“Articles of agreement entered into at Baltimore, in the United States of America, this third day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, between ——­, British subject, alias the Man of Ross, and ——­, American citizen, alias the Boston Bantam.

“Whereas, some Bounce having arisen between the above men in reference to feats of pedestrianism and agility, they have agreed to settle their differences and prove who is the better man, by means of a walking-match for two hats a side and the glory of their respective countries; and whereas they agree that the said match shall come off, whatsoever the weather, on the Mill Dam Road outside Boston, on Saturday, the 29th day of this present month; and whereas they agree that the personal attendants on themselves during the whole walk, and also the umpires and starters and declarers of victory in the match shall be ——­ of Boston, known in sporting circles as Massachusetts Jemmy, and Charles Dickens of Falstaff’s Gad’s Hill, whose surprising performances (without the least variation) on that truly national instrument, the American catarrh, have won for him the well-merited title of the Gad’s Hill Gasper:—­

    “1.  The men are to be started, on the day appointed, by
    Massachusetts Jemmy and The Gasper.

“2.  Jemmy and The Gasper are, on some previous day, to walk out at the rate of not less than four miles an hour by the Gasper’s watch, for one hour and a half.  At the expiration of that one hour and a half they are to carefully note the place at which they halt.  On the match’s coming off they are to station themselves in the middle of the road, at that precise point, and the men (keeping clear of them and of each other) are to turn round them, right shoulder inward, and walk back to the starting-point.  The man declared by them to pass the starting-point first is to be the victor and the winner of the match.

    “3.  No jostling or fouling allowed.

    “4.  All cautions or orders issued to the men by the umpires,
    starters, and declarers of victory to be considered final and
    admitting of no appeal.

“5.  A sporting narrative of the match to be written by The Gasper within one week after its coming off, and the same to be duly printed (at the expense of the subscribers to these articles) on a broadside.  The said broadside to be framed and glazed, and one copy of the same to be carefully preserved by each of the subscribers to these articles.

“6.  The men to show on the evening of the day of walking, at six o’clock precisely, at the Parker House, Boston, when and where a dinner will be given them by The Gasper.  The Gasper to occupy the chair, faced by Massachusetts Jemmy.  The latter promptly and formally to invite, as soon as may be after the date of these presents, the following guests to honor the said