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mine, as Harry threw him so fair the first fall, that he himself never went to the ground. We believe the truth is, that sport, more than fair play, was the object of those assistant umpires who were within the ring; and such was the confusion, that J. Boadle, a good Wrestler, who had accompanied Graham, after winning his first fall, was never again called upon. However that may be, Jordan won the second fall, and Harry was crossed out. Feeling dissatisfied at the usage he had experienced, Harry expressed a wish on the following day to try a few falls with any Wrestler then at Carlisle. This being repeated to the Champion, Nicholson, Tom offered to stake three to two on himself, for the best of five falls, which offer was immediately accepted. It was then about eleven o'clock, and a meadow in Caldewgate, at five, was the place and time appointed for determining the wager. Both parties were true to the appointment, and no time was lost in proceeding to action. The first and second falls were similarly contested, and terminated in the same manner. Harry, eager to be at work, instantly made play ;-the superior length of Tom, enabled him to defend himself, by lifting against his opponent, and he lost no time in returning the assault, by hankering his heel. Notwithstanding the activity of Harry, he could not, in either of these instances, resist the consequences resulting from this favourite mode of Tom's, in which he certainly excelled all the Wrestlers we ever knew, and both the falls were immediately conceded to Nicholson. The third fall was contested in nearly a similar manner, but the termination was different. Harry, on finding his heel again hooked, immediately turned his body round with such rapidity as to bring Tom all but underneath him in the fall. Tom insisted it was a dog fall, while Harry claimed it, in which he was supported by his friends, and in which opinion the spectators in general coincided. However, being left to us, we decided it was not fair. In this place we will remark, that it has been maintained by Tom's friends, that it was a drunken business altogether on his part;-this story is utterly false. Tom was apparently as sober when the wager was made, as any man on the Swifts; on meeting in Caldewgate, he remarked to us, that a pint, or glass of ale, then before him, of which he had drunk about one third, was the only one he had tasted since he had made the wager;-and on winning the two first falls he jocularly remarked,

that Graham, though a good Wrestler, was far too fond for making play; but that if Harry gave him more time, he himself

was no bad one in that respect; besides, could any drunken man have thrown such a Wrestler as Graham was, twice successively? In the fourth trial Tom made play, which Harry warded off with much skill, and gave Tom a convincing proof of his quality, by striking him fairly down, The fifth fall was exactly similar to the third, and being so decided by us, the bu siness was for some time suspended, as Harry's friends insisted that he had won; however, on Tom's offering to strike even, and begin again, it was acceded to, and the contest was instantly renewed. It is unnecessary to dwell on the ensuing falls, suffice it to observe they were well con tested, both displaying great action and science. Harry won the first, Tom the second, and Harry the third and fourth; no dispute occurred, and Tom acknow ledged defeat by paying his money cheerfully,

"We will now briefly give the reader our candid opinion of the foregoing contest, in which Harry acquired so many laurels. Neither of them, we believe, spent the preceding evening in the most sober or prudential manner; and probably Tom's more extensive acquaintance, joined to the circumstance of his winning the prize, might have rendered him the less fit for such a contest. Tom felt anxious for another trial, and how that would have terminated, can now only be guessed at. Admitting that we think the knowledge nine falls must have given them of each other, was not in Tom's favour, as Harry had become perfectly awake to his favourite method, and that Harry evidently gained ground as the contest advanced; still we do think Tom was the better Wrestler, and would have thrown more men than Harry ever could. As our. reasons for this would occupy a much greater portion of our remaining pages than we can possibly spare, we are compelled thus abruptly to take leave of the subject.

"The great fame Harry acquired by this conquest, satisfied his friends that he was a match for any man in the kingdom; and our refusal to acquiesce in that opinion, occasioned an agreement to wrestle him within one month of his contest with Nicholson, for the greatest sum we ever knew wrestled for, either in Cumberland or Westmoreland. At the time of making this wager, nothing was farther from our intention than wrestling Harry, or any other person, as we had been unwell for some time, though we had been at Carlisle, where we were thrown after a smartish contest by Joseph Bird, of Holme Wrangle, a Wrestler highly noted in that part of the county. The preceding

year we had thrown Harry at Arlecdon with such ease, that we believe three or four to one would then have been offered against him for a single fall! and a meeting between us for a number of falls, would have been thought highly ridiculous. But now the case was totally altered ;-through extreme illness we were obliged to solicit at least a respite of our engagement; this was not granted; and, as six guineas were deposited, we chose to appear rather than forfeit. The sum contended for was sixty guineas, and the number of falls wrestled was eleven. No Wrestler ever entered a ring in higher condition, or with greater confidence, than Harry, and his gaining the three first falls could not fail to increase the good opinion of his friends, as nothing but a most decisive victory could then be contemplated. But the loss of three falls, instead of depressing, only roused our energies; the listlessness which pervaded the whole frame at the commencement of the contest, now gave place to that animated feeling arising from exercise, and the situation in which we were then placed ; and instead of the expected victory, Harry was somewhat obligated to fortune for one fall out of the other eight! Harry was some pounds the heavier man, but the advantages of length and strength were so much against him, that in the latter part of the contest, it is well known he had not the slightest chance whatever. This contest took place on Arlecdon Moor, on the 26th of October, 1811."

In 1812, the first prize at Carlisle was won by James Scott of Canobie, throwing at the last William Richardson of Caldbeck-that is, Belted Will. In 1813, it was won by Robert Rowantree, from Bewcastle, who had often proved himself, there and elsewhere, a most distinguished wrestler. In 1814, it was won by William Dickinson, from Alston Moor, who threw, for his last man, our intelligent and intrepid friend George Dennison, the successor of that highly reputed bone-setter, Benjamin Taylor, and famous for his breed of cocks; which, however, met their match when sent over to Westmoreland. In 1815, it was won by James Robinson, one of the Earl of Lonsdale's gamekeepers, at Lowther Castle, whose last opponent, Will Slee, (who wrestled with alternate success at Ambleside, some years before, with young Green of Grassmere,) lay down on an understanding. In 1816, it was won by Tod; but some collusion being susected, or rather proved, between him 1 Tom Richardson of Hesketh, Mr

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"The prize that year, (1818,) was won by Thomas Richardson, of Hesket, throwing at the last the celebrated William Williamson, of Ambleside. In 1819 it was won by Andrew Armstrong, of Sowerby Hall. In 1820, it was won by William Wilson, of Ambleside, whose last opponent was William Richardson, of Caldbeck, 1821, so rapidly had wrestling increased in the estimation of all ranks, that it was found the attendance at the races was in a great measure governed by it; and the subscriptions proportionably increasing, it was extended to three days,—the winner on the first day oeing debarred on the second. Notwithstanding a very numerous field of Wrestlers, the first prize was won by Richard Abbot, a schoolmaster from Whitehal who weighed very little more than eleven stones. Neither could it be considered that Abbot fell fortunately in when wrestling through the ring, his four last opponents being A. Armstrong, J. Frears, T. Richardson, and T. Lock, all of them good Wrestlers, and averaging two stones above his weight. Two of these four, it will be recollected, had likewise been previously victors at Keswick, and had distinguished themselves at Carlisle. Frears and Lock were from the vicinity of Whitehaven, and both well known as Wrestlers; the latter on this occasion greatly distinguished himself, throwing both Edward Hawel, a very noted Wrestler, and the truly celebrated J. Lowden, who, though married, took a fancy to enter the ring, and was the third stander. The second prize was won by James Graham, then residing in Bassenthwaite, a very likely man for excelfeet, and weighing fourteen stones. We ling as a Wrestler, standing above six are very sorry our limits will not permit a more lengthy detail of this celebrated meeting.

"We come now to the Keswick

Wrestling in 1822. The first prize was won by John Liddle, of Blind Bothel, throwing at the last William Cass, of Loweswater; and the second by Jonathan Watson, of Torpenhow. Weightman, who was the favourite, was thrown by Cass for the first prize, and Watson threw him the last fall for the second,

Watson likewise threw J. Richardson, T. Lock, J. Graham, and T. Tordiff. Watson had before thrown Weightman in the course of the year, at Micklethwaite, and W. Richardson, at, or near Caldbeck: these conquests we think entitle him to rank very high as a Wrestler. He is about five feet eight inches high, and near thirteen stone weight; is considered an excellent ground Wrestler, and is by trade a shoemaker. Notwithstanding Watson gained the second prize, he was thrown in the first round for the first, by William Wilson, of Ambleside, undoubtedly the best Wrestler Westmoreland ever produced; and it is the confirmed opinion of very many whose judgment is entitled to every consideration, that at the time he won at Keswick, he was the master of any man in the kingdom. It is certain that upon that occasion Richardson had not the shadow of a chance with him, and the preceding year he gave a convincing proof of his powers by striking J. Laughlen down in such a manner as we are convinced no other man in the kingdom could have done. When thrown by Weightman, he was labouring under an asthmatic complaint, otherwise he ought to have been in his very prime. He stands near six feet four inches high, and weighed, when in good

health, about fifteen stones."

In the year 1821, the Wrestling at Carlisle revived; and may it never again languish and die; for that is the spot for the sport. Ambleside is quite out of the way; Keswick not so much so; Penrith better still; but Carlisle best.

"The first prize on this memorable day was won by William Richardson, of Caldbeck; and the second by John Weightman, a hero, who had, during the two preceding years, risen to the top of the tree in the vicinity of Carlisle. The last opponent of Weightman was Joseph Abbot, from the vicinity of Penrith, a very celebrated Wrestler, who likewise highly distinguished himself at Penrith races this year, where there were evident symptoms of this athletic exercise again becoming an object worthy of encourage ment. Thomas Ford, who acquired great celebrity at this meeting, by throwing Weightman, and contesting the last fall with Richardson, has generally resided within a few miles of Egremont. He was thrown by Weightman for the second prize, but appeared to be no unequal competitor for him, being six feet two inches high, and weighing upwards of fourteen stones. To say the least of Ford, he was much noticed by the spec

tators for his manly exertions, and the alacrity and cheerfulness with which he always met his man. James Graham, before alluded to, was likewise considered to stand on very high ground, though thrown by Weightman for both prizes."

And here we must take leave of Belted Will, with Mr Litt's welldrawn character of that renowned hero, who began to wrestle in the ring several years before his great rival, Tom Nicholson, and was thus crowned with his latest laurels, ten years after Tom had retired into private life.

"As for the victor, W. Richardson, whom we have so often had occasion to

allude to, this might very justly be considered an excellent tie up for him, as he was stated in the newspapers of the day, to be forty-five years of age! and the winner of 240 belts!! We cannot decisively contradict either statement, but, as far as we can judge, they are both rather exaggerated. We never met Richardson in a ring but once, and that was during our noviciate. Richardson was in his prime, and we well remember he then called himself about twenty-three years of age; we were turned of eighteen; therefore, if he spoke correctly, he could not be more than forty-one at the time he won this prize. Richardson might be about five feet nine inches in height, and would weigh from thirteen to fourteen stones. Being a Wrestler of twenty-five years standing, and for a long time open to any man, he has wrestled more, and gained a greater number of prizes, than any other man ever did. His favourite method was the inside, and he seems to have been (like Achilles) the most vulnerable in the heel. It was by catching his heel that Scott threw him two successive years, and by which J. Nicholson (brother to Tom) threw him at different times; and yet, neither of them, though excellent Wrestlers, ought to have stood any ehance with him. We are likewise well informed, that in his casual trials with T. Nicholson, he not unfrequently barred that favourite finish off of that hero's, which was a kind of acknowledgment of his inferiority. We do not credit the assertions of his friends in regard to his being Tom's master, our opinion is, that he was not: and notwithstanding Tom was a stone the lighter man, the fact of his repeatedly throwing the very men who have thrown Richardson, as Rowantree, Harrison, and Lowden, and the great reasons there are to believe, that such men as his brother John, and Scott, could never have thrown him, justify us in asserting Tom was the better Wrestler, and more capable

of wrestling through rings than Will was, although the latter was always considered a more pains-taking Wrestler. Many of Richardson's friends assert, and among them are some well qualified to judge, that he was the fairest stander, and best Wrestler, of his time; while those rather hostile to him, contend, that he was a sulky (which is tantamount to an unfair) stander, and was as much indebted to that, and his tremendous strength of arm, as to his science. For our part, we have no reason to applaud or condemn; we do not think any of our readers will deem us incapable of forming an opinion, and we assure them it is a free and unprejudiced one. We have not the least doubt but that he was for a number, or even for one fall, a competent match for any man in the kingdom for very many years. For us to endeavour to particularize his conquests would be absurd; and we have noticed his occasional defeats for the purpose of reflecting lustre on those who threw such a hero, and not by any means to detract from the great and well-merited renown he universally possessed."

We now bring this long, but, thanks to Mr Litt, this interesting article, to a close, with his account of the Carlisle wrestling in 1822.

"The first prize was won by W. Cass, and the second by John Weightman. As those who wrestled may yet be considered in possession of the ring, that circumstance must of course circumscribe our account of them. Cass is not far from six feet high, and weighs sixteen stones. The action he displays is an outside stroke with his left foot, but its fatality consists in the swing, or twist, with which it is accompanied, and his method of parting with his men. He was not much noticed previous to his throwing Weightman; but in our opinion he will, and is the only man who ought to throw him again. Cass is equally as strong, full as heavy, and Weightman will find it difficult to improve his hold, and command him as he does all his other opponents. Cass certainly won very cleverly, and though we must admit he wrestled for tunately through the ring, we think him the likeliest person to win again. The redoubted Weightman is above six feet three inches high, and weighs upwards of fifteen stones. Weightman has certainly a very good-natured, and indeed we might with truth say, a prepossessing appearance. The whole science he appears mas ter of is the address he displays in the application of his tremendous strength in breaking his adversary's, and improving his own hold. He appears to be master

of Liddle, and in the match between him and Richardson, the latter certainly had no chance with him. Respecting his behaviour towards the spectators on that occasion, we will remark that there is a very material difference between wrestling a private match, and contending for a public prize. The latter is expressly for the amusement of the spectators, and they have a right, as in a theatre, to express, in a certain degree, their opinion of the conduct of the performers; but with the former they have no right whatever, excepting to preserve fair play between the men ; and when it is well known that this was neither the second nor third instance in which matches with Richardson never were decided, we have room to infer that the fault in taking hold might not be all Weightman's. The grand question now is Is there one man in the present list who can throw him amain? Our opinion is, if there be one, there are not two. John Liddle, the victor at Kes wick, and from whom much was anticipated at Carlisle, is upwards of fourteen stones, and about five feet ten inches high. It is scarcely fair to make lengthy remarks upon those who may again appear in the ring, therefore we shall only observe, that, with one exception, there is no wrestler of, or under his own weight at present, that can throw him. James Graham had for some time been labouring under a bad state of health, and in appearance, as well as powers, had evidently declined. We likewise think that T. Richardson cannot be what he has been. As a hipper, he is certainly the quickest and best on the list. He is taller, but not so heavy as Liddle; and though we do not think him a T. Nicholson, yet very few at present are an equal match for him. John Fearon, who threw Weightman at Carlisle, is about the same height, but heavier than that hero. The fame of Weightman was his principal inducement for entering that ring, and by throwing him he accomplished his object. Respecting the contest between them, it was a bad one, and Weightman lost the fall at a time when he ought to have been certain of winning it. John Laughlen, the fourth stander on that occasion, is near six feet six inches high, and at present weighs about seventeen stones. Had he been in practice, and taken more pains in procuring an equal hold, Weightman ought not to have thrown him; as, though not excelling in action, he is by no means deficient in science. Having been some years married previous to his present settlement in Whitehaven as a publican, his practice must have been latterly very con

fined, otherwise he ought, and we think, would have been the present champion. -Weight and age considered, no Wrestler more distinguished himself at Carlisle than Robert Waters, the third stander. He appeared a little one, is a very young one, and gave most convincing proofs of his science and quickness-the two great essentials which constitute a finished Wrestler.-T. Todd, the last loser, is full five feet ten inches high, and weighs twelve stones and four pounds. Putting hearsay out of the question, and giving our opinion of what we have personally witnessed, Todd is the best and most finish ed Wrestler we ever saw. He has not the power of Nicholson, but excepting him, we never saw a thirteen, nor is there at present any fourteen stone man, in our opinion, able to throw him the best of three, or five falls.-The prize given for Lads afforded much amusement, and many of them displayed infinite science, and seemed quite at home, in the ring. The two last, though not the tallest, or heaviest, among the competitors, were both, we were told, above the age specified in the advertisement."

The wrestling at the meeting 1823 is just over; and the prize was won by Weightman, who is now believed to be the most powerful wrestler in the world, and could be backed for five, eight, or eleven falls, against the human race.

In conclusion, we thank Mr Litt for his well-written, candid, manly, and scientific "Wrestliana." Should he shall we be to meet him at Ambrose's. ever come to Edinburgh, most happy Neither of us are so young as we were like to see the man who would shove ten or fifteen years ago; yet we should o' the causeway;" and surely no strongthe one or the other of us off the "crown er argument in favour of athletic exercises in general is required, than the sound, stout, hale, ruddy appearance which we both exhibit, being most beautiful and perfect specimens of that perfection of human nature so concisely expressed by the poet,

"MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO."

NOTICES OF THE MODERN BRITISH DRAMATISTS.

No. II.-Beddoes.*

THIS is precisely one of those compositions that a cold, clear, shrewd, and sarcastic critic would delight in clutching into his merciless grasp, to tear it into pieces and strew the floor of his study with its shivering fragments. Had it appeared during the blood-thirsty youth of the Edinburgh Review, a much more cruel murder would have been perpetrated upon its body than that which causes its own catastrophe,and all hands would have been held up in wonder and scorn of young Mr Thomas Lovel Beddoes. He would have gone moping about for years in disconsolate solitude, silent and sullen as a ghost, or would have rent the air with unavailing shrieks and lamenta tions. But he has been born during a happier era-the mild and benignant spirit of Christopher North has overcome the truculent spirit of Francis Jeffrey-that "old man eloquent". gathers all the youths of genius under his wing, protects them from every cutting blast, and bids them all go abasking in the sunshine of public favour, like so many partridges on a bank adjusting their fair plumage

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The Brides' Tragedy. By Thomas Lovell Beddoes. London, F. C. and J. Ri vington, 1822.

VOL. XIV.

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