produced on the public mind by the exhibitions of hu man prowefs, difplayed in the practice of boxing, well discriminated from the confequences of committing acts of cruelty on the inferior animals, fuch as bull-baiting, throwing at cocks, and other execrable practices of a fimilar kind, which have been moft improperly denominated Sports. Ferocity of manners, and brutality of conduct, are the invariable confequences of indulging a propenfity to witness such exhibitions. In England, where the art of boxing is particularly exercised, the number of perfons who fall facrifices to perfonal quarrels, or become the victims of refentment, are few indeed; whereas, it has been calculated, that at Rome a thousand persons are annually murdered by the ftiletto of the affaffin, and the proportion is probably not lefs in Spain and Portugal. In the fouthern counties of England, where the mode of deciding private quarrels among the common people, by an appeal to manual combat, is peculiarly prevalent, inftances of their terminating in death are very rare. In the northern counties, on the contrary, where, when men fight, they take every unfair advantage, the lofs of life is by no means uncommon, and the verdicts of manslaughter occur fo frequently, as to have repeatedly excited the indignation of the judges. It is even stated, that fince the practice of fair boxing has been in fome meafure introduced into the northern parts of this country, by the example of the itinerant teachers of the pugiliftic art, inftances of murder have become lefs frequent.

The pain inflicted and fuffered by the perfons engagéd in these contefts, have caufed them to be tigmatifed by many humane perfons, as cruel. But to judge of the feelings of the combatants by those of the fpectators, is a very inadequate criterion. It is an acknowledged phyfiological truth, that the fimultaneous actions of volun

tary

rary exertion, and of fenfation, are in great meafure incompatible with each other. Hence the utility of the bullet in the foldier's mouth, who is fuffering punishment: by strongly exerting the mufcles of maftication on this unyielding fubftance, he diminishes the fenfation of pain. Even our immortal bard appears to have been acquainted with this fact, when he makes Henry the Fifth defire his foldiers, previous to mounting the deadly breach, to

Such is the condition of perfons engaged in a boxing match. And many who can contemplate the gallantry and spirit displayed in a contest of this kind, with confiderable fatisfaction, would fhrink with abhorrence from the fpectacle of a man beaten in like manner, were he at the fame time deprived of the power of refiftance.

It is also matter of common obfervation, that a man, in poffeffion of a robust and vigorous conftitution, fuffers much lefs pain from a certain degree of injury than a perfon in a more feeble ftate of health. Carry this a little farther, and we find a delicate lady, whofe flaccid mufcles hardly fuffice to fupport a debilitated frame from one chamber to another, yet highly fufceptible of pain from the flightest external injury, and fuffering almoft annihilation at the fudden clapping of a door. It would feem, therefore, as if the force and irritability of the muscles, and the fufceptibility of the nerves were in the inverse ratio of each other. The effect of a course of training appears to be to augment the quantity, and irritability of the mufcular fibre, and, at the fame time, to diminish

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diminish the morbid fenfibility of the nervous fyftem. And I think it is advancing a step in phyfiological knowledge, to have afcertained the means of augmenting or diminishing thefe oppofite ftates of the living body.

It might indeed, be defirable, that the perfons who engage in these public contefts were lefs influenced by pecuniary motives, and that there was lefs of the fpirit of gambling connected with them. A rigid adherence to the rules of the combat, which chiefly confifts in abstaining from taking any unfair advantage of an antagonist, is particularly attended to in a regular boxing match, and by fuch examples this generous feeling is fupported and diffused among the mafs of the people. Were the victor not rewarded by some prize, or teftimony of his fuperiority, the practice would probably foon fall into difufe.

་* ་

Dr Bardfley has propofed, in order to prevent injuries, that these combats fhould be carried on in mufflers, or ftuffed gloves. The preparatory exercifes, it is well known, are always managed in this manner. But an important part of the practice of boxing confifts in, that cool and fteady courage, which enables a man to endure a certain degree of corporeal fuffering with patience; and in a command of temper, which preferves the prefence of mind, undisturbed, amid pain and danger. This cool intrepidity conftitutes the characteristic feature of British bravery; and whatever may be the evils attendant on prize-fighting, they are more than compenfated, if it be allowed that fuch exhibitions tend to diffufe and fupport a fpirit of this kind, among the inhabitants of the British Illes.

ueries

Queries concerning the Means used to reduce the Weight of Horfe-Fockies, and the General Effect on their Health; and on the Methods employed in Training Race Horses, fo as to augment their Strength, Wind, and Speed.

1. JOCKIES.

1. WHAT is the process used in training them, and reducing their weight?

2. What effect has it upon their health and strength? 3. What effect has it upon their mind, in regard to courage, quickness, &c. ?

4. How long do thefe effects continue?

ཎྞཝཱ ཝཱ

5. After being reduced, do they quickly get fat again, or do they continue long in the ftate to which they were brought?

6. Are jockies, accustomed to be thus treated, healthy and long lived?

2. RUNNING-HORSES.

1. What are the principal objects to be attended to in regard to running-horfes? Do their perfections depend upon parentage, and whether moft upon the male or the female? Is it neceffary that the mare fhould have gone her full time, to bring a perfect foal? Is the gradual growth of the foal effential? Is there a great difference, in regard to natural conftitution, between horfes of the fame parentage? What kind of form is in general preferred? Do you prefer great or small bones? Which fex is preferable for speed, and which for strength?

2. What is the beft age for beginning to train horfes for the turf? Are they first put upon grafs? What is the effect of foft meat? When fhould they be put on hard meat? What are the effects thereof? Is it neceffary to

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purge

purge them frequently? Have the purges any tendency to weaken them? What food is reckoned the most nourishing? How often are they fed? What drinks are gi ́ ́ven them, and how often? Whether hot or cold? Is it necessary to keep their skin perfectly clean, and how? Is it neceffary to make them perfpire much? What exercife is given them? How is the training completed?

3. After the training is completed, can the perfections thereby obtained be easily kept up? Does the procefs effect merely a temporary change, or does it last during life? Are running-horses as long lived as others, or do they foon wear out?

I take this opportunity to acknowledge my obligation to Sir T. Charles Bunbury for the readiness with which he facilitated my inquiries concerning this part of the fubject, by tranfmitting copies of the printed queries to perfons refident at Newmarket: from one of whom the following letter, containing particulars truly characteriftic of the clafs of perfons mentioned in it, was tranfmitted to that refpectable gentleman, by one of his correfpondents.

To Sir T. C. BUNBURY, M. P.

SIR CHARLES,

THE small pamphlet you directed to be fent to me, from Mr Weatherby, I received about a week fince. I have perused it, with as much attention as I could give it, and proceed to say something refpecting the Questions afked by the author of it. In fo doing, I apprehend that I am fulfilling your intentions, in fending it to me, as I was given to understand you wished to have my opinion refpecting them.