But then he was here to study our manners and customs, and even went to a prize fight. February 14, 1817: "An Imperial Boxing Match, to use the general term of the ring, took place yesterday at Coombe Warren, for a subscription purse of twenty guineas, between Croxey the Sailor, a _bustling_ second rater, and a candidate for _milling_ notoriety.... The Grand Duke Nicholas desirous of viewing the British character throughout, signified his wish to see the method of English boxing.... His Imperial Highness arrived at the ring in a carriage and four, at one o'clock, accompanied by his own suite, and some English Noblemen, admirers of gymnastics. A waggon was reserved for the Grand Duke's reception, and he ascended it with a hearty laugh. Under it were placed the bull dogs and _bull hankers_ for the last sports of the day. Bill Gibbons introduced his trusty bitch to the Patricians in the waggon as the favourite for the _Bull_ prize." The fight, or rather the fights, for there were two of them, took place, but they were stigmatized as very poor and tame affairs. "The Bull was the next object of attack, for a silver collar, and all the fancy buffers the town could produce were let go from the Royal waggon, which was decorated with purple flags. Gibbons' fancy dog was lamed early, but the best of the fun was, after the bull had broken a horn, he began to snort up on end, and went and got loose. Helter skelter was the consequence, and the bull, as regardless of men as dogs, made play through the ground, reclining his head, and tossing mortals before him, until he got clear off, upsetting carts, &c., that impeded his way. The fun concluded just before dark, and the whole sport went off with _éclat_." [Illustration: Playing at Bowls and Quoits.] _Apropos_ of prize fighting the last sentence in the following paragraph is worthy of note. Feb. 28, 1817: "Carter next asked to be backed to fight any man, when Cribb mounted the table, and challenged to fight any thing in being, from _three_ to _twelve_ hundred, observing he had fought so often that he should not again prostitute his talent for a trifle. Carter said he thought the Carlisle people would back him for £300, and he would ask them. After devouring about twenty dozen of wine, the lads departed _to spend the evening_, and amuse themselves at the expense of lamp contractors and watchmen's rattles."