198 On the Use ajid Abuse of 



and so cruel, as to excite wonder as well as 

 detestation. But the advocates of these and 

 similar cruel diversions, exclaim in a tone of 



triumphant interrogation " Do not these 



sports inspire manly courage and contempt of 

 danger ?" — Certainly not. They are only cal- 

 culated to generate cruelty and a thirst for 

 blood. They may, indeed, inspire ferocity and 

 insensibility to danger, but they are unfit to 

 impart genuine and manly fortitude. 



The Romans indulged, as before remarked, 

 in these savage diversions to a greater extent 

 than any other nation of antiquity ; yet they did 

 not excel the Greeks, nor have surpassed the. 

 moderns, in the display of military ardour and 

 true courage. 



It is a superficial and unphilosophical view 

 of the subject, to consider the barbarous sports 

 of Rome contributing to the establishment of 

 her power and military fame. These spectacles 

 never became common till after Hannibars. 

 defeat; and that the Romans, subsequent to 



foreigner lo remark, when describing our popular di- 

 version, as follbws.— " The women of Rome beheld bar- 

 barities and murders in cold blood ; but the bcxing- 

 matches — the bull-bai(ings, cock fightings, and tie nii* 

 merous attendance of both sexes at public executions, 

 indicate that there is at least a remnant of llouFvan 

 manners, and the taste of those tinjes, left in,Eng!&iid," , \ 



