34 ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPORTS. 



and the dagger, by the introdu6lion of a cu{^ 

 torn, in the exercife of which, the pafTions 

 might be afTuaged in a more juft and allowable 

 way ? The almighty power of cuftom needs 

 no proof or comment ; and were the Englifti 

 cuftom of boxing, with all its deliberate and 

 pundilious equity of circumftance and regula- 

 tion, introduced and fixed among the people of 

 France, I have no doubt but it would have the 

 falutary effe61 of reftraining their natural fire, 

 and propenfion to the laft irrevocable deed ; 

 and in confequence, of contributing largely to 

 their ultimate individual peace of mind, and 

 general focial happinefs. I beg leave thus to 

 recommend our Englifh fyftem of pugilifm to 

 the generous and high-fpirited citizens of 

 France, foon I hope to become, and ever to re- 

 main, our hearty friends. In return for their 

 having taught us " Gracefully to trip along 

 with the light fantaftic toe," befides certain 

 other lefibns of infinitely greater importance, 

 , let us inftruft them in the offenfive and defen- 

 five ufe of their natural weapons. There can 

 be no doubt but that upon a profpe61 of due 

 encouragement, Mendoza would be ready, on 

 the return of peace, to open a fchool in the 

 fplendid Metropolis of France. 



The magiftrates of our own country will, I 

 hope, be wary in their attempts to reftrain the 

 privileges of Englifhmen, even in their conten- 

 tions. 



