PRIZE FIGHTING AND DUELS.
Prize fighting was beginning to develop into a fine art, and it was thought no more derogatory in a fine gentleman to assist, by his presence, at a "Mill," than to be present at a Cock fight. It was patronised by Royalty, as we see by the following Newspaper Cutting. Indeed, the Prince of Wales attended several prize fights, until a man was killed, and then he left the ring to itself.
"On Friday, a battle was fought at Blackheath between Crabbe, a Jew, and Oliver, commonly called Death; in which the former was victorious. All the great patrons, and distinguished professors of this fine art were present, and many bets were laid. The battle was honoured, in particular, by the attendance of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales."—(Morning Post, April 18, 1788.)
Even those "feeble folk," those superfine gentlemen, the Macaronis, learned to use their fists, as we see by this illustration.
Any one caring for such particulars will well know that this was the golden age for pugilism. There were Tom Johnson, 1783-1791. Benjamin Brain (Big Ben), 1786-1791. Daniel Mendoza, a Jew, 1784-1820. Richard Humphries, "the Gentleman boxer," 1784-1790. John Jackson, 1788-1795. Bill Hooper (the Tin man), 1789-1797. Tom Owen, 1796-1799-1820. Tom Jones (Paddington Jones), 1786-1805. Bill Warr (of Bristol), 1787-1792. Will Wood, the Coachman, 1788-1804. George Ingleston, the Brewer, 1789-1793. Bob Watson, of Bristol, 1788-1791. Tom Tyne, "the Tailor," 1788-1792. Symonds (the Ruffian), 1791-1795. Jem Belcher, 1798-1809. This is the list of the Chief Gladiators of the period.
"Mendoza's terms for teaching are reasonable enough—eight lessons for a guinea."—(Morning Post, May 26, 1788.)
"Mendoza and Ward, finding that the blackguard exercise of boxing had fallen into disrepute, took up the genteel trade of crimping, and became acting serjeants, at a house in St. George's Fields, until a stop was put to that nefarious business by authority. We are sorry to find that these notorious blackguards have since returned to their former occupation."—(Times, April 16, 1795.)
Boxing made easy, or Humphreys giving a lesson.—1788.
Duels were of as common occurrence, as highway robberies, and need as much comment. Still, I give two, or three, instances to show on what trifles, men, then, ventured their lives.
The first is an ordinary duel between two officers, reported in the Morning Post of 22nd June 1788—in which one of them was wounded in the thigh. This report brings a letter from some one, probably a second, who gives his version thus:—"Sir, in your account of the duel between Captains Tonge and Paterson, in your Paper of the 22nd, there is a mistake or two, which, for the sake of truth, I beg leave to correct. You say, 'that Capt. T. wished to apologise for the injury he had done.' The truth is, Captain T. being not quite himself when the affray happened, remembered very little of what had passed, except that, on some provocation, he had struck Capt. P. Considering himself, therefore, as having, palpably broken the peace, he was ready to ask Capt. P.'s pardon.
"This was not deemed sufficient satisfaction, and the duel took place. You tell us, that Capt. T.'s ball passed Capt. P., thereby implying that Capt. T. actually fired at his antagonist. Now, Sir, I can positively affirm that Capt. T. was determined not to fire his pistol, and that it was involuntarily discharged, after he was wounded, and not levelled at Capt. P. You tell us then, that Capt. T., upon falling, declared that 'he had merited his fate, and begged Capt. P.'s pardon.' His words were, Are you satisfied? I fear I am dangerously wounded, I therefore advise you to fly.
"To enable the Public to judge properly of this affair, it is necessary they should be told, that the first offence was, Capt. T.'s treading accidentally on Capt. P.'s heel, who, though he saw Capt. T. was intoxicated, continued to follow him.
Rich. Weeks."
"Captain Parkhurst and a Mr. Kelly, are the names of the gentlemen who exchanged blows at the Opera House on Saturday evening."—(Times, March 11, 1794.)
"On Sunday morning a duel was fought in Hyde Park between Mr. Parkhurst and Lieut. Kelly of the Navy. The dispute originated in some difference about places at the Opera pit on the preceding night. A brace of pistols was discharged, and the latter gentleman wounded in the shoulder. The seconds then interfered, and brought the matter to a termination."—(Times, March 13, 1794.)
"Friday morning a duel was fought in a field on the Uxbridge Road, between Mr. Duke, surgeon, and Captain D——s, in consequence of an old dispute revived a few nights ago in the Haymarket Theatre. The parties discharged a brace of pistols without effect, but upon Mr. D. discharging his second pistol, a ball was lodged in Capt. D.'s arm—upon which the seconds interfered, and a reconciliation took place."—(Times, Feb. 18, 1793.)