The bang-up blades were pushing their prads along in gay style, accompanied by two friends, that is to say, a biped and a quadruped.

The queer fancy lads, who had hired hacks from the livery-stable keepers, were kicking up a dust, and here and there rolling from their prancers in their native soil; while the neck or nothing boys, with no prospect but a whereas before their eyes, were as heedless of their personal safety as they were of their Creditor's property.

Jaded hacks and crazy vehicles were to be seen on all sides--here lay a bankrupt-cart with the panels knock'din, and its driver with an eye knock'd out, the horse lamed, and the concern completely knock'd up, just before the period when the hammer of the Auctioneer was to be called in, and his effects knock'd down.

There was another 1 Curry the coal--Make sure of the money.
~398~~ of the same description, with a harum-scarum devil of a half-bred, making his way at all risks, at a full gallop, as unmanageable in his career as his driver had been in his speculations; dust flying, women sprawling, men bawling, dogs barking, and the multitude continually increasing.

Scouts, Scamps, Lords, Loungers and Lacqueys--Coster-mongers from--To the Hill Fields--and The Bloods from Bermondsey, completely lined the road as far as the eye could reach, both before and behind; it was a day of the utmost importance to the pugilistic school, as the contest had excited a most unparalleled degree of interest! It would be scarcely possible to give a full and accurate description of the appearances as they went along; imagination would labour in vain, and words are altogether incapable of conveying a picture of the road to this memorable fight; the various instances in which they could discover that things were not all right were admirably contrasted by others, where care and good coachmanship, with a perfect management of the bloods, proved the reverse--while the single horsemen, whose hearts were really engaged in the sport, were picking their way with celerity, and posting to the point of attraction .-- The public-houses were thronged to excess, and the Turnpike-keepers made a market of the mirth-moving throng.
[Illustration: page398 Road to a Fight] Our party arrived in the neighbourhood of Copthorne about half-past twelve, where all was bustle and confusion.