32 Life in the West. [JAN. 



of a mercantile firm, figuring for the first time at Epsom or Ascot, and not 

 inclined to figure, for the last time, at the Old Bailey. It is experience 

 made up into sixpenny doses, and every one of them worth a pound ; - 

 spoon-meat (for the nonce) that the babe of eighteen may swallow, and 

 yet full of nutrition. It is a moral duty, as well as a pleasure, to extend 

 the knowledge of a work like this. And, therefore " Oyes ! oyes ! 

 oyes !" all " Greens" " Yokels" " Sucklings" " Sams !" " they that 

 have ears to hear, let them hear !" We shall begin with the frauds of 

 the " Ring," exemplified in a sketch called " Pugilism a cross !" which 

 is one of the best sustained descriptions in the book. 



The scene opens in Kensington Gardens, where a peer, a member of 

 parliament, and an officer in the army, are considering the possibility of 

 getting up a " fight" upon the " cross :" a speculation which, by this 

 time, most of our readers will have some distant sort of acquaintance 

 with. The excellent persons engaged in this discussion are called " Lord 

 Hulse," " Mr. Friske," and " Captain Welldone ;" but it would appear 

 that these are not the names of the parties really glanced at from some 

 letters (very neatly introduced) in the first volume, between pages 160 

 and 171. After some deliberation, as to the means, and the man, the 

 getting-up the fight is agreed on ; and " Mr. William Wack'em" is to 

 be looked for, and sounded on the subject. 



Captain Welldone at night, went round to Tom Cribb's, Jack Randall's, 

 and other sporting public houses, in search of Bill Wack'em ; at length, he 

 fell in with him at Tom Belcher's, where he was smoking his pipe, and 

 quenching his thirst with large draughts of heavy. The captain took a seat, 

 produced a segar, and had a glass of brandy and water. Bill espied him, and 

 soon approached his table. 



Captain Welldone, extending his hand to shake the thick, clumsy, and dirty 

 .one of Bill's," How are you, Bill ?" 



Bill Wack'em. " How are you, master ?" 



Captain Welldone." Sit down, Bill. What are you drinking ?" 



Bill Wack'em. " Heavy vet, master. Vill you drink vith me ?" 



Captain Welldone. " Here's better luck to you, Bill," drinking out of a 

 pewter pot. <( Give me your mawley, Bill, you're a d d fine fellow. It's a 

 pity you don't do better. What will you take ?" 



Bill Wack'em. " You are wery good. Some brandy and vater, master." 



Captain Welldone. " Tom, serve Bill Wack'em with a stiff glass of brandy 

 and water." 



Tom Belcher. " Directly, your honour.'* 



Bill Wack'em. Ah ! master, if I had any one to back me, I would start for 

 champion. Vhy I threw my last master over, vas, because he didn't offer me 

 enough, and vasn't libal. But I have been sorry for it never since." 



Captain Welldone. " If I could be sure you would now be true, I 

 would try to persuade Lord Hulse to take you up." 



Bill Wack'em. " May* me, and , but I'd do the thing 



vhat's right. I'm if you may not depend on me." 



Captain Welldone. " Well, don't say a word to any one. Be about the 

 .first turnpike on the Uxbridge road, atone o'clock to morrow without fail, and 

 we'll see if we can't make up a match for you." 



Bill Wack'em." I'll be punctual, master." 



Captain Welldone put into Bill's hand a sovereign, and took his leave. 



The next day Lord Hulse, accompanied by Captain Welldone and Mr. 

 Friske, drove alone the Uxhridge road in a job carriage, and picked up Bill 

 Wack'em. They continued the route, and at length drove down a by-lane to 



* " The horrible and disgusting imprecations so much used among these fellows, are, 

 of course, omitted." 



