PRIZE-FIGHTING. 193 



for safe-keeping their watches, chains, purses, and other 

 valuables, to be retained by me until their return, after 

 the battle. 



As they had anticipated, a few minutes after they 

 had spoken, up drove an omnibus drawn by four horses, 

 containing twelve or fourteen hungry travellers all 

 calling together for beds and dinner, and, whilst the 

 well-known old cook of Count D'Orsay fame was taking 

 their several orders, we were apprised of the arrival of 

 another omnibus and four, followed in quick rotation 

 by two more carriages laden with cargoes of the backers 

 of one or other of the champions. 



By this time the whole house was filled with noisy 

 sportsmen, and many applicants were sent away for 

 want of accommodation. The great Rochester Room was 

 at once taken possession of, and beds were made up 

 even on the floor, while later comers went off to the 

 other inns in the town, but many who preferred to stop 

 with us had to remain up the whole night long. I 

 should have mentioned that one of the carriages reaching 

 the White Hart contained six barristers who were in 

 the habit of attending the Norfolk Circuit, Aylesbury 

 being then one of the towns in which the Assizes on 

 that circuit were held. Mr. Birch was one, and I think 

 Mr. Byles another, afterwards Serjeant and subsequently 

 Mr. Justice Byles. On my expressing to Mr. Birch my 

 surprise at their presence on such an occasion, he told 

 me very seriously, that they were all averse to seeing a 

 prize-fight, but thought it their duty to witness one, as 

 they often had clients who, having got into difficulties 

 during a prize-fight, afterwards entrusted them with their 



O 



