[34]. There were two other boxers of the name. Sam Larkins, of Cambridge, who beat Abbot (see Abbot), Shadbolt, and John Fuller; and Larkins, the Guardsman.
[35]. In the fourth volume of Pierce Egan’s “Boxiana,” pp. 473–481, will be found a friendly sketch of poor George’s career, as historiographer of the ring for the previous twenty years. He was a Berkshire man, born August 19, 1778, apprenticed to Varley, the celebrated seal engraver in the Strand, subsequently enlisted in the 16th Dragoons, but obtained his discharge at the period of the treaty of Amiens. Then an usher in a school at Camberwell, a newspaper writer in the British Neptune, and proprietor of Kent’s Dispatch, which died. Pierce Egan, who, with Vincent Dowling and George’s two sons, followed him to his grave in St. Paul’s, Covent Garden, says he realised in two successive years £1700, by sporting reporting. He was a scholar and a man of talent.
[36]. Dick Acton, a protégé of the scientific sparrer, Bill Eales, was like the French general who was compared to a drum, heard of only when beaten. He was a shoemaker by trade, and a ring follower by choice. His first fight in the P. C. ropes was with one Nash, at Kilburn, August 21, 1821, whom he beat, for a purse of 20 guineas, in thirty-two rounds. The next week, the love of fight strong within him, Dick threw his hat in at Edgeware, for a purse of 20 guineas, and polished off a stalwart countryman, hight Evans, in eighteen rounds, forty minutes. His next customer was a regular boxer, known as Massa Kendrick, the black. He turned the tables on “the Snob,” putting him in darkness in seventeen rounds, twenty-five minutes, at Moulsey, December 18, 1821. Dick moved for a new trial, and on the 18th of March, 1822, at Moulsey, seconded by Eales and Tom Spring, the Black by Randall and Josh. Hudson, Acton reversed the verdict, with two to one against him, punishing Massa out of time in thirty-two rattling rounds, occupying thirty-five minutes. From this time he became a sort of “trial horse,” and was beaten successively by Jem Ward, Young Peter Crawley, and Jack Nicholls, all good men.
[37]. See Memoir of Phil. Sampson, in an after part of this volume.
[38]. It may be as well to premise that this was written by one who was far from friendly to Ward. The facts, however, speak for themselves.—Ed. Pugilistica.
[39]. See Life of Painter, ante, p. 82.
[40]. See Life of Ward, p. 201, ante.
[41]. Bill (known as Dolly) Smith was born at Hammersmith, and was well thought of by many patrons of the art pugilistic. His principal battles were with Cannon, Abbot, Phil. Sampson, Joe Nash, and Jack Scroggins, by all of whom he was beaten, so that his name has been preserved by the fame of the antagonists who defeated him. His one successful battle was with Hares, whom he defeated after a slashing fight of fifty-eight minutes, during which forty rounds were fought, at Coombe Wood, May 3, 1814. This was for a purse of twenty-five guineas, given by the Pugilistic Club.
[42]. See Life of Jem Ward, pp. 211–215, ante.
[43]. The following we find in the Weekly Dispatch of the Sunday which announces Tom’s engagement:—