42 MR. JOHN GULLY 



amusement, spar with him for hours daily, both being 

 well matched. One day, on leaving him, after having 

 more than an ordinary ' set-to,' he said coolly : 



' Gully, fight me. It will make your fortune. I don't 

 know which will win, but I think I may. Still, it is sure 

 to be a very close and exciting thing.' 



From this very circumstance Colonel Hellish was 

 induced to find the money for Gully's debts, and the 

 match was made. The combat ended as Pierce had 

 predicted it would ; for after a desperate and sanguinary 

 fight, Gully was obliged to give in, or ' throw up the 

 sponge,' in the elegant language of the P. E. Gully 

 always said he did this at the instigation of his backer, 

 Colonel Hellish ; for at the time he was not thoroughly 

 beaten, though very much punished, being covered with 

 blood. Pierce knew no equal, and Gully only this defeat 

 in the whole course of his career. 



After this we find him so poor that he was compelled 

 to start for Doncaster on foot, but got a lift in Hr. Thos. 

 Thornhill's carriage the latter part of the journey. Sub- 

 sequently he was taken in hand by some racing-men, who 

 also patronized the P. E., and he was matched against 

 Gregson for the belt, and fought at Six Hile Bottom, 

 near Newmarket, in 1807, and again in the following 

 year in Sir John Sebright's park in Hertfordshire ; on 

 both of which occasions Gully was proclaimed the victor, 

 and retired from the ring and turned 'Boniface,' as 

 did many others of the same lively occupation that 

 came after him. 



I can hardly see, myself, that Gully as a pugilist was 

 deserving of the high reputation which he enjoyed. He 

 only fought two men; the one he beat, and the other 

 beat him. It is true he beat Gregson twice ; but at 

 one time the fight was a near thing, occupying a full 



