A treatise upon the useful science of defence, connecting the small and back-sword, and shewing the affinity between them. [electronic resource] : Likewise endeavouring to weed the art of those superfluous, unmeaning practices which over-run it, and choke the true principles, by reducing it to a narrow compass, and supporting it with mathematical proofs. Also an examination into the performances of the most noted masters of the back-sword, who have fought upon the stage, pointing out their faults, and allowing their abilities. With some observations upon boxing, and the characters of the most able boxers within the author's time. By Capt. John Godfrey.