The Incident of a late _Prize_ fought at one of our Theatres, has given me some Occasion to amuse myself with the Rise, and Antiquity of _Duelling_; and to enquire what Considerations have given it such Credit, as to make it practicable as well in all Countries, as in all Times. Religion and Civil Policy have ever declar'd against the Custom of receiving _Challenges_, and deny that any Man has a Right, by a Tryal at _Sharps_, to destroy his Fellow-Creature. History, 'tis true; both sacred and prophane, is full of Instances of these sort of Combats: but very few are recorded to have happen'd between Friends, none on the light and idle Misconstruction of Words, which has set most of our modern _Tilters_ at Work. The _Athenians_ made it penal by a Law so much as to call a Man a _Murtherer_: and the Detestation of Antiquity is so plain to this inhuman Kind of Proceeding, that when _Eteocles_ and _Polynices_ had kill'd each other upon the important Quarrel of disputed Empire, the Government order'd the Challenger's Body to be thrown out as a Prey to the Dogs and Birds, and made it Death for any one to sprinkle Dust over it, or give it the least honorary Marks of Interment. The _Duelling_ so much in Fashion for a few late Centuries is so scandalous to _Christianity_ and _common Understanding_, and grounded upon none of those specious Occasions which at first made it warrantable, that it is high Time the Wisdom of Commonwealths should interpose to discountenance and abrogate a pernicious Liberty, whose Source springs alone from Folly and Intemperance. Sir _Walter Raleigh_ has very wisely observ'd in his _History_ of the _World_, that _the acting of a private Combat, for a private Respect, and most commonly a frivolous One, is not an Action of Virtue, because it is contrary to the Law of God, and of all Christian Kings: neither is it difficult, because even and equal in Persons and Arms: neither for a publick Good, but tending to the contrary, because the Loss or Mutilation of an able Man, is also a Loss to the Commonweal_.