Elias Spray, the coppersmith, a boxer of renown in the neighbourhood of Bristol, and who had twice beaten Bill Jackling (Ginger), the brother of Tom Johnson, the champion, was next selected to try the mettle of our hero. Monday, March 11, 1805, was the day appointed, and the fixture was Hampton Court; but fearing an interruption, they agreed to cross the water, and decide the contest upon Molesworth (Moulsey) Meadow. Considerable confusion took place in procuring boats to convey the numerous followers across the river, where several not only experienced a good ducking, but some narrowly escaped drowning, in their eagerness to reach the destined spot. At length, everything being completed, Pearce, attended by Maddox and Hall, as his second and bottle-holder, entered the ring (twenty feet square) and threw up his hat in defiance. Spray soon made his appearance, followed by Wood as his second, and Mountain as bottle-holder. Betting was seven to four on Pearce, even that the fight did not last twenty-five minutes, and ten to one that Pearce was not beaten in half an hour. The combatants lost no time in stripping, and after shaking hands smilingly set-to at a little before one o’clock. THE FIGHT.[92] Round 1.—A little sparring; Spray made a short hit; the Chicken put in a severe blow and brought down his opponent. 2.—Good blows exchanged. Spray put in a blow in his antagonist’s breast. Pearce rallied, and again knocked Spray down. (Odds nine to four in favour of the Chicken.) 3.—The Coppersmith showed good courage, and fought well. The men closed, and both fell. 4.—Spray rather hastily made some hard blows, but they failed. Pearce gave him a cross-buttock. 5.—In this round Spray already appeared distressed. The Chicken showed excellent science, and a third time completely knocked down his opponent. As he fell, Pearce smiled. 6.—Both fought well; some sharp blows exchanged. Spray struck his opponent in the stomach. Pearce rallied, and threw him very cleverly. 7.—Pearce seemed much affected by Spray’s last blow in the bread-basket. He made a hit, but failed, and fell. (Odds fell to two to one.) 11.—No good blows, but Pearce again had the advantage the whole of these four rounds. 12.—Spray put in some good determined blows, but they mostly fell short; at length, by a successful blow on the nose, he brought down the Chicken. 13.—Pearce bled profusely. Spray evinced weakness, made a short blow, and fell.