Concluding Observations. 115 



^public opinion. In England, up to the time of the 

 Grreat Eebellion, baiting of animals, and specially of 

 bnlls and bears, was a favourite pastime with every 

 class. The last Henry, Queen Mary, Elizabeth, 

 and James the First, encouraged it ; but under 

 Elizabeth, growing taste for theatrical represen- 

 tations was giving a new tone to the manners of 

 the rich. When bear-baiting ceased to be their 

 amusement, it speedily declined because of scarcity 

 of beasts ; but bull-baiting throughout the eighteenth 

 century continued to be a popular English amuse- 

 ment. In 1729 and 1730, we find advertised amongst 

 London entertainments " A mad bull to be dressed up 

 with fireworks and turned loose in the game-place ; 

 a dog to be dressed up with fireworks over him ; a 

 bear to be let loose at the same time ; and a cat 

 to be tied to the bull's tail ; a mad bull, dressed up 

 with fireworks, to be baited." And even Canning 

 and Peel opposed abolition of bull-baiting by legisla- 

 tion. Such amusements were mingled with prize- 

 fighting, boxing matches between women, or combats 

 with quarter-staves or broadswords, &c. 



The Drama has held a conspicuous place in the 

 world ever since the days of Susarion in Attica, 

 nearly six hundred years before our era. Horse- 

 races and gambling are to thousands their chief 

 amusements ; cricket and golf are national recrea- 

 tions, and other athletic sports take somewhat the 

 place of Grecian and Eoman games of ancient times. 

 I well know the fascination of our own field sports, 



