22 ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPOF.TS. 



pleafure and humanity, that they acquire the 

 true fportfrnanlike habit of riding acrofs the 

 country with temper and judgment. 



Objeftions have been laid againft hunting, 

 as producing an annual damage to the agricul- 

 ture of the country: in a country, barren and 

 unprodu6iive of bread-corn, and where the 

 inhabitants are generally poor, fuch obje^lions 

 might be valid ; but, for my part, I think them 

 trivial in this, at leafl in our prefent ftate of 

 population, and capability of produce. The 

 right, however, of individuals to preferve their 

 own inclofures facred from intrufion or tref- 

 pafs, it n uft be acknowledged, is incontrover- 

 tible. I rejoice that my fubjeft lays me under 

 no neceility to fpeak of our game laws, other- 

 wife I might be tempted to give vent to that 

 bitternefs and feverity, which I am forry to fay 

 is too natural to me, and which I endeavour 

 on every occftfion to reprefs. 



From hunting to the turf, the gradation is 

 natural, and in courfe. Of all the various 

 fports, in v/hich the brute creation is in any 

 fiiape concerned, none is fo pure in principle, 

 or fufceptible of pratHce, with [o little trefpafs 

 upon the claims of juftice and humanity, as 

 that of Engliih horie-racing. Its ground or 

 intent is to effay and determine' the goodnefs 

 of individuals of a noble fpecies of animal, in 

 that Dcculiar waVj in which nature herfelf has 



chofen 



