2 ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPORTS. 



more preffing calls of life being fatisfied, obeys 

 the fportive impulfe, in whatever peculiar mode 

 his nature may have prefcribed. 



Thus we fee, pleafure is the birth- right of 

 men and animals ; and the juft meafure of it 

 is determined by the due performance of their 

 ferious duties. . Amongft men, this meafure 

 mull, of courfe, be regulated by the quantum 

 of property, and of leifure. The rich man, or 

 he who from his fuperior induftry, or good 

 fortune, has lefs obligation of painful duties, 

 may lawfully command the largeft (liare of 

 pleafurable gratification ; nor can any, on this 

 account, in juflice, repine at the difpenfations 

 of nature and fortune, fmce their impartiality 

 will be manifeft to all who are capable of re- 

 flection. It flows from natural confequences, 

 and is therefore perfedly right, that there 

 fliould be rich and poor. The only juft caufe 

 of complaint lies againft the ufurpations of the 

 rich and powerful, when they enflave and op- 

 prefs ; in other words, defraud their brethren of 

 the inferior clafles, by compelHng them to ac- 

 cept fo fmall a recompence for their labour, that 

 far from having either leifure, or the means, of 

 tafting a moderate fhare of thofe pleafures which 

 fweeten the bitter draught of life, they are worn 

 out with incefl'ant toils, to obtain wherewith to 

 fatisfy the mere cravings of hunger : whereas 

 property ought to.be facred, and the term of 



force 



