Warehouse, we think, must have been very
tender, from the numerous podgers DICK
planted upon it. The above defeat will teach
persons in future not to put one of the best
little men in the ring to fight above his weight.
PERKINS is very likely to prove a teazer to
moot of the light weights. His victory over
so celebrated a pugilist as the Pet of the
Fancy, of course, must increase his confi-
dence.
The Castle Tavern, on the Friday night
after the fight, was crowded to excess ; Cur-
tis and Perkins were present. The Chair-
man, in a very manly speech, regretted that
Curtis had been induced to make such a
foolish match, but his friends had thought
him " INVULNERABLE." Some murmurs had
transpired respecting the defeat of Curtis,
" that it was not all right :" he was anxious,
before he parted with the Battle-money, to
leave it open to any gentleman to state his ob-
jection. A sufficient time being allowed, and
no person offering any sort of objection, the
money was paid over to Perkins, who ge-
nerously presented Dick with 51. The Cimir-
man then proposed a subscription in behalf
of Curtis, which was immediately entered
into by several gentlemen present.
A NEW SONG, TO AN OLD TUNE, BY A COVE
FROM THE WEST.
DICK CURTIS was as brave a youth
As ever graced PIERCE EGAN'S story ;
And warmly sighed, with equal truth,
Sometimes for LOVE and then for GLORY !
Oft had he met the foe with pride,
And shone a STAR on stages gory,
'Till, over-matched, his best he tried,
Gave in to FATE but fell with GLORY!
Again his skill he means to try
Ere time shall turn his head-piece hoary ;
And show us, in another shy,
He has NOT LOST, but I.P,NT his GLORY !
ANTIQUITY OF WRESTLING.
The oldest British Sport.
The first account we have of Wrestling,
according to Mr. Litt, in his WRESTLIANA,
places it, in point of antiquity and respecta-
bility, not only the first, but infinitely superior
to any other amusement at present prevalent
in the whole world. For the truth of this
assertion, we quote no anonymous author,
whose authenticity might well be disputed !
No ! the precedent we will quote was even
anterior to such writers as we have described.
It is one which no Christian can, or will, dis-
pute : it is to be found in that BOOK which
treats of the creation of man, and the begin-
ning of the world ; authenticated by divine
command, and written by that sacred and in-
spired historian even Moses himself!
We find in the 32d chapter of Genesis, that
Jacob having passed his family over the brook
Jabbok, was left alone. In its history of events
atthis early period of the world, with a brevity
commensurate with its high importance, the
Bible minutely relates only those particular
occurrences which refer to some covenant, or
promise, then made, renewed, or fulfilled. It
narrates facts, without commenting upon
them. Therefore, although Jacob's wrestling
with the Angel was too remarkable an inci-
dent to be omitted, yet we are not told in
what manner he came, nor of any preliminary
conversation, or agreement between them. It
however appears very evident, that, until the
Angel manifested his miraculous power,
Jacob believed his opponent was a mere
mortal like himself ; and on whichever side
the proposal originated, it was acceded to by
the other either as a circumstance not unusual,
or as an amicable amusement, which might
be practised without the least infringement
on cordiality.
It is a common and received proverb, that
" A Man is known by his works, and a
Tree by its fruits." Here then is an amuse-
ment peculiarly chosen not only by one of the
best of Men, but by one better, and greater
than any man : and if to give strength and
firmness, combined with quickness and elasticity
to the Liiubsj discrimination and rigour to
the Body : coolness to the Head, and percep-
tion to the Mind : the whole forming an ener-
getic combination of the whole power given
to Man ! no exercise could have been selected
tending more to exalt his character, and from
which such typical illustrations could have
been deduced for his spiritual advantage.
Here then we take our stand. Advocates fur
any other diversion, be it whatever it may,
can you produce an origin, either so ancient
or so honourable?
Having proved the existence of this amuse-
ment at so remote an era, it would be neither
necessary nor important to trace the practice
of this art through that period of time which
intervenes from the time of Jacob to the for-
mation of the Grecian Republics. The blind-
ness and wilful transgressions of the Jews,
and the barbarous ignorance of those nations
whom God permitted to chastise them, render
their exercises a matter of neither curiosity
nor utility. But when Greece, emerging from
obscurity and ignorance, began to take the
lead in civilization, in military knowledge,
and in the cultivation of learning and sciences :
the utility of public games, not only to infuse
a generous and martial spirit into the minds
of the young men, but to improve their bodily
strength, was too apparent to be neglected.
Accordingly we find these athletic exercises
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.
not only practised and encouraged in each
particular state, but the highest honours and
rewards bestowed on the victors at the
Olympic, Nemean, and other games, where
prizes were awarded, and contended for before
the whole nation.
The influence of these sports in advancing
Greece from a few petty states, not equal in
extent of territory to one half of England
alone, into the most powerful Kingdom at
that tune in the World, is universally
acknowledged by all historians and commen-
tators who have ever treated of the subject.
And it is singular to remark, that while the
fact is admitted by all modern legislators,
few or none have recommended an imitation
of t'.
It is strange that Hcmer, who was perhaps
the greatest poet that ever lived, and who
himself had often witnessed the celebration
of thvse games, has given us so confused and
even incomprehensible an account of the
wrestling at the funeral of Patroclus (though
many years antecedent to his time,) between
Telamon Ajax, the strongest, and Ulysses,
the wisest man in the Grecian army. Its
translation, by Pope, is as follows :
" The third bold game Achilles next demands,
And calls the wrestlers to the level sands:
A maswy tiipod for the victor lies,
Of twice six oxen its reputed price ;
And next, the loser's spirits to restore,
A female captive, valued but at four.
Scaivr ,:i.j tlie chief the vipourous strife propose
When t ,-,VIT like .Ajax and Ulysses rose,
Amid t ic ring each nervous rival stands,
Embracing rigid with implicit hands;
Close ioi-k'd above, their heads and arms are mixt,
Below their planted feet, at distance lixt:
Like two strong rafters which the builder forms,
Proof to the wintry winds and howling storms,
Their tops connected, but at wider spac>
Fixt ou the centre stands their solid base.
Nov. to the prasp each manly body benus.
The humid sweat from every pore descends ;
Their hones resound with blows: sides, shoulders,
thighs,
Swell to each gripe, and bloody tumours rise :
Nor cou'.d Ulysses, for his art renown'd,
O'erturn the strength of Ajax on th ground !
Kor could the strength of Ajax overthrow
The watchful caution of his artful foe ;
While the long strife e'en tir'd the lookers-on,
Thus to Ulysses spoke great Telamon :
Or let me lift thee, chief, or lift thou me :
Prove we our force, and Jove the rest decree.
" He said, and straining, heav'd him off the ground
With matchless strength, that time Ulysses found
The strength t" evade, and where the nerves combine
His ankle struck the giant fell supine ;
Ulysesa following, on his bosom lies;
JSbouts of applause run rattling through the skies
Ajax to lift, Ulysses next essays,
He barely stirr'd him, but he could not raise :
His knee lock'd fast, the foe's attempt denied,
And grappling close they tumble side by side."
This account seems as ridiculous as it is
incomprehensible to a modern wrestler :
ridiculous ! in regard to the duration of the
contest, and the strange proposition of Ajax ;
and incomprehensible as it appears, Ulysses
Mas the winner of the first fall : and the
second was a disputed, or what is vulgarly
termed, a dog-fall. One thing, however,
serins clear enough to us that it was a bad
wrestle ; and though we imagine neithe*
gained much honour by the struggle, both
were sufficiently rewarded for it.
It appears, that in the celebrated interview
between Henry the Eighth of England, and
the French king, Francis, which exceeded in
magnificence and splendour any spectacle of
modern times, wrestling was deemed the
most manly and entertaining amusement then,
exhibited in the presence of these two mighty
rnonarohs, and their courts. A grand national
and scientific display of this athletic art took
place between a number of champions selected
from both nations, in which our countrymen
were victorious. However, one mortified
French historian pretends their king left better
wrestlers at home than those who accom-
panied him ; and by way of redeeming the
defeat of his countrymen, asserts that Francis-
himself was a most excellent wrestler, and in
a contest between the two rival monarchs
threw Henry with great violence.
Antecedently to this period, wrestling was
a favorite, amusement, as well among the
nobility as the yeomanry and inferior classes ;
the prize varying according to the rank of the
combatants. At some particular times and
places there appears to have been some
acknowledged and customary prize this as
usually a ram and a ring. Thus in Coke's
tale of Gamelyn, ascribed to Chaucer :
There happed to be there beside
Tryed a wrestling ;
And therefore there was y-setten
A ram and als a ring.
And likewise at a still earlier period we see
in Ritson's Robin Hood:
By a bridge was a wrastling
And there taryed was he :
And there was all the best ycmen
Of all the west countrey.
A full fayre game there was set up,
A white bu!l up y-pight,
A great courser with saddle and brydle
With gold burnished full brj'ght ;
A pay re of gloves, a red golde ringe
A pipe of wyne good fay :
What man bereth him best t v.-is,
The prize shall bear away.
In which the prize was still greater ; being a.
white courser, well accoutred, a pair of
gloves, a gold ring, and a pipe of wine.
It is rather a remarkable coincidence that
onr modern Homer should have given nearly
as lame an account of wrestling matches aa
his mighty predecessor. Thus we see in the
fifth canto of the Lady of the Lake, the fol-
lowing account of one :
" Now, clear the ring, for hand to hand.
The manly wrestlers take their stand.
Two o'er the rest superior rose,
And proud demanded mightier foes,
Nor called in vain, for Douglas came.
For life is Hugh of Larbert lame,
Scarce better John of Alloa's fare,
Whom senseless home his comrades bear.
Prize of the wrestling match, the king
To Douglas gave a golden ring."
In the first couplet, the method, viz., " hand
to hand," seems introduced solely for the pur-
pose of getting on ; and certainly is not cal-
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPOUTS.
culated to produce the dreadful consequences
that ensue. In the second, all order is vio-
lated by the two last standers, instead of con-
testing the last fall, calling out for fresh men !
nor are the remaining couplets less faulty in
regard to Douglas's treatment of his oppo-
nents, in the immense superiority of strength
ascribed to him. The match between Both-
well and Burley, in the Scottish novels, is
likewise one of the worst things in the whole
series. It would have much gratified us, if a
writer ^yhonl we so highly value, had given
us some better account of such contests, how-
ever cursorily introduced. But alas ! the
baronet is probably no wrestler ; and truly
we are sorry for it.
We are likewise equally mortified to remark
that the immortal Bard of Avon, in his
comedy of ** As You Like It," although he
has combined in Orlando rank, character and
wrestling, tells us a truly pitiful, but dreadful
^ind improbable story, concerning it. The
justly celebrated James Hogg, the Ettrick
Shepherd, has, in his Tales, occasionally
introduced wrestling. And although we con-
fess we do not exactly comprehend the fatality
of Geordie Cochrane's heelchip, yet we cer-
tainly think the wrestling between Polmood
and Carrcichael by far the best illustration of
the art, either of ancient or modern date we
have met with : we will offer no apology for
extracting it for the gratification of such of
GMT readers as are nnt in the habit of perusing
books of that description.
" Sixteen then stripped themselves to try
their skill in wrestling, and it having been
enacted as a law, that he who won in any
one contest was obliged to begin the next :
Polmood was of course one of the number.
They all engaged at once by two and two,
and eight of them having been consequently
overthrown, the other eight next engaged by
two and two, and four of these being cast,
two couples only remained.
" Some of the nobles engaged were so ex-
pert at the exercise, and opposed to others so
eqnal in strength and agility, that the con-
tests were exceedingly equal and amusing.
Some of them could not be cast until com-
pletely out of breath. It had always been
observed, however, that Polmood and Car-
michael threw their opponents with so much
ease, that it appeared doubtful whether these
opponents were serious in their exertions, or
only making a sham wrestle ; but when it
turned out that they two stood the last, all
were convinced that they were superior to the
rest either in strength or skill. This was the
last prize on the field, and on the last throw
;for that prize the victory of the day depended,
which each of the two champions was alike
vehemently bent to reave from the grasp of
the other. They eyed each other with looks
askance, and with visible tokens of jealousy,
rested for a minute or two, wiped their brows
and then closed. Carmichael was extremely
hard to please of his hold, and caused his
antagonist to lose his grip three or four times,
and change his position. Polmood was, how-
ever, highly complaisant, although it appeared
to every one beside that Carmichael meant
to take him at a disadvantage. At length
they fell quiet, set their joints steadily, and
began to move in a circular direction, watch-
ing each other's motions with great care.
Carmichael ventured the first trip, and struck
Polmood on the left heel with considerable
dexterity. It never moved him, but in return-
ing it he forced in Carmichael's back with
such a squeeze that the by-standers affirmed
they heard his ribs crash, whipped him lightly
up in his arms and threw him upon the ground
with great violence, but seemingly with as
much ease as if he had been a boy. The
ladies screamed, and even the rest of the
nobles doubted if the knight would rise again.
He however jumped lightly up, and pretended
to smile, but the words he uttered were
scarcely articulate ; his feelings at that mo-
ment may be better conceived than expressed.
A squire who waited the king's commands
then proclaimed Norman Hunter of Polmood,
the victor of the day, and consequently en-
titled, in all sporting parties, to take his place
next to the king, until by other competitors
deprived of that prerogative."
Although this account may not have much
fact to recommend it ; yet it is nevertheless
apparent Mr. Hogg was conscious the prac-
tice was not uncommon among the Scottish
nobility at that perhrd ; and that this was the
case, might easily be proved by indisputable
authority. At this period it is worthy of re-
mark few discoveries of distant countries had
taken place; and consequently the great
landed proprietors spent much more of their
time in their own countries, and on their own
estates. But no sooner had that ceased to be
the case, than degeneracy and effeminacy
crept in apace ; and those exercises in which
it had been the pride of their ancestors to ex-
cel, ceased ; and from that time, few above
the rank of yeoman chose to exhibit in a ring,
either for their own pleasure, or that of
others.
But we are now arrived at that period
when the attention of most of the European
nations, and particularly England, began to
be as much directed to new discoveries, and
consequent settlements abroad ; as to the in-
ternal prosperity of the Mother Countries.
This no doubt had its due effect upon the
manners, customs, and amusements of the
people. Our immense acquisitions in America,
and in Eastern and Western India, added to
the great improvements in the art of gunnery,
which rendered nugatory all previous modes
of warfare, alike contributed to hasten the
downfall of all athletic exercises among the
higher ranks. The art of war became a
more complicated science gunnery,engineer-
ing, fortification, and all the minutia of
tactics attendant on these studies, became of
proportionally more importance to men of
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.
31
rank, either in the civil or military depart-
ments, than those exercises calculated to
promote the display of personal strength,
valour, or activity.
In the proudest days of chivalry, no exer-
cise was so well adapted to enable king,
lord, or knight, to excel in tilt or tournament,
as wrestling: as in it were combined, dex-
terity in personal, y coping wilh an antago-
nist, and the power of acquiring bodily vi-
gour and stamina, so requisite for enabling
the combatant to endure a protracted contest
without detriment. But the days of chivalry
are gone tilt or tournament is no more the
listed ring no longer boasts of patrician ex-
hibitions! but still within it we view all the
remains of that chivalric spirit, which has
distinguished the most celebrated conquerors
in all ages ; for, according to one of our
justly esteemed writers, had he been placed
by Providence in a different station,
" He that tbe world subdued, had been
But the best wrestler on the green."
And we will venture to mention, that it is to
that generous spirit of emulation which ani-
mates the wrestler to acquire celebrity in the
ring, that we are indebted for the glorious
victories of Agincourt, Trafalgar, Waterloo,
&c. There are many who will argue that
athletic sports have no direct tendency to in-
spire additional confidence and com
the breast of tic soldier on the day of battle ;
~but we confidently aver, that all who assert
this, speak without due consideration for
that such exercises wnl have their due effect
even in the present mode of warfare, let us
suppose the following case : Let one indi-
vidual, or any certain number of the most
courageous men, be selected from the bravest
regiment in Great Britain, let them all pos-
sess hearts that never knew fear, and bring
them to the charge against the same number
of men, equally disc : plined, and all expert
wrestlers, and what would be the unavoid-
able result? Might not one party say, I have
only to parry the first onset of my antagonist,
and close with him, and then victory is cer-
tain ? I can in a moment dash him to the
ground, and either kill or take him prisoner
at my pleasure. Would not the other natu-
rally observe, this is not a fair contest, there
are fearful odds against me ? I meet a man
whose sinews have gained additional strength
by practising athletic exercises. If I charge
him freely, a parry will enable him to close
with me," and then I am inevitably gone.
"When men tight under these impressions the
result cannot be doubtful. Again, are not
the English superior to any other nation in
the junction of active and passive courage
and is it not a fact that, the French, during
the late war, frequently charged the troops
of all the continental nations with whom they
were engaged, with the bayonet; while they
scarcely ever ventured to cross one with
ours ? will any man imagine this had not
some influence in regulating the tactics of the
contending armies? In even a distant engage-
ment under a heavy fire the British soldier
might exclaim, " Notwithstanding they gall
us now, they dare not stand our bayonets!'
Supposing the case had been exactly rice
rersa, and they had had to observe, ''We
must endure this or run away, for we dare
not come in close contact with them." Whe-
ther of these considerations, let me ask, is
better calculated to infuse courage, and in-
spire with hopes of victory, the boldest men
on earth? The answer is too obvious to any
man of common sense to require insertion.
In the battle of Waterloo, the success of our
cavalry when opposed to the French cuiras-
siers, a body of men confident in themselves,
and of invincible courage, was principally
occasioned by their superiority in the science
of the sword, arising from the universal
adoption of learning the proper use or science
of the stick. This practice owed its introduc-
tion to the circumstance of an Irish peasant
thrashing with that weapon some of the best
men in a celebrated regiment of horse, then
quartered in the north of Ireland ; and it
would be absurd to suppose that superiority
will not have its due effect in all future
cavalry engagements.
As a proof that the practice of athletic ex-
ercises is not confined to this kingdom, or
even to Europe, we quote the following ac-
count of an entertainment given in the island
of Tongataboo, to Captain Cook in his third
voyage to the Pacific Ocean :
* While the natives were in expectation of
this evening exhibition, they engaged, for the
greatest part of the afternoon, in wrestling
and boxing. AVhen a person is desirous of
wrestling, he give", a challenge by crossing
the ground in a kind of measured pace, and
clapping smartly on the elbow joint of one
arm, which is bent and sends forth a hollow
sound. If no opponent steps forth, he returns
and sits down ; but, if an antagonist appear,
they meet with marks of the greatest good
nature, generally smiling, and deliberately
adjusting the piece of cloth that is fastened
round the waist. They then lay hold of each
other by this cloth, and he who succeeds in
drawing his opponent to him, instantly endea-
vours to lift him on his breast, and throw him
on his back, and if he can turn round with
him in that position two or three times before
he throws him, he meets with great applause
for his dexterity. If they are more equally
matched, they quickly close, and attempt to
throw each other by entwining their legs, or
raising each other from the ground ; in which
struggles they display an extraordinary exer-
tion of strength. When one of them is thrown,
he immediately retires, while the conqueror
sits down for a minute, then rise. , and goes
to the side from which he came, where the
victory is proclaimed aloud. After sitting
for a short time, he rises again and chal-
lenges; and if several antagonists appear, he
has the privilege of choosing which of them
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.
lie pleases to engage with : he may also, if he
should throw his competitor, challenge again,
till he himself is vanquished ; and then the
people on the opposite side chant the song of
victory in favour of their champion. It fre-
quently happens, that five or six rise from
each side, and give challenges together, so
that it is not unusual to see several sets en-
gaged on the field at the same time. They
preserve great temper in this exercise, and
leave the spot without the least displeasure
in their countenances. When they find that
they are too equally matched, they desist
by mutual consent; and if it does not clearly
appear which of them has had the advantage,
both sides proclaim the victory, and then they
engage again. But no one, who has been
vanquished, is permitted to engage a second
time with the conqueror.
" Those who intend to box advance side-
ways, changing the side at every pace, hav-
ing one arm stretched out before, the other
behind ; aad holding in one hand a piece of
cord, which they wrap closely about it, when
they meet with an opponent. This is proba-
bly intended to prevent a dislocation of the
hand or fingers. Their blows are dealt out
with great quickness and activity, and are
aimed principally at the head. They box
equally well with either hand. One of their
most dexterous blows is. to turn round on the
heel, just after they have struck their ad-
versary, and to give him another pretty vio-
lent blow with the other hand backwards.
In boxing matches, unless a person strikes
his antagonist, to the ground, they never sing
the song of victory ; which shows that this