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in the atmosphere of the theatre, the ball-room, 

 the gambling-house, the billiard and the coffee 

 room, are a more humane people, a less cruel 

 race of men, than we Englishmen are than 

 we who are the best shots, the best riders, the 

 best anglers in the world. Let the historical 

 annals of each nation be consulted; let the 

 unhappy period, during which each nation was 

 plunged in domestic or foreign strife, 



"When foe met foe in one red burial blent," 



be surveyed, and then let the impartial exami- 

 ner tell we will not stickle for the palm of 

 bravery which nation showed most of true 

 heroism we mean, of humanity of the good- 

 ly milk of human forgiveness and kindness. 

 What is more what is still more strongly in 

 favour of our opinion, that an attachment to 

 field-sports does not in any way pre-suppose a 

 cruelty of disposition we will confidently aver, 

 that our landed gentry, and the people inhabit- 

 ing the country, and who, of course, must be 

 more addicted to the sports of the field, are 

 not one jot less humane and tender-hearted 

 than the inhabitants of large cities. We are 

 strong partisans, and from motives we trust of 

 humanity, to most out-of-door recreations. 

 We believe that they tend to health of 

 body, and to cheerfulness of mind ; and that, 



