THE BATTLE FOR THE BILL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2057, 7 August 1875, Page 3

THE BATTLE FOR THE BILL.

Some short time ago a portion of the London Press commenced' reprinting accounts of thoso playful frolics of the fancy which, under the name of "Battles for the Belt," disgraced the society which tolerated them, and especially the Prince who could stoop to patronise them. The accounts of all the battles, however, were not reprinted, as the original copies could not be found. We have lately stumbled across the following, which, for aught we know, may be one of the missing links connecting the present with the past, so far as pugilism is concerned. The titles are similar. Two mottoes are attached to the copy, the one, certainly from Virgil, is

'.".:'':. ■-. . "Nee quisquam ex agmine tanto .'■: Audet adire viru'm, manibusve induere Cestus." The other occurs, as far as we remember, in Tom Ingoldsby, and runs thus—-

" From what Mr.Jackson reports,: I suppose, ' There are few things surpass a flush hit on the nose." However that may be, we give it in extenso, leaving the reader to .determine by the internal evidence whether it is authentic or not.

- Jay vee, renowned in politics, • ; By shades of Hohson swore ; That pounds eight hundred, each a year, (At which they were by far too dear) : ; ■Supers, no more should draw. He "swore, by Hobson, Governor, And went to England straight. ■ Increased his ami, arid learned to hit, . ; And all he knew, tried every bit •. To reduce himself in weight. For years a scorce, or nearly, „ .■•<-■'... Each Province cash had spent," And no one, save the M.P.C.'s, ' Knew how the money wont. But now the loud defiance," ' "v: : \'; •: Hurled by St. Michael's Knight, •: ' Warned each that he must guard his coin, ; And altogether forces join, :■..•■ ■. ■ > And stick together tight. .:.. : Then spake an Ancient Governor, : : ■ • ' Yclept by all Brown White, :; ■.■.■••■.■ ■■■■■■ Trust in me, ye Supers all;: . '';../: Audi will dare the fight. :-: i ;;:•■ ;: 'Twos I who quelled the Maories, -At the^Wereroa Pah, :i. , • . : What time the Native Chieftains Dared the Pakehas in war.-r ; Then out spake bold Macandrew, ■/■;■• : (A canny ehiel was he) . Quotli lie, "I'm at your service, White, ■My.counsel and my,knee." : And out spake grave Fitzlierbert, too; (Of Wellington was he) " I will abide at thy right side, And wet the sponge for thee." Of seconds, too, his rival, Had certainly no lack. And, first to teach him how to crack His man, and pat him on the back, • White-headed Daniel came; • His face to sponge, his pulse to feel; To rub his muscles into steel, - And hand the refreshing leihtn-peel, Stafford arrived all game. At Wellington was fixed, . A ring immensely strong, And at the appointed hour and day, Each champion, anxious for the fray, Came, followed by athrong Of men, in shawls deep muffled, With anxious face and heart, Men who forewarned came, there each night, To sec the long expected-light. Each champion there, the word, " all right," Was signalled for the 3tart. I cannot say that boxing Improves the human face, That cither profile clearly showed ' A flowing " Phidiau grace," . And if any ancient statues ■They resemble, it was those, A little chipped about the face, And damaged in the nose. , ; Brown White began, as boxers say, With his left hand to make the play, And struck, with all his might. The wily Jayvee shunned the blow, Forebore to grapple for the throw, Cross countered with his right. White, nothing daunted, straighhvay broke 'Cross.his opponent's guard, And Javee hurled like stone from sling, Recalcitrant across the ring, Went headlong to the sward, And loud with glee, as down he went, Beneath those thundering blows, Provincial backers cheered on White, And gaily " cocked "the nose." Their taunts the impatient Jayvee To fiercer action stung, And springing in he dealt a blow That o'er the whole House rung. Stern as the stroke of Cestus, Or hand in gloye of mail, Splitting and crushing brow and cheek Like corn beat dowii by hail. And loudly laughed J. Slakkce, " The fipht is all but done. The odds I'll lay upon Jayvcc Arc fifty to twenty-one! " As the Nelson Superintendent did ' • To the other's corner run. Yet Jayvee, not contented Thrice home his left hand sped, Thrice and again, till reeled his foe Wide tottering, streaming red, Like some anti-Good Templar Drunk with his drink divine, When from his lips the flagon slips And shrouds his breast with wine. Scarcely could White, exhausted, From Macandrcw's knee climb, But still he there determined stood, To try and fight while fight he could, The only chance to win now good Was spinning out the tinie. Alas for him ! keen Stafford's eye The weak condition could descry Of his exhausted foes. And to Jayvee at once doth say (As in old Daniel's arms he lay), " Go in at once and fight your way To'the dread half arm close."" In went Jayvee both fresh and strong,' The rally lasted fierce and long, • The issue doubtful still Appeared to all, for White did try To hold Jayvee in Chancery And thus to win the Bill. •But Jayveo dodged the impending grip, As he saw White exhausted slip Struck him with all his might. Up goes the sponge into the air, And plaudits loud re-echo there, What the judge utters from his chair, Jayvee had won the fight! The panting victor breathless stands Midst " clasp of gmtulating hands " (As Cranstoun stood before), And sees his focinan slowly go Sad to the shades of far Kawau, Tho' wiser than of yore. And Centralists with joyous arnw . . Their champion homeward bore. " They gave him of the bush land, .■When his hard fight was done, A-lease of fifty acres To hold years twontv-ouc. And they sent to one named Bartlctt, To take for eighteen pence, The victor's colored photograph At the Colony's expense ! And still in wintry seasons, When chilly grow the days, And all the Borough Councillors'' Gather round the fire's blaze, When the Mayor in chair of office Sits presiding o'er the scene, On one side Bowen's Anthony, On the other F. C. Dean. When Government monies doubly ' The Borough purse doth fill, They tell how Jayyee's hand of might Won for the Thames her proper right In the Battle of the Bill.