XXXIV 



the trees which grew there at the time of the fight, from the boughs of 

 which many scores of people from the neighbourhood got a tip-top 

 view. The little stream close by, called the Blackwater, divides Hamp- 

 shire from Surrey, and for being carried across it on the morning of 

 the fight many a half-sovereign had to be paid. 



Again was the day charming, as it was of old ; but sad recollections 

 of various nature occurred to me as, for nearly an hour, I roamed 

 about and rested upon the spot which, over five-and-thirty years be- 

 fore, had been the centre of the ring on that memorable morning. 

 The place for many years was marked by four posts, 24 feet apart, 

 until they rotted away lately. They ought to be replaced. 



Jim Mace.— Next to Sayers I think Mace was about the best man 

 we ever had. On " book form " he was better than Heenan, for with as 

 much difference in height and weight as there was between Sayers and 

 Heenan, Mace beat Tom King in their first battle, which was a fair 

 stand-up fight, and in the second he was having altogether the best of 

 it when King, by a chance blow, knocked him out. King then fought 

 Heenan, both men being fairly matched as regards height, weight, 

 and age, when the latter was beaten, fair and square, in a compara- 

 tively short time. Therefore, as I say. Mace was, on paper, a better 

 man than Heenan. But was he as plucky ? 



Hakry Bruxton and Tom Sayers.— Harry Brunton was a skilful 

 boxer and a courageous man, but having soft hands he could not hold his 

 own in the prize-ring. He was, however, one of the best seconds ever 

 known, and was selected by Sayers in all his battles, subsequent 

 to that with Perry. Between the two men there existed the greatest 

 friendship, and over his signboard at the " George and Dragon " in 

 Beech Street, Barbican, Brunton had himself described as " Tom Sayers' 

 favourite second." Soon after his fight with Heenan, Tom presented 

 Harry with a handsome silver cup, which on one side bore the inscrip- 

 tion, for the copy of which I am indebted to the editor of the Licensed 

 Victuallers' Gazette, " This trophy was presented to Harry Brunton by 

 his old friend, Tom Sayers, for faithful services rendered throughout his 

 great fights." On the other side were the following lines from the 

 facile pen of " Chief Baron " Nicholson :— 



" In those happy hours when man seeks relief 

 From the backfalls of sorrow and cross-counlers of grief, 

 When joy fills the heart and puts the crook on our cares, 

 Drink deep from this goblet and think of Tom Sayers. " 



The presentation was made by the " Chief Baron " at Brunton's house, 

 and the ceremony derived additional interest from the fact that Heenan 

 was present, and with Sayers and Brunton drank from the magnum 

 that christened the bowl. 



Soon after poor Tom's death, Brunton purchased for his own grave 

 the piece of ground which adjoined Tom's, and changed his residence 

 from the Barbican to the more secluded quarters of the Nag's Head, 



