ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPORTS, 11 



have been as follows. By cuftom of the Ma- 

 nor of Tutbury, in Staffordfhire, a bull was , 

 given by the prior to the minftrels. After 

 undergoing the torture of having his horns cut, 

 his ears and tail cropped to the very (lumps, 

 and his noftrils filled with pepper, his body 

 was befmeared with foap, and he was turned 

 out, in that pitiable (fate, in order to be hunt- 

 ed. This was called bull-running; and if the 

 bull was taken, or held long enough to pull 

 off fome of his hair, he was then tied to the 

 (lake, and baited. In this unfeeling manner, 

 was the moft innocuous and ufeful of the ani- 

 mal creation treated by favage man : by priefts 

 and legiflators, at too many periods, notwith- 

 ftanding their high pretenfions, equally unen- 

 lightened in effentials, with the lowed of 

 mankind! 



The voluntary combats of animals form a 

 cafe widely different. Nature herfelf has fown 

 the feeds of contention in the conftitutions of 

 men and beads, and to witnefs the equal com- 

 bats of either, is at leaft an aft of legitimate 

 curiofity, if it be no proof of the fofter feel- 

 ings of the foul. I may truly fay, that I had 

 never any great penchant for thefe bloody 

 and contentious fpeftacles ; at leaft fince rea- 

 ibn began to dawn ; but at the fame time will 

 freely own, that they never ftrike me with that 

 horror and deteltation, mounting up almoft to 



phrenzy, 



