The following meetings took place on Thursday week:—
Lord Aberdare presided at the fifty-eighth annual meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which was held at St. James's Hall. The adoption of the report was moved by Mr. Arthur Arnold, M.P., and seconded by Mr. Forster, who referred to pigeon-shooting as a dastardly sport, at once unmanly and unwomanly. The prizes won in the essay competitions started by the Ladies' Committee were distributed by Princess Beatrice.—Baroness Burdett-Coutts presided at a meeting, held on the following day at St. James's Hall, and distributed the prizes and certificates offered by the society for the best essays on kindness to animals, written by pupils attending public schools in London. Mr. John Colam, the secretary to the society, stated that nearly 17,000 essays had been sent in, the larger portion being the productions of boys. About 500 schools had competed. The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol took part in the proceedings, and addressed some words of encouragement to the children.

Source: The Illustrated London News, July 8, 1882, p.47