good blows. For a quarter of an hour bets remained stationary, and both champions in that time had displayed a degree of science and courage almost unprecedented. Crib, however, being longer in the reach than his opponent, it was very seldom Blake could effectually put in a blow. At the end of an hour Blake began to shew great symptoms of distress, and odds were now strongly betted in favour of Crib; but still Blake stood up manfully, and displayed a great deal of his usual dexterity. Until within the two last rounds of the battle Crib astonishingly supported his advantage; but here Blake brought his utmost, both in strength and skill, into action, he put in several excellent straight hits about his opponent's head; Crib rallied; Blake recovered, and returned the rally, but overreaching himself, Crib threw him a cross buttock.

The next round decided the contest; Blake found he was fighting at an evident disadvantage, and wisely gave in; Blake was extremely weak, could in short, hardly stand, and Crib did not stand without displaying some of his antagonist's agility.

Belcher, Ward, Mendoza, Pittoon, Bourke, Maddox, and Jack Holmes, were there. Several amateurs offered to back Crib against any pugilist going, but no one accepted the challenge.

From Crib's superior strength and skill in pugilism he now indisputably ranked as the champion. Notwithstanding the success of Crib, the amateurs did not overlook the high claims upon their attention of that excellent pugilist Henry Pearce, the Game Chicken, who, if good sparring, clean stopping, and hitting hard,

are

!

are the just qualifications of a bruiser, deserved to rank high. This hero was accordingly matched to fight a pitched battle with one Elias Spray, a boxer extremely well known in the neighbourhood of Bristol, where he had gained great laurels, but never had fought in London.

Monday, March 11, 1805, was the day appointed for the decision of this contest, and, by appointment, all the amateurs and patrons of the art met at eleven o'clock in the morning, at an inn in Hampton-Court, not having settled the seat of battle, lest they might meet interruption. They shortly determined to cross the water, and fixed on Molesworth-meadow as the honoured spot; accordingly every vehicle was directly seized, as boats, tubs, planks, &c. to convey over the almost innumerable followers. During this aquatic excursion some were upset, some got a good ducking, and very narrowly escaped drowning. These momentary difficulties were soon got over, and as soon as the pedestrians had landed safe, a ring'was formed of 20 feet square, with stakes and ropes, around which the pedestrians formed another. Pearce first entered the ring, attended by Maddox and Hall; he immediately threw up his hat in defiance, and Spray directly entered the ring, in answer to this challenge; he was seconded by Wood and Mountain.

The order of bets were seven to four on Pearce; even betting that the combat did not last 25 minutes, and ten to one Pearce was not beat in half an hour.

The combatants immediately stripped, and after the accustomed salutation, set to.

1st round-A little sparring; Spray made a short hit;

Pearce put in a severe blow, and brought down his opponent.

2d-Good blows exchanged; Spray put in a blow in his antagonist's breast; Pearce rallied, and again knocked Spray down. Odds nine to four in favour of Pearce.

3d-Spray shewed good courage, and fought well. They closed, and both fell.

4th-Spray too hastily made some hard blows, but they all failed. Pearce gave him a cross buttock. 5th-In this round Spray already appeared distressed. The Chicken shewed excellent science, and a third time completely knocked down his opponent; as he fell Pearce smiled.

-6th-Both fought well, some sharp blows exchanged; Spray struck his opponent in the stomach; Pearce rallied, and threw him very cleanly. 7th-Pearce seemed much affected by Spray's last blow in the bread-basket; made a hit, but failed, and fell. Odds fell to two to one.

11th-No good blows, but Pearce again had the advantage the whole of these four rounds. 12th-Spray put in some good determined blows, but they mostly fell short; at length, by a successful blow on the nose, he brought down the Chicken. 13th-Pearce bled profusely; Spray evinced weakness, made a short blow, and fell.

14th-Pearce met his antagonist with determined resolution, and put in so severe a blow on the jaw, that every one feared lest he had broken it; Spray fell. Odds now rose ten to one on Pearce.

15th-Both stood up, and Pearce directly knocked down his opponent SANS CEREMONIE. 16th-An excellent round; Spray exerted himself greatly, and aimed some well-directed blows; they closed, and Pearce threw him a cross buttock. 17th-Spray much distressed; attempted to rally. Pearce put in a severe blow in the temple; this stunned Spray, and he never after recovered. To the 23d-Every round was in favour of Pearce. Odds fifteen and twenty to one.

24th-Spray stood up, but gave very feeble opposition. Pearce laughed at the singular and imbecile efforts of his opponent; he, however, shewed great

skill.

27th-No fighting; Spray fell the first hit every round. 28th-Spray could not keep his legs; he, however, summoned the best SPUNK he had, and faced his man. Pearce played with him, and then hit him clean off his legs.

29th-Spray stood up; Pearce pointed at him in ridicule, and then knocked him down again; when he yielded the palm. The contest had lasted 35 minutes. Pearce immediately sprung over the ropes, laid down on the ground for a few minutes, accepted a challenge from Cart, a Birmingham hero, for 50 guineas; the money was immediately staked, and agreed to be fought for within six weeks. The Chicken then started for town in a single-horse chaise, with great spirits.

In the course of last month, Jemmy from Town having

made some illiberal remarks, tending to ridicule a man

of the name of George Oliver, tolerably well known in the fighting world, a match was made between them, and Monday the 18th of March was determined to be the day for the decision of the contest. On the Saturday night previous they drew lots which should choose the seat of action; Oliver won, and directly fixed on Wilsden-green. Accordingly, on the Monday morning, about eleven o'clock, the amateurs, patrons, combatants, &c. arrived, a ring was directly formed, and Oliver and Jemmy soon entered, with their seconds and bottle-holders; Tom Jones and Blake, (Tom Tough), for the former, and Wood and Crib, (Black Diamond), for Jemmy from Town. The combatants immediately stripped, and Oliver being a much smaller man than his opponent, many novices thought he was unable to stand against him; the knowing ones, however, placed great reliance on his skill, and odds were somewhat in his favour.

After the pugilistic salutation, they set to; at first both appeared shy, Jemmy extended his long-reached left arm at full length, and kept his right on the defensive, ready to rally in his well-known right-handed style; Oliver kept his guard close. This caution and care was greatly increased by there being great bets depending on the first knock-down hit. After sparring about a minute and a half, or nearer two, Jemmy put in a hit; this Oliver stopped in great style, and throwing in a very severe blow on the temple, cut his opponent dreadfully, and brought him down. Odds now rose seven to four in favour of Oliver.

On the second round Jemmy stood up and faced his opponent