CHAPTERS FROM TURF HISTORY 



spot about a mile from the house, where a space 

 was cleared for the fight. Gully and Gregson 

 entered the ring at three o'clock. They fought 

 in white breeches and silk stockings, but without 

 shoes. On this occasion the result was a decisive 

 victory for Gully. Although the contest lasted 

 for an hour and a quarter, the experts hailed 

 the success of the champion in the tenth round. 

 His coolness, science, and fortitude under severe 

 punishment was amazing, while he confidently 

 placed the heaviest blows on his opponent with 

 a dexterous finish which the defence could not 

 resist. After the battle had been formally decided 

 in his favour Gully addressed the spectators. He 

 said he had not desired this fight, for he had fought 

 with a partially disabled arm, but that he had 

 been obhged to accept the challenge. Now that 

 the issue was settled, he hoped he should never 

 fight again, and, hke Entellus in the games sung 

 by Virgil, 



Hie victor caestus artemque repono, 



he resigned the Championship of the Ring. Im- 

 mediately he was dressed. Lord Barrymore drove 

 him in his barouche to London and left him at 

 the Plough Inn, Carey Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, 

 a tavern of which at that date the champion was 

 the proprietor. The following morning, despite 

 a face severely cut and bruised and both eyes re- 

 covering from heavy blows, Gully, in a little white 

 apron, was serving his customers and delighting 

 them with a recital of the incidents of his fight 

 on the previous afternoon. 



But he was a shrewd fellow. He saw no fortune 



90 



