On September 23d, on a challenge of
L50, Chabert repeated these feats and won
the wager; he next swallowed a piece of
burning torch; and then, dressed in coarse
woolen, entered an oven heated to 380 degrees,
sang a song, and cooked two dishes of beef
steaks.

Still, the performances were suspected,
and in fact, proved to be a chemical juggle.


Another challenge in the same year is
recorded under the heading, ``Sights of
London,'' as follows:


We were tempted on Wednesday to the
Argyle Rooms by the challenge of a person
of the uncommon name of J. Smith
to M. Chabert, our old friend the Fire
King, whom this individual dared to
invite to a trial of powers in swallowing
poison and being baked! The audacity
of such a step quite amazed us; and
expecting to see in the competitor at
least a Vulcan, the God of all Smiths,
was hastened to the scene of strife.
Alas, our disappointment was complete!