FIGHTS WITH PIERCE AND GREGSON. 55 



released for a special purpose, through the kindness of 

 the celebrated Colonel Mellish. Gully's greatest 

 frieud at the time was Pierce, alias 'the Game 

 Chicken,' a Bristol man. Pierce used to visit him in 

 gaol, and spar with him for hours daily. On leaving 

 him, after having more than an ordinary ' set-to,' he 

 said coolly : 



' Gully, fight me. It will make your fortune. I 

 don't know which will win. but I think I may. Still, 

 it is sure to be a very close and exciting thing.' 



From this very circumstance Colonel Mellish was 

 induced to find the money for Gully's debts, and the 

 match was made. The combat ended as Pierce had 

 predicted it would ; for after a desperate and 

 sanguinary fight, Gully was obliged to give in or 

 1 throw up the sponge,' in the elegant language of the 

 P. K. Gully always said he did this at the instiga- 

 tion of his backer, Colonel Mellish ; for at the time 

 he was not thoroughly beaten, though very much 

 punished, being covered with blood. Pierce knew 

 no equal, and Gully only this defeat. After this w r e 

 find him so poor that he was compelled to start for 

 Doncaster on foot, but got a lift in Mr. Thos. Thorn- 

 hill's carriage the latter part of the journey. Subse- 

 quently he was taken in hand by some racing-men, 

 who also patronized the P. E., and he was matched 

 against Gregson for the belt, and fought at Six Mile 

 Bottom, near Newmarket, in 1807, and again in the 

 following year in Sir John Sebright's park in Hertford- 



