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Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 1 (of 3): Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-40, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863Miles, Henry Downes

History

Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 1 (of 3): Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-40, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863

Name: Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 1 (of 3): Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-40, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863
Author: Miles, Henry Downes

Miles, Henry Downes

Boxing

Wednesday, May 10th, 1808, was soon known to be the day fixed for the
“big fight for the championship.” On the previous Saturday it was
understood in the privileged circle that those who repaired to the
confines of the counties of Bedford and Bucks., about a couple of miles
from Woburn, would be handy to the spot. This “tip” it would seem
reached others than those for whom it was intended for. The Marquis of
Buckingham publicly gave notice of his determination to frustrate the
sport, by publishing the following notice in the _County Chronicle_:—

                             “BUCKINGHAM HOUSE, LONDON, _May 8, 1808_.

  “Information having been transmitted to me, His Majesty’s Custos
  Rotulorum in and for the county of Bucks., of an intended riotous
  assembly, aiding and assisting in a breach of the peace, by a boxing
  match, within that part of the county of Bucks which touches or
  joins on the counties of Bedford and Herts, near the town of
  Dunstable; and that the said illegal and riotous assembly will take
  place on Tuesday, the 10th instant, notice is hereby given that
  proper steps have been taken for the detection and punishment of all
  persons acting as aforesaid, in breach of the peace, by the
  attendance of the magistrates, high constables, petty constables,
  and other peace officers, entrusted with the execution of the law
  within the said county.

                                      “NUGENT BUCKINGHAM,
                                          “Custos Rotulorum of Bucks.”

What follows may give a lively picture of an expedition to “see a fight”
in the days of the “Third George.” We extract from the _Morning
Chronicle_:—

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