criminals, without the knowledge, or privity, of the Turnkeys. The result is, that the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs are taking immediate steps for establishing such rules, as will probably prevent a repetition of the same evil."--(_Times, Nov. 29, 1796._) PRIZE FIGHTING AND DUELS. Prize fighting was beginning to develop into a fine art, and it was thought no more derogatory in a fine gentleman to assist, by his presence, at a "Mill," than to be present at a Cock fight. It was patronised by Royalty, as we see by the following Newspaper Cutting. Indeed, the Prince of Wales attended several prize fights, until a man was killed, and then he left the ring to itself. "On Friday, a battle was fought at Blackheath between Crabbe, a Jew, and Oliver, commonly called _Death_; in which the former was victorious. All the great patrons, and distinguished professors of this _fine art_ were present, and many bets were laid. The battle was honoured, in particular, by the attendance of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales."--(_Morning Post, April 18, 1788._) Even those "feeble folk," those superfine gentlemen, the Macaronis, learned to use their fists, as we see by this illustration. Any one caring for such particulars will well know that this was the golden age for pugilism. There were Tom Johnson, 1783-1791. Benjamin Brain (Big Ben), 1786-1791. Daniel Mendoza, a Jew, 1784-1820. Richard Humphries, "the Gentleman boxer," 1784-1790. John Jackson, 1788-1795. Bill Hooper (the Tin man), 1789-1797. Tom Owen, 1796-1799-1820. Tom Jones (Paddington Jones), 1786-1805. Bill Warr (of Bristol), 1787-1792. Will Wood, the Coachman, 1788-1804. George Ingleston, the Brewer, 1789-1793. Bob Watson, of Bristol, 1788-1791. Tom Tyne, "the Tailor," 1788-1792. Symonds (the Ruffian), 1791-1795. Jem Belcher, 1798-1809. This is the list of the Chief Gladiators of the period. "Mendoza's terms for teaching are reasonable enough--eight lessons for a guinea."--(_Morning Post, May 26, 1788._) * * * * * "_Mendoza_ and _Ward_, finding that the blackguard exercise of boxing had fallen into disrepute, took up the _genteel_ trade of crimping, and became acting serjeants, at a house in St. George's Fields, until a stop was put to that nefarious business by authority. We are sorry to find that these notorious blackguards have since returned to their former occupation."--(_Times, April 16, 1795._) [Illustration: Boxing made easy, or Humphreys giving a lesson.--1788.] Duels were of as common occurrence, as highway robberies, and need as much comment. Still, I give two, or three, instances to show on what trifles, men, then, ventured their lives.