206 On the Ufe and Abuse of ' 



rocity. In * Italy, the stiletto is not only the 

 weapon of the hired assassin, but is abo kept 

 ready in the bosom of the respectable citizen, 

 to be plunged into the heart of his friend or 

 neighbour, upon any sudden provocation from 

 anger, or motive of revenge. 



AVhen the passions are under greater re- 

 straint, from the hifluence of laws, of climate 

 and of custom, such dreadful consequences do 

 not ensue from the quarrels of the populace. f 

 Yet even in France, and most parts of Ger- 

 many, the quarrels of the people are deter- 

 mined by a brutal appeal to force, directed in 



* In an authentic publication of ilie fife of the lafe 

 Pope, it is affirmed, (hat upwards of 1000 person*; 

 annually fall victims in Rome to the stiletto ; either by 

 the hands of the hired assassin, or in private quarrels* 

 Dr. Moore reckons the nuniber of murders in Naples 

 by the dagger, at not less than 400 annually. 



f The mode of fighting in Holland, among the seamen 

 and others, is well known by the appellation of Snickcr- 

 Snee. In this contest sharp knives are used ; and the 

 parties frequently maim, and sometimes, destroy each 

 other. — The government deems it necessary to tolerate 

 this savage practice — Certain fines arc imposed if wounds 

 be inflicted on dangerous parts of the body; but a very 

 trifling, and indeed seldom any punishment ensues, pro- 

 vided the general rules of the combat have been ad- 

 hered to. 



