lyo THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



but it covers a multitude of faults, and, to a certain degree, 

 supplies the want of virtues. In the common course of 

 life it is invaluable, keeping people within the bounds 

 of decency, checking familiarity, and restraining excesses. 

 It is, in fact, the ornament and cement of social life. 

 Great talents make a man famous ; learning causes him 

 to be esteemed : but it is good breeding which is some- 

 thing more than an accomplishment that alone renders 

 him beloved. We will talk over these matters when you 

 come to town, which I suppose you will do in the spring, 

 when all the world is here ; and till then, and always, 

 I remain, your affectionate uncle, 



" BEAUMONT EABT. 

 "To FRANCIS RABY, Esq." 



The remainder of this winter passed away very 

 agreeably with our hero, who may be said to have been 

 qualifying for those which were to follow, by improving 

 himself in riding and shooting, and in all the other 

 branches of what may be called "rural education and 

 accomplishments." Amongst the novelties, however, was a 

 prize-fight, of which, as his friend Sir John Inkleton was, 

 to a certain extent, a backer of one of the men, he became a 

 spectator. He, however, returned from the spectacle very 

 little gratified ; and, despite of the encomiums bestowed 

 upon boxing by his companion, who maintained that it 

 preserved the vigour and characteristic courage of the 

 English people, which had raised this country above the 

 other nations of the earth ; that, although the same God 

 who made man rational also made him resentful, it was 

 the characteristic of Englishmen to be resentful of insult 

 only, but not to be vindictive, and which was to be 

 attributed to the same cause, also reminding his young 

 friend of the splendid encomium on boxing in " Knight's 

 Analysis of Taste," just then published, agreed with 

 what Cicero had said of the gladiators, namely, that the 

 exhibition satiated whilst it lasted, and left no satisfaction 

 in the reflection of it. Inasmuch as this was the first, 

 so it was the last of these exhibitions which Frank Raby 

 attended ; but by way of showing the difference in the 

 style in which the records of such events are handed 

 down, I subjoin that of the one now alluded to. Whether 

 such things are unworthy of a memorial, or whether the 

 pen which perpetuates them is debased, is not for me to 



