[3] Of whom a separate portrait, by Ellis, had been published by Overton. Figg died in the year 1734. As the taste of the publick is much changed about the importance of the noble Science of Defence, as it was called, and as probably it will never again revive, it may afford some entertainment to my readers, to see the terms in which this celebrated prize-fighter is spoken of by a professor of the art. "Figg was the Atlas of the Sword; and may he remain the gladiating statue! In him strength, resolution, and unparalleled judgement, conspired to form a matchless master. There was a majesty shone in his countenance, and blazed in all his actions, beyond all I ever saw. His right leg bold and firm, and his left, which could hardly ever be disturbed, gave him the surprising advantage already proved, and struck his adversary with despair and panic. He had that peculiar way of stepping in I spoke of, in a parry; he knew his arm, and its just time of moving; put a firm faith in that, and never let his adversary escape his parry. He was just as much a greater master than any other I ever saw, as he was a greater judge of time and measure." Captain John Godfrey's Treatise upon the Useful Science of Defence, 4to, 1747, p. 41. "Mr. Figg," says Chetwood, History of the Stage, p. 60, "informed me once, that he had not bought a shirt for more than twenty years, but had sold some dozens. It was his method, when he fought in his amphitheatre (his stage bearing that superb title), to send round to a select number of his scholars, to borrow a shirt for the ensuing combat, and seldom failed of half a dozen of superfine Holland from his prime pupils (most of the young nobility and gentry made it a part of their education to march under his warlike banner). This champion was generally conqueror, though his shirt seldom failed of gaining a cut from his enemy, and sometimes his flesh, though I think he never received any dangerous wound. Most of his scholars were at every battle, and were sure to exult at their great master's victories, every person supposing he saw the wounds his shirt received. Mr. Figg took his opportunity to inform his lenders of linen of the chasms their shirts received, with a promise to send them home. But, said the ingenious courageous Figg, I seldom received any other answer than D-mn you, keep it!" A Poem by Dr. Byrom, on a battle between Figg and Sutton, another prize-fighter, is in the 6th Volume of Dodsley's Collection of Poems.
[4] Fielding has introduced this porter, under the name of Leathersides, into The Covent-Garden Tragedy, acted in 1732.
Leath.
Two whores, great Madam, must be straight prepar'd,
A fat one for the Squire, and for my Lord a lean.
Mother.
Thou, Leathersides, best know'st such nymphs to find,
To thee their lodgings they communicate.
Go thou procure the girl.
[5] The cleanliness of the English seems to have made a similar impression on the mind of M. De Grosley, who, in his "Tour to London," observes, that "The plate, hearth-stones, moveables, apartments, doors, stairs, the very street-doors, their locks, and the large brass knockers, are every day washed, scowered, or rubbed. Even in lodging-houses, the middle of the stairs is often covered with carpeting, to prevent them from being soiled. All the apartments in the house have mats or carpets; and the use of them has been adopted some years since by the French;" and that "The towns and villages upon the road have excellent inns, but somewhat dear; at these an English lord is as well served as at his own house, and with a cleanliness much to be wished for in most of the best houses of France. The innkeeper makes his appearance only to do the honours of his table to the greatest personages, who often invite him to dine with them."
[6] The chief of these, who wears something that seems to have been a tie-wig, was painted from a French boy, who cleaned shoes at the corner of Hog-Lane.
[7] In the collection of Mr. Steevens only.
[8] He had meditated, however, some additional improvements in the same plate. When he had inserted the storm, he began to consider the impropriety of turning the girl out in the midst of it with her head uncovered; and therefore, on a proof of this print, from which he designed to have worked, he sketched her hat in with Indian ink.
[9] It appears, on examination of the Registers, &c. that Tho. Sice and Tho. Horn are not fictitious names. Such people were really churchwardens when the repairs in 1725 were made. The following inscription on the pew, denoting a vault beneath, is also genuine, and, as far as can be known at present, was faithfully copied in regard to its obsolete spelling.
THESE PEWES VNSCRVD AND TANE IN SVNDER
IN STONE THERS GRAVEN WHAT IS VNDER
TO WIT A VALT FOR BURIAL THERE IS
WHICH EDWARD FORSET MADE FOR HIM AND HIS.
Part of these words, in raised letters, at present form a pannel in the wainscot at the end of the right-hand gallery, as the church is entered from the street.—No heir of the Forset family appearing, their vault has been claimed and used by his Grace the Duke of Portland, as lord of the manor. The mural monument of the Taylors, composed of lead gilt over, is likewise preserved. It is seen, in Hogarth's print, just under the window. The bishop of the diocese, when the new church was built, gave orders that all the ancient tablets should be placed, as nearly as possible, in their former situations.