Westminster Papers: A Monthly Journal of Chess, Whist, Games of Skill and the Drama
Westminster Chess Club, London
21. Q to K 4 22. R to Kt sq 23. Q to B 2 24. Q to Q Kt 2 25. Kt to K 3 26. Q to Q Kt 5 27. R to Q R 4 28. K to R sq 29. Q takes Q 30. R to Kt 2 31. Kt to Q B 4 32. JK to Kt sq 33. Kt takes Kt 34. Kt to B sq 35. R takes P 36. R to R 8 37. R to R 3 38. P to K R 4 39. R to K B 3 40. Resigns DOUBLE DUMMY PROBLEM, No. LXIV. By Mr. F. H. Lewis. A's Hand. 40 o o X*B Hand. f^' M;j B's Hand. Z's Hand. Spades Trumps. A to lead, and A and B to make all thirteen tricks. 9 ^ ^ <? mm I <y _9_ isi July i872.] THE WESTMINSTER PAPERS. JOTTINGS. Three men of mark have recently passed away, of widely different characters, but all of whom possessed points of interest to our readers. The first, Senor Garcia (one of the greatest gamblers of our time), was known to the world at large as a gambler, and nothing more. In speaking of Garcia as a great gambler, we refer to gambling at Cards, or at the tables at Baden, Homburg, and Monaco. We do not compare him to those other more respectable gamblers who operate in tallow, com, pig iron, or on the Stock Exchange. For reasons to us unknown, or unintelligible, gambling at Cards or at the Tables is, in the eyes of the world, a more heinous offence than that other and more niinous kind of gambling of which we have spoken. We do not purpose to write an essay in defence of" gambling, but we do wish we could impress upon our rulers, and Mr. Hughes in particular, (i) that gambling, in some form or other, will exist ; and (2) granting this fact, that gambling for ready money is much less harmful than gambling on credit. Garcia was rich, and was poor, but in his fall from wealth to poverty no one but himself was injured. If he had gambled on the Stock Exchange, many others besides himself would have been dragged down with him. He would not have stopped payment when his last five-franc piece had gone, as he was obliged to do at the gaming table ; and the loss to some one would therefore have been greater, and, presumedly, more harm would therefore have been done. Garcia was born of a good Spanish family, possessed of a small fortune, which he lost by gambling. He subsequently, by the death of an aunt, acquired about 10,000 francs ; and with this sum he won ;^t 50,000 by gambling. One would have thought this sufficient for an ordinary man's wants ; but the gambler's desire of gain is not dictated by his money wants. He wishes to win, whether he has wants to satisfy or not. We see instances of this every day. The Marquis of Hastings and the Duke of Hamilton each had sufficient to maintain their dignity ; but each gambled to obtain that which, from the money point of view, they did not want. Excitement that we have become accustomed to is part of our nature, and the strongest mind may find it difficult to give up even a small luxury or a little foible. Charles Lever was a man of a different stamp. That he played Whist, Billiards, and all kinds of games, few who read his books can doubt. No man could have described the games as he has described them without entering into their spirit. Much can be left to the imagination of a good writer, but in Lever's descriptions of games there is no room for imagination. He appears to us to describe scenes as they j>assed before his eyes. The pictures are so vivid, so natural, so life-like, and the accessories so perfect, that man could riot invent these things without admitting an occasional slip ; and in Lever's descriptions of games we see no slips. There is scarcely one of his books that does not contain some notice of games. There is the sharper, O'Shea, M.P. for an Irish Borough, who, one cannot help thinking, Lever described from life ; and there is the vain greenhorn, Charles Heathcote, who, elsewhere than at the Billiard-table, was an amiable, good-hearted fellow. His overweening self-esteem made him an easy victim. Indeed, the lessons that we receive by being cheated generally comes to this — Distrust. Courage and confidence are exceedingly usefiil qualities, and should be cultivated, but over-confidence in our skill is a source of weakness. The moment a man plays for a stake that he cares about, he is no longer fitted to play a game that requires a steady hand or a cool head. The second lesson to be learned is to be sure of the honesty of your associates. In other words, to avoid bad company ; and should you observe any symptoms (be they ever so slight) verging on dishonesty, play with them no more. Give up play on every occasion when you have lost the money you have about you ; />., play not on credit The cheats that Lever describes are of all sorts and conditions, but it is with those of the middle class that we have most to deal. The O'Sheas appear to have a fresh crop of flats grown for them every year. Young men fresh from the University, young men entering the Army, are met by the Sewells of " Sir Broke Fosbrooke." They indulge in Ecart^ or Whist to their own discomforture. 4X THE WESTMINSTER PAPERS. 1st July 1872- We have said Lever seldom made a mistake in his descriptions of play, but in " Sir Broke Fosbroke," he makes one of the ^oung officers inquire whether Sewell was mixed up in *^ that affair" at Agra, and he goes on to say that the swindling was done by two aces at Piquet We are not sure whether this was mere chaff at the expense of the young officer, or whether it was intended to be serious. If the latter, we confess we do not know the object of the two aces at Piquet or how they could be used. On the other hand, the youngsters of the day are so marvellously clever in their own estimation that they explain tricks of this description with- out understanding the subject, just as Lord Brougham explained the art of brewing to Her Majesty's Ministers without knowing the least about it. Lever, on his visits to this country, constantly played Whist ; but he played more frequently at the Casino, at Florence. From his experience of English play, he insisted on the game being played according to law. Except at the Paris clubs, and then only at Whist, games are never played strictly on the Continent, and hence Lever was considered a sharp player. ^Ve are not about to contend for the one system or the other. We prefer a strict game, and the habits of our law-loving countrymen are sufficiently strong to enforce disagreeable laws. We hope this moral force will continue, but in the matter of Piquet, which is not a game of surprise, we should prefer to see the French fashion introduced. We may watch players at Piquet for a week in France and never witness a difference of opinion on the laws ; whilst here, disputes constantly arise which ought to be settled without troubling a referee, or without getting angry about the matter in question. Few men more thoroughly enjoyed their rubber than Lever. He entered into everything he had to do with enthusiasm. Life to him was always enjoyable. He was not sent here to be miserable or to make others miserable. The world was to him a Heaven, and he believed that every man had within him a Heaven or Hell at his own will. In his illness he possessed patience and courage, and he bore up in this, as in all his afflictions, as became a man. The third name on our list is Lord Dalling, known to the world as Henry Bulwer the Diplomatist, and as the author of many admirable essays on the Statesmen of our day. Unfortunately, his sketch of Lord Palmerston was left unfinished. Yet enough was written to show what a great Englishman we lost in Lord Palmerston. With Lord Dalling's statesmanship and his writings we have however nothing to do in these pages, save to remark that he often illustrated his subject by reference to games; and he tells several good Whist stories, amongst others one of Talleyrand, who was playing Long Whist. He was told that a very elderly lady " had married her footman ; " Talleyrand replied, " at 9 we do not score honours." I^rd Dalling was a practical Whist player. Unlike his brother, Lord Lytton, he was not a fine player, but he played sufficiently well to use Whist as a means to his end. He enjoyed his rubber as well as most men, but he cared to use it either as a means to amuse his guest, or to give him an opportunity of acquiring information. Thus, the Times tells us : — "He was attached to the Berlin Embassy in 1827, and taking Paris in his way, won there between six and seven thousand pounds at play. This he adroitly converted into the starting-point and founda- tion of his diplomatic fortunes. There was then a Whist-playing set at Berlin, mustering principally at Prince Wittgenstein's, and including the leading personages of the Court. The high stakes (500 louis the rubber was not uncommon) kept the members of the English Embassy aloof, with the exception of Bulwer, who fearlessly risked his recently acquired capital. Although by no means a first-rate Whist player, he eventually came off a winner, and from the incidental gossip of Princes and Ambassadors at the card-table he learned a. great deal about important matters from which his official superiors were shut out." Lord Dalling possessed great charms of manner. His power of conversation was remarkable. In this he was of a school fast dying out. There are amongst our Whist players men who possess conversational powers of a high order, but w^e fear Whist is an enemy to intellectual enjoyments of this description. Whist, unhappily, unloosens the tongue ; but conversation proper there is none at the Whist table. COMMENTARY ON THE LAWS OF WHIST. To the Editor of the Westminster Papers. Sir, — In your leading article of last May, you commented on the Laws of Cricket, Croquet, Billiards and Whist, all of which you pronounced to be extremely faulty ; and you justly stigmatised the code of Laws by which the last mentioned game is regulated as being by far the worst of the four. This opinion would, I believe, be endorsed by almost every Whist player in England. The only probable exceptions would be those gentlemen who framed the Code itself. Sufficient proof of the general statement advanced is surely seen in the feet that not a week passes without a number of questions being addressed to The Westminister Papers or the Field as to the meaning of some of the Laws. Since the formation of the Code, certain gentlemen who had the principal hands in framing it have been pretty well occupied in explaining the intention of their own words. Interpretations of the Laws occupy I know not how much more paper than the Laws themselves. No doubt, sir, you have hit on the principal causes of this grand failure, in your article. The committee comprised some of the best Whist players in the world. But, as you veiy clearly pointed out, the legislative and execv- 42 1st July 1872.] THE WESTMINSTER PAPERS. tive faculties are not necessarily comprised in the same persons. The one thing in no wise implies the other* We have an example most signal of the fact in these very Laws. They arc faulty beyond any power of expression of mine. Throughout the Code there is an evident attempt to be exceedingly precise, yet precision is nowhere attained. I do not however intend to prefer a charge of mere generalities. I propose to subject the whole of the Laws to a strict analysis. From that crucial test, it will appear that the code is built up on no system ; that a great deal of irrelevant matter is introduced, and many needless laws ; that confusion of ideas and contradictory statements are everywhere prevalent ; that, in a word, the Code is radically bad from beginning to end. Nor do I enter on this task for the mere pleasure of demolition. It is easy to pull down, and it is especially easy in this particular case. But, in subjecting this Code to a criticism from which it shall never recover, I propose to adduce an outline of those principles which it is necessary to follow in order to produce a good set of laws — a Code at once clear, succinct, and sufficient By this means I shall, while I show the necessity of commencing this task de novo^ do somewhat to clear the way and point out a means by which the perpetual disputes arising out of the existing obscurity and faultiness of the Rules may disappear before a Code undertaken, I won't say under better auspices— for that is impossible — but on a different and more intelligible principle. I know that certain players may meet me here with the fact that the Code has been accepted by between 60 and 70 Clubs as an authority, but that is a very natural result of the desire which all good players must share to have some recognised standard to go by. The weight of great names — (of great players, that is) — ^went for much, and the fact that these players were members of the two most prominent and leading Clubs went for more. Add this to the general desire I speak of, and we have three strong causes for the acceptation of the Code. I shall however waste no further time in showing how it is that the Code, with the worst constitution in the world, is still alive ; but shall forthwith proceed to send it to the hospital of incurables, seeing that it is strictly past the skill of medicine, and can only serve for future use by the process of skilful dissection. The Laws of Short Whist commence with a definition in these words : " The rubber is the best of three games." This brings up the first question. How is this matter of definitions treated in the Code, and in what system? Let us look at several cases. The next term peculiar to Whist occurs in Rule 3, where we are infonned, collaterally as it were, what is meant by the term " Honours." " Honours, i,e. Ace, King, Queen and Knave of Trumps are thus reckoned," &c., &c. Now here, in these two instances, we might suppose that we have examples of the system to be pursued. The terms of the game are to be defined as they occur. My dear reader, it is no such thing ; you are mis- taken if you suppose so. In Rule 5 occurs another term of the game, viz., " Revoke," which the framers take it for granted that players know, and no definition is given. Thus, it appears on the threshold of our inquiry, that their laws are systemless. True, the word "revoke" is defined, but you must wait till you get to the 72nd Rule to know what it means. The plan of defining as we go on is commenced in Rule i, contmued in Rule 3, adopted in Rule 5, taken up again in Rule 8, continued in Rule 71, dropped again in Rule 74. Ought definitions to have been included in the body of laws at all? I think not When Mr. Clay comes to his treatise of Short Whist (and in teaching the game, what better master could we have ?) he pursues quite another, and much clearer system. He starts with an explanation of technical terms. He explains, very properly, all the Whist terms, whether well known or little known. Amongst beginners and out of Whist circles it will be found that the term " renounce " is not clearly explanatory of itself, and is not always known, whereas the terms "rubber" and "honours" are known by every one. The Rules define the known terms, and leave the unknown undefined, and they pursue throughout an irregular and faulty plan in the matter of definition itself. There is yet another error on this head, which may seem small at first, but is- not so. I wish to point out, that these Rules pretend to be very precise and particular, and I am therefore justified in being very precise and particular with them. Ought, I would ask, definitions, pure and simple, to be given as Rules ? Surely not. Yet, in Rules i and 71, the whole matter given appears to be in the way of definitions, nothing further than to carry out the lack of system pervading the whole Code. In other places, defmitions are not given as whole Rules, but slipped in with the Rules, as in Laws 3 and 8. Having disposed of these principles, I proceed to take the rules seriatim. Rule i having defined rubber as the best of three games, makes this sapient announcement ; — ^" If the first two games be won by the same players, the third game is not played I" Well, rather not ; and as Horatio might very properly have said, "It needs no ghost, my lord, come from the tomb, to tell us that" We are not aware if Whist is played in lunatic asylums. If so, the explanation at the end of Rule i is useful, but not, I think, otherwise. Rule 7.*^-Can any one supply a raison d'etre for Rule 7 ? I doubt it Let us take "a case ; — ^Two players call two by honours and the odd trick at the end of the first hand of a game, but omit to score the * 7. To score h;>nours is not sufficient \ the/ muU be callsJl at the ^?A of the band \ If so called| they ma/ be scored at any time during the garnet 43 THE WESTMINSTER PAPERS. [i St July 1872. honours. In the five next hands their adversaries gain the odd trick, and honours are divided. The two players then remember that their score is not one, as appears by the markers, but three, and they then score their honours. For what possible reason was all this unnecessary time given to rectify the error? Surely it would have been much simpler, quite reasonable, and quite fair for both parties to have made the rule that both tricks and honours should be called and scored at the end of a hand ; and that if not called and scored before the trump of the next deal was turned up, the score should be lost. Rules 6 and 7, under any circumstances, might easily and clearly have been put in one. Rule 8. — Of Rule 8, I shall only say that, in any case, the two second clauses seemed to vary in their phraseology for no good reason. If an opportunity occurs* anywhere by which stupid people can be a little mystified, the framers of the Code have never missed it. Clause II. should have ended with the words ** scored one or two," just as Clause III. ends with the words " scored three or four." It is, I grant, a matter of little importance, but then these Rules make an attempt to be very precise, and painfully simple, yet neither precision nor simplicity are gained. • Under this same fault of preciseness (struggled after and missed), I would notice, under the head of scoring, that a possible confusion is introduced, by using the word score in the double sense of something scored towards a game or points won. That there might be a possible confusion in some minds is admitted by the fact that Cavendish, in- printing the Laws, thinks a note of explanation necessary to Rule 1 2. Is it not possible to frame rules except such as require a running commentar}' of foot notes ? I shall end this first chapter by the general remark that Cavendish gives no less than 43 references and explanations to the 91 Laws of the Game, an explanation (very nearly) for every other Law. Why, this is equal to Micawber, whose indulgence in incomprehensible figures makes it necessary for him to explain every other sentence. Vectis. Addison, Col. Baldwin - Piallantine Barnes - B — n — d— r - Benjamin Bentinck Bianchi - Blumberg Bristow - Burden - Belaieff - Clay - Cleve - Cam Cavendish Chappell Child - Cockburn, Sir A, Crawley, Capf. Curwood De la Rue - Davis - Emgeen Field - Fitch - Foster - Franklyn Garth - Green - • Gutteriez Heape - Harris - 44 SHAKSPEARE ON OUR WHIST PLAYERS. If he that writ it, had play 'd MiihummerNighfsDrcam^2i\^%\^ This is a very shallow monster Tempest, a ii, s 2. I swear by all the Roman gods Timon of At hens , a i, s 2. There is no shuffling Hamlet, a iii, s 3. How it may concern my modesty ... - Midsummer Nighfs Dream, ^.i^si. With his confederates to York Henry IV,, a iv, s 3. Jockey of Norfolk, be not too bold . - - . Richard III., a v, s 3. We talk of horses --.-.-. Henry V., Prologue. I had rather than forty shillings I had my book of songs and sonnets here Merry Wives of Windsor, ^\,%z. Soul of sound good fellowship Troiius and Cressida, a iv, s i. He is very great in knowledge A Winter's Ta/e, a ii, s 5. Requires slow pace Henry VIII, a i, s i. Indeed, he hath an excellent good name ... Much Ado about Nothing, z.\\\^^ i. That sees a game played home A Winter*s Ta/e, a i, s 2. We that are young shall never see so much - - - Xing Lear, a v, s 3. Pray you, sir, who's his tailor? AUs well that ends well, a ii^ s 5. Thou hast the odds of me Timon of Athens, a v, s 2. Let's talk of graves and worms and epitaphs • - Richard II, a iii, s 2. How now, my Lord Chief Justice ? - - - -2 Hairy /K, a v, s 3. Pardon's the word to all Cymbeline, a v, s 5. I had as lief the town crier spoke - - - . Hamlet, a iii, s 2. The best cards for the game King John, a v, s 2. Dost know this water-fly ? Hamlet, sly, s 2, Not so hot, good sir A Winter's Tale, a  make cowards of us all - - * Hamlet, a iii, s i. Before the match he played King John, a iii, s 2. You were lately whipped, sir AU's well that ends well^ a ii, s 2, My living blood, to show the world I am a gentleman - Richard ILy a iii, s 2. Whilst I am bound to wonder, I am bound to pity too - Cymbeline, a i, s 6. To the amazement of mine eyes Macbeth, a ii, s 4. By my modesty, a goodly broker ! - - - . Two Gentlemen of Verona, a i, 5 2. Let me play the fool - - Merc/iant of Venice, a i, s i« J 1st July 1S72.] THE WESTMINSTER PAPERS. Hodgson ames, Edwin arves - essell - Jonas - Kizitaif Lewis, F. H. - levies - Lawley - Le Blanch Lloyd, H. - Lock - Medley - Mocatta Monk - Mossop, R. - Mossop, C. - Martin - Mogul - Newton, J. - Onslow - Pariente Payne, George Perceval { Pearpoint Phillips, H. M. Pole Russell - RieS - Ridpath Robertson, W. Solomon Tennant The Baron - Vectis - - - Walker - Ward - Ward, Col. - Westrop Willoughby - Wormald Westminster Papers How now, poet ? how now ?----- Done little better than played the Jack Let me see  a mystery Bold, quick, ingenious, forward - -- - I thank you for your music Not too hot, first pay me See the strange impatience Ay, sir, very learned Having been three months married - - - - Let me tell you this : I have had feelings of my cousin's wrongs .- I like his money well -------- Came you from the church ?  do it, sir, in print He jests at scars who never felt a wound Where's my cousin Toby ? Entreasured with bags of spices full - - - - Stays in his course and plays Played once in the .University, you say ? - - - Sit you out Sit and draw I'll sort some other time The bookish theorick Good counsellors lack no clients He beats thee 'gainst the odds What Trojan is that same who looks so heavy ? - SA^ is at the Court, and no less loved Mock the lion when he roars You are a counsellor Played most foully for it Reform some certain edicts Falls shrewdly to the purpose From bogs, fens, flats Front the farthest steep of  of At?ims^ a i, s i. Tempest^ a iv, s i. AlTs well thai ends wdl^ a iii, s 2. Twelfth Nighty a, iv, s i. Romeo and/uiiety a iii, s 5. Measure for Measure^ a iv, s 2. Richard IILy a iii, s i. Two GeniUmen ofVerona^ a iv, s 2. Cymbeliney a v, s 5. Julius Casary a i, s 3. Lov^s Labour Lost, a iv^ « 2. Twelfth Night, a ii, s 5. Richard ILy a iii, s 3. Merry Wives of Windsor ,9, iii, s 2. Taming of the Shrew, a iii, s 2. Merchant of Venice, a v, s i. Henry K, a v, s i. 3 Henry VL, a iii, s 2. Lov^s Labour Lost, a iii, s i. Romeo and fuliet, a ii, s 2. Twelfth Night, a iii, s 4. Pericles, a iii, s 3. King John, a iii, s i. Hamlet, a. iii, s 2. Lov^s Labour Lost, a i, s i. AlFs well thcU ends well, a i, s i. I Henry VL, a ii, s 3. Othello, a I, s I. Macbeth, a i, s 2. Antony and Cleopatra, a iii, s 2, Troilus and Cressida, a iv, s 5. As you like it, & 1, s i. Merchant of Venice, a ii, s i. • Tempest, a i, s i. Macbeth, a iii, s i. I Henry IV,, a iv, s 3. Julius Ccesar, a iii, s i. Tempest, a ii, s 2. Midsummer NighfsDream,2i\\, s 2. Much ado about Nothing, a ii, s 3. Timon of Athens, a i, s 2. Henry IV, a iii, s 4. Taming of the Shrew, a v, s 2. THE CAVENDISH WHIST MARKER. Messrs. De La Rue and Co. have improved on the pattern formerly issued to the public by making the knobs stronger and screwed through the wooden slides, so that the laiobs now cannot get broken off with anything short of brute force. The new marker is a vast improvement on the old, but the slides are not yet up to our standard of excellence. DOUBLE DUMMY PROBLEMS, BY F. H. LEWIS. In compliance with the request of many subscribers, we intend in future to publish the solution of these Problems. We commence with No. 63, which appeared in our last We can only give a general outline of the play: — 1. A leads Club, won by B. X discards 2 Hearts. B, H and C. 2. B leads small D, won by A. x 10. A leads C 2, won by B. 3. Small D, trumped by B. II. B leads best Qub. Z discards, 4 D l« or H Kv. 4. 5, 6 and 7. Four rounds of trumps. A discards accordingly. X is forced to discard 2 Hearts. B discards a H and C. 1 2 and 13. A wins the 2 last tricks with H Ace and either H 6 8 and 9. A leads 2 winning Diamonds. or D 2, according to the discard of Z. 45 THE WESTMINSTER PAPERS. [ist July 1872, GRAND NATIONAL CROQUET CLUB. The Oxford Tournament which was originally fixed for the loth of May, and postponed till the Commemora- tion week, commenced on Monday lolh instant, on the groimd of the Merton College Cricket Club (kindly lent for the occasion) under very unfavourable circumstances — that imperious personage " the Clerk of the Weather " being in a very bad temper, and evidently bent on marring the enjoyment of all pleasure-seekers assembled from far and near to partake in the festivities of the Commemoration. Taking into consideration the counter and time honoured attractions of the Commemoration and the Meeting at Royal Ascot, we cannot help thinking that the promoters of this meeting made a great mistake when they fixed upon this particular week for holding their Tournament at Oxford. If we might venture an opinion, we would suggest in future the meeting be held (if possible) during the week of the Oxford Boat Races. Many people come up to Oxford in that week, who would be glad to pass away an hour or two watching really first-class Croquet, and at the same time pick up a wrinkle or two in Uiis scientific game. The Meeting commenced with the Gentleman's Handicap, for which event there were eight entries. Flay was made extremely unpleasant from the frequent heavy showers, which compelled the players to seek the shelter of the Pavilion many times during the day. On Tuesday, owing to the heavy rain, play was postponed till the following morning, when it was resumed under a rather more favourable aspect as regarded the weather — but where were the spectators ? In the morning at the Theatre, in the afternoon at the Masonic Fete ; this is much to be deplored, as in some instances the play was quite first rate — long shots and good breaks being the order of the day. Among the promising players of this season, we must call attention to Mr. J. W. Stewart, who made a good fight of it with Mr. Lillie for the championship ; with a little more practice, this gentleman will prove a very tough antagonist, and few (if any) of our Croquet Players will be able to present him with a Bisque. As there were only four entries for the Ladies' Handicap, and the weather was so unfavourable, the Referee decided to return the entrance money, and declared the match void. The result of the Tournament was as follows : — GENTLEMAN'S HANDICAP. 1ST BEAT. Mr. A. Lillie ... (giving three bisques^ lieat Sir Salusbury Payne. Rev. A. Law ... (giving three bisques) beat Mr. Bolland. Rev. R. S. Baker (giving one bisque)... beat Mr. Torrie. Mr. J. W . Stewart beat Mr. Chappell. 3ND HEAT. Rev. A Law and Mr. Lillie being game and game, Mr. A. Lillie retired. Rev. R. S. Baker (giving one bisque) beat Mr. J. W. Stewart. 3110 HEAT. •Rev. R. S. Baker (receiving one bisque) beat Rev. A. Law, and won. CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH. 1ST HEAT. Mr. A. Lillie beat Rev. A. Law. Mr. J. W. Stewart a Bye. 2ND HEAT. Mr. A. Lillie beat Mr. J. W. Stewart, and won. LILLIE V. LAW. Game i. — A rather slow game. Law made breaks of seven and eipht ; Lillie one of seven ; when each having a rover, Mr. Law, m a long split, accidentally pegged out. Won by Mr. Lillie by five points. Game 2. — Mr. Law at starting, made a most brilliant and difficult pick up of the break, scoring twelve points and wired Mr. Lillie ; in the next turn, he made the other 1>all a rover, but failing to p^ out, left Mr. Lillie a 28 yards shot, the first unwired one in this game. Mr. Lillie roqueted, but found he had played the wrong ball. Mr. Law then went out, winning by twenty-five points. Game 3. — Mr. Law began well, with a break of twelve points, but the accurate shooting of Mr. Lillie now told, and soon getting both balls round, won by ten points. Game 4. — Mr. Lillie led off this game with a break of twelve points, and eventually won by fourteen points. LILLIE v. STEWART. Game i. — Lillie led off with a break of seven points, but over-ran the boundary in a lone roll, and let in Mr. Stewart, who made a fine break of twelve points. Mr. Lillie likewise made a break of twelve points, and won the game. Game 2. — An uninteresting game won by Mr. Lillie. Game 3. — Mr. Lillie commenced with a break of twelve points. Mr. Stewart then made one of six points. In pegging out, at three feet, Mr. Lillie was sold by the ground, and Mr. Stewart won. Game 4. — In pegging out, Mr. Lillie again got into a hole, Mr. Stewart got m by a fine roquet at 30 yards when Mr. Lillie had pegged out one ball. In the end however, Mr. I^illie pegged out at about 4 yards, and won the Championship. ALDERSHOT. One word — " rain" — would be a sufficient report of our proceedings here. Up to this time we can scarcely be said to have done anything. Only fourteen entered for the Partner Prizes, the first round of which ended as follows : — Mr. Black and Mrs. Hill beat Captain Hallowes and Mr. Holloway ; Captain Bathe and Mr. Lillie beat Mrs. Hallowes and Mrs. Taunton ; Mr. Muntz and Miss Preston beat Mr. Macfie and * This round was played with Mr. Hales' settinp:. llie chier feature in thc«e two Rames were the long shots on both sides, and the breaks of Rev. R. S Baker who made twelve points in each game, wmning the first game by twelve points, and the second by nine points. 46 1st July 1872.] THE WESTMINSTER PAPERS. Miss M. C. Jones ; Mr. Helme and Miss C. Jones a bye. Of these, Mr. Black and Mrs. Hill won their first game by 14, and their second by 16 points ; Captain Bathe and Mr. Lillie their first by 26, and their second by 7 ; Mr. Muntz and Miss Preston their first by 8, and their second by 3 ; Second round of Partner Match played off. — Mr. Lillie and Captain Bathe beat Mr. Black and Mrs. Hill, winning their first Game by 4, and their second by 14 points. Mr. Helme and Miss C. Jones beat Mr. G. Muntz and Miss Preston, winning their first Game by 8 and their second by 1 1 points. Captain Bathe and Mr. Lillie, and Mr. Helme and Miss C. Jones, were left in for final round. The whole of to-day (Wednesday) has been so wet as to make play almost an impossibility ; and, as you will see by my paper, I am now writing under the combined difficulties of a leaking tent and a storm so violent as to splash the gravel over my paper. The weather shows no signs of improvement, and I can, at present, see no chance of recording anything but a dismal failure. Thursday. A, SUSSEX COUNTY CROQUET CLUB. The first meeting of this Club was held at the Pavilion Ground, Brighton, on sth June. DOUBLE MATCHES. I. — Mr. Willoaghby and Miss Cooper beat Miss Philbrick and Miss A. M'Ewen. Col. Davidson and Miss James beat Mrs. B laker and Mrs. Penfold. Miss A. Flight and Miss O. Flight beat Capt. Dandas and Mr. Warre. Mrs. Daridson and Miss Parr beat Miss Tamer and Miss C. M'Ewen. IT. — Mr. Willonghby and Miss Cooper beat Col. Davidfloii and Miss James. Miss A. Flight and Miss O. Flight beat Mrs. Davidson and Miss Parr. III. — Mr. Willoaghby and Miss Cooper beat Miss A. Flight and Miss O. Flight. HANDICAP. I.— Miss Philbrick (w. o,) Miss Flight (retired). Miss Coopar (giving two bisques) beat Mrs. Penfold. Mrs. Davidson beat Mrs. Blaker. Mr. Joad (giving six bisqaos) beat Miss A. M'Evron. Mr. Willoaghby (giving two bisques) beat Miss Fumer. II. — Miss Coopar boat Miss Philbrick. Mrs. Davidson (w. o.) Mr. Joad (retired). Mr. Willoaghby (a bye). III. — Miss Cooper (receiving two bisques) beat Mr. Wil- longhby. Mrs. Davidson (a bye). IV. — Miss Coop3r and Mrs. Davidson divided. The Break Sweepstakes were won by Miss A. Flight and Mr. Willoughby. Miss Whatley. Mr. Peel and Miss B. Haines beat Miss Jones and Mrs. Hill. Mr. Hope and Miss Harrison (a bye). CHELTENHAM CROQUET TOURNAMENT 1872. Commenced Monday 17th June, and during the week. PARTNERS' PRIZE. I. — Mr. Myers and Miss Bradley beat Mr. and Miss Porter. Mr. Denny and Miss Haines beat Mr. Taylor and Miss Fletcher. Mr. Lillie and Miss Grant beat Mr. Haines and • The games were won easily. II. — Mr. Myers and Miss Bradley beat Mr. Denny and Miss I Harrison. Mr. Peel and Miss B. Haines (a bye). Haines. Mr. Lillie and Miss Grant boat Mr. Hope and Miss | Here Mr. Lillie and his partner won easily ; not so Mr. Myers and Miss Bradley. Two out of the three games played lasted over three hours each, attributable a great deal to the capital long shooting of both sides. III. — Mr. Peel and Miss B. Haines beat Mr. Myers and Miss Bradley. Mr. Lillie and Miss Grant (a bye). Won as they liked, the two games lasting little over the hour. lY. — Mr. Peel and Miss B. Haines beat Mr. Lillie and Miss Grant. A capital match, the winners losing one game out of four ; Miss B. Haines saved one very doubtful game by a succession of long shots. LADIES' CHAMPIONSHIP. Commencing Tuesday the i8th. I. — Miss Jones beat Miss Grant. Miss Haines beat Miss Miss E. Porter. Miss Whatley beat Miss Harrison. Bradley. Miss Fletcher beat Miss B. Haines. Mrs. Hill beat In this round all the winners won the two games off, with the exception of Miss Haines. II.— Miss Jones beat Miss Haines. Mrs. Hill beat Miss Fletoher. Miss Haines, although managing to win the first game, rapidly lost the next two, owing toiler opponent's superior knowledge of the game. III. — Miss Jones beat Miss Whatley. Mrs. Hill (a bye). | IT. — Miss Jones boat Mrs. Hill. GENTLEMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP. Commenced Wednesday June 19. I. — Mr. Lillie beat Mr. Taylor. Mr. Macfie beat Mr. Haines. | II. — Mr. Hope beatMr. Denny. Mr. Peel beat Mr. H. Porter, These games all very one-sided, the only fight being between Messrs. Macfie and Haines, Iir.— Mr. Lillie beat Mr. Maofie. Mr. Peel beat Mr. Hope. Mr. Lillie's games were fine exhibitions of Croquet, Mr. Macfie, being unfortunate in his play, and not 47 THE WESTMINSTER PAPERS. [ist July 1872. having the balls more than twice in either game, the match was soon over, Mr. LUlie making breaks of 9, 10, and II points. lY.— Mr. LiUie v. Mr. Peel. These gentlemen, after each winning one game, agreed to withdraw and divide the prize, on account of press of time. FOURSHIRE CLUB. The first prize meeting of this Club was held in the Grounds of Sir Peter Pole, Bart, of Todenham, on the 20th June, and the result of the play, which was very good, was as follows : — I. — MiM Diokmi and Mr. Williami beat Mr. and Mn. Wheeler. Miu 8. Dickins and Mr. Cansion beat MiM Wheeler and Mr. Flnoh. Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Bromfield beat Miu Boiflsier and Mr. Bullocke. Mim Natting and Miaa Haatinga (a bye.) n. — ^MiM 8. Dickina and Mr. Cavsion beat Miss Dickins and Mr. Williams. Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Bromfield beat Min Nutting and Misa Hastinga. III.— Miss 8. Dickins and Mr. Ganston beat Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Bromfield. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. CHESS. Ml RON. — Accept our best thanks for your interesting letter. We shall have the pleasure of quoting from it in our next number. It reached us too late for the present one. J. TowNSHEND. — Problems received are under examination. We have no objection to semi -mates per se^ and if yours is good it shall have a diagram. If you write to our printer, he will iorward you the Dubuque Chess Journal, J. H. T. — We are obl^ed to give the preference to Tourney Games at present, but yours are not lost sight of. R. S. (Clapham). — Thanks. We are always glad to welcome a recruit to the ranks of English Problem composers. WHIST. P.P. — The system established at all clubs is that money lost at the gaming-table, and not paid at the time, should be sent to the winner, by the loser, on the following day. If you won, and the money was not forthcoming, you should report the matter, instanter, to the committee. At the Westminster Chess Club, the Conmiittee requires this to be done bv 5 o'clock on the second day, or they will take no cognizance of the transaction. It is not the custom for the creditor to ask for payment, but for the debtor to tender it. In the event of a stranger winning, it is the duty of the loser to be more punctilious towards him than to a member of the club. If money is not paid for a week after it is lost, we should say that a club sanctioning such a system was on a very rotten foundation, and that you had better refrain from playing there. S.— (Cutting in.)— A B C and D are playing, A and B cut out, C and D remain in, E has been in tne Table. £ is eating his chop when A and B cut out. Under the impression that there are two vacancies in the table, F and G cut in, and C and F become partners. Whilst the cards are being dealt, C rises from his chair and lights his cigar. E takes C's seat and claims to be in the table and in this rubber, and to keep out C ; what is to be done ? — Ans, E is too late. The partners are chosen, and he must submit to keep out that rubber. After the rubber F and G can decide which entered the room first, then that first should remain in the table, and G, if the latest comer, should go out. What was done was done under a misconception, and £ must put up with the temporary inconvenience. C clearly was not m fault, and he can lose none of his rights. Thatched House. — i. Thirteenth card led. No trumps have been played. Second hand has Ace of trumps alone. Ought he to pass the thirteenth card ? — Ans, We think not. An Ace is not strength. 2. In the case stated, fourth hand had Kg Qn alone. He trumped with the Qn, and led the King, was this right ? — Ans, The refusal by the second player to trump was an indication of strength, and on principle it could not be far wrong to lead the Kg. 3. The result of the play was that 48 my partner had Ace alone. I had Kg Qn alone. We lost five by cards. — A^s. We cannot judge by results. We once played with an old gentleman who tumeid up the Ace of trumps. We had a very good hand, and as soon as we got in we led our only trump fthe Kin^). Our partner had the Ace sdone. To this day he nas not forgiven us, and we do not think he ever will. 