TOM CRIB'S MEMORIAL ΤΟ CONGRESS. Αλλ' εκ' οι ΠΥΚΤΙΚΗΣ ΠΛΕΟΝ ΜΕΤΕΧΕΙΝ της πλέσιος επιστημη τε και εμπειρια Η ΠΟΛΕΜΙΚΗΣ; Εγω εφη. PLATO de Rep. lib. 4. “If any man doubt the significancy of the language, we refer him to the third volume of Reports, set forth by the learned in the laws of Canting, and published in this tongue." BEN JONSON. PREFACE. THE Public have already been informed, through the medium of the daily prints, that, among the distinguished visitors to the Congress lately held at Aix-la-Chapelle, were Mr. BOB GREGSON, Mr. GEORGE COOPER, and a few more illustrious brethren of THE FANCY. It had been resolved at a Grand Meeting of the Pugilistic Fraternity, that, as all the milling Powers of Europe were about to assemble, personally or by deputy, at Aix-laChapelle, it was but right that THE FANCY should have its representatives there as well as the rest, and these gentlemen were accordingly selected for that high and honorable office. A description of this Meeting, of the speeches spoken, the resolutions, etc. etc. has been given in a letter written by one of the most eminent of the profession, which will be found in the Appendix, No. I. Mr. CRIB's Memorial, which now for the first time meets the public eye, was drawn up for the purpose of being transmitted by these gentlemen to Congress; and, as it could not possibly be in better hands for the enforcement of every point connected with the subject, there is every reason to hope that it has made a suitable impression upon that body. The favour into which this branch of Gymnastics, called Pugilism (from the Greek , as the Author of Boxiana learnedly observes), has risen with the Public of late years, and the long season of tranquillity which we are now promised by the new Millenarians of the Holy League, encourage us to look forward with some degree of sanguineness to an order of things, like that which PLato and TOM CRIB have described (the former in the motto prefixed to this work, and the latter in the interesting Memorial that follows), when the Milling shall succeed to the Military system, and THE FANCY will be the sole arbitress of the trifling disputes of mankind. From a wish to throw every possible light on the history of an Art, which is destined ere long to have such influence upon the affairs of the world, I have, for some time past, been employed in a voluminous and elaborate work, entitled "A Parallel between Ancient and Modern Pugilism," which is now in a state of considerable forwardness, and which I hope to have ready for delivery to subscribers on the morning of the approaching fight between Randall and Martin. Had the elegant author of Boxiana extended his inquiries to the ancient state of the art, I should not have presumed to interfere with a historian so competent. But, as his researches into antiquity have gone no farther than the one valuable specimen of erudition which I have given above, I feel the less hesitation novos decerpere flores, Insignemque meo capiti petere inde coronam, LUCRET. lib. 4. v. 3. The variety of studies necessary for such a task, and the multiplicity of references which it re * To wander through THE FANCY's bowers, |