Joe knocked Faulkener down several times, but in the last round, which was not more than ten minutes from the commencement of the contest, Faulkener by a well-aimed blow brought down James, on which, though apparently not hurt or even fatigued, he gave in. The indignation of the spectators was very highly expressed by their hissing him off the ground.

Oct. 20, 1759, Slack was again successful in a battle for £50 a side, with one Morton, at Acton Wells. Notwithstanding Morton shewed much good play and bottom, he was, after a contest of 35 minutes, necessitated to yield to his antagonist's superior skill.

In the annals of pugilism, the winter of 1760 was rendered memorable, by a severely contested battle fought in the month of February, between William Stephens, a nailer, and one Jacob Taplin, a coalheaver. The scite fixed on for deciding this boxing match, was a hollow called Marybone-bason, which held about 3000 spectators. A ring was formed in the centre, and the champions commenced the combat. Taplin for several first rounds had much the best of the nailer, who had received some tremendous blows in the BREAD BASKET, which had several times knocked him down; the last time, Stevens rose with all the fury of a lion, roused by excessive irritation from a former state of placidity, and instantly laid his adversary at his feet; odds which before had been in favour of the coal-heaver, were now five to one on Stevens's head; the next round he again brought down his opponent by a tremendous blow on

the

the left breast; when Taplin rose they suddenly closed and both fell; the next round decided the battle in favour of Stevens, who struck Taplin over the left eye with one hand, and with the other struck him senseless by a blow on the temple. Taplin not being prepared to continue the contest, Stevens was declared the victor.

On the 17th of June, 1760, a battle for £100 a side, which had been long expected, and on which great sums were depending, was fought between Slack and Bill Stevens, the nailer-the former patronised by the Duke of Cumberland, and the latter by the Duke of York. A stage was erected at the Tennis-court, James-street, Haymarket, and at first setting to, Slack was thought to have the advantage; Stevens, however, by well parrying the blows of his opponent, and frequently striking his right arm with his left fist, while with his right hand he beat him about the head, at the same time tripping him off his centre with his foot, he completely vanquished Slack, who hitherto had proved unconquerable.

March 2, 1761, a boxing match was decided at the Tennis-court, in James-street, between Bill Stevens and George Meggs, a collier, from Bristol, for 200 guineas; at the first onset, Stevens missed his blow, and this one error seems to have lost him the day, and his future fame; Meggs struck him that instant on the side of the head, and knocked him down; after this the battle lasted 17 minutes, but there was scarcely a blow struck, when Stevens gave in.

Slack

Slack, who now kept a butcher's shop in Chandosstreet, had tutored Meggs, and prepared him for the battle, notwithstanding which, he would not have beat, had he not given Stevens 50 guineas for that purpose.

An old supporter of Stevens, meeting him one day, expressed his surprise for this defeat, when Bill very dryly answered him, " Why Lord bless you, the day I fought Jack Slack, I got 90 guineas; but I got 50 more than I should otherwise have done by letting GEORGY beat me, and DAM'ME an't I the same man

still."

So bare-faced a CROSS disgusted the amateurs, and the nailer lost his best friends; he fought afterwards, but never was backed, not being worthy of dependance.

In July, 1766, George Meggs fought a pitch battle for a considerable süm with one Millsom, a baker, of Bath, at Calne, in Wiltshire; the contest lasted 40 minutes, when Millsom was acknowledged the conqueror.

In the August following, Meggs having challenged Millsom to another combat, was again severely beat.

The same Millsom also vanquished Parsit Meggs, George's brother, a celebrated West-country bruiser. June 20, 1764, a famous boxing match was fought at Guildford, between Thomas Juchau, a pavior, well known by the name of DISHER, and Charles Coant, a butcher, who had fought several very severe battles. The odds were four to one on Coant

2

Coant, and during the first 25 minutes Disher was scarcely able to give his opponent a single blow, but was knocked down several times; 35 minutes, odds were so high that money was offered at any rate; at this time Disher changed his mode of fighting, and giving Coant a most tremendous blow, by which he fell, the odds immediately changed greatly in his favour; after this they fought four rounds, when Disher having played in several dreadful blows, Coant yielded, acknowledging himself vanquished. The contest lasted 47 minutes.

On the 9th of April, 1765, a fatal battle was fought on the paved stones opposite Bethlem gates, Moorfields, between Philip Juchau, a Coachman, and Jack Warren, a Butcher, for £10. This battle was most obstinately contested with alternate success, until Warren catching Juchau on the hip, gave him a CROSS BUTTOCK, and pitching him on the head, fractured his skull-He died immediately.

August 27, 1765, Millsom, who had so successfully beat the two Meggs, fought a battle with Thomas Juchau, at Colney, near St. Alban's, in which he failed enjoying his usual triumph, Juchau proving the conqueror.

May, 1766, Tom Juchau fought a famous boxing match with William Darts, a dyer, at Guildford, for 1000 guineas, which after a most severe battle of 40 minutes, was won by Darts.

In the same year Bill Darts beat the famous Dog-get, a West-country bargeman, at Marlborough. On Oct. 13, 1767, Bill Darts successfully fought another battle at Epping, with one Swansey, a butcher.

In March, 1768, a most desperate battle was contested at the Hollow at Islington, for £20, between Jack Lamb, a plasterer, and Paine, a carpenter; the former was declared the conqueror, notwithstanding the odds were seven to four in favour of Payne.

On August 3, 1768, another battle was fought on the spot where Phil Juchau was unfortunately killed, opposite Bethlem gates, between Jack Lamb and a man well known by the appellation of Jemmy the Post-boy; great bets were depending on the issue of this contest; the combatants fought 48 minutes, when they were so bruised, it was impossible for either to sustain the conflict any longer-it was of course deemed a drawn battle.

In the year 1769, Jack Lamb beat Simpson, a carman, at Bethnal-green, and two Jews, Abraham da Costa, in Moorfields, and Mousha, at Stepney.

On June 27, 1769, Bill Darts, who had long carried on a successful pugilistic career, fought and lost a long depending battle with Lyons, a waterman, at Kingston, on Thames. Darts for the first half of the battle had a most astonishing advantage, the odds were ten to one in his favour; Lyons, however, recovered himself, and in 45 minutes severely beat him.

On July 4, 1769, William Stevens, the nailer, who so dexterously played the CROSs with George Meggs, beat a pugilist of the name of M'Guire, on the green stage, behind Montague-house.

Sept. 24, 1769, a boxing match was decided be