, ON SPORTS AND EXERCISE*. 215 



for the devotion of the lower rants of the people to those 

 amusements which are derived from the fiutferings of the 

 Jjrute creation. 



Although t)ie resemblance (whether it be original or 

 imitative is of little importance) between the cruel diver- 

 sions of England and olRomej^may be considered a sub- 

 ject of just regret; yet the similarity in some of the 

 manly exercises and hardy sports, practised by the two 

 nations, cannot but claim our warm and just admiration. 



If we have retained more of the barbarous sports of Especially 

 antiquity than the rest of Europe, there is the merit due amongst us; 

 to us of having more extensively adopted and practised mostly athlc 

 those amusements and exercises, which inure the body to tic. 

 -labour and fatiguej and inspire the mind with courage 

 and emulation. In treating on the general character and 

 spirit of some of the sports and exercises of the people of 

 England, it will not be necessary to enter into particular 

 detail. It is only proposed to hint at those of a popular 

 nature, and which seem to be interwoven with the cus- 

 toms and manners of the mass of the people. They may 

 be comprised under two heads. 



1st. The sports which are derived from the animal 

 creation. ^ 



2d. The amusements which depend upon bodily exer- 

 cises and personal contests. 



• I. It cannot be denied, that mankind, at every period Britl&h sports, 

 of society and under every diversity of country and go- contests of ani- 

 vernment, have rendered the animal race subservient to ^^ ^' 

 their wanton and cruel sports. But the universality and 

 antiquity of a practice, founded on inhumanity an^ im- 

 policy, arc inadequate to sanction its utility and conti- 

 nuance. If it can be shewn that barbarous sports tend 

 to brutalize the human character, and are inconsistent 

 with the manifest intentions of Providence; the argu- 

 ment derived from long custom and authority must fall to 

 the ground. There is a sympathy implanted in our na- 

 tures, which renders us feelingly alive to the pains and 

 pleasures of our fellow-creatures, and is even extended to 

 every part of the animal creation. Upon the due exer- 

 cise of this principle depends great part of our social and 

 individual happiness. — Whatever then has a tendency to 

 Ff ^ diminisl^ 



