Part 37 (2/2)
”At arguing too each person own'd his skill, For e'en tho' vanquish'd, he can argue still.”
2 This gentleman, who is also well known in the room, where he generally smokes his pipe of an evening, is plain and blunt, but affable and communicative in his manners--bold in his a.s.sertions, and has proved himself courageous in defending them--asthmatic, and by some termed phlegmatic; but an intelligent and agreeable companion, unless thwarted in his argument--a stanch friend to the late Queen and the const.i.tution of his country, with a desire to have the _Const.i.tution, the whole Const.i.tution, and nothing but the Const.i.tution_.
~286~~ what was pa.s.sing, but said nothing; he however puffed away large quant.i.ties of smoke at every pause of the Reader, and occasionally grinn'd at the contents of the paper, from which. Tallyho readily concluded that he was in direct political opposition to its sentiments.
The acquisition of new company was not lost upon to those who were seated at the round table, and it was not long before the Hon. Tom Dashall was informed that they hoped to have the honour of his Cousin's name as a member; nor were they backward in conveying a similar hint to Frank Harry, who immediately proposed his two friends, Mortimer and Merry well; an example which was followed by Tom's proposing his Cousin.
[Ill.u.s.tration: page286 Road to a Fight]
Such respectable introductions could not fail to meet the approbation of the Gentlemen present,--consequently they were unanimously elected Knights of the Round Table, which was almost as quickly supplied by the Waiter with a capacious bowl of punch, and the healths of the newmade Members drank with three times three; when their attention was suddenly drawn to a distant part of the room, where a sprightly Stripling, who was seated by the swarthy Conjuror before mentioned, was singing the following Song:
THE JOYS OF A MILL, OR A TODDLE TO A FIGHT.
”Now's the time for milling, boys, since all the world's agog for it, Away to Copthorne, Moulsey Hurst, or Slipperton they go; Or grave or gay, they post away, nay p.a.w.n their very togs for it, And determined to be up to all, go down to see the show: Giddy pated, hearts elated, cash and courage all to view it, Ev'ry one to learn a bit, and tell his neighbours how to do it; E'en little Sprites in lily whites, are fibbing it and rus.h.i.+ng it, Your das.h.i.+ng Swells from Bagnigge Wells, are flooring it and flus.h.i.+ng it:
Oh! 'tis a sight so gay and so uproarious, That all the world is up in arms, and ready for a fight.
The roads are so clogg'd, that they beggar all description now, With lads and la.s.ses, prim'd and grogg'd for bang-up fun and glee; Here's carts and gigs, and knowing prigs all ready to kick up a row, And ev'ry one is anxious to obtain a place to see; Here's a noted sprig of life, who sports his t.i.ts and clumner too, And there is Cribb and Gully, Belcher, Oliver, and H armer too, With Shelton, Bitton, Turner, Hales, and all the lads to go it well, Who now and then, to please the Fancy, make opponents know it well:
Oh! 'tis a sight, &c.
But now the fight's begun, and the Combatants are setting to, Silence is aloud proclaim'd by voices base and shrill; Facing, stopping---fibbing, dropping--claret tapping--betting too-- Reeling, rapping--physic napping, all to grace the mill; Losing, winning--horse-laugh, grinning--mind you do not glance away, Or somebody may mill your mug, and of your n.o.b in Chancery; For n.o.bs and bobs, and empty fobs, the like no tongue could ever tell-- See, here's the heavy-handed Gas, and there's the mighty Non- pareil:
Oh! 'tis a sight, &c.
Thus milling is the fas.h.i.+on grown, and ev'ry one a closer is; With lessons from the lads of fist to turn out quite the thing; True science may be learn'd where'er the fam'd Mendoza is, And gallantry and bottom too from Scroggins, Martin, Spring; For sparring now is all the rage in town, and country places too, And collar-bones and claret-mugs are often seen at races too; While counter-hits, and give and take, as long as strength can hold her seat, Afford the best amus.e.m.e.nt in a bit of pugilistic treat:
Oh! 'tis a sight, &c.
While this song was singing, universal silence prevailed, but an uproar of approbation followed, which lasted for some minutes, with a general call of encore, which however soon subsided, and the company was again restored to their former state of conversation; each party appearing distinct, indulged in such observations and remarks as were most suitable or agreeable to themselves.
Bob was highly pleased with this description of a milling match; and as the Singer was sitting near the person who had excited a considerable portion of his attention at intervals in watching his tricks, in some of which great ingenuity was displayed, he asked his Cousin if he knew him.
”Know him,” replied Tom, ”to be sure I do; that is no other than Bitton, a well-known pugilist, who frequently exhibits at the Fives-Court; he is a Jew, and employs his time in giving lessons.”
”Zounds!” said Mortimer, ”he seems to have studied the art of Legerdemain as well as the science of Milling.”
”He is an old customer here,” said a little Gentleman at the opposite side of the table, drawing from his pocket a box of segars{1}--”Now, Sir,” continued he, ”if you wish for a treat,” addressing himself to Tallyho, ”allow me to select you one--there, Sir, is asgar like a nosegay--I had it from a friend of mine who only arrived yesterday--you don't often meet with such, I a.s.sure you.”
Bob accepted the offer, and was in the act of lighting it, when Bitton approached toward their end of the room with some cards in his hand, from which Bob began to antic.i.p.ate he would shew some tricks upon them.
As soon as he came near the table, he had his eye upon the Hon. Tom Dashall, to whom he introduced 'himself by the presentation of a card, which announced his benefit for the next week at the Fives-Court, when all the prime lads of the ring had promised to exhibit.
”Egad!” said Dashall, ”it will be an excellent opportunity--what, will you take a trip that way and see the mighty men of fist?”
”With all my heart,” said Tallyho.
”And mine too,” exclaimed Mortimer.
It was therefore quickly determined, and each of the party being supplied with a ticket, Bitton canva.s.sed the room for other customers, after which he again retired to his seat.
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