^04 On the Use and Abuse df 



which legislates for man as he is, not altogether 

 as he ought to be. — ^Suffer the passions to" reign 

 iincontrouled, and you dissolve the bonds of 

 society : stifle the active energies of a resolute 

 independent spirit, and you degrade the man 

 into a passive slave. The feeling of resentment 

 for. unprovoked injliry and insult is a salutary, 

 if not -instinctive provision of our common 

 nature. ' It may be asked-—" Is man then to 

 be the judge and avenger of his ov^n wrongs ? 

 Is .not: every offence against the person of a 

 citizen a breach of the " laws of society ? and 

 should it not be punished as such r" Cer- 

 tainly r-i^But if in the best regulated states, it 

 be found impracticable to prevent man from 

 frequently- asserting a claim to the vindication 

 of his own real or supposed wrongs, it then 

 becomes a question of expediency as to the most 

 preferable mode by w^hich he may be enabled 

 -to obtain this end. Boxing may not unjustly 

 be considered as the most eligible means of 

 offence and defence. It is properly ranked 

 among those athletic exercises, which, at the 

 same time that they impart address and 

 strength to the body, inspire courage and for- 

 titude in the mind. It may indeed lead bad 

 hearts and bad heads into acts of presumption 

 .and petty tyranny ; Mt this propensity to an 

 improper- Exertion of skill and courage would 



