1831.] Affairs m General 79 



That elegant affair the " prize ring" is, we greatly fear, on the wane. 

 What would the ghost of Mr. Windham say to this sign of the downfal 

 of England ? A paragraph in the Old Bailey annals stated a few days 

 ago, that Richard Curtis, "the pet of the fancy," was indicted for 

 assaulting, on the 8th of October, William Allen, known as " Jack the 

 Painter," and stealing from his person five sovereigns. Mr. Charles 

 Phillips made an objection to the indictment, with which the Court 

 agreed, and " the pet of the fancy" was discharged, upon his own recog- 

 nizance, in the sum of 400., to answer this charge at the next sessions. 

 Joshua Hudson, who now figures with an Ex to his name, and is 

 Ex-pugilist, as Parkins was Ex-sheriff, and as the Right Honourable 

 Sir Robert Blifil Peel is Ex-minister, whom may the stars long preserve 

 in the same condition, is also under a cloud. In short, the whole warlike 

 establishment is fallen from its high estate, and we shall probably not 

 hear of its revival until some new " Game Chicken" or " Nonpareil," 

 starts from the multitude to " witch the world with noble pummelling." 

 Even Jackson, the athlete, seems " a gone" champion ; his arms are as 

 brawny as ever, and the circumference of his calf is undiminished ; but 

 the man looks as mystified as Lord Aberdeen himself; and even Lord 

 Burghersh, whistling his own opera as he walks down Regent-street, 

 smiles not in a more melancholy manner. " Othello's occupation's gone." 



Yet Jackson was a shrewd fellow in his prime ; and his hint to a 

 gallant Marquis is worthy even of our record. The Marquis, following 

 the bent of his genius, had practised for some years under the pugilist, 

 until at last he was informed that he had succeeded in the only study 

 which he ever attempted, and that his education was complete. " Well 

 but, Jackson," said the noble eleve, t( have you told me every thing ? is 

 there not something else, in the way of secret, that I have yet to learn?" 

 " Why, my lord, there is one, and I shall tell it to you in confidence. 

 Never fight any body in earnest, or you will be d mnably licked." 



The multitude of country Tories are in alarm at the reforming threats 

 of the Greys. But the town Tories know better, and keep their souls 

 in peace. Reform sleepeth, and will enjoy a long slumber, for reasons 

 as well known to the Russells, the Devonshires, and all the great Whig 

 Lords, as to ourselves. Brougham is forcibly fixed where he will have 

 other things to do than make shewy speeches on such perplexing topics ; 

 and the matter is perfectly safe for the present. In fact, it is so quiet, 

 that we should not be surprised to find the Tories calling out for a 

 change, and demanding why the infinite scandals of the elections should 

 be overlooked by the legislature. The " Times" says, " the committee on 

 the Evesharn election have turned out the sitting members Lord Ken- 

 nedy, eldest son of Lord Cassilis ; and Sir Charles Cockerell, a large 

 dealer in money ; declaring that they have both been guilty of bribery 

 guilty of tempting a number of their fellow-subjects to betray a high 

 constitutional trust, and to disgrace themselves and the House of Com- 

 mons, and bring shame upon the order to which the noble and wealthy 

 personages so (most justly) dismissed from their seats, had hitherto been 

 considered as belonging. But we hope, that as one sort of retribution 

 has been already administered to the noble lord and the wealthy banker, 

 another and even more signal example will be made of the base commu- 

 nity upon whom they exercised their corruption namely, by disfran- 



