The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-13 00:00:00

THE MERRY LITTLE MILL OF

TUESDAY.
The trial of the ring action of Phelps versus Barnasb,
which Las'excited some interest in the circles of Westminster,
was brought to an issue at Black Corner, in the county of
Sussex, before an enlightened and intelligent jury, empanelled
in certain carriages of the Brighton Railway, who
were duly sworn in by the railway clerks to try the same,
upon payment of the fare due and owing to the said Company.
To quit verbiage, in which the limbs of the law so much
delight, a lot of right 'uns booked themselves for Three
Bridges on the Brighton line, in hope that there the West-
minster Pet, known as Barnash, would meet and encounter
a l'outrance Joseph Phelps, the brother of the late Brighton
Bill, whose memory in fistic records is marked with a mourn-
ing line, and they were not disappointed, for a merrier or
more excellent mill it has not been our lot to witness. But
first, a few words of the men. Whoe'er for the last three
years has known Tom Spring's must have seen a quiet, yet
smart youth, called Joe; that same, as Paddy would
say, being short for Joseph Phelps, in weight
9st. 51b., of age twenty-one years. He here first sported his
buff; his antagonist, Barnash, is known as " the West.
minster Pet," and in the sparring rooms of the metropolis
has earned a name. So be it ; but we will not anticipate.
" Three Bridges" is reached, the " landing" is effected, and
the commissary, the " venerable, ould, ancient, original', Tom
'
Oliver, is in high request ; we are in Sussex • but, lo 1 the
fates, in the shape of a parish constable in a .Illosaic tweed,
with a coadjutor in leather leggings, and "a small boy from
the parson's," forbid the banns. No matter—on go per
" Shanks's mare," a ten-toed machine that the haymakers
use in Ireland—to Barstow-green, where the commissary
pitched his stakes, the ring was formed, the men in position,
but—but, oh, Burstow, what a burst-up 1 Parson Winter
came too soon ; in October, on a sunshiny day, comes " nip-
pin, Winter with an envious chill,"'and aided and abetted by
another "clerk," and" comforted and assisted," by "A Gill,"
the constable saith, " White Surrey" sees not the field of
fight to-day. " Hark back" to Sussex, is tie word, a farmer
" Brown" looks black, so we e'en pitch stakes at Black
Corner," where came off the merry mill of which we now
propose to discourse.
At two minutes to two the men shook hands, and threw
themselves into position. The colours of Barnash (a white,
with green spot) and of Phelps (a blue, with a white
lozenge) being first tied to the stake. Phelps was waited on
by Young Samba (Welsh) and Jem Turner; Barnash by
Jemmy Shaw and Mike Driscoll. Phelps had trained at
Hayes, Barnash at Jem Burn's rural crib at Fulham-fields,
and both men did credit to their drill. Youth, health, and
good condition were evident to every eye as they stood in
position for
THE FIGHT.
1. Barnash confident and ready, Phelps cautious and col-
lected. Sparring, sundry feints, oilers, refusals, and no gifts
on either side. Barnash, thus early, had a fancy for deli-
vering his right at the body, thereby making a present of his
head. Phelps seized the advantage, and gave his man an
ugly rap, but with the modesty of a maiden effort did not
follow it up. Barnash made two good offers with his left,
but Phelps was not to be drawn. At last they got warm,
and felt each other. A merry rally—exchanges—and Phelps
slipped down in the hitting.
2. It was evident that Barnash was the stronger man; he
stepped in, let go lis right and bored Phelps, who judici-
ously retreated, but caught his man two tidy smacks with
the left as he came in. These were the first instalments of
some heavy payments, as the sequel will show. Both down,
Phelps under.—(3 to 2 on Phelps thus early.)
3. Barnash again tried his right at the body, but without
effect; the return from Phelps on his left eye was electric;
it was followed by his right, when Barnash, resolved not to
stand to be shot at, went in, and Phe ps got down with more
discretion than valour. We believe, however, that in this
he followed the " Lord of the Castle's" advice, and good ad-
vice it was.
4. Phelps's mischievous left in on Barnash's already da-
maged ogle. Barnash nailed Phelps in the ribs—counter
hits—a rally—Phelps down in the hitting, but he had tapped
the Westminster Pet's claret in the melee, and thus "First
blood for Phelps" was " the quotation," as the railway scrip
holders have it.
5. Barnash " grinned horribly a ghastly smile " as Phelps
popped in a pretty kfthander, on the sore place. Barnash,
bold as a lion, went in ; a close, an attempt at fibbing on the
part of Barnash ; he could not screw his man up, and Phelps
got down, Barnash on him.
6. Phelps led off with his left; these visitations were un-
endurable, Barnash's left eye was already swelling. The
Westminster Pet, however, seemed uncons4pus of his infe-
rior tactics, bustled his man, got in his favourite right once,
received twice on the head in return, but fought Phelps down
in his own corner.
7. Barnash still wedded to his mistaken project of reach-
ing his man with his most distant hand. Phelps tapping,
rapping, stabbing, and plunging with hig left on poor Bar-
nash's left side (.f his frontispiece, till he seemed to have
but one side left, and that was the right, which was all
right. A rally, a close, and Phelps got down on his knees
at the ropes, according to advice, which no doubt he liked,
for Barnash was very angry, very strong, and very dan-
gerous.
8. Barnash tried all he knew, he fought bravely, but with-
out judgment. Phelps, still cool as a cucumber, planted his
left, jumped back, did it again, got back again, and in the
style of Owen Swift, did fight with both hands, and yeakeep
the left prominent. Physical force he might be deficient in.
and occasionally his bits wanted impetus, but
" Gutta cavat lapidem non vi sed snipe cadendo,"
_

and his continual dropping in on poor Barnash's left cheek
had darkened that side of his shop. " Give him a rap on the
right side," said Spring; but Barnash rushed in on his man
so determinedly, that Phelps had no opportunity till round
9. When, upon thi, hint he acted, catching Barnash again
with his busy left, hut this time on the dexter ogle ; the
Westminster Pet ran in, and the Brighton hero struck his
flag by getting down.
10. Barnash's left eye going, and his right by no means a
sparkler; spirited exchanges; Barnash caught Phelps a tidy
smack on the left eye, Phelps's return went over Barnash's
shoulder; a close—Phelps under.
11. Time ! time I Phelps up, but Barnash slow, but though
slow in coming up, the reverse in forcing the business ; he
rattled in, Phelps jobbing prettily, but declining close quar-
ters; another rally—two rounds in one ; a close ; Barnash
tried to get Phelps in a fibbing position, but Phelps got down.
12 to 44.—A1l the affair on one side. What boots it to
weary the reader with a minute detail of prop and plant, and
job, of stop, counter and rally, for forty-four active rounds—
rounds, wherein game, strength, and resolution, struggled
against neat, active, cautious, and self-possessed fighting.
At the last named round it was evident to all who saw it,
that Bant2sh's last chance was gone ; twice had he been
slow to the call of time; twice had he run himself down in
wild and purblind efforts to get at his man. His heart was
good, but his " right-band" had lost its cunning, and at the
close of the 44th round Jemmy Shaw, his second, very pro-
perly threw up the sponge in token of defeat. But Barnash
" repudiated the surrender;" a minute and upwards had,
however, elapsed, ere he became conscious of his position ;
yet he vigorously pursued his man round the ring, despite
the efforts of his friends to restrain him. Phelps very pro-
perly made his exit it would have been cruelty to allow a
brave man to be further punished, even did not the laws of
the ring, which, despite cant, prejudice and cowardice, are
honourable, brave and humane, forbid it. And thus ended
the merry mill of Tuesday, without a regret for those who
revere the ring. osi sic omnia.—Adrertis,r.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.— Tuesday the
annual meeting of the Surrey Chapel Auxiliary of this So-
ciety was held in Surrey Chapel, Blackfriars-road ; the
Rev. J. Sherman, the president, in the chair. The report
stated that the Society had missionaries in Asia, Africa,
Polynesia, and the West Indies ; they had 439 stations, 131
churches, 165 European missionaries, and 603 European and
native assistants, and the most flattering accounts had been
received from the Hervey Islands at Avarna, China, Amoy,
Singapore, Modras, Latakoo, and islands in the West Indies.
The contributions for the year were—from the Jubilee
Fund, 3951., ordinary receipts, 2801. 13s. 9d., contributions
by the ladies, 106/. 12s. 10d. ; making a total of
782/. Os. 7d. The meeting, which was most nume-
rously attended, was, at considerable length, addressed
by the Rev. Mr. Joseph, missionary from Otaheite,
the Rev. Mr. Chalmers, Mr. Joseph Payne, and seve-
ral other gentlemen, strongly advocating the claims of
the Society. A vote of thanks to the chairman for his ex-
ertions on behalf of the Society was then given by the meet-
ing. A most liberal collection was made at the doors.

THE ARMY.—PORTSMOUTII, OCT. s.—The 68th
Regiment of Foot (Durham Light Infantry). under the com-
mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Lord William Panlet, was in-
spected on Saturday at Portsmouth, by Major-General Hon.
Sir Hercules Pakenham, who expressed. himself highly gra-
tified with its interior arrangement in quarters, and its steadi-
ness and precision in the field. The Major-General and his
staff dined with the officers in the Colewort Barracks. Capt.
Phipps' company is quartered at Tipner Point (Ordnance
station) ; Captain 11PBeath's, at Fort Monckton; and a de-
tachment of thirty men, under Ensign Lord, Hinton, at
Marchwood (Ordnance station), near Southampton.
FATAL EFFECTS OF QUACKERY.—On Saturday.
afternoon Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Fountain, James-
street, Green-street, Bethnal-green, on the view of the body
of Mary Anne Price Maddox, aged ten years, the daughter
of weavers living in James-street, who was alleged to have
died from the improper administration of herbs as medicine.
It appeared that the deceased had been in a good state of
health till last Sunday week, when ber mother was advised
to go to a herbist, named Mellett, residing in the same street.
He prescribed some pills, which were composed of a red and
white powder, and gave a quantity of herbs, which she was
to boil in a quart of water, and which was to be re-
duced to a pint and a half. Of this she was to drink as
much as she pleased. Deceased, however, derived no benefit.
The sickness which first affected her, and for which the pills
and herbal drink had been administered, remained. The
mother again called upon Mr. Mellett, who recommended the
same stuff. Deceased died on Monday morning last, and on
apo niortem examination by Mr. Smart, surgeon, Cambridge-
heath, deceased was found to have died from an ulceration
of the greater portion of the lower intestines, which had been
brought on by typhus fever. The Coroner having cautioned
the mother against applying to quack medicines, observed,
that had her child received proper medical assistance it
41might have been then alive. Verdict, " Natural death."
The weather, during Friday and Saturday, was
such as entirely to suspend all harvest operations in this
quarter. From about ten o'clock on Thursday night till the
afternoon of Saturday, there was an almost continuous fall of
heavy rain. On Friday, the Water of Leith, the Esk, and a
number of the small rivulets in our. locality, were more
charged with water than they have been known to be for the
last twelve years. They not only overflowed their banks,
but in many parts in the low and fiat grounds flooded whole
fields to the depth of a foot or two. A number of low lying
houses were flooded, and their inmates were glad to run for
their lives, the water being from three to five feet deep in
their domiciles. From this rather alarming state of the
weather, a sudden change took place on Saturday evening.
The wind got round to the north, and a sharp frost prevailed
through the night. Yesterday the sun shone out again with
almost unwonted splendour, with not a single speck of a
cloud to be seen in the clear blue sky; and this morning the
hemisphere is brightly studded with stars. Should we have
a few weeks of this, all fears with regard to the harvest will
be over.—Caledonian Mercury of Monday.
A HINT TO SNUFFERS TO SAVE THEIR NOSES.—
The following simple method of detecting adulterated snuff
may. be relied upon :—Take a few pinches of snuff, lay it on
a bit of paper, and indent a small hole in it with your finger,
then till it with vinegar. If the snuff hove and boil (or ra-
ther effervesces), you may be assured that there is some-
thingwhen ctleixecseneudffs pureinflyhtutthnel both to the nose and stomach.
gar sinks quietly through it.
Country dealers should try
bjnosre e simple plan with every hogs-
head of snuff they
selling,3 to their customers,
which would prevent the cry of s re noses. 'they also run
the risk of the Customs seizing it in their possession, if
found impure.
ADVANCE OF WAGES.—On Monday last n
Vance of threepence per day on the wages of colliers and ironstone
,heir
nstaodnie
getters in this vicinity (Wolverhamptm) took place, making
daily wages 3s. 3d. On the same day an advance was giienttohtehe
thick coal men, who now receive at the rate of 48. ed. These
payments, it should be understood, are for the " stint," or day's
work. Expert workmen usually finish the " stint" at between
one and two o'clock in the day, and often increase their gains
by additional work, the number of days' labour being reckoned
by the number of " stints" accomplished.—Wolverhampton
WM**