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The Deaf'un l88D1ed uow doomed to the siekn818 of "hope deferred." He was too good for any of the It-atone men exoept the Champion, whOll8 price, even lowered to 200, was still too high for him. NumeroOlletten passed and repasaed between O'Rourke and Barb; and OD one oeeuion O'Boarke dr8gging in tbe name of Ward, Jem offered to stake 800 to O'Roarke'. 200 and fight him in Ireland. To this O'Roarke made no reepoDll8, and 800D after aailed for America. Ward then offered to meet Barb 800 to 200; but even at thllll8 odda the Deaf'un could not find backers, at which we need not be 8urprised when the comparative merita of the men were weighed in the balance. Barb, who bad certainly, in addition to hta great powers ea a boxer, a fUDd of Dative and qnaiDt comicality. now utilised his talent ea a publio exhibitor of modela of statues from the antique, for which his athletio development well fitted him. alternating them with cliaplaya of the Art of Self-defence. In these tours, wherein his attendant or agent in advance wea the well-known TODUDy Roundhead, the trainer (whom the Deaf'un dubbed his " Secretary"), Barke mted Wales, Bristol, and the West, and aubsequentlythe Midlands and the North. An incidental notice iD aneW8paper publiahed in .. the Potteries" gives us a peep at the Deaf'un on his travels. "A VOIO. no. 'l'IDI PrroImB COOlCTBY. DII.lPPOIJI'1'XDT 01' 'l'IDI POT'J'DT Fuoy.-onSaturda1last Tommy Roundhead, the t.nHmt courier of Deaf Barb, arrived in Hwey, and cast anchor at Mr. Hawea's, Angel Inn, in the Market Place. On making his bDBines8 known, the worthy

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1881-1845.

hOO offered him the US8 of the large room in which Tom Spring and Big' Brown exhibited previous to Brown's fight with Phil Sampeon, at Bishop's Wood. Roundhead immediately got his handbills printed, and the walls covered with well-displayed posters, announcing that on Monday and Tne&day evenings, 'Deaf Burks, Champion of England, and Harry Preston, Champion of Birmingham, would take a benefit and exhibit the manly art of self-defence; the whole to conclude with a grand set-to, previous to Preston's retnrD to Birmingham to fight Davis for one hundred guineas.' " Tommy gave out that Burks and Preston would arrive at Hanley at nOOD on Monday. During the day, but especially in the evening, the Angel' was crowded. Several indicatioDS of impatience were exhibited at the non-appearance of the men j bnt in the evening, when the last coach arrived from Birmingham, and there was no tidings of the 'Deafun,' an universal burst of disgust went throngh the rooms. They all turned upon Roundhead. Tommy got on his pins, and attempted to explain that he left Barks on the ThlU"Bday at Athel'8tone, and that he bad come to Hanley, by Borks's express desire, to engage a room for him and Preston to spar in. He had written to Burks, at Arthur Matthewson's, and conld only account for their non-appearance on the score that his letter bad not reached them. The grumblers vehemently vociferated, 'Stow your patter, it's a hoax-it's 00 go, Tommy.' A regular , flare-up' had very near taken place, but, by good words and persuasion, silence was restored, and the company dispersed peaceably." From what follows, it will be seen that that very shifty gentlemanHarry Preston-was the real cauae of the apparent breach of promise. , The cause of this disappointment is explained by & letter we have received from Birmingham; from which it appears that Preston and the Deaf'un had a fall oot at Arthur Matthewson's, which, after lots of chaft' and a deposit of a sovereign a side, was to be decided by a fight the next moming, but on the Deaf'un going to the scratch Preston 'would not have it.' Some further chatter followed, in which Preston offered to fight Barks if he wonld reduce himself to 12 stone. This the Deaf'un declined, but offered to fight him 120 to 100, or 60 to 50. This would not suit Harry's book, and thos the matter ended. The Deafnn's next trip is to Liverpool, and from thence to Scotland, where he is to join Bob Avery in Glasgow. Poor Tommy Roundhead has been undeservedly censured in this matter."

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JAIIES BURKE.

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That the Deafun had considerable pantomimic powers may be gathereUGILISTIOA.

(PDlOD

m. 1886-1M6.

A gentleman prop08ed as an an amendment that the SUJD should be 250, but this was negatived by & large majority. and the original reIlolution was carried with acclamation. It was then moved and 8eCOnded-u That if Jem Ward refuses to fight Deaf Burke for 200, he shall no longer be coDsiderod Champion of England, but that Burke shall assume the title, until bound to yield to & man of greater ment." This resolution was also carried unanimoUlly. These resolutions are certainly in the spirit of common sense, and if Ward's situation in life placed him above the necessity of considering himself any longer a member of the Ring, it was no more than fair-u in the case of the veteran Tom Cribb and his successor Tom Spring-that he should retire; a step which certainly could not have stripped him of any of the honours to which he had previously entitled himself. The disappointed Deaf'un now repaired to Liverpool, and departing thence, like another Childe Harold, "he sung, or might, or could, or should, or would have sung":'0 Adieu I Adieu I 1I:r aatift lIbore FadllB o'er ~he waten blue; The nigh~wiDd aigha, ~he brerobn roer, Loud Ihrieb ~he wild __mew. YOD IIUII, tha". ~ o'er the ... We'll follow in its ftlght Farewell awhile to i~ and th_ H7 natiYe land-Good nich~ I .. With thee, m:r bark, I'll1lWif~1:r go, Athwart the foamm, brine, Nor ll&I'Il what land thou bear'.~ IQ to. 80 Dot &pin to mine. And if in W llBtern lani I find A wortlt.:r foe in fight, 1I:r OODqUerm, brow with bap I'll blndSo, natiYe land-Good night I"

And 80 "Childe Burke" did, after a pleasant tour, ID which he always spoke &S receiving warm welcome and hospitality from the Americans; although, as we shall presently see, upon the unanswerable testimony of their own papers, the perjerviallm ingtmium. of certain emigrant Hibernian rowdies proved the prudence of Burke's friends when they declined a contest on the Curragh of Kildare. After a brief stay in New York, where he was well received, Burke did not find any regular 11 professional" inclined to teat his pugilistic capabilitie., and, after duly acknowledging the good spirit in which he had been received, he announced, that, in compliance with "a vaunting chal-

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lenge in a New Orleans paper, in which O'Rourke W88 stated tu be resident in that city, and ready to meet any man in the world," he, the Deaf'un, had determined on a southward trip, and to drop down on Mr. O'Rourke on the scene of his glory. As the Deaf'un always meant what he said, and, himself unconscious of foul play, did not suspect it in others, he sailed for the city of swamps and slavery. He bad reckoned, in his simplicity, that a stranger would have fair play, 88 with Englishmen, but 800n found out his egregious mistake. Aa we desire the character of an impartial historian, we shall merely extract the account of this affair from the OharleatM Oourier of May 18th, 1887 which giVeB the account under date of New Orleans, May 6th:"FIGHTING R!OT8, &c.-For some two or three days past, large numbers of our population have been thrown into considerable excitement by handbills posted up in bar-rooms and at the corners of the streets, that a pugJ1ilmc combat W88 to take place yesterday between two celebrated prize-fighters, Deaf Burke, an Englishman, and O'Rourke, an Irishman. The fight between the rival champions, aB they style themselves, took place at about one o'clock, at the forks of the Bayou Road. Some two or three rounds were fought, which resulted particularly to the advantage of neither of the belligerents. The second of O'Rourke, happening to come within hitting distance of Burke, received a severe blow from the Deaf-man himself. Whether this was right or wrong, not being at the fight, we know not. At any rate it was tho signal for a general scrimmage, in which the Irishmen joined the O'Rourke party, and handled Burke and his friends with data and sticks made of anything but dough and molassea. 0'Rourke'8 second was settled down by a settler from Burke's own fist, when the Deaf-man, thinking his heels better preservatives of his face and feelings than his fists, took the leg-itimate course adopted by all men and animals when 888aulted by a superior force. "Matters were now coming to a fine pass. Burke was followed b,.. crowds of Irishmen with shillelagh., dray-pins, whips, and what not. A friend, on seeing him pass, handed him a bome-knife, and another gave him a horae, with which he made good his escape. , Of the different riota which took place at the scene of action we were not witne88es. Some say there WaB foul play on the part of O'Rourke's friends, and especially by his second, and that it WaB intended long before the fight took place that Burke should get a thrashing by foul or fair means. The man who handed Burke the knife WaB cruelly beaten by the infuriated

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friendll of O'Bowke: it ill reported, &Dd we fear with much truth, that he WIl8 killed. "O'Bourke'lI friends bore him about our IItreets in triumph yesterday afternoon in a coach drawn by theDUlelves. n On the arrival of the dift'orent parties in town, inflamed with liquor and ready for any disturbance, many affraya 0CClU'I'ed. During the whole afternoon, large numbers of malcontents, principally Iriahmen, were congregated in the vicinity of the Union House, and Armstrong's, opposite the American Theatre. Several serious and disgraceful fights took place, in 1I0me of which the rascally mob beat and otherwise maltreated a number of innocent and unoffending individual& A large number of arrests were made. " The reports in town of the 1088 of lives, and of the results of the wild spirit of anarchy and confusion which existed in th" afternoon, are 110 various, Ba contradictory, that we cannot comment upon them. The whole affair was disgraceful in the extreme. " The Washington Guardll were ordered out at eight o'clock last evening by the Mayor to quell any disturbance which might arise. Aa late as two o'clock this morning everything Wall comparatively quiet." Thus it would seem that the afiair ended in 1\ complete Irish row, in which the lawless habits of "the Kuights of the Shillelagh" put all fair play at defiance. We hope we are not open to a charge of national prejudice, but would fairly put the question, U W ouId such ruffianism-and ruffianism is always cruel and cowardly-be possible among a people imbued with the fair-play practices and the principles incnlcated by regulated pugilism? " Some anxiety Wall caused in London by a rumour in aNew York paper, that the Deaf'un had received his" quietus" not with "a bare bodkin" but an "Arkansas tooth-pick;" much relief therefore, was felt by them on finding from the Charleston papers that he was still in the land of the living, and had returned to New York; not finding hill life safe among a set of men who considered a challenge to their "Champion" as an indiTidual, a national insult, to be wiped out by assassination. That he had returned in safety was shown by scattered notices in the New York papers, from which we gather that one O'Connell, who, like his namesake on this side the Atlantic, was "an out-and-out big potato," had challenged the Deaf'un for 500 dollars and" the honour of ould Ireland," to a tlstic tourney. This Burke had accepted, and Elizabeth Town Point

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as the field of battle. A sheriff's notice, in anticipation of another Irish riot, compelled a change of ground to Hart's Island, which was reached by & steam excursion, and here the affair came off without interruption. What follows is from the New Yorl: Herald:" The I Prize Ring,' as it is emphatically called, is not without its merits, and although we regret and detest these exhibitions-when as exhibitions merely-our duty as chroniclers of p&B8ing events compels us to make public what otherwise we should bury in oblivion. Among the ancients these spectacles were frequent, and cherished by the government of the people indulging in them; and it is yet doubtful whether they do not in some degree tend to benefit the community at large. There is a feeling of courage-of proud, manly self-dependence-accompanying the champion8 of the Ring, that otherwise would not be elicited. The manly stand-up fight is surely far preferable to the insidi01l8 knife-the ruffianly gang system-or the cowlU"dly and brutal practice of biting, kicking, or gouging, now so prevalent. The ancient Romans conquered and civilised half the world, and it is to them we owe the gladiatorial spectacle of the Prize Ringmodified by modern civilisation, but yet retaining sufficient of itl:i origin to portray the manners and habits of the people among whom it has taken root. The British people are particularly fond of this exhibition, and there are 80me good consequences attending it. The street broil or hasty quarrel is deprived of half its ferocity. Three or four or more do no~ fall upon and beat a single individual. None but gangs of ruffians can commit such deeds. The single man when struck down by his opponent is permitted to rise and put himself, as it were, in something like equilibrium with his opponent. Stamping upon a man when down-biting, kicking, and other such' conrageous ' displays are entirely exploded; and when the party combating crien 'hold, enough,' no bowie-knife enters his vitals, or proves the superior courage of his opponent by depriving him of existence. With all its disadvantao"'68, therefore, and demoralising tendency, as contended, and perhaps truly so, it may be doubted whether the spilit emanating from it may not be productive of benefit among the lower cl&B8es. The knock-down blow is surely preferable to private assassination, or even to the open taking of human life by means of deadly weapons. Quitting these refiections, let us give our account of the fight itself. "At nine o'clock the steamboat left the ferry (Catharine Street), with about three hundred passengers, and those of a very select kind, owing principally, perhaps, to the high price demanded for tickets-three dollars,

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which speedily rose to four and five dollars, and even at that price could not be procured. The destination was Hart's Island, where the passengers were landed and the preliminary measures to the 'set-to' adopted. A twenty-four feet ring, according to the articles of agreement, was formed, and an outside one to prevent any interruption to the pugilistic efforts of the combatants. The ring being completed, and the seconds proclaiming 'all ready,' the two champions made their appearance-O'Connen, as the challenger, threw his hat first in the ring, which was quickly answered by Burke; the men then peeled for the battle. " On stripping, the great disparity between the two men was apparent.. Burke presented an iron frame, in which all surperfluous flesh seemed excluded. His broad and extended chest, his outward turned knees, that take off from beauty to add so much to muscular power, his muscular and well-knit lower limbs left no donbt on the minds of the spectators that no common skill or bodily strength would be sufficient to overpower or vanquish the possessor. O'Connell stripped to greater advantage than was expected. His upper frame is large and muscular, but it wants compactness and tension. His sinews hang loose, and his frame is far from being well banded together. In his lower conformation this defect is still more striking; this is his wtlak point, and must ever incapacitate him from becoming a redoubtable competitor in the Prize Ring. ' All ready' being proclaimed by the respective seconds (Abm. Vanderzee and Alexander Hamilton officiating for O'Connell, and Hatfield and 8wnmerdyke for Deaf Burke), the opponents previously shaking hands, put themselves in attitude for the onset.

"THERound 1.-The men came up, each equally ClOnftdent. Some lparring took place which only tended to Ihow in a more I~ point the dilptlrity of the pugiliata. The qUlck eye of Burlie immediately clilCO'I'ered that he had the pme in his hand-, and he aocordingly forebore any active exertion, threw hil body open, which O'Oonnell immediately caught at, and implanted two heayY bloWl-one immediately beneath the rm., and the IBOOnd on the loins of his ad venary. Burke received tAis infliction without the Ilightest variation of muacle or feature_nd in return put forth a feeler (left hand) which dropped O'Connell at his full length. Some of fiurke'l friends cheered-this waa instantly stopped by tbe umpires, who requested that, let the fight terminate how it might, no ebullition of the feelings of either party should be .u1Jered to

~'IGHT.

take place. All, upon thia appeal, were Im. mediately silent. 2.-Both meu were equally confident. O'Oonnell lDliled, &I mueh &I to 1&1; .. I stoop to conquer." Burke made play; 0 Oonnell struok a well-meant left-handed compliment to Burke's !mowledge-box, which W&l prettilYltopped. Burke returned with right, in part huabanding hisltre~; the blow tola alightly on O'Oonnelll breadbaaket-- wreatle--O'Oonnell down. YU1I1; blood was here olaimed by each party. The umpirea decided that both sported the o1aref; simultaneously-thua deciding all wagera on this matter. 3.-Burke appeared brooding mischief. O'Oonnellltruck a random blow and loat m.. guard, when Burke immediately put in his tremendolll right-handed blow, whic:h takinI

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effl!llt under the ear of O'Oonnel1, floored him aB if muck by light~. 4.-Time being called, 0 Oonnell coumgeoual,. rwe to the 1I01'&teh, but had .-rcelJ. le" hill IIllOOnd'. knee, wben he fell aB if through weeJm-. The fight ".. here oI&imed by the friends of Burke ; the umpires, however. deuided "not loat," and the fifth round commenced. 6.-o'Connell tried a new mode, and went boldly mto hill man. He succeeded m planting a pretty bod,..blow on Burke. closed for the wrestle, but ".. thrown-be fell adiahtl,., however. 6.-JJurke piped a trifle. o'Oonnell made ruah-got well in for the oloae, but the nperior strength of Burb shook him off. o'Oonnell _ed apent, ".. entirel,. off his guard, and Burb could eaail,. haYe concluded the fight by any blow he chose to ha.,e put in i. but, -m; the diAbled state of O'Con neu, Burb unclosed his fiat, and with the back of hill open hand struck O'Connell m the breut, which dropped him as " man might be nppoaed to pub down a child. A Iatr exclamation of approbation, impossible to repress, ran through the IpllCtaton at the manlin_ of this conduct. 7.-o'Oonnell _med to be gaining IItreDgth. and fought thill round moat manfu1l:J. It ".. ement, ne.,erthe1-. that his faulty method of delivering hill blo... could nenr win him the day. Three "Yere blo... were de1lnred. by Burb in Il11Oo -xm, OD the hsd, cheat, and lom. of 0'Conne11. wbo made " sort of hsdloq rub, oloaod with Burke, bore him towvdil

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the ropes, and ".. thrown hMYily in the wrestle. 8.-Hatfleld, tbe HOODd of Burke, bere Mid. "He's finiahed1 poliah him off." O'Connell came up staggenng-Burb made a femt, and prepared to strike a finisher. Fl'om bumanitl' bowever. he did not deliver hill blow-o Connell olosed-tl short ran,. took place, and O'Connell ".. thrown. '.-o'Conne11 showed some game, but it ".. evidently of an expiring. effort. He faced his man, made a blow, which fell short, and ".. met bI Burke with .. terrible facer. which set tbe olaret flowing m " rapid stream from O'Connell's noatrilL All was o.,er. lO.-Time ".. repeatedly oalled. OCon. nell rose but could not stir " step towanb his man. Burke said, "I wish to fight honourable - I will not strike him-doea your man wish to ~ht an,. more t" O'Oonne11's seoond immediatel,. gave m the battle, and Burke WaB deolared the oonqueror. A word or two reIpllCting the rival com batants: O'Conne11 ne.,er ".. or oan be capable of figuring with aredit aB a fighter. He wants bottom. activi~. and soieneethree things which are mdl8penMble m the formation of a boxer. Fl'om the third round he had not the slightest ohanoo of winningit WaB a doubloon to a shin-plaster, and no taken. The da,. ".. peculiarly propitiolU, and the compan,. of a yery respeCtable desoription. Those who conducted thill affair deserYe all pniH. Not the Uightest disturbance of an,. kind took p}ace, It".. what the Prize Ring ever ought to be-tln uhibi ti.on of manl,. and C01ll1ll00U aonten.-

We need add nothing to this "round, unvarnished tale," written by a literary gentleman who had never before witnessed a prize-fight. In Burke, his Irish opponent found, notwithstanding his foul treatment at New Orleans, a brave and humane antagonist; and that, d8llpite the contaminating effects of bad example, the Deaf'un preserved in the :New World the high and generous qualities he exhibited in his own country. Cant, cruelty, and cowardice have crushed out the courageous confidence in the unarmed 6st 88 the weapon in hand-to-hand encounters, and the American populace trust for victory to the bowie-knife and the revolver, when man opposes man to settle their personal differences \I in a higher phaae of civilisation." (?) As the patrons of the Ring are, such will its professors be, holds good 88 an axiom in pugilism B.8 in every other science. A few unprejudiced and enlightened Amerioans, seeing the horrors and savagery of Irish-American rowdyism, entertained the milling missionary, and .trove to propagate his principles, but were in a minute and powerl888 minority among a multitude

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of howling saints and savages-for' extremes meet in this as in all other things. To thll8e friends and sympathisers Burke bad4' an affectionate farewell, after a handsome benefit, and arrived at Liverpool on the 25th of June, 1838. During the Deaf'un's absence some pretentions "big ones" had been coming into prominent notice. Bendigo, Ben Caun~ and Brassey had become famous, and not a few of their several partisans thought either one or the other more than a match for the Dearun. It was whispered, too, and too truly, that his rupture had been aggravated by an accident, and that his habits in America had not been such as would improve his constitution or stamina. Indeed, IIOme of those deepest in Ring mysteries declared his reappearance in the Ring more than questionable. The gallant fellow himself had no such misgivings, and lost no time in so telling his countrymen.. THE CHAKPIONSHIP OF ENGLAND... To cAe EdiWr of BIILL'B Lxn IN LoNDON.' .. Bm,-When I wu in YIIoIIke.hire I heard a grea~ deal abou~ would-be champioDa , challenging any man in EDgland. While ~he ca~'. a_y ~e miee will play;' and ~ua ~he little fry took advantage of my abaence to bounoe and orow like oocka in a gutier. I hutened back to take ~e .hine out of tbeae bl'llgp(loeioe; and to put ~heir pretenaiona to ~e teat, I ~ to atate tha~ I am now ready to ~~ any man in EDgland for from ODe Hundred to Five Hundred Pound.; and ... my old fnend Jem Ward h... retired from ~e RiDg, if he will add hie Champion'. belt to the prize, and lot ~Ae beat man wear it, he will give new onergiea to ~he Ring, and, I trust, afford an opportuni~ for deciding the loagconteated queation, Who la Champion of England" I liar neither country nor colourage nor dimenaiona; and whether it be the Goliath Caunt, or hie hardy antagoniat Bendigo, or any other man who ever wore a head, I am hi. ouatomer, and no mietake.' My mOlle7 la ready at Jem Burn'., the' Queen'. Head,' Queen'. Head Court, Windmill Street, Ha7market, at a moment'. notice; but I will not oonaent to a lea depoeit that 25 at ctBrliDg. If I Ilnd the race of old Engliah boxera of the right kidney ie extinct, I aball go back to America, where an honll8t man need Dover want a friend or a bottle.' .. DEAF BURKB .. W"mdml1l Bh-set, Haymarket, Ju17 29, 1838. n

As we have already recorded in our memoir of Bendigo, the Nottingham hero lost no time in accepting this challenge, and stated he had placed 100 in the hands of Peter Crawley to make the match. Unfortunately for the Dearun's reputation, he had, through his intimacy with Young Dutch Sam, become entangled in a vicious companionship, as the humble 11 pot-companion" and gladiatorial buffoon of a clique of dissolute young noblemen and swells, the last expiring parodists of the school of which "Corinthian Tom" and "Jerry Hawthorn" were the models. By these and their companions he was carried off to France, on the pretext of training and seconding Owen Swift in his second fight with Jack Adams, and much obloquy was cast on him unjustly, under a supposition that he

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had ron away from his engagements. A" Paris Correspondent" trlUllmitted the following : "PARIS, June H.-The Dearun arrived in this city on Sunday, under the Mentor,hip of Sancho Panza, from Seven Dial., a I buck' of the first water. He met Swift on the Boulevard des Italiens, and was 80 affected at the interview with this interesting ezik, that the water came from his ey. like the jet d'eau in the Temple Gardens. Aa the speediest mode of acquiring an acquaintance with the French lan,,0'Illlg8, he lives entirely on IricandMlu de dictionnaire. He has already won the affections of a grisette by his very natural imitation of the statue of Cupid. He afterwards tried the Yen", de Medit:i, but that was a decided failure. He has been favourably received by the patroDB of British Sports in the French capital, but it is feared he cannot be presented at the Court of Louis Philippe, in consequence of his having neglected to present himself at the Drawing-room of our lovely young Queen. In a visit to the Jardin da Pltmtu, he thought he recogni:l8d a young brother, but on closer inspection he discovered it was only the chimpanzee. He appears to be regarded with as much curiosity in Paris as Soult was in London, and expected the old Marshal would have given him I a Wellington reception,' but hitherto the gallant veteran has not recognised him as 'a companion in arms.' His presence has already had an influence on the fashions, and 'pantalons t.i la Burlce' have made their appelU"&Dce in the Pala.is Royal, while I gantektl t.i la Deafun' are noted as a novelty in Le Oourrier del Saltml." We have already noticed in our memoir of Bendigo that the Dearnn did not return from his continental trip until, after training OWeD Swift, and seconding him on the 5th of September, 1888, he again sought the shores of England, lest he should receive the le polite attentions" of the French authorities for his share in that "scandal," as the Paris correspondent of "My Grandmother" styled it. The staunchness of poor Burb's "summer friends" was now tested. They had withdrawn the ;100 placed in Jem Burn's hands, but, after some negotiation, the match was made, Burb posting 100 to Bendigo's 80, and on the 29th of February, 1889, tho rivals met. The full details of the Deaf'un's defeat may be read in pp. 16-22. The reftection is here unavoidably thrust upou us, that the so-called " friends" of an athlete, if they by their own loose habits seduce him into similar irregularities, are his worst enemies. What is sport to them is ruin to him. Temperance, regularity of living, open air exercille, and severe

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attention to the wellbeing of every bodily function that goes to build up health-the mmaI MmCI in corpore MJno-can never be neglected without ruinous consequences; and thus fell the brave and imprudent Deaf'un, the victim of the follies of those the world miscalled "his betters." A few quatraiDa on his downfall shall find a place here.

THE I.AMENT OF DEAF BURKE.Wm.L, 'tU *an... prea{OUl Rrt.Dg8, r.rier what I haw clcmG. That ID my 1&te battle I abouldn't have won ; 1 TOW uul pro-t, on the word of a brnUer, 1 _ ean pennade m)'Mlf yet rm the 1GMr.1 haft aI_~ 10 1FtIl1 in the RlnKIIOIl8 to work, That m'1 baCltel'll proalaimed me "IDwinaible Barb; And then for a lad. of my ooarap &Dd pme To be floored bJ a norioe--bJ J ove I 'tiI a abam

I hUll doW11 my h-.d, qnite dUma:rd aDd JIlII1Ilu'd. And whpn folb foX me queaUoUl, of OOUJ'lle, 1 am wex'J, I'or, bme&d of -UnI me under mJ J-,Thll7 iDaiDi_te p1alJllJ" Ule

thiIlI- a - .

Thll7 'WeR, for a mu who hu ,toad 10 muoh l\a:h" To be whopp'd in ten round! _ umJM-lible '1nl.. r That I oouldn't be he, it _ plaiD to dUaena, Wot floor'd Oarier &Dd Oraw1eJ, O'OonDellllDd BJTII" Thll7 vow of their bftI upon me th.,.'ve been robb'd, That I ,how'd no good ,oIDt, but IItOod 'Wl to be fobb'd', That no pllllilhment ,harp __ produoed bJ mJ bCoWl, And Bendy did wiUl me whatever he oh...

Hard wom for the Deaf'un, uul cruel the ItiDr. To one who ne'er Illlted amiIIlD the JUDaTo him who __ alive to a mUl, ADd ID thineeD prise-baUlea _ _querar It;i]J.

aI_,.,

I

bo1dI.T ap~ to myl1&ndererl wheU1er 1 wu ever the ooVll7 to ,how the white feather' And BeD!tiIo', ooDduot 1 ClIlDIIot think nah" WheD he ,iripp'd me of IOmeUliDa thU 10d me the flah.t.

That he Illlted unfairly 1 do not advu_ He wu perfeotly riRlit not to put with a oIwUle J SWlI laY, but for ~ whOlOllver D1&yllClClff, He would no. have euily pollahed me off. And may IIIPin never put on a glove, If once more1 don't light him 'or money or love; And my ,Uck 1 wi1l ont ID the PrilIe Ring, by ;Oft I Ere Ule belt ,ball be wom bJ a NottiDgham OlIve. And Ihall poor Deaf Barke be ooJlliln'd to the lbade! No, tho' I'm defeated I am not dilm&y'd, And ID a freIh I'll do what I _, To take the oonoeit from thiI boun_ble III&Il,

_tel.

When victory ,mU.. on a puldUat', Iront. He hu loa of IUp,ortel'll &DeI plentr of blut ; But If luck tnrna apinlt him. my 8'1" I how thll7 rave; And nunp him 11 orou oove_ thunderm, knave I

JADB BUBXE.Into Die lOIDe oholOll worthl.. keep phohlna: It home, For IpOrtlng the .tatutu of Ore- IIIId of :Rome ; la it f&fr, I would u, to inflict thil here llap, ~uae I'm a IOn of a olueioal ohap 7 And IOme Iwear 'tie time I 1I'U laid on the Ihelf, For I groWl 'riItocrcItic-too l1I'eet on mYMlf ; Now I wenAue moat humbly to make 11II appeal, U I'm to be blam'd for bebr.ym,llIIIlteel? ID Frr.nOlllllld New York I haYeI]lC)rled my IamIen, And DO wonder a poUah I haYe 10 on my lIWUlen; Now, I blip to in9.!1~ wh~er winner or l~l Jl1I.Iti a mIIII be a bIr.okg1I&rd ~UIII he'l a DrlIU8r! No, to tip the purlite I will IW1 do my .... For lIYerythini wu1Irr.r I IIOOFIl IIIId de_t ; J(Ylipel"Ye cn-raed like mOlt other ltare, AD now I 1Dl0ke nowt but Hawr.nnr. oiprL And I dare _y IOme foIb may oouaider it Itrance. That I'm oourllq the 1lI_ by way of a ohanp, Aud Ulua in lhJt, Lile to my (eeliJip gin weDt, ID a copy of 1I'IIrIeI I ye oalled .. The Lament."

U1

Be ti1iIu It here I'm rer.d,lIIId wilUnB Thi8 Bendy ~ to encounter at milling, And ~pI if I pt him iJlto aline, Tho' tile flDt ohanOll 1I'U hiI'u, the nut - 1 be mina.

-r,

0_

That" next chance," 88 Edgar Poe's raven said, "never, never, never more" came to the turn of the Deaf'un, so far 88 regarded a meeting with Bendy, although he issued sundry invitations and offers. In March, 1840, occurred the accident to Bendigo, narrated at page 25, which struck the Nottingham hero from the list of "wranglers" for the Championship, and hereupon Burke again came to the front with a challenge. This was quickly responded to by Nick Ward, the younger brother of the renowned Jem. The match Wt\B made for the modest sum of 50 a: side, and the day ftxed for Tuesday, the 22nd September, 1840. The battle, which took place at Lillingstone Level, Oxfordshire, will be found in detail in the Life of Nick Ward, Chapter V. of the present volume. Poor Bune's day was gone by; unconquered in heart, his impaired physical powers failed him, and he fell before youth, activity, skill, and length. As we have mentioned in our memoir of Nick Ward that the stakeholder received notice of action for the stakes, it is but jUqt to give the following vindication of the Deaf'un's conduct 88 reported in a contemporary journal : " THE DBA.YUX HIK8BL. AGAIN I-The Deaf'un took a benefit at the Bloomsbury Assembly Rooms on Tuesday evening, and, notwithstanding bis late defeat, found a goodly numb~r of friends, and I a strong turn' in

PUGILISTlOA.

[ . .mOD

m. IllM-l844.

the financial departmenl The sets-to, although many of them between commoners, were amusing and effective, and conducted with great spirit and vigour. Among the most popular was that between Owen Swift and Maley, in which the quickness and scientific deliveries of the former were happily illustrated. At the conclusion the Deaf'un mounted the stage to wind-up,' but unfortunately, Caunt having forfeited his promise to "ppear, he was only opposed to .. new beginner called The Cumberland Youth,' whose inexperience left the star of the night nothing to do but flap him at pleasure. The Deaf'un, after smoothing down his bristles with his dexter digits, and clearing his throat by sundry 'hems,' delivered himself of the following oration, which we took down as nearly as could be wriatim. 'Gemmen-I have dis here to say. I'm werry sory as Caunt has not come to sete-to wid me according to his promises, for he gave me his words of honours as he would attend; but date de way wid dese here meDBwhen dey gets to the top of de trees, dey do nothing to help .. poor fellow as is down; but dey had better minds what dey are abouts, or they'll be as bad as Jack Scroggins, and look for a tanfWB when they can't find it. Gemmen-I mean to say as I do not thinks as I was fairly beat by Bendigo, and I am prouds to say as I am not widout friends what tink de same, and as are ready to back me for a cool hundreds against him. or Nick Wards, or Jem Bailey. Bendigo is wery bounceable now, as he says he has licked me; but I says he took an unfair advantage in 1"8W"'d of my belt; but dats neither one ting nor toder ; and if he has friends, if he's a man, he'll give me anoder chance, and till he does, I shall always thinks as he has won de belts widout any right to it. I went to Sheffields and Nottinghams to make a match wid him, and now let him show equal pluck and come to London to make a match wid me-my pewters is always ready (applause). Dat's all I've got to say. Gemmen, I thank my friends and patrons for coming here to-night (coughing); but I've got something here (pointing to his throat, and the poor fellow appeared overflowing with gratitude) which won't let me say no mores.'-It is not very creditable to the elite of the Fancy to have abstained from setting-to for the unfortunate fellow; for, although his ignorance may have led him to &88OD1e too much, the motto of all professed pngilists should be 'forget and forgive; and if a man's in distress, like a man to relieve him... In the years 1841-2, the magistracy and police, stimulated into abnormal 'lCtivity by a sort of clerical crusade against the Ring" and all its worb." set the powers of the law in motion against pugilists and their patrons, and

CIUPI'ZK W.]

JAMES BURn.

Ha

11 all persons aiding and abetting in riotous and tumultuous 8ll8emblages calculated to produce a breach of the peace," by issuing warrants, holdIng them to bail, and indicting them at the quarter sessions of the county wherein the same took place. Among the zealots of this Puritanical campaign against the amusements and relaxations of the people, the Rev. Joshua Cautley, curate of Broughton, in Bedfordshire, distinguished himself with the fervour of Ralpho, the squire of Sir Hudibras; though he, fortunately, escaped the cudgeIIings, rotten eggs, and stocks, which in rougher times befeIl his prototype. In an evil hour the Dearun came in contact with this clerical suppressor of" anti-knife" congregations, under the seno-comic circumstances we are about to narrate. On the 9th of February, 1841, at Holcut, in Bedfordshire, an orderly I888mblage surrounded a weIl-arranged inner-and-outer ring, within the latter of which Ned Adams, of London, and Dick Cain, of Leicester, were contending. At a critical period of the battle, the curate of Broughton, the Rev. Joshua Cautley, who was not, as all the" rurals" surrounding the ring woll knew, either a magistrate in the commission of the peace, or in any way legaIly authorised to interfere, appeared at the ring-side in an excess of peace-preserving flUor, and not only attempted to take Adams into custody (without any warrant), but cut the ropes with a knife, and behaved otherwise in an outrageous manner. He was afterwards aided by a police constable (John M'Hugh), and by the arrival of the Rev. Edward Orlebar Smith, a Justice of the Peace for Bedfordshire, previous to whose appear. anee on the scene certain of the country people present had certainly ejected Parson Caudey from the ring. The Rev. Justice of the Peace, as it appears, then put his fellow clergyman anJ himself on the right side of the law by reading-at a distance, and amidst immense confusion and the continuance of the battle-the Riot Act. The result of all this was that the zealous Parson Cautley procured, upon affidavit sworn by himself, the coDstable, and the Rev. Mr. Smith, the indictment of thirteen persons (six of them being his own neighbours) at the ensuing Bedford Quarter SeMions. The pugilists indicted were J ames Burke, Owen Swift, Edward Adams, and Richard Cain, Thomas Brown (the respected landlord of the " Swan," at Newport PagneIl, who was t.here in charge of his post-horses and four-in-hand), Messrs. Mark Cross, William Maley (a solicitor), J088ph Goodwin, George Durham, Edward Dawkes, James Morris the younger, Martin Hughes (who died during the proceedings), and Richard Walter Chetwynd, Viscount Chetwynd, Baron Bathdowne. The indict-

TaL. 01.

11

lU

l'UGILlSTICA

[PBlUOD V1L

18l16-184li.

ment charged, in its first count, "that they, the defendants aforesaid, OD the 9th day of February, 1841, in the parish of Holcut, in the county of Bedford, did then and there, together with other evil-diaposed persons, whose names are unknown to the jurors aforesaid, unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously &Il8&ult Edward Orlebar Smith, clerk, one of the JU&tices of the Peace for the said County, and John M'Hngh, one of the constables of the Peace for the said County, and, then and there, did, in contempt of our said Lady the Queen aud her laws, to the great terror, alarm, and disturbance of all the liege subjects of our said Lady the Queen thereabouts inhabiting and residing and being, Jl888ing and repassing, to the great damage of the said Edward Orlebar Smith and John M'Hugh. and against the peace of our said Lady the Queen her crown and dignity." The second count in this formidable document, repeating the names and verbiage, included the same charges against the defendants for riot and 888&ult on the person of the Rev. Joshua Cautley. The third count varied by specifying James Burke as the assailant of the Rev. Edward Orlebar Smith (whom he never touched in any way). The 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th counts merely varieC1 in the names of the parties &88&ulted, by subetituting "Smith" for 11 M'Hugh," and "Cautley" for" Smith," &8 the persons on whom" with force and arms," the same defendants" did then and there beat, wound, and ill-treat, and do other wrong, to the great damage of the said E. O. Smith," &e., &e., "and against the peace of our said Lady the Queen he. crown and dignity." Anyone not used to the formal wording of legal documents may well share the astonishment of the Deaf'un when this &lltounding rigmarole, being furnished to his legal advisers (Mr. Vincent Dowling and Mr. Ser. jeant Dowling), was read and explained to him. His truthful and indignant denials of all the serious delinquencies laid to his charge in this farrago of legal fictions were most amusing. Perhaps the way in which these were thrown into rhyme, by what old Jaeob Tonson, the bookseller, used to call .. a compet6nt pen," will conveylOme idea of theDeaf'un's objections amI denial of the charges : ADDRESS OF DEAF BURKE TO THE GRAND AND COMMON JURIES OF BEDFORD.PULL'D up by beak" before you here I .hoWl, For what ollenee, I'm bliatered if I boWl ; Fam'd thro' the univene for feat. of fiata, Before you .'-ada Deaf Burlte, the purUDtI.

C)IU.PI'Ba

m.l

JAlIES BURD.YllI, bOIl'" jurymen, with he.rt 01 neeJa, I make with oonlIdellllll my proud .pperJI. My _ upon i.limple meri. WyLn me han jllll$iae, and no fean Uft L

1~

I ..k 01 lOll .. aPJiPt jurymen, la what Uft I olfeiided-wbere aDd wbeD 1 Why 01 the Duoag mould Bark" the.-pept be Or Re"ereud Oau~'. wratb d ~ OD me 1 All to tbe ",iIt, I 0_ ~t I wu thereAll Wllllt OD ~bly, &Dd &ll wu fair; AnD'd with high oourap, .troD, iD bean &Dd Umbf, The mllll were at the ICrlItcA iD K&l1&Dt trime. ADd emiliD, oonfideDoe WU OD iheir browe, When Panon Oautl81 Bm Idck'd up a rowe, And by Il1I don, fri"olO1lll U weaU, Baok'd by a rure1 tNjM, aDd Smith the bmob, Bou,ht, &Dd perhaJ'll he deem'd ~t he wu rliht, To i1uh iDto the nJIlr aDd atop the Ilh" What U the Riot Aot wu read-Alaa ! Th. Deaf'un oouldn't hear it U it ..... I And 10 far .. I'm OODearD'd it la a fao tt, It mlBht ha.... belIIla _rmon or "the AD&.;" But .. to swearing, or a hiDt to drop, Out of the riD I pitob'd him nook and DrOp, Tho' towards a parIOD I feel reverence due, Jo.J& OautI., eta. the thina' that fm't true. But let ~t ~-the l.ue 111 not shirbCon...mo'd your llat will aoquit Deaf Burkes ; Proal&ImiDg ~t from t.timony ItroD, The pugiJ.lri wu rliht, the parIOD Wl'OIIg.

I'Ye studied, ein, eiDoe m~oareer beglD, To pnmt mjeelf through life IlD hODest _ Humble my oriIiD. my lot obloure, I never _ e Uie artful dodge, tho' poor. I De'er pve - , to le...clneeB, Dor to 11lllh, Nor did &D act for ...hioh I've OIlUM to blUlb. True, I De'er I~'d u a mIlD of letten, But ;yet I bow d m;y duty to my betters. And never deem'cl, however me&D my station, S....riDg &Dd s~ p1eu&Dt oonveraUon ; Yet, IoODf-. Ilov'd in 1)oyhood prime, To hear 01 hosiDR in the olden time ; Of f.ts perform'd by I.hoee heroio menIilend080 Humphriel, JohneOD, &Dd Bilr B8D, Jem Beloher, GrepoD, toURh Tom Cribo, IlDd Gully, Whoee bard-eam'd laurels time_ n8nr eully. Fh'd by their deeds, I Dried, "Who non but Burb Mal iD the Prise BiDg lame day go to ...ork, ADd proud of pluck that never ....rmd. oun, Pro.... at the 8Ol'Iltoh &D ugl;y ouetomere t" Ripe for a oh&Doe I tea.rte.ly defied Tlie sturdiest bruilers by the waterside; And for ihe love of gl~, not of \in, To m.uy. hardy 00.... I've pitched it in. But OD lily 8eu. fea. I 'lril1 not dwell, What J hil.... done let .. Fie~" tell o

These are ~triUmPhS ... hich I now record, Tha' loor'd 00_.. Bendjgo, aDd Ward; ADd eveD wi these I fearle.Ir deolaree, I did my beet, and acted on the ~ _ j And tho' defeated on the field of II&hte, I died true pme, &Dd mow'd DO feather wbU. .

li8

PUGILISTIOA.

(PUIOD TJL

1886-1H5.

But, u rm bound ID du~, will oouo1ud. ; And u :rou _ all hOUeR m_llDd ne, What 10U deem rlPL rm oerWu 10U will do.

Now, pnUemllll,

110

II!IIPl' I'I1lDtrud.,

On Monday, the 14th of March, the Deaf'un, who had been generousJy bailed by a couple of Bedford tradesmen, surrendered to his bail, as also did eleven others. The Rev. Mr. CautJey, Mr. Orlebar Smith, and" a cloud of witne8lle8," policemen, and others. Tom Spring, in friendly consi. deration of the Deaf'un'B incapacity of hearing, stood by him as amicu curies, and kindly interpreted the proceedings. It should be stated that in his examination before Lord Charles F. Russell and the grand jurors, the Rev. Joshua had stated that" Barb had endeavoured to force him out of the ring, and had seized him by the leg to throw him over the ropes." Of this the Dea.f'un (who certainly was never in the ring atall) was nervously anxious to exculpate himself. What was hiB surprise then to learn that "no evidence would be offered on that point," and that .. the general charge implicated all present in the same guilt," Eventually (Viscount Chetwynd having removed the trial of his indictment into the Court of Queen's Bench, 00 the ground that he coold not get an impartial trial in Bedfordshire) the trials were postponed, and the whole of the defendants were held to bail to appear at the summer assizes; to them a ruinous expense and miserable suspense, and the great satisfaction of their Christian pf08ecutors and the profit of sundry attorneys j and thus ended the ftrst " field-day 11 of "the battle of Bedford." Other separate indicbnenta, however, were proceeded with, against M888l'll. Brown, of the" Swan," Newport Pagnell, George Durham, Edward Dawkes, and Mark C1'088, for "refusing to assist the constable in the execution of his duty," Mr. Brown, after evidence by M'Hugh, the Rev. Joshua Cautley, and Mr. Smith, that in reply to being 80 called upon, he replied (being seated on the box of his coach) "that he had to mind his ho1'8e8," was found guilty. The other defendants then, having pleaded" guilty," were sen. tenced each to pay a flne of forty shillings, and costa, and to enter into

os.". Dr.)

111

recognisanC88 them.aelves in UO, and two sureties in :20 each, " to be of good behaviour for one year." The fines were paid, the sureties given, and the defendants liberated from that charge. In July the unlucky defendants again surrendered, when their trial was again postponed to await the result of the certiorari by which the aristocratic defendants (Viscount Chetwynd and Mr. Maley, the 8Olicitor) had removed their cases to the Court of Queen's Bench. These having failed, in the ensuing November, Burb and his fellow victims of the law's delay were placed at the bar. In the interim we find in the Bedford. Mercury:" PRIZE FIGHT AND LoRD CHETWYKD.-Lord Charles Russelllaid before the Court a statement showing the position of the prosecution against Burke and thirteen others, for a riot at a prize fight at Holcut, in this county, and did 80 to know whether the prosecution should be proceeded in. Already an expense of :50 had been incurred, and probably between 80 and 90, exclusive of witn888es, would be further required. By a writ of certiorari Lord Chetwynd had traversed the case to the Court of Queen's Bench, to obtain the privilege of not pleading on the trial in the usual way by holding up his hand. The other parties accused had not been aware of the object of the course taken by Lord Chetwynd, and were in the same position as they were before traversing to the superior court. The county was at a great expense, and the defendants q.ust have been at double the expense. His lordship al80 laid before the Court a correspondence between Lord Chetwynd and that gentleman, expressing his regret at what had occurred. :Mr. Smith was not satis.8ed with the correspondence, and the opinion of tb, Court was that the prosecution should be continued, having begun it. "From this we infer that the Rev. Mr. Smith is not satisfied with tJ:o apology tendered by Lord Chetwynd, and that to satisfy his feelings, the county and the defendants are to be involved in a still heavier outlay To those who were in no respect consenting to Lord Chetwynd's determina don, this Be8ID8 a measure of cruelty for which we were not prepared; bot it would seem that after having already entered into recognisances to appear and take their trials, and having strictly and respectfully complied with that undertaking, from whence they were relieved by no act of their own, they are again called on to put in fresh bail in the Court of Queen's Bench at Westminster, 80me of them living in distant parts of the kingdom. This may be nece88&ry in form of law; but surely, even the Rev. Mr. Smith can have no wish to add to the hardships of the defendants, who were, and are still ready to submit to take their trials at the proper season.'

If.

PUGILISTIOA.,

Thia WTetched pe1'!!8cntion thus dragged its weary length into the following year, 1842, when negotiatioD8 for a compromise having been made between the Crown solicitors and those of the defendants, Mr. Gurney, on the part of " Burb, Adams, Cain, and others," aaid he was iDBtroeted to withdraw their plea of " not guilty," and to accept a verdict for the Crown against hiB clients. Mr. Andrews thereon, on the part of tbe magistrates, thought the defen dants had pursued a very proper course, and the prosecution was with. drawn; 80 that thiBexpensive performance of "Much Ado about Nothing," ended by Me88rs. Cautley and Smith "taking nothing by their motion," the defendants being put to a heavy expense, and an outlay of some hundreds of pounds (raised by benefits and public subscriptions of the admirers of British boxing, and the sympathisers with the unfortunate victiJD8 of Puritanical persecution) to the profit of lawyers. At the opening of these llll!iz88 Baron Gurney made the following significant remark, with which we will conclude these instructive legal proceedings for the suppression of pugilistic encounters: .. His lordship, in discharging the grand jury, said, that although the number of C88e8 in the calendar was not greater iban was usual at the spring assizes, yet he regretted to see that the character of many of the offences was of a most aggravated description, and that there was no le88 than six charges of maliciOtI,ly cuttlflg and wormdiRg in the calendar. His lordship said that this offence of using deadly weapons in personal quarrels appeared to be very much on the increase, that it was a disgrace to the character of the country, and that it must be put down." In May, 1842, the Deal'un was matched with the Tipton Slasher (William Perry), but at the fourth deposit, which was appointed to be made at Owen Swift's OD July 7th, when "Time lJ was called, and Burke's " needful" ready, no one appeared on behalf of the Tipton, and Burb was thereon declared entitled to the forfeit of the 15 down. Johnny Broome, &8 the representative of Perry, afterwards made his appearance, but Burke's friends declared the business closed, and refused to reopen the affair. And thus ended the Deaf'un's last attempt to get paired with either of "the big 'UOB," who at this period preferred their questionable claims to the tarnished honours of the "Championship.""' Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen,. Fallen from hill high state.

poor Jem now became the plaything, but never the parasite, of ~ knot of

CBUTER

m.]

JAMES BURKE.

1'9

men about town, supplementing their questionable pl\tronage by giving lessons in boxing, and conducting the room at his early patron's (Joe Parish, the waterman and pugilist) who, for many years after his removal from Strand Lane, kept the" Lion," at the corner of Newcastle Street, Strand. The Deaf'un--and we met him often-was always respectable in appea1'lUlce and respectful in manner, and out of his small means supported nn a.,aed mother and a humble home. In his nightly adventures in the vicinity of the Haymarket, Burke WRB frequently brought in contnct with a big outsider, Bob Castles, wen known at the" playhouses" (not the theat.res), in the vicinity of Leicester Square, at "Goodred's Saloon," Jack Rowbottom's "Finish," in James Street, The Elysium, Mother Emersou's " The Waterford ArlDll," and the numerous nighthouses that then infested and infected the purlieus of Piccadilly, and disgraced and degraded the very name of a sporting house. Bob was a great boaster, and on the strength of having stripped twice in the P.R. (once in August 20, 1827, when he beat Bill Bailey at Portsmouth Races, and again on April 2, 1828, with Paddy Flynn, at Colney Heath, when he got .. the value of a bating "), he was a sort of .. professional" guide to roysterers out on the spree, and a bully for those who might hire his services. Bob was, moreover, a great talker, and, to use a Pierce-Eganism, "flash as the knocker of Newgate." This worthy never missed an opportunity of making the naturally good-natured Deaf'un the butt of bis chaff, and even of many rough practical jokes. On one of these occasions the Deaf'un taking umbrage at what he supposed to be an interference with some of his "'ticular frien's," quietly wamed " Mister Bobs" that if he didn't mend his manners ., he'd jest punch Mister Bobs' pimples." One word begetting another, and the Deafun, considering himself better at an argumentum ad hominem with the fist than a verbal disputation, dared Castles to the field; the latter rilliculed the idea, and several of those present agreeing that a good licking mutually administered might do good to both of them, l\ deposit was made to be increased to 50, and that the veterans should have the opportunity of displaying their courage and settlillg their difference of opinion, Becundem artem, with Nature's original weapons. To afford them an opportunity to prepare for their "trial by battle," three weeks were allowed for training, and in the interim the wrathful heroes went under the necessary regimen and exercises, Burke at the "Five Bells," Putner, Castlcs at the pleasant Hill of Richmond. Monday, Juue

160

PUGILISTIOA.

[l'ElUOD VIL

1836-18'5.

13th, 1848, was the eventful day. Castles, as the deposits went on, found no I\ifficulty in collecting his "coriander seed;" but the poor honest Deaf'un did not find his friends, however prompt to promise when under the influence of champagne, 80 ready when its effervescence had subsided to relieve the mortified feelings of their protlge by (Iubstantial support. Indeed, he might have miscarried at the time, for, as he told us, he found no end of difficulty "in raising his winds; all the good ones as used to do the liberals being gones." At this juncture Young Dutch Sam kindly stepped in and posted the "possibles," but at the expense of several town visits by the Deaf'nn, which consumed hours that would have been more advantageously devoted to improving his bodily condition. In truth, Burke had outlived his fistic fame; and, although the hero of some twenty battles, it was considered that the steel had been taken out of him, and that his renewed appearance in the milling arena would be a mere impotent exhibition of departed powers. Despite of the difficulties he had to encounter, and the low estimate of his capabilities entertained by many, he sustained the character for hardihood, steadiness, and cunning tact that served him so well in days gone by. As to Castles, his height (nearly six feet) and superior activity were considered strong points in his favour. At the last deposit it was agreed between Young Dutch Sam and Mr. Edward Lacey, the host of the "Garrick's Head" tap-to whom the fortunes of Bob Castles had been entrusted-that a trip down the river was the most prudent mode of bringing matters to a conclusion, and for this purpose the "Nymph," W oolwich steamer, was duly chartered, and directed to be moored off Watarloo Bridge on the morning of battle at eight oclock. The" skipper" was punctual to his appointment, and soon after that hour the men and their partisans were safely embarked. Of the latter the muster was limited, but among them were a few "Corinthians," whose appearance belied the conclusion that they had "risen with the lark," although we opine they had not placed themselves in a position to render rising neooBBary. At a qnarter after eight the craft was under weigh for London Bridge, whence, after a passing call, she proceeded t~ BllI.Ckwall, and there having taken in a few of "the right sort," pursned her downward course. The Deaf'un was a little crusty on his supposed exclusion from a due share of the profits of the boat, but in this he was overruled. There was one point, however, upon which he was inexorable, namely, that, "88 he was outs on a parties of ple8Sures," he would" go ~pe whole ho~s," aqd QO~ stOD short of Gravesend, where he expected too

OlIAl'TU

m.l

JAMES BURKE.

1S1

flnd Young Dutch Sam and some fricnds. He had no objection, however, having seen them, to "try backs, and fight on the roads homes, instead of dropping downs to the Lower Hopes," the vicissitudes attending on the 189t trip to which locality was still fresh in his as well as our recollection. Accordingly, to Gravesend the "Nymph" pursued her voyage. Here Sam was found, but his state of health was such as to render his embarkation indiscreet. Little time was lost in "putting about," and finally dropping anchor at Rainham Ferry, on the Essex shore, nearly opposite Eritb, the belIigerents and their followers were quickly landed, and the coast being clear, the ring was formed on a fine piece of turf behind the bank, a snug public-honse affording the men a convenient resting-place till all was ready. Of betting on the voyage down we heard but little, and this at "evens," the Dcaf'un sporting his "last solitary shilling" on himself. The Commissary having discharged his functions, aided by Tom Callas, and provided seats for the limited assemblage of spectators, the combatants were summoned to the scratch, and forth they came, nothing loth; Burke attended by Cullen and Jerry Donovan, and Castles by Tom Reidie and FuHer. On stripping, Burke looked as full in flesh and as prominent in muscle as when personating Hercules in his celebrated representation of the Grecian Statues. He stated he weighed 12st. 41b., and stood 5ft. Bin. Castles was not so heavy, barely weighing 12st.; but he had the advantage in height, being 5ft. Hin; his length taking from his width, he looked thin, but he was evidently in good health. There was a speck in one of his eyes, bnt he said it did not interfere wi.h his vision, 80 that there was no fear of his antagonist getting on his "blind side." "Richard's himselfs agains," said the great disciple of Shakspeare, and _t twenty minutes to two both men advanced, having previously tied their colours to the stakes (blne bird's eye for the Deaf'un, and white bird's eye for Castles), and tendering the hand of good fellowship, commenced THE FIGHT.Round 1.-odda,1S to 4 on the Dearun. A f_ leary dodges, each feeling for an opening, and the Deaf'un expanding his chest and .tretching hia pounder, from the &boulders, .. if to ~ve them freedom and eluticity. Cutles tried his left, but wu Itopped; he t!Ien kept feeling for his man, the Dearun waiting, and c&utioUl; nearer and nearer till at lut they got within distanoe, when wild and llifht couqtet"hi~ were ~xchaD~ed with the left, then a rush to in fighting; .. few IIO!'ambling hit&, but no millchief done, aDd the Deaf'un dropped on hia knees. On riling, Cutles &bowed a Ilight diIooloura~ion on the right cheek-bone. 2.-QutlOl manfully to hia work; the Deaf'un quiet and wait~; CutlOl Iho" with hia left, and the Deaf un on the alert ; heavy counter-hitting with the left, anl1 nlU'ke llOPped mhi, favourite right-handed

151

PUGILISTIOA.

I Pftl0D TIL

1885-184&.

hit on the nut. More oollnter-hitting with the left; and in the close tho Deaf'un was down, and got up blowing. S.-Bob, on coming up, Ihowed aymptoml of having receh.ed uobbel'l on the forehelld leftand rightzand the Deafun'l e:ra twinkled as if they haa been asked a question. Cmlel prompt to the call of .. time," &Dd Burke lteadily but alowly to him. The Deaf'un tried at the mark with hill left, but it wu .. mere tap ; Bob advanced, tho Deafan re treating till they reached the corner, when Bob let Oy hiB len, catching it aevereIy in return. A determined rally follOWed, and heavy hits were exchanged left aud n~ht ; the Deafun catching Cutles a levere nghth&Dded hit on the jaw. In the eDd, the Deafun fell on hla Imcea outside the ropea. OD getting OD hiB .. _Dd'l" be. he pointed to hiB right a.nn, u if it had been ahaken in the lut rouDd. 4.-.eaf'nn, who

us

_med ratller to gain than to lOIe M. Itrength, was the favourite at 6 to -I. 'l'be Deafun, in no hurry, _itcd for hi. antagonist's approach; Castles let go his lefi, aud the Deaf'un poked him in return, and after some good hitting, tbe Deafun got down. 81.-'l'he Deafun Itill on the waiting suit; Outles Dot 80 quick; he found that hia h_vy Iloggi!llf hits made no impreuioD on tho Deafun's IJ'On head; dill, after a paUSI!' he led oft with his left, and after a aplrited rally, the Deafun __ down. 8'J.-The Deafun evidently tired, took his time in coming to the scratch, and quietly waited for the attack. Caatlea at last went to work, and heavy hita were I!'xchanged, when in the clOll both were down, on Castles being lifted up, although dreadfull:r punished, he laid .. he fclt Itrong," ana Ihowed DO dispolIition to trrI .. enou,h ; " whUe Burke was equally dOSled in his deter mination. 3S.-A little artful dodging; Cutletl let go hil left, but Bnrkc ducked, and got away; Burke in turn rushed in, but Cutls retreated ; he then rattled to the charge, but the Deafun llipped down on ODe knee; Outles pointed at him with hie finger, instead of hitting him M he might have done, and exclaimed, .. that'. Nick Ward'l game, ltand up and light like a man ;" Burke grinned, mook his bump of combativCDCIlI, and wu oarried to Ilia corner. lH.-The Deaf'un e:rlremely deliberate in his movements, and Ilow to the aoratch. CastlCll not 80 quick u heretofore; after looking at each other and doUGlLISTIOA.

[PEILlOD VII.

18S6-18i5.

bourne, on the borders of Middlesex and Essex, being agreed on as the point of re-assemblage. This point settled, a general move took place towards the nearest stations -the toddlers to 8awbridgeworth, and the charioteers to Bishop Stortford, there to repack their nags and drags, while the beak and his co-partner, considering that a move had been made to get out of their bailiwick, also moved off. On rea.:hing Bishop Stortford a fresh resolution was formed. " While the eat's away the mice will play;" so, as the conservators of propriety were no longer present, it was urged that the ring mig-ht be formed in the place originally intended, half a mile from the Sawbridgeworth station, not far from the same field in which Turner beat 8croggins, in June, 1817, and scarcely more distant from the scene of Oliver's conquest over 8helton, in 1820. No sooner said than done; and, in the absence of those who had promised to avoid the county of Hertford, at half-past two o'clock all llol71'eed to drop down to the place from whence they came, with the exception of the Commissary, Freeman, and his friends, who took the ma.in road in a carriage kindly yielded to them by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Bond Street, who also hospitably furnished their larders with a very welcome supply of roast fowls and other .. combustibles," of which their " inward men" stood beseechingly in need. In the interim the Slasher threw himself on a bed at Bishop 8tortford, and all who had wisdom took some hasty refreshment. 'On again reaching Sawbridgeworth we were informed that the lists were formed, and a competent guide being found, all set out along the towing-path of the canal to a very eligible site, about half a mile off, on an elevated piece of ground admirably calculated for the purpose. The evening was now fast approa.ching, for it was nearly four o'clock, and it was hoped there would be still daylight sufficient to decide which was the better man. The privilege tickets were distributed, and in a short time everything was arranged for the commencement of hostilities. All being in readiness, Freeman entered the ring in high spirits, attended by Cannt and King Dick, and was received with loud cheers. Rumours were now afioat that the Slasher did not mean to come, and sovereigns even were offered to be laid that there would be no fight. In the interim horsemen were sent off to Sawbridgeworth station to urge the approach of the missing man, who it was known had been left there in charge of Broome. Matters thus remained in doubt for some time, and grant impatience began to be manifested, when it was announced. to the great joy of

,..-

-

CIUJ'rU lY.)

.\I I

WILLIAM PEnRY.

the spectators, that the Slasher was coming-and come at lRllt he did, amidst the encouraging shouts of his friends. He lost no time in entering the ring, and was immediately met with a friendly shake of the mauley by Freeman. The Slasher was attended by Ben TelTY and a provincial friend named Tom Parker. No time was now lost in "trimming" the men for battle, and their superfluous "feathers" were qnickly removed. Both appeared in high spirits and eager for business. Umpires and a referee having been chosen, the ring was cleared out, and the "privileged" dropped contentedly on the damp earth, with such preservatives to their sitting places as circumstances would permit; but it must be acknowledged that these were far from satisfactory, owing to the difficulties to which the Commissary had been exposed in the various transfers of his materiel. On being stripped Rnd placed in juxtaposition, the towering height of FreemRn presented a most formidable aspect, while the muscular development of every limb, and the broad expanse of his chest and shoulders, gave him the appearance of herculean strength. His weight, without his clothes, we understood was but little above seventeen stone, for it was remarked that during the last week of his training he rather diminished than increased in bulk. Still, he W88 in high spirits, and moved about with elastic and gracefullltep. In the following July he would be 28 years of age. The Slasher also wore a cheerful smile on his mug, which betrayed the fact that he had already l08t BOme of his head rails. From his hips up his bust displayed great muscular power, but being in-kneed, there W88 1688 of symmetry in his figure than in Freeman's. On throwing himself into position, however, this was scarcely perceptible, and he may be described 88 a model of burly strength. He appeared to be, and said he Wll8, in excellent condition, and, judging from his cheerful index, there was no want of self-confidence. His height six feet, his age twenty-three, and his weight l3st. 41b. j but notwithstanding the fearful odds against him, he evidently regarded the coming struggle with gallant indifference. Of betting there W88 but little5 to S was offered but not taken, and the only bet we heard laid W88 one of 6 to 4 on Freeman. THE FIGHT.Round L-PreciBely Ilt Beven minutes Ilfler four o'clock the men were conducted to the IICrIlteh, their fogIes bllVing been lint Iled to tbe corner Btake, and baving Bbllken b&Dd witb gre&t good bumour, the I8COJlde reUIed to their corners. The tower ing height Ilnd g1gllntic proportlonB of Freeman led &11 to BUppoBe tbat be would ende&voDr to fight down hie opponent; but, &8 will be seen, this anticipation was not fuLIIlled. The Slasher stood on the defenaive &Dd Freeman broke ,round, hitting

17Q

PuGILISTIOA.

[n.l0D vu. 1885-18{$.

out with his left; from this the Bluber retreated, when Freemau followed him quickly, popped in bIB left and right slightly, ud the Bluher wu dowu. Freemanlaugh. ing, and no mischief done. 2.-Tbe Bluhlll' again to the scratch, when FreIlIIlaD led off left and right ; the latter blow got well home, and dropped the Bluher. First ~ blow for Free. ID&U; but nO damage done, u the Bluher reoelved it when retreatlag. B.-The Bluher made play, and tried his left On Freeman's body, but wu stopped. FreelD&D nuhed to him, the Bluher reMolS and hitting shorland wild. Freemao popped in bia left ud rightl !'8ught the BlaBher in blBlll'D1s, and threw bUll with BUe. 4--The Bluher, On the defensive system, dodged a little, delivered hlB left on the ribel in gettin~ away he fell, and thus 811C8pea Freeman s return. 6.-Freemao hit oat left and rigbt, bat the BlaBber dacked bIa bead and fell OD bIa Imees. 6.-The BlaBher On the dodging system, stepped back; Freeman after him to the OOrDlII', where tbere wu a wild rally, in which bUs right and left were exchanged. The Bluher got within Freeman's long arms, gave him a tidy smack witb bIB right ou the left eye, and got dowa. (Fi,.., blood from FreellllUl's brow, and the 'I'lpton lada nproarlollll.) 7.-The tlluher, the ftret to light, hit out le[t and right but W&8 stopped. Freemau sluhed away ieft aud right bat withoat preciaioa, and after IOIIl8 trlftlng deliveriea tbe Bluher got dowa. 8.-The l:lluhar popped In bia left on Freeman's ribs, &Dd got away; Fr8lllll&ll after him, wbeu the Bluher olosed. Free man lifted him clean off the ground, but wu unable to get bla arm looee to ftb, and after a short struggle tba 8laBhar sUpped from bia grasp and got do\'I1l. 9.-Tbe Bluber s...baled off with his left at the body, and in I{.ettiug away fell from accident or dealgu. L Oriea of "foul" and .. foal" W&8 claimed on tbe part of Freeman; but the referee did not feel himlllJlf justified in atopping the figbt, and" time .. wu called.] lO.-The BlaBber apiD tried tbe a.rtful dodge, ruabed in to bit with the left at tbe body; but Freeman seised him in hIa power. fal feelers, beld him up for a sborl time, aud ftudiDg he could do uotbiag at in.ftghtiJ;lg fell ou him, but not BO u to do him any mlScblef. n.-The SlaBher ulively u a grig popped in hia left on Freem&D'a arm and got away; Freemaa followed, gave him ODe, two, left and rijtht. The BlaBber broke from blm, and delivered his rigbt on bis sboalder; then getting away, fell to avoid. 12.-The Sluher once more led off with bis left, but wu sbort. Freeman after him delivered left and rigbt i the Bluber down.

18.-Freeman popved In his left, The Bluber retreated and fell 14.-FreelD&D again planted his left slightly. Tbe Bluher adhered to bIa retiring system.. Freeman followed him to the ropea, Uld after a scrambling exohange of Diy the BlaBher got down. Freel1l&D poiuting at him derlaively witb his ftuger and laugliing. 16.-Freeman hit left and rigbt, and the BlaBher rushed in and caugbt him round the body, to try for tbe fall i Freeman held him up oompletely off the ground by the Deck, then chopped lIrst with the left Uld then with the rigbt; the BlaBher hit up left and rigbt, and caught Freeman OD the moath with bia rigbt..i. and after a ahort struggle W&8 thrown, ~reeman OD him. 16.-'l'he Bluher again tried his left at the body, but wu ahorl, the blow tailing slightly on Freeman's arm. Exchange of blowL Freeman with the left on the nob. and Sluher On the ahoulder with the rilfht, which BOunded, but W&8 of no effecL Bluher, in retreating, fell. 17.-Bluher came up On the defenari_, but Freeman hit him down witb his left. 18.-BlaBhor ~aiD popped bis left at the body, bat W&8 hit down with a counter.hit from Freeman's left. Fr_n fell OD him. and foul was olalmed by BlaBher's pariy. bat not aclmowledged, u it was 06YioWl the fall was acciden tal. 19.-Bluher bit ~ree_n On the shouldlll' with his right, and in return caugbt it left and right 8S be retrea&ed. SlaBber retllrlled to the charge with his right, and fell. 2O.-A wild excbuRB of blows, but Dot effective, and the BlaBber slipped down in retreatieg. 21. - [TwenVthree minutes had DOW elapsed, DO real clamace done on either aide, and both BB f1'8lh BB when they oom menced.] The Bluher popped in his len OD the body, and stapJM!d back' Freeman after him, hit left and nght, and the Bluher fell. 2 ' J . - F _ deli....red left and right the Bluher wu aborl in his return, Uld spin reoeind t_ pops left and right, and fell 23.-Freeman deliYered left and rigbt, &Dd BlaBher down. 24.-Freemau led olr with hiB left. The Blaaher popped in bIa left on the mark &Dd tried to drop, bnt Freeman aught him round the Deak and held him up IOme time. and then let him fall, tumbling over him. (Another olaim of foul not allowed.) 25.-Freeman popped iD his right OD SlaBber's left eye i the BlaBher oountiired on bis shoulder, when Freeman caught him with his left, and the BlaBber wu down. 26.-Freeman spin planted bia left, and, on SlaBher nuhing in, caught him in hia arma. held him for a lI8Cond or two, and fell on him. 27.-Freeman popped iD hiB left, and d1-opped his man witb hiB right.

oa.a.P'I'KIl IT.] .

WILLIAM PERRY.

111

28.-The Bluber bit Ihort witb bb left, and renewed tbe dodging ITltem, playing round biB man. Freeman tned to nail bim, but be got away. hit out with hiBleft at the body, and fell witbout a return. [Another c1aiin of foul for Freeman, not admitted.] 29.-Sluber hit at the body with hiBleft and broke 1'11'1'''' Freeman after bim, all for mblcbief, o&ugM him on the hop, and hit him down with hiB rigbt. 3O.-The S!uher delivered hiB riRht on FreemlUl'l Iboulder, broke away, and tried it. with the left on the body, but wo ltopped. Freeman let go left and right, but the 8laaher ducked hiB nob, _ped, and fell. 31.-The Sluher again in with hiB left on tbe riba and away' FreemlUl after him, _upt him on the pbpIe, and he fell 32.-The Blaaher hit Ihort left and right, and _ hit down with FreemlUl'l left. 33.-The Bluher PUl'lued hb lefc-handed game at the body, but, in R8ttiug awa7.. wu hit down with a touch from Freeman I left. 34.-The Bluher m'-ed left and right, _qht it left and right, and wu down. 36.-{H now beae.me 10 dark that it _ difticnllt to _ what _ doing in the ring, aod the lpectaton _ e c10Ier to the ropM. The partiAnl of the Bluher were extremely Upl'fl&rioUl, and one of them Mpecla1l1 copatantly interfering with the umplretl. called .. time" when it _ not time, and of othermoetoffenuveand unfair oonduot. The Bluher, u Ulna], led off with hb eftat the body, but without effect, aDd in return _ hit down. 86.-The Bluher hit mort with hb left, aDd wu hit down b1 a oounter from FrMmAD'lleft u he wu getting 1'11'&1. 37.--Bluher planted hiB fATourlte bod1 blow with the left, but without prodUlling -I' rilible effect; Freeman did not _m to feel it, and he _ ap1n. down. 38.-Trlfting ~ with the left, and the Bluher down. 39.-The Bluher 1'UlIhed in to m..b an other effort for the throw, but Freeman ~ I8i-t him iD hb powerful grup, fibbed, and fell with him, but not on him.40, 43, "'~luber down in eTery round, ut apparentl1 DO mllchief done, and u far u the IlimJllll of light left would permit, we ooulddlloover nodiitiuot mark of punllhment OD either man. 45.-The Bluher delivered hiBleft ..t the bod1 and fell, u if from the foroe of hiB own blow. Freeman felloverhim/.~utevidently with a demo to ..void fauiug on him. (Anothl'J' appeal wu made to ihe referee on the ground of the BllImer fallinf without a blow,-but the referee declared i wu im. poaible to form a oorrect opinion, and exp..-ed a ItroJi wiIh that the fight Ihould idther be drawn or adjourned, but to thiI IIIlIther JlU"b" would llOOede1. 46, 47; and 48,-The BIulier down in each round, and Freeman manfully avoiding falling on him. 9.-The Bluber in with hb left on the

. . . . guilt

.\42.

body, but .. be attempted to retr8tlt Freeman caught him in hiB arml. held him for lome time, oocuionally chopping, and at !ut f~1l forwal'd on him, but too much over to produce any consequence. 60. -The B!uher Ihowed lome fatigue, but came up full of oonftdence. He delivered biB left at the body, but did not let well home; Freeman caugM him left and right, and he went down to avoid further memeuto-. To d.cribe the remaining round! would be an idle attempt, in floCt it became 10 dark that the men were onIl. villble from tbe lla'ht oolour of their 1lkir.1 and drawen. Tlie S1uher punned hb dodging, rUing a"!of, and fallinlr .,.tem, OOC&I1onally maIdng hiB left anel right hitl at tbe body and Ihoulder, and IOmetim. appearlnjr to reooil from the effectl of hiB own blo.... but without producing &DJ turn in biB favour. Freeman hitting left and right, and now and then IleiziDg hb II1&II, Iilting him ur,' and ftinginghim down, but almOltin.,&riab y avoiding falling on him i in one inltance actuall:r making an arch over biB 0&l'O&I8, hb head and Iea. on the ground" amidlt the MOlamationl of the throD' In the !ut 'ew round! there _ an endeut attempt to draw Freeman into the B1uher'1 oorner round whioh a d.perate lOt of ruII1&III h;J collected, who, by the moet oft'eUlive voai feradolll, endeavoured to intimidate and alarm him. He, however, kept hiB temper, and O&me up everyronnd 0001 and oolleoted, grumblinJr Only at the Bluher Dot ltanding up to ligbt. In the 69th ro1lJld the S1uher exclaimed, "I've got you DOW, old fellow! .. but the WOMB were _raely out of hiB mouth when Freeman hit him down with hiB left. The darlm-, oombined witb a fog, now beoame 10 inteDle that it _ impoulble to _ what _ doina' from one fide of the ring to the other. '!'he referee declared hb utter iDabilitJ to fonn any judamHlt of the ohanwlter of the fight, and, UDaole to get both umpu-e. to Igree on the expediencj of putting an end to the battle, he jumptid into the ring, and, getting betw_ the men, declared he would Dot permit them to prolong the conten. A.t thiB moment both men were fr.h and YigorOIll, and each _ed dlIinalined to leaye biB oh&noe of viotorJ in doubt, Bluber 8I1I8Cial1y, who aid he coDlidered he wu robbed of tbe fight, while Freeman langhed, and -.id, if they were permitted to prooeed, the l'8Iult would perhape prove he wu miBtaken. _ The referee wu, however, peremptory, and both men were taken from the rliig after having fought -mr roll_ch in onc MVI' ancl tvIeAt,-foll.r tRift"'. They walked away u freIh u when they bepn, with .. mutUal d8lire that they might renew the combat the next day at twelve o'clock, at IUch place u the referee ml8ht appoint, to which the latter Ulented, u there did uot appear to be anything in their appearance to justify a further delay in the gratiA. cation of their deeire..

171

PUGILISTIOA.

[PDIOD VD.

1835-1846.

RBII.lRl[B.-1t II much to be rel!1'8tted that tLi. curious encuuuter wu not brougbt to a more laUsfactory conclusion, inumucb u the merits of the men still remain undellided j and 80 evenly had tbeir preteDBions been balanced in the minds of their reepeclive friends that each party declares, bad time ..nd circumetances permlttedt their f..vourite mUlt have been crowned with victory. How fu tbese conc!lwoDB _y be well or 111 founded we will not pretend to .y j but certainly we feel justi.lled in giving to both men an equal proportion of praiss, 110 fu ..t leaat u their game qU&1itfel ..re concerned. It Is true, we may be disposed to bke exception to the .. getllng down" Iystem which Wall adopted by tbe Bluher, but then it must be borne in mind he fought at fe&rful oddI both u repro. weight and length, and conld Dever nape lucC888fully to compete with such ..n antagonist unl_ by .. degree of caution and cunning, which with .. man of his own incb. would have been untultifi&bl8l.ndamounted tocowanlice. There \1 no doubt th&t occuionally hll dropping after deliverInK his blows bad too much tbe appeU'ance 01 being at vuiaDce with our notion of a falr ltand-up IIgbt;" but then the ground wu 11Ipperyj and be userte th..t when he did fall it W&lI rrom the recoil of his own blowl or from his being un..ble to keep his feet In endeavouring to avoid the tremendous retur.. which he bad lufllclent reuon to expect. That this wu provoking to Freeman we can welllm&gine but. under all the mrcumltanaea, we do nol tbink it detracts from the game qU&1itlee of the Slasher, who certainly came up from AtV to lut undlamayed, and with a manly determioation to win if he could. Of hia llcientific qU&1ifications we caunot Bay much. If he pos_d any they were l'8lI8n'ed for a future OCC&lIlon. He uever attempted to .top the blows wbich were showered on his CGBUUr, and throughont confined hlmeelf to attempts to di_ble Freeman by body blows from his left or round hits with hia right. The former oooaalonally reached their d..LID..Uon with lIOundlug effect, but we ue inclined to believe they fen more frequently on Freeman's arm, wbich was dropped to catch them than upon his more .... vulnerable corpus. '~'hat some of them might bIove got home ws are inclined to believe, but it wu cleu they did not prodnce any serious consequeuce, for oneDminlug tbe Giaut's body subsequently we were lurprised to find la few symptoms of forcible collisiou on hIa ribs, while we discovered snndry brui_ on his fore and upper arm, which showed tbese bad be~n esposed to heavy visitations, and no douM stopvsd numerou kind Intentions whlob, had tbey reached their destln..tion, would have beeu fu from agreeable. With tbe right tbe Sluher wU unlucceaaful, u it geuerally fell on Freemen's left sboulder, Bnd with the esception of the cut on the left eye, which gained first

blood In the -tldb round, this weapon did not produce much damage, for the oDI7 other punishment visible wu .. slight lICI'&teh and swelling on the undsr lip, which waa produced by the upper cut In the fifteenth round. In hi. ..ttempts to throw, the Slasher bad aot the most remote chance of snCC8SB, for when the attempt w&II made Freeman lifted him completely off the ground lIDd threw him &lI he pleased, occ&lionally going down with him, from overbalancing himBelf. 'rhroughout the light it struck us that the Slasher showed no Iyml;ltome of dlatrt'88, except after the struggle to which he W&lI lupended behreea b8l.ven and earth for some lime in Freeman's grasp, and w&II then thrown, FreeDlllD. falling ou him. With reepect to F _ , although a novice In the milling arena, ie must be admitted that throughout he Mowed grelot coolness and p_ce of mind. He Dever 1000t his temper, and wu only indignant that tbe Bluher wonld Dot stand up to receive bia sledge-hammer compliment&. It Itruck UI, however t that W1th imm_ power he WlIDted jUdgment in its ..pplieation. His left and right hits were ItrailSht and well directed, but he failed in OOunteriDg with bis left, for had he let By at the _ moment that the Sluher tried hIa left at the body, the consequencee would no doubt have been serious. He too frequently Idered the Bluher to lead 011 and get away. 110 that in following, his blows did Dot tell with half the effect. Of this there w&II suftlment evidence in the little impre88loD he made, there beinIc no materirJ damage dlaoernible on the BlashAr's oounteD&DClt beyond a sllght cut on his left brow, lIDd a few contusions which afterwardl produced dIecolouration_ black eye Included. We learn also that be received IUndry rape OIl the head and neck, out of sigbt, which re!\ulred the aid of leeches to allay inftammatlon. lIis left band, too, w&II a good de&l. Uffed. Freeman'l W&lI &1110 f,njured, and from theleft tbumb blow _ force of one actually put out or joint; but the dislocation wu reduced, and little harm &rose from this. There is no doubt that _ny felt &lItonilhed, after witn8881ng so m&ny apparently beavy dellveriea followed by lnatant prOlltr&tlon, that more declaive conaequenoea were not produced. It must be borne in mind, however, tblot Freeman bit against a yielding object, which of course offered little reslltanC8, and fell from the sligbtest concussion. Had the Slaaber hit with him. or stood flrmly on hIa legs, tbe elfect would have been different; anI! many of hll hits were ratber shovel or pokee, iDBtead or coming well from tbe shoulder. Th. tumbling system of tbe Slasher cannot be purlued with impunity, and if it be cleuly sbown tbat be falls withont a blow, tbere will be lees hesitation in condemning him to defeat, u he mut now perfectly understand the distinction between accident and design.

CBAl'TEJl

tT.]

WILLIAH PERRY,

118

The sports thus most unsatisfactorily concluded, and the excitement which prevailed having subsided, those of the throng who remained to the IIlBt-for a great number had already taken their departure-began to speculate on the best mode of getting home. So intense was the darkness that it almost impossible to distinguish your best friend, although close at your elbow; and the calls for Bill, Tom, and Harry resounded in all directions, with unsatisfactory responBeB of "Here; where are you?" and BO forth. . Then came inquiries aB to the best mode of reaching the station. Some by guess, who thought they had marked the road they came, ventured to set out on their journey, and were BOon heard floundering in the ditches or swamps into which they had wandered, and roaring lustily for relief. Others employed the yokels as guides, and thus they went, in connected chains, pursuing their devious paths. The Bishop of Bond Street, who had magnanimously resigned his carriage to Freeman, was foremost among the unfortunat4l8, and went floundering on through mud and mire, but cheerfully submitting to all manner of casualties, till he reached the Sawbridgeworth station, where he was joined by hundreds of others, BOme of whom had got into the canal, others into dreary swamps, and all more or less miserable, but still happy in having escaped the perils to which they had been exposed. Complaints were loud and numerous; and verily 80me of our friends presented piteous specimens of human misery, with pretty certain prospects of future su1fering from colds and other ills to which flesh is heir. A great number got off by the six o'clock train, but many had to remain for that which followed, and did not reach their destination till a late hour. There were but few carriages on the battle-field, and these were with difficulty piloted to the main road, and by that route either to the Harlow station or to the Metropolis. Tile Slasher with difficulty reached Sawbridgeworth, where he obtained requisite refreshment; and Freeman, equally fortunate, got to the Harlow station, and in a room of one of the attendants found "a good Samaritan," who attended to all his wants. He was in good spirits, and but little the worse for wear. Caunt and Spring paid him every attention. The numerous assemblage here, half famished, had to send half a mile for the means of satisfying their appetites, and bread, cheelle, and beer were in anxious requisition; to these a lucky contribution of a Yorkshire ham and sundry chickens, from the hamper of a swell drag, proved a most acceptable addition for a party of "the select." Before the departure of the train, the Slasher, accompanied by Johnny

was

PUGILISTIOA..

[POIOD TU.

18S6-1846.

Broome, arrived at the station, and the proposed renewal of the battle on the ensuing day, at twelve o'clock, was discussed. Broome foresaw the difficulty in which he would be placed to afford due information of the whereabouts to some of the Slasher's backers who had gone to London, and who were more desirous than ever of witnessing the termination of the contellt. At his request, to which Spring did not object, it was settled that a meeting should take place the next day at four o'clock, at the house of the referee, to arrange this important point. The Slasher was unusually bounceable, and asked Spring if he was disposed to add a hundred to the stakes. A reply in the affirmative was instantly given, but the challenge eVl\porated, and nothing more was done. The arrival of the up-train put an end to discu.~8ion. All were soon embarked, and away they were whisked to Shoreditch. Freeman arrived at the" Castle" about half-past nine, where an immense crowd greeted his return; and the Slasher, in the same way, could scarcely obtain ingress to the domicile of Johnny Broonle of which he is, just now, the" Rising Sun." The next day Spring attended, at the time appointed, at the place of rendezvous, but Broome did not make his appearance till an hour after. In the interim, with a view to give each man sufficient time to resuscitate his energies, the referee appointed the following Thursday, between twelve and one o'clock, for the renewal of the combat; the "whereabouts" to be communicated to the backers of each in time to enable them to reach their detttination without inconvenience. On the next morning both men went back to their training quarters to prepare for the coming struggle. An earlier day could not have been named without interfering with the arrangements for the mill between Maley and M'Grath, which was fixed for the ensuing Tuesday