Popular Sports duel Exercim. \^\ 



our own countrynlen.- The reciprocal in- 

 fluence of sports and manners on each other, 

 may be, shewn from these and similar; diver- 

 sions, as practised ia various periods of our 

 history. A I^te ingenious and laborious writer* 

 has described the ancient and modern diver- 

 sions of the people of Great Britain, from the 

 earliest 5iuthentic records tp the present time. — 

 This picture confirms, t]^. general truth of the 

 position: — That;va&r.i^ j^ation improycs.^ia 

 manners and citviUzatiQEV, it loses its high relish 

 for inlniman and ferocious diversions^ It is 

 more than probable, tjiaf the sports derived 

 from animal , contests, rrsuch as bu^Ubjiiting, 

 bear-baiting, and cock-fighting, are vestiges 

 of Roman amusements' 'introduced by that 

 people ^nto this cojuquered island. It is jat least 

 certaiQj 4h9y..'yv(?je,pi;ftgtise;d %,i% thj^^, parly 



* Sec'StruliV Diversion* aod Pastimes of.4h^,C^plc of 



England. . ; , «. : .^.^.iH --.'a ::) r :;.,£„ v,]:^ ,. [ 



t The Jongleuri' or Joggleri^ in ihe reign, of Heary 

 the 2(1 made a profession uf (raitiuig buiU, b^ai'S^ and 

 even /i07««, for ihe purpose <>/ baiting ihem wiih-ciogs. — 

 The sport of fiohling cods in pitcl*ed batllej^ first ap- 

 pears on record in lh« same reign. Dariug sub.cqiicnt 

 reigns thiy sport became gencr^alj and, to the disgrace of 

 our country, was countenanced by royal fsvonr durirvg 

 James the Island Charles the 2nd'$ reign. If the Romans 

 set us the example in devising these sports, it mutt be 

 confessed, we have ** bettered liie inslruciion.*' f9r 



