Bell’s Life, Butler challenges Cann and the Devon men (1828)

TO THE EDITOR OF BELL’S LIFE IN LONDON. Joseph Butler presents his respectful compliments to the Editor of Bell’s Life in London, and begs to correct an error into which he seems to have fallen in his Paper of this week, wherein he (J. B.) is designated as Bull Calf. The person known by that appellation has been dead upwards of twenty years. J. B. is very desirous of having this corrected, as he has no wish to assume any thing more than that which his own endeavours may entitle him to. He first entered at Leeds as “Nottingham Blue Cap,” and by that cognomen was known until he gave in that of Butler; and he now requests the Editor to inform the public, that he is ready to meet Abraham Cann, or any one of the Devon or Cornish wrestlers, half way between London and Nottingham, to play for fifty sovereigns a-side, according to the regular rules of English wrestling, as laid down and published by Sir Thomas Parkyns, Bart., in 1727.
JOSEPH BUTLER. Hucknall, Torkard, near Nottingham, April 21, 1828.