Chapter V: Nicholas (nick) Ward (2)

17.――The Deaf’un came up quite groggy, when Ward went
to work left and right, having it all his own way; he
drove Burke against the ropes, upon which he threw him
on his back, and, while in that position, hit him
heavily with his right till he fell over; cries of
“_foul!_” here burst from the Deaf’un’s friends, in
which others joined, and a general rush was made to the
ring, overturning all those who sat close to it,
including ourselves. The umpires disagreed, of course,
but not being close to the referee, had to go round to
him: pending this, Nick Ward stood up in the ring,
while the Deaf’un was picked up and seated on Sutton’s
knee. At last the referee was reached, and on being
appealed to, pronounced, as he was justified in doing,
“fair.” It was said “time” was then called, although,
from our position, involved in a crush, we did not hear
it. The hat was immediately thrown up, and the battle
was claimed for Ward. (We ought to state that during
the last four or five rounds there was a tremendous
fall of hail and rain.)

Subsequent to the termination of the 17th round, and
previous to the referee giving his judgment, it was
stated that while Deaf Burke was seated on his second’s
knee Nick Ward went up to him and struck him twice or
thrice in the face, and also struck Preston, and
subsequently there was a battle raging between him and
Preston, and then between Preston and Jem Ward, close
to the referee. We have been further informed that if
“time” was called, Burke refused to prolong the fight,
alleging that Ward had struck him “foul” while on his
second’s knee, and before the decision on the previous
question had been given. With respect to all this, we
confess we are unable to give an opinion; because we
saw no part of it, being glad to escape from the
overwhelming mass by which we were overborne. Our
impression at the time was that the decision of the
referee was conclusive, and that Burke was unable to
come again, although, from the time occupied in the
discussion, it is not improbable he might have
recovered his wind and have once more met his man;
still, in our opinion, with very little chance of
turning the scale in his favour; but there is no
calculating on the chapter of accidents. Ward walked
from the ring in full vigour, and was seen walking
about little the worse for wear, beyond the closure of
his left eye, and we believe he would have seconded
Corbett in the next fight had it been permitted. The
Deaf’un was conducted to his carriage, and, like Ward,
on recovering his wind was not materially damaged. He
contended he was entitled to the stakes from Ward’s
alleged foul conduct. Ward was so elated that he boldly
challenged the winner of the coming great fight between
Caunt and Brassey for £100――a challenge in which his
brother Jem heartily joined.

REMARKS.――We must say that in this battle Burke
exceeded our expectations――his condition was far
superior to that in which he fought Bendigo, and his
style of fighting was excellent. He no longer gave his
head as heretofore, but got it well out of mischief,
and stopped beautifully, until exhausted by the
protracted character of Ward’s tactics, and the failure
of his knee, on which he could not be persuaded to wear
a cap, when he became slow, and was fatally exposed to
Ward’s rapid and severe deliveries with his left. He
fought manfully, and with no more than proper caution,
and had Ward been disposed, would have joined issue in
the first round. Ward, however, evidently fought to
orders; both he and his friends knew that while Burke’s
vigour was undiminished close contact was dangerous;
and Ward has a very strong antipathy to punishment
which can be avoided. This he showed, not only from his
so long stopping out, but by his getting down at the
end of the early rounds. The moment he saw he had got
the Deaf’un safe, he threw off all reserve, and his
youth, quickness, and vigour enabled him to gain an
easy victory, which the increasing slowness and
wildness of the Deaf’un rendered more certain. Of his
courage, however, we cannot say much――he wants “that
within which passeth show,” and will never make “a
kill-devil.”

The very next day the following notice was served upon the stakeholder:――

“I do hereby give you notice not to deliver up the stakes to
the opposite party in the fight between me and Nick Ward, as
I hereby claim the same from having received foul blows from
my opponent, Nick Ward, while on my second’s knee, and
before ‘Time’ was called. One of the umpires bears evidence
that the last statement is correct, as a friend of the other
umpire (Nick Ward’s) had taken away the only watch used for
time-keeping, while he and my second, Harry Preston, were
appealing to the referee with respect to a prior foul blow.
My reason for entering the protest is in order that a
meeting may be obtained with the referee and an appointed
number of friends of each party, so that a proper and just
arbitration may be obtained. I shall be prepared at that
meeting to produce affidavits in confirmation of what I
assert. My backers hold you liable for the amount of the
stakes.

“24th September, 1849. “(Signed) JAMES BURKE.”

To this is added the following certificate from Burke’s umpire:――

“NICK WARD AND BURKE.――I hereby declare that no ‘Time’ was
called after the appeal to the referee.”

Thus it would seem that this affair came to a wrangle, one of the misfortunes which arise from the headstrong folly with which the surrounding spectators rush to the ring the moment a dispute arises. Had they kept their places, nothing could have been more simple than the issue. The umpires disagreeing, the referee would at once have said “fair” or “foul;” and in the former, as decidedly must have been the case in this instance, “time” would have been called, and the men would have fought on, or he who refused to walk to the scratch would have lost the battle. But now comes a new position, all owing to the irregularity described, and of which we are persuaded neither the umpires nor referee had any knowledge whatever, except from hearsay. The obtrusion of any person within the ring, or close to the ring, until the fight shall have been fairly decided, is obviously wrong, and its mischief is here clearly demonstrated. The matter was now hedged round with difficulty, the decision of which could only be given by the appointed referee, and as he could not see the act complained of, his judgment was founded on the evidence submitted to him.

This decision quickly came, and was in favour of Ward, to whom the stakes were duly paid over.

Ward was now at the top of the tree, and confidence in his powers seemed to have come with victory. After sundry cartels and haggling about preliminaries, Caunt having defeated Brassey in October, Nick challenged Caunt for the honour of the title of “Champion.” Ben responded, nothing loth, and the subjoined articles were formulated by “the high contracting plenipotentaries”:――

“Articles of Agreement entered into this 8th day of
December, 1840, between Benjamin Caunt and Nicholas
Ward――The said Ben Caunt agrees to fight the said Nick Ward,
a fair stand-up fight, in a four-and-twenty foot roped ring,
half minute time, within sixty miles of London, on Tuesday,
the 2nd of February, 1841, for £100 a side, according to the
provisions of the new rules. In pursuance of this agreement,
£20 a side are now deposited; a second deposit of £10 a side
to be made on Thursday, the 17th of December, at Young Dutch
Sam’s; a third deposit of £10 a side on Monday, the 21st of
December, at Peter Crawley’s; a fourth deposit of £10 a
side, on Thursday, the 31st of December, at Jem Ward’s,
Liverpool; a fifth deposit of £10 a side, on Friday, the 8th
of January, 1841, at Owen Swift’s; a sixth deposit of £10 a
side, on Thursday, the 14th of January, at Young Dutch
Sam’s; a seventh deposit of £10 a side, on Monday, the 18th
of January, at Peter Crawley’s; and the eighth and last
deposit of £10 a side, on Thursday, the 28th of January, at
the same house: the said deposits to be made between the
hours of eight and ten in the evening, or the party failing
to forfeit the money down. The choice of place to be decided
at the last deposit by toss. The men to be in the ring
between the hours of twelve and one o’clock, or the party
absent to forfeit the battle-money, unless an earlier hour
shall be mutually agreed upon at the last deposit, to which
hour the same forfeiture shall be applicable. Two umpires
and a referee to be chosen on the ground; in case of dispute
the decision of the latter to be conclusive. Should
magisterial interference take place, the stakeholder to name
the next time and place of meeting, if possible on the same
day. The use of resin or other powder to the hands during
the battle to be considered foul, and the money not to be
given up till fairly won or lost by a fight.

“Signed――for Caunt――PETER CRAWLEY.
“Do., for Ward――SAMUEL EVANS.”

On the 23rd of February, then, this anxiously anticipated meeting took place, but resulted in a manner anything but satisfactory to the admirers of manly pugilism.

On the match being made, the men were quickly in training, Caunt under the wing of Peter Crawley, at Hatfield, near Barnet, and Nick Ward under the able supervision of Peter Taylor, near Liverpool. In point of condition there was no fault to be found; both were perfectly up to the mark, and in all respects judiciously prepared for their coming struggle.

According to the articles it was provided that the combat should take place within 60 miles of London. The choice of place was to be decided by toss, and this was won by the backer of Caunt, who named the vicinity of the Andover Road Station, on the Southampton Railway, as the place of meeting; thus imposing upon Nick Ward and his friends the necessity of coming a distance of upwards of 270 miles, after the Saturday morning, on which day only they could receive notice of the fixture. This circumstance produced a good deal of sore feeling among the Ward-ites, and on the morning of battle led to some angry expressions. We certainly think that the laws of “give and take” should have been observed in this instance, and that it was anything but considerate to have imposed so long a journey upon an honourable opponent. We believe that the selection rather arose from a desire to give “a turn” to the folks of Hampshire, than from any wish to take an unfair advantage of Ward. How this love of the “Hampshire hogs” was returned the vicissitudes hereafter described will show.

On the Sunday, Caunt and Hammer Lane, who were to exhibit in the same ring, arrived at the “Vine,” at Stockbridge, about ten miles from the Winchester Station, where they were joined by a select circle of their backers and friends, and on the day following Nick Ward and Sullivan (the opponent of Hammer Lane) reached the Andover Road Station, accompanied by Jem Ward, Peter Taylor, and other friends and admirers, to the great comfort of the railway officials, who obtained on that and the succeeding day a profitable accession of passengers. The owners of the houses of entertainment in the neighbourhood were not less delighted, but many, from the want of accommodation, proceeded to Winchester, where their patronage was equally acceptable. On Monday evening it was ascertained beyond a doubt that the “Hampshire hogs” were as stubborn as some of their namesakes in other counties, and the hostility of the beaks to the manly demonstrations of fair play in the Prize Ring was grunted forth by sundry official leaders of the rural police, by whom, however, it is due to say, every courtesy consistent with their situation was displayed. This fact created additional unpopularity towards the original author of the disappointment, who was not less mortified than his grumbling opponents. There was no help for it, however, and in the evening it was agreed that both parties should meet the next morning at the village of Sutton, about four miles from the station, there to determine on the line of march. The Caunt-ites having ascertained that the affair might come off without interruption in the county of Wilts, proposed an adjournment in that direction; but as this step would have carried the Ward-ites some 14 or 15 miles beyond the stipulated distance of 60 miles from London, they peremptorily refused to budge an inch across the limit laid down in the articles, and the road back towards London was the only direction in which they would consent to proceed. This was the state of things on Monday evening, and on Tuesday morning, at half-past ten, the village of Sutton displayed a dense congregation of all classes, from the high-titled nob to the wooden-soled chawbacon. Carriages of all sorts, from Winchester, Andover, Stockbridge, Odiham, and all the surrounding post-towns, as well as from London and elsewhere, were huddled together in tangled confusion, anxiously waiting to receive the authorised “office” as to the road they should take. Among these the Commissary, in a light chaise cart, with the indispensable _materiel_ of his calling, occupied a prominent position, while the belligerents in their respective drags patiently waited the order for advance. Amidst the turmoil, the superintendent and the inspectors of the rural police, attended by a number of constables, some on horseback and some in chaise carts, were preparing to do their duty, and to see the expectant multitude fairly out of their jurisdiction.

A council of war having been held at the head inn, Crookham Common, on the borders of Berkshire, and within three and a half miles of Newbury, was finally agreed upon as the scene of action, a distance of upwards of sixteen miles, through a country not very agreeably distinguished by a succession of steep hills, the ascent and descent of which tended not a little to retard the speed of the travellers, and still more to try the mettle of the nags upon whom this additional labour was imposed, while hundreds of the ten-toed amateurs were altogether thrown out of the sport. At Whitchurch the inhabitants were rather astonished at the sudden incursion of the cavalcade. Here there was a general halt for refreshment for man and beast, and, most ominously, the carriage in which Hammer Lane was placed broke down; an unfortunate fracture which was imitated by many other vehicles, which, for this particular occasion, had been drawn from a retirement that previous wear and tear had led their owners to consider perpetual. After a short time “forward” was again the order of the day, and King’s Clere was reached in due course. Here was another halt, indispensable to men and cattle, and many of the jaded horses were for a time placed in stables, while the bonifaces received ample proofs of the beneficial effects resulting to the human appetite when whetted against the rough edge of a hard frost and a bracing atmosphere. It was now ascertained that the “land of promise” was within three miles of the village, and the Commissary was sent forward to make the necessary preparations for action, while the horses of the police, sharing the fate of their companions, were so knocked up that their masters determined to perform the rest of their journey to the verge of the county on foot, heartily sick of the ungracious office assigned them. In half an hour the general body made their final move, and, crossing the river Enborne, at last made their exit from the inhospitable county of Hants, and luckily sustained no further impediment. They reached the battle-field on Crookham Common about half-past three, quickly forming a spacious circle round the ring, which had been admirably prepared by the commissariat department. The ground was thinly covered with snow, and was as hard as adamant from the intensity of the frost, while a cutting breeze from the east, sweeping over the elevation on which the common is placed, left little ground of regret among those whose customary visits to their barbers had been neglected from the rapidity of their morning movements, as they were shaved free of cost. The assemblage, if not as numerous as might have been anticipated had not the move taken place, was in the honest sense of the word respectable, and many persons of _bonâ fide_ distinction, both as to rank and station in society, studded the lively circle.

The umpires having been chosen, the difficulty of selecting a referee was presented in the same unpleasant aspect as in the then recent fight between Hannan and Broome,[23] but was at length got over, after a considerable argumentation, in the selection of a gentleman who, if not professionally engaged in the business of the Ring, was fully competent to decide any dispute which might arise, and who certainly discharged the duties of his unpleasant office with becoming firmness and determination, and, we must add, with perfect impartiality.

All being now prepared for combat, the men entered the ring, greeted by the cheers of their friends. Caunt came forward, attended by Tass Parker and Johnny Broome, all sporting their “yellow men,” while Nick Ward made his bow under the friendly introduction of Dick Curtis and Harry Holt, each of whom displayed a fogle of blue and white spots. The men instantly advanced, and shook hands with apparent good-humour, Ward looked rather serious, while Caunt exhibited a nonchalance and gaiety which proved that he regarded the coming engagement with anything but personal apprehension. The betting round the ring at this moment was 5 to 4 on Caunt, with ready takers; and the preliminaries having been fully adjusted, the joust commenced.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.――On getting into position, the scientific
manner in which Ward presented himself, with his arms
well up, prepared to stop with his right and shoot with
his left, gave evident tokens of his being an
accomplished member of the scientific school. Caunt
also held his arms well up, but with a degree of
awkwardness anything but calculated to lead the
spectators to assume that he had taken his degree as a
“Master of Arts.” He had evidently made up his mind to
lose no time in commencing operations; he advanced upon
his man, while Ward stepped back; Caunt, after a
flourish or two of his mawleys, let fly with his left,
but was stopped; Ward in return popped in his left and
right slightly, and after a wild rally, in which
neither hit with precision, and in which some slight
returns were made, Ward’s left creating a blushing
tinge on the big’un’s cheek, they closed, when Ward
dropped, evidently disinclined to luxuriate in the
embrace of his opponent.

2.――Again the big ’un came up ripe for mischief, and
made play left and right, but was neatly stopped; Ward
then popped in his left, catching his antagonist on the
nose; both then fought merrily left and right, but
there a want of precision in Ward’s deliveries, his
left passing the head of Caunt like “the idle wind,”
and from the slippery state of the ground it was
obvious that neither could obtain firm footing. Nick,
however, contrived to plant two or three left-handed
pops, and the round concluded by both slipping down.
(Loud and encouraging shouts for Ward, whose friends
seemed to deem it necessary to cheer him on to hopes of
victory.)

3.――Ward came up steady, prepared for the stop or the
shoot. He waited for the attack, which was soon
commenced by Caunt with vigorous but wild
determination. He stopped left and right, but in his
returns was short, his visitations not reaching their
intended point of contact. Both in fact missed their
blows, and no real mischief was done. Caunt rushed to a
close, but Ward, still resolved to foil the grappling
propensity of his opponent, slipped down.

4.――Caunt came up resolved to do, but wild and awkward
in his mode of attack. Nick waited for him, his left
ready to pop. Caunt hit out with his left, but missed,
and Nick in the return was out of distance.
Counter-hitting with the left. Both stopped intended
visitations. Heavy exchanges left and right, in which
Caunt caught a stinger on the forehead and the nose,
from the former of which blood was drawn, and declared
for Ward amidst deafening shouts and exclamations of
“It’s all your own!” A wild rally followed, in which
Caunt caught Ward a crack on the nob with his right. In
the close Caunt caught Ward in his arms, but he again
went down.

5.――Caunt tried a feint to draw his man, but Nick was
too leary. He preserved his own position, evidently
determined to nail his man with the left on coming in.
Caunt, impatient, hit out wildly left and right, Nick
broke ground and got away. On again getting to work
Nick planted his left on Caunt’s eye, slight exchanges
followed, but no serious impression was made, and
Ward’s left passed over Caunt’s shoulder. In Caunt’s
deliveries there was neither force nor accuracy. Ward
getting nearer his man succeeded in planting a rap on
his proboscis. Caunt instantly seized him in his arms
and was about to fib, when Ward endeavoured to get
down, but the big ’un held him too firmly, and fell
heavily upon him.

6.――On coming up Caunt exhibited symptoms of
visitations to his nose and eye, as well as to his
forehead, but still no material damage had been
effected. Ward led off with his left, but the hit was
short, and was attended with little effect. Caunt again
closed, determined to give his man the benefit of a
Nottinghamshire hug, but Ward frustrated his intention
by dropping on his knees. At the moment Caunt,
determined to give him a compliment as he fell, let fly
his right, which did not reach its destination (Ward’s
lug) till Ward’s knees had actually reached the ground.
(There was an immediate cry of “foul!” and the
partisans of Ward, as well as his second, rushed to the
referee to claim the battle. This was decidedly in
opposition to the new rules, which prescribe that all
such appeals shall be made to the umpires, and by them
to the referee, and that no other person whatever shall
presume to interfere. Amidst the turmoil and confusion
of intimidation the referee remained silent until the
umpires declared they disagreed, and when the question
was then put to him deliberately pronounced “fair,”
believing, as he said he did, that the blow was
unintentional, and had commenced its flight before Ward
was actually on the ground. All cavil was now at an
end, and the fight proceeded; the friends of Caunt
earnestly entreating that he would be cautious of what
he was about, and be particularly careful in avoiding
the repetition of the blow, which the falling system of
Ward might unintentionally lead him to administer.)

7.――Caunt came up as fresh as a sucking bull, and
pregnant with deeds of mischief. Ward waited for him
steadily, and let fly his left, catching Caunt slightly
on the mug. Caunt hit wildly left and right, but
missed; he then closed, again catching Ward in his
forceps. Ward, however, renewed his dropping system,
and slipped from between his arms on his knees, his
hands up. While in this position, evidently down, Caunt
instantaneously drew back his right hand, and hit him
twice on the side of the head. The shout of “Foul!” was
immediately renewed with redoubled ardour, and a
simultaneous appeal was again made to the referee by
some dozen persons who crowded round him, all
vociferously demanding confirmation of their own
impressions. This indecorous and disgraceful dictation
was again manfully resisted by the referee, who,
waiting with firmness till calmness was restored,
listened to the appeal from the proper authorities, and
pronounced the last blows to be “foul;” observing that
Ward was clearly down upon both knees when the blows
were delivered. Shouts of congratulation forthwith
hailed Ward as the conqueror; a result which filled him
with delight: and he quitted the ring with joyous
satisfaction, scarcely exhibiting a mark of the
conflict in which he had been engaged. Indeed of
punishment he did not afford a specimen worth
mentioning. The fight lasted but twelve minutes, and
terminated at three minutes after four o’clock.

The backer of Caunt was naturally irritated at this
disappointment of his hopes, and, sustained by the
authority of an old ring-goer, contended that the
decision of the referee, however honourably given, was
in opposition to the rules of the Ring, for that by
those rules it was provided, that it was necessary a
man should have his hand on the ground, as well as both
knees, before a blow given could be pronounced foul;
and in this persuasion he said he should give notice to
the stakeholder not to part with the stakes or the bets
till the point was deliberately settled. The referee
said he had given his decision with perfect
impartiality, and he believed with perfect justice. In
confirmation of which he turned to a copy of
_Fistiana_, which he had in his possession, and quoted
from thence (page 29) the 7th at Broughton’s Rules,
which provides, “That no person is to hit his adversary
when he is down, or seize him by the ham, the breeches,
or any part below the waist; a man on his knees to be
reckoned down.” He then quoted the 14th of the New
Rules of the Ring (page 65), which provides, in the
same spirit, “That a blow struck when a man is thrown,
or down, shall be deemed foul. That a man with one hand
and one knee on the ground, or with both knees on the
ground, shall be deemed down; and a blow given in
either of these positions shall be considered foul;
providing always, that when in such position, the man
so down shall not strike, or attempt to strike.” The
articles having been framed according to the New Rules,
this reference must be conclusive. It was contended,
that in the battle between Tom Belcher and Dutch Sam,
the Pugilistic Club had decided that a blow given when
a man was on his knees, with both hands up, was not
foul; but, as there was no written record of this
decision, and as it is opposed both to Broughton’s
Rules and the New Rules, the argument can have no
weight, and the stakes, however easily and
unsatisfactorily won, were of right given to Ward.

REMARKS.――Ward, in purchasing this almost bloodless
victory, did not add much to his reputation. That he
was entitled to the reward of conquest cannot be
denied; but the opportunities of testing his improved
qualities and courage were so limited, that it would be
worse than hypocrisy to say he offered any peculiar
claims to high praise. That he is more scientific than
his opponent cannot be doubted; but it must be admitted
that on comparing his tactics with the steady and
cutting precision of his brother Jem, he has yet much
to learn. Many of his blows were short, while others,
well-intentioned, missed their aim――a circumstance
probably to be ascribed to the slippery state of the
ground, and the unsteady manœuvres of his opponent.
Whether, if the fight had been prolonged, he would have
improved upon acquaintance, we cannot foresee.
Regarding his courage, no particular exception can be
taken, for although going down or trying to go down in
every round is unsightly in the eyes of the spectators,
and has the semblance of being opposed to the
commonplace notions of a fair stand-up fight, yet,
according to the 12th of the New Rules, it will be seen
that such an expedient is allowable; that rule provides
“that it shall be a fair stand-up fight; and if either
man shall wilfully throw himself down without receiving
a blow, he shall be deemed to have lost the battle: but
this rule shall not apply to a man who in a close slips
down from the grasp of his opponent to avoid
punishment.” Here blows had been exchanged, and Ward
obviously slipped down to avoid the punishment which
Caunt had determined to administer. Moreover, it was to
avoid the hugging end being borne on to the ropes which
Ward evaded by slipping from the intended embrace. With
regard to Caunt, we attribute the loss of the battle to
his uncontrollable impetuosity. That he would have been
defeated in fair fight by his accomplished antagonist
is by no means a settled point, for although he showed
marks of tapping, he was quite as fresh and vigorous as
when he commenced, and was quite as likely to win in
the last as he was in the first round. He has still,
however, much to learn; he wants steadiness and
precision, and the wildness with which he hits defeats
his own object. In the use of his left, as well as in
stopping, he has certainly improved, and we think, as
his experience increases, he may become a greater adept
in the art. He must learn to curb his impetuosity, and
preserve that presence of mind the absence of which so
speedily led to the downfall of his hopes in this case.
So persuaded was he that he could have won, that
immediately after judgment had been given against him,
he declared he would make a fresh match, and post the
whole hundred of his own money. It is singular that in
his fights with Bendigo and Brassey he seldom lost a
due command over his temper, although both these men
pursued the same course of getting down as Ward. With
regard to Brassey, his gift of punishment is far more
severe than that of Ward, as the evidence of Caunt’s
carved frontispiece on the former occasion sufficiently
testified.

Here, once again, we will ask the reader to take our arm and stroll away from plain prose into the pleasant path of poetry, by presenting him with a Chant of the Ring about――

NICK WARD AND CAUNT.

Hurrah for the Ring and the bunch of fives!
Like a giant refreshed the Ring revives,
It awakens again to vigorous life
To scare the assassin and crush the knife;
Then welcome to earth as the flowers in spring
Be the glory renew’d of the Boxing Ring,
And over each British boxer brave,
Long may the banner of fair play wave.

Let Puritans sour in accents shrill
Rave against Fistiana still,
And owl-faced beaks shake the nob and vow
To their fiat stern the Ring shall bow;
Let lobsters raw with their truncheons roar
“Disperse” to the pugilistic corps――
The pinks of the Prize Ring, in freedom nurs’d
Shall tell them undaunted to do their worst――

Shall proclaim to the traps ’tis weak and vain
To seek the brave boxer to restrain;
And better ’twould be by far to grab
Those who settle disputes by a mortal stab:
By Heaven, ’tis sufficient to make us blush
For those who are seeking fair play to crush,
To extinguish courage, and skill, and game,
And in letters of blood stamp England’s shame.

Keen is the morning, the glittering snow
Mantles the hills and the vales below,
The landscape around is bleak and bare,
Chill’d by the nipping and frosty air;
The north-east cold over land and sea
Is whistling a sharp, shrill melody;
But the sun is up, and the morning bright,
So hasten, brave boys, to the field of fight.

This day will decide whether Caunt or Nick
In the shape of conquest shall do the trick――
This day shall to Fancy lads declare
Which hero the Champion’s belt shall wear――
Whether Ben, the athletic, of giant limb,
Shall yield to young Ward, or Nick to him,
And after contention fierce and tough
Which combatant first shall sing “enough.”

From slumber rouse, let no time be lost,
Forward for Stockbridge through snow and frost,
Near which, when with creature comfort warmed,
Shall the stakes be pitch’d and the ring be form’d.
Strong was the muster upon that day
Of plebeians low and Corinthians gay,
But the beaks for Hants had in anger vow’d
No mill in their county should be allow’d.

Looks of despair the Fancy put on,
And determin’d to make a move to Sutton,
And thither hasten’d the fistic ranks,
With policemen hanging upon their flanks;
Then Captain Robbins, with gaze intense,
Cried, “Gentlemen, meaning no offence,
You mustn’t attempt, or I’m a liar,
To settle your matters in this here shire.”

Now suppose the Fancy, each peril pass’d,
As Crookham Common arriv’d at last,
Prepar’d for superior milling works
Without meddling traps in the shire of Berks:
Suppose the men in position plac’d.
With arms well up and with muscle brac’d,
Each champion seeming resolved to win,
For the love of glory, as well as tin!

But, ah! it is useless to recite
The details of this brief and no-go fight,
What pepper Nick dealt on the giant’s mug,
And how Caunt return’d with a Russian hug;
How Nick, though on serious mischief bent,
Dropp’d down to steer clear of punishment;
And how big Caunt, though in tip-top plight,
Hit his foe on his knees and lost the fight.

Yet hurrah for the Ring and the bunch of fives!
Like a giant refresh’d the Ring revives,
It awakens again to vigorous life
To scare the assassin and crush the knife:
Then welcome to earth as the flowers in spring
Be the glory renew’d of the Fighting Ring,
And over each British boxer brave
Long may the banner of fair play wave.

On the Thursday evening of the ensuing week, on the occasion of the giving up of the stakes, which took place at Young Dutch Sam’s, in Vinegar Yard, Drury Lane, Big Ben and his friends were “all there,” and a “motion for a new trial” was made and agreed to on both sides. The articles, which were settled in the following week, will be found in a former page of this volume, in the Memoir of CAUNT, who “reversed the former verdict” on the 11th of May, 1841, at Long Marsden, in thirty-five rounds, occupying forty-seven minutes.

This was Nick’s “Waterloo,” and his last appearance on any field. He became a publican, first in Liverpool, and then in London, and on the 17th of February, 1850, departed this life, at the “King’s Head,” Compton Street, Soho, the victim of a pulmonary attack.

[22] A detailed biography of this remarkable boxer will be
found in the Author’s “RECOLLECTIONS OF THE RING,” vol. i.
“Pencilling,” III.

[23] See _Recollections of the Ring and Pencillings of
Pugilists_. No. IX. JOHNNY BROOME.