jr PUGILISTS. 167 



country, looking down upon it as upon a 

 carpet, lived a Baronet who was known to 

 be a patron of pugilism, and to possess 

 a thorough knowledge of the science as 

 well as of its professors. Consequently, 

 the spot was frequently chosen as the 

 scene where trials of science and bottom 

 were decided. 



It was on a morning preceding the day 

 on which a long-expected battle was to 

 come off, that I was directed by my way- 

 bill to take up three persons at the " Cherry 

 Tree," Kingsland Road. I had three other 

 insides, one a young and beautiful lady, 

 whose husband, a clergyman, was my com- 

 panion on the box, Before I got to the 

 Stone's end, a gentleman on the roof said, 

 <c You have got some fighting men going 

 down with you." 



" Have I ? " I replied, carelessly ; but 

 the gentleman on the box, pricking up his 

 ears, said he would not allow any such 

 characters to sit in the coach with his wife. 



