244 A TRIAL FOR MR. MERRY 



other person in the world ; keeping thousands of game- 

 cocks at a time, entirely for the purpose of matching 

 them, and seldom had a less number. It was his singular 

 fancy to breed all the birds the same colour black- 

 breasted reds. In his business, which he carried on 

 with Mr. Cunningham as his partner, he accumulated an 

 immense fortune ; but, big as it was, it was increased, I 

 believe, in no despicable manner by his luck or good 

 management at cocking. Many of the battles he fought 

 were for 50 guineas a side, and 500 guineas the main ; 

 and not a few were fought for heavier stakes. On this 

 sport, in those days, as on racing to-day, large sums were 

 lost and won, and from all I hear Mr. Merry's balance 

 was usually on the right side. 



Without professing to know much of cocking, I may 

 say I have, when a boy, both kept game-cocks and fought 

 them. The great art consisted in feeding and heeling 

 them that is, putting on artificial spurs a task always 

 beyond the compass of my ability. I never heard 

 whether Mr. Merry fought his birds in silver or steel 

 spurs; but the latter were generally considered prefer- 

 able, and he would most likely use them. I remember 

 very well seeing a main of cocks fought at Aintree, and 

 still retain a lively recollection of losing my money over 

 the same. The pit was situated at the entrance of the 

 Liverpool racecourse, and built by Lord Derby (the 

 present nobleman's grandfather), where he fought his 

 own birds, until the sport and bull-baiting were pro- 

 hibited by law. It is now converted into a church or 

 chapel. 



Of Mr. Merry, personally, I may say that I have had 

 for many years the privilege of chatting over times past 

 and present with him discussing the merits of public 

 horses, belonging not only to himself but to others. On 



