The Butchers Triumph; or the Watermen in the Dumps

Anonymous
ca. 1750

British Museum 1860,0623.83

The poem below the image describes the disappointment of supporters of the famous pugilist Jack Broughton, formerly a Thames Waterman, after his loss to the butcher John Slack from Norfolk in a bought held at Broughton's Amphitheatre on 11 April 1750. Broughton claimed to have had an "uninterrupted Course of Victories" for the previous twenty-four years and had come out of retirement to accept Slack's challenge.

Rejoice Ye Scrans! from ev’ry Quarter come!
See your brave Hero brought in Triumph home;
Chuse your best Cleavers, pick the sweetest Bones,
And beat in Concert to the Bruiser’s Groans.

The Water Rats now all look pale & dull.
Ones forc’d to seel his Boat one pawn his Scull
Dismay’d they fret they bite their Thumbs & brawl,
Quite from Black Fryars to polite White hall.

Their Brother long had bore the Palm alone.
And In each Boing Bout he rul’d the Town:
Now mounts the Coat & Badge & now the Cap,
By laying Odds all lost at one curst Slap.

Thus Fools secure to their own Ruin run.
And Insolence at last is tumbled down:
Ye puny Watermen your Boasts give o’er.
For Slack ye jolly Butchers loudly roar