ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPORTS. ig 



to join in fentiment with Buflon, who (uppofes 

 the fehhe tribe more aftuated by ielf-interell 

 than any other fpecies of animals. 



As Httle am I convinced of the juftice, or 

 even neceflity, of torturing the feehngs of the 

 poor hare, or timid deer, bv keeping them 

 bound in the kennel, in fight of tbeir dreaded 

 enemies, the hounds; whiHl thefe lalf are pu- 

 nifhed with the fevere and continued difcipline 

 of the whip, for a crime which they may pof- 



Jib/y commix, at fome future period; a difci- 

 pline, which it is a thoufand to one whcdier 

 five dogs in a fcore underftand the meaning of; 

 and which v/ould be utterly unallowable, grant- 

 ing they did, fuch punifnment being founded 

 upon an unjull and unwarrantable principle. 



•Ifhould conceive, that immediate and fevere 

 chaftifement upon the aftual attempt to com- 

 mit the crime, would be much more effeftual, 

 as well as much more confonant with equity, 

 which neither ought, or need, be excluded 

 even from our fports ; nor ever will be, by the 

 naturally juft, after the feafon of reflexion. 

 Mr. Beckford feems to think this flogging 

 procefs an a6l of preventive humanity. He 

 appears to me to be arming himfelf againfl 

 the wrong horn of the dilemma; a very com- 

 mon cafe, 



Difcipline and corre61ion, upon a fimilar 

 principle, have been fuppofed to beat into the 



c 2 heads 



