was, at the Time of their being signed, a Stranger in this city, being
then lately come from _England_. And secondly, lest I should meet with
such Opposition as might perhaps have frustrated my Design of publishing
this book, I thought proper to conceal my being concerned in it, 'till
Mr. _Campbell_ had shown the Translation to all the principal Masters in
Town, and gained their Approbation much in Favour of it.



THE

ART of FENCING;

OR THE

USE of the SMALL-SWORD.




CHAP. I.

_Of chusing and mounting a_ Blade.


Courage and Skill being often of little Use without a good Weapon, I
think it necessary, before I lay down Rules for using it, to shew how to
chuse a good Blade, and how it ought to be mounted.

The Length of the Blade ought to be proportionable to the Stature of the