Part 53 (2/2)
The gains of the conqueror were supposed to be about a thousand pounds.
The amus.e.m.e.nts of the day were concluded by a second fight between Parish and Lashbroke, which proved a manly and determined contest for upwards of an hour, and in which the combatants evinced considerable skill and bravery, and was finally decided in favour of Parish. All amus.e.m.e.nt which might have been derived from this spectacle, however, was completely destroyed by the daring outrages of an immense gang of pickpockets, who broke in the Ring, and closed completely up to the ropes, carrying with them every person, of decent appearance, and openly robbing them of their watches, pocket-books and purses. And the lateness of the hour, it being five o'clock, and almost dark, favoured the depredators.
In the midst of this struggle, Tom Dashall had nearly lost his fancy topper,{1} and Tallyho was secretly eased of his clicker.{2} From the scene of tumult and confusion they were glad to escape; and being again safely seated in the
1 Topper--A flash term given to a hat.
2 Clicker--A flash term given to a watch,
~402~~ barouche, they made the best of their way home; in doing which, they found the roads almost as much clogg'd as they were in the morning.
The Randallites were meritorious, and, flushed with good fortune, lined the public-houses on the road to _wet their whistles_, singing and shouting his name in strains to them equally inspiring as
”See the conquering hero comes!
Sound your trumpets, beat your drums;”
while the Martinites rolled along the road in sullen silence; and, by the time they reached town, an account of the Battle was hawking about the streets, and songs singing to the praise of the successful combatant in all the melodious cadences of a last dying speech and confession: such is the prompt.i.tude of London Printers, Poets, and News-venders.
”Well,” said Dashall, as they re-entered the house, ”the events of this day have completely disappointed some of the knowing ones.”
”That may be,” replied Bob, ”but they have been too knowing for me, notwithstanding your previous instructions. However, I don't regret seeing the humours of a Prize Ring; and the next time you catch me there, I must take a lesson from the man of profit, and keep a wakeful winker on the possibles. Really, I could not help feeling astonished at the immense number of persons a.s.sembled on such an occasion.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: page402 A Private Turn-up]
”Zounds!” said Tom, ”'tis the real centre of attraction, the thing, the tippy, and the twig, among the Lads of the Fancy. Why, it is pretty generally known, through the medium of the newspapers, that a certain n.o.bleman paid the debts of one of these Pugilists, amounting to 300L.
that he might be released from Newgate in order to fight a prize battle; and it is not long since that the Marquis of T--ed--e, whilst entertaining a large party, after dinner introduced the subject with so much effect, that a purse of 100 guineas was subscribed among them for a turn up between two of the _prime hammermen_; who, being introduced, actually set-to in his drawing-room for the amus.e.m.e.nt of his friends.
Nor is it less true, that this sporting n.o.bleman gloriously took up the conqueror, (as the saying is) and evinced his patronage and his power at once, by actually subduing his antagonist, proving to cert.i.tude, that if his Lords.h.i.+p would but practise this sublime art, he ~403~~ could hardly fail of adding to his present t.i.tle that of the Champion of England! It is the theme of constant conversation, and in many cases there is more anxiety about contests of this sort than there is about the arrival of a Monarch on the Irish coast among the lads of _praties_, whiskey, and b.u.t.termilk--thoughts are busy, energies are active--and money in galore is circulated upon it.”
Bob laughed heartily at these observations of his Cousin upon what he termed the sublime art.
”You don't appear to enter into the spirit of it,” continued Tom; ”but I can a.s.sure you, it is a very animating subject, and has occupied the attention of all cla.s.ses, from the peer to the prelate, the peasant and the pot-boy; it is said that one of the lower order of ranting Preachers, not many miles from Bolton-on-the-Moors, lately addressed his auditory in the following metaphorical language, accompanied with striking and appropriate att.i.tudes:--'I dare say, now, you'd pay to see a boxing-match between Randall and Turner, or Martin--yet you don't like to pay for seeing a pitched-battle between me and the Black Champion Beelzebub. Oh! my friends, many a hard knock, and many a cross-b.u.t.tock have I given the arch bruiser of mankind--aye, and all for your dear sakes--pull--do pull off those gay garments of Mammon, strike the devil a straight-forward blow in the mouth, darken his spiritual daylights.
At him manfully, give it him right and left, and I'll be your bottle-holder--I ask nothing but the money, which you'll not forget before you go.' ”
”The true spirit moved him,” said Bob, ”and a very laudable one too; but he very emphatically deprecated the votaries of Mammon.”
”Certainly, he being called, would have been unworthy of his calling if he had not.”
This conversation was carried on over a gla.s.s of generous wine, and, dwindling into indifferent subjects, is not necessary to be detailed; suffice it to say, that, fatigued with the day's exertions, they sought repose in the arms of Morpheus at an early hour, determined on the pursuit of fresh game with the dawn of the morning.404~~
CHAPTER XXVI
”See yonder beaux, so delicately gay; And yonder belles, so'deck'd in thin array-- Ah! rather see not what a decent pride Would teach a maiden modestly to hide; The dress so flimsy, the exposure such, ”twould almost make a very wanton blush.
E'en married dames, forgetting what is due To sacred ties, give half clad charms to view.
What calls them forth to brave the daring glance, The public ball, the midnight wanton dance?
There many a blooming nymph, by fas.h.i.+on led, Has felt her health, her peace, her honour fled; Truss'd her fine form to strange fantastic shapes, To be admir'd, and twirl'd about by apes; Or, mingling in the motley masquerade, Found innocence by visor'd vice betrayed.”
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