Let clergymen preach as in duty bound; you and I'll uphold a manful sport, we will, and a cheer for Bob!' He assured me, and he had my entire faith, that boxing was England's natural protection from the foe.

The comfort of having one like Bob to defend our country from invasion struck me as inexpressible.

Lighted by John Thresher's burning patriotism, I entered the book of the History of England at about the pace of a carthorse, with a huge waggon at my heels in the shape of John.

There was no moving on until he was filled.

His process of receiving historical knowledge was to fight over again the personages who did injury to our honour as a nation, then shake hands and be proud of them.