THE SPORTING WORLD. 241 



characters of the metropoHs, for each are to 

 be found among the patrons of, or actors in, 

 the Fancy. 



The non-initiated may be at a loss to know 

 of what or whom the Fancy consists. It is 

 comprised of the dog fighter, badger and 

 bear baiter, frequenters of the rat pit, and the 

 pugiHstic ring. We will take them each in his 

 turn, and without describing any of them with 

 bitterness, will, to the best of our judgment, 

 ** nothing extenuate or set down aught in malice." 



"We will commence with the dog fighter, a 

 character that has no excuse for his pursuit, but 

 a great deal to reprobate. I am far from ex- 

 pecting that all a man's pursuits should be use- 

 ful or beneficial to society, for in that case we 

 might disapprove of his playing whist, billiards, 

 or tenis ; all we have any right to expect is 

 that his pursuits are neither baneful to any one, 

 cruel to ary animal engaged in them, and not 

 prejudicial in the shape of example to society ; 



