The Sun.
London, England, 1828-12-03 00:00:00

THE FIGHT.

Round 1. The moment Roche held up his arms the
yokel was visible in every move ; nothing could be more
awkward, or so decidedly glee; his ignorance of the first
rudi:nents of pugilism. Ned measured him with his eye
for a few moments, walking round with his hands well up ;
Roche flourished his mawleys in the true provincial style,
and leaving a clear opening, Ned with a sudden spring
dashed in, and delivering an astounding whack with his
left on Roche's right eye, followed it up with the quickness
of lightning by a more terrible hit with his right, and
down went the Pride of Devon upon the broad of his
back—(" Och, murder !" cried the Patlanders, "is it
there you are? Poor crathur ! Pick him up." And sure
enough he was picked up, and, in getting on his second's
knee, he gave Ned a look which spoke volumes. It was a
mixture of surprise and inquiry—as much as to say, "Is
this the way you're going to serve me?)
2. Ned, on having his man before him again, took a
few preparatory steps around him, and again jobbed him
cruelly right and left in the head, and floored him as if
shot. [This was still more surpi icing to the Devonian,
and he could scarcely take it as a joke, while his backers
looked on with astonishment.]
3. This round was a little varied, for not only did Ned
job his man most unmercifully right and left on the head,
but he closed, and, to the surprise of all, gave him his leg,
and threw him . a heavy fall, kindly tumbling his whole
weight upon his fallen house.—(Shouts from all quarters
in favour of Ned, and a fear suppressed grunts front the
Devonians.)
4. Poor Roche once more received mulling visitations
right and left on his frontispiece, and was dropped in
good style.
5. and 6. In both these rounds Roche was hit right and
left, punished, and dropped, as •if kicked by a young ele-
phant. [The jaws of the takers of the odds now began
to lengthen, and their mouths gradually opened, as if
they could have eaten both Roche and his backers, who
looked at each other as though they had suddenly got
some extraordinary addition to their snorters. 100 to 5
on Neal.]
7. Ned missed a heavy lounge with his right, which
went over Roche's shoulder. Roche instantly closed to
wrestle, but Ned lifted his heavy carcase up by main
strength, and threw him heavily, again falling on his
chest.—(Exclamations of surprise burst from all quarters,
and apprehensions were expres•ed that the Devonians
were lock-jawed, from the fixed position of their nut-
crackers.)
S. Ned planted his left well on Roche's eye—but missed
his right. Roche was all abroad, and rushed in wild ;
Ned met him as he came in with his right in the muzzle,
and Roche closed. A violent struggle now took place for
the fall, but Roche twisting his leg behind Ned's, threw
him a fair back fall.—(This seemed to give a little relief
to the Knights of the Cross, and their mouths were again
shut—while Ned got up and smiled.
9. Ned became a little too hurried—he dashed in and
made his right and left ; but Roche again caught him in Lie
powerful arms and threw him cleverly.—(" Not ao safe,"
cried some—and shouts for Roche.)
10. Roche again was jobbed left and right on both ogles.
He pursued his grasping system, however, and caught
Ned's nob under his left arm. Neil chopped him with his
right, and hit up with his left ; but Roche got the fall, and
they both went down together.
11. Ned popped in a heavy body-hit with his left, and
broke away—again to business, he made his Tight tell on
poor Roche's potatoe box, and then letting fly his-right
with immense force dropped him on his head. [Again
were the Devonians in agony, while the two hackers danced
about like a couple of hens on hot coals, although it was
beautifully soft to their feet.]
12. Ned popped in two good jobbing hits right and left.
but missed a third with his right. Roche closed for the
fila, catching Ned firmly in his powerful grasp—hut Ned
wouldn't have it, and fell on his knees.—(Hisses from the
Devonians, but all was i'air.)
13. Ned, fighting fast, hit away right and left ; Roche
caught his head under his right arm, as if in a vice ; Ned
tried to get away, but couldn't, and was thrown gently.
14. Ned jobbed well with his left on Roche's mouth
and again with the right. then broke away but re-
turned to the charge planting a tremendous body hit with
his right, which was carried by the echoes almost to Ports-
mouth. Roche rushed in, and catching Ned off his guard
gave him a terrific fling over his hip, literally shaking his
pins in the air from the concussion. (Once more did the
Devon lads utter a shout, but Ned got up none the worse
for his tumble.)
15. Ned planted his left on Roche's cheek, and hitting
out cleverly with his right, Roche fell on his hands and
knees, all abroad.

16. Roche stopped Ned's left for the first time, but Ned
was too quick in the next two deliveries. Ned, in getting
back, fell, Roche upon hint.
17. Ned put in both head and body blows, in good
style, and poor Roche's noddle was strangely altered, look-
ing, as Ned's cousin exclaimed, like a " Devonshire red
taty." Roche tried for the fall, but Ned was leary, and
both went down together.
IS. Ned hit right and left, anti broke away; on again
going in, and hitting heavily at Ruche's nob, the latter
caught him, anti gave him another heavy fall, showing his
decided superiority in wrestling.
19. Heavy jobbing hits from Ned ; Roche closed for the
throw, but Ned would'nt have it, and went down easy to
avoid mischief.
20. Ned hit well in with his right, but Roche caught
him for the throw, when Ned again went down.
21. Similar to the last.
22. Ned became a little more cautious, and, waiting his
time, put in a tremendous body blow with his right. He
then broke away, but once more rattled in, delivered a
severe job with his left, and then a smash full on the ivo-
ries downed poor Roche in a pitiable state.
23. Ned put in a good body blow NVlth his right, and
on Roche catching him for the throw slipped down.
24. Roche rushed in and caught Ned round the waist
for the fall, but Ned got away, anti Roche fell weak against
the stak...
' 25. Ned put in his right and left well, but in the close
Roche threw him, and a faint Lope still existed that he
might make a turn in his favour.
26. Ned put in a slashing hit on the side of Roche's

head, when Roche caught him roun I the neck, but Ned
was awake, and got down as quick as possible.
27. Ned jobbed well with his left, and Roche fell on
his face.

28. The backers of Roche now looked Cie picture of
despair; they endeavoured to catch Ned's eye, but it would
not do ; he was blind as Justice, and could
The climax of their fate was fist approaching—Roche
was egain hit on the muzzle, and fell un his lace ; he
showed great game, and although wofully disappointed in
meeting with such rough usage, manfully (lid his best.
29. Ned now made himself tip for putting osi tlio fiti,d
polish. He popped in right and left jobbers itt good style,
then hit on the body with his right—Roche caught him
with his left, over the right eve, and left a mouse. He
then closed, and catching Ned's neck under his arm, ac-
tually lifted him off the ground. Ned hung to him, and
at length got down, Roche falling over on his head.
30 and last. Ned now went to work to finish, and did
his business in the most workman-like manner, first job-
bing right and left at his heal, then hitting a tremendous
body blow with his right ; another body blow, and, for
the first time, a slashing crack on the coach; out flew the
claret, but Roche, game as a pebble, stood tip to be
slaughtered. Ned bit away right and left, while Roche
was all abroad. Ned at length hit him two chattering
hits on the mouth, and down' he went upon his back, Ned
falling on him. He was again picked up, and placed on
his second's knee, when Ned assured him most unteignedly
he meant to win, and nothing else; so that he might do
as be liked. This gentle hint, preluded by the slap on
the nose (of which Roche was particularly careful) in the
last round, at once opened his mind to his fate, arid he
very sensibly gave in, after fighting as nearly as possilds
thirty minutes. Ned left off without a scratch, and only
received one effective blow through the fight.