THE ORIGINAL IN FRENCH.
“MM. Carter (Champion d’Angleterre), Cooper, et Gregson, premiers boxeurs Anglais, se trouvant à Aix-la-Chapelle, ont l’honneur d’informer le public qu’ils donneront, le Mercredi, 7 Octobre, 1818, a 11 heures du matin et à 3 de l’aprèsmidi, et Jeudi, aux mêmes heures,
“Deux grands Assauts de Boxe,
dans la salle de la Vieille-Redoute, rue Compesbad, en cette ville.
“Ils ont eu l’honneur de représenter devant les premiers personnages de l’Europe.
“Prix d’entrée cinq francs personne.
“N.B.—Messieurs Carter et Gregson offrent en même temps leurs services aux amateurs qui voudraient se faire instruire dans leur art, à raison de cinq francs par leçon, sauf à payer 20 francs l’entrée.”
The editors of continental papers, then, as now, knew very little of the principles on which British pugilistic contests are conducted. In one of the Paris journals the following description of the pugilists at Aix-la-Chapelle, is given:—
“Aix-la-Chapelle, Oct. 8.—Yesterday there was a grand exhibition made by the English boxers. This hideous spectacle attracted but few spectators. The two champions, built like Hercules, and naked to their waists, entered the lists, their hands guarded by huge wadded gloves. One might imagine that he beheld the ancient athletic games of Greece and Rome. After a severe contest, one of the boxers, more adroit than his rival, struck him so violent a blow on the breast that he fell, and victory was thus decided.”
On Cooper’s return to London, a benefit was given him at the Fives Court, but no customer offering to enter the lists with him, he left the metropolis for Edinburgh. The heroes of the ring viewed Cooper with considerable jealousy, and murmured much at his having the court granted to him, observing that he went about sparring, and such a privilege as a benefit at the Fives Court should only be granted to fighting men. In reply to this ill-natured assertion, Cooper urged that no one would fight him.