniary detriment on otherwise of your company. It was created to protect the brute creation from [violence?] [illegible], and this long deferred Act of public justice is is resoved to Execute, regardless of the pecuniary determinet which may result therefore to any one.- The horse in question I saw on both occasions, and am able to bear witness to the extreme lameness and suffering thereof: moreover the cause is admitted by you in your note; to wit, "the horse has a quarter crack in his foot, which [as?] bandage."- but at the sametime, you fail to expose any intention to allow this animal the repose from labour, which his condition requires.

Further comment is unecessary.

Resps your [illegible]
Henry Bergh, Prst