6n sports and exercises^ 321 



Grand Jury, that the number of persons indicted for 

 murder, or manslaughter, in consequence of the bestial 

 mode of fighting practised in this county, far exceeded that 

 of the whole Northern* circuit; and that, in future, 

 they were determined to punish with the utmost rigour 

 of the htw, offt;nders of this description — But, alas ! 

 these just denunciations have little availed. Is it not 

 then highly probable, that the evil which the severity of 

 the law has been unable to correct, might be gradually 

 and elTectilally abolished, or at least greatly mitigated, by 

 the encouragement of a more manly, and less dangerous 

 mode of terminating the quarrels of the populace? In 

 the Southern parts of this kingdom very rarely (and then 

 chiefly in pitched battles for gain) is there any danger to 

 life or limb from the practice of fair boxing. If then in It would be ad- 

 the public schools and large manufactories of Lancashire, J'roduceboxhi? 

 where immense numbers of boys are under the entire into the manu- 

 controul of their masters and employers, some pains were ^^^^""^^2 

 taken to introduce the manly system of boxing, and the 

 laws of honour, by which it is regulated, there can 

 scarcely be room to doubt, but that the life of man would 

 be more respected — barbarous propensities subdued, and 

 the prc:sent character of the county rescued from the^ 

 stigma of savage rudeness. It has been asserted, bjr 

 those qualified to judge, that since the late diffusion of th« 

 knowledge of the pugilistic art by itinerant practitioners 

 among the Northern inhabitants of this kingdom, the 

 mere exertions of brutal strength and ferocity have some- 

 what fallen into disuse, both as exercises of pastime, as 

 well as means of offence and defence. In order there- 

 fore to abolish all traces of the savage mode of contest 

 which has been so fully described, would it not be advise- 

 able to hold forth prizes, at wakes and public amusements, 

 ("where the populace assemble chiefly for the purpose of 

 diversion ajid pastime) for the encouragement of those, 

 who excelled in sparring with Tnufflers ? This trial of 

 skill, force, and agility (which was at first the practice of 

 the antients) would contribute, wicler due regulations^ to 



* At one assizes, no less than nine persons were convicted of 

 manslaughter, originating from these disgraceful encounters. 



Vol. XV,— Dec. 1806. Xx invigorat« 



