Popular Sports and Exercises. 189 



the benefit of health and exercise, where the 

 enjoyment of pleasure springs from the exertion 

 of our active faculties, must not be compared 

 with those depraved and cruel sports, which 

 merely consist in the torture and destruction of 

 the animal. In the present state of society, 

 active diversions become almost necessary to 

 the well being of the opulent and sedentary 

 classes of mankind. Man cannot be happy 

 without occasional active employment. He 

 pines in the lap of ease and pleasure, and re* 

 quires the stimulus of animated exertion.r^ 

 Hunting in all stages of society, has therefore 

 formed a principal share of the business and 

 pleasure of man. But in this kingdom espe^ 

 cially, a considerable portion of its inhabitants 

 devote part of their time to the active and vi- 

 gorous pursuits of the chace. And although it 

 may be urged in favour of this exercise, that it 

 invigorates the spirits, teaches men to despise 

 enervating pleasure, and inures them patiently 

 to sustain hunger, cold and fatigue ; yet it 

 cannot be denied, that it has a tendency^ 

 when too eagerly pursued, to blunt the sensi- 

 bility, — to render the manners rude and coarse, 

 and thus to degrade the dignity of the human 

 character. The man of enlarged understand- 

 ing, liberal notions and elegant manners, may 

 occasionally call in the aid of the chace to re- 



