Pull’d up bybeaks, before you here I shows,For what offence, I’m blistered if I knows;Fam’d thro’ the universe for feats of fists,Before you stands Deaf Burke, the pugilists.Yes, honest jurymen, with heart of steels,I make with confidence my proud appeals,My case upon its simple merits try—Let me have justice, and no fears have I.I ask of you as upright jurymen,In what have I offended—where and when?Why of the throng should Burke the scapegoat beOr Reverend Cautley’s wrath descend on me?As to themill, I own that I was there—All went on peaceably, and all was fair;Arm’d with high courage, strong in heart and limbs,The men were at thescratchin gallant trims.And smiling confidence was on their brows,When Parson Cautley first kick’d up a rows,And by an effort, frivolous as weaks,Back’d by a ruraltraps, and Smith thebeaks,Sought, and perhaps he deem’d that he was right,To rush into the ring and stop the fight.What if the Riot Act was read—Alas!The Deaf’un couldn’t hear it if it was!And as far as I’m concern’d it is a facts,It might have been a sermon or “the Acts;”But as to swearing, or a hint to drop,Out of the ring I pitch’d him neck and crop,Tho’ towards a parson I feel reverence due,Josh Cautley states the thing that isn’t true.But let that pass—the issue I’ll not shirks—Convinc’d your fiat will acquit Deaf Burkes;Proclaiming that from testimony strong,The pugilist was right, the parson wrong.I’ve studied, sirs, since my career began,To prove myself through life an honest man—Humble my origin, my lot obscure,I never came the artful dodge, tho’ poor.I ne’er gave way to lewdness, nor to lush,Nor did an act for which I’ve cause to blush.True, I ne’er figur’d as a man of letters,But yet I know’d my duty to my betters.And never deem’d, however mean my station,Swearing and swaggering pleasant conversation;Yet, I confess, I lov’d in boyhood prime,To hear of boxing in the olden time;Of feats perform’d by those heroic men—Mendoza, Humphries, Johnson, and Big Ben,Jem Belcher, Gregson, tough Tom Cribb, and Gully,Whose hard-earn’d laurels time can never sully.Fir’d by their deeds, I cried, “Who knows but BurkeMay in the Prize Ring some day go to work,And proud of pluck that never warm’d a curs,Prove at the scratch an ugly customers?”Ripe for a chance I fearlessly defiedThe sturdiest bruisers by the waterside;And for the love of glory, not of tin.To many a hardy cove I’ve pitched it in.But on my fistic feats I will not dwell,What I have done let “Fistiana” tell.* * * * *These are my triumphs which I now record,Tho’ floor’d by Cousens, Bendigo, and Ward;And even with these I fearlessly declares,I did my best, and acted on the squares;And tho’ defeated on the field of fights,I died true game, and show’d no feather whites.Now, gentlemen, as I stand here before ye’s,I’ve told a round and plain unvarnished storys—I love fair English boxing as my life,But dread theArkansasblade andbowie-knife;Those weapons deadly, cowardly, and keen,Which in a Briton’s hand should ne’er be seen,But which ifbeaksconspire the ring to crushWill make the blood of many a Briton gush,And driving manly fair play from our Isle,Stamp us a nation of assassins vile!Now, gentlemen, no longer I’ll intrudes,But, as I’m bound in duty, will concludes;And, as you seem all honest mens and true,What you deem right I’m certains you will do.On Monday, the 14th of March, the Deaf’un, who had been generously bailed by a couple of Bedford tradesmen, surrendered to his bail, as also did eleven others. TheRev.Mr. Cautley, Mr. Orlebar Smith, and “a cloud of witnesses,” policemen, and others. Tom Spring, in friendly consideration of the Deaf’un’s incapacity of hearing, stood by him asamicus curiæ, and kindly interpreted the proceedings. It should be stated that in his examination before Lord Charles F. Russell and the grand jurors, theRev.Joshua had stated that “Burke had endeavoured to force him out of the ring, and had seized him by the leg to throw him over the ropes.” Of this the Deaf’un (who certainly was never in the ring at all) was nervously anxious to exculpate himself. What was his surprise then to learn that “no evidence would be offered on that point,” and that “the general charge implicated all present in the same guilt.” Eventually (Viscount Chetwynd having removed the trial of his indictment into the Court of Queen’s Bench, on the ground that he could not get an impartial trial in Bedfordshire) the trials were postponed, and the whole of the defendants were held to bail to appear at the summer assizes; to them a ruinous expense and miserable suspense, and the great satisfaction of their Christian prosecutors and the profit of sundry attorneys; and thus ended the first “field-day” of “the battle of Bedford.” Other separate indictments, however, were proceeded with, against Messrs. Brown, of the “Swan,” Newport Pagnell, George Durham, Edward Dawkes, and Mark Cross, for “refusing to assist the constable in the execution of his duty.” Mr. Brown, after evidence by M’Hugh, theRev.Joshua Cautley, and Mr. Smith, that in reply to being so called upon, he replied (being seated on the box of his coach) “that he had to mind his horses,” was found guilty. The other defendants then, having pleaded “guilty,” were sentenced each to pay a fine of forty shillings, and costs, and to enter intorecognisances themselves in £40, and two sureties in £20 each, “to be of good behaviour for one year.” The fines were paid, the sureties given, and the defendants liberated from that charge. In July the unlucky defendants again surrendered, when their trial was again postponed to await the result of thecertiorariby which the aristocratic defendants (Viscount Chetwynd and Mr. Maley, the solicitor) had removed their cases to the Court of Queen’s Bench. These having failed, in the ensuing November, Burke and his fellow victims of the law’s delay were placed at the bar. In the interim we find in theBedford Mercury:—“Prize Fight and Lord Chetwynd.—Lord Charles Russell laid before the Court a statement showing the position of the prosecution against Burke and thirteen others, for a riot at a prize fight at Holcut, in this county, and did so to know whether the prosecution should be proceeded in. Already an expense of £50 had been incurred, and probably between £80 and £90, exclusive of witnesses, would be further required. By a writ ofcertiorariLord Chetwynd had traversed the case to the Court of Queen’s Bench, to obtain the privilege of not pleading on the trial in the usual way by holding up his hand. The other parties accused had not been aware of the object of the course taken by Lord Chetwynd, and were in the same position as they were before traversing to the superior court. The county was at a great expense, and the defendants must have been at double the expense. His lordship also laid before the Court a correspondence between Lord Chetwynd and that gentleman, expressing his regret at what had occurred. Mr. Smith was not satisfied with the correspondence, and the opinion of the Court was that the prosecution should be continued, having begun it.“From this we infer that theRev.Mr. Smith is not satisfied with the apology tendered by Lord Chetwynd, and that to satisfy his feelings, the county and the defendants are to be involved in a still heavier outlay. To those who were in no respect consenting to Lord Chetwynd’s determination, this seems a measure of cruelty for which we were not prepared; but it would seem that after having already entered into recognisances to appear and take their trials, and having strictly and respectfully complied with that undertaking, from whence they were relieved by no act of their own, they are again called on to put in fresh bail in the Court of Queen’s Bench at Westminster, some of them living in distant parts of the kingdom. This may be necessary in form of law; but surely, even theRev.Mr. Smith can have no wish to add to the hardships of the defendants, who were, and are still ready to submit to take their trials at the proper season.”This wretched persecution thus dragged its weary length into the following year, 1842, when negotiations for a compromise having been made between the Crown solicitors and those of the defendants, Mr. Gurney, on the part of “Burke, Adams, Cain, and others,” said he was instructed to withdraw their plea of “not guilty,” and to accept a verdict for the Crown against his clients.Mr. Andrews thereon, on the part of the magistrates, thought the defendants had pursued a very proper course, and the prosecution was withdrawn; so that this expensive performance of “Much Ado about Nothing,” ended by Messrs. Cautley and Smith “taking nothing by their motion,” the defendants being put to a heavy expense, and an outlay of some hundreds of pounds (raised by benefits and public subscriptions of the admirers of British boxing, and the sympathisers with the unfortunate victims of Puritanical persecution) to the profit of lawyers. At the opening of these assizes Baron Gurney made the following significant remark, with which we will conclude these instructive legal proceedings for the suppression of pugilistic encounters: “His lordship, in discharging the grand jury, said, that although the number of cases in the calendar was not greater than was usual at the spring assizes, yet he regretted to see that the character of many of the offences was of a most aggravated description, and that there was no less than six charges ofmaliciously cutting and woundingin the calendar. His lordship said that this offence of using deadly weapons in personal quarrels appeared to be very much on the increase, that it was a disgrace to the character of the country, and that it must be put down.”In May, 1842, the Deaf’un was matched with the Tipton Slasher (William Perry), but at the fourth deposit, which was appointed to be made at Owen Swift’s on July 7th, when “Time” was called, and Burke’s “needful” ready, no one appeared on behalf of the Tipton, and Burke was thereon declared entitled to the forfeit of the £15 down. Johnny Broome, as the representative of Perry, afterwards made his appearance, but Burke’s friends declared the business closed, and refused to reopen the affair. And thus ended the Deaf’un’s last attempt to get paired with either of “the big ’uns,” who at this period preferred their questionable claims to the tarnished honours of the “Championship.”“Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen.Fallen from his high estate,”poor Jem now became the plaything, but never the parasite, of a knot ofmen about town, supplementing their questionable patronage by giving lessons in boxing, and conducting the room at his early patron’s (Joe Parish, the waterman and pugilist) who, for many years after his removal from Strand Lane, kept the “Lion,” at the corner of Newcastle Street, Strand. The Deaf’un—and we met him often—was always respectable in appearance and respectful in manner, and out of his small means supported an aged mother and a humble home.In his nightly adventures in the vicinity of the Haymarket, Burke was frequently brought in contact with a big outsider, Bob Castles, well known at the “playhouses” (not the theatres), in the vicinity of Leicester Square, at “Goodred’s Saloon,” Jack Rowbottom’s “Finish,” in James Street, The Elysium, Mother Emerson’s “The Waterford Arms,” and the numerous nighthouses that then infested and infected the purlieus of Piccadilly, and disgraced and degraded the very name of a sporting house. Bob was a great boaster, and on the strength of having stripped twice in theP.R.(once in August 20, 1827, when he beat Bill Bailey at Portsmouth Races, and again on April 2, 1828, with Paddy Flynn, at Colney Heath, when he got “the value of a bating”), he was a sort of “professional” guide to roysterers out on the spree, and a bully for those who might hire his services. Bob was, moreover, a great talker, and, to use a Pierce-Eganism, “flash as the knocker of Newgate.” This worthy never missed an opportunity of making the naturally good-natured Deaf’un the butt of his chaff, and even of many rough practical jokes. On one of these occasions the Deaf’un taking umbrage at what he supposed to be an interference with some of his “’ticular frien’s,” quietly warned “Mister Bobs” that if he didn’t mend his manners “he’d jest punch Mister Bobs’ pimples.” One word begetting another, and the Deaf’un, considering himself better at anargumentum ad hominemwith the fist than a verbal disputation, dared Castles to the field; the latter ridiculed the idea, and several of those present agreeing that a good licking mutually administered might do good to both of them, a deposit was made to be increased to £50, and that the veterans should have the opportunity of displaying their courage and settling their difference of opinion,secundem artem, with Nature’s original weapons. To afford them an opportunity to prepare for their “trial by battle,” three weeks were allowed for training, and in the interim the wrathful heroes went under the necessary regimen and exercises, Burke at the “Five Bells,” Putney, Castles at the pleasant Hill of Richmond. Monday, June13th, 1843, was the eventful day. Castles, as the deposits went on, found no difficulty in collecting his “coriander seed;” but the poor honest Deaf’un did not find his friends, however prompt to promise when under the influence of champagne, so ready when its effervescence had subsided to relieve the mortified feelings of theirprotégéby substantial support. Indeed, he might have miscarried at the time, for, as he told us, he found no end of difficulty “in raising his winds; all the good ones as used to do the liberals being gones.” At this juncture Young Dutch Sam kindly stepped in and posted the “possibles,” but at the expense of several town visits by the Deaf’un, which consumed hours that would have been more advantageously devoted to improving his bodily condition. In truth, Burke had outlived his fistic fame; and, although the hero of some twenty battles, it was considered that the steel had been taken out of him, and that his renewed appearance in the milling arena would be a mere impotent exhibition of departed powers. Despite of the difficulties he had to encounter, and the low estimate of his capabilities entertained by many, he sustained the character for hardihood, steadiness, and cunning tact that served him so well in days gone by. As to Castles, his height (nearly six feet) and superior activity were considered strong points in his favour.At the last deposit it was agreed between Young Dutch Sam and Mr. Edward Lacey, the host of the “Garrick’s Head” tap—to whom the fortunes of Bob Castles had been entrusted—that a trip down the river was the most prudent mode of bringing matters to a conclusion, and for this purpose the “Nymph,” Woolwich steamer, was duly chartered, and directed to be moored off Waterloo Bridge on the morning of battle at eight o’clock. The “skipper” was punctual to his appointment, and soon after that hour the men and their partisans were safely embarked. Of the latter the muster was limited, but among them were a few “Corinthians,” whose appearance belied the conclusion that they had “risen with the lark,” although we opine they had not placed themselves in a position to render rising necessary. At a quarter after eight the craft was under weigh for London Bridge, whence, after a passing call, she proceeded to Blackwall, and there having taken in a few of “the right sort,” pursued her downward course. The Deaf’un was a little crusty on his supposed exclusion from a due share of the profits of the boat, but in this he was overruled. There was one point, however, upon which he was inexorable, namely, that, “as he was outs on a parties of pleasures,” he would “go the whole hogs,” and not stop short of Gravesend, where he expected tofind Young Dutch Sam and some friends. He had no objection, however, having seen them, to “try backs, and fight on the roads homes, instead of dropping downs to the Lower Hopes,” the vicissitudes attending on the last trip to which locality was still fresh in his as well as our recollection. Accordingly, to Gravesend the “Nymph” pursued her voyage. Here Sam was found, but his state of health was such as to render his embarkation indiscreet. Little time was lost in “putting about,” and finally dropping anchor at Rainham Ferry, on the Essex shore, nearly opposite Erith, the belligerents and their followers were quickly landed, and the coast being clear, the ring was formed on a fine piece of turf behind the bank, a snug public-house affording the men a convenient resting-place till all was ready. Of betting on the voyage down we heard but little, and this at “evens,” the Deaf’un sporting his “last solitary shilling” on himself.The Commissary having discharged his functions, aided by Tom Callas, and provided seats for the limited assemblage of spectators, the combatants were summoned to the scratch, and forth they came, nothing loth; Burke attended by Cullen and Jerry Donovan, and Castles by Tom Reidie and Fuller. On stripping, Burke looked as full in flesh and as prominent in muscle as when personating Hercules in his celebrated representation of the Grecian Statues. He stated he weighed 12st.4lb., and stood 5ft.8in.Castles was not so heavy, barely weighing 12st.; but he had the advantage in height, being 5ft.11in; his length taking from his width, he looked thin, but he was evidently in good health. There was a speck in one of his eyes, but he said it did not interfere with his vision, so that there was no fear of his antagonist getting on his “blind side.” “Richard’s himselfs agains,” said the great disciple of Shakspeare, and at twenty minutes to two both men advanced, having previously tied their colours to the stakes (blue bird’s eye for the Deaf’un, and white bird’s eye for Castles), and tendering the hand of good fellowship, commencedTHE FIGHT.Round 1.—Odds, 5 to 4 on the Deaf’un. A few leary dodges, each feeling for an opening, and the Deaf’un expanding his chest and stretching hispoundersfrom the shoulders, as if to give them freedom and elasticity. Castles tried his left, but was stopped; he then kept feeling for his man, the Deaf’un waiting, and cautious; nearer and nearer till at last they got within distance, when wild and slight counter-hits were exchanged with the left, then a rush to in fighting; a few scrambling hits, but no mischief done, and the Deaf’un dropped on his knees. On rising, Castles showed a slight discolouration on the right cheek-bone.2.—Castles manfully to his work; the Deaf’un quiet and waiting; Castles short with his left, and the Deaf’un on the alert; heavy counter-hitting with the left, and Burke popped in his favourite right-handedhit on the nut. More counter-hitting with the left; and in the close the Deaf’un was down, and got up blowing.3.—Bob, on coming up, showed symptoms of having received nobbers on the forehead left and right, and the Deaf’un’s eyes twinkled as if they had been asked a question. Castles prompt to the call of “time,” and Burke steadily but slowly to him. The Deaf’un tried at the mark with his left, but it was a mere tap; Bob advanced, the Deaf’un retreating till they reached the corner, when Bob let fly his left, catching it severely in return. A determined rally followed, and heavy hits were exchanged left and right; the Deaf’un catching Castles a severe right-handed hit on the jaw. In the end, the Deaf’un fell on his knees outside the ropes. On getting on his “second’s” knees he pointed to his right arm, as if it had been shaken in the last round.4.—Castles advanced; but the Deaf’un was in no hurry, and waited for him; Castles delivered his left on the Deafun’s sneezer, and got back; an exchange of heavy hits with the left, and Burke again down on his knees; he was evidently playing the cautious game.5.—Burke’s frontispiece slightly disfigured, and a mouse under his left eye; Castles getting within distance let go his left, but the Deaf’un hit with him, and heavy slogging hits, left and right, followed; a break away, and again to business; when, after an interchange of hits, the Deaf’un was down, obviously stung to some purpose, and Castles displayed claret from his nose, and showed marks of heavy nobbing.6.—Castles hit short with his left, but getting nearer, heavy counter-hits were exchanged, when Castles closed with the view to throwing; Burke attempted to get down, but Castles held him up by the neck by main strength for some time with both arms till he dropped.7.—Castles again a little out of distance; the Deaf’un waiting, when counter-hits were exchanged, and Castles closing, caught his man on the hip and gave him a heavy fall, to the dismay of the Deaf’un’s backers.8.—The Deaf’un came up slow, and suspicions were afloat that “a screw was loose,” in fact it was whispered that his rupture was down, and almost any odds were offered against him, one gentleman crying 100 to 1, and no takers; Castles strong on his legs and full of vigour. He was too cautious, however, and did not go in with sufficient determination; he hit short left and right; counter-hits with the left, and a lively rally, which ended in Burke going down, apparently weak.9.—Burke came up blowing like a grampus, and again looking at his right arm as if something was the matter; he tried a poke at the body with his left, but did not get home; heavy counter-hits with the left, and some spirited in-fighting; punishing blows were exchanged, and in the close, Burke pursued his getting-down system.10.—Castles came up with a tremendous bump over his left eye, which his seconds ascribed to a butt, and claimed, but the impression was that as Burke always dropped his head when he hit with his left, his head had accidentally come in contact with Castles’s forehead, but without any intention to butt, and the claim was not allowed. No sooner at the scratch, than Castles led off heavily with the left; sharp counter-hitting followed, and in the close, Burke down, Castles on him.11.—Castles missed his left, and some severe in-fighting followed; the hits were quick and heavy; Castles tried for the fall, but Burke hung on him, and pulled him down.12.—Castles popped in a tremendous pop with the left on the Deaf’un’s mug, and repeated the dose; the Deaf’un, not to be deterred, returned the compliment, and rattling hits followed; in the close the Deaf’un went down. Castles showed a gash on the brow, and was otherwise seriously damaged in the frontispiece, and the spirits of the Deaf’un’s friends were reviving.13.—A magnificent rally, in which the exchange of hits left and right were really rapid; in the close, Burke got down; both were seriously contused, and their phisogs anything but free from blemish.14.—Burke came up slow at the call of time; Castles to him, and led off with his left, but was stopped; good exchanges left and right; the Deaf’un looked groggy, but stood well up, and exchanged hits till he fell; Castles also fell, and was evidently feeling the effects of his quick and heavy fighting; both were seriously punished.15.—Heavy exchanges left and right; and in the close, Burke down weak.16.—Again did the men go to work with determination, although Burke was slow to the scratch; Burke delivered a heavy right-handed fling on Castles’s left ear, which was much swollen and discoloured, but on Castles attempting to close, he went down.17.—Bob planted heavily with his left, but the Deaf’un stood it like a wood pavement, and dashed to a rally, in which heavy jobbing hits were exchanged; Castles grappled for the fall, but the Deaf’un, too leary, got down.18.—Castles missed his left, and the Deaf’un rushing in with his head down, Castles caught it under his arm, and giving him a Cornish hug, threw and fell heavily on him.19.—The Deaf’un slow and weak, and five to one offered on Castles, who although seriously punished came up strong on his legs, with nothing like flinching in his demeanour. Castles missed his left, but the Deaf’un met him with his left on the nozzle, and drew his cork; a sharp rally, in which pretty taps were exchanged; in the end, Burke droppedon his knees, but in the act of going down, he received a whack on the left brow from Castles’s right, which opened a seam, and brought the claret in a stream.20.—Good stopping, when the men got to a rally, and hit followed hit left and right, till Burke fell on his knees. Castles had the bark stripped from his snuffler, and both displayed such marks of punishment as would have satisfied any ordinary appetite, and certainly proved that neither was deficient in thorough game.21.—Burke’s left eye, which had received a second visitation, continued to bleed; Castles no sooner on his legs than to business, and delivered his left well on the Deaf’un’s nose, drawing his cork; this he repeated, when the Deaf’un rushed to a close, but Castles slipped aside, and the Deaf’un fell over on his head.22.—Heavy exchanges left and right, the Deaf’un down.23.—The Deaf’un’s right eyebrow following suit with his left, both cut, and his nose assisting to form a trio; heavy counter-hitting with the left, and pretty exchanges with the right; Castles down, bleeding from the nose.24.—A terrific rally, in which the punishment was pretty much on a par; they both slogged away, till Burke dropped.25.—Another severe round; Burke was not to be denied, and the hitting proved that each was determined to leave his mark, of which friendly attentions there were abundant proofs, as both bled profusely, and displayed a succession of severe contusions, while Castles’ left eye was fast closing, and the knuckles of his left hand were considerably puffed.26.—Castles came up dripping claret from sundry springs: Burke, slow, waited his approach; Castles led off with his left, but was stopped; tried it again, and got home, when Burke rushed in with dire intent, but missed his blow, and Castles as he passed gave him a back-handed slap with his left; Burke down on his knees.27.—Castles hit short, when Burke rushed in under his arm, and Castles, trying to grapple, fell over and beyond him.28.—Castles, after a little dodging, planted his left; Burke countered, and caught him another round hit on the ear with his right; although Burke’s arm was said to be injured this did not seem to come from a disabled member, for it shook poor Castles’s dredging box most woefully; in a scrambling attempt at a close, Burke got down.29.—Castles, bleeding copiously, but still determined, led off with his left, but Burke returned left and right; Castles, in getting away, fell, and the cheers of Burke’s friends gave him new life.30.—It was now clear that Castles’ left hand was fast going, and from its swollen state it was plain that it was incapable of much execution; and the Deaf’un, who seemed rather to gain than to lose his strength, was the favourite at 6 to 4. The Deaf’un, in no hurry, waited for his antagonist’s approach; Castles let go his left, and the Deaf’un poked him in return, and after some good hitting, the Deaf’un got down.31.—The Deaf’un still on the waiting suit; Castles not so quick; he found that his heavy slogging hits made no impression on the Deaf’un’s iron head; still, after a pause, he led off with his left, and after a spirited rally, the Deaf’un was down.32.—The Deaf’un evidently tired, took his time in coming to the scratch, and quietly waited for the attack. Castles at last went to work, and heavy hits were exchanged, when in the close both were down, on Castles being lifted up, although dreadfully punished, he said “he felt strong,” and showed no disposition to cry “enough;” while Burke was equally dogged in his determination.33.—A little artful dodging; Castles let go his left, but Burke ducked, and got away; Burke in turn rushed in, but Castles retreated; he then rattled to the charge, but the Deaf’un slipped down on one knee; Castles pointed at him with his finger, instead of hitting him as he might have done, and exclaimed, “that’s Nick Ward’s game, stand up and fight like a man;” Burke grinned, shook his bump of combativeness, and was carried to his corner.34.—The Deaf’un extremely deliberate in his movements, and slow to the scratch. Castles not so quick as heretofore; after looking at each other and dodging, Castles shot out with his damaged left, but was stopped; a rally and counter-hits exchanged, when Burke again got down on his knees; Castles pointed at him derisively, but the Deaf’un “took a sight” with both hands, and flourished his digits; Castle walked to his corner, mortified at Burke’s dropping, while Burke was carried to his.35.—Castles’ left hand getting worse, and he did not seem inclined to lead off so quickly as heretofore; the Deaf’un ogled the damaged fin with great satisfaction, and, after a short pause, led off with his left, and planting his blow got down on his knees; Castles looked “unutterable things,” and, after regarding him for a moment, gave him a contemptuous slap on the cheek, at which the Deaf’un smiled, as much as to admit he was playing “the artful dodger.”36.—The Deaf’un a decided favourite, and 2 to 1 offered on him. He was clearly the stronger man, while his left hand was still sound and in working order; on getting up he waited quietly for the attack, looking slyly down at Castles’ fist; Castles offered to commence, but the Deaf’un retreated; a considerable pause, when Castles led off: the Deaf’un countered heavily, and after a sharp rally, in which some severe exchanges took place, the Deaf’un again got down, still playing the old soldier.37 and last.—The Deaf’un pursued his waiting game, and was clearly gaining strength; Castles also paused and was in no hurry to begin; the Deaf’un rubbed his chest, and then his thatch with both hands, and grinned, as much as to say, “I’m in no hurry.” Castles tried a feint with his left, but if would not do; the Deaf’un was wide awake, and showed that he was determined not to throw a chance away. Castles tried his left at the body, but the blow was not effectual, at last he let go at the Deaf’un’s head, and a brisk rally followed, when the Deaf’un finished the round by giving Castles, for the first time, a heavy fall. This was the closing act of the drama. Castles found his opponent the stronger man, and, from the state of his left hand, feeling that he had not a chance, he prudently determined to give in at once, declaring that fortune was on the side of his opponent, and he had not the power to turn the scale. The Deaf’un immediately approached, they shook hands, and all was over inone hour and ten minutes.Both men were immediately conducted to the contiguous public-house, where every attention was paid to them, and where their wounds were dressed, and their contusions reduced as much as possible. Poor Castles was heavily punished, his left eye in total eclipse; his face exhibited not a square inch without a mark, and a deep incision over the right eye showed the severity of the Deaf’un’s hitting. His left hand, too, had become perfectly useless; in truth a more perfect specimen of a courageous and undaunted submission to hard hitting we have never witnessed—the best evidence that if by nature timid, by force of mind he resisted all approach to the charge of cowardice, a species of valour even more creditable than that which mere instinct and the gift of creation has planted in the carcases of many animals. Burke had also what he called his “shares;” but with a hardier and more robust frame than Castles, as well as a head that might vie in quality with the rind of a cocoa-nut, his sufferings were not so severe. Yet we doubt whether in any of his former encounters his receipts were of so severe a character; he confessed he got much more than he expected, and was disagreeably surprised at finding “Mister Bobs so dangerous a customers.”Castles lost this battle principally from his eagerness in the latter part of the fight, and a want of judgment in not hitting and getting away. He was too fast, while the Deaf’un cunningly waited and popped him as he came in, thus giving a sort of double impetus to his deliveries. Had Castles rattled in with more determination when Burke was amiss, about the eighth round, the issue might have been different. Burke felt his position, and had recourse to all the strategems of an old soldier, husbanding his strength, getting down, and never attempting to wrestle or unnecessarily exhaust his powers; by this means he preserved his physical energies, and made the best use of them at the proper time. Castles, on the contrary, was always first to the call of “time,” and till the last fewrounds “made all the running,” thereby realising the fable of the hare and the tortoise. In trying to throw the Deaf’un, too, he diminished his powers; still, with all this, we are inclined to think, had his left hand not given way, a result almost inevitable from the frequent repetition of heavy hits on the Deaf’un’s granite nut, he would have come off victorious; as it is, with all his faults, he proved himself superior in pluck and moral courage to most of the modern men of his weight, and deserved the generous consideration of those who prize such qualities. The Deaf’un showed unflinching game throughout, and fighting up-hill as he did, with his right arm seriously, though not fatally damaged, he proved that “all was not lost that was in danger;” and that in confiding in his tact his admirers were not trusting to “a broken reed.”The battle money was given to Burke at Young Dutch Sam’s, the “Old Drury Tavern,” Brydges Street.The re-embarkation followed in good order, and all reached Waterloo Bridge at seven o’clock—the combatants proceeding under the care of their friends to their respective quarters. As an appropriatependantto the prosaic version of this “crowning victory” we appendA TRIUMPHANT EPISTLE FROM DEAF BURKE TO BOB CASTLES.My sarvice, friend Castles, once class’d with the nobs,We’ve finished our fights, and we’ve settled the jobs;I founds you a customers ugly and stout,And I’m blest if my works wasn’t neatly cut out.We’ve both of us passed, and no doubts on’t, our prime,And good sarvice we’ve seen in the Rings in our time;Fortune’s smiles and her frowns we’ve been destin’d to weather,But ne’er, as I knows on, displayed the white feather.Your friends chose to say I’d no relish for whopping,And censure as currish my systems of dropping,Declare by good men such a course was abhorr’d,And a leafs I had prigg’d from the books of Nick Ward.Now I humbly begs leave at sich nonsense to grin—One objects I had, and that there was to win;And who’er at my tictacs may fancy a fling,Such dodging’s all fair by the Rules of the Ring.On strengths and on plucks do men place sole reliance?Is nothing allow’d for manoovers and science?The systems of getting away would you fetter?Why, Bobbys, my tulips, you knows a deal better?Too fast with your rush you were constantly in,Till I gladly observed you had damaged your fin;Now, says I to my pals, you may alter your tones,For I see clear as muds that the games is my owns.And yet I received of hard hitting a gluts,You pepper’d my pimples, and damag’d my nuts;I never suppos’d you could come it so rough,And well pleased was I when you sing’d out “enough!”I’m sure you’ll allow, after triumphs achiev’d,I wasn’t so stale as some folks has conceived;Who swore that my powers pugilistics were spent,And I couldn’t inflict in fresh butter a dent.That I’ve not the same powers I’m free to deplore,As when I floor’d Byrne and a great many more;All out-and-out fancy boys, fearless and free,Then the Deaf’un aspired to be top of the tree.But lush and late hours, ’twould be folly to doubt,For a time wore my frame and my energies out;First Bendigo gave me a punishing dose,And I then by Nick Ward was consign’d to repose.Yet tho’ peaceful the course which for some time I shap’d,I felt that my gas had not wholly escap’d;My luck once again I was anxious to try,And with a true trump to turn out for a shy.The rest, Bobs, we knows, and I scorn all self praise,And I’d troubles sufficient the needful to raise;And, faith, I had almost despaired of a fight,When Young Dutch Sams came forward, and made it all right.Then we’ll meet at his cribs, Bobs, and go the whole hogs,In despatching his malts, his Virginny, and grogs,And as the pure drinkables mount to our brain,In “luck to the Rings” the bright pewters we’ll drain.And I’ll teach you to hact, both abroad and at home,The statutes of Greece and the statutes of Rome!I’ll teach you, Bob Castles, to understand traps,And make you a classical sorts of a chaps.And whether clean’d out or well breech’d with the stump,In wars or in peaces you’ll find me a trump,And whoever agin you foul slanders may hazard,Shall have from this mauley a tap on the mazzard.Then good-bye for the present—I wish you allmércies;You see I’m no bad one at tagging of werses,And ready at all times for going to vork,I’m yours, without any more gammon,Deaf Burke.This was the last “flare-up” of the Deaf’un’s pugnacious spirit. Late hours and long fasts, alternated with creaming sillery, lobster-salads, devilled biscuits, ditto kidneys, and a deluge of meaner liquors, soon reduced poor Burke to a shadow of his former self, and he died of consumption on the 8th of January, 1845, in Francis Street, Waterloo Road. His good qualities were his own, his vices the grafting of his so-called “betters” in society.[14]InFistiana(edit. 1864), Burke’s fight with Fitzmaurice is set down as having taken place on June 9th, 1834;i.e.thirteen months after the Deaf’un’s fatal affair with Simon Byrne, and is so placed. It occurred five years earlier, in 1829, as above narrated.[15]Omitted from the list of Lazarus’s fights inFistiana, but inserted under Brown.[16]Butting was not yet prohibited, and was frequently resorted to when a man wished to escape from the hug of a fibbing or wrestling adversary.—Ed.Pugilistica.[17]This is also prohibited by modern rules.—Ed.[18]This highly reprehensible system of carrying men up to the scratch was subsequently entirely done away with, as also the system of allowing minute time, another mischievous practice, which, by giving men more time, enabled them to recover sufficiently to stand and deliver blows long after their strength and stamina were exhausted. These alterations took place after the fatal fight between Owen Swift and Brighton Bill, and were attended with most beneficial results. Half-minute time only was allowed by the New Rules, and if a man did notwalk to the scratchin eight seconds after time was called, he lost the fight.
Pull’d up bybeaks, before you here I shows,For what offence, I’m blistered if I knows;Fam’d thro’ the universe for feats of fists,Before you stands Deaf Burke, the pugilists.Yes, honest jurymen, with heart of steels,I make with confidence my proud appeals,My case upon its simple merits try—Let me have justice, and no fears have I.I ask of you as upright jurymen,In what have I offended—where and when?Why of the throng should Burke the scapegoat beOr Reverend Cautley’s wrath descend on me?As to themill, I own that I was there—All went on peaceably, and all was fair;Arm’d with high courage, strong in heart and limbs,The men were at thescratchin gallant trims.And smiling confidence was on their brows,When Parson Cautley first kick’d up a rows,And by an effort, frivolous as weaks,Back’d by a ruraltraps, and Smith thebeaks,Sought, and perhaps he deem’d that he was right,To rush into the ring and stop the fight.What if the Riot Act was read—Alas!The Deaf’un couldn’t hear it if it was!And as far as I’m concern’d it is a facts,It might have been a sermon or “the Acts;”But as to swearing, or a hint to drop,Out of the ring I pitch’d him neck and crop,Tho’ towards a parson I feel reverence due,Josh Cautley states the thing that isn’t true.But let that pass—the issue I’ll not shirks—Convinc’d your fiat will acquit Deaf Burkes;Proclaiming that from testimony strong,The pugilist was right, the parson wrong.I’ve studied, sirs, since my career began,To prove myself through life an honest man—Humble my origin, my lot obscure,I never came the artful dodge, tho’ poor.I ne’er gave way to lewdness, nor to lush,Nor did an act for which I’ve cause to blush.True, I ne’er figur’d as a man of letters,But yet I know’d my duty to my betters.And never deem’d, however mean my station,Swearing and swaggering pleasant conversation;Yet, I confess, I lov’d in boyhood prime,To hear of boxing in the olden time;Of feats perform’d by those heroic men—Mendoza, Humphries, Johnson, and Big Ben,Jem Belcher, Gregson, tough Tom Cribb, and Gully,Whose hard-earn’d laurels time can never sully.Fir’d by their deeds, I cried, “Who knows but BurkeMay in the Prize Ring some day go to work,And proud of pluck that never warm’d a curs,Prove at the scratch an ugly customers?”Ripe for a chance I fearlessly defiedThe sturdiest bruisers by the waterside;And for the love of glory, not of tin.To many a hardy cove I’ve pitched it in.But on my fistic feats I will not dwell,What I have done let “Fistiana” tell.* * * * *These are my triumphs which I now record,Tho’ floor’d by Cousens, Bendigo, and Ward;And even with these I fearlessly declares,I did my best, and acted on the squares;And tho’ defeated on the field of fights,I died true game, and show’d no feather whites.Now, gentlemen, as I stand here before ye’s,I’ve told a round and plain unvarnished storys—I love fair English boxing as my life,But dread theArkansasblade andbowie-knife;Those weapons deadly, cowardly, and keen,Which in a Briton’s hand should ne’er be seen,But which ifbeaksconspire the ring to crushWill make the blood of many a Briton gush,And driving manly fair play from our Isle,Stamp us a nation of assassins vile!Now, gentlemen, no longer I’ll intrudes,But, as I’m bound in duty, will concludes;And, as you seem all honest mens and true,What you deem right I’m certains you will do.
Pull’d up bybeaks, before you here I shows,For what offence, I’m blistered if I knows;Fam’d thro’ the universe for feats of fists,Before you stands Deaf Burke, the pugilists.Yes, honest jurymen, with heart of steels,I make with confidence my proud appeals,My case upon its simple merits try—Let me have justice, and no fears have I.I ask of you as upright jurymen,In what have I offended—where and when?Why of the throng should Burke the scapegoat beOr Reverend Cautley’s wrath descend on me?As to themill, I own that I was there—All went on peaceably, and all was fair;Arm’d with high courage, strong in heart and limbs,The men were at thescratchin gallant trims.And smiling confidence was on their brows,When Parson Cautley first kick’d up a rows,And by an effort, frivolous as weaks,Back’d by a ruraltraps, and Smith thebeaks,Sought, and perhaps he deem’d that he was right,To rush into the ring and stop the fight.What if the Riot Act was read—Alas!The Deaf’un couldn’t hear it if it was!And as far as I’m concern’d it is a facts,It might have been a sermon or “the Acts;”But as to swearing, or a hint to drop,Out of the ring I pitch’d him neck and crop,Tho’ towards a parson I feel reverence due,Josh Cautley states the thing that isn’t true.But let that pass—the issue I’ll not shirks—Convinc’d your fiat will acquit Deaf Burkes;Proclaiming that from testimony strong,The pugilist was right, the parson wrong.I’ve studied, sirs, since my career began,To prove myself through life an honest man—Humble my origin, my lot obscure,I never came the artful dodge, tho’ poor.I ne’er gave way to lewdness, nor to lush,Nor did an act for which I’ve cause to blush.True, I ne’er figur’d as a man of letters,But yet I know’d my duty to my betters.And never deem’d, however mean my station,Swearing and swaggering pleasant conversation;Yet, I confess, I lov’d in boyhood prime,To hear of boxing in the olden time;Of feats perform’d by those heroic men—Mendoza, Humphries, Johnson, and Big Ben,Jem Belcher, Gregson, tough Tom Cribb, and Gully,Whose hard-earn’d laurels time can never sully.Fir’d by their deeds, I cried, “Who knows but BurkeMay in the Prize Ring some day go to work,And proud of pluck that never warm’d a curs,Prove at the scratch an ugly customers?”Ripe for a chance I fearlessly defiedThe sturdiest bruisers by the waterside;And for the love of glory, not of tin.To many a hardy cove I’ve pitched it in.But on my fistic feats I will not dwell,What I have done let “Fistiana” tell.* * * * *These are my triumphs which I now record,Tho’ floor’d by Cousens, Bendigo, and Ward;And even with these I fearlessly declares,I did my best, and acted on the squares;And tho’ defeated on the field of fights,I died true game, and show’d no feather whites.Now, gentlemen, as I stand here before ye’s,I’ve told a round and plain unvarnished storys—I love fair English boxing as my life,But dread theArkansasblade andbowie-knife;Those weapons deadly, cowardly, and keen,Which in a Briton’s hand should ne’er be seen,But which ifbeaksconspire the ring to crushWill make the blood of many a Briton gush,And driving manly fair play from our Isle,Stamp us a nation of assassins vile!Now, gentlemen, no longer I’ll intrudes,But, as I’m bound in duty, will concludes;And, as you seem all honest mens and true,What you deem right I’m certains you will do.
Pull’d up bybeaks, before you here I shows,For what offence, I’m blistered if I knows;Fam’d thro’ the universe for feats of fists,Before you stands Deaf Burke, the pugilists.
Pull’d up bybeaks, before you here I shows,
For what offence, I’m blistered if I knows;
Fam’d thro’ the universe for feats of fists,
Before you stands Deaf Burke, the pugilists.
Yes, honest jurymen, with heart of steels,I make with confidence my proud appeals,My case upon its simple merits try—Let me have justice, and no fears have I.
Yes, honest jurymen, with heart of steels,
I make with confidence my proud appeals,
My case upon its simple merits try—
Let me have justice, and no fears have I.
I ask of you as upright jurymen,In what have I offended—where and when?Why of the throng should Burke the scapegoat beOr Reverend Cautley’s wrath descend on me?As to themill, I own that I was there—All went on peaceably, and all was fair;Arm’d with high courage, strong in heart and limbs,The men were at thescratchin gallant trims.And smiling confidence was on their brows,When Parson Cautley first kick’d up a rows,And by an effort, frivolous as weaks,Back’d by a ruraltraps, and Smith thebeaks,Sought, and perhaps he deem’d that he was right,To rush into the ring and stop the fight.
I ask of you as upright jurymen,
In what have I offended—where and when?
Why of the throng should Burke the scapegoat be
Or Reverend Cautley’s wrath descend on me?
As to themill, I own that I was there—
All went on peaceably, and all was fair;
Arm’d with high courage, strong in heart and limbs,
The men were at thescratchin gallant trims.
And smiling confidence was on their brows,
When Parson Cautley first kick’d up a rows,
And by an effort, frivolous as weaks,
Back’d by a ruraltraps, and Smith thebeaks,
Sought, and perhaps he deem’d that he was right,
To rush into the ring and stop the fight.
What if the Riot Act was read—Alas!The Deaf’un couldn’t hear it if it was!And as far as I’m concern’d it is a facts,It might have been a sermon or “the Acts;”But as to swearing, or a hint to drop,Out of the ring I pitch’d him neck and crop,Tho’ towards a parson I feel reverence due,Josh Cautley states the thing that isn’t true.But let that pass—the issue I’ll not shirks—Convinc’d your fiat will acquit Deaf Burkes;Proclaiming that from testimony strong,The pugilist was right, the parson wrong.
What if the Riot Act was read—Alas!
The Deaf’un couldn’t hear it if it was!
And as far as I’m concern’d it is a facts,
It might have been a sermon or “the Acts;”
But as to swearing, or a hint to drop,
Out of the ring I pitch’d him neck and crop,
Tho’ towards a parson I feel reverence due,
Josh Cautley states the thing that isn’t true.
But let that pass—the issue I’ll not shirks—
Convinc’d your fiat will acquit Deaf Burkes;
Proclaiming that from testimony strong,
The pugilist was right, the parson wrong.
I’ve studied, sirs, since my career began,To prove myself through life an honest man—Humble my origin, my lot obscure,I never came the artful dodge, tho’ poor.I ne’er gave way to lewdness, nor to lush,Nor did an act for which I’ve cause to blush.True, I ne’er figur’d as a man of letters,But yet I know’d my duty to my betters.And never deem’d, however mean my station,Swearing and swaggering pleasant conversation;Yet, I confess, I lov’d in boyhood prime,To hear of boxing in the olden time;Of feats perform’d by those heroic men—Mendoza, Humphries, Johnson, and Big Ben,Jem Belcher, Gregson, tough Tom Cribb, and Gully,Whose hard-earn’d laurels time can never sully.Fir’d by their deeds, I cried, “Who knows but BurkeMay in the Prize Ring some day go to work,And proud of pluck that never warm’d a curs,Prove at the scratch an ugly customers?”Ripe for a chance I fearlessly defiedThe sturdiest bruisers by the waterside;And for the love of glory, not of tin.To many a hardy cove I’ve pitched it in.But on my fistic feats I will not dwell,What I have done let “Fistiana” tell.
I’ve studied, sirs, since my career began,
To prove myself through life an honest man—
Humble my origin, my lot obscure,
I never came the artful dodge, tho’ poor.
I ne’er gave way to lewdness, nor to lush,
Nor did an act for which I’ve cause to blush.
True, I ne’er figur’d as a man of letters,
But yet I know’d my duty to my betters.
And never deem’d, however mean my station,
Swearing and swaggering pleasant conversation;
Yet, I confess, I lov’d in boyhood prime,
To hear of boxing in the olden time;
Of feats perform’d by those heroic men—
Mendoza, Humphries, Johnson, and Big Ben,
Jem Belcher, Gregson, tough Tom Cribb, and Gully,
Whose hard-earn’d laurels time can never sully.
Fir’d by their deeds, I cried, “Who knows but Burke
May in the Prize Ring some day go to work,
And proud of pluck that never warm’d a curs,
Prove at the scratch an ugly customers?”
Ripe for a chance I fearlessly defied
The sturdiest bruisers by the waterside;
And for the love of glory, not of tin.
To many a hardy cove I’ve pitched it in.
But on my fistic feats I will not dwell,
What I have done let “Fistiana” tell.
* * * * *
* * * * *
These are my triumphs which I now record,Tho’ floor’d by Cousens, Bendigo, and Ward;And even with these I fearlessly declares,I did my best, and acted on the squares;And tho’ defeated on the field of fights,I died true game, and show’d no feather whites.Now, gentlemen, as I stand here before ye’s,I’ve told a round and plain unvarnished storys—I love fair English boxing as my life,But dread theArkansasblade andbowie-knife;Those weapons deadly, cowardly, and keen,Which in a Briton’s hand should ne’er be seen,But which ifbeaksconspire the ring to crushWill make the blood of many a Briton gush,And driving manly fair play from our Isle,Stamp us a nation of assassins vile!
These are my triumphs which I now record,
Tho’ floor’d by Cousens, Bendigo, and Ward;
And even with these I fearlessly declares,
I did my best, and acted on the squares;
And tho’ defeated on the field of fights,
I died true game, and show’d no feather whites.
Now, gentlemen, as I stand here before ye’s,
I’ve told a round and plain unvarnished storys—
I love fair English boxing as my life,
But dread theArkansasblade andbowie-knife;
Those weapons deadly, cowardly, and keen,
Which in a Briton’s hand should ne’er be seen,
But which ifbeaksconspire the ring to crush
Will make the blood of many a Briton gush,
And driving manly fair play from our Isle,
Stamp us a nation of assassins vile!
Now, gentlemen, no longer I’ll intrudes,But, as I’m bound in duty, will concludes;And, as you seem all honest mens and true,What you deem right I’m certains you will do.
Now, gentlemen, no longer I’ll intrudes,
But, as I’m bound in duty, will concludes;
And, as you seem all honest mens and true,
What you deem right I’m certains you will do.
On Monday, the 14th of March, the Deaf’un, who had been generously bailed by a couple of Bedford tradesmen, surrendered to his bail, as also did eleven others. TheRev.Mr. Cautley, Mr. Orlebar Smith, and “a cloud of witnesses,” policemen, and others. Tom Spring, in friendly consideration of the Deaf’un’s incapacity of hearing, stood by him asamicus curiæ, and kindly interpreted the proceedings. It should be stated that in his examination before Lord Charles F. Russell and the grand jurors, theRev.Joshua had stated that “Burke had endeavoured to force him out of the ring, and had seized him by the leg to throw him over the ropes.” Of this the Deaf’un (who certainly was never in the ring at all) was nervously anxious to exculpate himself. What was his surprise then to learn that “no evidence would be offered on that point,” and that “the general charge implicated all present in the same guilt.” Eventually (Viscount Chetwynd having removed the trial of his indictment into the Court of Queen’s Bench, on the ground that he could not get an impartial trial in Bedfordshire) the trials were postponed, and the whole of the defendants were held to bail to appear at the summer assizes; to them a ruinous expense and miserable suspense, and the great satisfaction of their Christian prosecutors and the profit of sundry attorneys; and thus ended the first “field-day” of “the battle of Bedford.” Other separate indictments, however, were proceeded with, against Messrs. Brown, of the “Swan,” Newport Pagnell, George Durham, Edward Dawkes, and Mark Cross, for “refusing to assist the constable in the execution of his duty.” Mr. Brown, after evidence by M’Hugh, theRev.Joshua Cautley, and Mr. Smith, that in reply to being so called upon, he replied (being seated on the box of his coach) “that he had to mind his horses,” was found guilty. The other defendants then, having pleaded “guilty,” were sentenced each to pay a fine of forty shillings, and costs, and to enter intorecognisances themselves in £40, and two sureties in £20 each, “to be of good behaviour for one year.” The fines were paid, the sureties given, and the defendants liberated from that charge. In July the unlucky defendants again surrendered, when their trial was again postponed to await the result of thecertiorariby which the aristocratic defendants (Viscount Chetwynd and Mr. Maley, the solicitor) had removed their cases to the Court of Queen’s Bench. These having failed, in the ensuing November, Burke and his fellow victims of the law’s delay were placed at the bar. In the interim we find in theBedford Mercury:—
“Prize Fight and Lord Chetwynd.—Lord Charles Russell laid before the Court a statement showing the position of the prosecution against Burke and thirteen others, for a riot at a prize fight at Holcut, in this county, and did so to know whether the prosecution should be proceeded in. Already an expense of £50 had been incurred, and probably between £80 and £90, exclusive of witnesses, would be further required. By a writ ofcertiorariLord Chetwynd had traversed the case to the Court of Queen’s Bench, to obtain the privilege of not pleading on the trial in the usual way by holding up his hand. The other parties accused had not been aware of the object of the course taken by Lord Chetwynd, and were in the same position as they were before traversing to the superior court. The county was at a great expense, and the defendants must have been at double the expense. His lordship also laid before the Court a correspondence between Lord Chetwynd and that gentleman, expressing his regret at what had occurred. Mr. Smith was not satisfied with the correspondence, and the opinion of the Court was that the prosecution should be continued, having begun it.
“From this we infer that theRev.Mr. Smith is not satisfied with the apology tendered by Lord Chetwynd, and that to satisfy his feelings, the county and the defendants are to be involved in a still heavier outlay. To those who were in no respect consenting to Lord Chetwynd’s determination, this seems a measure of cruelty for which we were not prepared; but it would seem that after having already entered into recognisances to appear and take their trials, and having strictly and respectfully complied with that undertaking, from whence they were relieved by no act of their own, they are again called on to put in fresh bail in the Court of Queen’s Bench at Westminster, some of them living in distant parts of the kingdom. This may be necessary in form of law; but surely, even theRev.Mr. Smith can have no wish to add to the hardships of the defendants, who were, and are still ready to submit to take their trials at the proper season.”
This wretched persecution thus dragged its weary length into the following year, 1842, when negotiations for a compromise having been made between the Crown solicitors and those of the defendants, Mr. Gurney, on the part of “Burke, Adams, Cain, and others,” said he was instructed to withdraw their plea of “not guilty,” and to accept a verdict for the Crown against his clients.
Mr. Andrews thereon, on the part of the magistrates, thought the defendants had pursued a very proper course, and the prosecution was withdrawn; so that this expensive performance of “Much Ado about Nothing,” ended by Messrs. Cautley and Smith “taking nothing by their motion,” the defendants being put to a heavy expense, and an outlay of some hundreds of pounds (raised by benefits and public subscriptions of the admirers of British boxing, and the sympathisers with the unfortunate victims of Puritanical persecution) to the profit of lawyers. At the opening of these assizes Baron Gurney made the following significant remark, with which we will conclude these instructive legal proceedings for the suppression of pugilistic encounters: “His lordship, in discharging the grand jury, said, that although the number of cases in the calendar was not greater than was usual at the spring assizes, yet he regretted to see that the character of many of the offences was of a most aggravated description, and that there was no less than six charges ofmaliciously cutting and woundingin the calendar. His lordship said that this offence of using deadly weapons in personal quarrels appeared to be very much on the increase, that it was a disgrace to the character of the country, and that it must be put down.”
In May, 1842, the Deaf’un was matched with the Tipton Slasher (William Perry), but at the fourth deposit, which was appointed to be made at Owen Swift’s on July 7th, when “Time” was called, and Burke’s “needful” ready, no one appeared on behalf of the Tipton, and Burke was thereon declared entitled to the forfeit of the £15 down. Johnny Broome, as the representative of Perry, afterwards made his appearance, but Burke’s friends declared the business closed, and refused to reopen the affair. And thus ended the Deaf’un’s last attempt to get paired with either of “the big ’uns,” who at this period preferred their questionable claims to the tarnished honours of the “Championship.”
“Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen.Fallen from his high estate,”
“Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen.Fallen from his high estate,”
“Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen.
Fallen from his high estate,”
poor Jem now became the plaything, but never the parasite, of a knot ofmen about town, supplementing their questionable patronage by giving lessons in boxing, and conducting the room at his early patron’s (Joe Parish, the waterman and pugilist) who, for many years after his removal from Strand Lane, kept the “Lion,” at the corner of Newcastle Street, Strand. The Deaf’un—and we met him often—was always respectable in appearance and respectful in manner, and out of his small means supported an aged mother and a humble home.
In his nightly adventures in the vicinity of the Haymarket, Burke was frequently brought in contact with a big outsider, Bob Castles, well known at the “playhouses” (not the theatres), in the vicinity of Leicester Square, at “Goodred’s Saloon,” Jack Rowbottom’s “Finish,” in James Street, The Elysium, Mother Emerson’s “The Waterford Arms,” and the numerous nighthouses that then infested and infected the purlieus of Piccadilly, and disgraced and degraded the very name of a sporting house. Bob was a great boaster, and on the strength of having stripped twice in theP.R.(once in August 20, 1827, when he beat Bill Bailey at Portsmouth Races, and again on April 2, 1828, with Paddy Flynn, at Colney Heath, when he got “the value of a bating”), he was a sort of “professional” guide to roysterers out on the spree, and a bully for those who might hire his services. Bob was, moreover, a great talker, and, to use a Pierce-Eganism, “flash as the knocker of Newgate.” This worthy never missed an opportunity of making the naturally good-natured Deaf’un the butt of his chaff, and even of many rough practical jokes. On one of these occasions the Deaf’un taking umbrage at what he supposed to be an interference with some of his “’ticular frien’s,” quietly warned “Mister Bobs” that if he didn’t mend his manners “he’d jest punch Mister Bobs’ pimples.” One word begetting another, and the Deaf’un, considering himself better at anargumentum ad hominemwith the fist than a verbal disputation, dared Castles to the field; the latter ridiculed the idea, and several of those present agreeing that a good licking mutually administered might do good to both of them, a deposit was made to be increased to £50, and that the veterans should have the opportunity of displaying their courage and settling their difference of opinion,secundem artem, with Nature’s original weapons. To afford them an opportunity to prepare for their “trial by battle,” three weeks were allowed for training, and in the interim the wrathful heroes went under the necessary regimen and exercises, Burke at the “Five Bells,” Putney, Castles at the pleasant Hill of Richmond. Monday, June13th, 1843, was the eventful day. Castles, as the deposits went on, found no difficulty in collecting his “coriander seed;” but the poor honest Deaf’un did not find his friends, however prompt to promise when under the influence of champagne, so ready when its effervescence had subsided to relieve the mortified feelings of theirprotégéby substantial support. Indeed, he might have miscarried at the time, for, as he told us, he found no end of difficulty “in raising his winds; all the good ones as used to do the liberals being gones.” At this juncture Young Dutch Sam kindly stepped in and posted the “possibles,” but at the expense of several town visits by the Deaf’un, which consumed hours that would have been more advantageously devoted to improving his bodily condition. In truth, Burke had outlived his fistic fame; and, although the hero of some twenty battles, it was considered that the steel had been taken out of him, and that his renewed appearance in the milling arena would be a mere impotent exhibition of departed powers. Despite of the difficulties he had to encounter, and the low estimate of his capabilities entertained by many, he sustained the character for hardihood, steadiness, and cunning tact that served him so well in days gone by. As to Castles, his height (nearly six feet) and superior activity were considered strong points in his favour.
At the last deposit it was agreed between Young Dutch Sam and Mr. Edward Lacey, the host of the “Garrick’s Head” tap—to whom the fortunes of Bob Castles had been entrusted—that a trip down the river was the most prudent mode of bringing matters to a conclusion, and for this purpose the “Nymph,” Woolwich steamer, was duly chartered, and directed to be moored off Waterloo Bridge on the morning of battle at eight o’clock. The “skipper” was punctual to his appointment, and soon after that hour the men and their partisans were safely embarked. Of the latter the muster was limited, but among them were a few “Corinthians,” whose appearance belied the conclusion that they had “risen with the lark,” although we opine they had not placed themselves in a position to render rising necessary. At a quarter after eight the craft was under weigh for London Bridge, whence, after a passing call, she proceeded to Blackwall, and there having taken in a few of “the right sort,” pursued her downward course. The Deaf’un was a little crusty on his supposed exclusion from a due share of the profits of the boat, but in this he was overruled. There was one point, however, upon which he was inexorable, namely, that, “as he was outs on a parties of pleasures,” he would “go the whole hogs,” and not stop short of Gravesend, where he expected tofind Young Dutch Sam and some friends. He had no objection, however, having seen them, to “try backs, and fight on the roads homes, instead of dropping downs to the Lower Hopes,” the vicissitudes attending on the last trip to which locality was still fresh in his as well as our recollection. Accordingly, to Gravesend the “Nymph” pursued her voyage. Here Sam was found, but his state of health was such as to render his embarkation indiscreet. Little time was lost in “putting about,” and finally dropping anchor at Rainham Ferry, on the Essex shore, nearly opposite Erith, the belligerents and their followers were quickly landed, and the coast being clear, the ring was formed on a fine piece of turf behind the bank, a snug public-house affording the men a convenient resting-place till all was ready. Of betting on the voyage down we heard but little, and this at “evens,” the Deaf’un sporting his “last solitary shilling” on himself.
The Commissary having discharged his functions, aided by Tom Callas, and provided seats for the limited assemblage of spectators, the combatants were summoned to the scratch, and forth they came, nothing loth; Burke attended by Cullen and Jerry Donovan, and Castles by Tom Reidie and Fuller. On stripping, Burke looked as full in flesh and as prominent in muscle as when personating Hercules in his celebrated representation of the Grecian Statues. He stated he weighed 12st.4lb., and stood 5ft.8in.Castles was not so heavy, barely weighing 12st.; but he had the advantage in height, being 5ft.11in; his length taking from his width, he looked thin, but he was evidently in good health. There was a speck in one of his eyes, but he said it did not interfere with his vision, so that there was no fear of his antagonist getting on his “blind side.” “Richard’s himselfs agains,” said the great disciple of Shakspeare, and at twenty minutes to two both men advanced, having previously tied their colours to the stakes (blue bird’s eye for the Deaf’un, and white bird’s eye for Castles), and tendering the hand of good fellowship, commenced
THE FIGHT.Round 1.—Odds, 5 to 4 on the Deaf’un. A few leary dodges, each feeling for an opening, and the Deaf’un expanding his chest and stretching hispoundersfrom the shoulders, as if to give them freedom and elasticity. Castles tried his left, but was stopped; he then kept feeling for his man, the Deaf’un waiting, and cautious; nearer and nearer till at last they got within distance, when wild and slight counter-hits were exchanged with the left, then a rush to in fighting; a few scrambling hits, but no mischief done, and the Deaf’un dropped on his knees. On rising, Castles showed a slight discolouration on the right cheek-bone.2.—Castles manfully to his work; the Deaf’un quiet and waiting; Castles short with his left, and the Deaf’un on the alert; heavy counter-hitting with the left, and Burke popped in his favourite right-handedhit on the nut. More counter-hitting with the left; and in the close the Deaf’un was down, and got up blowing.3.—Bob, on coming up, showed symptoms of having received nobbers on the forehead left and right, and the Deaf’un’s eyes twinkled as if they had been asked a question. Castles prompt to the call of “time,” and Burke steadily but slowly to him. The Deaf’un tried at the mark with his left, but it was a mere tap; Bob advanced, the Deaf’un retreating till they reached the corner, when Bob let fly his left, catching it severely in return. A determined rally followed, and heavy hits were exchanged left and right; the Deaf’un catching Castles a severe right-handed hit on the jaw. In the end, the Deaf’un fell on his knees outside the ropes. On getting on his “second’s” knees he pointed to his right arm, as if it had been shaken in the last round.4.—Castles advanced; but the Deaf’un was in no hurry, and waited for him; Castles delivered his left on the Deafun’s sneezer, and got back; an exchange of heavy hits with the left, and Burke again down on his knees; he was evidently playing the cautious game.5.—Burke’s frontispiece slightly disfigured, and a mouse under his left eye; Castles getting within distance let go his left, but the Deaf’un hit with him, and heavy slogging hits, left and right, followed; a break away, and again to business; when, after an interchange of hits, the Deaf’un was down, obviously stung to some purpose, and Castles displayed claret from his nose, and showed marks of heavy nobbing.6.—Castles hit short with his left, but getting nearer, heavy counter-hits were exchanged, when Castles closed with the view to throwing; Burke attempted to get down, but Castles held him up by the neck by main strength for some time with both arms till he dropped.7.—Castles again a little out of distance; the Deaf’un waiting, when counter-hits were exchanged, and Castles closing, caught his man on the hip and gave him a heavy fall, to the dismay of the Deaf’un’s backers.8.—The Deaf’un came up slow, and suspicions were afloat that “a screw was loose,” in fact it was whispered that his rupture was down, and almost any odds were offered against him, one gentleman crying 100 to 1, and no takers; Castles strong on his legs and full of vigour. He was too cautious, however, and did not go in with sufficient determination; he hit short left and right; counter-hits with the left, and a lively rally, which ended in Burke going down, apparently weak.9.—Burke came up blowing like a grampus, and again looking at his right arm as if something was the matter; he tried a poke at the body with his left, but did not get home; heavy counter-hits with the left, and some spirited in-fighting; punishing blows were exchanged, and in the close, Burke pursued his getting-down system.10.—Castles came up with a tremendous bump over his left eye, which his seconds ascribed to a butt, and claimed, but the impression was that as Burke always dropped his head when he hit with his left, his head had accidentally come in contact with Castles’s forehead, but without any intention to butt, and the claim was not allowed. No sooner at the scratch, than Castles led off heavily with the left; sharp counter-hitting followed, and in the close, Burke down, Castles on him.11.—Castles missed his left, and some severe in-fighting followed; the hits were quick and heavy; Castles tried for the fall, but Burke hung on him, and pulled him down.12.—Castles popped in a tremendous pop with the left on the Deaf’un’s mug, and repeated the dose; the Deaf’un, not to be deterred, returned the compliment, and rattling hits followed; in the close the Deaf’un went down. Castles showed a gash on the brow, and was otherwise seriously damaged in the frontispiece, and the spirits of the Deaf’un’s friends were reviving.13.—A magnificent rally, in which the exchange of hits left and right were really rapid; in the close, Burke got down; both were seriously contused, and their phisogs anything but free from blemish.14.—Burke came up slow at the call of time; Castles to him, and led off with his left, but was stopped; good exchanges left and right; the Deaf’un looked groggy, but stood well up, and exchanged hits till he fell; Castles also fell, and was evidently feeling the effects of his quick and heavy fighting; both were seriously punished.15.—Heavy exchanges left and right; and in the close, Burke down weak.16.—Again did the men go to work with determination, although Burke was slow to the scratch; Burke delivered a heavy right-handed fling on Castles’s left ear, which was much swollen and discoloured, but on Castles attempting to close, he went down.17.—Bob planted heavily with his left, but the Deaf’un stood it like a wood pavement, and dashed to a rally, in which heavy jobbing hits were exchanged; Castles grappled for the fall, but the Deaf’un, too leary, got down.18.—Castles missed his left, and the Deaf’un rushing in with his head down, Castles caught it under his arm, and giving him a Cornish hug, threw and fell heavily on him.19.—The Deaf’un slow and weak, and five to one offered on Castles, who although seriously punished came up strong on his legs, with nothing like flinching in his demeanour. Castles missed his left, but the Deaf’un met him with his left on the nozzle, and drew his cork; a sharp rally, in which pretty taps were exchanged; in the end, Burke droppedon his knees, but in the act of going down, he received a whack on the left brow from Castles’s right, which opened a seam, and brought the claret in a stream.20.—Good stopping, when the men got to a rally, and hit followed hit left and right, till Burke fell on his knees. Castles had the bark stripped from his snuffler, and both displayed such marks of punishment as would have satisfied any ordinary appetite, and certainly proved that neither was deficient in thorough game.21.—Burke’s left eye, which had received a second visitation, continued to bleed; Castles no sooner on his legs than to business, and delivered his left well on the Deaf’un’s nose, drawing his cork; this he repeated, when the Deaf’un rushed to a close, but Castles slipped aside, and the Deaf’un fell over on his head.22.—Heavy exchanges left and right, the Deaf’un down.23.—The Deaf’un’s right eyebrow following suit with his left, both cut, and his nose assisting to form a trio; heavy counter-hitting with the left, and pretty exchanges with the right; Castles down, bleeding from the nose.24.—A terrific rally, in which the punishment was pretty much on a par; they both slogged away, till Burke dropped.25.—Another severe round; Burke was not to be denied, and the hitting proved that each was determined to leave his mark, of which friendly attentions there were abundant proofs, as both bled profusely, and displayed a succession of severe contusions, while Castles’ left eye was fast closing, and the knuckles of his left hand were considerably puffed.26.—Castles came up dripping claret from sundry springs: Burke, slow, waited his approach; Castles led off with his left, but was stopped; tried it again, and got home, when Burke rushed in with dire intent, but missed his blow, and Castles as he passed gave him a back-handed slap with his left; Burke down on his knees.27.—Castles hit short, when Burke rushed in under his arm, and Castles, trying to grapple, fell over and beyond him.28.—Castles, after a little dodging, planted his left; Burke countered, and caught him another round hit on the ear with his right; although Burke’s arm was said to be injured this did not seem to come from a disabled member, for it shook poor Castles’s dredging box most woefully; in a scrambling attempt at a close, Burke got down.29.—Castles, bleeding copiously, but still determined, led off with his left, but Burke returned left and right; Castles, in getting away, fell, and the cheers of Burke’s friends gave him new life.30.—It was now clear that Castles’ left hand was fast going, and from its swollen state it was plain that it was incapable of much execution; and the Deaf’un, who seemed rather to gain than to lose his strength, was the favourite at 6 to 4. The Deaf’un, in no hurry, waited for his antagonist’s approach; Castles let go his left, and the Deaf’un poked him in return, and after some good hitting, the Deaf’un got down.31.—The Deaf’un still on the waiting suit; Castles not so quick; he found that his heavy slogging hits made no impression on the Deaf’un’s iron head; still, after a pause, he led off with his left, and after a spirited rally, the Deaf’un was down.32.—The Deaf’un evidently tired, took his time in coming to the scratch, and quietly waited for the attack. Castles at last went to work, and heavy hits were exchanged, when in the close both were down, on Castles being lifted up, although dreadfully punished, he said “he felt strong,” and showed no disposition to cry “enough;” while Burke was equally dogged in his determination.33.—A little artful dodging; Castles let go his left, but Burke ducked, and got away; Burke in turn rushed in, but Castles retreated; he then rattled to the charge, but the Deaf’un slipped down on one knee; Castles pointed at him with his finger, instead of hitting him as he might have done, and exclaimed, “that’s Nick Ward’s game, stand up and fight like a man;” Burke grinned, shook his bump of combativeness, and was carried to his corner.34.—The Deaf’un extremely deliberate in his movements, and slow to the scratch. Castles not so quick as heretofore; after looking at each other and dodging, Castles shot out with his damaged left, but was stopped; a rally and counter-hits exchanged, when Burke again got down on his knees; Castles pointed at him derisively, but the Deaf’un “took a sight” with both hands, and flourished his digits; Castle walked to his corner, mortified at Burke’s dropping, while Burke was carried to his.35.—Castles’ left hand getting worse, and he did not seem inclined to lead off so quickly as heretofore; the Deaf’un ogled the damaged fin with great satisfaction, and, after a short pause, led off with his left, and planting his blow got down on his knees; Castles looked “unutterable things,” and, after regarding him for a moment, gave him a contemptuous slap on the cheek, at which the Deaf’un smiled, as much as to admit he was playing “the artful dodger.”36.—The Deaf’un a decided favourite, and 2 to 1 offered on him. He was clearly the stronger man, while his left hand was still sound and in working order; on getting up he waited quietly for the attack, looking slyly down at Castles’ fist; Castles offered to commence, but the Deaf’un retreated; a considerable pause, when Castles led off: the Deaf’un countered heavily, and after a sharp rally, in which some severe exchanges took place, the Deaf’un again got down, still playing the old soldier.37 and last.—The Deaf’un pursued his waiting game, and was clearly gaining strength; Castles also paused and was in no hurry to begin; the Deaf’un rubbed his chest, and then his thatch with both hands, and grinned, as much as to say, “I’m in no hurry.” Castles tried a feint with his left, but if would not do; the Deaf’un was wide awake, and showed that he was determined not to throw a chance away. Castles tried his left at the body, but the blow was not effectual, at last he let go at the Deaf’un’s head, and a brisk rally followed, when the Deaf’un finished the round by giving Castles, for the first time, a heavy fall. This was the closing act of the drama. Castles found his opponent the stronger man, and, from the state of his left hand, feeling that he had not a chance, he prudently determined to give in at once, declaring that fortune was on the side of his opponent, and he had not the power to turn the scale. The Deaf’un immediately approached, they shook hands, and all was over inone hour and ten minutes.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Odds, 5 to 4 on the Deaf’un. A few leary dodges, each feeling for an opening, and the Deaf’un expanding his chest and stretching hispoundersfrom the shoulders, as if to give them freedom and elasticity. Castles tried his left, but was stopped; he then kept feeling for his man, the Deaf’un waiting, and cautious; nearer and nearer till at last they got within distance, when wild and slight counter-hits were exchanged with the left, then a rush to in fighting; a few scrambling hits, but no mischief done, and the Deaf’un dropped on his knees. On rising, Castles showed a slight discolouration on the right cheek-bone.
2.—Castles manfully to his work; the Deaf’un quiet and waiting; Castles short with his left, and the Deaf’un on the alert; heavy counter-hitting with the left, and Burke popped in his favourite right-handedhit on the nut. More counter-hitting with the left; and in the close the Deaf’un was down, and got up blowing.
3.—Bob, on coming up, showed symptoms of having received nobbers on the forehead left and right, and the Deaf’un’s eyes twinkled as if they had been asked a question. Castles prompt to the call of “time,” and Burke steadily but slowly to him. The Deaf’un tried at the mark with his left, but it was a mere tap; Bob advanced, the Deaf’un retreating till they reached the corner, when Bob let fly his left, catching it severely in return. A determined rally followed, and heavy hits were exchanged left and right; the Deaf’un catching Castles a severe right-handed hit on the jaw. In the end, the Deaf’un fell on his knees outside the ropes. On getting on his “second’s” knees he pointed to his right arm, as if it had been shaken in the last round.
4.—Castles advanced; but the Deaf’un was in no hurry, and waited for him; Castles delivered his left on the Deafun’s sneezer, and got back; an exchange of heavy hits with the left, and Burke again down on his knees; he was evidently playing the cautious game.
5.—Burke’s frontispiece slightly disfigured, and a mouse under his left eye; Castles getting within distance let go his left, but the Deaf’un hit with him, and heavy slogging hits, left and right, followed; a break away, and again to business; when, after an interchange of hits, the Deaf’un was down, obviously stung to some purpose, and Castles displayed claret from his nose, and showed marks of heavy nobbing.
6.—Castles hit short with his left, but getting nearer, heavy counter-hits were exchanged, when Castles closed with the view to throwing; Burke attempted to get down, but Castles held him up by the neck by main strength for some time with both arms till he dropped.
7.—Castles again a little out of distance; the Deaf’un waiting, when counter-hits were exchanged, and Castles closing, caught his man on the hip and gave him a heavy fall, to the dismay of the Deaf’un’s backers.
8.—The Deaf’un came up slow, and suspicions were afloat that “a screw was loose,” in fact it was whispered that his rupture was down, and almost any odds were offered against him, one gentleman crying 100 to 1, and no takers; Castles strong on his legs and full of vigour. He was too cautious, however, and did not go in with sufficient determination; he hit short left and right; counter-hits with the left, and a lively rally, which ended in Burke going down, apparently weak.
9.—Burke came up blowing like a grampus, and again looking at his right arm as if something was the matter; he tried a poke at the body with his left, but did not get home; heavy counter-hits with the left, and some spirited in-fighting; punishing blows were exchanged, and in the close, Burke pursued his getting-down system.
10.—Castles came up with a tremendous bump over his left eye, which his seconds ascribed to a butt, and claimed, but the impression was that as Burke always dropped his head when he hit with his left, his head had accidentally come in contact with Castles’s forehead, but without any intention to butt, and the claim was not allowed. No sooner at the scratch, than Castles led off heavily with the left; sharp counter-hitting followed, and in the close, Burke down, Castles on him.
11.—Castles missed his left, and some severe in-fighting followed; the hits were quick and heavy; Castles tried for the fall, but Burke hung on him, and pulled him down.
12.—Castles popped in a tremendous pop with the left on the Deaf’un’s mug, and repeated the dose; the Deaf’un, not to be deterred, returned the compliment, and rattling hits followed; in the close the Deaf’un went down. Castles showed a gash on the brow, and was otherwise seriously damaged in the frontispiece, and the spirits of the Deaf’un’s friends were reviving.
13.—A magnificent rally, in which the exchange of hits left and right were really rapid; in the close, Burke got down; both were seriously contused, and their phisogs anything but free from blemish.
14.—Burke came up slow at the call of time; Castles to him, and led off with his left, but was stopped; good exchanges left and right; the Deaf’un looked groggy, but stood well up, and exchanged hits till he fell; Castles also fell, and was evidently feeling the effects of his quick and heavy fighting; both were seriously punished.
15.—Heavy exchanges left and right; and in the close, Burke down weak.
16.—Again did the men go to work with determination, although Burke was slow to the scratch; Burke delivered a heavy right-handed fling on Castles’s left ear, which was much swollen and discoloured, but on Castles attempting to close, he went down.
17.—Bob planted heavily with his left, but the Deaf’un stood it like a wood pavement, and dashed to a rally, in which heavy jobbing hits were exchanged; Castles grappled for the fall, but the Deaf’un, too leary, got down.
18.—Castles missed his left, and the Deaf’un rushing in with his head down, Castles caught it under his arm, and giving him a Cornish hug, threw and fell heavily on him.
19.—The Deaf’un slow and weak, and five to one offered on Castles, who although seriously punished came up strong on his legs, with nothing like flinching in his demeanour. Castles missed his left, but the Deaf’un met him with his left on the nozzle, and drew his cork; a sharp rally, in which pretty taps were exchanged; in the end, Burke droppedon his knees, but in the act of going down, he received a whack on the left brow from Castles’s right, which opened a seam, and brought the claret in a stream.
20.—Good stopping, when the men got to a rally, and hit followed hit left and right, till Burke fell on his knees. Castles had the bark stripped from his snuffler, and both displayed such marks of punishment as would have satisfied any ordinary appetite, and certainly proved that neither was deficient in thorough game.
21.—Burke’s left eye, which had received a second visitation, continued to bleed; Castles no sooner on his legs than to business, and delivered his left well on the Deaf’un’s nose, drawing his cork; this he repeated, when the Deaf’un rushed to a close, but Castles slipped aside, and the Deaf’un fell over on his head.
22.—Heavy exchanges left and right, the Deaf’un down.
23.—The Deaf’un’s right eyebrow following suit with his left, both cut, and his nose assisting to form a trio; heavy counter-hitting with the left, and pretty exchanges with the right; Castles down, bleeding from the nose.
24.—A terrific rally, in which the punishment was pretty much on a par; they both slogged away, till Burke dropped.
25.—Another severe round; Burke was not to be denied, and the hitting proved that each was determined to leave his mark, of which friendly attentions there were abundant proofs, as both bled profusely, and displayed a succession of severe contusions, while Castles’ left eye was fast closing, and the knuckles of his left hand were considerably puffed.
26.—Castles came up dripping claret from sundry springs: Burke, slow, waited his approach; Castles led off with his left, but was stopped; tried it again, and got home, when Burke rushed in with dire intent, but missed his blow, and Castles as he passed gave him a back-handed slap with his left; Burke down on his knees.
27.—Castles hit short, when Burke rushed in under his arm, and Castles, trying to grapple, fell over and beyond him.
28.—Castles, after a little dodging, planted his left; Burke countered, and caught him another round hit on the ear with his right; although Burke’s arm was said to be injured this did not seem to come from a disabled member, for it shook poor Castles’s dredging box most woefully; in a scrambling attempt at a close, Burke got down.
29.—Castles, bleeding copiously, but still determined, led off with his left, but Burke returned left and right; Castles, in getting away, fell, and the cheers of Burke’s friends gave him new life.
30.—It was now clear that Castles’ left hand was fast going, and from its swollen state it was plain that it was incapable of much execution; and the Deaf’un, who seemed rather to gain than to lose his strength, was the favourite at 6 to 4. The Deaf’un, in no hurry, waited for his antagonist’s approach; Castles let go his left, and the Deaf’un poked him in return, and after some good hitting, the Deaf’un got down.
31.—The Deaf’un still on the waiting suit; Castles not so quick; he found that his heavy slogging hits made no impression on the Deaf’un’s iron head; still, after a pause, he led off with his left, and after a spirited rally, the Deaf’un was down.
32.—The Deaf’un evidently tired, took his time in coming to the scratch, and quietly waited for the attack. Castles at last went to work, and heavy hits were exchanged, when in the close both were down, on Castles being lifted up, although dreadfully punished, he said “he felt strong,” and showed no disposition to cry “enough;” while Burke was equally dogged in his determination.
33.—A little artful dodging; Castles let go his left, but Burke ducked, and got away; Burke in turn rushed in, but Castles retreated; he then rattled to the charge, but the Deaf’un slipped down on one knee; Castles pointed at him with his finger, instead of hitting him as he might have done, and exclaimed, “that’s Nick Ward’s game, stand up and fight like a man;” Burke grinned, shook his bump of combativeness, and was carried to his corner.
34.—The Deaf’un extremely deliberate in his movements, and slow to the scratch. Castles not so quick as heretofore; after looking at each other and dodging, Castles shot out with his damaged left, but was stopped; a rally and counter-hits exchanged, when Burke again got down on his knees; Castles pointed at him derisively, but the Deaf’un “took a sight” with both hands, and flourished his digits; Castle walked to his corner, mortified at Burke’s dropping, while Burke was carried to his.
35.—Castles’ left hand getting worse, and he did not seem inclined to lead off so quickly as heretofore; the Deaf’un ogled the damaged fin with great satisfaction, and, after a short pause, led off with his left, and planting his blow got down on his knees; Castles looked “unutterable things,” and, after regarding him for a moment, gave him a contemptuous slap on the cheek, at which the Deaf’un smiled, as much as to admit he was playing “the artful dodger.”
36.—The Deaf’un a decided favourite, and 2 to 1 offered on him. He was clearly the stronger man, while his left hand was still sound and in working order; on getting up he waited quietly for the attack, looking slyly down at Castles’ fist; Castles offered to commence, but the Deaf’un retreated; a considerable pause, when Castles led off: the Deaf’un countered heavily, and after a sharp rally, in which some severe exchanges took place, the Deaf’un again got down, still playing the old soldier.
37 and last.—The Deaf’un pursued his waiting game, and was clearly gaining strength; Castles also paused and was in no hurry to begin; the Deaf’un rubbed his chest, and then his thatch with both hands, and grinned, as much as to say, “I’m in no hurry.” Castles tried a feint with his left, but if would not do; the Deaf’un was wide awake, and showed that he was determined not to throw a chance away. Castles tried his left at the body, but the blow was not effectual, at last he let go at the Deaf’un’s head, and a brisk rally followed, when the Deaf’un finished the round by giving Castles, for the first time, a heavy fall. This was the closing act of the drama. Castles found his opponent the stronger man, and, from the state of his left hand, feeling that he had not a chance, he prudently determined to give in at once, declaring that fortune was on the side of his opponent, and he had not the power to turn the scale. The Deaf’un immediately approached, they shook hands, and all was over inone hour and ten minutes.
Both men were immediately conducted to the contiguous public-house, where every attention was paid to them, and where their wounds were dressed, and their contusions reduced as much as possible. Poor Castles was heavily punished, his left eye in total eclipse; his face exhibited not a square inch without a mark, and a deep incision over the right eye showed the severity of the Deaf’un’s hitting. His left hand, too, had become perfectly useless; in truth a more perfect specimen of a courageous and undaunted submission to hard hitting we have never witnessed—the best evidence that if by nature timid, by force of mind he resisted all approach to the charge of cowardice, a species of valour even more creditable than that which mere instinct and the gift of creation has planted in the carcases of many animals. Burke had also what he called his “shares;” but with a hardier and more robust frame than Castles, as well as a head that might vie in quality with the rind of a cocoa-nut, his sufferings were not so severe. Yet we doubt whether in any of his former encounters his receipts were of so severe a character; he confessed he got much more than he expected, and was disagreeably surprised at finding “Mister Bobs so dangerous a customers.”
Castles lost this battle principally from his eagerness in the latter part of the fight, and a want of judgment in not hitting and getting away. He was too fast, while the Deaf’un cunningly waited and popped him as he came in, thus giving a sort of double impetus to his deliveries. Had Castles rattled in with more determination when Burke was amiss, about the eighth round, the issue might have been different. Burke felt his position, and had recourse to all the strategems of an old soldier, husbanding his strength, getting down, and never attempting to wrestle or unnecessarily exhaust his powers; by this means he preserved his physical energies, and made the best use of them at the proper time. Castles, on the contrary, was always first to the call of “time,” and till the last fewrounds “made all the running,” thereby realising the fable of the hare and the tortoise. In trying to throw the Deaf’un, too, he diminished his powers; still, with all this, we are inclined to think, had his left hand not given way, a result almost inevitable from the frequent repetition of heavy hits on the Deaf’un’s granite nut, he would have come off victorious; as it is, with all his faults, he proved himself superior in pluck and moral courage to most of the modern men of his weight, and deserved the generous consideration of those who prize such qualities. The Deaf’un showed unflinching game throughout, and fighting up-hill as he did, with his right arm seriously, though not fatally damaged, he proved that “all was not lost that was in danger;” and that in confiding in his tact his admirers were not trusting to “a broken reed.”
The battle money was given to Burke at Young Dutch Sam’s, the “Old Drury Tavern,” Brydges Street.
The re-embarkation followed in good order, and all reached Waterloo Bridge at seven o’clock—the combatants proceeding under the care of their friends to their respective quarters. As an appropriatependantto the prosaic version of this “crowning victory” we append
A TRIUMPHANT EPISTLE FROM DEAF BURKE TO BOB CASTLES.
My sarvice, friend Castles, once class’d with the nobs,We’ve finished our fights, and we’ve settled the jobs;I founds you a customers ugly and stout,And I’m blest if my works wasn’t neatly cut out.We’ve both of us passed, and no doubts on’t, our prime,And good sarvice we’ve seen in the Rings in our time;Fortune’s smiles and her frowns we’ve been destin’d to weather,But ne’er, as I knows on, displayed the white feather.Your friends chose to say I’d no relish for whopping,And censure as currish my systems of dropping,Declare by good men such a course was abhorr’d,And a leafs I had prigg’d from the books of Nick Ward.Now I humbly begs leave at sich nonsense to grin—One objects I had, and that there was to win;And who’er at my tictacs may fancy a fling,Such dodging’s all fair by the Rules of the Ring.On strengths and on plucks do men place sole reliance?Is nothing allow’d for manoovers and science?The systems of getting away would you fetter?Why, Bobbys, my tulips, you knows a deal better?Too fast with your rush you were constantly in,Till I gladly observed you had damaged your fin;Now, says I to my pals, you may alter your tones,For I see clear as muds that the games is my owns.And yet I received of hard hitting a gluts,You pepper’d my pimples, and damag’d my nuts;I never suppos’d you could come it so rough,And well pleased was I when you sing’d out “enough!”I’m sure you’ll allow, after triumphs achiev’d,I wasn’t so stale as some folks has conceived;Who swore that my powers pugilistics were spent,And I couldn’t inflict in fresh butter a dent.That I’ve not the same powers I’m free to deplore,As when I floor’d Byrne and a great many more;All out-and-out fancy boys, fearless and free,Then the Deaf’un aspired to be top of the tree.But lush and late hours, ’twould be folly to doubt,For a time wore my frame and my energies out;First Bendigo gave me a punishing dose,And I then by Nick Ward was consign’d to repose.Yet tho’ peaceful the course which for some time I shap’d,I felt that my gas had not wholly escap’d;My luck once again I was anxious to try,And with a true trump to turn out for a shy.The rest, Bobs, we knows, and I scorn all self praise,And I’d troubles sufficient the needful to raise;And, faith, I had almost despaired of a fight,When Young Dutch Sams came forward, and made it all right.Then we’ll meet at his cribs, Bobs, and go the whole hogs,In despatching his malts, his Virginny, and grogs,And as the pure drinkables mount to our brain,In “luck to the Rings” the bright pewters we’ll drain.And I’ll teach you to hact, both abroad and at home,The statutes of Greece and the statutes of Rome!I’ll teach you, Bob Castles, to understand traps,And make you a classical sorts of a chaps.And whether clean’d out or well breech’d with the stump,In wars or in peaces you’ll find me a trump,And whoever agin you foul slanders may hazard,Shall have from this mauley a tap on the mazzard.Then good-bye for the present—I wish you allmércies;You see I’m no bad one at tagging of werses,And ready at all times for going to vork,I’m yours, without any more gammon,Deaf Burke.
My sarvice, friend Castles, once class’d with the nobs,We’ve finished our fights, and we’ve settled the jobs;I founds you a customers ugly and stout,And I’m blest if my works wasn’t neatly cut out.We’ve both of us passed, and no doubts on’t, our prime,And good sarvice we’ve seen in the Rings in our time;Fortune’s smiles and her frowns we’ve been destin’d to weather,But ne’er, as I knows on, displayed the white feather.Your friends chose to say I’d no relish for whopping,And censure as currish my systems of dropping,Declare by good men such a course was abhorr’d,And a leafs I had prigg’d from the books of Nick Ward.Now I humbly begs leave at sich nonsense to grin—One objects I had, and that there was to win;And who’er at my tictacs may fancy a fling,Such dodging’s all fair by the Rules of the Ring.On strengths and on plucks do men place sole reliance?Is nothing allow’d for manoovers and science?The systems of getting away would you fetter?Why, Bobbys, my tulips, you knows a deal better?Too fast with your rush you were constantly in,Till I gladly observed you had damaged your fin;Now, says I to my pals, you may alter your tones,For I see clear as muds that the games is my owns.And yet I received of hard hitting a gluts,You pepper’d my pimples, and damag’d my nuts;I never suppos’d you could come it so rough,And well pleased was I when you sing’d out “enough!”I’m sure you’ll allow, after triumphs achiev’d,I wasn’t so stale as some folks has conceived;Who swore that my powers pugilistics were spent,And I couldn’t inflict in fresh butter a dent.That I’ve not the same powers I’m free to deplore,As when I floor’d Byrne and a great many more;All out-and-out fancy boys, fearless and free,Then the Deaf’un aspired to be top of the tree.But lush and late hours, ’twould be folly to doubt,For a time wore my frame and my energies out;First Bendigo gave me a punishing dose,And I then by Nick Ward was consign’d to repose.Yet tho’ peaceful the course which for some time I shap’d,I felt that my gas had not wholly escap’d;My luck once again I was anxious to try,And with a true trump to turn out for a shy.The rest, Bobs, we knows, and I scorn all self praise,And I’d troubles sufficient the needful to raise;And, faith, I had almost despaired of a fight,When Young Dutch Sams came forward, and made it all right.Then we’ll meet at his cribs, Bobs, and go the whole hogs,In despatching his malts, his Virginny, and grogs,And as the pure drinkables mount to our brain,In “luck to the Rings” the bright pewters we’ll drain.And I’ll teach you to hact, both abroad and at home,The statutes of Greece and the statutes of Rome!I’ll teach you, Bob Castles, to understand traps,And make you a classical sorts of a chaps.And whether clean’d out or well breech’d with the stump,In wars or in peaces you’ll find me a trump,And whoever agin you foul slanders may hazard,Shall have from this mauley a tap on the mazzard.Then good-bye for the present—I wish you allmércies;You see I’m no bad one at tagging of werses,And ready at all times for going to vork,I’m yours, without any more gammon,Deaf Burke.
My sarvice, friend Castles, once class’d with the nobs,We’ve finished our fights, and we’ve settled the jobs;I founds you a customers ugly and stout,And I’m blest if my works wasn’t neatly cut out.
My sarvice, friend Castles, once class’d with the nobs,
We’ve finished our fights, and we’ve settled the jobs;
I founds you a customers ugly and stout,
And I’m blest if my works wasn’t neatly cut out.
We’ve both of us passed, and no doubts on’t, our prime,And good sarvice we’ve seen in the Rings in our time;Fortune’s smiles and her frowns we’ve been destin’d to weather,But ne’er, as I knows on, displayed the white feather.
We’ve both of us passed, and no doubts on’t, our prime,
And good sarvice we’ve seen in the Rings in our time;
Fortune’s smiles and her frowns we’ve been destin’d to weather,
But ne’er, as I knows on, displayed the white feather.
Your friends chose to say I’d no relish for whopping,And censure as currish my systems of dropping,Declare by good men such a course was abhorr’d,And a leafs I had prigg’d from the books of Nick Ward.
Your friends chose to say I’d no relish for whopping,
And censure as currish my systems of dropping,
Declare by good men such a course was abhorr’d,
And a leafs I had prigg’d from the books of Nick Ward.
Now I humbly begs leave at sich nonsense to grin—One objects I had, and that there was to win;And who’er at my tictacs may fancy a fling,Such dodging’s all fair by the Rules of the Ring.
Now I humbly begs leave at sich nonsense to grin—
One objects I had, and that there was to win;
And who’er at my tictacs may fancy a fling,
Such dodging’s all fair by the Rules of the Ring.
On strengths and on plucks do men place sole reliance?Is nothing allow’d for manoovers and science?The systems of getting away would you fetter?Why, Bobbys, my tulips, you knows a deal better?
On strengths and on plucks do men place sole reliance?
Is nothing allow’d for manoovers and science?
The systems of getting away would you fetter?
Why, Bobbys, my tulips, you knows a deal better?
Too fast with your rush you were constantly in,Till I gladly observed you had damaged your fin;Now, says I to my pals, you may alter your tones,For I see clear as muds that the games is my owns.
Too fast with your rush you were constantly in,
Till I gladly observed you had damaged your fin;
Now, says I to my pals, you may alter your tones,
For I see clear as muds that the games is my owns.
And yet I received of hard hitting a gluts,You pepper’d my pimples, and damag’d my nuts;I never suppos’d you could come it so rough,And well pleased was I when you sing’d out “enough!”
And yet I received of hard hitting a gluts,
You pepper’d my pimples, and damag’d my nuts;
I never suppos’d you could come it so rough,
And well pleased was I when you sing’d out “enough!”
I’m sure you’ll allow, after triumphs achiev’d,I wasn’t so stale as some folks has conceived;Who swore that my powers pugilistics were spent,And I couldn’t inflict in fresh butter a dent.
I’m sure you’ll allow, after triumphs achiev’d,
I wasn’t so stale as some folks has conceived;
Who swore that my powers pugilistics were spent,
And I couldn’t inflict in fresh butter a dent.
That I’ve not the same powers I’m free to deplore,As when I floor’d Byrne and a great many more;All out-and-out fancy boys, fearless and free,Then the Deaf’un aspired to be top of the tree.
That I’ve not the same powers I’m free to deplore,
As when I floor’d Byrne and a great many more;
All out-and-out fancy boys, fearless and free,
Then the Deaf’un aspired to be top of the tree.
But lush and late hours, ’twould be folly to doubt,For a time wore my frame and my energies out;First Bendigo gave me a punishing dose,And I then by Nick Ward was consign’d to repose.
But lush and late hours, ’twould be folly to doubt,
For a time wore my frame and my energies out;
First Bendigo gave me a punishing dose,
And I then by Nick Ward was consign’d to repose.
Yet tho’ peaceful the course which for some time I shap’d,I felt that my gas had not wholly escap’d;My luck once again I was anxious to try,And with a true trump to turn out for a shy.
Yet tho’ peaceful the course which for some time I shap’d,
I felt that my gas had not wholly escap’d;
My luck once again I was anxious to try,
And with a true trump to turn out for a shy.
The rest, Bobs, we knows, and I scorn all self praise,And I’d troubles sufficient the needful to raise;And, faith, I had almost despaired of a fight,When Young Dutch Sams came forward, and made it all right.
The rest, Bobs, we knows, and I scorn all self praise,
And I’d troubles sufficient the needful to raise;
And, faith, I had almost despaired of a fight,
When Young Dutch Sams came forward, and made it all right.
Then we’ll meet at his cribs, Bobs, and go the whole hogs,In despatching his malts, his Virginny, and grogs,And as the pure drinkables mount to our brain,In “luck to the Rings” the bright pewters we’ll drain.
Then we’ll meet at his cribs, Bobs, and go the whole hogs,
In despatching his malts, his Virginny, and grogs,
And as the pure drinkables mount to our brain,
In “luck to the Rings” the bright pewters we’ll drain.
And I’ll teach you to hact, both abroad and at home,The statutes of Greece and the statutes of Rome!I’ll teach you, Bob Castles, to understand traps,And make you a classical sorts of a chaps.
And I’ll teach you to hact, both abroad and at home,
The statutes of Greece and the statutes of Rome!
I’ll teach you, Bob Castles, to understand traps,
And make you a classical sorts of a chaps.
And whether clean’d out or well breech’d with the stump,In wars or in peaces you’ll find me a trump,And whoever agin you foul slanders may hazard,Shall have from this mauley a tap on the mazzard.
And whether clean’d out or well breech’d with the stump,
In wars or in peaces you’ll find me a trump,
And whoever agin you foul slanders may hazard,
Shall have from this mauley a tap on the mazzard.
Then good-bye for the present—I wish you allmércies;You see I’m no bad one at tagging of werses,And ready at all times for going to vork,I’m yours, without any more gammon,Deaf Burke.
Then good-bye for the present—I wish you allmércies;
You see I’m no bad one at tagging of werses,
And ready at all times for going to vork,
I’m yours, without any more gammon,
Deaf Burke.
This was the last “flare-up” of the Deaf’un’s pugnacious spirit. Late hours and long fasts, alternated with creaming sillery, lobster-salads, devilled biscuits, ditto kidneys, and a deluge of meaner liquors, soon reduced poor Burke to a shadow of his former self, and he died of consumption on the 8th of January, 1845, in Francis Street, Waterloo Road. His good qualities were his own, his vices the grafting of his so-called “betters” in society.
[14]InFistiana(edit. 1864), Burke’s fight with Fitzmaurice is set down as having taken place on June 9th, 1834;i.e.thirteen months after the Deaf’un’s fatal affair with Simon Byrne, and is so placed. It occurred five years earlier, in 1829, as above narrated.
[15]Omitted from the list of Lazarus’s fights inFistiana, but inserted under Brown.
[16]Butting was not yet prohibited, and was frequently resorted to when a man wished to escape from the hug of a fibbing or wrestling adversary.—Ed.Pugilistica.
[17]This is also prohibited by modern rules.—Ed.
[18]This highly reprehensible system of carrying men up to the scratch was subsequently entirely done away with, as also the system of allowing minute time, another mischievous practice, which, by giving men more time, enabled them to recover sufficiently to stand and deliver blows long after their strength and stamina were exhausted. These alterations took place after the fatal fight between Owen Swift and Brighton Bill, and were attended with most beneficial results. Half-minute time only was allowed by the New Rules, and if a man did notwalk to the scratchin eight seconds after time was called, he lost the fight.