The 436th number of the Spectator contains an account of the challenge of James Miller, "master of the noble science of defence," to Timothy Buck, who claimed to possess equal skill and to the combat which followed in the Bear Garden, at Hockley in the Hole; and were there not ample evidence to show that the scenes which Addison describes were frequent, we should almost incline to believe, that, for some of his incidents, he drew upon his imagination, so barbarous does the custom of men hacking one another with swords, for the mere amusement of themselves and others, appear to us. The article from Chambers, written in 1835, which follows, will give the reader an idea of that diversion in the British Isles, as well as disclose the fact that noblemen and foreign ministers were voluntary and interested witnesses of it. The change affords reason to hope that the barbarous practice to which this volume is specially devoted may disappear also. While the knowledge that "sword-players" were objects of admiration as late as Addison's time should teach our English brethren charity and moderation in their remarks about those who use bowie knives and shot-guns on the borders of American civilization.

"Those who are shocked by the descriptions of the gladiatorial scenes exhibited on so large a scale, and with circumstances of such monstrous barbarity, in ancient Rome, will be still more so when informed that practices similar in kind, if less remarkable in degree, were common in our own country till within the last hundred years. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, a place of amusement called the Bear Garden at Hockley in the Hole, in or near London, was devoted to amusements of this description, which were not only resorted to by the lower population, but by noblemen, and occasionally even by the resident ambassadors. Men, styling themselves professors of the noble art of defence, and occasionally assuming the title of champion for particular English counties, were either stationary at that place of exhibition, where they defied all competitors, or went about the country, challenging particular towns to furnish them with an antagonist; a failure in which could only be expiated by a purse of gold to purchase their departure. The professors of this barbarous art were in many cases Irishmen; and that there was at least one eminent proficient who claimed Scotland for his place of birth is proved by a scarce old volume in which is chronicled the life of Donald Bane, a man who had originally been a soldier, but afterwards gained a subsistence by teaching the broadsword, and occasionally taking a purse by prizefighting. On the days when there was to be a fight at Hockley, they used to advertise the circumstance, by parading the streets in fancy dresses, with swords drawn, colors flying, drums beating, and a few officials whose duty it was to disperse bills of the performance. The offensiveness of these promenades is alluded to in terms of bitter reprobation in a presentment of the grand jury of London in June, 1701; but they were not finally put down for full thirty years after that period. "

In 1725, one Figg entertained the public at an amphitheatre in the Oxford Road, where, on one occasion, Sutton, the champion of Kent, and a female of the same county, fought Stokes and his wife, for forty pounds, to be given to the male or female who gave most cuts with the sword, and twenty pounds for the most blows at quarter-staff, besides the collection in the box . Two years later appeared the following advertisement : 'In Islington Road, on Monday, the 17th of July 1727, will be performed a trial of skill by the following combatants. "We, Robert Barker and Mary Welsh, from Ireland, having often contaminated our swords with such antagonists as had the insolence to dispute our skill, do find ourselves once more necessitated to challenge, defy, and invite Mr. Stokes and his bold Amazonian virago to meet us on the stage, where we hope to give a satisfaction to the honorable lord of our nation who has laid a wager of twenty guineas on our heads. They that give the most cuts to have the whole money, and the benefit of the house; and if swords, daggers, quarter-staff, fury, rage, and resolution will prevail, our friends shall not meet with a disappointment." "We, James and Elizabeth Stokes, of the city of London, having already given an universal approbation by our agility of body, dexterous hands, and courageous hearts, need not perambulate on this occasion, but rather choose to exercise the sword to their sorrow, and corroborate the general opinion of the town, than to follow the custom of our repartee antagonists. This will be the last tune of Mrs. Stokes's performing on the stage." 'There will be a door on purpose for the reception of the gentlemen, where coaches may drive up, and the company come in without being crowded. Attendance will be given at three, and the combatants mount at six precisely. They all fight in the same dresses as before.' In October, 1730, Mr. Figg fought his two hundred and seventy-first battle with a Mr . Holmes, whose wrist he cut to the bone. It does not appear, however, that these horrible exhibitions were ever attended with a mortal result: such an event would have probably put an end to them.

THOMAS Barritt, the local antiquary, who lived in Hanging Ditch, and died in October, 1820, in his 77th year, has written in one of his manuscript common-place books the following curious narrative: "When I was a boy about eight years old, a noted prize fighter came to Manchester, by name Thomas Barret, an old man, with his face cut and scarred all over, so that for the most part he went by the name of 'Old Chopping-block.' He taught the science of defence (or what I should think was sometimes offence), in a large room at the Old Boar's Head, Hyde's Cross. While in town he articled with a stranger to show their feats of arms in public, in a yard near Salford Chapel; at which place I attended to see the exhibition, which was performed upon a stage in manner following:

First, the champions entered the lists in their shirts, and bare-headed, with each a quarter-staff, about two yards long and as thick as the handle of a pikel. These they brandished and whirled about with surprising dexterity; not forgetting every now and then to reach each other a lusty souse upon the sides, shoulders, or head, which was no ways displeasing to the spectators. This exercise being ended, and a little time spent in refreshing, the combatants approached each other with basket-hilted broadswords, and each a target [i.e. a large shield or buckler] upon their left arm; seconds likewise being appointed, and upon the stage with poles, to prevent them going to extremities. In a little while both targets, not being covered with leather, were slit in pieces; and Old Chopping-block after this received a cut upon his cheek near the nose. He immediately returns the compliment, cutting his antagonist directly upon the brow; by which both their faces were almost covered with blood. After some few flourishes with their weapons old Barret receives another wound on his face, near the former, which he seemed not to approve; and, spying an open in his adversary, gives him such a slice on his forehead and with such earnestness, that the seconds, thinking it not prudent that the business should be continued any longer, parted them. This affair, however, not subsiding, a second challenge was given and place appointed, which was the Old Boar's Head yard, where I again attended, a few days after. The fellows again mounted the stage with swords; but old Barret, taking the advantage, cut his antagonist in the side, which was declared unfair play. Thus this combat ended, and was the last sword-play I ever heard of in England. In some while after Thomas Barret went to Ireland, and there followed the same business, and in a combat received a cut in his belly, which let his bowels out and ended his days."