ON SPOUTS AND EXERCISES. 2l^ 



hamanity of other diversions, once highly cherished, and 

 still too much practised by the people of this country. 

 Some of these national sports are sanctioned by the prac- Cock-figbting 

 lice and encouragement of many persons distinguished for fn^condcmned 

 rank and talents. — That there should be found such abet- 

 tors of the bloody and barbarous diversions of cock-Jlght- 

 ing and bull-baitings is both a subject for surprise and 

 regret. — These two amusements seem to have survived 

 the destruction of many other sports equally as unmean- 

 ing and barbarous ; but that they should not have entire- 

 ly yielded to the improved state of manners — or the 

 interference of the laws, is a subject of just reproach to 

 us by foreigners, and of deserved reprobation by -the 

 humane and reflecting of our own countrymen. The re- 

 ciprocal influence of sports and manners on each other, 

 may be shown from these and similar diversions, as 

 practised in various periods of our history. A late inge- 

 nious and laborious writer* has described the ancient and 

 modern diversions of the people of Great Britain, from 

 the earliest authentic records to the present time. — This 

 picture confirms the general truth of the position : — 

 That as a nation improves in manners and civilization, it 

 loses its high relish for inhuman and ferocious diversions. 

 It is more than probable, that the sports derived from 

 animal contests, such as bull-baiting, bear-baiting, and 

 cock-fighting, are vestiges of Roman amusements intro- 

 duced by that people into this conquered island. It is 

 at least certain they were practised t in the early period 



of 



* See Strutt's Diversions and Pastimes of the People of Eng- 

 land. 



f The jongleurs or jugglers, in the reign of Henry the 2d, made a 

 profession of training bulls, bears, and even horses, for the purpose 

 of baiting them with dogs.— The sport of fighting cocks in pitched 

 battles, first appears on record in the same reign. During subse- 

 quent reigns this sport became general ; and to the disgrace of our 

 country was countenanced by royal favour during James the ist and 

 Charles the and's reign. If the Romans set us the example in devi- 

 •ing these sports, it must be confessed, we have " bettered the in- 

 struction." For to English refinement and ingenuity may be as- 

 cribed the noble invention of the GalHe or Spur ; by the aid of 

 which, the gallant combatants of the cockpit mangle, torture and 

 destroy cjich gther ; no d,oubt to thf great satisfs^ction aod delight 



of 



