Chapter XLVI: Appendix: To Period VI (5)

8.—Dick tried his left-handed job, but was stopped, and with equal
neatness stopped the counter from Perkins’s left. In a second effort
Perkins was more successful, and put in his left cleverly on Dick’s
nob, while Dick countered at his body. Perkins again stopped Dick’s
left-handed job, and showed great quickness in getting away. A fine
spirited rally followed, in which mutual exchanges took place, and
the blood flowed from the smellers of both. It was a fine, manly
display on both sides, but in the end Perkins hit Dick clean off his
legs with his right, catching him heavily on the side of the head.
(Immense cheers from the Oxonians, and the Londoners looking blue.)

9.—Dick, a little abroad, popped in his left on Perkins’s body, and
then rushed in to fight. Perkins retreated, and got into the corner
of the ring, when a desperate rally followed; Perkins jobbed Dick
several times right and left, catching him heavily under the ear
with his right, thus showing he could use both hands with equal
effect. Dick fought with him, but the length of Perkins seemed too
great to enable him to hit with effect. Finding himself foiled at
this game, he closed, and catching Perkins’s nob under his arm, was
about to fib; but Perkins slipped down, by the advice of Spring, and
evaded the punishment he would otherwise have received. Dick, on
getting to his second’s knee, was covered with blood, and looked all
abroad; the right-handed hit under his lug in the last round was
evidently a stinger.

10.—Both came up collected, but Dick did not seem disposed to lose
much time in reflection; he hit with his left, but had it in return
from Perkins on the nob. A lively rally followed, in which both got
pepper; Dick rushed in hastily, and Perkins fell, Dick on him.

11, and last.—Dick now came up evidently resolved to make a
desperate effort to put aside the coolness of Perkins, but he found
his man ready at all points; good counter-hits were exchanged, and
both fought with fury; Perkins threw in a heavy hit with his left on
Dick’s nob, and then on his body with his right; Dick fought with
him boldly, but had no advantage, when Perkins again caught him
heavily under the ear with his right, and he fell “all of a heap.”
He was immediately picked up, and his seconds tried every expedient
to bring him to his senses, but he was completely stupefied, and on
time being called was incapable of standing. The hat was immediately
thrown up, announcing victory, and Perkins ran out of the ring as
strong as ever. He was, however, sent back till the battle was
pronounced won or lost. The decision was given in favour of Perkins,
and in a short time Dick was conveyed to his carriage, and from the
ground to Maidenhead. The fight lasted twenty-three minutes and a
half.

REMARKS.-At the conclusion of the fight, which was certainly more
quickly ended than we anticipated, most of the persons close to the
ring seemed to be satisfied that Curtis had been out-fought, and
that, in fact, he had been, as was observed in the first instance,
overmatched. The losers, however, soon began to state a different
impression, and certain shrugs and twists gave indication of a
feeling that all was not right “in the state of Denmark.” It is
certain that Dick did not do as much with Perkins as we have seen
him do with other men; but then it must be considered that we never
saw him opposed to so good a man as Perkins was on this day. In
addition to his superior weight and physique, the Oxford man from
first to last preserved a coolness and steadiness, and covered his
points with a scientific precision, which few men of his age and
experience have displayed in the Ring. This was admitted even by
those who had most reason to lament his success. In our opinion Dick
fought too quickly, and lost that presence of mind which with such
an opponent was his only chance of success. From the undiminished
strength which Perkins showed at the last, too, we are satisfied he
could have continued the fight much longer. We agree with Sam (who
seconded Curtis) that he was more of a match for him than for the
Pet. It cannot be forgotten that from the first moment the match was
made we expressed our fears that Dick was giving away too much
weight, and the result has confirmed our judgment.

In a very few minutes after the fight Perkins entered the ring dressed, and little the worse for his engagement, beyond the cut over his left eye and a little puffiness in the mouth and nose; he must, however, have felt for some time the effects of his body blows, which were both heavy and numerous. He expressed a strong desire to second Harry Jones in his fight with Reidie, but this his friends would not permit.

A challenge from Bob Coates procured for that boxer a thrashing in twenty-five rounds, occupying twenty-eight minutes, near Chipping Norton, on the 19th of March, 1830.

The defeat of Curtis, as we have already noted in our Memoirs of ALEC REID and HARRY JONES, rankled in the memory of the London Ring, and consequently a more equal opponent for the fresh and hardy provincial was looked out in the person of Alec Reid, “the Chelsea Snob,” the full details of which may be read in the tenth chapter of this volume, pp. 423–426.

This first defeat took place on the 25th May, 1830, and thenceforward, until 1832, Perkins remained without a customer. Towards the close of 1831 a negotiation with Harry Jones, the Sailor Boy, was concluded. The stakes, £50 a-side, were tabled, and on January 17th, 1832, at Hurley Bottom, the scene of his victory over the London Pet, the Oxford man was defeated, after a gallant defence, in twenty-two rounds, time forty-six minutes.

With this defeat closed the Ring career of “the Oxford Pet,” in three short years.

END OF VOL. II.

INDEX TO VOLUME II.

A

AARON, BARNEY (“the Star of the East”).
His birthplace, 504
His early days, 504
His battles with Connelly, Lyons, Ely Bendon, and Sam Belasco, 504–5
Beats Tom Collins for a purse, 504
Beats Ned Stockman, 504
Beats Tom Lenney (twice), 505–6
Beats Frank Redmond, 507
Beats Peter Warren, 508
A gallant tar’s generosity, 509
A “chant of victory”, 509
Beaten by Arthur Matthewson, 510
Arthur Matthewson (note), 510
Challenges Matthewson to a second trial, 511
Battle with Dick Hares, 511
Mynheer Van Haagen’s letter descriptive of the fight, 511
Defeated by Dick Curtis, 512
Set-to with Curtis at the Coburg Theatre, 512
Second battle with Frank Redmond, 512
A disappointment, 513
The stakes awarded to Barney, 513
Third match with Frank Redmond, 513
Beats Frank Redmond, 514
Beats Marsh Bateman, 515
Beaten by Tom Smith, 515
Dies in Whitechapel, 515

ABBOT, BILL.
His victories, 182
Beats Dick Hares and Dolly Smith, 183
Beaten by West Country Dick (see Vol. I.), 184
Beats a “Johnny Raw”, 185
Beats a “navvy” at Hampton, 185
Beats Bennyflood, 186
Beats Pitman, 186
Beats Tom Oliver, 186
Beats Phil Sampson, 189
Challenges Josh Hudson, 191
Fights a cross with Jem Ward, 191
Beaten by Larkins, of Cambridge, 191
Beats Search, 191

ACTON, DICK, his battles, note of, 200

B

BROWN, TOM (“Big Brown,” of Bridgnorth).
His birthplace, 437
Aspires to the Championship, 437
Matched with Tom Shelton, 437
Patronised by Tom Spring, 437
Beats Tom Shelton, 438
Challenges the Championship, 440
Replies to the challenges by Ward and Sampson, 441
Match with Jem Ward goes off, 443
Defeated by Phil Sampson, 445
Beats Isaac Dobell (first time), 446
Beats Isaac Dobell (second time), 449
Announces his retirement from the P.R., 450
Second match with Sampson, 450
Beats Phil Sampson, 451
Disputed result—Mr. Beardsworth gives up the stakes, 452
Recovers the £200 battle-money of Mr. Beardsworth, 453
Becomes a Boniface in Bridgnorth, 453

BALDWIN, EDWARD (“White-headed Bob”).
His birth, 338
First appearance in the Ring, 338
Beats O’Connor, 338
A pupil of Bill Eales, 338
A plant with Jem Ward, 388
Beats Maurice Delay, 339
His patronage by “Pea-green Hayne”, 341
Becomes a “man on town”, 341
Forfeits to Ned Neale £100, 341
Is beaten by Ned Neale, 341
Challenges Langan, the Irish Champion, 342
Beats George Cooper, 342
Opens “Subscription Rooms”, 344
Takes a Provincial tour, 344
Beaten by Jem Burn, 344
Beats Jem Burn, 345
Fights a “draw” with Ned Neale, 350
Beats Ned Neale, 350
Dies at the “Coach and Horses,” St. Martin’s Lane, Oct., 1831, 352

BURN, JEM (“My Nevvy”).
His birth at Darlington, 328
Apprenticed at Newcastle, 326
Of a fighting family, 326
Early exploits, 326
Beats O’Neil, 327
Sir Bellingham Graham, 328
Matched with Jack Martin, 328
A draw, 329
Defeated by Ned Neale, 329
And by Phil Sampson, 329
Beats Pat Magee, 330
Marries Miss Watson, of Bristol, 333
Matched with Ned Baldwin (“White-headed Bob”), 333
Beats Baldwin, 334
A second match made, 335
Is defeated by Baldwin, 336
Beaten by Neale (second time), 336
Becomes host of the “Queen’s Head”, 336
An active second, backer, and professor of the art, 336
His character and last illness, 336
A mechanical contrivance, 336
His death, 336

C

CANNON, TOM (“the Great Gun of Windsor”).
Appeared too late in the P.R., 248
Born at Eton, 248
Classic associations of youth, 248
A fisherman, “bargee,” and runaway, 249
Cannon defeats Tom Anslow, a Grenadier, 249
Matched with Dolly Smith, 250
Witnesses the fight of Hudson and Ward, 251
Offers to fight either combatant, 251
Matched with Josh Hudson, 251
Beats Josh Hudson, 252
Second match with Hudson, 254
Gamekeeper to Mr. Hayne, 255
Stage and Grand Stand for the fight, 256
“The Squire” (Osbaldeston) referee, 256
Defeats Josh Hudson again, 257
Becomes a publican at Windsor, 259
Challenges the Championship for £1,000, 259
“Pea-green” Hayne’s match at Brighton, 259
Wrestles with Carney the Gambler, 260
Sparring at “Ireland’s Ground”, 260
Is challenged and beaten by Jem Ward, 261
Exhibits at the Coburg Theatre, 261
Is beaten by Ned Neale, 261
Becomes host of the “Castle,” Jermyn Street, 261
Retires, and is a “swan-watcher” to the City Corporation, 262
Commits suicide in his 69th year, in July, 1858, 262

CARTER, JACK (“the Lancashire Hero”).
His character as a boxer, 161
His early days, 161
Works as a “navvy”, 162
Pierce Egan’s story of the jackass, 162
Meeting with Bob Gregson, 163
Appears at the Fives Court, 163
Beats Boone, the Soldier, 164
Beaten by Jack Power, 164
Beaten by Molineaux, 164
Travels the Provinces and Ireland, 165
His challenges, 165
His battle with Stephenson, 165
His battle with Sam Robinson, 166
His second battle with Robinson, 168
Matched with Tom Oliver, 170
Defeats Tom Oliver, 171
His pedestrian capabilities, 173
Again challenges Cribb, 173
His puffing announcements, 174
Matched with Spring, 174
His defeat by Spring, 175
Returns to Ireland, 176
And to England, 176
Challenges Shelton and Jem Ward, 176
Is beaten by Jem Ward, 176
Beaten by Deaf Burke, 176
Died at Manchester, 1844, 176

CRAWLEY, PETER, 1818–1827.
His introduction to the Ring, 233
His birth and parentage, 233
Apprenticed to a butcher in Clare Market, 233
Juvenile encounters, 234
The “Coal-yard” against “Bloomsbury”, 234
Sundry fistic exploits, 235
A Westminster election and its consequences, 236
Beats Ben Sutliffe in the Ring, 237
Has a severe accident, 237
Glove-fight with Bully Southerns, 238
Defeats Dick Acton, 238
Goes into business as a butcher, 239
Is engaged as a “special” at the Coronation of George IV., 240
Mr. Sullivan’s mistake, 240
Replies to Jem Ward’s challenge, 240
Matched with Ward, 240
Two Commissaries and a _contretemps_, 240
Beats Jem Ward, “the Champion”, 242
Peter at the Tennis Court, 245
His modest speech and retirement from the P.R., 245
Becomes landlord of the “Queen’s Head and French Horn,” Smithfield,
246
An insolent customer, 246
His forbearance and courage, 246
Acts as referee at the fight of Harry Broome and “the Tipton
Slasher”, 247
His death in 1865, aged 66, 247

CURTIS, DICK (“the Pet of the Fancy”).
His merits as a pugilist, 481
His birth, 482
His first battle with Watson, 482
Beats Ned Brown (“the Sprig of Myrtle”), 482
Beats Lenney, 483
Dick at Epsom Races, 484
Beats Cooper, a Gipsy, 485
Defeats Peter Warren four times, 485
His battle with Hares prevented, 486
Defeats Dick Hares, 487
Receives £100 forfeit from Barney Aaron, 487
Poetical effusions on the match with Aaron, 489
A “turn-up” with Ned Savage, 490
Disposes of Stockman in one round, 491
Matched with Aaron for £100 a-side, 491
Beats Barney Aaron, 492
Matched with Tisdale, 492
An idle controversy with Jack Randall, 498
Takes leave of the Ring, 498
A rencontre with a coalheaver, 498
Goes on a tour in the North, 499
Disposes of Coaly’s pretensions in a glove-fight, 499
Is beaten by Perkins, “the Oxford Pet”, 500
His talent as a second, 500
Testimony to his integrity by a friend, 501
His death and funeral, 501
Monody on Dick Curtis, 501

D

DONNELLY, DAN (“Champion of Ireland”).
His birth, 138
Fight with Isle of Wight Hall, 139
Defeats George Cooper, 139
Comes over to Liverpool, 140
Joins Carter in a sparring exhibition, 141
Comes to London—opinions of the amateurs, 142
Appears at the Minor Theatre, Catherine Street, Strand, 142
Challenged by Sutton, the Black, 143
Sets-to at the Fives Court, 143
Challenged by Oliver, 144
Defeats Tom Oliver, 145
Other challenges to Donnelly, 149
His dissipation and loss of money, 149
His arrest, and subsequent departure for Ireland, 150
Donnybrook Fair, 151
Carter’s challenge to Donnelly, 152
The match goes off, 153
His house in Pill Lane, 153
His sudden death, 154
Dan’s humour and training eccentricities, 154
Public and literary honours to Dan’s memory, 155
His funeral, 159
His epitaph, 160

E

EVANS, SAMUEL (“Young Dutch Sam”).
His birth and parentage, 353
His early days, 354
Apprenticed as a compositor, 354
A youthful escapade, 355
Becomes a “flying newsman”, 355
Is introduced to Mr. John Jackson, &c., 355
Receives forfeit from Lenney, 356
His friendship with Dick Curtis, “the Pet”, 356
Beats Ned Stockman, 356
Spars at the theatres, 358
Beats Harry Jones, “the Sailor Boy”, 358
Defeats Tom Cooper, “the Gipsy”, 359
Beats Bill Carroll at Ascot, for “a purse” given by the Duke of
Wellington, 361
Beats Jack Cooper, “the Gipsy”, 362
Defeats Dick Davis, “the Manchester Pet”, 364
Matched with Bishop Sharpe, 367
Comparison of the men, 367
The fight prevented, 368
Sparring at the Tennis Court, 369
The stakes given up to Sharpe, 370
Challenges Peace Inglis, 370
Receives forfeit from Dan M’Kenzie, 370
Held to bail for twelve months, 371
Beats a big carman for striking Dick Curtis, 371
Challenged by Jack Martin, 372
Preliminaries of the battle, 373
Defeats Jack Martin, 374
Preliminaries of first fight with Ned Neale, 376
Beats Ned Neale (first battle), 379
Renewed challenge by Neale, 382
Contrasted qualifications of the men, 383
The road to Newmarket, 384
Defeats Neale a second time, 385
Sam “a man about town”, 387
The Haymarket and its “night-houses”, 388
Challenged by Tom Gaynor, 388
A drunken constable and a lost “warrant”, 388
Defeats Tom Gaynor, 389
Matched with Reuben Martin, 392
Prevented by the death of “Brighton Bill”, 392
Absconds to Paris, 392
Frank Redmond (note), 392
Adventures in Paris, 393
Returns, is tried at Hertford, and acquitted, 394
“Tom-and-Jerryism” rampant 1836–46, 394
A police fracas and three months’ imprisonment, 395
“Lament of the Disorderly Gentlemen”, 396
Becomes a publican, and marries, 397
Sam’s qualifications as a boxer, 397
His death, and a “Monody” thereon, 398

G

GAYNOR, TOM (“the Bath Carpenter”).
His late _début_ in the Ring, 400
Birthplace, 400
Tom’s wonderful uncle “the Zummerzet Champion”, 400
Early skirmishes of the young carpenter, 401
Makes his way to the Metropolis, 401
A glove-bout with Josh Hudson, 402
Sets-to with Ben Burn, 402
Defeated by Ned Neale, 402
Beaten at Epsom Races by “Young Gas”, 402
Matched with Alec Reid, 402
Beats Alec Reid, 403
Matched with “Young Gas”—a draw, 405
Beaten by Bishop Sharpe, 405
Matched with Charles Gybletts, 405
Beats Gybletts, 406
Second match with Neale proposed, 408
Both men publicans, 408
Beats Ned Neale, 409
Challenged by Young Dutch Sam, 411
Beaten by Young Dutch Sam, 411
His death, 411

H

HICKMAN, THOMAS (“the Gasman”).
His character as a boxer, 118
His birth, 118
Apprenticed to a boiler maker, 119
Early battles, 120
His battle with Peter Crawley, 121
Beats George Cooper, 122
Receives forfeit from Cooper, 124
Glove battle with Kendrick the Black, 124
Second match with George Cooper, 124
Beats George Cooper second time, 125
Matched with Tom Oliver, 126
Scenes on the road, 126
Defeats Tom Oliver, 127
Matched with Neat, 128
Display at the Fives Court with Shelton, 129
Beaten by Neat, 130
Hickman’s irritability, 131
Turn-up with Rawlinson, 131
Theatrical engagement of Neat and Hickman, by Davidge, 132
His character, 132
His melancholy death, 132
Coroner’s inquest, 133
Funeral of Hickman and Mr. Rowe, 134
Sympathy of brother pugilists, and benefit for his widow, 135

HUDSON, DAVID.
His victories, 191
Beats West Country Dick, 192
Beats Harry Holt, 192
Beats Jack Scroggins (Palmer) twice, 194, 195
Beaten by Jack Martin, 195
Beats Green, “Essex Champion”, 195
Beats Jack Steadman, 196
Becomes publican at Chelmsford, 196
Second victory over Green, 196
Beaten by Ned Neale, 197
Beaten by Larkins (the Irishman), 198
Died Nov. 27th, 1835, 198

HUDSON, JOSH (“the John Bull Fighter”). 1816–1826.
His birth at Rotherhithe, 263
His good humour, 263
Fight with Jack Payne, the Butcher, 263
Draw with Aby Belasco, 263
Defeats Street and Charles Martin, 263
Beats Thompson, “the Essex Coachman”, 264
Takes a voyage to India, 264
Beaten by Bowen, “the Chatham Caulker”, 264
Beats Williams, “the Waterman”, 264
Defeats Scroggins at Moulsey, 264
Beats Phil Sampson, 265
Beaten by Tom Spring, 267
Turn-up with Aby Belasco at Norwich, 267
Beats “Swell” Williams, 267
Miscalculation of the “knowing ones”, 268
Beaten by Ned Turner in a “turn-up”, 269
Second match with Phil Sampson, 269
Beats Phil Sampson, 270
Fracas with Jack Ford, 270
Challenge to Martin and Garrol, 272
Second match with “the Chatham Caulker”, 272
A stormy day, a beak, and a move, 273
Defeats Bowen, 274
Challenges, 275
Beats Barlow, “the Nottingham Youth”, 275
Matched with Tom Shelton, 277
Receives forfeit from Shelton, 278
Matched with Jem Ward, 278
Remarks on the capabilities of the combatants, 279
Josh’s training costume, 279
Defeats Jem Ward, 280
The return from the fight, 283
A speculation in bandannas, 284
A silver cup voted to Josh, 284
At the Fives Court, Hudson and Ward, 285
Hudson and Sampson, impromptu, 285
Presentation of a silver cup, 286
The “no fight” affair with Sampson, 287
His marriage—the “Half Moon Tap”, 288
Josh’s gallantry—a ruffian punished, 288
Josh, “mine uncle,” and the silver cup, 289
Josh Hudson Junior, 290
Died Oct. 8th, 1838, in Milton Street, Finsbury, 290

J

JONES, HARRY (“the Sailor Boy”).
His many battles, 515
His birth in Bristol, 516
Apprenticed on board an Indiaman, 516
Beaten by Latham, 516
Beaten by Ned Stockman (twice), 516
Bye-battles with Watts, Riley, and Peter Brookery, 516
Beats Brown (“Sprig of Myrtle”), 517
The Fighting “Typo,” a bride and a challenge, 517
Beaten by Dick Price, 517
Held to bail at Oxford, 518
Beaten by Tom Reidie, 518
And by Ned Stockman (third time), 518
Beats Fred Edwards, 519
Beats Mike Curtain, 519
Defeats “Captain Corduroy”, 519
The humours of Westminster in by-past times, 519
A day’s outing—Harry Jones and Tommy O’Lynn, 520
Jones defeats Tommy O’Lynn, 521
Is beaten by Young Dutch Sam, 521
Beats Knowlan, the Tumbler, 522
Beats Mike Curtain the second time, 522
Beats Tom Collins, 522
Beats Pick, of Bristol, 522
Beats Reuben Howe, 523
Beaten by Charley Gybletts, 523
Interrupted fight with Jem Raines, 524
Beats Bob Simmonds, 525
Second match with Jem Raines, 526
Beats Ike Dodd, 527
Beats Bill Savage, 528
Matched with Ned Stockman, 529
Beats Ned Stockman, 530
Beats Barney Aaron, 530
Beats Tom Reidie, 530
Beats Frank Redmond, 530
Beats George Watson, 531
Beats Dick Hill, of Nottingham, 531
Beats Perkins, of Oxford, 531
Beats Gipsy Jack Cooper, 531
Beaten by Tom Smith, 531
His death, 531

L

LANGAN, JOHN (the Irish Champion).
Birth and early days, 53
Juvenile battles, 53
Goes to sea, and adventure at Lisbon, 53
Apprenticed to a sawyer, 53
Apocryphal battles, 54
Sir Daniel Donnelly on training, 57
Fights with Pat Halton, 59
—— with Carney, 60
—— with Cummins, 60
—— with Owen M’Gowran, 61
Sails for South America as a volunteer in the War of Independence, 62
Death of Langan’s brother—an old sailor of Nelson’s “Victory”, 63
Lands at St. Marguerite—sufferings of the “patriots”, 64
Made Quartermaster-Sergeant, 65
Returns to Cork, and goes to Dublin, 65
Becomes publican, 65
An amatory episode and its consequences, 66
Arrives in England, 66
Battle with Vipond (or Weeping), 67
Returns to Ireland, and imprisoned for damages, 68
Challenged by Rough Robin, 68
Challenges the Championship, 69
Defeated at Worcester by Spring, 69
Defeated a second time near Chichester, 69
“The Black Fogle,” an ode, 70
Langan’s Benefit at the Fives Court, 71
Challenged by Jem Ward—no result, 71
Sails for Ireland, 71
Becomes a publican in Liverpool, 72
His social character, 72
His charities, 73
His death, and eulogy, 73

M

MATTHEWSON, ARTHUR, of Birmingham.
Beats Barney Aaron (note), 510

N

NEALE, NED (“the Streatham Youth”).
Press penchant for Irish heroes, 291
Born at Streatham, 291
Witnesses fight between Martin and Turner, 291
His patron, Mr. Sant, the brewer, 292
Defeats Deaf Davis, 292
Beats Cribb, of Brighton, 292
Beats Miller, “Pea-soup Gardener”, 293
Beats Hall, of Birmingham, 293
Beats David Hudson (brother of Josh), 294
Beats Tom Gaynor, 296
Matched with Baldwin (“White-headed Bob”), and receives £100 forfeit,
297
Matched a second time, and beats Baldwin, 297
Beats Jem Burn, 299
Visits Ireland, 301
His marriage, 302
Matched with Phil Sampson, 303
Death of Mrs. Neale, and postponement of the match, 303
Second match—defeats Sampson, 303
Defeats Tom Cannon, “the Great Gun,” of Windsor, 308
Matched a second time with Jem Burn, 310
Beats Jem Burn, second time, 311
Challenges any 12st. man, 313
A silver cup proposed, 313
Match with Jem Ward off, 314
Third match with Baldwin, 314
Drawn battle with Baldwin, 316
Beaten by Baldwin, 320
Presented with a silver cup, 320
Matched with John Nicholls, 320
Defeats Nicholls, 321
Matched with Roche, 322
Neale’s honesty—a “cross” defeated, 322
Beats Roche, 323
Retires from the Ring, 325
Is challenged by Young Dutch Sam, and twice defeated, 325
Is beaten by Tom Gaynor, 325
Dies at the “Rose and Crown,” Norwood, 325

NEAT, BILL, of Bristol.
His birth, 104
His fight with Churchill, 104
Bristol the pugilistic nursery, 104
Matched with Tom Oliver, 105
Defeats Tom Oliver, 106
Repairs to the Metropolis, 108
Appears at the Fives Court, 108
Matched with Spring, Neat breaks his arm, 109
Challenges Cribb, 109
Matched with Hickman, “the Gasman”, 109
Scenes on the road, 110
Defeats Hickman, 111
Sensation in London, 114
Matched a second time with Spring and defeated, 115
Bristol in mourning, 116
A Quakeress’ remonstrant, 116
Letter from Mr. Joseph Fry, 117
Neat’s character, 117
Death at Bristol, aged 67, 117

O

OLIVER, TOM (Commissary of the P.R.).
Born at Breadlow, Bucks, 89
His first ring appearance, 89
Beats Kimber and “Hopping Ned”, 89
Beats Harry Lancaster, 90
Beats Jack Ford, 90
Beats George Cooper, 91
Beats Ned Painter, 92
Aspires to the Championship, 94
Becomes a publican in Westminster, 94
Beaten by Jack Carter, 94
Beaten by Neat, of Bristol, 94
Beats Kendrick, the black, 95
Defeated by Dan Donnelly, 95
Beats Tom Shelton, 96
Beaten by Painter (second fight), 98
Beaten by Spring, 98
Beaten by Hickman, 98
Beaten by Abbott, 99
Becomes Commissary of the P.R., 99
Challenge from Old Ben Burn, 99
Adventures of the Ring-goers, 100
The battle of the veterans, 102
Tom’s victory, 103
His retirement, and death, aged 75, 103

P

PAINTER, NED.
His character, 74
Early days at Stratford, Manchester, 74
Sets-to with Carter—his strength, 75
Arrives at Bob Gregson’s, 75
Fight with Coyne, 75
Fight with Alexander, “the Gamekeeper”, 75
Beaten by Tom Oliver, 76
Beaten by Shaw, the Life-Guardsman, 77
Matched with Oliver a second time, 78
Polite pugilistic letter-writing, 78
Oliver arrested during his training, and proposal to fight at Calais,
78
Fight with Sutton, the black, 79
Second fight with Sutton, 79
His foot-racing and athletic capabilities, 80
His defeat by Spring, 82
Painter defeats Spring, 83
His farewell to the Ring, 83
Becomes publican at Norwich, 83
His character vindicated from current slanders, 84
Forfeits to Spring, 84
Matched with Tom Oliver, 85
Defeat of Oliver, 87
His retirement and death, 88

PERKINS, JACK (“the Oxford Pet”).
His boxing qualifications, 532
His battles with Wakelin and Godfrey, 532
Beats Dick Price, 532
His victory over Dick Curtis, “the Pet”, 536
Beats Coates, 538
Is beaten by Harry Jones, “the Sailor Boy”, 538
And by Alec Reid, 538
His brief career ended, 538

R

REID, ALEC (“the Chelsea Snob”).
Came of a fighting family, 412
Beats Finch, and opens a sparring school, 412
Beats Sam Abbott, 413
Beats Yandell, 413
Beats O’Rafferty, 413
Defeated by Dick Defoe, 413
Beats Harris, the waterman, 414
Beats Underhill, 414
Receives forfeit from Gipsy Cooper, 415
Beats Gipsy Cooper, 415
A “turn-up” with Maurice Delay, 416
A draw with Bill Savage, 416
Matched with Bishop Sharpe, 416
A suspicious “draw”, 417
Matched with Jubb, of Cheltenham, 417
Beats Jubb, 418
Is defeated by Tom Gaynor, 418
Beaten by Bishop Sharpe, 419
Bound in recognisances for twelve months, 419
Third match with Bishop Sharpe, 419
Beats Bishop Sharpe, 420
Matched with Perkins, of Oxford, 423
Beats “the Oxford Pet”, 424
Dies in 1875, aged 73, 427

REDMOND, FRANK (note), 302.

REYNOLDS, TOM.
The Mentor of Langan and Byrne, 477
Of Irish birth, 477
Comes to London, 477
His literary ability, 477
Fails in business, 477
Becomes a pugilist, 478
A battle in the “Old Fleet”, 478
Beats Aby Belasco, 479
Beats Church, 479
And Johnson (“the Broom-dasher”), 479
Becomes a publican in Drury Lane, 479
An accident and a tour, 479
Returns to Ireland, 479
Beats John Dunn on the Curragh, 479
Returns to England, 479
Beats Sammons, of Lancashire, 479
Returns to Ireland, 480
Takes Langan under his tuition and care, 480
Becomes patron of Simon Byrne, 480
A publican in Dublin, 480
His “Defence of Pugilism”, 480

S

SAMPSON, PHIL (“the Birmingham Youth”).
His birth, in Yorkshire, 454
Migrates in early life to Birmingham, 454
Gregson in Birmingham, 454
An impromptu battle with Dolly Smith, 455
Is beaten by Josh Hudson for “a purse”, 455
A disputed battle with Aby Belasco, 456
A “turn-up” with Aby, 457
A glove-fight at the Tennis Court, 457
Beaten by Jack Martin, 457
Beats Tom Dye, the table-lifter, 457
A second glove-fight with Belasco, 458
Beaten by Charley Grantham (“Gybletts”), 459
Beaten by Bill Abbot, 459
Beaten by Bill Hall, 459
Leaves London, 459
Beats Bill Hall, 460
Matched with Aby Belasco, 460
Beats Belasco, 461
Challenges Jem Ward, and is beaten, 462
Is beaten a second time by Ward, 462
Matched with Jem Burn, 464
Beats Jem Burn, 465
Third match with Hall, 466
Beats Hall, 467
A “turn-up” with Josh Hudson, 467
And a thrashing from Jem Ward, 467
Challenges “Big Brown”, 467
Matched with Paul Spencer, 467
Two fights in one with Spencer, 468
Buncombe challenges, 470
Matched again with “Big Brown”, 470
Beats “Big Brown”, 471
Triumphant return to Birmingham, 474

SHARPE, BISHOP (“the Bold Smuggler”).
A seaman in His Majesty’s service, 428
His early career, 428
Beats Jack Cooper, “the Gipsy”, 429
Defeats Cooper a second and third time, 430
Beats Ben Warwick, 430
Draw with Alec Reid, 430
Beats Alec Reid, 431
Matched with Tom Gaynor, 433
Beats Tom Gaynor, 434
Matched with Young Dutch Sam, 435
Receives forfeit from Young Dutch Sam, 436
Is defeated by Alec Reid, 436
His death, 436

SPRING, THOMAS WINTER (Champion). 1814–1824.
His birth and early days, 1, 2
His battles with—
Stringer, the Yorkshireman, 2
Ned Painter, of Norwich, 4
Ned Painter (second fight), 6
Jack Carter (Championship), 6
Ben Burn, 9
Forfeits to Bob Burn, 9
Beats Bob Burn, 10
Josh Hudson, 12
Tom Oliver, 13
Tom Cribb’s retirement, Spring claims the Championship, 12
His marriage, 12
Forfeits to Neat, 15
Matched with Neat, 17
In custody for attending a fight on Brighton Downs, 18
Fight with Neat, 19
Revisits his native place, and receives the “Hereford” Cup, 23
Jack Langan’s challenge, 23
Matched with Langan, 24
First fight with Langan, at Worcester, 24
Accident at the Worcester Grand Stand, 25
Newspaper correspondence and buncombe, 31
Again matched with Langan, for £500 a-side, 33
Fighting on a stage, 33
Spring’s benefit, and dinner at the “Castle”, 35
The eve of the fight—scenes in Chichester, 36
Second fight with Langan, 38
Spring’s triumph—meeting with Langan, 45
Takes the “Castle” Tavern, Holborn, 45
Reminiscences of the “Castle”, 48
Presentation of “Manchester” Cup (1824), 49
The “Champion Testimonial”, 49
His death, 20th August, 1851, 51
His monument at Norwood Cemetery, 51

SUTTON, HARRY (“the Black”).
A native of Baltimore, U.S., 177
Fight with “Cropley’s Black”, 177
Fight with Black Robinson, 178
Beats Ned Painter, 178
Beaten by Ned Painter, 179
Beats Kendrick the Black, 181
Receives forfeit from Larkin, 182
Becomes a sparring exhibitor, 182

W

WARD, JEM (Champion). 1822–1831.
Pugilistic reporters and writers of the Period: V. Dowling, George
Kent, George Daniels, S. Smith, Pierce Egan, &c., 199
Candidates for the Championship on the retirement of Tom Spring, 200
Birth and parentage of “the Black Diamond”, 200
Beats Dick Acton, 201
Challenges Jack Martin for £150, 202
Beats Burke, of Woolwich, 202
Beaten (?) by Dick Acton, 202
The stakes drawn and bets off, 203
Ward’s letter and apology, 204
Beats Ned Baldwin (“White-headed Bob”), 205
Beats Rickens, of Bath, at Landsdowne, 205
Beats Jemmy the Black, 206
Returns to the London P.R., 206
Beaten by Josh Hudson, 206
Beats Phil Sampson, 206
Challenges Langan, who had retired, 207
Claims the Championship, 207
Second fight with Phil Sampson, 207
Challenges Cannon for £500 a-side, 208
The challenge accepted, 209
Excitement at Warwick, 210
“The Old Squire” (Osbaldeston) referee, 212
Beats Tom Cannon, 213
Receives a belt at the Fives Court, 214
Dispute on giving up the stakes, 215
Challenges all comers, 216
Turn-up with Sampson, 217
Beaten by Peter Crawley, 217
Challenges Peter Crawley, who declines, 217
Brown, of Bridgnorth, declines to fight except on a stage, 218
Accident at the Tennis Court, 219
Challenged by Carter, 219
Beats Carter, 220
Receives forfeit from Simon Byrne, 222
Matched with Simon Byrne, 223
Public disappointment and Ward’s forfeit of the stakes, 225
Renewal of the match with Byrne, 226
Arrest of Byrne for his fight with Alexander Mackay, 226
Byrne’s acquittal and new match, 226
Preliminaries of the fight, 227
Beats Simon Byrne, 229
Receives a second belt, 231
Becomes a publican at Liverpool, 231
Ward’s talent as a painter, 232
Returns to London, 232
Interview with Ward (aged 80 years) in June, 1880, 232

-----

Footnote 1:

This is an error of the reporter’s. Spring has told us he was thirteen
stone, nett, when he met Stringer.

Footnote 2:

This resembled the much-discussed round in Heenan and Sayers’ fight at
Farnborough, where the Yankees claimed a “foul” because the ropes were
lowered when Heenan was throttling the English Champion. The
twenty-eighth rule of the P.R., which governs this case, authorises
the referee to have the men separated, or the ropes cut, to prevent a
fatal result. This the American party ignored or were really ignorant
of.—Ed. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 3:

Though this report is mainly from Pierce Egan’s text, it is not his
writing; these “remarks” are from the pen of Mr. Vincent Dowling, and
appeared in _Bell’s Life in London_, of January 11, 1824.

Footnote 4:

“FIGHTING UPON A STAGE.—Some little difference of opinion having
existed upon the merits of the case between Langan and Spring, the
majority of the supporters of pugilism assert, according to milling
precedents, that if Spring intended to retain the title of Champion,
he could, nay, he ought not to have refused to fight Langan upon a
stage, as the following circumstances support the claim of Langan. It
appears that Jack Bartholomew thought he had not fair play in the ring
when he fought with Jem Belcher; and upon Bartholomew’s soliciting
Belcher to give him a chance upon a stage, he replied, “Any where; a
saw-pit, if you like.” Again, when Molineaux entertained an opinion
that he had not justice done him in a ring with Cribb, the latter
veteran answered the request of the man of colour, with a smile upon
his face, “Yes, upon a stage, the top of a house, in a ship, or in any
place you think proper.” It is likewise insisted upon by the admirers
of boxing that the advantages are all upon the side of Spring. He is
the tallest, the heaviest, and the longest man, with the addition of
his superior science into the bargain. Most of the prize battles
formerly were fought upon stages—Tom Johnson with Perrins, Big Ben
with Jacombs, and George the brewer with Pickard; Johnson with Ryan,
Johnson also with Big Ben, Mendoza with Humphries, Ward with Mendoza,
Tom Tyne with Earl, etc. It is also worthy of remark, that none of the
above stages were covered with turf. The only instance that bears upon
the point respecting “turf,” is the stage which was erected at
Newbury, upon which Big Ben and Hooper were to have fought. This was
covered with turf, but the magistrates interfered; the fight was
removed to some miles distant. Big Ben and Hooper fought on the ground
in a ring.”—PIERCE EGAN.

Footnote 5:

See Life of JEM BURN, Period VI., Chapter VI.

Footnote 6:

Mr. John Jackson.

Footnote 7:

So says the reporter. It would, however, be fair, even if intentional,
for any man is entitled to hit another “going down,” but of course,
not when “down.”—Ed. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 8:

The more humane provisions of the “New Rules,” do not allow this
conduct on the part of the second. By rule 9, the man must rise from
the knee of his bottle-holder and walk unaided to the scratch to meet
his opponent.—Ed. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 9:

This is negatived by round thirty-eight of the report: see also the
note.—Ed. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 10:

This reminds us of a duel which was fought at Liverpool some years
since by the light of lamps, between a volunteer colonel and the
aide-de-camp of a royal duke.

Footnote 11:

This is most unlikely; Langan was, we should say, never under eleven
stone seven pounds to ten pounds from the time he was a grown man.—Ed.
PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 12:

This sort of balderdash abounds in Pierce Egan’s (or rather, we
suspect, Tom Reynolds’) Sketches of Irish Boxers in “Boxiana.” We let
it stand here as something to provoke a smile.—Ed. PUQILISTICA.

Footnote 13:

The reader should also take the advice of Carney’s second, and “not
mind such trash.”—Ed. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 14:

The place where Tom Belcher defeated Dogherty, and which has ever
since been called after the former celebrated pugilist. See BELCHER
(TOM), vol. i., p. 160.

Footnote 15:

Our friend the historian of “Boxiana,” here makes a sad mess of it.
The Victory was not at Aboukir Bay at all; Nelson’s ship at the battle
of the Nile (Aboukir) was the Vanguard. Every schoolboy knows the hero
died off the coast of Spain, about sixty miles west of Cadiz, October
21, 1805, after the “crowning victory” off Cape Trafalgar.—Ed.
PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 16:

Pierce Egan makes, reason unknown, this man’s name “Cohen.” He was
afterwards beaten by Davis (the navigator), and is rightly indexed as
Coyne in “Fistiana.”

Footnote 17:

Respecting the division of the “gate-money,” Mr. Jackson’s opinion
was, “that all moneys taken upon the ground, in point of right and
justice, belong to both of the combatants, who are the primary cause
of the multitude assembling, and therefore ought to be fairly divided
between them, without any reservation whatever.”

Footnote 18:

This, as we have already observed, would not be allowed by modern
practice, and is forbidden by the new Rules of the Ring, Arts. 7 and
9.—Ed. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 19:

A town once celebrated for cocking, pronounced by the natives
“Wedgebury.”

Footnote 20:

Mr. James Soares.

Footnote 21:

Instruments used in gas-works.

Footnote 22:

This is the account in “Boxiana,” and _faute de mieux_ we must adopt
it. We suspect the much-vaunted Sir Daniel was simply a big clumsy
“rough,” despite his defeat of Old Tom Oliver, who was a game boxer,
but “slow as a top,” as Spring often in a friendly way described him.
Cooper, too, had already been beaten by Oliver, and was in anything
but good condition when he met Donnelly.

Footnote 23:

By the New Rules Donnelly would here have lost the fight, as Burke did
in his contest with Bendigo, on February 7, 1839.—ED. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 24:

The writer never enters into the private quarrels of pugilists. His
only anxiety is to represent every circumstance connected with the
prize ring with accuracy and fidelity. He entertains no prejudices,
neither has he any partialities to gratify.

Footnote 25:

Tom Shuffleton, speaking of a female, says, “Oh! I see; she must be
the sixteenth Mrs. Shuffleton.” We never ascertained whether Mr.
Donnelly placed his ladies in numerical order; it is, however, certain
that he was a very gallant Milesian.

Footnote 26:

Pugilistic Champion of Ireland, we presume.—ED.

Footnote 27:

In Dublin.

Footnote 28:

Poor Dan kept a public-house—Lord rest his sowl.

Footnote 29:

Carter’s ring career really closed on the 4th of May, 1819, when his
pretensions were disposed of by the science of Tom Spring. See Life of
SPRING, Vol. II., Chapter I.

Footnote 30:

Sam Robinson, the Black, was born in 1778, in New York. He was a
strong and courageous nigger, and after beating Crockey, beat Butcher,
on March 16, 1810, at Coombe Warren, for a purse of £10. He was then
beaten by Carter (twice) as here recorded. He beat Stephenson, the
Black, at Coombe Wood, the 28th of May, 1816, making his third battle
in three months. A hasty match was again made with Carter, and
Robinson was a second time defeated, June 20, 1816. Sutton, the Black
(see Appendix), challenged Robinson at Doncaster Races, and beat him,
September 26, 1816, for a purse, in thirty-six minutes. In December,
Robinson beat a big Yorkshireman, named Taylor, at Ferrybridge, in
nineteen minutes, for a purse of ten guineas. He was next defeated by
George Cooper (see COOPER, vol. i., p. 365), and quickly polished off.
Fangill, a Scotch boxer, and a Waterloo man, was matched against
Robinson, and they fought at Shellock, in Ayrshire, June 25, 1817,
when Robinson proved the victor in forty minutes, after a gallant
fight. His last battle was with Dent, a north-countryman, whom he
beat, December 5, 1817, near the renowned Gretna Green, famed for
other ring matches. He for some time attended sparring at the Fives
Court, and when we lose sight of him he had entered the service of a
sporting nobleman.

Footnote 31:

Mr. John Jackson.

Footnote 32:

This Green was an Essex man, who, having defeated one Wyke, at
Barnsley, in Yorkshire, for a stake of £60 (April 2, 1819), and
subsequently Harris, a _protégé_ of Josh. Hudson, at Dagenham Breach,
Essex, March 13, 1820 (in “Fistiana” the date is wrongly given as
March 1, 1829), had crept into favour with himself. He was snuffed out
by David as we here find.

Footnote 33:

Mr. Soares.

Footnote 34:

There were two other boxers of the name. Sam Larkins, of Cambridge,
who beat Abbot (see ABBOT), Shadbolt, and John Fuller; and Larkins,
the Guardsman.

Footnote 35:

In the fourth volume of Pierce Egan’s “Boxiana,” pp. 473–481, will be
found a friendly sketch of poor George’s career, as historiographer of
the ring for the previous twenty years. He was a Berkshire man, born
August 19, 1778, apprenticed to Varley, the celebrated seal engraver
in the Strand, subsequently enlisted in the 16th Dragoons, but
obtained his discharge at the period of the treaty of Amiens. Then an
usher in a school at Camberwell, a newspaper writer in the _British
Neptune_, and proprietor of _Kent’s Dispatch_, which died. Pierce
Egan, who, with Vincent Dowling and George’s two sons, followed him to
his grave in St. Paul’s, Covent Garden, says he realised in two
successive years £1700, by sporting reporting. He was a scholar and a
man of talent.

Footnote 36:

Dick Acton, a _protégé_ of the scientific sparrer, Bill Eales, was
like the French general who was compared to a drum, heard of only when
beaten. He was a shoemaker by trade, and a ring follower by choice.
His first fight in the P. C. ropes was with one Nash, at Kilburn,
August 21, 1821, whom he beat, for a purse of 20 guineas, in
thirty-two rounds. The next week, the love of fight strong within him,
Dick threw his hat in at Edgeware, for a purse of 20 guineas, and
polished off a stalwart countryman, hight Evans, in eighteen rounds,
forty minutes. His next customer was a regular boxer, known as Massa
Kendrick, the black. He turned the tables on “the Snob,” putting him
in darkness in seventeen rounds, twenty-five minutes, at Moulsey,
December 18, 1821. Dick moved for a new trial, and on the 18th of
March, 1822, at Moulsey, seconded by Eales and Tom Spring, the Black
by Randall and Josh. Hudson, Acton reversed the verdict, with two to
one against him, punishing Massa out of time in thirty-two rattling
rounds, occupying thirty-five minutes. From this time he became a sort
of “trial horse,” and was beaten successively by Jem Ward, Young Peter
Crawley, and Jack Nicholls, all good men.

Footnote 37:

See Memoir of PHIL. SAMPSON, in an after part of this volume.

Footnote 38:

It may be as well to premise that this was written by one who was far
from friendly to Ward. The facts, however, speak for themselves.—Ed.
PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 39:

See Life of PAINTER, _ante_, p. 82.

Footnote 40:

See Life of WARD, p. 201, _ante_.

Footnote 41:

Bill (known as Dolly) Smith was born at Hammersmith, and was well
thought of by many patrons of the art pugilistic. His principal
battles were with Cannon, Abbot, Phil. Sampson, Joe Nash, and Jack
Scroggins, by all of whom he was beaten, so that his name has been
preserved by the fame of the antagonists who defeated him. His one
successful battle was with Hares, whom he defeated after a slashing
fight of fifty-eight minutes, during which forty rounds were fought,
at Coombe Wood, May 3, 1814. This was for a purse of twenty-five
guineas, given by the Pugilistic Club.

Footnote 42:

See Life of JEM WARD, pp. 211–215, _ante_.

Footnote 43:

The following we find in the _Weekly Dispatch_ of the Sunday which
announces Tom’s engagement:—

“So the nobs at the Coburg (forgive me the pun)
Are about to let off, for six nights, a Great Gun:
Tom Cannon, whose backer his prowess espouses.
Is form’d to draw claret, and may draw great houses;
May he make a good ‘hit,’ for the managers’ sake,
If they’re liberal in ‘giving,’ Tom doubtless will ‘take.’
But, jesting apart, may the town aid their plan,
Nor the whole turn out merely a flash in the pan.

“TIMOTHY TRIGGER,

“_Gun Tavern_.”

Footnote 44:

Jack Ford, in his day, fought some of the best men. He was defeated by
Tom Oliver and Harry Harmer (see Life of OLIVER, vol. ii.); but beat
Harry Lancaster, George Weston and Josh. Ebbs. His weight was twelve
stone.

Footnote 45:

This would now be objected to as an improper interference on the part
of a second.—EDITOR.

Footnote 46:

As a sample of what our fathers thought smart writing, we give a
contemporary specimen or two of _les impromptus fait à loisir_ which
appeared in the leading papers of the day:

“IMPROMPTU ON SAMPSON AND HUDSON’S MATCH.

“If what the ancients say be true,
That Samson many thousands slew,
And with a single bone;
How can Josh. Hudson’s skill in fight,
Avail ’gainst modern Sampson’s might,
Who carries two ’tis known?”

Another, alluding to a rife topic of the day—the treatment of Napoleon
the Great by the Governor of St. Helena, Sir Hudson Lowe, whom Byron
has damned to everlasting fame in the lines—

“Or to some lonely isle of gaolers go,
With turncoat Hudson for my turnkey Lowe,”

runs thus; the plagiarism in idea is manifest.

“Josh. Hudson now is _high_ in fame;
Should this against him go,
His glory passes like a dream,
He’ll then be—Hudson Low-e.”

Footnote 47:

Larkins afterwards beat John Fuller, Abbott, and Kelly, and was beaten
by Keene and Tubbs. He came to London, and his name occurs in the
Fives and Tennis Courts glove bouts.

Footnote 48:

See Appendix to Period V., pp. 191–198.

Footnote 49:

In a reprint in _Bell’s Life_ (May 15th, 1879) this fight is reported
throughout as “O’Neale and Gaynor,” without a word of allusion to
Neale’s previous battles.

Footnote 50:

This is an allusion to a system of exercise adopted by Jem in
training, and recommended by many, of practising right and left upon a
sack stuffed with hay, to teach straight delivery.

Footnote 51:

The original Assembly Rooms in Regent Street, by Argyll Place, not the
Windmill Street “Argyll,” recently “disestablished” by the Middlesex
magistrates.

Footnote 52:

Frank Redmond, although his Ring career was not marked by success, was
a skilful sparrer and an excellent teacher of the art of self-defence.
He was born on the 26th of February, 1803, and as a young aspirant was
so highly thought of that he was matched (at the age of twenty)
against the renowned “Star of the East,” Barney Aaron, whose recent
victories over Samuel Belasco, Collins, Ned Stockman, and Lenney
(twice) had raised him to a proud position among the middle weights.
Young Frank was soundly beaten in thirty-two minutes, after a game and
manly battle with an opponent by whom it was no disgrace to be
defeated.

Four years afterwards Frank again challenged Aaron, and a match was
made for £50 a-side, to fight on the 21st August, 1827, but Frank was
arrested on the day on the road to the appointed place. Strange to
say, although this was proved, the stakes were given up to the
Israelite, which so angered Redmond that he threw up his hat in the
room at the “Castle” and offered to fight for £20 on the spot. A third
match was then made for £50 a-side. After a high-couraged battle
(which will be found in the Life of BARNEY AARON, in the Appendix to
this Period) Redmond was again defeated. Redmond’s other battles were
a game but unsuccessful combat with Harry Jones (the Sailor Boy), and
a single victory over Tom Davis, near Leominster, on the 14th of
November, 1833. Frank soon after married, and went into business as a
licensed victualler at the “George and Dragon,” Greek Street, Soho,
which, from Frank’s abilities as a professor of the fistic art, and
his thorough knowledge of the points of a dog, became a popular
resort. At an after period, for many years, Frank Redmond was known
and respected as the proprietor of the “Swiss Cottage,” St. John’s
Wood. We extract the following from “Walks round London,” published in
1846:—

“The ‘Swiss Cottage,’ at the intersection of the London and Finchley
Roads and Belsize Lane, is a pleasant summer retreat; and it would be
hard to name a more competent authority on sporting subjects than the
worthy host, than whom

‘A merrier nor a wiser man
To spend a pleasant hour withal’

is not to be found within the bills of mortality. Well versed in all
sporting matters is Frank Redmond; and behind a yard of clay, and over
a glass of the best Cognac, the proprietor of this hostelrie will
discuss with you the merits of a Derby nag; the pluck, game, bravery,
and stamina of the aspirant for fistic fame; the construction and
merits of a prize wherry; the skill of a batsman and cricket-bowler;
or detail to you the speed and breeding of a crack greyhound. On this
last theme Frank will become a monopolist; you have touched the chord
that will vibrate, for on the subject of the canine species he will
become as learned as England’s ermined Chief Justice on a knotty point
of law, or as eloquent as Demosthenes himself. A better judge of the
merits, breeding, and qualities of the dog does not exist. Frank is
reputed to be the best dog-fancier in the kingdom, and on that point
is generally consulted by the aristocracy and Corinthians of the first
water.

“Such are a few of the many inducements, and we own they are no small
ones, which prompt us to notice ‘the Cottage.’ We say nothing about
the accommodation offered to the guests; for it were a libel on
Frank’s administration to assert that they are not of the first-rate
order, and he must be an epicure, indeed, who could find fault with
the _cuisine_ of the establishment. Had the ‘Swiss Cottage’ existed in
Shakspere’s days, we should have been inclined to assert that it was
from some such a house as this that the ‘fat-ribbed knight’ first
acquired his idea of the comfort a man feels in taking ‘mine ease at
mine inn.’”

Frank Redmond retired from this life and its business in 1863.

Footnote 53:

Dick Curtis died September 16th, 1843, aged 41.

Footnote 54:

This was occasioned by that ancient boxing arena passing into new
hands, and being leased for a circus, under the title of “Cooke’s
Gymnasium.”

Footnote 55:

At this time Tom Belcher bore that title.

Footnote 56:

Arthur Matthewson, for many years known in fistic circles as a
sporting publican, was one of the best little men of his day. His
first reported battle was with David Barnes, whom he defeated in
fifty-one rounds, for fifty guineas a-side, at Basset’s Pole, near
Birmingham, July 15th, 1822. He beat Israel Belasco in forty-four
minutes at Moulsey Hurst, March 19th, 1823, and Barney Aaron as above.
Matthewson died in his native town, July 13th, 1840, generally
respected.

Footnote 57:

Jem Raines, ten stone four pounds, fought a draw with Harry Jones, the
Sailor Boy, at Chesterfield, March 17th, 1827. He was subsequently
beaten by Harry Jones (see Life of the SAILOR BOY, page 526), Ned
Stockman, and Barney Aaron, all, at that period, good men and made in
most instances a very creditable fight.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. P. 456, changed “fell one knee” to “fell to one knee”. 2. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling. 3. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed. 4. Footnotes have been re-indexed using numbers and collected together at the end of the last chapter. 5. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.