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as a nation, we take some pride in the noble 

 ness and manliness of our field sports that can 

 be deemed free from the charge of cruelty. 

 Hunting, coursing, shooting, horse-racing, 

 nay, riding, may by the fastidious be tortured 

 into cruel amusements. We believe, that, as a 

 people, we are as humane yes, more humane 

 for in a matter of this sort we will not hide 

 the well-founded opinion we entertain, though 

 we should be accused of national vanity 

 than any great and civilised people upon the 

 surface of the globe ; whilst, at the same time, 

 it is a fact universally acknowledged, that in 

 all out-of-door sports we indulge ourselves 

 more generally, and with keener zest, than any 

 other modern nation; that we understand 

 them better, and that we introduce into their 

 practice and pursuit the same ingenuity, the 

 same spirit of improvement, discovery, and 

 observation, the same desire to push every 

 art, though it be one of mere amusement, to 

 the very verge of perfection, that urges us to 

 excel in all that relates to commerce and real 

 civilisation, and which has placed the inhabi- 

 tants of our little island in the proudest position 

 ever occupied by the natives of any country. 

 We will simply ask, whether the French, the 

 Italians, the Spanish people peculiarly at- 

 tached to in-door amusements who delight 



