'Zbc Druib' 311 



Henry Hall Dixon was the son of a prosperous cotton 

 manufacturer, and was born at Carlisle on the i6th of 

 May 1822. In many a glowing passage of his writings 

 one can trace his love of the Cumberland fells and dales, 

 and his enthusiastic interest in the sports of the stalwart 

 dalesmen. Take, for example, this passage from St'/k 

 and Scarlet, on the old Cumberland and Westmorland 

 wrestling matches, a grand old sport now, alas, dying 

 out. 



After describing the great cocking mains at the 

 Chester meetings of the old days, he proceeds : 



' Strange indeed was the contrast between that 

 crowded pit in St John Street, Chester, and the race 

 accompaniments at " Merrie Carlisle " on a September 

 afternoon. A dark and almost breathless ring of ten 

 thousand is gathering under the hill-side on The Swifts, 

 and George Irving and Weightman — the wrestling 

 champions of the day — are within it. There they 

 stand with their necks crossed, and their hands swaying 

 between them, each watching with the eye of a falcon 

 lest the other should " get hod," and put in his fatal cross- 

 buttock. In vain the umpires threaten to blow them 

 out of the ring, if they keep up the delicious suspense 

 much longer ; but all in vain. Weightman kens 

 Geordie's, and Geordie kens Weightman's grip too 

 well, to let him have him by the waist half a second in 

 advance. Then they smile, raise their heads, shake 

 them at the umpires, and try it on once more. No 

 better luck again ; till at last the bell rings for Canteen 

 to saddle, and confront his Border friend. Fair Helen, 

 and Bonassus for the Gold Cup. At the sound their 

 hands close round each other with a snap which nothing 

 can unloose this time. Hayton or Bolton Gate must 



