The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-27 00:00:00

PUGILISM.

FIUUT PUT OFF BETWEEN JACK MARTIN AND
JEM BURN FOR 3001.

There never was a fight looked forward to with more
interest than the present. On the one hand the friends of
Martin relied on his tried courage and manly generalship in
many battles of celebrity, and on the other side the san-
guine admirers of Buru built their hopes on his youth,
activity, and known determination : he is already a great
favourite with the Fancy, and has a longing eye to the
championship on some fortunate hut future day. He it
indeed a very aspiring youth, vetting aside the idle but
natural elm; iaer of his kind uncle, Oh! Ben, who bars eood
reason to be proud of his young protege'.
The morning was ushered in very ►tor:tily and wet, to
the great annoyance of the road takers. But their curiosity
to witness a prime battle between two such men overcame
all wet scruples, and the roads from London, IVindsor,
Basingstoke, Ste. and every avenue, by-lane, wood, moor,
and mountain, poured the converging crowds to one in-
teresting focus, of brave men, sharp" men, idle men, and
fiat men—barouche, dray, gig, and donkey-cart, all form-
ing a motley ring to fill the eye of wonder. So intense was
the interest created by this fight, that two gentlemen had
posted all the way from Glasgow to behold it. Ben Burn,
Tom Oliver, anti the fighting Jem, nent down to Hamp-
ton on Monday, at which place Martin has been training,
and slept at the Bell Inn. Jt tit Burn slept at the White
Lion : he was in excellent health, high spirits, and full of
promise. Ile stands five feet ten and a half, is twenty
years of age, and looks remarkably well. Ile weighs
eleven stone five pounds ; when he fills out in a year or
two, he will be a powerful fellow. He is extremely
cautious in his conduct, and throws no chance away. Jack
Martin is twenty-eight years old, five feet nine inches
high, weighs eleven stone ten pounds. He has won nine
prize battles, and lost three. Ile wa.s in very good condition,
and sat up on Monday night till 11 o'clock, playing at crib-
bage with Toni Oliver. lie Was now in his prime, and his
friends had• great confidence in the willing abilities of the
Moshe of the Rells.
The morning cleared up by nine o'clock, and about ten
the whole cavalcade of fighting men, their seconds, backers,
and admirers, set out in high glee for the field of battle, in
the vicinity of Virginia Water, where the Fancy bad such
an excellent treat last Tuesday. The odds varied in fa-
vour of Burn, but not much—at any rate lie was taken for
choice.
The ring was to have been pitched at Virginia
Water, but the Magistrates interfered, and the ground
fixed on was at Laleham, a village two miles from Staines.
No sooner was the ring formed than a Magistrate, Sir
John Gibbon, of Stanway, appeared, and told the milling
cures that mere should he no tight there.
However, at three minutes past one o'clock, Jem Burn
came into the ring, with his uncle, Old Ben, and taking off
his hat, said, "Gentlemen, I am here ready to fight ; if
Martin does not choose to appear, I claim the money."—
(Bravo, and applause.)
Sir John Gibbon said, "You shall not fight here."
However, Burn remained in the ring, determined to wait
the appearance of Martin. After waiting 20 minutes he
went out.
Ohl Ben said, that he bad no doubt Martin intended to
tight, but be suspected that his backers, having sported
too much money on the event, were afraid to let hint come
to the scratch. A number of pigeons were "let fly" for
London, to announce that it was no gm. It appears rather
singular that the ground chosen should be so near a village
where there were so many beaks. The worthy Baronet,
on being told that he had spoilt the sport, answered that
he had had many a day's sport spoiled.
The concourse of people was very great. There was a
liberal sprinkling of carriages on the ground, and others
thronging towards the spot; all seemed to go away very
much chagrined at the result. Martin's friends are cer-
tainly much to blame in hoaxing the lovers of pugilism so
barefacedly. Burn went back to Hampton, having easily
won his 3001., which is, of course forfeited. Martin did
not al

Lppcar.