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Flinging the bones … Strange places … Dog…fighting … Learning and
letters … Batch of dogs … Redoubled application。
ONE evening I was visited by the tall young gentleman； Francis
Ardry； whose acquaintance I had formed at the coffee…house。 As it
is necessary that the reader should know something more about this
young man； who will frequently appear in the course of these pages；
I will state in a few words who and what he was。 He was born of an
ancient Roman Catholic family in Ireland； his parents； whose only
child he was； had long been dead。 His father； who had survived his
mother several years； had been a spendthrift； and at his death had
left the family property considerably embarrassed。 Happily；
however； the son and the estate fell into the hands of careful
guardians； near relations of the family； by whom the property was
managed to the best advantage； and every means taken to educate the
young man in a manner suitable to his expectations。 At the age of
sixteen he was taken from a celebrated school in England at which
he had been placed； and sent to a small French university； in order
that he might form an intimate and accurate acquaintance with the
grand language of the continent。 There he continued three years；
at the end of which he went under the care of a French abbe to
Germany and Italy。 It was in this latter country that he first
began to cause his guardians serious uneasiness。 He was in the
heyday of youth when he visited Italy； and he entered wildly into
the various delights of that fascinating region； and； what was
worse； falling into the hands of certain sharpers； not Italian； but
English； he was fleeced of considerable sums of money。 The abbe；
who； it seems； was an excellent individual of the old French
school； remonstrated with his pupil on his dissipation and
extravagance； but； finding his remonstrances vain； very properly
informed the guardians of the manner of life of his charge。 They
were not slow in commanding Francis Ardry home； and； as he was
entirely in their power； he was forced to comply。 He had been
about three months in London when I met him in the coffee…room； and
the two elderly gentlemen in his company were his guardians。 At
this time they were very solicitous that he should choose for
himself a profession； offering to his choice either the army or law
… he was calculated to shine in either of these professions … for；
like many others of his countrymen； he was brave and eloquent； but
he did not wish to shackle himself with a profession。 As； however；
his minority did not terminate till he was three…and…twenty； of
which age he wanted nearly two years； during which he would be
entirely dependent on his guardians； he deemed it expedient to
conceal； to a certain degree； his sentiments； temporising with the
old gentlemen； with whom； notwithstanding his many irregularities；
he was a great favourite； and at whose death he expected to come
into a yet greater property than that which he inherited from his
parents。
Such is a brief account of Francis Ardry … of my friend Francis
Ardry； for the acquaintance； commenced in the singular manner with
which the reader is acquainted； speedily ripened into a friendship
which endured through many long years of separation； and which
still endures certainly on my part； and on his … if he lives； but
it is many years since I have heard from Francis Ardry。
And yet many people would have thought it impossible for our
friendship to have lasted a week … for in many respects no two
people could be more dissimilar。 He was an Irishman … I； an
Englishman； … he； fiery； enthusiastic； and open…hearted； I； neither
fiery； enthusiastic； nor open…hearted； … he； fond of pleasure and
dissipation； I； of study and reflection。 Yet it is of such
dissimilar elements that the most lasting friendships are formed：
we do not like counterparts of ourselves。 'Two great talkers will
not travel far together；' is a Spanish saying； I will add； 'Nor two
silent people'； we naturally love our opposites。
So Francis Ardry came to see me； and right glad I was to see him；
for I had just flung my books and papers aside； and was wishing for
a little social converse； and when we had conversed for some little
time together； Francis Ardry proposed that we should go to the play
to see Kean； so we went to the play； and saw … not Kean； who at
that time was ashamed to show himself； but … a man who was not
ashamed to show himself； and who people said was a much better man
than Kean … as I have no doubt he was … though whether he was a
better actor I cannot say； for I never saw Kean。
Two or three evenings after Francis Ardry came to see me again； and
again we went out together； and Francis Ardry took me to … shall I
say？ … why not？ … a gaming…house； where I saw people playing； and
where I saw Francis Ardry play and lose five guineas； and where I
lost nothing； because I did not play； though I felt somewhat
inclined； for a man with a white hat and a sparkling eye held up a
box which contained something which rattled； and asked me to fling
the bones。 'There is nothing like flinging the bones！' said he；
and then I thought I should like to know what kind of thing
flinging the bones was； I； however； restrained myself。 'There is
nothing like flinging the bones！' shouted the man； as my friend and
myself left the room。
Long life and prosperity to Francis Ardry！ but for him I should not
have obtained knowledge which I did of the strange and eccentric
places of London。 Some of the places to which he took me were very
strange places indeed； but； however strange the places were； I
observed that the inhabitants thought there were no places like
their several places； and no occupations like their several
occupations； and among other strange places to which Francis Ardry
conducted me was a place not far from the abbey church of
Westminster。
Before we entered this place our ears were greeted by a confused
hubbub of human voices； squealing of rats； barking of dogs； and the
cries of various other animals。 Here we beheld a kind of cock…pit；
around which a great many people； seeming of all ranks； but chiefly
of the lower； were gathered； and in it we saw a dog destroy a great
many rats in a very small period； and when the dog had destroyed
the rats； we saw a fight between a dog and a bear； then a fight
between two dogs； then 。 。 。 。
After the diversions of the day were over； my friend introduced me
to the genius of the place； a small man of about five feet high；
with a very sharp countenance； and dressed in a brown jockey coat
and top boots。 'Joey；' said he； 'this is a friend of mine。' Joey
nodded to me with a patronising air。 'Glad to see you； sir！ … want
a dog？'
'No；' said I。
'You have got one； then … want to match him？'
'We have a dog at home；' said I； 'in the country； but I can't say I
should like to match him。 Indeed； I do not like dog…fighting。'
'Not like dog…fighting！' said the man； staring。
'The truth is； Joe； that he is just come to town。'
'So I should think； he looks rather green … not like dog…fighting！'
'Nothing like it； is there； Joey？'
'I should think not； what is like it？ A time will come； and that
speedily； when folks will give up everything else； and follow dog…
fighting。'
'Do you think so？' said I。
'Think so？ Let me ask what there is that a man wouldn't give up
for it？'
'Why；' said I； modestly； 'there's religion。'
'Religion！ How you talk。 Why； there's myself bred and born an
Independent； and intended to be a preacher； didn't I give up
religion for dog…fighting？ Religion； indeed！ If it were not for
the rascally law； my pit would fill better on Sundays than any
other time。 Who would go to church when they could come to my pit？
Religion！ why； the parsons themselves come to my pit； and I have
now a letter in my pocket from one of them； asking me to send him a
dog。'
'Well； then； politics；' said I。
'Politics！ Why； the gemmen in the House would leave Pitt himself；
if he were alive； to come to my pit。 There were three of the best
of them here to…night； all great horators。 … Get on with you； what
comes next？'
'Why； there's learning and letters。'
'Pretty things； truly； to keep people from dog…fighting。 Why；
there's the young gentlemen from the Abbey School comes here in
shoals； leaving books； and letters； and masters too。 To tell you
the truth； I rather wish they would mind their letters； for a more
precious set of young blackguards I never seed。 It was only the
other day I was thinking of calling in a constable for my own
protection； for I thought my pit would have been torn down by
them。'
Scarcely knowing what to say； I made an observation at random。
'You show； by