A fit of common sickness pulls thee down
With greater ease than e’er thou didst the strippling
That rashly dared thee to th’ unequal fight.”
CHAPTER IV.
JOHN GULLY—1805–1808.
When Hen. Pearce, compelled by severe bodily illness to retire from the fistic arena, seceded from the position of champion, John Gully was looked to by common consent as his successor. He was one of those who achieve a high fame by defeat, and we have Pearce’s own recorded opinion that he was the best man he had ever fought with. Gully’s ambition was of a high order; like Jackson, second and third-rate pugilists were beneath his aim, and spurning the better and safer mode of acquiring greatness step by step, his daring spirit made the essay of
“Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself,
And falls o’ the other side.”
Yet here he showed an exception to the approved rule, for, by at once attacking the justly renowned Game Chicken, though he fell, he rose indisputably a greater man, from the excellent qualities he displayed on this bold but unsuccessful attempt. Gully convinced the sporting world that he was able to contend with honour, and even with a considerable chance of success, with the supposed invincibility of that eminent pugilist, whose generosity of disposition would not permit him to quit his vanquished adversary without complimenting him upon his uncommon bravery and fortitude.
In these two years (1805, 1806), Gully does not seem to have publicly desired the title of champion, which was rather conceded to him. In September, 1807, by an incidental passage in the daily papers, it would seem he was so considered. On the 5th of that month (September), Horton beat George Cribb (brother of Tom the after champion) and offered to fight either Gully “for the championship,” or Tom Cribb for fifty guineas, but both declined.