“Oh! ’tis a colour that ne’er shall grow whiter, The blues and the yellows may flaunt it amain, But the black flag that waves for the Paddy Bull fighter, If torn a small bit shall not nourish a stain, Hudson may puff away, Sampson may blarney gay, Still ’tis no Gaza to yield to his blow; Shelton may shake a fist, Ward he may try a twist, And be one in chancery if he does so. “Drink, Paddies, drink, to your hero from Erin! While manhood shall flourish, and true friendship thrive, So long for your Champion his ensign be wearing, ’Tis defended and held by a good bunch of fives. While the ring flourishes, And Erin nourishes Freedom and fancy and true sporting joys, The black flag shall have a toast, The P.R. shall ever boast The fogle of sable and Langan, my boys!” Langan took a benefit at the Fives Court on Thursday, July 1, 1824, when that popular place of amusement was crowded to suffocation, and numbers went away disappointed, not being able to procure admittance. Hundreds of amateurs were quite satisfied at getting a short peep now and then at the stage, and a great number of persons left the Court without being able, with all their efforts, to obtain a single glimpse of the sparring; indeed, it was such an overflow as almost to render the safety of the spectators doubtful. The sets-to were generally good. Loud cheers greeted the appearance of Spring, and also Langan, upon the stage. Neither of the heroes had yet recovered from the effects of their then recent contest. The set-to was a fac-simile of the battle in Chichester, the length of Spring giving him the advantage; it, however, gave general satisfaction. At the conclusion Langan addressed the audience in the following words: “Gentlemen.—The first wish nearest my heart, is to return thanks for the kindness and attention I have received in this country. I trust you will believe me, when I say, that I do not appear here in anything like a national point of view. There is no man loves Ireland and her sons better than I do. My pretensions are to show as a man among pugilists, and to contend for the Championship of England. I will contend with honour, and that shall be my pride, or I should be undeserving of that patronage which you so liberally bestowed upon me. When I met the Champion of England at Manchester, my friends backed me for the sum which was asked, £300. I would be proud to have my name enrolled in history amongst those brave champions, Jem Belcher, Pearce (the Game Chicken), John Gully, Cribb, and Tom Spring. I am now willing to accept a challenge to fight any man in England—to fight for that proud and enviable title, for the sum asked of me by Spring—£300.” Jem Ward then mounted the stage, and said he was willing to fight Langan for 200 sovereigns.