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quently came into the very bays,
and were killed at a little distance
from the fhore; in confequence
of which the blubber being cut
off, was immediately boiled into
oil upon the spot. The fhips, in
thofe times, took in nothing but
the pure oil and the whalebone,
and all the business was executed
in the country; on account of
which a fhip could bring home
the product of many more whales
than he can according to the
prefent method of conducting
this trade. Let it alfo be confi-
dered, that fish were then taken
in fuch plenty, that other fhips
were fometimes required to take
the oil they had made, the quan-
tity being greater than the fishing
fhips could carry away.

Modern Method of Hunting the Whale.

But time, and change of circumftances have altered the fituation of this trade: the fhips coming in fuch numbers from Holland, Denmark, Hamburgh, and other northern countries; all intruders upon the English (who were the firft discoverers of Greenland) the whales were dif. turbed, and, as other fish often do, gradually forfook their haunts, and were not to be killed fo near the fhore as they had formerly been. They are now only to be found in the openings and space among the ice, where they have deep water, and where they fometimes are many leagues from fhore.

The whale fishery begins in May, and continues during the months of June and July; but whether the fhips are fuccefsful or not, they must come away, and get clear of the ice, by the end of Auguft; and in the month of September, at fartheft, they are expected home: but a fhip that meets with a fortunate and eafy fishery in May, may return in June or July.

The modern method of taking whales is as follows:-Every fhip is provided with fix boats, to each of which belong fix men for row. ing the boat; and a harpooner, whofe bufinefs is to ftrike the whale with his harpoon. Two of these boats are kept conftantly on the watch, at fome distance from the ship, faftened to pieces of ice, and are relieved by others every four hours. As foon as the whale is perceived, both the boats fet out in pursuit of it, and if either of them can come up before the whale finally defcends (which is known by his throwing up his tail,) the harpooner difcharges his harpoon at him. There is no difficulty in choofing the place where the whale is to be ftruck, as fome have afferted. A late improvement has been made in the method of discharging the harpoon, by fhooting it out of a kind of fwivel or mufquetoon: but it does not appear that fince this fuppofed improvement has been made, the whale-fishing fhips have had better fuccefs than before. As foon as the whale is ftruck, the men fet up one of their oars in the middle of the boat, as a fignal to thofe in the fhip. On perceiving this, the watchman alarms all the reft with the cry of fall! fall! upon which all the other boats are immediately fent out to the affiftance of the first.

The whale, finding himself wounded, runs off with amazing violence, fometimes he defcends perpendicularly; at others, goes off horizontally, at a fmall depth below the furface. The rope, which is faftened to the harpoon, is about two hundred fathoms long, and properly coiled up, that it may freely be given out as there is a demand for it. At firft, the velocity with which this

A further Account of Big Ben.

77

of his life at that place, where he worked as a collier. Being of an athletic make, and a good bottom, he distinguished himself as a capital boxer in that part of the kingdom, in feveral bruifing matches; particularly by beating Clayton, the famous Shropshireman, and the noted Spaniard Harris, of Kingswood. About twelve years fince, he came to London, and worked as a Coalporter at the Adelphi Wharf. The first battle he fought of any

line runs over the fide of the boat is fo great, that it is whetted to prevent its taking fire; but in a hort time the ftrength of the whale begins to fail, and the fishermen, instead of letting out more rope, strive as much as poffible to pull back what is given out already though they always find themselves obliged to yield at laft to the efforts of the animal, to prevent his finking their boat. If he runs out the two hundred fathoms of line contained in one boat, that belong-note in London, was on the 31st ing to another is immediately faftened to the end of the first, and fo on there have been instances where all the rope be- | longing to the fix boats has been neceffary, though halt that quantity is not often required. The whale cannot remain long under water, but again comes up to blow; and, being now much fatigued and wounded, continues longer above water than ufual: this gives another boat time to come up with him, and he is again ftruck with a harpoon: he again defcends, but with lefs force than before; and, when he comes up again, is generally incapable of defcending, and fuffers himself to be wounded and killed with long lances, which are provided with for that purpose. His death is known to be approaching, when the water, which he fpouts up, is deeply tinged with blood.

the men

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of October, 1786, when he beat a grenadier of the guards in the Long Field, Bloomsbury. He foon after fought and beat Tring, at Dartford Brimp: in this fight they both exhibited a bottom which has been rarely feen in any conteft. They difplayed great art, and fought with fuch fpirit, that Tring was quite blinded, and Ben could fee but very little. This, however, was a great advantage, and Tring was obliged to give in.

After this, he, in the public prints, challenged Ryan, Dunn, Nowlan, Jackfon, and Towers, but neither of thofe heroes would enter the lifts with him. The 22d and 23d of October, 1789, three very capital battles were fought at Banbury, in Oxfordfhire, when the three beft boxers of Birmingham were beat. The first battle was won by Johnfon, against Perrins; the fecond, George the Brewer beat Pickard, and the third was between Big Ben and Jacombs, whom Ben, after thirty-five minutes hard fighting, conquered.

In July, 1790, a match was made for him to fight Hooper the tin-man, 100 guineas to 80: accordingly they met, and fought, Auguft, 30, at Chappel new Revel, near Newbury, in Berkshire,

78

A further Account of Big Ben.

fhire, when, after fighting 180 rounds in three hours and a half, it was referred to arbitration, Hooper falling 133 times without giving or receiving a blow, which made it impoffible to bring it to a decifion. It was determined a drawn battle.

the odds in Johnfon's favour. Big Ben, however, immediately afterwards refumed his advantage, and kept it with very little variation to the end. The knock-down blows were in his favour about three to one. His wind was very little worfe than Johnfon's, and his temper was better. After the first knockdown blow, Johnfon attempted to fhift, but Ben very feldom ad

he did, the former had no room for manoeuvre. When a few rounds had been fought, both combatants feemed to lay afide their skill, and rely wholly upon their ftrength and courage.

The latter end of this year, his patron, the Duke of Hamilton, pitted him for 500 guineas, against the famous, and at that time, unconquered Johnfon. The chal-vanced towards him; and when lenge was accepted; the terms agreed on and the time fixed for the battle, on the 17th of January, 1791. Never was the public expectation raifed higher, or greater bets laid than on this fight, (except that between Humphries and Mendoza at Odiham.) At the time appointed, they met at Wrotham, in Kent, and the following is a particular account of the battle, as communicated to us by a correfpondent who was prefent:

In this manner the battle had continued about twenty minutes, when Johnfon having aimed a very violent blow at Ben, ftruck the rail of the ftage, and broke the middle finger of his right hand. Yet though he was thus difabled, his fpirits feemed good. Two blows from Ben foon afterwards decided the contest: thefe, one ftruck Johnson on the ribs, and the other cut open his lip; fo that he was almoft choak

About one o'clock, Johnfon came upon the ftage, (which was 20 feet fquare) with Joe Ward as his fecond, and Mendoza as his bottle-holder. Big Ben, with Will Ward as his fecond, anded with blood! Humphries as his bottle-holder, appeared foon after: both the champions had the appearance of cheerfulness. The bets were 7 to 4 in favour of Johnfon.

In the first round, which was much shorter and more violent than firft rounds ufually are, Johnfon fell by a dreadful blow upon the forehead, juft above the nofe; and from the effects of this, as he afterwards confeffed, he did not recover entirely in any part of the battle.

In the fecond round he alfo | fell with a blow, and the bets became even; but in the third round he knocked Ben down, and then there was fome increase of

of

Thus terminated a battle which for ftrength, fkill, and bravery of the combatants, was, perhaps, never equalled in this or any other country, and on which not lefs than 20,000l. was fported.

Ben was fo little hurt, that the fucceeding Monday he exhibited fparring at the Lyceum in the Strand; and shortly after, made a tour to the north, from which he returned very lately.

On the 8th of April, 1794, he died at his apartments in ftreet, Gray's-inn-lane. It having been fuppofed that his death. happened in confequence of fome inward bruife which he had got in one of the many defperate bat

tles

Digeft of the Laws concerning Game.

tles in which he had been en- . gaged, his body was opened for the purpose of afcertaining the fact, when it was found that the liver was affected in fuch a manner, that no human power could have faved his life; and this was the fole caufe of his death.

79

of the forfeiture to the king; and the juftices fhall have the tenth part of the forfeiture for their labour.

And, by the fame ftatute, no perfon fhall, without his own ground, take any young herons, out of the neft; on pain of 195., in like manner, for every young

On Friday the 11th, his remains were interred in St. Se-heron. pulchre's church-yard. He was attended to the grave by Ward, Jackson, Wood, and Symonds, as chief mourners. The whole was conducted with that decency and decorum appropriate to the folemnity of the occafion.

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T is enacted by the 19 H. 7, c.

I11, that no perion, without his own ground, fhall flea, take, or caufe to be taken, by means of craft or other engine, any herons, unless it be with hawking, or long bows, on pain of 6s. 8d. to him who fhall fue by action of debt. Or the feffions may call before them perfons fufpected, and examine them; and, if found in default, commit them till they have found furety for payment

Alfo by the 25 H. 8, c. 11, If any perfon from March 31 to June 30, fhall take or deftroy the eggs of any heron, he fhall be imprifoned a year, and forfeit for every egg eight-pence; half to the king, and half to him that will fue by action of debt, or before the juftices of the peace.

By the Fac. c. 27, Every perfon who fhall fhoot at, kill, or deftroy any heron, with gun or bow, fhall on conviction before two juftices, by confeffion or oath of two witneffes, be com mitted to gaol for three months, unlefs on conviction he pay to the churchwardens for the use of the poor 20s. for each heron, or, after one month from his commitment, become bound by recognizance with two fureties in 201. each, before two juftices, not to offend again in like manner. The recognizance to be returned to the next feffions.

By the 25 H. 8, c. 11, No perfon, from the last day of March to the last day of June, yearly, fhall, either by day or night,

take or deftroy any eggs of any

kind of wild fowl from, or in any neft or place where they shall be laid by any kind of the fame wild-fowl, on pain of imprifonment for a year, and to forfeit for every egg of a buftard 20d. For every egg of a bittour or hovelard 8d. and for every egg of other wild-fowl (except crows, ravens, bofcards, and other wildfowl not ufed to be eaten) id..

half

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Digeft of the Laws concerning Game.

half to the king, and half to him who fhail fue by action of debt. The juftices of the peace may alfo determine the fame, as in cafes of trefpafs.

A lord of a manor may build a dove-coat on his own land, parcel of the manor, but a tenant of a manor cannot, without the licence of the lord, 3 Salk. 248.

A freeholder may build-one on his own ground. Cro. Eliz. 548. Cro. Jac. 382.

It has been adjudged, that erecting a dove-houfe is not a common nuifance, nor prefentable in the leet. Cro. Jac. 490, 491.

Doves, in a dove-house, both young and old, go to the heir, and not to the executor. 1 Inft. 8. By the 1 Jac. c. 27, Every perfon who fhall fhoot at, kill, or deftroy any houfe-dove or pigeon with any gun or bow; or fhall take, kill, or deftroy the fame with fetting-dogs and nets, or with any manner of nets, fnares, engines, or inftruments whatfoever; fhall, on conviction before two juftices, by confeffion or oath of two witneffes, be committed to gaol for three months, unless he pay to the church-wardens, for the ufe of the poor, 20s. for every pigeon, or, one month after his commitment, become bound by recognizance with two fureties, before two juftices, in 201. each, not to offend again in like manner. The recognizance to be returned to the feffions. f. 2.

And by the 2 G. 3, c. 29,. If any perfon fhall fhoot at, with intent to kill, or fhall by any means whatsoever kill or take, with a wilful intent to destroy any house-dove or pigeon, and fhall be thereof convicted, by confeffion or oath of one witnefs, before one juftice of the county, city, or place where the

offence was committed, or the party offending apprehended, he fhall forfeit 20s. to the profecutor; and if the money fo forfeited fhall not be forthwith paid, fuch juftice may commit the offender to the gaol or house of correction, there to be kept to hard labour for any time not exceeding three calendar months, nor less than one, unless the forfeiture fhall be fooner paid. Provided, that nothing in this act contained shall extend to the owners of dove-coats, with regard to their own pigeons: and provided alfo that perfons convicted by this act fhall not be convicted for any fuch offence under any former or other act: and profecutions on this act fhall be profecuted and carried on with effect within two calendar months after every fuch offence fhall be committed; and where any perfon fhall fuffer imprifonment for default of payment of any penalty impofed under this act, fuch perfon fhall not be liable afterwards to pay fuch penalty. . 1, 23.

But if the pigeons come upon my land, the owner has no re medy against me if I kill them, though I may be liable to the ftatutes which make it penal to deftroy them. Cro. Jac. 492.

To the EDITORS of the SPORTING
MAGAZINE.

I

GENTLEMEN,

will indulge you with your due portion of credit on the fcore of knowledge of the world, but for your future government mark the dilemma to which they are fometimes reduced, who fet up

for a more than common fhare of fagacity. As fportfmen, you fhould have been aware that fome

horfes

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