The Sun.
London, England, 1823-06-25 00:00:00

SPARRING.

The:Benefit at the Fives' Court yesterday, was a novelty.—
It was for the benefit of L'ales, and a more respectable assem-
blage never was seen. Their Lordships seemed to have a turn-
out, and St. Stephen's Chapel was next to a desertion. The
xets.to were obligingly correct. There were many rufliun
matches amongst heroes for fistic diversion.
Harry Lancaster made a very excellent set-to with Shelton.
His years have grown him better, and he proved himself a rare
good man in comparison to the pugilistic talent of Shelton.-
Acton and Olivcr made a good set-to, and excited much
applause.

Holt and Sampson, with the exception of the wind-up, was a
fine specimen of science. The fine science of Holt kept the
rush of Sampson at bay.
The Bristol Youth and Spenser made a good ruffianing set-
to. The Champion of England (Spring) set-to with Eales, and
knocked his head about to his heart's content. There was no
blood spilt about the head of either. It was a most scientific set-
to. The Champion had all the best of it. His length and in-
reach gave him the said best. The napper-game, to give and
receive was nearly equal. For the last two rounds weight over-
came beautiful science.

BOXERS.
The great fight between the greatest boxer of the day, a mi-
niature in compass (Dick Cortli) and Peter Warren, was made
correct last night at Harry Holt s, All the money, one hun-
dred sovereigns, was made good for the fight to take place on
the tith of July.'

Iloo.turn.— The four admirable ELECTION
PICTURES, painted by this unrivalled artist, and
which belonged to Mr. GARRICK, were recently
sold at CnutsTlE'S. There was an eager ri-
valry among the bidders, but. the works were at
length knocked down for siNteeu hundred and
fifty guineas to Mr. So,iNu. This gentleman has
(
already The Rakes Progress by the same great
artist. It is gratifying to see the works of ge-
nius thus liberally estimated by wealth and taste ;
and it is only to be regretted, that the artist him-
self had not originally the advautage of posses.
sing so munificent a patron.

WALLACK, the actor, is arrived from America,
after a passage of seventeen days; he is perfectly
recovered from his lameness.

DESTRUCTIYE FIRE.—A dreadful fire broke
out yesterday evening, about half-past eight
o'clock, by which twenty-two houses were de-
stroyed or nearly so. Concurrent testimony
agreed in stating that the fire began iu the work-
shop of Mr. BARTON, tiffiber4TlPTChalit 10, Red
Lion-street, Holborn, and, from the combustible
nature of every thing ►►round it, spread with the
greatest fury into the adjoining houses. It took
a direction up Red Lion-street, gutting every
house in its way, till it was stopped in that di-
.
rection by the intervention of Bedford-street.—
The corner house of this street (the Horse-Shoe
and Magpie Public-house), then became the prey
*l.ow-devouring element, which rapidly extend-
ed its ravages to every house on the south side
'of Bedford-street (about twelve in number), till
reaching Featherstone-buildings, which run pa-
rallel with Red Lion-street, it consumed the five
liaises adjoining to that forming the Bedford.
street corner of the court. The lire was, not-
withstanding the fury with which it burnt, and
an unfortunate deficiency ►n the supply of water
at its commencement, sn much got under at eleven
o'clock as to stop its further progress. The con-
fined situation of the premises In which it broke
out in a great degree prevented the firemen from
acting with success, which a greater facility of
admission would have insured them. We were
unable to gather particulars of how the fire be-
gan, as the workmen had all left the place at
seven o'clock. The foss of property must be
very considerable, as, although the fire broke
out at so early an hour, little was attempted to
be saved ; whirl, is to be attributed principally
to the fury with which, the flames proceeded,
and the groat alarm attendant upon so awful an
event. It is a great, satisfaction to know that no
lives have been lost, which is a providential cir-
cumstauce, considering the rapidity with which
the I►urning houses fell down.