DEDICATION. TO THE SPORTING WORLD. Better to hunt in fields for health unbought, GENTLEMEN, WHEN the cloth is removed, and the cheerful sparkling glass gaily circulates round the festive board-when the mind is pleasantly at easeHOSPITALITY the president, and under the banners of FRIENDSHIP, the guests are assembled-it is then the lively tale, the sportive song, and the interesting anecdote, give a peculiar zest to the repast. Each visiter, perhaps, eager to recount the adventures of the day, the Fox HUNTER commences with emphatic raptures, in dwelling on the excellence of his hounds, almost fancying himself still listening to the charms of the view halloo! The SPORTING HERO of the TURF, in his turn, animatedly detailing the fleet properties of his thorough-bred stud; the GOOD SHOT, in extacy enumerating the birds he has bagged; the admirers of TROTTING, in high glee with the swiftness of their cattle; the patient ANGLER, placidly relating the pleasing nibblings he has experienced; the CRICKETER, overjoyed at the number of runs he has gained; the supporters of PEDESTRIANIS, not only descanting on the exploits performed by their various heroes, but of the ultimate advantages the constitution derives from this healthful exercise; the promoters of TRUE COURAGE, too, contending in a national point of view, that the practice of BOXING, through the means of the prize-ring, is one of the corner stones towards preventing effeminacy from undermining the good old character of the people of England: and, lastly, though not the least interesting, is the pleasing biographical sketch of some distinguished sportsman, related by the well-informed amateur, with all the characteristic fervour of a theatrical representation; while the company listening to the orator, anxious to catch every trait of the hero in question, yet all harmoniously joining in one general voice, To banish dull care, or to roar out a catch, Take part in a glee, or in making a match; Under the above lively impressions this volume of Anecdotes has been produced. The most interesting events in all the various diversions of the CHASE, &c. which occupy the mind of the sportsman, have also been collected together; in order, not only to refresh the memories of those persons who may have witnessed many of the transactions related in this work, but, in fact, rather to prevent any individual from being a silent member in the company of Sporting Characters, by enabling him not to let the tale or song, stand still, and to take a share in the amusements of the evening, by the relation of any attractive anecdote out of this selection, that may best accord with his talents in recital. From the extensive and kind patronage the Editor has already received from the Gentlemen composing the Sporting World, he trusts that his collection of select and original “ SPORTING ANECDOTES" will also merit attention, and claim their support. With the most grateful remembrance of past favours, I remain, Gentlemen, Your obliged humble Servant, London, Jan. 1, 1820. SPORTING ANECDOTES. CAPTAIN BARCLAY. Tuis gentleman, in preventing the “OLD ENGLISH SPORTS" from running into decay, must be considered as the most distinguished Fancier in the Sporting World; and who, as a well-known, thorough-bred Sportsman, combining pleasure with utility, founded on practical experience, stands without an equal. Whether he be viewed in partaking of the diversions of the CHASE, or paying peculiar attention to improve the system of AGRICULTURE; or in displaying his extraordinary feats of PEDESTRIANISM; or exercising his intuitive judgment in TRAINING men to succeed in foot-races and pugilistic combats, Captain BARCLAY most decidedly takes the lead. His knowledge of the capibilities of the human frame is complete, and his researches and practical experiments to ascertain, with a tolerable degree of certainty, the physical powers of man, would have reflected credit |