In Italy, the stiletto is not only the weapon of the hired assassin, but is also kept ready in the bosom of the respectable citizen, to be plunged into the heart of his friend or neighbour upon any sudden provocation from anger,or motive of revenge. When the passions are under greater restraint, from the influence of laws, of climate,and of custom, such dread ful consequences do. not ensue from the quarrels of the populacet. Yet even in France, and most parts of Germany, the quarrels of the people are determined by a brutal appeal to force, directed in any manner, how ever perilous, to the annoyance or destruction of an adversary. Sticks, stones, and every dangerous kind of weapon, are resorted to for the gratification of passion or revenge. But the most common and savage method of settling quarrels upon the continent, is the adoption of the Pancratium, The parties close, and struggle to throw each other down; at the same time the teeth and nails are not unemployed.

*In an authentic publication of the life of the late Pope, it is affirmed that upwards of 10co persons annually fell victims in Rome to the stiletto; either by the hand of the hired assassin, or in private quarrels. Dr Moore reckons the number of murders in Naples, by the dagger, at not less than 400 annually.

The mode of fighting in Holland among the seamen and others is well known by the apellation of Snecker-snee. In this contest sharp knives are used, and the parties frequently maim, and sometimes destroy each other. The government deems it necessary to tolerate this savage practice. Certain fines are imposed if wounds be inflicted on dangerous parts of the body; but a very trifling, and indeed seldom any pu nishment ensues, provided the general rules of the combat have been adhered to.

In short, they tear each other like wild beasts, and never desist from the conflict till their strength is completely exhausted; and thus regardless of any established laws of honour, which teach forbearance to a prostrate foe, their cruelty is only terminated by their inability to inflict more mischief. And yet superficial observers, and especially all foreigners who have written con. cerning our customs and manners, loudly brand the English character with savage rudeness and brutality, because they have seen men terminate their quarrels by an appeal to boxing; in which the parties are not permitted to take an unfair advantage of each other, but when one is disposed to yield, the combat immediately closes, and the conqueror and the vanquished are often seen to give and receive a hearty shake of the hand, in token of mutual good will and forgiveness. In no instance does the manly, spirited, and generous cha racter of Britons, rise to a higher pitch than in this alacrity almost universally shown by the most ignorant and lowest order of the people, to terminate their personal contests in a kindly and honourable manner. The mind indeed is thus relieved at once from the brooding mischief of malice and revenge. For, when the

idea

In Virginia and the other Southern states of America, the most savage acts of barbarity are committed in the quarrels of the people. Gouching, or thrusting out the eye from the socket, is one of the means resorted to upon almost every personal dispute. An intelligent traveller, Mr Weld, declares, that at Richmond, in Virginia, it was nothing uncommon to meet with persons deprived of one or both eyes from this horrid practice. He mentions another mode to disable an antagonist, so detestably barbarous, as to excite incredulity, if the account had not been corroborated by other writers.

idea of self-consequence has been maintained, in courageously supporting the contest, a man is better satisfied with himself and others, and consequently more likely to dismiss his ill will and resentment. In order to foster manly fortitude and vigour, and to prevent the mischiefs arising from the irregular and brutal exertions of strength and ferocity, would it not be advisable to encourage the art of boxing with mufflers, as a subordinate branch of the gymnastic exercises? All stage exhibitions of prize-fighting ought to be rigidly prohibited, nor should men ever be suffered to prostitute their strength and valour for the sordid purpose of gain.

It is a singular, though striking fact, that in those parts of the king. dom where the generous and manly system of pugilism is least practised, and where, for the most part, all personal disputes are decided by the exertion of savage strength and ferocity, a fondness for barbarous and bloody sports is found to prevail. In some parts of Lancashire bull-baiting and man-slaying are common prac tices. The knowledge of pugilism as an art is, in these places, neither understood nor practised. There is no established rule of houonr to save the weak from the strong, but every man's life is at the mercy of his successful antagonist. The object of each combatant in these disgraceful contests, is, to throw each other pros trate on the ground, and then with hands and feet, teeth and nails, to inflict at random every possible degree of injury and torment *. This is not

an exaggerated statement of the barbarism still prevailing in many parts. of this kingdom. The county assizes for Lancashire afford too many convincing proofs of the increasing mischiefs arising from these savage and disgraceful combats. The judges, on these occasions, have frequently declared in the most solemn and impressive charges to the Grand Jury, that the number of persons indicted for murder, or manslaughter, in cou sequence of the bestial mode of fighting practised in this county, far exceeded that of the whole northern circuit; and that, in future, they were determined to punish with the utmost rigour of the law, offenders of this description. But, alas! these. just denunciations have little availed. Is it not then highly probable, that the evil which the severity of the law has been unable to correct, might be gradually and effectually abolished, or at least greatly mitigated, by the encouragement of a more manly,

and

the landlord and "fight it out,” accord This coning to the Bolton method. test lasted a long time, and was only terminated by the loss of the greatest part of the nose and a part of an ear, belonging to one of the parties, which were actually bitten off by the other, during the fight. The sufferer exhibited at the trial part of the ear so torn off; and when asked by the counsel, what had become of that part of his nose which was missing? he replied, with perfect naivete- That he believed his antagonist had swallowed it:" It has happened to the writer of these remarks to witness, in more than one instance, the picking up in the streets, lacerated portions of ears and fingers after these detestable and savage broils. Surely either our laws or manners might interfere in suppressing such deeds of savage barbarity.

* At one assizes, no less than nine persons were convicted of manslaughter, originating from these disgraceful ren

counters.

time it was light, into a ground where they could not hinder us from our victual; which was a high act of the Lord's providence to us. We being come into the said ground, the enemy marched into the ground we were last upon; having no mind either to strive to interpose between us and our victual, or to fight; being indeed upon this lock, hoping that the sickness of your army would render their work more easie by the gaining of time; whereupon we marched to Musclebrough to victual, and to ship away our sick men, where we sent aboard near five hundred sick and wounded soldiers: And upon serious consideration, finding our weakness so to increase, and the enemy ly ing upon his advantages, at a general councel it was thought fit to march to Dunbar, and there to fortifie the town, which, we thought, if any thing, would provoke them to engage; as also, the having a garrison there, would furnish us with accommodation for our sick men ; would be a place for a good magazin (which we exceedingly wanted,) being put to depend upon the uncertainty of weather for landing provisions, which many times cannot be done, though the being of the whole army lay upon it; all the coasts from Leith to, Berwick not having one good har bor; as also to lie more conveniently to receive our recruits of horse and foot from Berwick. Having these considerations, upon Saturday, the thirtieth of August, we marched from Muscleburgh to Heddington, where, by that time, we had got the van-brigade of our horse, and our foot and train, into their quarters; the enemy was marched with that exceeding expedition, that they fell upon the rear forlorn of our horse, and put it in some disorder; and indeed had like to have engaged our rear brigade of horse with their whole army, had not the Lord, by his providence, put a cloud over the

moon, thereby giving us opportunity to draw off those horse to the rest of the army, which accordingly was done without any loss, save of three or four of our aforementioned forlorn, wherein the enemy (as we believe) received more loss. The army being put into a reasonable secure posture, towards midnight the enemy attempted our quarters on the west end of Heddington, but (through the goodness of God) we repulsed them. The next morning we drew into an open field, on the south side of Heddington; we not judging it safe for us to draw to the enemy upon his own ground, he being prepossessed thereof, but rather drew back to give him way to come to us, if he had so thought fit; and having waited about the space of four or five hours, to see if he would come to us; and not finding any inclination in the enemy so to do, we resolved to go, according to our first intendment, to Dunbar. By that time we had marched three or four miles, we saw some bodies of the enemies horse draw out of their quarters; and by that time our carriages were gotten neer Dunbar, their whole army was upon their march after us; and, indeed, our drawing back in this manner, with the addition of three new regiments added to them, did much heighten their confidence, if not presumption and arrogancy. The enemy, that night, we perceived, gathered towards the hills, labouring to make a perfect interposition between us and Berwick; and having, in this posture, a great advantage, through his better knowledg of the country, which he effected, by sending a considerable party to the strait pass at Copperspeth, where ten men to hinder, are better than forty to make their way: and truly this was an exigent to us; wherewith the enemy reproached us with that condition the parliament's army was in, when it made its hard conditions with the king