Thackeray is generally supposed to have been present at this fight and indeed was reported so by at least one newspaper. In this article in the _Cornhill_, he denies it, though in a somewhat involved fashion. His indignation in the matter was much more forcibly expressed in _Punch_ for April 28th, 1860, to which he contributed (anonymously):-- THE FIGHT OF SAYERIUS AND HEENANUS A LAY OF ANCIENT LONDON (Supposed to be recounted to his great-grandchildren, April 17th, A.D. 1920, by an Ancient Gladiator) “... What know ye, race of milksops, Untaught of the P. R. What stopping, lunging, countering, Fibbing or rallying are? What boots to use the _lingo_, When you have not the _thing_? How paint to _you_ the glories Of Belcher, Cribb, or Spring-- To _you_, whose sire turns up his eyes At mention of the Ring? * * * * * Then each his hand stretched forth to grasp, His foeman’s fives in friendly clasp; Each felt his balance trim and true-- Each up to square his mauleys threw; Each tried his best to draw his man-- The feint, the dodge, the opening plan, Till left and right Sayerius tried: Heenanus’s grin proclaimed him wide; He shook his nut, a lead essayed, Nor reached Sayerius’s watchful head. At length each left is sudden flung, We heard the ponderous thud, And from each tongue the news was wrung, Sayerius hath “First Blood!” Adown Heenanus’s Roman nose Freely the tell-tale claret flows, While stern Sayerius’s forehead shows That in the interchange of blows Heenanus’s aim was good! Again each iron mauley swung, And loud the counter-betting rung, Till breathless all, and wild with blows, Fiercely they grappled for a close; A moment in close hug they swing Hither and thither round the ring, Then from Heenanus’s clinch of brass Sayerius smiling slips to grass! ... in each succeeding round Sayerius smiling came, With head as cool and wind as sound, As his first moment on the ground, Still confident and game. How from Heenanus’s sledge-like fist, Striving a smasher to resist, Sayerius’s stout right arm gave way, Yet the maimed hero still made play.... Fain would I shroud the tale in night,-- The meddling Blues that thrust in sight,-- The Ring-Keepers o’erthrown;-- The broken ring--the cumbered fight,-- Heenanus’s sudden, blinded flight,-- Sayerius pausing, as he might, Just when ten minutes used aright Had made the fight his own!