The FAVORITE AMUSEMENTS of slaveholders, like the gladiatorial shows of Rome and the Bull Fights of Spain, reveal a public feeling insensible to suffering, and a depth of brutality in the highest degree revolting to every truly noble mind.  One of their most common amusements is cock fighting.  Mains of cocks, with twenty, thirty, and fifty cocks on each side, are fought for hundreds of dollars aside.  The fowls are armed with steel spurs or ‘gafts,’ about two inches long.  These ‘gafts’ are fastened upon the legs by sawing off the natural ‘spur,’ leaving only enough of it to answer the purpose of a stock for the tube of the “gafts,” which are so sharp that at a stroke the fowls thrust them through each other’s necks and heads, and tear each other’s bodies till one or both dies, then two others are brought forward for the amusement of the multitude assembled, and this barbarous pastime is often kept up for days in succession, hundreds and thousands gathering from a distance to witness it.  The following advertisements from the Raleigh Register, June 18, 1838, edited by Messrs. Gales and Son, the father and brother of Mr. Gales, editor of the National Intelligencer, and late Mayor of Washington City, reveal the public sentiment of North Carolina.

“CHATHAM AGAINST NASH, or any other county in the State.  I am authorized to take a bet of any amount that may be offered, to FIGHT A MAIN OF COCKS, at any place that may be agreed upon by the parties—­to be fought the ensuing spring.  GIDEON ALSTON.  Chatham county, June 7, 1838.”

Two weeks after, this challenge was answered as follows: 

“TO MR. GIDEON ALSTON, of Chatham county, N.C.

“SIR:  In looking over the North Carolina Standard of the 20th inst.  I discover a challenge over your signature, headed ’Chatham against Nash,’ in which you state:  that you are ’authorized to take a bet of any amount that may be offered, to fight a main of cocks, at any place that may be agreed upon by the parties, to be fought the ensuing spring’ which challenge I ACCEPT:  and do propose to meet you at Rolesville, in Wake county, N.C. on the last Wednesday in May next, the parties to show thirty-one cocks each—­fight four days, and be governed by the rules as laid down in Turner’s Cock Laws—­which, if you think proper to accede to, you will signify through this or any other medium you may select, and then I will name the sum for which we shall fight, as that privilege was surrendered by you in your challenge.

“I am, sir, very respectfully, &c.  NICHOLAS W. ARRINGTON, near Hilliardston, Nash co.  North Carolina June 22nd, 1838”

The following advertisement in the Richmond Whig, of July 12, 1837, exhibits the public sentiment of Virginia.

“MAIN OF COCKS.—­A large ‘MAIN OF COCKS,’ 21 a side, for $25 ’the fight’, and $500 ‘the odd,’ will be fought between the County of Dinwiddie on one part, and the Counties of Hanover and Henrico on the other.