Punch (8.1845)

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

163

THE LATE FIGHT BETWEEN THE PREMIER AND

YOUNG BEN.

ithout a doubt the gallant "mill,"
which came off on the floor of
old St. Stephen's, between
these two heroes, has had a du-
ration unprecedented in the
annals of the P.R. ; though not,
perhaps, in those of the Par-
liamentary Ring. It lasted
three weeks and four days ;
and we are not certain that it
has ended yet. Indeed, we
should have sooner published
its particulars, if we had not
been waiting for its termina-
tion. But " better late than
never " is a good maxim ; and
on the strength of it proceed
we to business, beginning with

The Men.

The Premier, whose patro-
nymic is Peel, is otherwise
known as Sir Robert, alias
Pawky Bob. He is an old
hand, having won various lau-
rels, and now and then caught
a Tartar. He fought in 1830
with Russell, when Johnny
was the victor ; but in '42 he
in turn beat the Bedford Pet.
It is said that much of his
success has been owing to
adopting the latter's tactics.
Probably the Premier, who is
a bit of a " scollard," thinks that "fas est et ab hoste doceri," as the poet says. His style
of fighting is cautious and wary, abounding in crafty dodges, and his dexterity in parrying is quite
an example to youth. Instead of taking off his coat for action, he has a peculiar custom of turn-
ing it, which has given a new meaning to the verb " to Peel." He stands several inches higher
in his own opinion than in that of any one else, but in this respect is much on a par with his
-opponent.

Young Ben, surnamed D'Israeli, has lately earned the cognomen of the Shrewsbury Slasher,
as also that of " Coningsby" and the "Young Englander;" whilst by some he is yclept the
M Coming Man." In one sense of the word he has been long known to the Fancy ; namely,
as a writer of fiction. But his fame on the boards of St. Stephen's is of recent growth. Tt is
said that he aims at the Championship of Young England, which we wish he may get. He was
formerly hand-and-glove with the Premier, though he has now declared war against his quondam
crony. In this he has certainly evinced pluck, as he was always classed among the light-weights,
Vnereas Peel is one of the heavy ones. But let us now come to

The Tight;

Which may be described as a stand-up business, as it arose out of a dispute in the old House,
on Tom Duncombe's calling Jemmy Graham to account for letter-opening. The men did not
appear in good condition, but, on the contrary, decidedly ill-conditioned. They did not shake
hands on meeting, but fists, in a manner the reverse of cordial. The Premier was attended by
Sussex Darby ; whilst Canterbury Smythe did the needful for boy Benjamin.

First Round, Feb. 20.—Hostilities were commenced by Young Ben, who coming boldly up
io the scratch, and after making some little play, gave a smart hit at Sir Robert, as "the
choleric gentleman," which told on the Premier's phiz, the latter instantly assuming the scarlet
dye. After inflicting various other teazers on his adversary, he aimed a vicious left-hander at
him in the shape of a charge, which was cheered as a regular smasher, but which, hitting an
unoffending gentleman named Bonham over his shoulder, turned out to be " no go." Luckily it
did not hurt Mr. Bonham. Peel"s monkey was evidently up ; but this round he reserved his
powder.

Second Round, Feb. 21.—Counters neatly put in by Peel, who came down with a topper on
the nob of his " candid friend." He also gave it him right and left, in return for the Bonham
blow, which so far stopped his potato-trap. Ben dropped on his knee, crying peccavi. This
round the Premier had decidedly the best of it, and the odds were two to one on Robert.

Third Round, Feb. 28.—Ben again on his legs, having recovered his wind and senses. He
let drive at his opponent right and left, as "the political martinet," in a style which was
very much applauded. The Premier affected to receive these hits as flea-bites, but evidently
winced at the punishment, delivering but a few feeble counters in return. Ben, regularly going
in for mischief, planted a stunner on his os frontis, with an allusion to the Whigs' bathing
toggery. Peel floored. The Young Englander followed up his advantage with a lunge on
the breadbasket, with reference to the Premier's friend Canning, which completely doubled
him up. Peel piping, and obviously distressed. Betting ten to one on Benjamin.

Fourth Round, March 17.—Ben hard upon poor Sir Robert, whom he got into chancery
and fibbed for nearly twenty minutes, to universal satisfaction, as a trimmer ; dismissing him

make a single hit, or even parry, but went down
before every blow like a ninepin. His oglea.
proboscis, and the rest of his facial region,
exhibited severe marks of punishment, and the
odds were now' twenty to one against him.—Time
had not been called when our Reporter left.

Remarks,

Young Ben, during the greater part of the fight,
evidently had it all his own way. He first drew
the purple fluid, and won most of the falls. He
displays but few symptoms of punishment, and de-
clares himself ready to renew the engagement any
day. He has proved himself a hard hitter, if not
a match for his opponent's science—of which,
however, this time the latter displayed bnt little.
The general opinion is, that the Premier is dead-
beat ; and the knowing ones suspect that if he
comes up to the scratch again—which is doubtful
—he will come off second best.

It appears that on the day of Tawell's execu-
tion a large booth was erected close to the Chandos
Arms, near the Aylesbury station—for dancing
in the evening. Considering the growing moral
influence that hanging has upon the masses, we
would advise M. Jullien immediately to compose
a set of Gallows Quadrilles. He might fitly dedi-
finally with a tremendous stunner, as the head of an " organised hypocrisy." Peel did not | cate them to Mr. Calcraft.

PUNCH'S NOY'S MAXIMS.

41. One thing thall mure for another.—If this
maxim intends to say that one thing means
another, then we can understand its finding a
place in legal literature. Among the illus-
trations given of this maxim is the following:
—" The king pardons the not building a bridge,
which is a pardon only of the fine for not build-
ing it, hut the party must build the bridge, for
the king's subjects are interested in it." Now
this appears to be very much like the recent
case at Hungerford, with this exception, that
though it may have been unpardonable not to
build the bridge, still the shareholders will
never forgive themselves for having spent their
money in building it.

42. In one thing all things following shall be in-
cluded in granting, demanding, or prohibiting.—
Thus, if a man purchases a field, the law will
give him a way into it—for the law will always
let in anybody who resorts to it. If a man
grants me his trees, I may go into his land and
cut them down and carry them away ; so, if
he grants me his corn, I may go and cut his
corns, but it is not clear whether I can take
a regular chiropodist with me for the purpose
of doing so. If a man leaves land to another,
he must not dig for a mine unless a mine is
expressly mentioned ; but if a mine has been
leased, then he may dig—and dig, and dig—
very often without finding the mine in
question.

43. A man cannot qualify his own act.—Some
acts cannot indeed be qualified, such as unqua-
lified humbug, unqualified rascality, and other
matters, of which the law is we!i cognisant.
Shakspeare speaks of a cup being "craftily
qualified ;" and there is no doubt that a man
may sometimes qualify his own act, as when
a milkman mixes up some water and chalk,
he qualifies the mixture, which is his own
act, with pure milk in homoeopathic quan-
tities.

the dance of death.