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B , 0 X f H G. . »TH I*S • fcirncc; peculiarly ■ Englifh, whicKithough fafhionablc, is. not yet licenfed, and affords-an inflanec of the repugnance tljat may for a timefiibfift between the luwsimd the manors of anatinn, .was once as'regular an exhibition,- as wc now ice at any of tli'c places of publick nfent, the theatre* alone excepted. It was encouraged by the iirft rzihks of tlie nobility, patronized by the liHlfubjcftt'ni Uwrciilui, and tolerated by • the magiftrates. Betbfre the eUaWifhmcnt ot Broughton’s amphitheatre, a Booth was erected at Tottenham Cduify iu t^.liirh the proprietor; Mr. ’George'Tavlor^j.invited the prdfeffbrs of the art to difptkvItjicir /kill, and’the pubiick to be present at itshinhibition. The brmfers then had tire reward dueto,their prowefs* in a divifion of the entrance nlgncy, wliich iOmrtimcs was an hundred or an hundred and fifty-pounds. The general mode lt;if fhariag was for two thirds to go to the winning chanipion, while the remaining third was the right of the lofer; though fometiiiles, by an exprels agreement of the parties, the conqueror and the vnnquifhed (hared alike : which is to be the rule in the approaching tight between Humphreys and Mendoza.We have lately feen irt fomc of the papers, an Advertifemcnt Extraordinary, as a fat ire 011 the preient rage for this gymnattick cxercif®* but how little joxtraofdJnafy it would have appeared about half a century ago, we may judge from the following xdvertilements, which are taken from a news-papcr of thofc times.November 2 2, I742,“ This is to acquaint all true lovers of manhood, that at the Great Booth, Tottenham-Court, to-morrow, being the 23d inllant, it is believed there will be one of the mod fevere Boxing Matches that has been fought for many years, betweenRichard Hawes, Backmaker, andThomas Smallwood,For Fifty Pounds.“ The known hardincis and intrepidity of thefe two men will render. ;t ncedlefs to lay any thing irt their praife.“ Gentlemen are dr fired to come foon, for as thi* battle has been deferred a fortnight, at the particular defire of fever.il Noblemen and Gentlemen, a full houfe is early expected.“ There will be feveral byc-battles, as ufual, particularly one between the noted Buekhorfe and Harry Grey, for two guineas ; and a good day’s di-verfiou may be depended on.”Daity AJvertijer.April 26. 1742*“ At the Great Booth, at Tottenham-Court;on Wedueiday next, the 28th inllant, will be a Trial of Manhood bc.Veen the following champions :“ Whereas I, William Willis, (commonly known by the name of the Fighting Quaker) having fought Mr. Smallwood about twelve months lince, and held him the tightefl to it, and bruif-ed and battered him more than any one he ever encountered, though I had the ill fortune to be beat by an accidental fall ; the faid Smallwood, flufhed* with the fuccefs blind fortune-then gave him, and the weak attempts of a few vain Irilh-men and boys that have of late fought him for a minute or two, makes him think himfclf unconquerable ; to convince hi:n of the falfity of which, I invite him to fight me for ten pounds, at the time and place above-mentioned, when I doubt not but I lhall prove what I have afferted, by pegs, darts, hard blows, falls; and crofs buttocks.William vv ill 15.“ I, Thomas Smallwood, known for my intrepid manhood and bravery 011 and off the ftage, accept the challenge of this puffing Quaker, and wilnhew hint that he is led by a falfe ipirit, that means him no other good than that he fhould be cliaffifed for offering to take upon him the aim of fielh.”Thomas Smallwood. .“ Note, The doors will be opened at ten, and the combatants mouut at twelve.“ There will be feveral byc-battles, as ufual ; and partieulaaly one between John Divine and John Tipping, for five pounds each.”1 742*“ At the Great Booth, at Tottenham-Court, to-:noirow, the 7th of May, will be a Trill of Manhood between the following chajnpions, viz.“ Whereas I, John Francis, (commonly known bv the name of the Jumping Soldier) who ha vs always had the reputation of a good fellow, and have fought feveral bruifers in thc_ llreet, c. nor am afraid to mouut the ffage, efpecial’.y at a time when my manhood is called in queffion by an Irilh braggadocio buffer, whom I fouglu in a bve-batilc fomc time lince at Tottenham Court, for twelve minutes, and though I had not the fuccefs due to my Courage and ability in the art of boxing, do invite him to fight me for two guineas, at the time and place above-mentioned, when I doubt not but‘I IhaLl give liiin the truth «f a good beating.JoHn Francis.« I Patrick Henley, known to every one for the truth of a good fellow, who never refi.cd any one on or off the it ago, and light as often ior the diveriion of gentlemen as tor the money, accept the challenge of this Jumping Jacic, and lhah, if he don’t take care, give, him ovie ot my bothering blows, which will convince ln:n ot his ignorance in the on ot boxing. .• Patrick Henley.This laff advovtifement appeared alfo in the Dailv Advertifer, and is, together with the others, a curious fpceimen of the bualling ftyle uledbjr thole boxers in challenging each other, it mult not, however, be luppofed, that the challenges were penned by the refpective pa-ties—oy the generality of thefc-nwu, the 41 rut writing was not eltecmcd a manly or an honourable aceompDh-. mervt.* defiles which, fu- mii'onmty ot the
Newspaper Details
Public Advertiser
London, Middlesex, GB
Tue, Jan 08, 1788
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
David L.
WI, USA 20 Jun 2017
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