The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-16 00:00:00

PUGILISTIC CONTEST FOR TWO

HUNDRED SOVEREIGNS A-SIDE.

CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE LIGHT WEIGHTS.

The anxiously-looked-for trial of fistic skill between
Johnny Walker, of London, and Samuel Simmonds, of
Birmingham, was yesterday brought to issue at Laken-
ham-heath, a " pastorale in A flat," of some dozen or
two square miles in extent, on the borders of fenny.
Cambridgeshire, and the vast levels of Suffolk and Nor-
folk, the mile posts marking 841 miles from Shorediteb.
Of the orderly and excellent manner in which the ar-
rangements for a special train to convey the expectant
champions and their patrons to the spot we have not
space to speak; suffice it to say that Mildenhall, in
Suffolk, at which place a convenient ground had been
marked out and cleared of snow, having, by some
misunderstanding, been pissed, the three-hundred
"specials" alighted at Lakenham, and there, at a little
before noon (in the vicinity of an accommodning
rick-yard, whence liberal supplies of dry straw were
reasonably retailed) the veteran commissary staked out
a spacious outer and inner ring. The hitherto unsullied
mantle of wintry snow, which clothed the frost-bound
field, was soon shovelled and swept away, and all having
taken their places—the aristocratic patrons snugly seated
around the inner circle, the appointed ring police with-
outside them,.forming a guard to protect their privileged
persons from the intrusion of the rustic and civic
" roughs," and the ring reporters, umpires, and referee
withinside all, close to the roped quadrangle—Simmons
first cast up his cap at 25 minutes past twelve, which
signal of defiance was promptly answered from the
opposite side by that of the London man. It was
observed by the curious in omens that Simmons's
cap fell short at the first toss, and required a second
exertion to throw it inside the ropes. Walker was
esquired by Jem Turner and Wharton (Young
Molyneux) ; tho Birmingham hero by Evans " of that
ilk" and Harry Broome. In weight there was little
disparity, Walker barely drawing gat. 71bs., while Sim-
monds touched 9st. 941b5., and had the advantage in
length of reach and height of stature. Their toilette
completed, the men shook hands at thirty minutes after
twelve, and immediately commenced offensive and de-
fensive manoeuvring. The style of Walker, who, con-
trary to expectation, followed his opponent into his
corner, was finished and artistic, his attitude easy, and
his motions, as he drew and feinted the provincial cham-
pion, displayed all the tact and readiness of the sparring
professor. Simmonds, on the other hand, though em-
barrassed and awkward, and evidently puzzled at the
" forcing" mode adopted by his skilful antagonist, looked
powerful, dangerous, and eager for an opening; no sootier
did he perceive what he supposed to be an opportunity
than he let go his left, Walker jumped back, and got in
his own lett in return ; this he quickly repeated, and
finished the round by throwing his man, after lifting him
by the waist from the ground. The second and third rounds
were similar in character, save that Simmonds onca got
Walker uadermost in the close. It was thus early evi-
dent that Walker could deliver his left hand ad libitum,
and that he was too clever to allow Simmonds to make
his lunging right; this, of course, soon told its tale, the
unfortunate Simmonds became receiver-general, and
Walker, determined to carry out his attack, never left
him alone, jobbing him repeatedly with the left, until
the twelfth round (the longest in the battle), when, after
administering repeated visitations, he gathered up his
right, and met the rush of Simmonds with such stinging
severity, by an up hit, that the latter fell forward, a
beaten men. Loud shouts from the London division
greeted the triumph of their favourite, on the announce-
ment of " time" being expired, and Simmonds unable to
obey the call.
Thirty-one minutes sufficed for this decisive and
rapid defeat, from which must be deducted three
minutes consumed in an appeal to the referee as to an
alleged " foul " in the eighth round on the part of Sim-
mends, which was overruled. In brief, the Brum. was
so decidedly inferior, both at in-figh ting, out-fighting, and
throwing, that the battle became from the second round
such a one sided affair, that speculation ceased, and the
question of whether it would last half an hour or an
hour alone was mooted. Shortly after three, two
hours having been burnt to waste by the usual lack of
punctuality observable on the Eastern Counties line, a
steam steed bowled into sight, and both the belligerents,
with their joyous or despondent partisans, were safely
landed in the great metropolis. Walker, on his arrival,
was without scar, scratch, or contusion, so far as his
, frontispiece was concerned, but Simmonds's title-page
. bore disfiguring proofs of the dexterity with which a
thecan amppaokientehdis 4ianrgic.parrichee"rainngd-
was
n dadmirably
diche ipt ebry"
the order and regularity of the assemblage far exceeded
• that commonly seen on less exciting occasions.

MR. D. W. HARVEY'S VISIT TO COLCHESTER .—We
announced a fortnight slnce that Mr. D. \V. Harvey, who
formerly represented the Borough of Colchester in Par-
liament, contemplated paying a visit to some of his
friends, for the purpose of examining the register of
voters, and forming his own opinion as to the probable
result of a liberal opposition to the present representa-
tives. We have this week to announce the fact of such
visit on Monday and Tuesday last. Mr. Harvey arrived
at the Cups Hotel in the afternoon, where he was met .
by several gentlemen, and in the evening a few of the.
burgesses, whose general knowledge of opinions of
the voters can be relied on for its accuracy, assisted him.
in his examination of the list. It would not be prudent
for us to give precisely the result of the investigation ;
but we are warranted in stating that it was extremely
encouraging, so much so, that we understand a requi-
sition is to be set on foot, inviting Mr. Harvey to offer
himself as a candidate at the next election. Mr. Harvey
is prevented by very stringent rules, imposing heavy
penalt►es in case of violation, from taking part in the
election of any individual, so long as he holds the situ-
ation of Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
Force. This situation, being of the value of 1,500/. a
year, it is not to be expected he will resign it, without
such an assurance of support from the great body of the
electors as would place his return beyond a doubt.—
Ipswich Express.
LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, HALF•PAST FOUR, P.M.—
The Acadia has not yet arrived. Telegraphic commu-
nications from Holyhead to noon, report a moderate gele
from the eastward, and from this cause the steamees
arrival may probably be delayed. Should she have left
Boston on the lit, she is now out 14 days.