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ciples of the fcience, make any fuch pretence.

who have diftinct notions of the prin- taught them how to use them; the bull and the ram to butt, the horfe to kick the dog to bite, the lion to use his paws, the boar his tusks, the ferpent his fangs, and the bee and wafp their fting.

Upon the theatre of nature we fee innumerable effects, which require an agent endowed with active power; but the agent is behind the scene. Whether it be the Supreme Caufe alone, or a fubordinate caufe or caufes; and if fubordinate caufes be employed by the Almighty, what their nature, their number, and their different offices may be, are things hid, for wife reafons, without doubt, from the human eye.

Obfervations on the Inftinct of A

WE

nimals

come into the world ignorant of every thing, yet we maft do many things in order to our fubfiftence and well-being, A new born child may be carried in arms, and kept warm by his nurfe; but he maft fuck and fwallow his food for himself. And this must be done before he has any conception of fucking or fwallowing, or of the manner in which they are to be performed. He is led by nature to do thefe actions without knowing for what end, or what he is about. This we call inftinct..

In the animals we are beft acquainted with, and which we look upon as the more perfect of the brute creation, we fee much the fame instincts, or mechanical principles of action, as in the human kind, or very fimilar ones, fuited to the particular ftate and manner of life of the animal.

Befides thefe, there are in bruteanimals inftincts peculiar to each tribe, by which they are fitted for defence, for offence, or for providing for themselves, and for their offspring.

It is not more certain, that nature hath furnished various animals with various weapons of offence and defence, than that the fame nature hath

The manufactures of animals, if we may call them by that name, present us with a wonderful variety of inftincts, belonging to particular fpecies, whether of the focial or of the folitary kind; the nefts of birds, fo fimilar in their fituation and architecture in the fame kind, fo various in different kinds; the webs of fpiders, and of other fpinning animals; the ball of the filk-worm; the nests of ants and other mining animals; the combs of wafps," hornets, and bees; the dams and hous fes of beavers.

The instinct of animals is one of the most delightful and instructive parts of a most pleasant study, that of natural hiftory; and deferves to be more cultivated than it has yet been.

Every manufacturing art among men was invented by fome man, improved by others, and brought to perfection by time and experience. Men learn to work in it by long practice, which produces a habit. The arts of men vary in every age, and in every nation, and are found only in those who have been taught them.

The manufactures of animals differ from thofe of men in many striking particulars.

No animal of the fpecies can claim the invention. No animal ever introduced any new improvement, or any variation from the former practice. Every one of the fpecies has equal skill from the beginning, without teaching, without experience or habit. Every one has its art by a kind of infpira tion. I do not mean that it is infpired with the principles or rules of the art, but with the ability and inclination of working in it to perfection, without any knowledge of its principles, rules, or end.

The more fagacious animals may be From the fame

be taught to do many things which they do not by inftinct. What they are taught to do, they do with more or less skill, according to their fagacity and their training. But, in their own arts, they need no teaching nor training, nor is the art ever improved or loft. Bees gather their honey and their wax, they fabricate their combs and tear their young at this day, neither better nor worfe than they did when Virgil fo fweetly fung their works.

The work of every animal is indeed like the works of nature, perfect in its kind, and can bear the moft critical examination of the mechanic or the mathematician. One example from the animal laft mentioned may ferve to illuftrate this.

Bees, it is well known, conftruct their combs with fmall cells on both fides, fit both for holding their store of honey, and for rearing their young. There are only three poffible figures of the cells, which can make them all equal and similar, without any ufelefs interflices. These are the equilateral triangle, the fquare, and the regular hexagon.

It is well known to mathematicians, that there is not a fourth way poffible, in which a plane may be cut into little spaces that fhall be equal, fimilar and regular, without leaving any interstices. Of the three, the hexagon is the most proper, both for conveniency and ftrength. Bees, as if -they knew this, make their cells re9-gular hexagons.

As the combs have cells on both fides, the cells may either be exactly oppofite, having partition against partition, or the bottom of a cell may reft upon the partitions between the cells on the other fide, which will ferve as a buttress to strengthen it. The laft way is best for strength; accordingly, the bottom of each cell refts against the point where three partitions meet on the other fide, which gives it all the strength poffible.

The bottom of a cell may either be one plane perpendicular to the fidepartitions, or it may be compofed of feveral planes, meeting in a folid angle in the middle point. It is only in one of these two ways that all the cells can be fimilar without losing room. And, for the fame intention, the planes of which the bottom is composed, if there be more than one, must be three in number, and neither more nor fewer.

It has been demonftrated, that, by making the bottoms of the cells to confift of three planes meeting in a point, there is a faving of material and labour no way inconfiderable. The bees, as if acquainted with thefe principles of folid geometry, follow them most accurately; the bottom of cach cell being compofed of three planes which make obtufe angles with the fide-partitions, and with one another, and meet in a point in the middle of the bottom; the three angles of this bottom being fupported by three par titions on the other fide of the comb, and the point of it by the common in terfection of thofe three partitions.

One inftance more of the mathe matical skill difplayed in the ftructure of a honey-comb deserves to be mentioned.

It is a curious mathematical problem, at what precife angle the three planes which compofe the bottom of a cell ought to meet, in order to make the greateft poffible faving, or the leaft expence, of material and labour.

This is one of thefe problems, bes longing to the higher parts of mathematics, which are called problems of maxima and minima. It has been re folved by fome mathematicians, parti cularly by the ingenious Mr Maclaurin, by a fluxionary calculation, which is to be found in the Tranfactions of the Royal Society of London. He has determined precifely the angle res quired; and he found, by the most exact menfuration the fubject could admit, that it is the very angle, in which the three planes in the bottom

of

of the cell of a honey-comb do actually meet.

Shall we ask here, who taught the bee the properties of folids, and to refolve problems of maxima and minima? If a honey-comb were a work of human art, every man of common fenfe would conclude, without hesitation, that he who invented the construction must have understood e principles on which it is conftructed.

We need not fay that bees know none of these things. They work

moft geometrically, without any knowledge of geometry; fomewhat like a child, who, by turning the handle of an organ, makes good mufic, without any knowledge of mufic.

The art is not in the child, but in him who made the organ. In like manner, when a bee makes its comba fo geometrically, the geometry is not in the bee, but in that Great Geometrician who made the bee, and made all things in number, weight, and measure.

Continuation of the Hiftory of Boxing. Being an Extraft from a searce Pamphlet on the Science of Defence. By Capt. John Godfrey.

DVANCE, brave Broughton! Thee

ers. As far as I can look back, I think I ought to open the characters with bim: I know none fo fit, fo able to lead up the van. This is giving him the living preference to the reft; but I hope I have not given any caufe to fay, that there has appeared, in any of my characters, a partial tincture. I have throughout confulted nothing but my unbiaffed mind, and my heart has known no call but merit. Wherever I have praifed, I have no defire of pleafing wherever decried, no fear of offending. Broughton, by his manly merit, has bid the higheft, therefore fas my heart. I really think all will poll with me who poll with the fame principle. Sure there is fome ftanding reafon for this preference. What can be ftronger than to fay, that for feventeen or eighteen years he has

fought every able Boxer that appeared

beat? This being the cafe, we may venture to conclude from it. But not to build alone on this, let us examine farther into his merits. What is it that he wants? Has he not all that others want, and all the best can have? Strength equal to what is human, skill and judgment equal to what can be acquired, undebauched wind, and a bottom f fpirit, never to pronounce the word enough. He fights the ftick as well as molt men, and understands a good deal of the fmall-fword. This practice has given him the diftinction of time and measure beyond the reft. Heftops as regularly as the fwords-man, and carries his blows truly in the line; he steps not back, diftrufting of himfelf to ftop a blow, and piddle in the return, with an arm unaided by his body producing but a kind of flyflap blow's, fuch

He was, however, afterwards beaten by Slack on April 11, 1750. On this occafion there was the greatest number of perfons of diftinction prefent perhaps ever known, and the greateft fums of money betted in favour of Broughton. He was beaten in fourteen minutes.

Our author explains this term in the following manner: "There are two things required to make this bottom, that is, wind and fpirit, or heart, or whereever you can fix the refidence of courage. Wind may be greatly brought about by exercife and diet; but the fpirit is the firft equipment of a Boxer. Without this fubftantial thing, both art and ftrength will avail a man but little..

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fuch as the paftry-cooks ufe to beat thofe infects from their tarts and cheefecakes. No-Broughton fteps bold and firmly in; bids a welcome to the coming blow; receives it with his guardian arm; then with a general fummons of his fwelling mufcles, and his firm body, feconding his arm, and fupplying it with all its weight, pours the pile-driving force upon his man. That I may not be thought particular in dwelling too long upon Broughton, I leave him with this affertion, that as he, I believe, will scarce traft a battle to a warning age, I never fhall think he is to be beaten, till I fee him beat.

About the time I firft obferved this promifing hero upon the ftage, his chief competitors were Pipes and Gretting. He beat them both (and I thought with eafe) as often as he fought them.

Pipes was the neatest boxer I remember. He put in his blows about the face (which he fought at most) with furprising time and judgment. He maintained his battles for many years by his extraordinary skill, against men of far fuperior ftrength. Pipes was but weakly made; his appearance befpoke activity, but his hand, arm, and body were but fmall; though by that acquired fpring of his arm he hit prodigious blows; and I really think that at laft, when he was beat out of his championship, it was more owing to his debauchery than the merit of thofe who beat him.

Gretting was a ftrong antagonist to Pipes. They contended hard together for fome time, and were almoft alter nate victors. Gretting had the nearest way of going to the ftomach (which is what they call the mark) of any man I knew. He was a moft artful boxer, ftronger made than Pipes, and dealt the traiteft blows. But what made Pipes a match for him, was his rare bottom fpirit, which would bear a deal of beating: but this, in my mind, Gretting was not fufficiently furnished

with; for, after he was beat twice to gether by Pipes, Hammersmith Jack a meer floven of a boxer, and every body that fought him afterwards, bear him. I muft, notwithstanding, do that juftice to Gretting's memory, as to own that his debauchery very much contributed to fpoil a great Boxer but yet I think he had not the bottom of the other,

Much about this time, there was one Whitaker, who fought the Venetian Gondolier. He was a very strong fellow, but a clumfy Boxer. He had two qualifications very much contri buting to help him out. He was very extraordinary for his throwing, and contriving to pitch his weighty body on the fallen man. The other was, that he was a hardy fellow, and would bear a deal of beating. This was the man pitched upon to fight the Veneti an. I was at Slaughter's Coffee-house when the match was made, by a gentleman of an advanced station: he fent for Fig to procure a proper man for him he told him to take care of his man, because it was for a large fum; and the Venetian was a man of extraordinary ftrength, and famous for breaking the jaw-bone in boxing. Fig replied, in his rough manner, I do not know, mafter, but he may break one of his own countrymen's jaw-bones with his fift; but I will bring him a man, and he shall not break his jaw bone with a fledgehammer in his hand.

:

The battle was fought at Fig's ame phitheatre, before a fplendid company, the politeft houfe of that kind I ever faw. While the Gondolier was ftripping, my heart yearned for my countryman. His arm took up all obfervation; it was furprisingly large, long, and mufcular. He pitched himfelf forward with his right leg, and his arm full extended, and, as Whitaker approached, gave him a blow on the fide of the head, that knocked him quite off the stage, which was remarkable for its height. Whitaker's misfortune in his fall was then the gran

deus

dear of the company, on which account they fuffered no common people in, that ufually fit on the ground and fine the ftage round. It was then all clear, and Whitaker had nothing to ftop him but the bottom. There was a general foreign huzza on the side of the Venetian, pronouncing our countryman's downfal; but Whitaker took no more time than was required to get up again, when, finding his fault in ftanding out to the length of the other's arm, he, with a little stoop, ran boldly in beyond the heavy mallet, and with one English peg in the ftomach (quite a new thing to foreigners) brought him on his breech. The blow carried too much of the English rudenefs for him to bear, and finding himself so unmannerly used, he scorned to have any more doings with his flovenly fift..

not know one he was not a match for, before he loft his finger. He was famous, like Pipes, for fighting at the face, but ftronger in his blows. He knew Whitaker's hardinefs, and doubting of his being able to give him beating enough, cunningly determined to fight at his eyes. His judgment carried in his arm fo well, that in about fix mi nutes both Whitaker's eyes were shut up; when groping about a while for his man, and finding him not, he wife ly gave out, with thefe odd words, Damme, I am not beat, but what fig. nifies my fighting when I cannot fee my man?

We will now come to times a little fresher, and of later date.

George Taylor, known by the name of George the Barber, sprang up furprisingly. He has beat all the chief Boxers but Broughton. He, I think, injudicioufly fought him one of the firft, and was obliged very foon to give out. Doubtless it was a wrong ftep in him to commence a Boxer, by fighting the ftanding champion: for George was not then twenty, and Broughton was in the zenith of his age and art. Since that he has greatly diftinguished himself with others, but has neverengaged Broughton more. He is a strong able Boxer, who, with a fkill extraordinary, aided by his knowledge of the small and backfword, and a remarkable judgment in the cross-buttock fall, may contest with any. But, please or difplease, I am refolved to be ingenuous in my characters. Therefore I am of the R 2 opinion,

So fine a house was too engaging to Fig not to court another. He therefore stepped up, and told the gentlemen that they might think he had picked out the best man in London on this occafion; but to convince them to the contrary, he faid, that if they would come that day fe'nnight, he would bring a man who fhould beat this Whitaker in ten minutes, by fair hitting. This brought very near as great and fine a company as the week before. The man was Nathaniel Pearree, who knowing the other's bottom, and his deadly way of flinging, took a moft judicious method to beat him.Let his character come in here. He was a most admirable Boxer, and I do

* This man died Feb. 21, 1750, and the following Epitaph is on his tomb-ftone in Deptford church-yard:

Farewell, ye honours of my brow!

Victorious wreaths, farewell!
One trip from Death has laid me low,
By whom fuch numbers fell!
Yet bravely I'll difpute the prize,
Nor yield, tho' out of breath!
'Tis but a fall! I yet fhall rife,

And conquer even DEATH!

The newspapers of the time take notice of a battle fought between Taylor and Slack the 31ft of January 1749-50, at Broughton's Amphitheatre, which held as minutes, when Taylor with fome difficulty beat his antagoni

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