SPORTING MEN IN PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 844, 10 May 1906, Page 8

SPORTING MEN IN PARLIAMENT.

On the above subject, “ Sporting Life” has the following interesting article: —There has, I believe, been no parallel to the present extraordinary state of things since the days of the first Reformed Parliament in 1832. Those were days when people marvelled at election results as we are now doing. And they also marvelled at some of the men whom the free and independent burgesses sent to Westminster to represent them. Writing on December 17 of that year, the famous diarist, Charles Greville, says: —‘, The borough elections are nearly over, and have satisfied the Government. They do not seem to be bad on the whole. . . Some very bad characters, however, have been returned, amongst the worst. .

Gully, Pontefract. . . Gully’s his tory is extraordinary. . . Having become rich, he embarked in a great coal speculation, which answered beyond his hopes, and his shares soon yielded immense profits. His wife, who was a coarse, vulgar woman, in the meantime, died, and he afterwards married the daughter of an inn-keeper, who proved as gentlewomanlike as the other had been the reverse, and who is very pretty besides. At the Reform dissolution he was pressed to come forward as candidate for Pontefract, but after some hesitation he declined. Latterly, he has taken great interest in politics, and has been an ardent Reformer and a liberal subscriber for the advancement of the cause. When Parliament was about to be dissolved he was again invited to stand for Pontefract by a numerous deputation: he again hesitated, but finally accepted. Lord Mexborough withdrew, and he was elected without opposition. . .

Totally without education, he has strong sense, discretion, reserve, and a species of good taste, which has prevented, in the height of his fortunes, his behaviour from ever transgressing the bounds of modesty and respect.” This quotation is timely, because it so happens that Pontefract has elected a member to represent it in the House of Commons. I know Pomfret well, and have snent many pleasant hours there. Three miles away is Ackworth, where Gully lived in good stvle for many years. It may be that some of my readers are wondering why I should go out of my way to allude to John Gully. Those who have not studied the history of the prize ring and of the turf probably never heard of this truly remarkable man. Let me, then, briefly sketch his career. Born at the Crown Inn, Wick-and-Abson, a village between Bath and Bristol, he moved with his family, when still a boy, to Bath, where his father started in business as a butcher. In this business the son eventually helped. After the father’s death trade declined, and at the age of 21 he found himself in the Fleet Prison. London, for debt. Presently an old friend of the family, Pearce, then champion of England, heard of his predicament, and came to the rescue. Pearce had heard that young Gully was a clever boxer, and went to the Fleet Prison to test his abilities. The result being satisfactory, he arranged that they should fight each other! Gully was made to understand that he would necessarily get well pummelled, but he concluded that any punishment of that sort would be better than languishing for years in prison. Eventually Colonel Mellish, a great sporting character of that time, backed Gully for 400 guineas against 600 guineas found by a supporter of Pearce. Gully’s party had, of course, to pay off his debts in order to obtain his release, and in due course the fight took place at Hail sham, in Sussex, in the presence of an enormous crowd, which included the Duke of Clarence, afterwards William TV. At the outset Gully had much the worst of the fighting, but, on settling down, got on terms, and for a long while it actually seemed as though the battle must end in his favour. In the long run, however, Pearce’s experience and skill enabled

him to gain the upper hand, and at the end of seventy minutes Gully, act? ing on the advice of Colonel Mellish, gave in. It is on record that, after being declared the victor, Pearce staggered up to his opponent, and, taking him by the hand, exclaimed, “By gosh, lad, thou’rt a good ’un. I’ve had a main tough job to lick thee. Thou’rt the best men I’ve ever fowt.” On the retirement of Pearce, Gully became champion, and twice successfully defended the title against Gregson, the champion of Lancashire. With the second of these successes his career as a pugilist ended, and he took a small publichouse, The Plough, in Carey-street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields. This did not satisfy him, however. He became a bookmaker, and was so successful in this calling that in four year’s time he had a fine racing stud of his own. He won the Derby twice, with Pyrrhus I. and Andover, the Two Thousand Guineas with Ugly Duck and The Hermit, and St. Leger with Margrave. Of the many romances associated with the turf there are few that beat the one connected with the name of John Gully, who, with all his faults, was in every way worthy of the splendid position which his inherent abilities enabled him to attain.