34 Life in the Wesl [JAN. 



The inferior papers then go regularly to work : 



Last evening the Castle Tavern, Holborn, was unusually a lively scene, 

 being 1 thronged to a stand-still, by a pretty considerable muster of the Fancy, to 

 witness the drawing up of articles for the grand match between Bill Wack'em 

 and Jack Floor' em for two hundred sovereigns aside, and the championship. 

 Upon the signed articles being read, which were loudly applauded, and amid 

 the jingling of the goldfinches,, Tom Belcher, who is fond of his joke, took up a 

 bumper of his best ruby, and facetiously drank "may both of my friends win." 

 This produced a roar of laughter. The rest of the evening passed off mer- 

 rily. Each of the men is all confidence. Five to four on Bill Wactfem. 



GRAND MATCH FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. 



Bill Wack'em and Jack Floor' em. 



On the 1st inst. there was a strong party of the swells to dine at Tom 

 Belcher's, who treated his friends in his usual good style, providing for them 

 every thing of the best quality. The meeting took place in consequence of 

 the articles stipulating that the third and final deposit upon this great match 

 should be made on that evening. The bustle was forthcoming at the appointed 

 hour. Both men were present on the occasion. Nothing could surpass the 

 cordiality of the meeting, Bill drank Jack's health, and Jack drank Bill's 

 health. Their mawleys, which are destined to bruise each other's brow for 

 the laurels of championship, were closely folded one in the other in the greatest 

 friendship. The scene was peculiarly touching. " Bravo, Bill," " bravo, 

 Jack," resounded through the room. 



Bill Wack'em will be at the Magpie and Stump, on Wednesday evening, 

 to take a parting glass with his friends, previously to his leaving town for 

 active training. 



The " legs," who know that matches are not made to lose by, now 

 begin to look out to see all sure ; and a notorious " hellite" (as the author 

 terms the people who live by these and similar speculations), makes a 

 point of meeting Mr. Wack'em, before he leaves town to " train," at Salt 

 Hill. 



Hellite. " I say Bill, you and I vas alvays wery good friends," putting a 

 twenty pound note into his hand. " Vich vay is it to be, Bill ?" 



Bill Wack'em knew before, that the hellite, as he proceeded onward to 

 eminence, was a liberal rewarder of a good piece of intelligence, and could be 

 depended upon. " You vas alvays, master, an out and outer. I shall do my 

 best," raising his left arm, pointing his thumb over his shoulder, and winking 

 the eye on the same side, " I can't do no more, you know, master." 



Hellite. " I'm very much obleged to you, Bill. If it comes off right, I'll 

 make the sum fifty. Shake hands, Bill. Good day, good day. But stay. 

 Vho backs you, Bill, eh ?" taking out his well-filled silk note case, 



Bill Wack'em. " I mustn't tell that, but," casting an eye to the note case, 

 <f I knows you is to be depended on, Lord Hulse and his two cronies, to be 

 sure." 



Hellite, putting back his note case. " I'm wery much obleged to you, 

 thank ye, thank ye, good day, good day, excellent. I make it fifty, if it's 

 all right." 



The hellite went away, fully assured that Bill would do his best to win, 

 over the left, and Bill cursed the hellite for deceiving his hopes. 



Meantime, the affair runs through the country newspapers, and goes 

 on getting more and more publicity and interest : and the " flats" (who 

 have the particular happiness in this world, that they are always judges 

 of every thing !) begin to " suffer." 



