you be really gentlemen, as you would be
thought," said Hodgkinson, "give us fair play; turn out man to man, or
even three of you to us two, and we'll fight you." Then finding that
several of them continued to strike while the others urged them on, he
exclaimed: "So, you cowardly gang of villains you want to murder
us--then by Heavens we'll sell our lives dearer than you think of," and,
still supported by Fox, laid about him with desperation. Just at that
moment he heard a person on the outside of the mob cry out aloud, "D--n
the rascal, knock his brains out--knock his brains out with your stick!"
Hodgkinson, blind with rage, exclaimed in reply, "_D--n you, you
cowardly rascal, and all your d--n'd breed._" At this time a crowd of
people ran up, and fair play becoming necessary, lord Barrymore and his
friends thought proper to decline the battle. Among those who came up
and dispersed the combatants, was his royal highness the prince of
Wales.

Fox and his friend were severely beaten, and bore the marks of it; but
what were the reflections of poor Hodgkinson when he learned that the
very person to whom he had said "D--n you, you cowardly rascal, and all
your d----d breed," was no other than that very duke who has since cut
so conspicuous a figure in the annals of gallantry with Mrs. CLARK, of
meretricious notoriety, or in other words the duke of York himself. By
means which shall hereafter be related, the interest of the royal family
had been engaged for Hodgkinson, and even the first personage of it had
agreed to do him a signal favour, on his first appearance in London.
What then must have been his mortification and regret to think that by
one rash expression he had not only lost those bright prospects, but
incurred the censure and abhorrence of every thinking man in the
kingdom; since, however censurable the duke of York might be, it
afforded no pretence for a general expression of disrespect to the whole
of his family.

In the desperate state of mind which succeeded these reflections,
Hodgkinson saw but one measure that was becoming him, or indeed safe for
him to take; and he resolved to adopt it without delay--that was, to
leave Brighton and live in retirement till the whole of the affair, with
his total ignorance of the identity of the person he had insulted,
should be universally understood, and his innocence be made apparent. To
this end he directly went to the manager of the playhouse, laid the
whole affair bef