ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPORTS. 2() 



gent -perfons largely concerned in tlie pVjaro- 

 banking bufinefs, and they have candidly ac- 

 knowledged, that an unlimited public allow- 

 ance would totally ruin their commerce, bv in- 

 creafing the rifks, and reducing the profits to a 

 trifle. 



The noble old Englifh cuflom of fighting 

 with thofe natural weapons the fills, now 

 fafliionably fly led pugilism, (lands with me 

 in the fame predicament as the lafl: fubje61, 

 namely, it has no immediate relation to our 

 treatment of brute animals ; but the reader 

 will find, by what follows, that boxing is a 

 theme which I fhould very reluftantly have 

 palfed unnoticed. On its principle not a word 

 need be laid, that being perfectly unexcep- 

 tionable, at leafi: on this fide the millennium; 

 when the faints will, in troth, have infinitely 

 more asrrceable recreation, and when the 

 chaunting three or four fi;aves of a fpiritual 

 ibng will be held a far fuperior gratification to 

 the receiving as many found dowces on the 

 chops in a I'parring match. The practice of 

 Englifli boxing is equally unexceptionable 

 with the principle, being fo fi:ri611y confonant 

 with the rules of jufiice and morality, as to 

 form one of the grcatell glories of the country. 

 I know not whether it be committing myfelf to 

 fay, that an Englifh blackguard learns more 

 humanity and good morals, m feeing a regular 



boxing 



