Hide Article Text (OCR)
178 The CONNOISSEUR. No. 30,a fricaflee of frogs, can no more encounter with an £«-glijhman, who feeds upon beef, than the frog in the fable could fwell her little body to the fize of an ox ; and from hence we may conclude, on the principles of philofophy, that the elaftic fpring, which darts from the knuckles of an Englijhman, falls into the heels of a Frenchman. One of my correfpondents has already remonftratcd againft the degeneracy of the prefcnt times in our fhameful negledt of that fupport of our national ftrcngth, Old F.nglijh Roaft Beef. Indeed we can never hope, that any of our modern heroes would attempt to fix a blow under the ribs, when they are afraid of plunging a knife into a Surloin : and I will venture to fay, that when the times come, that Sur-loins are no more brought upon the table, we fhall not be able to produce one Englijhman, who can knock down an ox.Our prefent race of fpindle-fhanked beaux had rather clofe with an orange wench at the playhouic, than engage in a bye battle at Tottenham Court. It is therefore no wonder, that they fhould objedt to this manly pradtice, for which they are fo ill fitted. How can we imagine, that they could Rand againft the buffets of a bruifer, when they might almoft be patted down with the fan of a lady ? An attempt was once made by Broughton to bring this ftudy into vogue, by cftablifhing a School for Boxing, in which he himfelf was to be the Ledturer. He invited the young gentlemen of the army, and all other men of fpirit, to engage under his diredtions; and promifed to arm their feeble wrifts with mufflers, fo that nothing might be apprehended by the fofteft head or tendered fkin. A few indeed were hardy enough to try a fall with him : but moft of our young fellows gave up the gauntlet for fcented gloves; and loathing the mutton fifts of vulgar carmen and porters, they rather chofe to hang their hands in a fling, to make themwhite
Newspaper Details
London Royal Magazine
London, Middlesex, GB
Thu, Aug 22, 1754
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
David L.
WI, USA 15 Jun 2017
Other Publications Near London, Middlesex
Bingleys Journal
Arminian Magazine
London Daily Mail
London Stars and Stripes
London Daily Universal Register
