to a stone-mason in Dublin, and very early displayed a propensity for the pugilistic art. He was about six feet in height, had contested many battles, particularly the one with Stanyard, in 1792, detailed at page 106, since the adjustment of which those two heroes ever entertained for each other the highest esteem, and on this occasion Stanyard offered his services as second.

Gamble having fought with such astonishing success, and displayed great pugilistic science, the amateurs became desirous to match him with their greatest favorite, and the best English pugilist, in order to distinguish which of the sister kingdoms could boast of the champion; accordingly James Belcher, the young Bristol bruiser, was brought forward and backed as the opponent of Gamble, and a meeting agreed upon in the old hollow, seemingly in honour of Abbershaw, at the foot of the gibbet on Wimbledon-common, where they were to "argue the topic" for one hundred guineas.

By ten o clock on Monday morning, December the 22d, 1800, the road to Wimbledon was covered with vehicles of every description, incalculably numerous. Among the gentry might be discerned some distinguished amateurs, as Lord Say and Sele, Colonels Montgomery and Ogle, Captain Dermond, Squire Mountain, Cullington, Lee, Kelly, Aldridge, and of the gentlemen more active in the science, Jackson, Bark, Paddington Jones, Brown, Bell, Bill Gibbons, &c. with many second rate heroes of the fist.

The ring being made on the spot appointed, about twelve o'clock Belcher appeared, accompanied by his second Joe Ward, his brother Thomas Belcher, as his bottle-holder, and Tom Tring, their deputy; some time afterwards Gamble came forward with Mendoza for his second, Coady his bottle-holder, and Crabbe as their deputy; Messrs. Mountain, Lee and Cullington were the chosen umpires; the latter was also stakéholder for the Combatants.

From the making of the match bets had run seven to five in favour of Belcher, and before they stripped, Ward offered 25 guineas to 20. When they stripped Gamble had the appearance of so much the heavier man, that his friends began to back him three to two, but the general opinion was still against him. At 12 minutes before one o'clock they set to.

Ist round-Gamble put in the first blow, which Belcher very dexterously parried, and struck with the rapidity of lightening three severe hits in different parts of his antagonist's face; they closed, and Belcher conscious of Gamble's superior strength, dropped. The friends of Gamble now betted with the greatest eagerness five to four on his head, not considering Belcher was quite unhurt, while Gamble had received three not altogether gentle touches. 2d-Belcher advanced with great spirit; his antagonist retreated. Belcher made a feint with his right hand, Gamble guarded that side opposite, when Belcher put in so severe a blow with his left hand, over the right eye of his adversary, that he perfectly closed it, and brought him down with astonishing violence. Bets now rose two to one in favour of Belcher.

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3d-Gamble again retreated, and put in several well aimed blows in the body; Belcher, however, UNCORKED him, by a severe blow; they closed, and Gamble threw his adversary with much violence, and fell on him cross-ways. Bets again rose four to one in favour of Belcher.

4th-In this round Belcher displayed great coolness and excellent science; he put in several blows, the last of which he so well planted in the neck, that Gamble fell. Odds on Belcher twenty to one. 5th-This decided the contest. Belcher put in so severe a blow in the pit of the stomach that Gamble fell almost breathless, and gave in.

These five rounds were fought in nine minutes and three quarters. Belcher appeared quite lively, and was triumphantly carried round the ring on the shoulders of his friends. During the whole of the contest Belcher laughed at his antagonist, and endeavoured to irritate him by gesture, &c.

Gamble, generally a slow hitter, fought very badly, and after the first round was evidently afraid of his opponent. Belcher all along had been the favorite of the knowing ones, and not less than £20,000 were sported on the occasion.

A battle was also fought between Caleb Baldwin, a dealer in greens, and Kelly, an Irishman, for 20 guineas a side; Joe Ward, Crabbe, and Tring, seconded Caleb, and Coady and Burke, the Irish shoemaker. They severely contested 12 rounds in 15 minutes, when Paddy yielded to a hearty drubbing.

December, 1800, died, aged 50, Mr. Isaac Perrins, engineengine-worker, at Manchester. This pugilistic hero will ever be remembered for the well-contested battle he fought with the celebrated Johnson, in the month of October, 1789, (vide page 89). Perrins possessed most astonishing muscular power, which rendered him well calculated for a bruiser, to which was united a disposition the most placid and amiable. His death was occasioned by too violently exerting himself in assisting at a fire in Manchester. He was sincerely lamented by every one who knew him.

June, 1801, at the Pewter Platter, in St. John'sstreet, Jackling, alias Ginger, Johnson's brother, and Caleb Baldwin, the pugilist, having quarrelled while enjoying themselves, turned out and fought a most severe battle, in which the pungency of Ginger was entirely overcome by the acrimony of his antagonist's

fist.

Monday, July 13, 1801, a boxing match was fought on Wimbledon-common, between Elias, a Jew, and Tom Jones. For the first 20 minutes Tom evidently had the advantage, and during this time great sport had been afforded to the amateurs by the excellent science that was displayed; Elias, however, put in a hit so forcibly behind Tom's ear, that he immediately fell, and gave up the contest. While the prior combatants were contesting the palm, a man of the name of Bourke, a bruising butcher, had ill used several persons about the ring, and generally challenged any one present; finding no one present disposed to fight, he called on Belcher, our Bristol champion, who on enquiring what he wanted, received a blow in answer; a despe

rate contest ensued, and the hero of the cleaver, notwithstanding he possessed superiority of strength, was in 20 minutes carried out of the ring perfectly senseless. Lord Camelford backed Bourke, and proposed to Belcher a second combat, which was accepted.

On Saturday, the 12th of September, 1801, Belcher and Bourke met at the Cock, Sun-street, Spital-fields, where a formal challenge was accepted, and each backed by their friends for £100.

On Saturday the 19th, these heroes met at the same public-house, in order to proceed to some spot to decide the contest, but through the interference of the police, who had received information, it was postponed to Monday, the 12th of the next month.

In this month two barbers of Bath having quarrelled, agreed to turn out and manfully decide the difference by the fist; one was of the Quixotic cast, tall and lank; the other would not altogether have disgraced a picture of Sancho. After having fought for some time, he whose fat rendered him unfit for bruising, scarcely found breath to whisper " I'll fight no more;" the other anxiously catching the gentle breeze that waft the half-formed sound, cried, "What does he say?"-" Say," exclaimed the second, "Why that he'll fight another hour,"-" The devil he does," rejoins Quixote, " then damn me if I will any longer." Squabby was immediately borne in triumph round the ring as conqueror.

Monday, 12th October, 1801, as had been agreed upon, the long expected battle between James Belcher and Joseph Bourke, was to have taken place at Enfield,

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