The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-05-11 00:00:00

GRANI iitiGIiASSE

For several days past, the sporting world has
been in a state of great ferineat and agitation, ati
extra's/dui:ay degree of expectation having beau
excited by the grin mutat between Gresunt and
Galley, which was fixed foe yesterday. Iso other
matches, one lorteveen Cribb aud ilortoa, the
ether betweru ihskia jam and Cropley, were an-
nounced for the same field, and at the same time,
being triumvirate against trunviiote, of the
crack meta of the day ; the whole presentilig the
most elegant hill of fare ever presented to the ama-
teurs of pugilism.
OnSaturdav last, it was whispered confidenti-
ally, to tbe•cfrosen few in the gymnastic! circles,
that a C 0111113014 on the eontiiies of Bedfordshire
and Buckinghamshire, was to be the scene of
aetiou. It was scarcely to he expected that a
secret of such interest and importance mould not
transpire. The Marquis of Buckingham, apprised
of the arrangement, gave public notice, on Mon-
day, in souse of the London papers, of his inten-
tion to frustrate the sport. A great number of
`persous had, however, previously left them, tos
Saturday and Sunday, aud secured beds aud stable.
on the road. and in all the villages and hamlets
between Londou and Woburn. About two miles
and a half beyond the Litter place,Ashley Comoro*,
the proposed scene of action, is situate. A crowd
so great and unexpected, pouring dowu in that
direction, excited HO little alarm. Some of the
ignorant took it into their heads that the French
had lauded, and that the Londoners were flying to
their coulitre friends. The appearance of the
Dunstable voluntrene, uuder anus, with drams
beating, colours flying, double eurtniiche boxes,
doubly provided, uiuskets loaded, and Used bat-
onets, tended to encourage these fears, and excited
no trifling
.degree of terror and contiision. The
idiom of sisvasioa, however, was trausitory, and
the people were soon informed of the reel cause of
all this terrible moult and uproar. It did ap-
pear that Ashley Cuinuson was selected for this
grand ealiibition of the pug.listic art, and that the
Mikiiitratto of Beilloolsbue and Buckinghamshire,
at the bead of their coustables, and poise eumitaras,
with *subsidiary forceolvolunteers from tl.e neigh-
bouring distidets, were determined to resist this
unlicensed iocursiou into their territories. The
Dutistable voluuteers were wit under arms, so far
back as Monday, by which time the. concourse or
people was su great in that vicinity, that 30 dia-
ling* were asked fur a bed; and in one house, three
beds were let upon those terms, producing 41. 10‘.
All the lofts, aud burns, awl out-houses, were
tilled, and' happy wire they who had their car-
riages to sleep in. Some idea of the crowd may lie
formed, when it is cousidered that it was formed
of persons from within a circle of 100 miles, con-
sisting of several from Manchester, Birmingham,
liristul, Liverpool, and Yorkshire. During th,,
oloile•of Mourlay 'sight, the town of Wolouns war
iu contioual motion ; all was money and confusion,
with people arciviiie ea foot, on horseback, and in
carriage', all sork:Og that accommodation which
only a few comparatively could find ; few kw/riot;
strati way to go, and all _dreading chompuiut-
wint,froin thereporb oldie day, ll• decided in-
terference of the lisgistracy.Sostron ue s this tat ter
imuression, that from betting upon the battle, they
be tan to bet that thcre would be no battle at lilt,
and tea to one were bet over and over main that
there would be no fight. In one room at Woburn,
fifteen gentlemen lay upon the floor and chairs,
aud were happy to pay for their hard faro, upon the
same terms as it they lay upon the softest feather
beds ; and in many instatices the horses, althotieh
the weather was eevioe, were obliged to stand with-
out covering, This was the state of IVoloirn
town on Monday night. About five o'clock,
yesterday morning, the visitors began to move,
and the inhabitants of IVoburn to be on the look-
out after them ; having takeu, however, the pre-
castioie as their gueso+ arrived, to secure their
bouts, or 11040 e port of their property of 'emit valise.
Between six and sescu several carriages and four
arrived direct from London, with the most dashing
and fashionable amateurs. The famous pugilist,
itioltasoad, coinnionly called the illadt Diamond,
was their fiager-post—lie was smartly dressed in a
blue emit, white pantaloon and waistcoat, and
white hat lined with green, and took his station, in
consequence of a precoucerted plati,nt the Magpie,
to give his fashionable friends the clue to the
wished for spot. The people in gannet soon
caught the hint, and followed these leaders to
the tatended scene. The ring was Twined upon
Ashley Cominnii, about two toile, to the left of
Woburn, ou the Aanchester road. It wn a com-
plete 40 feet ring, raised with sods about twelve
niches from the ground. Hundreds of amateurs
'had viewed it before nine o'clock, and were greatly
Pleased with its appearance. A great taimy cur-
rears had arrived at that time, mid were penned
off safely; and a cart, lowied with ropes aria
stakes, to complete the circumference of the ring,
was within sight of the place. An repress, how-
ever, at title moment arrived, to inform the people
that the Magistrates ware aware of what was iit-
trailed; that some of them had ridden over the
ring early in the morning and indeed it here the
marks of horses' fret), and that they would not
siaer the matches to he fought teen.. Shane
of the knowing ones, suopectiiig that this was
a hoax, sent off an express to Morita , a
public-house, *Mont • mile off, where Gregsoe
held his bead-qnartero. Before the answer ar-
rived, however, Meadosa, dressed in green. and
mounted its a dashing style, cause up with two
or three gentleineu ainateurs, and assured them
that the battle would not be fought at that place.
—*Joon this assonance, the whole coos() rushed
down the hill, oi their way to Gregson's lodgings,
where they funnel this champion seated in the Earl
of Barri-more'. borouche, with the horsee heads
turned to Woburn, and escorted by ationt leo No-
hieneo and Gentlemea en horseback, the rear

hroitgln up with Ka it:in:tense etringof gigs, tandem.,
ace. Many persons, not apprised of the chimp el
scene. trans in the meats time, advancingfroili Wo-
hone to the Osumila. The two tides been nia, and
both came. with their aezamalated forte, into Wo;
burn,the Ivtowiui{oneswlloiedthemase havi g been
apprised that in case of 11:1F unforeseen chimp-
pniettneuvat the original i,Ol, they were to reel-
&imam at reveral More. in re% the first of
which was eh icha esbr;gbes kirk. he Mortford-

shift; about 17 mites distant from the original gpnt.
The spirits of the fondest admirers of the art taw
began to flag. and before they reached Dunstable.
meaty had repeated of their expedititsu. Several, tired
of the journey, ettunied home. coucludiug the-
would he oo tight; but the multitude
the) did oot appear to have suffered
For sixteen miles the road was
_covered

solid mass or pa;sengers ; dud in Dunstable,
!Julia mile on each side of that town, '

string of carriages iu a triple row, as clove as ever
we. ,tell iii Hyde Park. Several carriages were
'woken in the presfture, and many of the hordes
knocked up, the owners of whirl; uuw offered a
guinea a mile for co..veyaiscc to the real scene of
the fight. Neither horses or decent carriages, how-
ever, were to be procured for any money, and
rutuiv Gentlemen were glad to stow themselves in
butcher's carts, at the rate of a shilling a mile.
About two o'clock a considerable part of the crowd
had arrived in Sir John Sehriglit'a park, where a
flat spot was selected within the paling, in front
of the house, and about half a mile from it. The
paling was broken in a few places for admission,
but there was no wanton mi►chief committed, and
these uninvited guests behaved is as orderly aukn-
uer. Progress was immediately made in forming
the ring. The exterior circle was Ina* an acre,
surrounded by a triple ring of horsemen, and a
double ring of people on foot, no carriages having
presumed to cuter. About three &clot+ the day
overcast, a torrent of rain began to pour down,
and every one became impatient for the light.
Shortly after Gregeon, Gulley, Mendoza, Harry
Lee, Joe Ward, the Chicken, and several• oilier
first-rate heroes anode their appearance. A slight
ring was immediately funned, and the sports eoli-
ths:med.
FIRST FIGHT.
Came AND HOUToK.

The find fight was between Crib and Hortoo.—•
The combataido entered the rine at the same mo-
ment. Before setting-to bets were 5t04 on Crib.
They were both in tine condition and excellent
spirits.
First round -.Morton was all busy, ❑nd displayed a super-
fluity of action and mancruere. After illasy falsetto, be
succeeded iu hitting Crib iu the ~oath, which the 'attic did .
out appear to relish.
pat au w severe Mow on Hertoa's upper bp, sad
drew blued pruflisel3.
We :lave nut room or time to drtail this bottle.
in the presence of more pressing matter. It ex-
tended to 18 rounds, and occupied en hour and
lt minutes. in a torrent of niin. During the
wboie of the time Crib appeared vastly superior to
his antagonist ; he was ultimately the conqueror.
SECONI) FIGHT.
GRE44uN AND OVI.LRT.

It is impossible to describe the delight of the
spectators on beholding these two chainmotrs et:ter
the ring. Although um ground was &mod Rood-
ea with the ram, the people lay down nith the
greatest **sure, and a forty feet ring wee soon
formed iu a complete sty le. Capt. Barclay wag the
umpire; Harry Lee was second te Gregsoa, and
Joe Ward to Gulley. The combatants (*ought in
silk stockier, without shoes. and white breeches.
After they had stripped, their greut.conts were
thrt,wii over them to keep ott the rain, in espi rts-
bon that it would soon cease. It felon after INA-time
fair. They set-to, and the eyes of 70u0 -p •cutnry
were rivetted upou them. A rest initialer of testa
sere depending. upon the first knock-down blow ;
and the anxiety watching it was so great. that
not a word or even bremtning was heard in the
cr:ns d.

First raced mat deal of benut:ful sparring, peeks-
larly h) Cnrey. A well-directed Ishii at I s:th was ~put .n
upon (;:11.on's right tesup'e, obi( h bring it lino smack
clean to I tan ground —s( Loud hussais sad CMt.pmt of lianas
fur several miastes, with exclamations " Bravo, well Joao
Cultrn
g.-..-Grevson foatht shy—•Gul*y repeated kni blow with
the same ctfeet„ upon lb. samr --" Wall near Caney"
3 --sGrevon in all hunuor, fiudht wide, tripped Gulley,
and threw his. (Cry of " ! foal!")
4 —theium went late his sun in the torwashire style,
brad forenio,t, but they separated after a buckle.
3.....Cie4,:0n put in s, tend body blows, but their force
was in a Treat measure broken b. Gulley.
lath sod ;t6.—hlsarp bison us both sides. Greisow
threw..

6.—Gropen appeared to dislike his customer, sad fought
shy.
o.—Rott =tiled, clotted, and Greguon seal iCaller, theme
him flat omm the ground, at tl.e same t.me filling opera hist.
gure ►s antagonist s hack handed fatter *lb
his left, which was nevoid by • mailtdirectal bew, that eat
his right lye.
Mb, loth, and 1411s.—Ficic igriren by Cis le: several
straigbt forward Mows by Greoson, but u.suiet ail skipped
by he oppnasent.
is. susaitfwel a knockdown blow, while filling
he receive another; a loon us of " I uu. Foul "' Ile
is,,t however rwachea the graumi, "hen he se-creed the
slatckiter.
Itsli and 1711: produced noth.L.mr matrr.al
1a....41;00er wadi upon ha, m:ttle— 4 s, vete blot, planted
span Gregaoue lett eq., Lrourbt Isms to the cron,M.
ip —Greoun no is arms, barking wear h 9 hood, and
drove Guilty agait.at Ike topes of Fool f 491 r•
ip --Gulley went lets his amts with `eat spirit, forced his
hind nadir his arm, urd .68844 him welt.
%II —Cu:ley planted a 'blow oo flretsou'a oeek.
211•GregiVia appt.tred utak sod mummy ; beldame bad
SU pipet/et t.
,fry ...Gulley bothered Cresson oa both sides of the Semi,
mud rat t him, besides,* desperate feeler -.—Gregvou fell, and
was im.tv shroud.
g• —Colley stopped several blows, and tossed be bead,
smiling curet:testily at Geneva. The latter, &meow,
rallied, stud put in two blows upon bis fate.
25 and t 6 --Lnepas api.areutly very 'seek, bat domed
pick
....Grerott sumired up all his powers, bat be temald
make ust
ea —.t Arse a ate blow planted upou Grewstoes facet,
obliged him to give its„ after a *mere fight of 3$ military
(Sweppitift had greatly the adtatitage in stature
and appearance, but through the whole of the light
he did not display any improvement in mimic...—
At the end of the second round, tied were two
to one upon Gulley, and they continued to in-
crease. it was allowed that he wryer ahewed
so much science. Every atnateur Present al-
lowed that so much beauty of acliod wig never
seen a* he displayed in all his attibides. Greg-
son was dreadfully punished to the face, being
left quite blind.--Galley received same body
blows, and one sharp hit on the eye ; but he ap-
peared quite gay after the fight, 41.9.1 attended the
third matt-h.—lt is allowed that to much gooney
was 111:Ver before bet upon a pugilistic tight.
THIRD MATCH.
DUTCH $435 .47.41) CltoPtt

This was au intere►tiug Egl:t, but w•e he•^ not
roam to describe it.--V:ctory de:Arai is favour of
Oaten Sam.

the origitral spnt.
i of the tart our
.hed Dulistable.
'no. Several, tired
:out:lusting there
Ade wa, so grect.
any dinsiuntiott.
uvered with sue
,uustable, and for
iwit, there wu a

-;•4
y. it*