these exhibitions, and after a formal oration addressed to him in their praise, retired with the utmost disgust.
This reproach and disgrace of Englishmen is aggravated by those species of fighting which are called the Battle-royal, and the Welsh-main, known do where else in the world; neither in China, Persia, Malacca, nor among the savage tribes of North America. In the former, an unlimitted number of cocks are pitted, and when they have slaughtered each other for the diversion of their generous and humane masters! the single surviving bird is accounted victor, and carries away the prize. The latter consists, we will suppose, of 16 pairs of cocks; of these the 16 conquerors are pitted a second time; the 8 conquerors of these are pitted a third time; the 4 conquerors a fourth time; and, lastly the two conquerors of these are pitted the fifth time; so that, incredible barbarity! thirty-one cocks must be most inhumanly murdered for the sport and pleasure, the noise and nonsense, the prophane cursing and swearing, of those who have the effrontery to call themselves, with all their bloody actions and inpieties, by the sacred name of Christians; nay, by what with many is a superior and distinct character, men of benevolence, morality and virtue!—See Encyclopæ. Perthensis.
"Are these your sovereign joys, creation's lords?
is death a banquet for a godlike soul?"
This sport has received a severe, but very proper and commendable blow, from the resolution of the magistrates of many places, not to grant licences to those inn-keepers who encourage it. By this means bull-baiting in the township of Mitton near Stourport, in Worcestershire has been suppressed.
The tendency of this species of savage barbarity
