176 SELF-DEFENCE 



for my own pride and pleasure, and ever after found his 

 lordship a kind and liberal patron. 



In reverting more immediately to the box, it was about 

 this portion of my career that I met with a circumstance 

 which made a painful impression on my mind. In my 

 earlier days I had, like other young men, taken a liking 

 to one of the fashionable sports of the day — that is, I had 

 the merits and exploits of Gully and Gregson — Jem 

 Belcher and the Chicken — Tom Belcher and Dutch Sam 

 — ever on my lips. Indeed, I had ventured to take 

 lessons of the latter in the noble art of self-defence, as it 

 was then called, which, upon one or two occasions, I 

 must confess stood me in good service. But, while I 

 admired the science I abhorred the association, so that 

 my knowledge of the men or of their profession was very 

 limited. 



My attention was often recalled to the feats of the ring 

 by the public papers, and by their being a frequent topic 

 of conversation on the coach as well as in most public 

 companies. 



The stables where my horses stood were situated on a 

 point of the road, near to which the three counties of 

 Essex, Hertford, and Cambridge joined ; and, at the 

 distance of a mile, in a newly-erected, modest mansion, 

 on a pretty spot commanding an extensive view over the 

 surrounding 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. 



