each hitting and stopping; Sam had the advantage, Belcher being very weak.

26th-In this round Belcher exerted his utmost, followed his opponent with great courage, and displayed great skill in hitting and stopping. 27th-At the end of this round very feint hopes were entertained for Belcher's success; Sam made play, rallied, and hit three severe blows on Tom's left side; Tom, however, threw him. Odds three to one on Sam.

28th-Greatly in favour of Sam; put in several severe blows on Belcher's head, and he fell. 29th-Good round; Sam still kept the superiority, Belcher's blows were too feeble to make any impression; Sam threw him.

30th-Sam appeared in great spirits, and as fresh as ever, but his eyes were almost closed; he rallied, and Tom being almost exhausted, was knocked down. Odds four to one on Sam.

31st-Every one felt commiseration for Tom; his exertions to maintain the fight received applause, and were truly courageous; but Sam was elated at the state to which he had reduced his opponent, and mustering all fire, beat him out of the ring. 32d-Belcher struck twice, but very feebly, and in vainly endeavouring to rally, fell.

33d-Tom had no chance whatever, his blows were perfectly useless; he fell without receiving a blow. 34th-This was the last round, and it unfortunately created a dispute; Belcher made a blow at Sam, and fell on his knees; Sam made a hit, intending

to

to strike his adversary while on his legs, in the face, and before his hands reached the earth; a cry of " foul" was immediately vociferated, particularly from those on the wrong side of the bets, and it was referred to two umpires; one decided it fair, and another foul; however, Jackson came forward and explained, that a man was not considered down until his hand had reached the floor, consequently that the blow was fair, and Sam must be acknowledged the conqueror; but notwithstanding this flowery declamation of Jackson's, the umpires, Captain Barclay and Hon. Berkeley Craven, agreed to refer it to Lord Say and Sele, but his Lordship declined interfering, and Lord Archibald Hamilton was immediately solicited, and boldly undertook the task of deciding.

A second battle was fought between Cropley and Hazel, for a subscription purse of 30 guinéas, which was won by Cropley with great ease, Hazel being a perfect novice in boxing. The contest lasted 15 rounds, but Cropley had the advantage from the first.

A third battle was also contested between Groome and Dickson, in which the latter proved conqueror. Many meetings of the amateurs took place, and the subject of this foul play was very warmly discussed; the reports of Broughton and all the first rate authorities were adduced, but the only case considered as in point throughout the annals of pugilism, was that of Humphries and Mendoza, in the battle they fought at Hilton, in May 1789, (see page 85), but from the irritability of Mendoza, the battle in this case was renewed.

newed. An offer was made to Sam to draw his stake, and make it a drawn battle, but this was refused, on the plea that even if Belcher was on his knees he was acting as well as he could on the defensive; it was, however, at length determined upon and agreed on all sides that there should be a new trial.

On Saturday, September 5, 1807, a battle was fought in the vicinity of Bristol, for a purse of 50 guineas, between Horton, the triumphant pugilist of that quarter, and young Crib, a brother of the Black Diamond's, who went down to seconded him. At setting to bets were even, but Horton soon manifested great superiority, and in 25 minutes was acknowledged the victor. Crib, like his brother, fights too slow, and Horton, who is a good double-handed fellow, hit him abroad every round.

He immediately offered to fight either Tom Crib or Gulley, but both declined.

→ Gulley, although the unsuccessful competitor with Henry Pearce, the Game Chicken, was now considered, by the excellent game he displayed in that contest, the champion of England. Pearce, prompted by the advice of his friends, and the still more powerful call of declining health, having relinguished prize fighting, had retired to enjoy peace and the comforts of domesticated life, in the vicinity of his native town.

About this time a man of the name of Gregson, who, in several casual rencounters in Lancashire, had dişplayed more the favours of fortune than science, came to town to contest the palm with any London bruiser, and with very sanguine hopes of acquiring the enviable

title of champion. Gregson appeared a man well formed for boxing, about six feet two inches high, and possessing almost Herculean strength; he immediately found backers, and a match was made between him and Gulley. His most sanguine admires did not claim for him the science Gulley possessed, but they flattered themselves that all deficiency in skill would be made up by the superiority of his physical powers; as to воттом, that was generally considered reciprocal, but among the knowing ones Gulley was the favorite.

This contest, which had excited great interest in the sporting world, took place on Wednesday, October 14, 1807, in a valley called Six Mile-bottom, on the Newmarket road.

At an early hour all Newmarket, Cambridge, and the adjacent towns were in a bustle. The agents employed to form the ring were upon the ground at nine o'clock, and an excellent one was formed in the valley. At twenty minutes past nine the combatants entered, both appearing in prime spirits and excellent condition. Gulley was seconded by Crib and Cropley, and Richmond officiated for Gregson; Bill Ward and Jackson were also in the ring, lest occasion might demand their services. After the usual etiquette, they set to. Odds twenty to five in favour of Gulley.

Ist round-The combatants fixed each other with a steady eye; a pause; some excellent sparring; Gulley put in a well aimed blow in his opponent's face; Gregson returned on the side of the head; they closed and both fell.

2d-Gulley now appeared conscious of his opponent's strength, strength, was very careful, and shewed some excellent science; he put in another severe hit in Gregson's face, blood ran profusely, and Gregson fell. Odds rose 100 to 20 on Gulley.

6th-In every round some excellent hits were exchanged, and no advantage could be claimed. 7th-After some neat sparring Gregson broke through his adversary's guard, and put in a straight forward blow on his right eye; this hit drew blood; the eye swelled and nearly closed; Gulley fell and lay quite stunned for three seconds. Among Gulley's friends the greatest anxiety remained for some moments, and the odds fell five to one.

8th-Gregson stood up, seemingly inspired with his success in the last round, summoned all his strength, and exerted all his science; Gulley rallied; some good sparring, and afterwards both put in some excellent blows, and great skill was displayed in stopping; at last Gregson, by a sudden effort of power, caught up Gulley in his arms, and flung him with astonishing force upon the ground; every one expected he would have fallen on him, but this, with the greatest generosity, he declined, for which he was cheered by every spectator. By the amateurs present this was thought to be the finest round that was ever fought, and now all felt convinced that it was only Gulley's superior science that could enable him to stand against so formidable an opponent. Odds changed in favour of Gregson.

9th-Gulley put in another hit in the face, and Gregson very deliberately laid himself down on his hands

and