fond of theatricals, and had often bespoken a
play for the night, in different country towns.
He had been a master of hounds, a breeder of
greyhounds, fighting-cocks, and bull-dogs ;
and always celebrated for his leaps. In the
language of the Stud-book, his first wife had
no produce ; but by his second he had sever;: 1
children. We may suppose he chose her as
he would a race-horse, for she is not only
handsome, but very good. He lived to a good
old age, highly respected by his friends and
acquaintances ; and died much lamented by
the lovers of the course. The late Mr. Francis
Buckle was always considered an ornament
to the Turf. Requiescat in pace.



FIELD SPORTS FOR APRIL.



On early dawn



Such are our pleasing cares,



And sweet amusements such, each busy drudge
Envious must wish, and all the wise enjoy."

SO.MEH\ ILLK.

The showers of April, whilst they obliterate
for a season the traces of some of our Field
Sports, produce and become welcome allies to
others. Thus, though the keeper of harriers
no more quests for his game though the fol-
lower of the "long dogs" has Killed his March
hare and the shooter dropped, till the wither-
ing leaves of October rustle again, his hist
pheasant as



High in air



He waves h's varied plumes, stretching away
With hasty wing"

yet the Fox-hunter joyously will follow the
joviality-inspiring sporthe andall good (VSlows
love so well ; and the Stag-hunter continues



To list the challenge of the horn
And view before the thirsty hound
The bearded red-deer wildly bound,
Whilst coverts with the crash resound."

In some of our sporting counties April is,
indeed, considered the month for congregating
brilliant fields, and inducing gallant per-
formances.

The Race Course will now, too, be peopled
with anxious spectators, and pressed by high
mettled steeds.

Within a short time, following hard on these,
" th' amphibious otter" becomes an object of
pursuit. The sport is, however, but partially
followed in this our day ; but yet it is, in our
opinion, entitled to more consideration than
many are inclined to award it.



ANCLINO

" Now, if the chrystal stream delight thee more,
Sportsman, lead on where through the reedy b^nk
Th' insinuating waters filter'd stray,
In many a winding maze."

The Fisherman may now, in good earnest,
put together his tackle arm himself with
"taper angle" and silken line, and hook,
and hackle, and creel, and wheel aud hie to
his favorite stream be it the Cam, the Ouse,
the Severn, or the Avon and there, his " am
gad in his han' "

" Patiently muse, and all intently stand,
To hook the scaly glutton."

Prove but the atmosphere warm, the wiud
propitious, and the waters clear, he may (pos-
sessing tolerable skill, and a store of patience
and perseverance, which should be his motto)
reckon, even with the fly, to basket not only
the Barbel and the Bleak, but the more wily
Trout. Still, till May flings, like softly-float-
ing peach -blossoms, the ephemeral insect upon
the bosom of the rippling wave, the ground-
bait will be decidedly preferable ; and to a
young angler, in particular, a more certain
lure. In ripples, and strong currents, the
spinning minnow, or the live-bait, eithe' well-
scoured red worm, or the cob, or the real-min-
now, must be found even more effective.

Tench will, also (says Mr. Salter, in his ex-
cellent work), sometimes feed this month ; as
gudgeons, eels, barbel, bleak, &c., certainly
do. " For all these (he adds) I should re-
commend the ground-bait, unless, indeed, the
weather be unusually warm, when the fly may
be used with success." And now, brethren oi
the angle, having given you words of encou-
ragement of our own; and a few hints from a
much more experienced fisherman than our-
selves, we commend you to the waters, and
there may you be made to say



See, down sinks



My cork that faithful monitor ; his weight
My taper angle bends surpris'd, amaz'd,
He glitters in the sun, and, struggling, jiant*
For liberty till, in the purer air,
He breathes no more !"



18 J



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS,



ODE TO BOXING.
Br THE WEST COUNTKY COVE.

Noble and manly art!
Thy principles impart
Power and confidence to all :

Before thee fall
Th' untutor'd rage of those,
Who, heedlessly, repose
Their faith on it-eight and length,
Or bulk and brutal strength.

Aided by thee, the man, whose moalti
Can no gigantic force unfold,
Enters the ring all confident ;

Little but tough ;
And soon his massy opponent,

Though big and rough,
To science yields, and cries out " hold, enough /"

On London Bridge, behold.

The Pet (than whom, none smarter)

Licks the ir.sulting Carter
Who, giant-like and bold,
Yet " has the bag to h.olii"

For lie has caught a tartar t
Poor man of coal, his calling

Was more of conking ;
And Curtis, with a mauling,

f polled his joking!

Daily thy science shows,
That not alone on thews
And bone, should man depend ;
JV.r thou art most the friend

Of him, whose heart
Unhesitating courage can impart
Whose eye and hand,
To suit command,
Alike are ready

Whose step is qu ick and light, whose nerves are firm
steady.

Manhood ! imbue
Our Pugilists, with courage true,

And honesty :
But, if they take the tempter's fee,

And plan a croxs,
Fling them aside like worthless dross !

And let them be

Branded with shame, and lasting infamy !
Cot fusion, and defeat, alight
On ull who buy or sell a flght .'

Fain would I bring
A tuneful, grateful offering,
To the bright shrine of fame,
Landing the wealthy patrons of the ring ;
And first should JACKSON'S name
Emblazoned be ;
Then GULLET shine,
In light and radiant line ;
As princely patterns for futurity :

But not to me belong
Such spirit stirring lays,

In vain do I essay the song

They are beyond its theme they are above its praise.
March, 1832. S.



DOINGS AND SAYINGS IN THE PRIZE RING.

THE BIG ONES!
TOM BUOWN AND ISAAC DOBELL.

The pedigree and achievements of the above
" Big Ones" are so well known to the Sport-
ing World, that any further remarks might be
deemed superfluous ; therefore we shall come
to '* Hecuba" at once. BROWN had dropped
down considerably in the opinion of the ama-
teurs, since his defeat by Sampson ; but,
nevertheless, by comparison, when he was



matched against Dobell, 300 to 250, he
was decidedly the favorite, at 6 and 7 to 4.
Dobell accepted ;>0 from Brown to give him
the advantage of naming the place of action ;
and on Tuesday, March 24, 1829, at Deux-hiil
Farm, four miles and a half from Bridgnorth,
this great contest was decided.

DOBELL, a jolly sort of fellow, and a lush-
crib keeper into the bargain, entertained an
idea that he could beat Brown in a canter;
and therefore, to use an expression of many
careless fellows, " let those train that like it,"
was the maxim of Dobell ; and he trained ON
and off", just as he took it into his nob.

Brown had a better notion of boxing ; and,
therefore, he endeavoured to do the best for
himself at Shipley, and took up his quarters
at the New Inn. He named Bridgnorth as a
certainty ; but as there is no certainty in this
life, the above ancient town proved no go !
Brown, on the .evening previous to the battle,
arrived at the King's Head, in company with
Spring, Crib, Neal, and Harry Holt ; but it
was soon whispered about that the Philistines
were abroad ; also that it was dangerous to be
SAFS ; a slang had been issued against Brown,
and to make his lucky was the best advice he
could take. This hint was quite sufficient;
a drag was procured on the sly ; Brown tipped
the coves the double ; and found himself com-
fortably provided with a dab at the house of a
friend, abouttwo miles from Bridgnorth, where
he passed the darkey without any apprehen-
sion.

Dobell arrived at Bridgnorth on Monday
evening, and took up his quarters for the night
at the Royal Oak ; but as the Beak was not
" up to him," Ikey was left to lush, snore,
dance, sing, blow a cloud, in short, to do what
he liked, and, according to " Miles' s boy," he
did every thing but take care of himself he
could not sleep, teazed with a troublesome
cough all the evening ; and when Harry
Lancaster endeavoured to put on a seriou?
mug, and to represent to Ikey the dangers of
neglect, and that grand maxim in the art of
war, to be " always prepared for thine enemy,"
Dobell burst out into loud laughter, saying
" he should win, and nothing else ; and that
he was perfectly satisfied that to-morrow's
sun would shine upon him as the conqueror of
Brown."

Early on Tuesday morning all hopes were
abandoned as to the fight taking place on the
race course ; and the stake-holder named
Deux-hill Farm, in order to be out of the
jurisdiction of the Borough magistrates. The
ring was formed without delay by Oliver and
Fogo ; and lots of waggons were placed round
it for the accommodation of the spectators.
Dobell left Bridgnorth in a post-chaise, about
eleven o'clock, for Deux-hill Farm, and ar
rived upon the ground without any interrup-
tion. But the Beak and his pigs kept a good
look out to grab Brown, as he passed over the
bridge ; but the friends of Brown had the
office given tc them ; and the latter preferred



PIERCE EGAVS BOOK OF SPORTS.



189



the use of a boat to a carriage, crossed the river
upon the sly, and gained the scene of action
without the least difficulty. Spring and Neal,
in order to carry on the deception, by way of
"use de guerre, started with a post-chaise,
with the blinds drawn up, and seated them-
selves on the dickey. They had scarcely
arrived at the bridge when a Carr interrupted
their progress ; upon which the Hero of the
Castle, in an assumed angry tone, demanded
to know by what authority his morning's ride
was stopped. " We have a warrant," an-
swered one of the Horneys, " against a boxer
of the name of Brown, in your carriage ;
therefore let down the blinds instantly."
" Although you have no right to impede our
progress," replied the ex-champion, " yet, to
show our readiness to obey magisterial au-
thority, you shall take a peep." On the blinds
being let down, the aflrighted Johnny Raw
constables, perceiving their mistake, were
about to boll, when a naval captain who was
inside, to carry on the joke, called for his
pistols, and asked Neal if they were thieves
who had stopped the carriage, and wanted to
rob them ? " Noa, noa, sir ; we axes pardon
of your honor, we be only poor parish officers
who have a warrant to seize upon Brown, the
foighting man." " Let me see it," said the
captain. The warrant was to apprehend
Brown if lie appeared in the ring, to fight a
buttle. "If 1'nnvn had been in the carriage,"
replied the captain, " it would not have
affected his liberty ; so drive on, post-boy,
and do not listen to any more such muffs."

The road at this period was thronged with
foot-passengers, all upon the run to reach
Deux Farm : vehicles out of number, of all
descriptions ; and the prads beaten almost to a
stand-still, from the numerous miles they had
been pushed along to be up in time for the
battle. Lots of respectably dressed females
were all upon the hustle to get a sight of the
great pugilistic heroes.

Dobell appeared in the outer ring attended
by his seconds, Harry Lancaster, and Jem
Burn, and was well received by the specta-
tors. It was understood he had complained
of being unwell to Lancaster. On Brown
entering the field he was loudly applauded.
He immediately sent his tile into the ring,
and on meeting with his opponent, they shook
hands together. The 50, according to the
articles, for his compliance with Brown's
naming the ground, was now handed over to
him ; when they both prepared for the fray.
Spring and Ned Neal attended upon Brown.
The colours, crimson and white for the latter,
were tied to the stakes ; as were Dobell's,
blue, with a white spot. Neal won the toss
for Brown. The odds were 2 and 2 to 1 ;
but takers could not be found. Brown was
the hero, all to nothing ; the men shook hands,
and the battle commenced :

Round 1. On peeling, it was obvious to the
amateurs that condition, on both sides, was out
of the question. Dobell was not fit to fight



for pins; it is true that Sir John Barleycorn
had lost part of bis -'otundit'j of PAUNCH ; bu:
it is equally true that his abdomen was as
flabby as boiled mutton; and his frame alto-
gether soft and pappy. His MUG, too, did not
exhibit that sort of character which is expected
from a boxer who had all the advantages of
training ; on the contrary, the effects of the
lush crib were strongly stamped on its exterior,
and the only thing good about Sir John Bar-
leycorn was his HEART. That was good ;
and upon that quality, and that ALONE, did
Dobell rely for victory. The hereof Bridgnorth
was nothing like slap-up to the mark ; although
he had refrained from visiting the Long Town,
and deriving the advantages of exercise and
country air. Brown, most certainly, had
taken greater care of himself than his'adver-
sary: but, nevertheless, his arms wanted
muscular roundness ; his belly was far too
big, and his legs destitute of firmness. There-
fore, to speak of them as well-trained men,
would be u libel on CONDITION ; and bad, very
bad, was the best of the two big ones. Both
of the combatants, by such neglect, had
thrown a chance away ; and the strongest man
was the most likely to win the battle. Under
these disadvantages the men prepared to fight.
Brown placed himself in a much better atti-
tude than when he was opposed to Sampson ,
and his notions of milling seemed to partake
more of the boxer than in his previous contests.
Dobell, anxious for mischief, put up his short
arms, and endeavoured to go to work. His
left hand was out of distance ; he was also
stopped, and gained nothing by the attack.
He repeated the attempt, but it was " no go !"
[" What are you waiting for," said Neal ; *' it
is as easy as A B C, try it on."] Brown
took the advice,and after a little manoeuvering,
planted a gentle hint on sir John Barleycorn's
chaffing closet, and got away. [Clever !" said
Spring; "that's science, I think; only do as
I told you, and you must win it like fun."]
Brown then planted one, two ; his left on
Dobell's daylight, and his right on the cheek.
[" Don't stand that," observed Harry Lan-
caster ; " but return the compliment : be
with him."] Sir John Barleycorn made a
rush, and some hits were exchanged : but
Brown planted a teazer on his sensitive plant,
which not only drew his cork, but floored him
like a shot. The country folks were now all
happiness shouting, laughing, and crying
out, " Brown for ever." Neal said, " I told
you how it would be ; I have won two events,
first blood, and first knock down. Why, I
say, my master, you can feel for the coves,
if you like." " It is as safe as the bank,"
said Spring. In the ecstacy of the moment,
the Brown ites, at this slice of luck, talked
about TEN to one.

2. Dobell came to the scratch in quick time,
and went to work ; but Brown was too leary,
and got out of mischief. He, however, re-
turned to the attack, planted two facers with-
out any return (" Capital," from his friends).



190



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



Dobell fought his way into a rally, and it was
any thing else but " light play ;" in fact, it
was blacksmith work, complete hammering.
Sir John Barleycorn here completely satisfied
all present that he was a game man ; he would
not be denied, and although he received 7106-
bers, Dobell would follow his retreating ad-
versary, getting the worst of it at every step :
quite wild, and his hits out of distance. His
nob now was a little changed, and it was
risible the painter had been very busy in
altering its colour. Dobell, in spite of his
bad condition, rushed into a close, when Brown,
like an old stager, got down in the best way
he could. " That does not look like brave
conduct," said Jem Burn, " to go down in
that * tyle."

3. Dobell, it should seem, almost began to
ask himself a few questions : he was piping :
and a little time was necessary. Brown, quite
alive to the chance he had before him, boldly
went in to his work, and with his right hand
put in a most tremendous blow on sir John
Barleycorn's face, and he measured his length
upon the grass, without saying a single word
to any body. It was impossible to describe
the roars of applause: the Johnny Raws seemed
all out of their minds at the fighting of Brown :
and, pulling out their tiny bags, offered to
sport all their pewter, at any odds, upon their
countryman. [" He's a noice man; he can
lick all the Lunnun chaps."] " I would not
take 100 to 5, and stand it," said Sampson.
" I know what a hitter this Brown is it is
all up with Dobell."

4. It was evident to all the Ring-goers how
the thing must terminate the want of condi-
tion will beat any man. This round was
decidedly in favor of Brown. Sir John Bar-
leycorn made play with spirit, but Brown
retreated from danger. He, however, returned
to the charge, and planted a very heavy blow
on Dobell's mouth ; and here John was again
floored [Another roar of artillery ; the chaw-
bacons clapping their hands ; and the friends
of Brown quite satisfied it was all his own.
" Take him away."]

5. Brown had now made up his mind for
finishing, and for mischief, but missed his aim,

when Sir John met him slap bang on his neck.
(" That's the way," said Harry Lancaster,
" Curtis tipjwd it to Barney Aaron, and settled
the account,)" and also drew the claret from
his conk. In closing, Brown went down.
" Bravo Dobell," from all parts of the ring.

6. The hero of the lush crib now found out,
too late, the want of training, and it was
" bellows to mend." Brown had now only
to keep out of danger, and victory was within
his grasp. He jobbed his opponent on the
retreating style; but the determined spirit of
Dobell would not \ethm flinch, and he fought
liis way into a close. Brown was well assured
it was much better for him to go down gently
than to put his shoulder to the test by pulling
and hauling.

7. The friends of Dobell rather complained



of Brown's going down, and called out to
him to stand up and fight. The latter agaia
administered pepper; and Dobell, quite wild,
missed his hits in return. In closing, Dobell
attempted the weaving system ; but his strength
was fast leaving him, and Brown got down
without any difficulty.

8. Dobell was not quite so fast as hereto-
fore ; in fact he was very much distressed.
Brown, although he had taken the lead, also
showed that he might have been better.
Brown took great liberties with the upper
works of his opponent, and jobbed, and jobbed
again, without any return. Dobell made his
right hand tell on the nob of his adversary,
but in struggling for the throw Brown went
down easily.

9. "Go to work," said Harry Lancaster;
" his right hand is gone, he cannot hurt you."
The thumb of Brown's right hand, if not
broken, had been so seriously injured in the
third round, that it was painful in the extreme
for him to use it. Some exchanges, but de-
cidedly in Brown's favor. Dob-ell would not
stand still ; punishing was his intent, and in
rushing in he najit it at all points. The right
side of his face was sadly peppered ; but his
game was unquestionable. In closing, Dobell
endeavoured to fib his adversary, but Brown
made the best of his way down. Dobell, in
the hurry of the moment, struck the hero of
Bridgnorth on the seat of honor ; when the
latter cried out "foul." It was not noticed
by the umpires.

10. Dobell's winning was now next to an
impossibility: but it is only common justice
to state that his game kept him alive. He
hit at rnndom, throwing bis blows away ; and
Brown, milling on the retreat, served him out
s.i eveiy turn. Brown stuck to him hard and
fast, until Sir John Barleycorn was sent down
on his knees. (" You had better look out for
St. John's-street, as soon as possible," said
Sampson, " depend upon it you had better
never have leftthe crib.") " Brown for 100.
Three to one !*' In fact, there were more
betters than takers at any odds.

11. Dobell was now a rank piper ; but he
was determined to keep it up to the last
minute. Good stops ; but the length of Brown
gave him the pull, and he jobbed his adversary
with some heavy blows. Ultimately Dobell
got Brown down.

12. Although it was the general opinion at
this period of the battle that Dobell must be
conquered, yet if he had come into the ring as
a fighting man ought to have done, another
statement might have been given of the affair.
At out-milling Dobell had no chance ; and
when he rushed in desperately, he was pu-
nished for his temerity, His seconds could
not keep him still, and the rush was his fa-
vorite object, in spite of danger. Brown
retreated from his fury; but at length got a
turn, and a slashing hit on his nob sent Dobell
down on his face. " It's all up," was the
cry, when Stockman in turn began to chujft



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



191



Brown ; telling Dobell to go in and win it.
" Yes !" said Neal, " a very pretty time he'll
have of it if he goes in, and if he keeps out it
will be about the same thing !"

13. Dobell was quite licked at this period ;
he was very sick, puffing and blowing, and
almost abroad. Indeed he was entirely at
the service of Brown, who punished him all
over the ring, until he hit him down. Symp-
toms of weakness also began to appear on
the part of Brown, who dropped on his knees.
Any odds, but no takers.

14. Sir John Barleycorn was now as slow
as a top, and as weak as a kitten. He meant
well : he would have punished Brown if he
had been able ; but his execution was com-
pletely gone ; and poor Dobell, the game Do-
bell, was of no use to himself, nor his friends.
Brown s one, two, again severely told, and he
\vasjlooredsans ceremonie. " Take him away !
he cannot win. One hundred to ten ;" and
the Yokels grinning with joy, and shouting
with delight at the success of Brown.

15. The fight was drawing fast to a close ;
and, barring an accident, it was poundable
that Brown must win. Dobell, regardless of
the consequences, tried the boring system ;
but it was a. forlorn hope a service of danger ;
and truly dangerous it proved to him. He
was jobbed all to pieces, and Jloored as heavy
as a sack of sand. The row was loud indeed :
and " take him away," from all parts of the
ring. But Dobell was too gnme to listen to
the calls of the friends of Brown.

10. Very few men would have again ap-
peared at the scratch ; he had received quite
enough punishment for him to leave off, and
his friends were now satisfied that he had
done all that a brave man could do towards
victory. But Dobell was determined to fight
even in opposition to nature ; and his blows
were of the wildest description. Brown had
it all his own way, hit him as he pleased, and
Dobell was again down quite exhausted.
" Take him away !"

17, and last. Like a drowning man catch-
ing at a straw, and as a last effort Dobell
staggered into mill ; but he was Jioored in-
stanter. "When time was called he left his
seconds' knee ; but his strength had so de-
serted him that he could not lift up his hands.
When the hat was thrown up, and victory was
declared in favour of Brown, the Bridgnorth
folks almost rent the air with their vocifera-
tions, of " Brown for ever." The battle was
over in twenty- two and a half minutes. One
side of Dobell's face was severely punished ;
but Brown's mug was nearly free from marks,
except one of his peepers.
Remarks. Dobell has only himself to blame :
we never saw a man in worse condition, if so
bad, enter the Prize Ring. It is true that he
A'ent into the country for a day or two, now
and then, at Hendon, to get off his superfluous
flesh, exercise himself, and enjoy the fresh
air ; but it would be a mockery to give it the
name of training. Indeed, Harry Lancaster



was so dissatisfied with his conduct, that he
requested Dobell to leave his house, in order
that no blame might be attached to his (H.
L.'s) conduct as a trainer. No man can win
it out of CONDITION. But Dobeli was obsti-
nate : he would not listen to the advice of
any of his friends ; and flattered himself that
he could lick off-hand his opponent. In fact,
in no one instance whatever did his demeanour
appear like that of a man engaged to fight a
Prize battle. Strange to say, he left London
on Saturday by the Wonder without a single
person to attend upon him, and he also re-
mained in Birmingham, at the Crown Inn,
completely alone. He appeared quite de-
serted, labouring under a severe cold, and not