[49]. In a reprint in Bell’s Life (May 15th, 1879) this fight is reported throughout as “O’Neale and Gaynor,” without a word of allusion to Neale’s previous battles.
[50]. This is an allusion to a system of exercise adopted by Jem in training, and recommended by many, of practising right and left upon a sack stuffed with hay, to teach straight delivery.
[51]. The original Assembly Rooms in Regent Street, by Argyll Place, not the Windmill Street “Argyll,” recently “disestablished” by the Middlesex magistrates.
[52]. Frank Redmond, although his Ring career was not marked by success, was a skilful sparrer and an excellent teacher of the art of self-defence. He was born on the 26th of February, 1803, and as a young aspirant was so highly thought of that he was matched (at the age of twenty) against the renowned “Star of the East,” Barney Aaron, whose recent victories over Samuel Belasco, Collins, Ned Stockman, and Lenney (twice) had raised him to a proud position among the middle weights. Young Frank was soundly beaten in thirty-two minutes, after a game and manly battle with an opponent by whom it was no disgrace to be defeated.
Four years afterwards Frank again challenged Aaron, and a match was made for £50 a-side, to fight on the 21st August, 1827, but Frank was arrested on the day on the road to the appointed place. Strange to say, although this was proved, the stakes were given up to the Israelite, which so angered Redmond that he threw up his hat in the room at the “Castle” and offered to fight for £20 on the spot. A third match was then made for £50 a-side. After a high-couraged battle (which will be found in the Life of Barney Aaron, in the Appendix to this Period) Redmond was again defeated. Redmond’s other battles were a game but unsuccessful combat with Harry Jones (the Sailor Boy), and a single victory over Tom Davis, near Leominster, on the 14th of November, 1833. Frank soon after married, and went into business as a licensed victualler at the “George and Dragon,” Greek Street, Soho, which, from Frank’s abilities as a professor of the fistic art, and his thorough knowledge of the points of a dog, became a popular resort. At an after period, for many years, Frank Redmond was known and respected as the proprietor of the “Swiss Cottage,” St. John’s Wood. We extract the following from “Walks round London,” published in 1846:—
“The ‘Swiss Cottage,’ at the intersection of the London and Finchley Roads and Belsize Lane, is a pleasant summer retreat; and it would be hard to name a more competent authority on sporting subjects than the worthy host, than whom
‘A merrier nor a wiser man
To spend a pleasant hour withal’
is not to be found within the bills of mortality. Well versed in all sporting matters is Frank Redmond; and behind a yard of clay, and over a glass of the best Cognac, the proprietor of this hostelrie will discuss with you the merits of a Derby nag; the pluck, game, bravery, and stamina of the aspirant for fistic fame; the construction and merits of a prize wherry; the skill of a batsman and cricket-bowler; or detail to you the speed and breeding of a crack greyhound. On this last theme Frank will become a monopolist; you have touched the chord that will vibrate, for on the subject of the canine species he will become as learned as England’s ermined Chief Justice on a knotty point of law, or as eloquent as Demosthenes himself. A better judge of the merits, breeding, and qualities of the dog does not exist. Frank is reputed to be the best dog-fancier in the kingdom, and on that point is generally consulted by the aristocracy and Corinthians of the first water.
“Such are a few of the many inducements, and we own they are no small ones, which prompt us to notice ‘the Cottage.’ We say nothing about the accommodation offered to the guests; for it were a libel on Frank’s administration to assert that they are not of the first-rate order, and he must be an epicure, indeed, who could find fault with the cuisine of the establishment. Had the ‘Swiss Cottage’ existed in Shakspere’s days, we should have been inclined to assert that it was from some such a house as this that the ‘fat-ribbed knight’ first acquired his idea of the comfort a man feels in taking ‘mine ease at mine inn.’”