his man, and at the end of 33 minutes was obliged to give in.

From the severity of the blows Day never recovered, and very shortly after died.

In the same year Johnson beat the famous Croydon drover, on Kennington-common, and also after a short but severe conflict, he completely conquered Stephen Oliver, the noted DEATH, on Blackheath.

June 7, 1785, Harry Sellers contested a battle with William Harvey, an Irishman, in the Ass-field, near Holywell-mount, in which, notwithstanding he exerted himself to the utmost, he was completely conquered by dint of the Irishman's strength, in 20 minutes.

In January 13, 1786, a boxing match for 50 guineas was fought at Barnet, between Johnson and Love, a butcher, which in a short time was decided in favour of the former; and a short time after, at the same place, Johnson beat Jack Towers, the celebrated conqueror of DEATH.

For some time past pugilism had been much on the decline, the amateurs and sporting characters not having backed so strenuously as might have been expected the various candidates for bruising fame; a battle, however, being fixed upon, in order to settle a dispute between Humphries, well known by the appellation of the gentleman boxer, and Martin, a butcher from Bath; the attention of all the amateurs seemed instinctively to have been attracted, and the British spirit of pugilism again revived.

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On Wednesday May 3, 1786, these two celebrated champions, appeared on a stage near Newmarket, when they had the honour of boasting of the presence of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the Dukes of York, Orleans, and De Fitzjames, and the whole flower of the French nobility. Each spectator paid one guinea for his admission, which amounting to 320, was agreed to be the property of the winner. Upwards of £30,000 was sported on the battle, and no pugilistic contest ever terminated with greater satisfaction to all parties in point of fairness.

Humphries was a middle sized, stout, well-made man; a manly fighter, thorough game, and displayed more grace in his various attitudes, than any modern pugilist; he was well versed in the theory of boxing, and very judiciously and with great adroitness put its elements into practice; he was unable to use both hands with, equal force, mostly stopped with the left and struck with the right; his blows were strong, and generally aimed at the most dangerous parts, particularly the stomach and under the ear. Martin was much shorter, but equally muscular and as thick set.

In this fight they both displayed great science; Humphries stood up boldly, and with astonishing dexterity stopped his adversary's blows. Martin fought at a distance, and whenever he struck, fell, but was seldom able to put in a PRIME hit. The odds ran very high in favour of Humphries, and Martin finding he could gain no advantage of his opponent by this plan of attack and defence, changed

his mode, and stood up to his man; they now set to with as much courage and agility as though the combat had just began, and the bets became equal; Humphries, however, in the following round giving him a REAL KNOCK DOWN blow, the odds again considerably varied. In this manner with alternate success, they fought three quarters of an hour, when a blow Humphries gave his antagonist on the left side, just below the ribs, laid him flat, and decided the contest in his favour.

In June, 1786, a battle was fought at Kingston, for 50 guineas a side, between Johnson and Fry; the contest continued for half an hour, and terminated by Johnson's beating his competitor, without receiving any blow of consequence.

In the same month Johnson also fought William Love, at Barnet, for 50 guineas, and beat him with ease in five minutes.

On October 31, 1786, a battle was fought in the Long-fields, Bloomsbury, between Benjamin Bryan, a Bristol bruiser, and the FIGHTING GRENADIER, in which the former proved victorious.

Bryan, the pugilist, more generally known by the name of Big Ben, to which appellation he had no particular claim, not being remarkably large, hardly exceeding the size of Johnson, was born in the year 1753, in Bristol. The early part of his life was passed in his native place, where he was employed in the laborious occupation of a collier, and being somewhat of an athletic make and sound bottom, he there distinguished himself as an excellent boxer,

particularly in his matches with Clayton, the Shropshire man, and Spaniard Harris, of Kingswood. About the year 1774 he came to London, since which time to the present battle, his first in London, he was employed as a coal-porter at the Adelphi wharf.

As a boxer he was remarkably game; his blows were uncommonly powerful, being struck straight, and with equal force by both hands; he never allowed his adversary to recover himself, but followed him with great courage, until the decision of the round. In his private character he was a well behaved and obliging man.

December 19, 1786, a boxing match was fought on Blackheath, between Chitty and Doyle, for 20 guineas. The latter gained the laurel.

About this time Johnson the pugilist ranked so high as a bruiser, that the amateurs not being able to find any competitor about London to match, brought up Will Ward, a Bristol hero, to enter the list with him; a match was accordingly made for 200 guineas, and on January 18, 1787, they met at Oakingham, in Berkshire, to decide the contest. Johnson on the first onset hit his adversary a powerful body blow, when Ward immediately made a defensive fight of it, being within an inch of the floor of the stage with one of his knees, whenever Johnson attempted to hit him he was down. In this manner the fight lasted an hour and 20 minutes, when Johnson attempting a blow, Ward was again on his knee, but getting up cried out" foul," and left the stage; his second

second called him several times to return, but he thought proper to MIZZLE clear off.

On April 17, 1787, Martin, the Bath Butcher, and Daniel Mendoza, the Jew, met on Barnet raceground, when they fought, and Mendoza proved the

conqueror.

Mendoza is a pugilist better initiated in the theory of boxing, than perhaps any of his cotemporaries, and has produced some exceedingly expert pupils. In his manner there is more neatness than strength, and it has been said, more shew than service; his blows are in general deficient in force, but given with astonishing quickness, and he is allowed to strike oftener, and stop more dexterously, than any other man; he is extremely well formed in the breast and arms, but his loins are very weak; his wind is good and he possesses excellent bottom. As a boxer he deservedly ranks high.

August 19, 1787, a boxing match was contested between Doyle and Tring, on Kennington-common, when the latter won with astonishing ease.

Tring has been said to be the finest made man in England, and the talents of several of the first artists have been employed to delineate the symmetry of his person; as a boxer he possessed little science, but excellent bottom.

November the 22d, 1787, a severe contest was decided in Stepney-fields, between Savage and Doyle. Johnson seconded Savage, and Ryan, Doyle. The battle lasted three quarters of an hour, when Savage was declared the conqueror.

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