94 



at this period than the fact that the -clergy still 

 bore active part in it, not only without reproach, 

 but with the same freedom as they might hunt 

 or shoot. A noteworthy cocker for nearly fifty 

 years was Professor John Wilson, known by 

 his writings as " Christopher North " : Wilson 

 frequented the cock-pit regularly during his 

 Oxford days from 1803 to 1807 ; when he 

 settled at Elleray on the shores of Windermere 

 he devoted much time and care to breeding 

 game-fowl, and on at least one occasion fought 



a main in his drawing-room 



& 



When he became Professor of Moral 

 Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, a 

 position modern ideas would regard as wholly 

 incompatible even with countenance of the 

 sport, he continued his interest in cocking, and 

 in his leisure hours was generally to be seen 

 with a cock under his arm. Professor Wilson 

 died in 1854 



The number of persons addicted to the 

 sport in the twenties may be inferred from 

 Captain Ross' experience when he accepted 

 Lord Kennedy's challenge to a cock match in 

 1825. Captain Ross asked Dr. Wing, who 

 lived near Melton, to lend him birds ; Dr. Wing 

 placed all his cocks at Captain Ross' disposal 

 and mentioned the matter to friends ; with the 



