The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-17 00:00:00

PUGILISM.

JOHN. LEAD AND JEREMIAH HANVICES MR £5O A-SIDE.—
The match between those lads was looked forward to by
the metropolitan supporters of the fistic art with more than
ordinary interest, for, from the capabilities of the mon as a
couple of clever and skilful operators, the tourney was fully
expected in all respects to be one in which a fine masterly
exposition of the points would be displayed on the part of
both. Lead's most important match prior to hisengagement
now under notice was when he contended with George
Holden, of Walsall, for £5O a side. This battle was fought
in the home circuit, on Sept. 3, 1863, when, after a gallant
and most exciting tourney, Lead proved the winner—there
being 45 clever and scientific rounds fought in ono hour
15 minutes. For that match Lead was backed by Mr. W.
Richardson, Blue Anchor, Church-street, Bethnal-green
who has long been acknowledged the leading sporting man
in connection with pugilistic doings at the East. Hawkes's
principal battle before the meeting of yesterday was with
Ned Collins, for £25 a side, whom he vanquished, there be-
ing 22 long rounds contested in two hours and 50 minutes.
J. Lead is 25 years of age, and stands sft. 2in., while
Hawkes, who is two years his junior, tops the standard at
sft. 511 in. Thus it will be seen that both are in the first
bloom of manhood, and also in the first blush of their career?
when great things might be expected from both. The
men were confined to Bst., and on Monday they went to
scale, when Lead had run the matter so fine that ho was
not more than just able to pass muster. The start from
the metropolis had been arranged to take place at an early
hour, and after a run of some thirty odd miles, the ring
was formed by the commissary on a well selected spot.
Lead was the first to step within the ropes, and he had for
" counsel" two of the busiest workers that could be well
selected. Hawkes, who lost no time in following his oppo-
nent into the ring, had also a couple of able seconds, both
of whom in their time have figured honourably within the
lists. The toss for corner was won by Jerry, who turned
his back on the sun which was nowblazing away magnifi-
cently; the weather, forming as it did a pleasant contrast
to that of the preceding day, being all that could be desired-
The odds were 7 to 4 in favour of Lead, and by 10 minutes
to 9 o'clock the lads were conducted to the scratch, and
their seconds having " broke" the combination, and drew
back to their respective corners, they were left to put them-
selves in attitude. Lead had stated prior to entering the
ring that he never was in better condition, but now that he
was in the buff it became evident he had a groat deal more
' on him in the shape of superfluous beef than was consistent
with high condition. Hawkes, on the contrary, looked as
fit as a man could be. From the opening bout Jerryevinced
a decided predilection for his own side of the ring, for they
had no sooner touched the centre than ho drew out and
got near the ropes. Lead was determined to let no
time be lost—he at once followed his man up, but to the
surprise of all his movements lacked the precision in ac-
tion that had before distinguished him. He, however,
was eager to get to his man for the purpose of forcing the
fighting, and in the exchanges at half-arm that took place
in Hawkes's corner Jerry obtained the first of the leading
events. Indeed Hawkes, to the astonishment of Lead's
friends, took a decided lead, and, as Jack dashed at him to
force the pace, he got home with both mawleys in the
counter hitting in a manner little anticipated. The rounds
wore of a bustling character, for Lead no sooner came up
than he went to his man and forced the battle; and there
can be no doubt his counsel acted with good judgment in
thus urging him to go and rouse his man up. Up to the
eighth round the battle was decidedly in favour of Hawkes,
but in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh rounds Lead, who was
now fighting more in old form than ho had yet done, had
the advantage, so that his friends became as confident as
over, and he certainly, on the body and head, succeeded in
administering with the right and left most effectually. As
the men came forth for the commencement of the twelfth
round the police broke into the ring, so that the comba-
tants had to at once beat a hasty retreat, the battle having
lasted 40 minutes, and, from the appearance of the lads, it
was apparent nothing serious was the matter. When the
ring had for a second time been formed Hawkes, to the
surprise of all, refused to renew the contest, alleging that
ho had sustained some injury to his right arm, but thero
can be no doubt that he had a stronger motive than this for
losing in the manner he did, and that the finish of the
tourney is a disgrace to him.

THE COTTON DISTRICTS.--A sign of improvement
in the cotton trade is seen in the cessation of the
operations of the Relief Committees of Preston and Black-
burn. The former closed on Saturday. The largest num-
ber on the books of the committee was in the winter of
1862, when 40,000 persons were relieved. At this time tho
guardians have 4,563 persons on their books. £130,000
has been spent in relief in Preston since the beginning of
the " cotton famine." In Blackburn the same state of
things prevails, but not on such a large scale.
DEATH OF SIR THOMAS STAPLES, BART.—The
bar of Ireland has to deplore the loss of one of its
greatest ornaments in Sir Thomas Staples, Bart., who died
about eight o'clock on Sunday night, at his residence in
Merrion-square, Dublin. The melancholy event was not
unexpected, as the venerable gentleman had been confined
to bed for several days, and had far passed the usual limit of
human existence, having nearly completed his 90th year.
By his demise is broken perhaps the last link which con-
nected the present generation with the past—the Ireland
of to-day with the Ireland of ante-Union times ; for Si
Thomas was the last surviving member of the Irish Parlia-
ment, in which assembly he represented first the borough
of Coleraine, and subsequently Knocktopher, in the county
of Kilkenny. lie was one of those who voted against the
Act of Union. An able lawyer, an accomplished scholar,
and a courteous gentleman, the deceased baronet was
universally esteemed ; while, by the members of his own
profession—of which for several years he was recognised as
the " father"—he was regarded with that reverential re-
spect only accorded to distinguished talents combined with
benevolence and wisdom. Ho is succeeded in the baronetcy
by his nephew, Mr. Nathaniel Alexander Staples, who was
born in 1817.

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THEATR E-R OY AL, DRURY-LANE,
Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton.
THIS EVENINti the pAlerformance will commence with
DELICATE GROUND. essrs. Walter Lacy, R. Roxby ;
Miss Lydia Thompson, Scc.
Followed by GOOD FOR NOTHING. Mr. J. L. Tool^,
Miss Lydia Thompson, do.
After which. on a scale of greit splendour, Milton's Mask
of CO AUS : Messrs. Walter Lacy, Wilbye Cooper, tlenxi
Drayton, MISS roole, Miss Augusta Thomson, and Mrs: H.
Vezin.
To conclude with MY AUNT'3 ADVICE. Kr. Sothern,
Mr. Sydney Bancroft, and Miss Edith Stuart.