548 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



among us, through the weaknefs and corruption 

 of many women, who are far from being difpleafed 

 with having a bully for a lover. To thofe moral 

 caufes, no doubt, we mult afciibe that flrange 

 contradidion in our government, which prohibits 

 duelling, and, at the fame time, permits the public 

 exercife of an art, which pretends to teach nothing 

 clfe but how to fight duels*. The pupils trained in 

 the National Schools (hould be taught to entertain 

 a very different idea of courage; and in the courfe 

 of their ftudies, they fliould perform a courfe of 

 human life, in which they fliould be inftruded in 

 what manner they ought one day to demean thcm- 

 felves toward a fellow-citizen, and toward an 

 enemy. 



The feafon of youth would glide away agreeably 

 and ufefuUy, amidft fuch a number of employ- 

 ments. The mind and the body would expand 



* Fencing-mafters tell us that their art expands the body, and 

 teaches to walk gracefully, Dancing-mafters fay the fame thing 

 of theirs. As a proof that they are miftaken, both thefe clafTes 

 of gentlemen are readily diftinguiflied by their afFci^ied manner 

 of walking. A citizen ought to have neither the attitude nor 

 the movements of a gladiator. But if the art of fencing be ne- 

 ceiTarv, duelling ought to be permitted by public authority, in 

 order to relieve perfons of charafter from the cruel alternative of 

 equally diftionouring themfelves, by violating the Laws of the 

 State and of Religion, or by obferving them. In truth, worth- 

 lefs people are, among us, very much at their eafe. 



