20 ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPORTS. 



heads of horfes, the various manoeuvres of the 

 grand manege ; which I am convinced, might 

 be inculcated with infinitely lefs alfiftance from 

 the whip. 



The laft, and perhaps the greateft abufe in 

 hunting which I fliall notice, is that horrid 

 one of riding horfes to death in long chaces. 

 Alas ! what can be faid with effeft, on the 

 behalf of poor humanity, in oppofition to the 

 imperious diftates of pleafure, fupported by 

 ancient and inveterate ufage ? Nothing ; but 

 that in proportion as men become patient 

 under the talk of refleftion, and willing to ad- 

 mit the obtruding light into their minds, they 

 will be more humane, that is, more juif ; they 

 will then (the generous of heart) experience 

 the utter impofiibility of reaping pleafure from 

 the tortured feelings of other creatures. Were 

 I as much an enthufiafl in the chace, as I am 

 in ,fome other refpefts (and my reader mull: 

 have perceived tl:iat I naturally belong to the 

 unfortunate clafs of fuperfluous lenfibiliiy) I 

 well know, that I could not talle one mo- 

 ment's pleafure in tlie puribit, 'however glori- 

 oully it might promife, after the conviclion of 

 my horfe's inability to fupport me ; far lefs 

 could I be bafe and cruel enoudi to uro;e be- 

 yond his powers, by the force of goading tor- 

 tures, the mofl generous of all animals,' whofe 

 peculiar charaderiftic is willingnefs even unto 



death ; 



