ISS*.] Strictures on Pugilism 



To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 



SIR, 



1 SHALL feel myself very mucb 

 oldiged if, throii';li tlie medium of 

 your very useful publication, you will 

 permit me to enquire, Wiiat is the eou- 

 stitution of the Merchant Seamen's 

 Hospital, whose office is in the Royal 

 Exchange, London? How the funds 

 raised are <lisposed of? And if any 

 public meetings are held, or any annual 

 or other account is published of the 

 proceedings of this institution ? 



Lewes, Sussex; O. S. 



April 15, 1824. 



503 



To the Editor of the Mmithlij Magazine. 

 SIR, 



I FLATTER myself that but little 

 apology is necessary for calling the 

 attention of your numerous readers to 

 the increased practice and prevalence 

 of pugilism. As your columns are de- 

 voted to objects of usefulness, and ever 

 open to purposes calculated for the 

 diminution of any e\isli(ig evil, I 

 anxiously hope that u spare corner of 

 your valuable and widely-circulated 

 iiiiscellany will be alVorded me. 



It is probably wcll-remcinbered, that 

 some few years back tlie brutal custom 

 and practice of bull-baiiiug was carried 

 on in this country to a most enormous 

 and alarming extent; so much so, that 

 frequently the lives of individuals were 

 exposed to great danger. This practice 

 lias happily subsided ; but wbetlicr its 

 discontiuuance is in consequence of its 

 prohibition by law, or wliither it is to 

 Lc considered as an enlightened feature 

 in the manners and moral couiplexioii 

 of society, I am unable to say. I had 

 much rather ascribe it to my la'ter sug- 

 gestion ; but I am fearful tliut, from the 

 increased practice of pii;;ilism, it dis- 

 covers nothing of ai: improvement in 

 the habits and disposilions of this class 

 of individuals. 



It appears to me, that one evil lias 

 merely been exchanged for another. 

 Pitched condjats are daily to be wit- 

 nessed ; collected thousands are there 

 gathered together, and gaze upon lliese 

 spectacles of brutality with applauding 

 delight and pleasure. It is not required 

 that we should, in order to convince us 

 of this appalling fact, personally attend 

 the place of exhibition, since our jour- 

 ual.s give amp!'! testimony of their exist- 

 ence ; and it is much to be regretted, 

 that occurrences so repugnant to the 

 pure feelings of humanity, and ofl°en.sivc 

 10 a sense of delicacy and propriety, 



Monthly Mag. No. 3!>7. 



should, however much they may rage 

 without doors, be brought, through the 

 medium of a newspaper, to the home of 

 peace and tranquillity. What consti- 

 tutes the basis and happiness of society ? 

 Social intercourse, and a friendly dispo- 

 sition with every man. — What feeling 

 is it which is necessary to be cultivated 

 in order to strengthen the bond, and 

 stimulate the good welfare, of mankind ? 

 Humanity. — Are we then to be told 

 that the practice of pugilism is an • 

 example of humanity? That it will 

 strengthen the bonds of society, and 

 promote a genial flow of feeling, calcu- 

 lated to ameliorate misery and exalt 

 happiness? 1 know it will be said, by 

 the su))porters of this art, that it is 

 manly exercise, — courageous feeling, — 

 magnanimous disposition of heart, — fine 

 sport,— diversion, SiC. and that it trans- 

 cendanlly shows our strength and firm- 

 ness of mind, harmonizing in the true 

 spirit of the illustrious feats of our an- 

 cestors and predecessors. 



This reasoning is abhorrent to feelings 

 of humanity. Is it courageous to give 

 the hand, as a token of fiiendship before 

 battle, whilst the passions raging within 

 the o|)ponents' breasts are those of a de- 

 sire to conquer, and which feelings are 

 cieatcd and nurtured with anger, per- 

 haps malice? Is it courageous to wit- 

 ness the downfal of a fellow-creature, 

 covered « ith bruises and bloody wounds? 

 — is it diversion consistent with the 

 dictates of humanity, and free from the 

 stain of malignity? Is it a pleasure to 

 behold a fellow mortal subjected to 

 the most severe i)unishment which man's 

 l)hysical strength can inflict? 

 Fomenting discord, and perplexing right ; 

 An iron race I Thomson. 



The practice of puj>ilism is an enor- 

 mous evil, since it increases the appe- 

 tite for gaming, betting, and (rom thence 

 preceetis a numerous train of important, 

 mischievous, dispositions. It is also to 

 bo remarked, that these " gentlemen of 

 the fancy" have a peculiar language and 

 dialect, which is denominated their slang. 

 I am inclined to favour the opinion, that 

 this technical phraseology is indirectly 

 injurious to the literature of our coun- 

 try. Its aphorisms are liable to be 

 blended with the native purity of our 

 language, and contaminate its streams 

 with currents of hypothetical idioms. 



I remember to have read with much 

 pleasure an article in your Magazine, 

 vol. xlvi. part 2 for 1818, some sugges- 

 tions relative to the formation of a So- 

 ciety for the prevention of Cruelty to 

 3 T Animals. 



