COCK-FIGHTIXG. 253 



them such pastimes are fast dying out. 

 I rejoice, with others, at the more re- 

 fined amusements that have taken their 

 place. 



Yet it was one that princes and 

 nobles participated in. I may mention 

 that, on the occasion of the visit of 

 the two grand dukes, brothers of the 

 Emperor Alexander, to this country a 

 few years later, an exhibition of this 

 description took place at the Royal 

 Cockpit, Westminster, for the express 

 purpose of instructing their imperial high- 

 nesses in the amusements that were 

 considered characteristic of us Islanders. 

 The admission was by tickets, distributed 

 to the members of the aristocracy then 

 in town, and to some favoured indi- 

 viduals, friends of Mr. Jackson, of pu- 

 gilistic celebrity, who was appointed to 

 superintend the arrangements. I was in 

 London at the time, without any thought 



