that Mr. Bysshe, in his Collection of agreeable and sublime Thoughts, for the Imitation of future Poets, when he comes to the Topick of Honour, ingeniously refers his Readers to the Word Butcher; tacitly implying that the Thoughts upon both Heads have a Coherence, as the Terms themselves are synonomous.  In short, your Practitioners in Duelling are so barbarous in their Nature; that their whole Study is picking up Occasions to be engaged in a Quarrel.  They are a sort of Quixots, whose heads are so full of mischievous Chivalry, that they will mistake the Sails of a Wind-mill for the Arms of a Gyant; and it is fifty to one, if the most innocent Motions, Looks, or Smiles, are not, by their Prepossessions, construed Airs of Defiance, Offence, or Ridicule.  There is a Passage in Hamlet, which never fails of raising Laughter in the Audience; ’tis where the Clowns are preparing a Grave for Ophelia, and descanting on the Unreasonableness of her being buried in Christian Burial, who willfully sought her own Salvation.  Will you ha’ the Truth or on’t? says one of them wisely, if this had not been a Gentlewoman, she should have been buried out of Christian Burial. Why there though say’st it; replies his Fellow, and the more is the Pity that great Folk should have Countenance in this World to drown, or hang themselves more than us poor Folk.  The Application is so easy, that I shall leave it for everyone to make it for himself.

Next to my first Wish, that Duelling were totally restrain’d, methinks, I could be glad that our young hot Bravo’s would not be altogether brutal, but quarrel mathematically, and with some Discretion.  I would recommend the Caution, which Shakespear has prescrib’d by an Example, of offering and accepting a Challenge.  In one of his Plays, there is an hereditary Quarrel betwixt two Families, and the Servants on each Side are so zealous in their Masters Cause, that they never meet without a Desire of fighting, yet are shy of giving the Occasion of Combat.  The transcribing a short Passage will give the best Idea of their Conduct.

     Samp. I will bite my Thumb at them, which is a Disgrace to them
     if they bear it.

     Abra. Do you bite your Thumb at Us, Sir?

     Samp. I do bite my Thumb, Sir.

     Abra. Do you bite your Thumb at Us, Sir?

     Samp. Is the Law on our Side, if I say, Ay?

     Greg. No.

     Samp. No, Sir; I do not bite my Thumb at you, Sir; but I bite my
     Thumb, Sir.

The most beneficial Things to a Commonwealth will have some of its Members who will think them a Grievance.  I have just now receiv’d the following Letter from a Fencing-Master, who is very apprehensive of Business falling off, if the Act against Duelling should take place.