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Sell to divert our Melancholy ree | Have snap ne fonts had thee day, Buchs ye Carvings forth sone finertte fll Wow Princely bariig bears the fiirn Balloons, with heardied yeore klipe, tu evegs wnegrane norr Sied, Gymnaftic | Lhe mioristrans Crans: x dancing dogs ContteLt,,, || Can fgnace & tpye 7 MEN D0 23. Z Dbish ale tte dandy Mhny Vbnanrad?, "rig tt. pit : MODERN MANHOOD; on, THE ART anp PRACTICE : or . ENGLISH BOXING. INCLUDING THE ~ HISTORY or ruz SCIENCE oF NATURAL DEFENCE; ano MEMOIRS oF tae mosr CELEBRATED PRACTITIONERS of THAT MANLY EXERCISE. i aris mergis puget celine Praur. Fam Wf in ore LONDON: Printed for the Eprror, and Sold by J. Parsons, No. a1, Pater-nofter-Row ; A. Cieuont, No. 33, Ratei'righways J Sunsuny,. Tooley Se and H. Lemoint, No. §6, Crifpin-Steet, Spita- fields, ‘and No, 28, Minories, P RE F AC RK HE. tafte for exhibitions of this kind, are, I belicve, entirely pe- coliar to this nation; other countries have their gymnaftic and athletic exerciles, but the Englith are fingular in their ex- ercife of the Fift, and are curious in this manner of fettling . difputes, which, among foreigners, are often termineted in dangerous wounds, and fome: in death itfelf. OF all methods of felf-defence, it is cer tainly the leaft dange:ous,and the moft ready upon any fudden ocesfion. _ Potitenet und good manners forbid the frequent exer cife, but it is not altogether unnecefhary to Know fomewhat of felf-defence in this way, particularly to correét the impu- dence of over-bearing and infolent fe lows, who pufh themfelves forward, where their prefence is not wanted ; or to chaftife the infolence of aggravated and pointed remarks, which reflegt upon : B character, Cu) charaéter, fituation, or any local circum+ flances whatever. In this view,’ Milton * recommends Boxing to be allowed to boys, not only as a ufeful athletic evercife, but as fer viceable to them for this purpofe in after life. Humanity is certainly contrary to the pradiice, and it thocked the pious Dr. ‘Watts fo much, that he wrote a Poem againgt it. The Speétator, and-other po~ lite Authors, have difapproved fpeétacles of this kind, but never altogether con= be demned the pradtice as totaily unnecef= fary + while it is neceffary that boys thould be left to their own inclinations in theman= ner of jettling their own difpates; a too great proficiency in thefe manceavres, ought by no means to beencouraged, as it may incline them, as they grow up, to be quarrel ome in company, and make them fond of fishing in troubled water. If the following happy in@ance of vin= didiive joftice was principally effected from a knowledge of this Science, it may, with feveral others, powerfully tend to obviate © Trace en Edycat (vii) the figma of inhumanity, that has been by fome national perions wrongly fixed upon the fame. A hort time ince, as a countryman (whofe appearance befpoice a ftate of ema~ ciation) was driving a cart along Snow~ Bill, and finding the way {as is often the cafe} impeded by a brewer's deay, and the driver not within cal, he took the liberty Of leading the fore-horle, to open the pal~ fage. This being obferved by the dray- man, who was drinking in a public-hovie, he came out, and without any cere= mony, felled the countryman to the ground. Before this recovered, a gentleman, whofe chariot ‘had been ftopped, had tripped himfelf to bis black fattin breeches, and coming out to the drayman as a ‘combatant, was willingly received ; one’ of the former's col exclaiming, «* Dam'me, this is a ger man, thrafh him!” The coackman wot have taken the office upon him, but chis was refuied by the gentieman, who dit played f& much kil in the buineis, that the drayman wae unexpedlediy, end to the fatisfadtion of all the ipectacors, - com~ pletely drubbed in ten minutes; be was Ba cut, ( vii) cut in feveral places, thrown every clofe, and was able to ftrike his antagonitt very feldom during the whole time. The gen= tleman, fatisfied with the fellow’s con- ceffions, &c. gave him half a crown to get his wounds dreffed, and the fame to the countryman to drink his health. Excellence in every art whatever, is a pre-eminence to which but few can at- tain, and this is one, that every well-bred man would with might produce but few imitative votaries ; but thofe who efteem thefe things as _curiofities, and exertions of a fingular ingenuity, and with to fee whaz has been written on this fabjett, may read Borelli de Motu Animalium; a fall fcarce Trot, intitled, Ars Pugnan= tis 5 Sir Thomas Parkyns’s Inn-Play-wret tler and Cornith Lug and Coptain God- frey’s Science of Belence, from all which, the prefent fheets are partly compiled. Painters and Poets who with to def ctibe the efforts of mofeular Arength, are referred to the Statue of the raving Maniac at the front of Bedlam ; the figure of Hercules, which fupports the monument of Sir Peter Warren, in Weft mintter Ce) minfter Abbey; and that fummary of Statuary kill of Rytbrach’s, at Stour~ head, the feat of Mr. Hoarc, where ma- fonry and marble are taught by genius to depend on nature for their beft orna- ment. This exquifite piece, is a full fized figure of Hercules; and for which the Artift (as Mr. Walpole informs us in the fourth Volume of his Anecdotes of Paint- ing,) * borrowed the head of rhe Far- nefian God, and compiled the reft from various parts and limbs, of feven or eight of the ftoutct, and helt athletic made men in London, chiety, the boxers and bruifers of the time; alptor felec= ting the parts that were the molt truly formed in each: the arms were Brough ton’s, the breafts a celebrated Coach- man’s, a bruifer; and the legs were thofe of Ellis the Painter, f that Rytbrach’s Hercules, may be confidered as the monu- ment of thole Gladiators.” During the prefent reign, the (cience of natural defence, has met but moderate en couragement till lait year. Though fcarce a feaion “has clapfed, without affording fome oe foe diverfion of this fort, to the fanguine fons of this manual exercife ; yet no year like the laft, and the prefént, has pre~ fented fach perfedt examples. Mendoza, and.theBath butcher at New- market, were honoured with the prefence and patronage of the greateft_perfonages of the day, except one. It happened alfo fortunatcly for thefe heroes, that both houfes of Parliament rofe up the day im- mediately preceding the battle at Stains, between Johnfun and Ryan, and no doubt many of the Members of that poli- tical body, contributed by their bets, to. enhance thefe champion’s valour. Richard Humphreys, who conquer= ed Mendoza at Odihan in Hampshire, the gth of January, 1758, is at prefent the ‘laf fuccefsfil man ; “and fhould he fight him again, I with him faccefs as an Englithman, and that he may transfer as much again, ftom the Hebrew intereit over to our's, ashe is taid to have been the occafion of before. HL. INTRO- ev) INTRODUCTION. “T is uftaal for Authors to introduce what. ever fabjed. they write upon with the fandiion of Antiquity, borrowing examples from the remoteft ages and cultoms, to produce a greater degree of confideration to their Works than they very often de- ferve. In this manner the Antiquity of Boxing may be traced as far back as the time of Adam. It may be prefumed, that Abel died under his brother’s blows, for want of a good fecond to prevent unfeir play. Jacob wreftled with an Angel who ham- med him, and gave him an unfair fall, and for that reafon the finew is taken from the leg by the Jews to this day, which occalions that joint to cut a different appearance upon their tables, than it docs upon ours. ‘The Egyptian, who had the misfortune to encounter Mofes, was under the fame dilemna, his antagonift being too power: fal Cw fal for him, over-came and buried him in the-fand. ‘Had he had a gocd fecond, Mofes might have had another bout, in which he might not have come off fo well as from the firit; but we muft here ferioufly fappofe the Egyptian was the aggreffor, or Tike a foot pad attacked the Jewith-law- giver, whom the laws of nature obliged to Fefent the injury, and that his conduét was the refult of that invariable principle in human nature, {elf-prefervation. In fad, all nations have had their gym- naflic amufements, by which they en- deavoured to keep alive the fire of warlike genius. * Benaish flew two Lion-like fren, of, as it is rendered in the margin,, ‘Lions of God, and alfo a real Lion in the Bottom of a pit in a time of Snow. He. alfo flew an Egyptian, a Godly-Man, who had a {pear in his hand, but he appears to Have performed this laft feat with a ftaff, although he was a boxer, and as fuch had his name with the three mighty men, David, in confequence of thefe great actions, enrolled him among his mighty men, as our late king George, to whom that Jewith #1 Samuel, xxiii, Vs 20. monarch ( vi) monarch has been compared, made Brough= ton one of his Yeomen. Sampfon flew a Lion moft probably with his Fifts. Some ancient critics fuppofe, that by the fame weapons he flew the thoufand Philiftines, as the word Yaw-Zone, might be tranflated Fifs, with~as much propricty as theaves of corn are called in. our language Foxes. ‘The Romans had their gladiators : ac cordingly St. Paul fays, “If, after the manner of men, I have fought with beafts at Ephefus, &c.” fo one of the fathers is of opinion, that by dea/ts in that paflage is implied Prize-fighters, or whoni we call Boxers. If that commentator is right, he very well accoun:s for the modern ex Brefion in the mouth of every, fon of roughton—‘* As Paul paid the Ephefians ‘over the face and eyes.” ‘Wallace, the Caledonian hero, whom Ed~ ward Long-Shanks envied, and at lat factificed to his cruelty, in his carly days fought a pitched battle in a cock-pit, with an Englith Hercules, who bad dared the whole country round, man after man, to encounter him. The young Scot firft c darkengd . (viii +) darkened the day-lights of his antagonift, then knocked out his jaw-bone, and with that fame fitt, felled as many of the far- rounding croud, as offered to retard his efeape from impending juttice, ‘Modern times have even produced 2 Woman who could Box, and the was the famous Hannah Snell; of martial and na= val memory. This extraordinary woman, befides her other martial qualifications, was the terror of the principal Bruifers in Liverpool and Portfmouth, about the years 1740 t0.1750. After the difcovery of her fex, his late Royal Highnefs the Duke of Cumberland granted her a penfion, and the exhibited among other charaéters for a Jong while, that of a Bruifer, upon the little Theatge, called the Wells, at Good man’s Fields, where the always came off. with great applaufe. THE oe ee ee oF ENGLISH BOXING. CHAP L Definition of Boxing—Pofition confidered— ‘Ope of the Arms in firf! Advances Hurt= ful Blows—Where—Their iff Bs anato~ ‘mically confidered—Hints for Defence— Wind and Spirit, a good Boxer’s Bottom. Fame, the great Incentive to bonourae ble Aéhions. OXING is a combat, depending both upon ftrength and manual dex- terity: ftrength mult be the foundation, Dut art will execute more with a leffer fhare of ftrength, than a_confiderably greater degree of this, unaffitted by that. Strength is certainly what the Boxer ought to fet out with, but without art, he will facceed but poorly. The deficiency of ftrength may be greatly fapplied by art, but the want of it will be feverely felt Ca by 16 THE ART AND PRACTICE oF by the ftrongeft man, who may have the temerity to oppofe, with mere ftrength, a prattiled and artful antagonitt. As the greateft advantage we can de- rive from inftruétion, is to learn how to apply the natural powers of the human fyftem, it will not perhaps be amifs, to Inquire into the moft advantageous difpo- fition of the human frame, from which the active arms of the body, derive their greateft degree of force. From anatomy we learn, that, the ftrength of man ‘confifts in the power of his mu(cles, and that power is greatly to be increafed by art. ‘The mufcles are the fprings and ievers, whichrexecute the dif- ferent motions of our body; but by art, a man may give an additional force to them. ‘The nearer a man brings his body to the center of gravity, the truer line of Gireétion will his mufeles a@ in, and con~ fequently with more selifting force. If 2 man defigns to ftrike a bard blow, let him thut his fift as firm as poffible s the power of his arm will then be confiderably great er, ENGLISH BOXING, 17 er, than if but flightly clofed, and the velocity of his blow vaflly augmented by it. The mufeles, which give this addition al force to the arm, in thutting the fit, are the flexors of the fingers, and the ex tenfors are the oppolite mulcles, as they open or expand the fame yet, in ftriking, or ufing any violent efforts’ with your hand, thefe different orders of the mufeles contribute to the fame aétion. Thus it will appear, that when you clofe the. fit of your left arm, and clap your right hand upon that arm, you will plainly feel all the mufcles of it, ‘to have a reciprocal felling. From hence it follows, that mufeles, by nature defigned for different offices, mutually depend upon cach other in great efforts. This confideration will be of much advantage in the application of that artificial force required in fight« ing, which beats much fuperior ftrength, unaided by art. The -pofition of the body is of the gteateft confequence in fighting. The center of gravity ought to be well con- fidered ; for by that, the weight of the body being juttly fufpended, and the true equilibrium thercby preferved, the body fiands 18 TRE ART AND PRACTICE OF flands much the firmer againtt oppofing force. This cepends upon the proper dif tance between the legs, which ought to be the Boxer’s firft objeét, or all his manly attempts will-prove abortive. In order to form the true pofition, the left leg mutt be prefented fome reafonable diftance before the right, which brings the left. fide towards the adverfary 5 this the right-handed man ought to do, that after having ftopped the blow with his left arm, which is a kind of buckler to him, he may have the greater readinefs and power of ftepping in with his right band’s return ing blow. In this pofture he ought to preferve an eafy fiexion in the left knee, that his advances and retreats may be the quicker. By this proper flexion, his body. is brought fo far forward, as to have a jutt inclination over the left thigh, in fach ‘a manner, that his face makes’a’ perpen= dicular, or fait line with the left knees whilft the right legand thigh, in a flant- ing line, frongly props up the whole body, as does alarge beam an old wall: the body by this means is fapported againft all vio~ lent efforts, and the additional ftrength acquired ENGLISH BOXING... 19 acquired by this equilibrium, has the moft profitable effect. ‘When a man ftands thus colleéted, all his body, which fecms tranquil, is never thelef in action. The muicles, the ten- dons, and the nerves, from the feet to the head, and arms and the hands, are firetched, in order to fupport him with firmnefs, and repellent ftrength, Now confider from this, how much eater weight muft not your adverfary and in need of, to beat you back from this firm pofition, which is, perhaps, the fiiffefk that our frame is capable of, By this refifting reclination of the body, your blows will acquire an additional weight from the laws of gravity, which a Tefseforward reclination can never give. However, you may recline alfo too much, and’ fo by over-ballancing yourfelf, fall too much forward ; which will give your antagonift a great advantage over you. By 20 THE ART AND PRACTICE of By this difpofed attitude, you will find the whole body gently inclining forward, with a flanting direétion ; ( that from the outefide of the right ancle, all the way to the thoulder, a ftrait line of direction, fomewhat inclining of flanting upwards, will be the ftrongeft pofition a man can contrive; and it 1s fach as we generally ufe in forcing doors, or refifting frength, ‘or puthing forward any weight with vic lence ; forthe mufcles of the left fide, which bend the body gently forward, bring over the‘left thigh the gravitating part, which by this contrivance augments the force; whereas, if it was held ercét, or upright. an indifferent blow about the head, of breaft, would over-fet it. The body, by this pofition, has the mnfcles of the right fide partly relaxed, and partly contraéted, whilit thofe of the left, are altogether in a ftate of contrac tion ; and the referve made in the mufeles Of the right fide, are as fprings and levers, to rife or Ict fal] the body at diferetion, By delivering up the power to the mut cle of the left fide, which, ina very ftrong contragtion, ENGLISH BOXING. a contraétion, brings the body forwards, the motion which is communicated is then fo ftrong, chat if the hand et that time be firmly clofed, and the blow at that inftant be puthed,or projeéted forward, with the contracting mu(cles, in a firaight Tine with the moving body, the fhock given from the ftroke, will be able to overcome a force, not thus artfully contrived, twenty times as great. From thisit is evident, how it is in oue power to give an additional force and irength to our bodies, whereby we may imake ourfelves far fuperior to men of more Rtrength, but not feconded by art. Let us now examine the mof hurtful blows, and fuch as contribute tuft to the battle, though very few of thof who fight, know why a blow oa fuch a part, has fach an effect, yet vy experience they know it has; and by thele evident they ere direéted to the proper parts for inftance, hitting under the car, be- tween the eye-brows, acrofs the nofe, and about the flomach. D ‘The 22 THE ART AND PRACTICE oF ‘The blow under the ear is efteemed to be as dangerous, as any that can be given about the head, and particularly if it ights between the engle of the lower jaw and the neck ; becaufé in this place there are two kinds of blood-veffels, confiderably Jarge, the one brings the blood immediate~ ly from the heart to the head, whilft the other carries it direétly back. ‘Thus it happens, when a man receives a blow on thefe vefiéls, the blood proceed- ing ftom the heart to the head, is partly forced back, whilt the other part is puthed forwards vehemently to the head. The fame effeét is produced from the blood returning from the head to the heart, for part of it is precipitately forced into the latter, whilft the other part tumultuoufly rufhes to the head whereby the blood veffels are immediately overcharged, and the finews of the brain become fo over= charged and comprefled, that the man at oncé lofes all fenfation, and the blood often runs from his ears, mouth and nofe, alto- gether owing to its quantity forced with fach impetuofity into the fmaller veficls, the texture of whofe coats being too tender to refift fo great a charge, inftantly break, and ENGLISH BOXING. 23 and caufe the effaGon of blood through thefe different parts. But this is not the only confequence, for the heart, being over-charged with a regurgitation of blood, (for fuch is the ef fect of that forced back on the fucceeding blood proceeding from its left ventricle,) ftops its progrels, whilit that putt of the blood, coming from the bead, is violently puthed into its right auricle; f thet as the heart labours under a violent farcharge of blood, there {oon follows a fuffocation, but which goes off as the parts recover themfelves, and condu& the blood for~ ward. ‘The blows given between the eye-brows contribute greatly to the victory ; for this part being contufed between two hard bodies, viz. the fift and the Os frontale, or bone of the fore-head, there enfues a vio~ lent extravalation of blood, which falls immediately into the eye-lids; and thefe being of a lax texture, incepable of refift- ing this influx of blood, fwells almoft in~ ftantaneoufly : which violent intamefeence foon obitruéts the fight, and the man thus D2 difoed 24 THE ART AND PRACTICE OF difeed- and artfully hood-winked, is: fon, over-come and beat at difcretion. ‘The blows on the ftomach are alfo very hurtful, as the diaphragm and the lungs fhare ih the injury. ‘This is called wind~ ing. ‘The vomits produced by thele blows are {eldom unaccompanied with blood, the caufe of which being obvious, thall be paff= ed over here without any farther natice. + Moft men hit harder with one arm than another, which, when obferved and known, fhould be guarded againft; thus, with your left fit, if you ‘firike now and then upon or under the right arm of your antagonift, jutt between the elbow and the fhoulder,you greatly weaken his principal fort, “and fave a great advantage over him; for the effects produced upon his nerves by this blow, remain fome time, and if repeated gender that arm_ confiderablyof lef ufe and ttrengeh, and you have ftill your own right arm to ufe about him, which if you ean get to Jay Ht into Bim, as they termi ity about his loins, will give you a great chance for the battle, Ik ENGLISH BOXING. 2g It mutt here be recommended to thofe who box, that on the day of combat, they forbear much meat, and charge not their ftomachs with much food ; for by obferv= ing this precaution, they will find their advant.ge. ‘This will prevent that extra~ ordinary compreffion on the orta Defeen— ders, and in a great meafure preferve their ftomacis from th. blows, which they mutt be the more expoted to, when diftended with aliments. An empty flomach yields better to the blow, than a full one, the coniequence of which may be attended. with 4 vomiting of blood, caufed by the eruption of fome blood veffels, from the over-charging of the ftomach; for when fall it muit neceffirily be more expofed, as it is more expanded, therefore it is molt advieable to make uf of fome good cordial, but not too great a quantity of any liquid Thould be fwallowed, and what- ever is ufed-on the occafion, thould be aftringent, that by its contracting quality, it might reduce the fibres into a imaller compats, ‘The injury the diaphragm js fabjeat to from blows, which light juft under the byeaft-bone, is very confiderable; becaufe the 26 THE ART AND PRACTICE OF the diaphragm is brought into a firong convulfive fiate, which’ produces great pain, and leffens the cavity of the thorax, whereby the lungs are comprefied, and deprived in a great meafure of their liberty, and the quantity of air retained in. them, from the contraatica of the thorax through the convelfive fiato of the diaphragm, is fo forcibly projected forwards, that” it caufes a great difficulty of refpiration, which cannot be overcome till the convul- five motion of the diaphragm ceafes. ‘The artful Boxer may, in fome degree, render the blows le(s hurtful on this part, by drawing in the belly, holding his breath and bending his thorax over his navel, when he fees the firoke is coming. Strength and art were mentioned at firft, as the two principal ingredients neceffary to form a good boxer; but there is ano- ther qualification, which is very neceflary, and that is what is called a bottom. There are two things required to conititute this Bottom, end that is wind and fpirit, o heart, or whatever name you may call it, ot wherever you may fix the relidence or fez of courage. ENGLISH BOXING. 27 courage. The’ fpirit is the firtt thing required, and wind may be greatly pro- Ionged by exercife end diet. Some men cannot fight well till they feel acutely their adverfary’s blows, and in this they ace like fore netive bulldogs, who can~ not fight till they are well licked. In fact, courage is the mott fubential thing, for without this, either ort or frength will avail a man but little, as will be feen here- afier, in our obfervations upon the men- ner and character of the principal boxers. defign of the writer of to form a bo memory of th judges; thele Jeaves 2re not th ed a8 Formal methodical rules ‘to learn by, or fac a teacher is oblige? to advance to pupils; bue only an expatiation upon the art itfelf in theoiy. with a view to the correcting of formal or habitual mil and fapplying young unexperienced prac~ titioners with fuch practices, as will hold good, and are: likely to fucceed upon all trials. Every 28 THE ART AND PRACTICE OF Every nation have their defenfive and of fenfive amufements, to which they aro particularly attached. ihe French tafte is for the {mall fword; the Italian, the Stilietto ; the Portugnefe:and Spa the Poignard and Piftsl; the Turks exe cife the Scimetar ; the Arabians, the bow and Javelin; and the Indians, the fea- ther-edged arrow. In the new difcovered Iflands, from Captain Cook’s relation, they have a method of exercifing theit heels, ac cording to a method of their own contri~ vance. The Negroes, in many parts of the Weft-Indies, are very expert at the ufe of the thort ftick ; our Northern neigh- bours, the Scots and Hlanders, are clever at the dirk, and an Irifhman will rather fourith his Shellaly than his fifts; but an Englithman, open, bold and brave, bids defiance with his fits, and thus gene- routly gives his adverfary anequal chiance for fuperiority, if his wind, fpirit, and bottom, can bring him through the con- teft with faperior advantage. We are allowed to be more expert ‘in war time than our enemies, Courage to us is natural, probably owing to the con~ nexivn and conttitution of our bodies, and flowing ENGLISH BOXING. 26 flowing in the very fubftance of our dif- ferent juices, and our blood. To be fare, it is in a great meafure acquired by ute, and familiarity with danger. Emulation, and the love of glory, are great incentives toit, To what pitch of daring do we not fee men go, to get aname, and to be ad~ mired? And how obterv:ble it is feen_ in miniature among our boys, who, ,ather than be deemed cowards among their com= panions, get into their defenfive poltures, and fight with bloody nofes fora name. It mutt be allowed, that thefe amphi- theatrical exhibitions may be productive of fome ill, as they give encouragement to idlenefs and extravagance among the vul- gar. But there ishardly any ufeful good thing, but what leaves an opening to mif- chief, and which is not liable to abufe. ‘Therefore, I think, fighting and boxing commendable, as it ferves to fapport ani keep up the Britith Spirit. E CHAP. gO THE ART AND PRACTICE oF CHAP. IL Hiftory of the ancient Scbool—Fijg—Pipes-—- Gretting —The Venetian Gondelier and Whiraker-—-The Rife of George Taylor= Prince Bofwelle-- James Mofs, and Jobn= fin. EFORE weenter upon the hiftory Bier thessra ichoot of Boxing, ie may hot be amifs to fay fomething of the fa- mous Fig. ‘He was the moft faccefsful prize-fighter of his time. His genius and his judg- ment was fo great, that the firft {porting charaGers of thet day applied ‘to him for his advice, and when the weapons were dropt, and Boxing became the vogue, he was then in greater requeft than ever. No match wes made without his advice and concurrence he knew the men and their abilities, and always matched them to the fatisfaction of the fpedtators. Captain Godfrey pives him @ great charager in his Treatife ripon the Ufsful Science of Defence, and calls him the Atlas of the Sword, His ENGLISH BOXING. 31 His Theatre was the firft where regular exhibitions were difplayed for tie amufc- ment of the public. One Prefton kept the place before him, but then only .as a Fencing-fehool. Fig, who originally came from ‘Thame, in Oxfordthire, exhibited himfelf again{t all comers, with thice dif ferent weapons, viz. the imall (word, the back-fword, and quarter. ftiff, and bore the charagter of underitanding time and mea fure, better than any other Swords-man of his time. It was upon this ftage, that Mr. Brough- ton firft contended in public, and from his ‘out-fet in the world, he was proclaimed the captain of the Boxers, and beat his competitors with as much eafe as he would have eaten a beef-fteak, and drank a pot of porter afterwards, Thomas Pipes was the neateft and next principal Boxer of his time. He fought at the face moft, and put in his blows wich farprifing agility, time, and judgment. He maintained his battles for many years, by his extraordinary fkill, againit men of far faperior ftrength. Pipes was but weak- ly made 5 his appearance befpoke attivity, Ba but 32 THE ART AND PRACTICE oF but his hand, arm and body, were but fmall: though by that acquired fpring of his arm, he hit prodigious blows; and at Toft, when he was beat out of his cham~ pionthip, it was more owing to his own irregularity in life, than to any merit in thole who beat him, Gretting was a ftrong antagonift to Pipes. ‘They contended hard together for fome time, and were alternately vidiors. Gret= ting had the neateft way of going to the ftomach, which is what Boxers call the mark. He was the moft artful man’ of his time at that, and at hitting what they call the Bread-baftet ; ftronger’ made than Pipes, and deale the ftraitert projec tile blow of all his competitors. But what made Pipes a match for him, was his rare bottom fpirit, which could bear a deal of beating, and with this, Gret- ing was not fo well. furnifhed ; for after he was beat twice together by Pipes, Ham~ merfmith Fack, a meer blunderer of a Box “er, beat him by dint of hard blows; and fo did every one that fought him from that time. However, this is due to his me- mory; that his own folly contributed more to ENGLISH BOXING. 33 to his feveral defeats, than any endeavours in his antegénil’s; "though at the fame time, he never poffeffed the bottom of Much about this time, there was one Whitaker, who fought the Venetian Gon- delicr. He was a very ftrong fellow, but fy boxer. However, he hud two ations, that very much cont:ibuted to bring him through, and help him out, where his deficiency in bottom. rendered him inferior to his anvagonift’s ; ond that was, a peculiar extraordinary way hu bad of throwing, #nd contriving to ‘pitch his weighty body An- other of his maneuvies, was bringing his Knee into the tlomach of his adverfary while falling, by which he often pu them out of wind. “The other, that he was a hardy fellow, and could ‘bear a deal of banging. This was the man fixed upon to fight the Venetian, ‘The match was made at Slaughter's Coffee-Houle, by a gentleman of an advanced ftation, Fig was employ ed to procure a proper man, and had par= ticular charge given. him, becaule it was for 44. THE ART AND PRACTICE oF for a large fum 3 and the Venetian was a man of extraordinary ftrength, and famous for breaking the jaw-bone in boxing. Fig replied, in his rough manner, I do not know, Matter, but he may break one of his own countrymen’s jaw-bones with his fifts ; but I will bring him a man, and he thall not break. his jaw-bone with a fledge-hammer in his hand.” Untill the man appeared, it was doubted, whether the Venetian’s -antagonift had not had the Bone extracted after fome former contett. ‘The battle was fought at Fig's Amphi- theatre, before the politeft company that hhad ever been feen’on the occafion. ‘While the Gondelier was firipping. feveral Eng~ lif) gentlemen particularly remarked the tremendous figure of the man. His armi tock up all obfervation ; it was furprifingly Yong, large, and mafcolar, He advanced, itching himfelf forward with his right fig, and his arm fall extended, andoas Whitaker approached, gave him’ fach a blow upon the fide of the head, that knock= ed him off the ftage, cver the railing, which was remarkable for its height. Whitaker’s misfortune in this fall was, that the company being very genteel, they would ENGLISH BOXING. 35 would not permit ary common people in, who there ufually fat apon the ground, and lincd the ftage all round, Tt was then all clear, and Whitaker had nothing to flop him but the bottom, As he fell, there arofe a general, clamorous, foreign, huzza, son the fide of the Venetian, pronouncing pur countryman’s downfall but Whitaker took no more time than was neceffary to get up again, when finding his fault in flanding out to the length of the other's arm, he witha little ftoop, ran boldly in, beyond the heavy mallet, and with oné Englith peg in the flomach, quite 2 new thing to the foreigner, threw him down on. his back-fide. The Venetian got up again, and, after ferambling with him about the ftage for a few minutes, foon gave out, declaring he would nave nothing more to do with his flovenly ft. So fine a houfe was tco engagingto Fig, not to with to rsife fach another. ‘He ‘therefore, as foon as the battle was over, flepped up to the company, and told the gentlemen, that whatever they might think of the man he had picked up to beat the Venetian, he was far from being the beft man for the fit in London and to 360 THE ART AND PRACTICE OF to convince them he was in carneft, he {aid that ifthey would come that day fen’night, he would produce 2 man, who fhould beat this Whitaker in ten minutes,. by fair hitting. This brought as fair, and near as great accompany, as the week before. ‘The man pitched upon was Nat. Peartree, who, knowing the other's knack, and his deadly way of flinging,took a mott judicious way to beat him, and that was, in clofing his day-lights. His judgment carried in his arm fo well, that in about fix minutes both Whitaker's eyes were fhut up; when he, groping about a-while for his man, and not finding him, he very prudently pave out, with thefe odd words, Dam'me am not beat--but what fignifies my fighting, when I cannot fee my man? Itis difficult, where information depends upon the memory intirely, to be abfo- Jutely certain in the dates ; what has been related, though in the remembrance of many, is yet {0 long ago, that it is not ealy to afcertain the exact time; however, we now approach to times, a little frether and of more recent remembrance, George Taylor, known by the name of George the Barber, sprang up forpri- zingly ENGLISH BOXING. 37 Singly: ‘He had’ bat one eye. . He beat allthe chief Boxers but Broughton at firft, and he even beat him at Jaft, as well _ as Broughton’s conqueror, Jack Slack, George.was wrong in engaging the ftand- ing Champion of the day, and thé oj nion of the ‘publick. was fo much in Broughton't.'favour, chat there afofe a hifs among fome of ‘the audience, which made him foon give out. He was not then twenty, and Broughton’ was inthe ° zenith of his age and art. However, - he was a ftrong able Eoxer, and hada con fiderable knowledge of the {mall and back fword, and a remarkable judgment in the crofs-buttock-fall, but ftill he was .not fall bottomed, and blows of equal ftrength too.much derangedhis conduct. It will not be improper perhaps in this plate ‘to ‘introduce a molt extraordinary © charagter fora Boxer, and that is Prince't Bofwell, a Gypféy, and fon to-the king of that wandering’ people.» He was ree markable for a particular blow. with ‘his left hand at the'jaw, which feldom failed: of Having its" proper elfect3°but with all: his judgment he wanted {pirit; “and a good Englith bottom, or elfé he hed been a * : > F ‘match 38 THE ART AND PRACTICE OF match for Broughton himfelf. All that is recollected’ of him‘ now, is, that he was hanged for ftealing a mare. James was reputed avery neat Boxer: he'had a good writ, and the belt {pring in his arm, of all his contemporaries, up= on the boards, He was a compleat maf- ter of his art, and when he was beat, it was only for want of ftrength to ftand to, his man. ‘Thomas Mofs, a Kentith man, and Thomas Johnfon, from | Whattlington, ought not to be forgot, as they bravely difplayed their abilities in thofé days of public heroifm. "And here cannot’ help regretting the {eantinefs of my intelligence, which, depending upon the recollection .of faéts long fince pafled, is now very im- Bet Mowe, ta memories ferve to amufe thofe who with to be med of the aétors and manners of thefe things in former times, and to-re~ freth the memories of thofe who may not yet have forgot the blows they received from the champions they engaged. - CHAP, ENGLISH BOXING. 39 CHAP. IL Anecdotes of Boxing—Gurious Advertifed Challenges, from the Daily Advertifer in 1742. HIS Science, peculiarly Eng which, though faihios yet licenced, and affords an inftan the repugnance that may for a time fa between the laws and the manne: nation, was once as regular an exhibition, as we now fee at any of the places of pub= lic amufement, the ‘Theatres alone: ex- cepted. “It was encouraged by the fictt ranks of the Nobility, patronized by the frlt fubjedés in the realm, and tolerated by the ‘Magiftrates. Before the eftablithment of Broughton’s Amphitheatre, the booth was Kept at Tottenham-Court, in which the proprietor, Mr Gcorge Taylor, who fac~ ‘ceeded Mr. Fig, invited the profeffors of the arttodifplay their frill, and the public to be prefent at the exhibition of it. ‘he bruifers then had the reward due to their prowels, in a divifion of the entrance money, which fometimes was an hundred, or an hundred ‘and fifty pounds. The general mode of Fa tharing 40 THE ART AND PRACTICE oF faring was for two-thirds to go to the winning champion, while the remaining third was the right of the lofer ; though = rtrtr—Ci petts, a particular detail of the /aifting {cene may be omitted in, this place. Suffice it to obfeive, the diowing ones were com pletely taken’in. Stevens was knocked flown’ often, that he fell at laft like ‘the great 66 THE ART AND PRACTICE oF great Goliah of Gath, ‘to rife no more on thar ftage. ‘Meggs had’ bécn tutored and prepared for the battle, “by Slack, who then kept 2 Butcher's fhop, in Chandos-ftreet ; but he would not have beaten Stevens yet, had he not given him forty guineas for that pur fe.” Stephens had a curious ‘knack of eping off the blows of his antagonift, and feldom hit fo many as they did, befides he practiced a blow which feems to be, at prefent not known, or forgot, and that was’ thus ; he ftruck the right arm of his adverfary with his left fift, and with his right he ftruck them on the left temple, at the fame time tripping them of their center with his foot, they fell with an encrea(ed force from the fhock they received at their head, ‘This was the blow decided the conqueft over Dart the Dyer, as before obferved, when he beat him almoft with- outa blow. Some years after this, the Nailor was taken out of Jail to fight the, Coach- Spring-maker, whofe name is not now. remembered ENGLISH BOXING. 67, remembered; but he faffered himfelf to be beaten thamefully, : So bare-faced a Croft, difguited the pub- lic, and prevented the encouragement of Boxing fo much, that from this time, ftage- fighting, was configned to contemptible « neglect. An acquaintance foon after meeting Stevens, and wondering at the mancuvre which occafioned his defeat, was anfwered in nearly the following words ; ** The day that I fought Jack Slack, I got ninety guineas; but I’ got forty more than I could have got otherwife, by letting Meggs beat me, and Dam'me, Ym the fame man fill.” Slack died a few years ago; foon after a curious copy of verfes appeared in many of the papers upon his prowefs, and an encomium upon boxing; but as they are not now before me, they cannot be placed in this compilation. Tt isa well known fact related of bins, that he was upon more occafions, than one indebted 68 -rHE ART AND PRACTICE oF indebted “to the terror of his name for fac cefe_in accidental conquefts.’ Ata coun~ tty fair in Norfolk, of which place he was a native, he engaged in‘ fome difpute with acountryman, who, trufting to his natural: firength, without any idea of kill, made no feruple.of giving Slack. a fevere blow ont the face. This Slack immediately return-. ed, and a fevere conteft enfued, in which the countryman had evidently the advan- tage. In the midft of it Slack cried out, it thal never be {aid that 2 clumfy plough— man beat Slack. The very name com- municated fach on hinprefiion, that the countryman imagining his ‘adverfary had only been playing with him, did not at~ tempt another ferious on-fet, but yielded arf éafy vitory. ‘The fame thing happeried to a dragoon of ‘the Innikilling regiment, who once abfolutely beat Slack,” ‘They mét a {econd time by appointment, but the foldier, upon hearing he was to fight Slack, took. it into his head that he. was made 4 tool of by fome gentlemen of the turf, and under. this.idea, when he met, his oppo- nent could hardly’ be prevailed upon. to exchange any blows. Upon the iffue of this .battle Slack flaked all,he was worth, which; but tor the circumfance of -his name,"he would infallably have loft. It ENGLISH BOXING. 69 It is not amifs in this place to. remark, the cutting and thuffling of thefe gentry 3 asimoney is the bait, every one catches at the golden prize. It fignifies not how, buta flage is to be made, and if money of bets can but be obtained, it matters’ not at wliat’ rate, ‘and one “half of the’ door profit, will always induce fome one or other, to be beat for half an hour of more, making a thew of fighting, to put on ap- pearances, while parties are previoully agreed to inake a Croft. Nothing however in this, is in the leat intended to refleét upon the late aétion at am, though it is a_ notorious fact, that, after Mendoza’s, Umpire hadbetted a sonfiderable fam on his fucce&, in his prefence, he did very deep upon Humph- Ties, which .cafily accounts for his fuffer- ing the latter to pull off his thoes, and put on worfted ftockings. This circum- ftance, trifling as it may feem, not being originally ftipulated, was an unfair advan= tage granted by this Umpire. K Stevens go THE ART AND PRACTICE OF Stevens had been promifed a place at Court, as 2 Beef-cater, but the death of his Tate Majefty, deranged the plan of his patron the Duke of York. . ‘The Nailor. was one of the warlike he- oes, who were hired to guard Lord Bute, when he rode into the City on the Lord Mayor's day of 1762, when Beckford be~ an his firlt mayoralty. In this our hero ad often occafion to ule his fits, which many of the mob, whofe temerity’ carried them too near his patron’s carriage, could then abundantly telify. Yet was Stevens Dut fcurvily rewarded by his fair-promif ing employers ; andhe was under the ne- ceffity of fummoning a certain great manin thofe days to the Court of Conjcience, be fore he could obtain his lean, reward. CHAP. ENGLISH BOXING. 7 CHAP. VIL Battle between the Pavior and the Buteber —A curious Songe--Cellars and Cochran Fight --- Fobnfon and Ryan Fight near Stains, MUCH about this time, or alittle after- wards, a fainous battle was fought at Guildford,’ between Thomas Juchau, a Pavior, otherwife known by the name of Difter, and one Coant, a Butcher from Clire-tnatket. Before the fight, the odds were 4to1 upon Coant, and for the firtt 25 minutes the Pavior could {earce get a blow at his antagonift, and was knocked down five or fix times. At 35 minutes, the odds were fo great, that money was offer~ ed at.any rate; but juft then Difer chang= ing his mode of fighting, gave him fuck a blow as turned the odds greatly in his favour. After three or four rounds more, the Butcher coming full up to the Pavior, and miffing his ftroke, fell flat on his face, and not being able to continue the content, gave it in, and the Pavior was pronounced. ViGtorious. The engagement lated 47 minutes, Some time after this affair, Mr. Ka Juchan 7a THE ART ‘AND’ PRACTICE oF Juchau_ married his _miftrefy, and the made him fign articlesthat he never thould fight any more upon the ftage, in the penalty of 30ol. and he now lives in cre dit near Shoreditch Church. In the year 1762, the following hu- maourous verfes appeared in a periodicat publication, and was fungabout the ftreets at the fame time. Th BRUISER’s PROGRESS, Written in the Year 1752. Link-boy once I ftood the grin, AN, “ae Chiting-Croe T plied ‘Here, light your honour for a win,” To every Cull, Verie'd. On Sundays oft I hung’d the gag, And fbul'd at the Church-door, « Good people pray beltow a mag, + D'm panumlefi and poor.” In ENGLISH BOXING. 73 In Leis'ter-Fields, as moft can tell, +* Come black your honour T; Bat dirty work, Uik’d not well, And gafling then did try. At Tottenham-Court, I firft fat out, ‘With lufty Jumping Jack, With Hunt and others had a bout, And carried off the wack. With Slack at Broughton’s once I foughe, And there gave him his fill ; His twenty guineas, vid'ry bought, And I'm the fame man fill, But thefe profeffions all are bad, ‘They bring fo little dir 5 So I'm turn'd Roddfinan on the pad, ‘My eyes! alucky bie. Ye Jockies rum, and biowings queer, OF whatloever fame, Depend upon it never fear, Die when I will, I’m game. And if I thould my exit make, At Tyburn’s fatal tree 5 Poor Field, my matter did partake, ‘The felf fame deftiny, This 74 THE ART AND PRACTIE® oF This piece muft not be confidered as & fair repfcfentation of the employment and tafte of thiefe heroes, only as a Satire upon the whole corps, drawn fron the unlucky exit of fome of its votatics. Mr, Juchiau’s battle with thie butcher; was citcemed the moft honeft and fait fight exhibited apon any ftage ; bit the exam= ple was not followed “by any profelfor of note, till Peter Cochran fought Charles Cellars in 1778. The Battle was decided at Stains, véry near the {pot where the late adtion happened between Jolinfon and Ryan. When the combatants mounted the flage, a noted lover of the bruifing art, threw a purfe of ninety gitineas upon it, and foon after another followed the ex~ ample, and threw. one of twenty-fives which’ Cellars catching up, gingled, and cried out, * This is for the beft man,” It is fafficient to obferve he conquered; though Cochran's method of boxing, was allowed to have great merit. From this time, to the prefent day, this manly Science, has met but trifling en- couragement. ‘The late aétion of the 19th of December, feems to have revived the Jatent ENGLISH BOXING. 7 Jatent ardour ‘of the Britith fpirit in the knuckle way. ‘They fought ‘on Wednefilay, Decem- ber 19, 1787. ‘The fage was eredted at Stains, but the Magiftrates interfering, they were obliged to chufe another place for their conteit. They then went for ward about tour miles to Wyredibury, in the county of Buckingham, where a tem- porary ftage was quickly ereéted, ‘The battle commenced at half paft ‘two e’clock, when the odds were fix to four in favour of Ryan, and he had the advantaj for fome time; but in ten minutes. the bets turned in favour of Johnfon, when two to ore were offered. aiid refufed ; and foon afterwards ten toone. Johnfon gave Ryan feveral fevere blows “on the head, which terminated the battle in his favour in about twenty-four minutes. Jobnfon knocked Ryan down eleven times, and was knocked down himfelf only three times. They had twenty rounds, It was remarkable that the blows of John- fon were direéted principally at the” head, thofe of Ryan, at the body of his antago- pitt; and the laft blow of Johnfon took place 76 THe ART AND PRACTICE oF lace ‘over the eye-brow of Ryan, which Heid open a fpece-of two inches Jobnfon exhibited much adtivity, and was very dexterous in thifting, by which means he: evaded many hard blows; had he ftood up to Ryan, it is very probable he would have been beaten: he -guarded his head fo well, and ftood fo. low, that Ryan conftantly fruck over. bis guard. Ryan's blows were given with. greater force than Jobnfon’s ; bist want of management tended greatly to lofehis battle; he gave his adverfary many fevere blows about the body, which are ufaally felt a long; time after. ‘ Ryan, after the battle, could oply ftand to be dreffed; but Johnion did not appear to be much hurt. He declared that he never would again accept of another chal~ lenge, and he has fince infersed this des claration in the public prints. Humphries feconded Johnfon, and Dun, Ryan. Mendoza, and Tring, were the bottle-holders. A great deal of com~ pany were prefent; Sir Richard Simmonds, Colonel Hamilton, Colonel Fitzpatrick, Mr. Wynham, of Norfolk, .Mr. Bradyll, Major Hanger, &c, : CHAP. ENGLISH BOXING. 77 CHAP. VIL The Battle between Richard Humphries and Daniel Mendiwa. HERE the art depends much on its celerity, it is as difficult. to eatch obfervation as blows. What bas been obferved on the late memorable con teft, is as foliows: So high was the public anxiety on the iffue of this bruifing match, that neither the diftance from Town, nor the ftate of the weather, could prevent a very lorge concourie of people from affembling at the feene of aétion, Several hundreds of peo- ple paid half a guinea, each, to gain ad- miflion within the paddock, where a twen= ty-four foot ftage was raifed. ‘The pad- dock was well defended againft the multi- tude by Tring, Ryan, Dunn, andanum- ber of others, of the ftouteft men in Eng~ land, who with clubs, looked like fo many giants ; but what can refift the torrent of an Englith mob > The paddock was bro- ken down, and the torrent rufied in. L However, 78 THE ARG AND PRACTICE OF However, let it not furprife, the. people were fo quiets that there was lef noife than there often is at a chusch charity fermon. At one o'clock, Humphries mounted the ftage, and ID, Mendoza appeared in a few moments after. Previous to the bat- tle, the odds were much in. favour of Humphries. At 20 minutes paft one o'clock, the battle began, and lafted fome minutes before any offer, excepting feints, was made, Mendoza ftruck the firft blow, and recoiling, fell on his back, in confe- quence of the ftage being very wet with rain. The fecond blow that Mendoza frock, brought Humphries down to the ground; in the next round they clofed, and Mendoza threw Humphries. Men- doza gained much at this time, and kept the lead for nearly a quarter of an hour. "The odds at this time, changed greatly in favour of the Jew. Humphries received many falls ; but recovering himfelf he foon, came about, and had greatly the advantage in the four following rounds. Here ENGLISH BOXING. 79 Here the thewy action of the Jew, had its effect on the multitude; and thofe who knew no more of the two men than what appearances exhibited, changed their betts, and the confequence was, that the real emateur won much money. Upon Humphries recovering himflf, the bets became even. In one of thefe rounds, he threw Mendoza, and pitched him on his face, which cut his forehead juft above the right eye, and bruifed his nofes he, however recovered a little, © as to give Humphries a blow in the face ; but Stepping, at the fame time, and falling with his leg under him,” fprained his ancles which made him give itin. Immediately afterwards, Mendoza fainted, and was car- ried off the ftage. A battle, in_which there was fo much dexterity and fill, perhaps never was fought, and certainly there never was a conteft on which fo much depended. Phe battle Jafted 28 minutes, and 54 feconds. La As 80 THE ART AND PRACTICE oF As a profeffor, Mendoza, thongh beaten, thas acquired more fame than he has loft. He certainly hit his antagonift oftener than Humphries hit him, and in clofe fighting much oftener. In firength of arm, he feemed to have the advantage: and when flrugeling, he kept down the head of his adverlary, and at that time hurt him moft, In his fanding up, in the firft pofition, fpeaking according to art, Mendoza kept his guard clofer to his-body, and by that mealure gave a greater momentum. to his arm when ftruck out, and he ftopped blows to the fall as well as Humphries. In manlinefs of manner, in grace of pofition, in judgment, and in force of blow, he was inferior to Humphries. In point of perfonal courage too, and con- tempt of himfelf, Humphries likewife had the advantage. But in point of throw- ing falls, the advantage, which was fap- pofed to lie on the fide of Humphries, intirely transferred to Mendoza; whole attivity agreed better with the flippery ftate in which the rain had left the ftage. Humphries ENGLISH BOXING. — 8 Humphries fell down fix times fiiccet fively, owing to this circumftance 5 and gave to the Jew an appearance of fupe- Fiority, which was more feeming than real. In point of Boxiig it was difficule to afcertain which was the neateft, though the charaéter and-imanner. of each was very obvious. In the defenfive pofition, Humphries held his arms more out at full length : and though he kept his adverfary ata diftance by that method,..yet he loft the advantage of ftriking quitk. In point of manly and fine attitude, the poltare of Humphries was the moft grace fal; and if ever the charatter of an Englith boxer, like that of the Roman Gladiator, was to be tranfmitted to pofterity, ithe eye, the:countenance; and. thé extended nerve of Humphries, thould be felecéted for thar pidure, to facceeding times. ‘The umpires were a Mr. Allen, and a Mr. Moravia s Johnfon feconded Humph- ries, and David Benjamin, feconded Men- doza. : Mr. Brady], 82 ‘tHE ART AND PRACTICE oF Mr. Bradyl, the pation of Humphries, was not prefent at the battle, but fent.his fervant to bring him the earliett intelligence of the. event of the conflict. The mef= fenger arrived in town about nine o'clock, with @ letter from Humphries, which was delivered to Mr. Bradyl, at Cramer's con= cert’ in Haberdather’s-Flall. . It run as follows § * SIR, # T have done the Yew, and am ini good health at: this prefeni writing, . Rrcwarp Humpuries, ct is generally allowed, that this conteft ‘was the tharpelt that ever was (een, and as it has raifed fo high the public curiofity, Lhope I thall not be thought prolix, if I add the following critical obfervations from, an Ipfwich paper, and evidently written by a judge of Boxing, who was prefent on the {pow « Although the major part of the com« pany were the well-wifhers of Humph- Tiss, yet they could not but admire the . matterly ENGLISH BOXING, 83 mafterly manner of boxing in-the latter, which was frequently acknowledged by the numerous fpeétators by clapping of hands. It was the fcheme of Humphries to aét at firft upon the defenfive only; in doing which, he received many hard blows, and at one tire was knocked down near the edge of the ftage, and would aétually have been thrown over by Mendoza, had pot Johnfon interfered. ‘The umpires amuch refented this tranfaction, and declar- ed, that Humphries had won the battle but he chofe a mare honourable way to.de~ cide the difpute, by endeavouring fairly to beat his adverfary. ‘The ftage was erected withoak plank, which had been plained, and rendered fo exceeding flippery by the rain, that Humphries could not add firm- nefs to his aétion, and he once fell upon his fide in aiming a blow at his adverfary. ‘Mendoza feemed to have had an idea of this, for he had takgn the wife precaution of having (mall ferews, with very tharp points, faftencd gt the bottom of his flippers, ‘Humphries was foon convinced of the dif. advantage he laboured under, and requefted to have a pair of worfted ftockings ; when he had got one half on, the umpires called eut, Tie expired (meaning the minute al Jowed 84 THE ART AND PRACTICE OF lowed between cach fall) and Humphries arofe from his feoond’s knee; but before Mendoza was ready, he had leifure to put both on. . This evidently gavea freth turn to the conteft in favour of Humphries, who appeared as if he was going to begin a bat- tle rather than renew one. Mendoza’s fe~ cond, obferving this, called out, turn out bis eye-balls! Whether Mendoza meant to follow this bumane advice, we cannot fay, but certaia it is, when they clofed, the Jew ferewed his adverfary’s nofe, and thrutt’ his Knuckles in his eyes; but Humphries oon extricated himfelf, and threw in a thort buttock, and after that, planted a blow un- der the left ear, which was thought to be decifive ; Mendoza having rallied again, but evidently fo much worited, and off his guard, that Humphries ¢ip’d him: the coup de jarnac in his body, for the blood he hed fwallowed iffued copioufly from his mouth, and he fell motionlefs on the ftage. The palm of victory being thus given to Hum~ phries, he offered to fight David Benjamin immediately, for his behaviour, and after that, he challenged the bottle-holder, nei ther of which accepted. Althongh the Jew had at firit apparently the advantage,’ Humphries was remarkably cool, and colieéied ENGLISH BOXING. © 85 collegted throughout. At every fuccefsful blow, he bowed with his hand, and fimiled to his acquaintance with a confidence of fuperiority. The combatants fhared near Bol. each’ from the ftege, after deduéting the expences of ereéting it, &cc.. There were about 1000 of the tribe of Ephraim prefent. No accommodations were to be had at Odiham s many perfons of fatbion were obliged to fleep in hay-lofts; fome were obliged to go 15 miles the fame day for want of horfes and carriages, and fearcely any provifions were to be had. Mr, Bradyll is faid to have cleared fome handreds by the victory of Humpbrie and as even countries have their fafhions-— the day preceding the battle—above ten thoufand pounds were betted inthe RovaL ExcuaNcs, on the iffue of ic. It is thought, by the beft judges; that men in general are not qualified to box in a main. battle’ for more than four or five years of their life, and “Humphries is ‘one ‘year advanced beyond that period, while Mendoza is not yet arrived to it. Humphries, with infinitely more practice, is much ftronger than his adverfary, as was 86 THE ART AND PRACTICE oF was proved from his being able to fecond’ Johnfon, while Mendoza could not e@ aa Yecond ta Ryan, for want of ftrength t pick him up.” Therefore, this accounts for Humphries’s blows going farther than Mendoza’s, Humphries, the founder of the new {chook of boxing, is obliged to Captain Lloyd for the greateft part of his Knowledges the Captain ufed ‘to practice with him every day previous to his fighting Martin, ‘The method of stopping blows, purfued by Humphries, is with the left arm to- tally, and he flands with the left fide much advanced, He cannot ftrike with any force, except with the right hand, and he fometimes catches blows upon his ¢l- bow, and thus cripples the knuckles of his adverfary. He is likewife famous for the jnicknefs of his eye, and, according to the phrafe of the Science, be fighes boneit. Mendoza’s clofng, and attempting to gouge, isin imitation of the Creole man- ner of fighting, which is béth unmanly and barbarous. It thould be recommended ta ENGLISH BOXING. 8% to him, never to attempt any thing of the kind. .’ The beauty of boxing is in hitting clan, guarding, fending, and keeping off blows with judgment, all which depend upon the eye, but Hugging, more pro- perly, belongs to wreftling. By Humphries’s method, that of Brough- ton is reverfed. ‘The ftomach is removed, but the loins are more expofed. How- ever, it remains for the Amateurs of the art, to determine which fyitem is preferae ble, In point of men, there is no doubt, but Broughton, would have beaten Hum- phries completely, as he was about five feet eleven, wonderfully broad over the cheft, in proportion, and as mufcular as any man ‘that ever appeared upon a ftage. In addition to thefe; he was perfeély cook, and colleéted in his mind, whenever he fought, and very feldom made a blow, but he Brough his adverfary to the. ground, ‘This Pamphlet would have been pub- Tithed a week ago, but was delayed, in expediation. of fomething decifive between the two: laft combatants; but as their literary correfpondence has run to 2 great length, 88 +He ART AND PRACTICE -oF length; has. hitherto. produced «-!no~ things and is ow.come to" coticlufion, theinguibbling, pro and ‘con, is not at all necelftryrin this placeysas it ‘would -fwell the matter, without :adding.any thing to the utility, Moft-perforis haveread. their reafons in the’ public papers’ fiém an attentive .perufal of which, the’ follo ing ‘conclufion may be deduced, viz. “That Mr. H. may, if-He thinks proper, fight Mr. M. where, upon what ¢ondi~ tions, and whenever, he plea/és. February 4th. In ‘x frirt Time sill be Publifteds, in Ofave, PRICE as,-60, Ounaihited with the Head of the Avrion,) and” other Coppen-Prate-Parwrs.: (SIRUTHOMAS PARKYNS's INN-PL. WRESTEER, avp CORNISH:-HUG, (Originally Printed a: 1728)

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