“The carriages, waggons, and stands erected for viewing the fight, were arranged in some places three or four behind each other, in an oval of 200 feet by 250 feet, and were covered with spectators. The ring was at first of smaller dimensions, but it was necessary to enlarge it. There was immense trouble to the pugilistic characters on the ground with their whips in forcing back the multitude, who were within the enclosure, to the carriages. At last the men stripped and set-to. They stood before one another, with their eyes directed forward, watching every move. They changed their ground, but still their arms kept in parallel, marching and countermarching to prevent surprise. It reminded military amateurs of the parallel movements of Wellington and Marmont before the glorious ‘mill’ at Salamanca. At last they exchanged hits. Randall put in a blow on the breast, which made it appear red; he had a blow under the eye and on the nose, but made a most dreadful return, and came in on his man, caught him in one arm, and his other went to work so fast, it seemed like the motion of a mill wheel in full speed. Both fell, and were picked up; but Martin’s head hung down like an apple on its stalk. The seconds put it in its proper place, but it dropped again. They moved it backwards and forwards, like a baker rolling about a loaf in flour; they threw water on him, waved their hats to cool him, but all was not enough; and when thirty seconds had elapsed, time was called, but his senses were gone. Thus was the battle lost. The amateurs were sadly disappointed as to their hopes of a long and beautiful fight: and from the attitudes of the men, and their known science and game qualities, it was fairly to be expected. It was reported Martin was killed; but the feelings of the spectators were relieved by word that, on being bled he became sensible, and in a fair way of soon doing well.
“The conqueror walked about on the ground, and enjoyed the admiration in which he was held by the spectators, and a flight of pigeons was let off to convey the intelligence to town.
“After the first fight, the multitude inundated the ground, and there was no order observed afterwards. The commander-in-chief was absent, and republican government will never do. It was attempted to clear the ground, but the multitude was not forced half so far back as the carriages. If the circle had been larger, they might all have seen; but one half of them saw nothing, and attempted to push forward, and they partly hid the view from the spectators on the carriages. Individuals exerted themselves to keep a wider ring, laid on the whip, but there was no system of acting in concert, and if such were usually the case, few people would be induced to go to see a fight. The men hit away well; some beautiful stops of blows were made, but many told home. Their bodies, which were white at the commencement, exhibited patches of scarlet at a distance. They often closed and hugged, and their arms were in motion like two mill wheels. They threw each other down, and frequently over the ropes. The seconds applied the water, and rubbed them like the grooms do horses in the stable, put their men in condition, and made them respectable in their appearance. The contest was well supported to the last, and both men were very much punished.
“On a moderate calculation, I presume £10,000 or £12,000 would not cover the travelling expenses of the amateurs assembled. What a pity we do not enjoy the glorious liberty of the days of King George II. We might have had all the sport in a theatre in Oxford Street, or in Tottenham Court Road; and a fraction of the money now spent in travelling would reward the men for their exertions. Much valuable time might also be saved for business. But it is a matter of infinite regret, that the pretended friends of liberty abandon the interests of the people, and never defend public meetings, except those at which they themselves may exhibit. But let us hope for better times, and there are some promising symptoms, and we may have sports at once commodious, agreeable, and at a moderate expense. I shall tell you more when I return, and meanwhile,
“I am, dear sir, etc.
“* * * * *.”
A voluminous correspondence, some of it very angry and vulgar, appeared in Pierce Egan’s newspaper, in relation to a third fight between Randall and Martin, together with some “Lines to John Randall,” in the Morning Chronicle, from the pen of Tom Moore, which we must preserve. Of course the author of “Cash, Corn, and Catholics” adopted Pierce’s Irish origin for Randall.
“LINES TO JOHN RANDALL,
On the Subject of Mr. Martin’s Letter in the “Weekly Dispatch” of November 18.”
“Come, Randall, my dear! Come, the hodmen entreat thee