Popular Sports and Exercises. 2 1 1 



law, offenders of this description — But, alas ! 

 these just denunciations have little availed. — 

 Is it not then highly probable, that the evil 

 which the severity of the law has been unable 

 to correct, might be gradually and effectually 

 abolished, or at least greatly mitigated, by 

 the encouragement of a more manly, and less 

 dangerous mode of terminating the quarrels 

 of the populace ? — In the Southern parts of 

 this kingtlom very rarely (and then chiefly in 

 pitched battles for gain) is there any danger to 

 life or limb from the practice of fair boxing. — 

 If then in the public schools and large manu- 

 factories of Lancashire, where immense num- 

 bers of boys are under the entire controul of 

 their masters and employers, some pains were 

 taken to introduce the manly system of boxing, 

 and the laws of honour, by which it is regu- 

 lated, there can scarcely be room to doubt, 

 but that the life of man would be more re- 

 spected — barbarous propensities subdued, and 

 the present character of the county rescued 

 from the stigma of savage rudeness. It has 

 been asserted, by those qualified to judge, 

 that since the laie diffusion of the knowledge 

 of the pugilistic art by itinerant practitioners 

 among the Northe'rn inhabitants of this king- 

 dom, the mere exertions of brutal strength and 

 ferocity have somewhat fallen into disu$e, 

 Dd2 ♦ 



