n the like manner, till the umpire
announced there were four winners of heads, and proceeded to call the
ties, that is, he called on the winners of the first two heads to play
together, and afterwards on the winners of the third and fourth heads;
after which the winners of two heads each played for the hat, and the
proud victor (Morgan) thus to earn it, broke three heads. I was much
struck with the amazing temper with which the game was played: not a
particle of ill-will was shown, two young fellows, who played together
forty-five minutes, and in the course of it gave each other many severe
blows, one alone of which would have satisfied the most unconscionable
taylor or man-milliner breathing, drank frequently together between the
bouts, shaking hands as often as the weight of the blows given seemed to
require it of their good-nature. Indeed it appeared to be a rule with
each pair that played, to drink together after the contest, and a
general spirit of harmony seemed to prevail. This game is certainly of
great antiquity, and the only relick (with the exception of wrestling)
of the ancient tournament. The knight defied with throwing down his hat
or gauntlet--the rustic gamester does the same, and is equally courteous
with the knight towards his opponent: nor were there in this instance
village dames or damsels wanting, to animate the prowess of the youth.

"It has been asserted, that these exhibitions engender a ferocious
spirit; but were I to judge from what I saw, and from the inquiries I
made into the characters of the players at Ropley Dean, from the farmers
on my right and left, I should pronounce quite the contrary; and think
that as long as the sword is used by our cavalry and navy, and as long
as we wish to entertain in the nation a fearless, generous, martial
spirit, we should encourage the like pastimes at our fairs and revels."

MISCELLANY.

A general sense seems to pervade all the most intelligent men of Great
Britain that a reformation is wanting in almost every department of life
in that country. The corruption of public taste in dramatic literature
and acting, and in most of the fashionable amusements of the high flyers
cries aloud, no less than that of the state, for a heavy-handed scourge
and receives it. Among other things, the _musico-mania_ is attacked as
having reached the highest acme of absurdity. The Covent Garden
proprietors are very roughly handled, but not more roughly than they
dese