9 2 



seven battles, of which Gilliver won five, and is 

 famous in cocking annals by reason of the sums 

 staked, ^1,000 on each battle and ,5,000 the 

 main 



COCKING IN GEORGE IV's REIGN 



London cocking seems to have declined 

 during the reign of George IV (1820-1830), 

 though the Sovereign took great interest in the 

 sport and kept game-cocks, under Gilliver's 

 care ; but there was soon a revival. A corre- 

 spondent of the Sporting Magazine of 1830 

 writes, that as " cocking has now become so 



o 



much more patronised in town than some years 

 past,'' he hopes the editor will give more 

 detailed accounts of mains 



After the destruction of the old Royal Cock- 

 pit, Dartmouth Street, in 1816, the Royal 

 Cock-pit in Tufton Street became the head- 

 quarters of cocking ; a three clays main between 

 Middlesex and Gloucestershire was fought 

 there in February, 1830. The Tufton Street 

 pit was the only place where * long mains and 

 great subscription matches were fought at this 

 time in London. This pit, which was built by 

 subscription, was circular ; in the centre was a 



* Cocking and Its Votaries. By S. A. T. (1885) 



