4** Af#. JOHN GULLY 



did not cement their friendship, and their quarrel came 

 at last to a climax in a personal encounter in the 

 hunting -field, when Gully mercilessly thrashed his 

 former partner, after which Mr. Eidsdale brought an 

 action for assault that terminated in a verdict with 500 

 damages for the plaintiff a decision which met with so 

 much approval from the bulk of the spectators in the 

 crowded court, most of them hunting-men, with whom 

 " Bobby" was very popular, that they gave a rattling view 

 holloa, in which the learned brethren of the Bar and the 

 eminent Judge himself were maliciously reported at the 

 time to have cordially joined.' 



The same authority goes on to say : ' This was not the 

 only serious contretemps in which Gully was engaged, 

 for he and Mr. Osbaldeston had words on one occasion. 

 The Squire challenged Gully, had him " out," and sent a 

 ball through his hat. " Better through my hat than my 

 head," said the ex-prizefighter, as he picked up his head- 

 gear, and coolly surveyed the bullet-hole, his own taking 

 no effect.' 



The ex-bruiser, I should think, would know as much 

 about handling a pistol as a cow would a musket ; and 

 in firing it would be as likely to hurt himself as his 

 brave, but injured, little opponent. The causes of the 

 quarrels he had with others I need not mention. He 

 was of a tyrannical and overbearing disposition, ex- 

 tremely avaricious, and, like men of his class, not over- 

 scrupulously nice in the acquirement of wealth. He 

 knew how to worship the rising sun. Of his quarrel 

 with my father I may perhaps say a word, needless 

 though any explanation is. He contrived to set his son 

 John against him, making a small rift end in an open 

 rupture, which would have been peacefully concluded 

 but for his ' blowing the coal,' aided and abetted in this 



