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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/34180-8.txt b/34180-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dbcdc20 --- /dev/null +++ b/34180-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6146 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Exploits and Triumphs, in Europe, of +Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion, by Frederick Milnes Edge + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Exploits and Triumphs, in Europe, of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion + +Author: Frederick Milnes Edge + +Release Date: November 1, 2010 [EBook #34180] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EXPLOITS AND TRIUMPHS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Kathryn Lybarger, Brownfox +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Paul Morphy] + +THE + +EXPLOITS AND TRIUMPHS, + +IN EUROPE, + +OF + +PAUL MORPHY, + +The Chess Champion; + +INCLUDING + +AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF CLUBS, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES +OF FAMOUS PLAYERS, AND VARIOUS INFORMATION AND +ANECDOTE RELATING TO THE NOBLE +GAME OF CHESS. + +BY + +PAUL MORPHY'S LATE SECRETARY. + +ILLUSTRATED WITH TEN PORTRAITS ON WOOD. + +NEW YORK: +D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, +346 & 348 BROADWAY. +M.DCCC.LIX. + + + + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, + +BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, + +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the +Southern District of New York. + + + + +THIS RECORD + +OF + +PAUL MORPHY'S + +ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE OLD WORLD, + +IS DEDICATED + +TO + +The Members of + +THE FIRST AMERICAN CHESS CONGRESS, + +BY +THEIR MOST GRATEFUL + AND OBLIGED SERVANT, + THE AUTHOR. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +I am much indebted, in the following pages, to the kind assistance of that +able writer and veteran chess-player, Mr. George Walker, who has furnished +me with most of the very interesting and valuable information contained in +the fourth chapter of this work. I am likewise under obligations to Herr +Löwenthal for many anecdotes relating to chess celebrities of the past, +and other information; and also to Mr. George Medley, Honorary Secretary +of the London Chess Club, and Mr. Ries, of the Divan. + +The cuts with which this work is embellished have been engraved by the +well-known Brothers Dalziel. The portrait of Paul Morphy, copied from a +photograph taken shortly after his arrival in London last year, is an +excellent likeness. + +The portraits of Messrs. Staunton, Boden, Anderssen, and Löwenthal, are +copies of photographs, for which they sat at the Manchester Meeting, in +1857. The originals of Messrs. Saint Amant and Harrwitz are admirably +executed lithographs of those gentlemen, taken about four years ago, and +that of Mr. Mongredieu is copied from a photograph kindly lent for the +purpose. + +I am under great obligations to Mr. Lewis, who came to London expressly to +sit for his likeness; and I feel assured that my readers will value this +"very form and feature" of an amateur who was famous before Labourdonnais +was known outside the Régence; and whose works are found in every +chess-player's library. + +I had considerable difficulty in obtaining the portrait of Mr. George +Walker. Photographs, lithographs, etc., of that most popular of all chess +writers, did not exist, and many friends prophesied that his likeness +would not be in my book. But I importuned him so that he relented, and +confided to my care an oil painting, for which he sat five years ago, and +which was the only portrait of him in existence. + +My readers can judge of the resemblance of the other cuts by the portrait +of Paul Morphy. I only wish my story was as good. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + +CHAPTER I. + +MORPHY'S FIRST GAMES 1 + +CHAPTER II. + +THE FIRST AMERICAN CHESS CONGRESS 4 + +CHAPTER III. + +MORPHY PREPARES TO START FOR EUROPE 12 + +CHAPTER IV. + +CHESS IN ENGLAND 23 + +CHAPTER V. + +MORPHY IN ENGLAND 57 + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE STAUNTON AFFAIR 86 + +CHAPTER VII. + +MORPHY IN FRANCE 140 + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE CAFÉ DE LA RÉGENCE 144 + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE MATCH BETWEEN MORPHY AND HARRWITZ 150 + +CHAPTER X. + +MORPHY'S GREATEST BLINDFOLD FEAT 159 + +CHAPTER XI. + +CONTINUATION OF THE MATCH WITH HARRWITZ 166 + +CHAPTER XII. + +MORPHY IN SOCIETY 170 + +CHAPTER XIII. + +MORPHY AND THE FRENCH AMATEURS 176 + +CHAPTER XIV. + +MORPHY GETS BEATEN 183 + +CHAPTER XV. + +MORPHY AND ANDERSSEN 186 + +CHAPTER XVI. + +MORPHY AND MONGREDIEU 197 + +CHAPTER XVII. + +TROPHIES 200 + +VALEDICTORY 203 + + + + +PAUL MORPHY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +MORPHY'S FIRST GAMES. + + +Paul Morphy's father, Judge Morphy, of the Supreme Court of Louisiana, +beguiled his leisure hours with the fascinations of Chess, and, finding a +precocious aptitude for the game in his son, he taught him the moves and +the value of the various pieces. In the language of somebody,-- + + "To teach the young Paul chess, + His leisure he'd employ; + Until, at last, the old man + Was beaten by the boy." + +I have here spoilt a very pretty story. The report in chess circles is, +that the young Paul learned the moves from seeing his father play with +his uncle, Mr. Ernest Morphy, long ranking amongst the first players in +the Union, and one of the brightest living ornaments of American chess. +One evening--so runs the tale--this gentleman awaited the arrival of the +Judge, when Master Paul impudently offered to be his antagonist. What was +the uncle's astonishment at finding the stripling a match for his deepest +combinations, and what the father's surprise on discovering a very +Philidor in his son of ten years! Deschapelles became a first-rate player +in three days, at the age of something like thirty. Nobody ever believed +the statement, not even Deschapelles himself, although his biographer +declares he had told the lie so often that he at last forgot the facts of +the case. But the story about Morphy beats the Deschapelles story in the +proportion of thirty to ten. I sorrowfully confess that my hero's +unromantic regard for truth makes him characterize the above statement as +a humbug and an impossibility. + +Paul's genius for Chess was, very properly, not permitted to interfere +with his educational pursuits. At college (in South Carolina) until +eighteen years of age, he had but little time for indulgence in his +favorite game, nor did he find any one capable of contending with him. +When the vacations allowed of his playing against such adepts as his +father and uncle, or such well-known paladins as Mr. Ernest Rousseau, of +New Orleans, and Judge Meek, of Alabama, he soon showed himself superior +to all antagonists. In the autumn of 1849, Herr Löwenthal, the celebrated +Hungarian player, visited the Crescent City, and out of three games +against the young Paul, then but twelve years old, he lost two and drew +one. It is but reasonable to suppose that the desire of atoning for this +defeat had something to do with Herr Löwenthal's challenging his youthful +victor, on his arrival last year in Europe. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE FIRST AMERICAN CHESS CONGRESS. + + +A circular was issued by the New York Chess Club, in the month of April, +1857, "for the purpose of ascertaining the feasibility and propriety of a +general assemblage of the chess players resident in America." This "met +with a hearty and zealous response from the amateurs and clubs of the +United States. So favorable was the feeling everywhere manifested, that it +was deemed advisable to proceed with the undertaking, and to complete at +once the preliminary arrangements."[A] In consideration of the movement +having been initiated by the New York Chess Club, it was conceded that the +meeting should take place in that city. + +Some of the founders of the New York Chess Club still live to do honor to +the game. I believe that Mr. James Thompson and Colonel Mead suckled the +bantling in times of yore, sometimes forming the entire of the Club +without assistance. In that day of small things, I believe, too, they +defeated the Norfolk (Va.) Club, proving themselves just two too many for +their opponents. Then they travelled about from house to house, as their +members increased, with the arrival of Mr. Charles H. Stanley, Mr. +Frederick Perrin, and others. About 1855 or 1856, the Club made the +acquisition of two enterprising young players, Mr. Theodore Lichtenhein +and Mr. Daniel W. Fiske; and to the latter gentleman is due the credit of +first suggesting this Chess Congress, which made known to fame the genius +of Paul Morphy. + +In the summer of 1857, being then engaged on the New York Herald, I used +occasionally to tumble into the basement of an edifice opposite the +newspaper office, where a jolly, fat German, with a never-to-be-remembered +name, regaled his visitors upon sausages and "lager." Here the members of +the Chess Club were wont to congregate; for the landlord had provided +chessmen and boards as an inducement to visitors. + +One afternoon being engaged in a game with a brother reporter, a +gentleman, whom I subsequently learned was Mr. Theodore Lichtenhein, +stepped up to us, and put into our hands the prospectus of the approaching +Chess Congress, stating his opinion that an event of so much importance +merited newspaper publicity. So began my acquaintance with American chess +amateurs. Although possessing but little skill as a player, I had a strong +liking for the game, and determined that every thing in my power should +be done to render the meeting successful. + +My visits to the saloon, and eventually to the Club, became frequent, and +the Committee of Management, finding that I both could and would work, did +me the honor of appointing me one of the secretaries. + +The Congress was advertised to open on the 6th of October, but players +began to arrive some weeks previously. First of all came Judge Meek, of +Alabama, a truly imposing specimen of a man. Soon after him followed Mr. +Louis Paulsen, from Dubuque, Iowa, whose astonishing blindfold feats out +West were the theme of general talk, and almost total disbelief, amongst +Eastern players. From Judge Meek we first heard of Paul Morphy's wondrous +strength. He told the New York Club that if the youthful Louisianian +entered the tournament, he would infallibly wrest the palm of victory from +all competition. + +We were much afraid, nevertheless, that Mr. Morphy would be unable to quit +his legal studies for the purpose of attending the Congress, but when Mr. +Fiske announced the receipt of a telegraphic despatch, which stated that +he was _en route_, everybody hailed the news with satisfaction. Mr. +Paulsen now came to the support of Judge Meek, and declared that Paul +Morphy would carry off the first prize in the tournament; giving, as the +grounds of his opinion, some two or three published games of the young +Louisianian, which he considered worthy to rank with the finest +master-pieces of chess strategy. Benignant fate brought the young hero +safely to New York, some two days before the assembling of the Congress. + +Who that was present that evening does not remember Paul Morphy's first +appearance at the New York Chess Club? The secretary, Mr. Frederick +Perrin, valorously offered to be his first antagonist, and presented about +the same resistance as a musquito to an avalanche. Then who should enter +the room but the warrior Stanley, tomahawk in one hand and the scalps of +Schulten and Rousseau in the other. Loud cries were made for "Stanley! +Stanley!" and Mr. Perrin resigned his seat to the new comer, in deference +to so general a request. Thus commenced a contest, or rather a succession +of contests, in which Mr. Stanley was indeed astonished. "Mate" followed +upon "mate," until he arose from his chair in bewildered defeat. + +The following day, the assembled delegates and amateurs from the various +clubs, organized the Congress by the election of a president, in the +person of Judge Meek, with Mr. Fiske as secretary, four assistant +secretaries, marshals, treasurer, etc. All these matters of detail, as +well as the games played, the laws passed, etc., etc., will eventually +appear in the long looked for "Book of the Congress," forthcoming with the +completion of the "British Museum Catalogue." + +In the absence of the "Book of the Congress," I must give a slight sketch +of its proceedings, in order to trace the career of Paul Morphy _ab +initio_. After taking possession of the magnificent hall which the New +York Committee of Management had chosen for the meeting, the sixteen +contestants in the Grand Tournament, proceeded to pair themselves off by +lot. Never was fate more propitious than on this occasion in coupling the +antagonists. It is obvious, that however apparently equal in strength two +opponents may be, one will prove stronger than the other. This is an axiom +requiring no proof. Out of sixteen, one is better than the rest, and one +out of the remaining fifteen is stronger than the fourteen others. The +latter player may be drawn in the first round of the tournay with the +former, and though he stand incomparably the superior of all but one, he +loses every chance of a prize by being put immediately _hors du combat_. + +Amongst the sixteen players who entered the lists, two were unmistakably +the strongest, namely, Messrs. Morphy and Paulsen; and much fear was +manifested lest they might be drawn together, in the first round. Such, +however, was not the case. Mr. Paulsen was coupled with Mr. Dennis Julien, +the well-known problem maker, and a gentleman whose hospitality to chess +players scarcely requires praise from me. Mr. Julien had allowed his name +to be entered in the Grand Tournament in the absence of the representative +of Connecticut, Mr. S. R. Calthrop, but the latter player arriving shortly +after, Mr. Julien was but too happy to resign in his favor. Mr. Morphy's +antagonist was Mr. James Thompson, of New York, a gentleman who finished +his chess education at the Café de la Régence, and the London Chess Divan, +noted for the brilliancy and daring of his attack, and his pertinacity in +playing the Evans' Gambit wherever he has a chance. If Mr. Thompson had +not been pitted against such a terrible opponent, in the first round, he +would have tested the powers of some of the other players. + +Mr. Morphy's second opponent was Judge Meek. As they took their seats +opposite each other, one thought of David and Goliath; not that the Judge +gasconaded in any wise after the fashion of the tall Philistine, for +modesty adorns all his actions; but there was as much difference in cubic +contents between the two antagonists, as between the son of Jesse and the +bully of Gath, and in both cases the little one came out biggest. Judge +Meek sat down with an evident conviction of the result, and although he +assured his youthful opponent, that if he continued mating him without +ever allowing him the least chance, he would put him in his pocket, he +consoled himself with the reflection that Paul Morphy would serve +everybody else as he served him. + +Hitherto our hero had won every game. In the third round he encountered +the strongest player of the New York Club, Mr. Theodore Lichtenhein, a +gentleman who had formerly been President of the Circle des Echecs at +Königsburg in Prussia, and an admirable exponent of the Berlin school of +play. Mr. Lichtenhein eventually carried off the third prize in the +tournament, and although he did not win any game from Mr. Morphy, he +succeeded in effecting "a draw," which, against such a terrible enemy, is +almost worthy of being esteemed a victory. + +Mr. Paulsen had also been successful in the first and second rounds +without losing or drawing a single game, and, as if to keep even with his +great rival, he, too, had made "a draw" in the third section of the +tournament--with Dr. Raphael, of Kentucky. Now was to be decided the +championship of the New World, and notwithstanding that the majority +anticipated the result, yet many of the spectators thought that the +Western knight might prove a hard nut for Morphy to crack. Mr. Paulsen's +game is steady and analytical to a nicety. Modelling his operations on +profound acquaintance with Philidor, he makes as much out of his Pawns as +most others of their Pieces. In reply to Mons. de Rivière, I once heard +Morphy say, "Mr. Paulsen never makes an oversight; I sometimes do." + +It is only justice to Mr. Paulsen to state, that he never for one moment +imagined that he would beat Mr. Morphy. So exalted was his appreciation of +the latter's wondrous powers of combination, that he has been frequently +heard to declare--"If Anderssen and Staunton were here, they would stand +no chance with Paul Morphy; and he would beat Philidor and Labourdonnais +too, if they were alive." And when, after the termination of the Congress, +Mr. Morphy offered Pawn and Move to all and every player in America, Mr. +Paulsen declared that he could easily give those odds to him. But this +invariable confession of inferiority did not at all interfere with his +doing the utmost to become victor, although supremacy was only to be +decided by one player scoring five games. If I recollect rightly, it was +in the third game that Mr. Morphy committed an error, which spoiled one of +the finest combinations ever seen on a chess-board. This combination +consisted of some eighteen or twenty moves, and its starting point was one +of those daring sacrifices which European players dignify with the title +"à la Morphy." Certain of the inevitable result, (_humanum est erraret_ +almost loses its signification when applied to his combinations,) our hero +played rapidly, and misplaced a move. The result was, loss of attack and a +piece, and apparently of the game; the most ardent admirer of Paul Morphy +believed it was impossible for him to avoid defeat. But though angry with +himself for his carelessness, he was not disheartened, but set to work +with courage, and effected "a draw." The latter part of this game is a +masterpiece of perseverance and strategy. The result of the tournament is +well known. Mr. Morphy won five games, drew one, and lost one in the +concluding section--only one battle lost during the entire campaign. The +annals of chess do not furnish a similar victory. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[A] Prospectus of "The National Chess Congress." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +MORPHY PREPARES TO START FOR EUROPE. + + +Arriving in Europe three months before Mr. Morphy, I was in some +sort,--not from any consent or knowledge on his part, his _avant courier_; +and the fact of my having been one of the Secretaries at the New York +Chess Congress, joined to my acquaintance with him, afforded me the +opportunity of conversing frequently with prominent English players in +reference to this new meteor in the chess firmament. + +Shortly after my arrival in London, I called upon the Secretary of the St. +George's Chess Club, Thomas Hampton, Esq., and introduced myself to him. +Chess is a bond of brotherhood amongst all lovers of the noble game, as +perfect as free masonry. It is a leveller of rank--title, wealth, +nationality, politics, religion--all are forgotten across the board. Every +chess player recognizes this, and none more so than Mr. Hampton, who gave +me the warmest of welcomes. He told me that every Saturday there was a +full attendance of members, and kindly invited me to visit the club on +that day, promising to introduce me to Mr. Staunton. I was but too happy +to accept this invitation, being desirous of learning how far the prowess +of Paul Morphy was appreciated by one so eminent in the chess world. + +My acquaintance with the young American was a passport of general interest +to all present on the following Saturday. In addition to Mr. Staunton, I +met there Herr Falkbeer, Messrs. Barnes, Bird, "Alter," and other +luminaries, and many were the questions asked in reference to Mr. Morphy. +But I am bound to say that the feeling with which he was regarded in the +United States was not participated in by English players. I was told by +one gentleman--"Mr. Morphy's games are very pretty, but they will not bear +the test of analysis." Another said--and his opinion was universally +endorsed--"It is quite possible that Mr. Morphy may arrive at the highest +rank, nay, even that he may become a second Labourdonnais, but he cannot +have the strength his admiring countrymen wish to believe. Chess requires +many long years of attentive study, and frequent play with the best +players, and neither of these your friend has had. Depend upon it he will +find European amateurs very different opponents from those he has hitherto +encountered." This rather nettled me, but it was reasonable and just. Any +one possessing the slightest acquaintance with the game knows that it +partakes more of hard, laborious application to arrive at first-rate +skill, than of mere pastime. Very few of Morphy's games had been seen in +Europe, and his opponents were not, certainly, of a class to rank with the +Stauntons, Löwenthals, and Anderssens of the Old World. Was it reasonable +to suppose that a youth, just out of his teens, who had devoted but little +time to chess, and who was about to meet first-rate players for the first +time, should possess the experience and lore of men double his age? At the +present time, now that he has unmistakably proved himself the superior of +all living players, I feel utterly at a loss to solve the problem of his +skill. At college, until eighteen years old, what time could he find +there, except out of school hours, for the required practice, and what +antagonists worthy of him? From eighteen to twenty, he was engaged in +reading for the bar. During that period he was as frequent a visitor at +the chess club as circumstances would permit, but certainly not +sufficiently so to increase his strength. Who were his antagonists? His +father had almost entirely abandoned chess; Mr. Ernest Morphy had settled +in "the West," and Mr. Rousseau, absorbed in the sterner duties of life, +held the same relation to the game as Mr. Lewis in England. To one and all +of his opponents, except these gentlemen, he could give the rook; and +playing at odds is somewhat different from contending with even players. +He met strong players for the first time at New York. Paulsen, +Lichtenhein, Thompson, Montgomery, Marache were all northern players, and +new to him, and vastly superior to the antagonists he had previously +encountered. There is but one way to account for his annihilation of all +precedent. His skill is intuitive, and I doubt much whether his prodigious +memory has been of assistance to him. In answer to a gentleman in Paris as +to whether he had not studied many works on chess, I heard him state that +no author had been of much value to him, and that he was astonished at +finding various positions and solutions given as novel--certain moves +producing certain results, etc., _for that he had made the same deductions +himself, as necessary consequences_. In like manner, Newton demonstrated, +in his own mind, the problems of Euclid, the enunciations only being +given; and I can think of no more suitable epithet for Morphy than to call +him "the Newton of Chess." + +But _revenons à nos moutons_. Morphy's achievements at the Congress in New +York induced many to believe that America now possessed a champion capable +of contending with the proficients of Europe, and it was proposed that he +should be backed by the American Chess Association against any player who +would take up the challenge. I am sorry to say that the action of certain +prominent men prevented the gauntlet being thrown down. These gentlemen +said, "He beats us because he is better versed in the openings, but such +players as Löwenthal and Harrwitz will be too strong for him. He wants +experience, and were we to make this national challenge, we should appear +ridiculous when our champion is defeated, which he certainly would be." +The proposal, however, got noised abroad, and the following paragraph +appeared, in consequence, in the Illustrated London News: + + "CHALLENGE TO EUROPEAN CHESS PLAYERS."[B] + + "The American Chess Association, it is reported, are about to + challenge any player in Europe to contest a match with the + young victor in the late passage at arms, for from $2,000 to + $5,000 a side, the place of meeting being New York. If the + battle-ground were to be London or Paris, there can be little + doubt, we apprehend, that a European champion would be found; + but the best players in Europe are not chess professionals, but + have other and more serious avocations, the interests of which + forbid such an expenditure of time as is required for a voyage + to the United States and back again." + +I would say, by way of parenthesis, that such a being as a professional +chess player does not exist in the United States. Paulsen is a tobacco +broker, with tendencies to speculating in "corner lots." (Western men know +what that means.) Lichtenhein deals in dry-goods, dry wines and Italian +opera; Thompson is the proprietor of a magnificent restaurant; Colonel +Mead devotes himself to democratic cabals at the New York Hotel; Fiske is +an admixture of the Chess Monthly, the Astor Library and Scandinavian +literature; Perrin and Marache are bothered daily with banks, "bears" and +"bulls." Chess professionals, indeed! they do not grow in the United +States. + +Mr. Morphy returned to his native city without any further action having +been taken, but the New Orleans Chess Club determined that the challenge +should be made, and they addressed the following letter to Mr. Staunton, +at the commencement of last year: + + NEW ORLEANS, _February 4, 1858_. + + HOWARD STAUNTON, ESQ., + + Sir,--On behalf of the New Orleans Chess Club, and in + compliance with the instructions of that body, we, the + undersigned committee, have the honor to invite you to visit + our city, and there meet Mr. Paul Morphy in a chess match. In + transmitting this invitation, permit us to observe, that we are + prompted no less by the desire to become personally acquainted + with one whom we have so long admired, than by the very natural + anxiety to ascertain the strength of our American players by + the decisive criterion of actual conflict over the board. + + We can see no valid reason why an exercise so intellectual and + ennobling as chess, should be excluded from the generous + rivalry which exists between the Old and the New World, in all + branches of human knowledge and industry. That the spirit of + emulation from which this rivalry arises has not, hitherto, + been made to embrace our chivalrous game, may be mainly + ascribed to the fact that, although the general attention paid + to chess in the United States during the last fifteen years has + produced a number of fine players, yet their relative force + remained undetermined, and none could assert an indisputable + right to pre-eminence. The late Chess Congress has, however, + removed this obstacle, by finally settling the claims of the + several aspirants to the championship; and it must now be a + matter of general desire to fix, by actual contest with the + best European amateurs, the rank which American players shall + hold in the hierarchy of chess. + + For this purpose it was suggested that Mr. Morphy, the winner + at the late Congress and the present American champion, should + cross the ocean, and boldly encounter the distinguished + magnates of the transatlantic chess circles; but it + unfortunately happens that serious family reasons forbid Mr. + Morphy, for the present, to entertain the thought of visiting + Europe. It, therefore, becomes necessary to arrange, if + possible, a meeting between the latter and the acknowledged + European champion, in regard to whom there can be no scope for + choice or hesitation--the common voice of the chess world + pronounces your name; and to us it is a subject of + congratulation that the sceptre of transatlantic chess is + wielded by one who, with respect to regularity of communication + between the two countries, and for other reasons, enjoys + facilities for accepting our invitation possessed by no other + European player. + + We take the liberty herewith to inclose a series of proposed + "terms of the match," which has been drawn up, not for the + purpose of imposing conditions, but with a view to obviate the + necessity of repeated correspondence. We have been studious to + make these terms as equitable as possible, and to include all + matters upon which contestation was likely to arise. You are + respectfully invited to suggest any alterations which you may + deem advisable, not only in the minor points embraced, but also + as to the amount of the stakes, the time fixed for the + commencement of the match, &c., &c. + + Fully subscribing to the wisdom of the proposal made by you in + the introduction to the "Book of the Tournament," we beg leave + to express our entire willingness to insert a clause providing + that "one-half at least" (or even _all_) "of the games shall be + _open_ ones." + + In conclusion, Sir, receive the assurance that it will afford + us extreme pleasure to welcome among us a gentleman, who is as + greatly admired for his powers in play as he is esteemed for + his many and valuable contributions to the literature of chess. + + Hoping soon to receive a favorable answer, we remain, with + distinguished regard, your obedient servants, + + E. W. HALSEY, CHAS. A. MAURIAN, JR., + FRANCIS MICHINARD, P. E. BONFORD, + E. PANDELY. + + + TERMS OF THE MATCH. + + 1. The amount of the stakes, on each side, to be five thousand + dollars, and the winner of the first eleven games to be + declared the victor, and entitled to the stakes. + + 2. The match to be played in the city of New Orleans. + + 3. Should the English player lose the match, the sum of one + thousand dollars (£200) to be paid to him out of the stakes, in + reimbursement of the expenses incurred by him in accepting this + challenge. + + 4. The games to be conducted in accordance with the rules laid + down in Mr. Staunton's "Chess Player's Handbook." + + 5. The parties to play with Staunton chessmen of the usual + club-size, and on a board of corresponding dimensions. + + 6. The match to be commenced on or about the first of May, + 1858, (or on any other day during the present year most + agreeable to Mr. Staunton,) and to be continued at not less + than four sittings each week. + + 7. In order that the stay of the English player in New Orleans + be not unnecessarily prolonged, he shall have the right to fix + the hours of play at from ten o'clock, A. M., to two, P. M., + and from six to ten o'clock, P. M. + + 8. The time occupied in deliberating on any move, shall not + exceed thirty minutes. + + 9. The right to publish the games is reserved exclusively to + the contestants, subject only to such private arrangements as + they may agree upon. + + 10. The stakes on the part of Mr. Staunton to be deposited + prior to the commencement of the match in the hands of ----; + and those on the part of Mr. Morphy, in the hands of Eugene + Rousseau, Esq., cashier of the Citizen's Bank of Louisiana. + + * * * * * + +On the 3d of April, Mr. Staunton replied to this very flattering +communication as follows, through the "Illustrated London News:"-- + + "PROPOSED CHESS MATCH BETWEEN ENGLAND AND AMERICA FOR ONE + THOUSAND POUNDS A SIDE.--We have been favored with a copy of + the _defi_ which the friends of Mr. Paul Morphy, the chess + champion of the United States, have transmitted to Mr. + Staunton. The terms of this cartel are distinguished by extreme + courtesy, and with one notable exception, by extreme liberality + also. The exception in question, however, (we refer to the + clause which stipulates that the combat shall take place in New + Orleans!) appears to us utterly fatal to the match; and we must + confess our astonishment that the intelligent gentlemen who + drew up the conditions did not themselves discover this. Could + it possibly escape their penetration, that if Mr. Paul Morphy, + a young gentleman without family ties or professional claims + upon his attention, finds it inconvenient to anticipate, by a + few months, an intended voyage to Europe, his proposed + antagonist, who is well known for years to have been compelled, + by laborious literary occupation, to abandon the practice of + chess beyond the indulgence of an occasional game, must find it + not merely inconvenient, but positively impracticable, to cast + aside all engagements, and undertake a journey of many thousand + miles for the sake of a chess-encounter? Surely the idea of + such a sacrifice is not admissible for a single moment. If Mr. + Morphy--for whose skill we entertain the liveliest + admiration--be desirous to win his spurs among the chess + chivalry of Europe, he must take advantage of his purposed + visit next year; he will then meet in this country, in France, + in Germany, and in Russia, many champions whose names must be + as household words to him, ready to test and do honor to his + prowess." + +Can this mean aught else than, "Come over to England and I will play +you?" + +FOOTNOTES: + +[B] Illustrated London News, December 26th, 1857. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CHESS IN ENGLAND. + + +Most of us know how "Box," when called upon by "Cox," to give explanations +of the improper attentions he (Box) was paying to C.'s wife, hums and haws +and begins, "Towards the close of the sixteenth century;" when Cox very +properly cries out, "What the deuce has the sixteenth century to do with +my wife?" Many of my readers may, like Cox, want to know what a great deal +my book contains has to do with Paul Morphy; all I have to say, in reply, +is,--if you don't like it, skip it; more especially the following thirty +pages, which, nevertheless, will be interesting to all chess-players. + +Chess seems to have first acquired social importance in England during +Philidor's residence in that country. Judging from the number of titled +names attached to his work as subscribers, the British aristocracy were, +in his time, much given to the game, but "nous avons changé tout cela," +and the English nobility nowadays, with but a few notable exceptions, +confine their abilities to "Tattersall's" and "Aunt Sally." + +"What a fall was there, my countrymen!" + +Surely the "King of Games," which has enlisted amongst its votaries such +names as that of the victor of Culloden, and his rival, Maréchal Saxe; +without enumerating those of all the greatest warriors of many centuries, +might still offer inducements to their comparatively unknown descendants. +We have thousands of men, composing the British aristocracy, at a loss to +get rid of their time; sauntering down to their clubs at mid-day; +listlessly turning over the leaves of magazines and reviews, until their +dinner-hour arrives. Why, in the name of common sense, do not these men +learn something of chess, and thus provide themselves with a pastime which +not merely hastens Time's chariot-wheels, but quickens the intellect? One +gets tired of billiards, cards, horse-racing, etc., but your chess-player +becomes more enamored of his game, the more he knows of it. + +It may have been that gentlemen and nobles affixed their names to +Philidor's book, out of compliment or charity, but it is doubtful whether +their descendants would now do so, even from those considerations. Must we +measure the capacity of dukes and lords by that intellectual standard, +"Aunt Sally?" + +Philidor certainly did much for chess, particularly in England. He +possessed peculiar advantages for so doing. In the first place he had true +talent; his powers for playing blindfold excited extraordinary interest +at the time, not merely amongst chess players, but especially with the +titled crowd. His political antecedents increased the general interest, +and, last and best of all, he was a foreigner. If Philidor had been an +Englishman he would hardly have sold a copy of his book. + +Philidor organized a chess club in London, which met at Parsloe's Coffee +House, St. James street. At the present day little is known of that early +association, and we cannot even tell whether the members were numerous. +After his death, chess seems to have languished; Parsloe's club dragged on +its existence during some years, dying from inanition about 1825. The +London Chess Club, first organized in 1807, kept alive the sacred fire; +but that was the only community in England during the first quarter of +this century where the game was publicly played. Some years after the +establishment of the London, the Edinburgh Chess Club started into +existence. In 1833, a great impetus was given to the game by the +commencement of a weekly chess article in the columns of "Bell's Life in +London." Amateurs now had an organ which could record their achievements; +men hitherto unknown beyond their private circles felt, that the +opportunity was afforded them to become famous throughout the country, and +provincial clubs started up here and there. Chess players cannot but +regard that paper as a very nursing mother for Caïssa, and certainly never +hear it mentioned but their thoughts revert to the veteran--George +Walker. I once heard that gentleman relate the following anecdote as a +proof of how little was known of chess, in England, previous to the year +1833. + +Travelling towards the north somewhere about that period, he put up one +night at a hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. Now any man with music or poetry +in his soul, would, under such circumstances, wander towards the home of +Shakspeare, or to his last resting-place; provided always that fear of +rheumatism, or influenza, did not render him regardful of the rain which +then fell "like cats and dogs." How to pass the evening was the question. +Only one other traveller in the coffee-room, and he as uncommunicative as +Englishmen proverbially are. Mr. Walker did not feel like going to bed at +seven o'clock in the evening, and the idea of throwing out "a feeler" +struck him as interesting. "Did Traveller play chess?" Traveller did. +"Would he have a game?" Yes, he would. The waiter is thereupon summoned, +and ordered to bring in a set of chessmen. Waiter, strongly suspicious +that Mr. Walker means skittles, finally awaked to consciousness, and, with +a smile of triumph, produces a backgammon board. + +The very idea of an opponent obliterated all fear of the weather in Mr. +Walker's breast, and he sallied forth in quest of the desired pieces. +Toyshops, libraries, etc., were entered, but the proprietors scarcely +understood what was asked of them, and Mr. W. finally returned to the inn +to dispatch "Boots" to the solicitor, doctor, and neighboring gentry--but +all to no purpose. Thereupon mine host suggested a note to the parson, but +that individual having just rendered himself famous for all time by +cutting down Shakspeare's mulberry tree, Mr. Walker replied that such a +man could not possibly know anything of the game, and it would be useless +to send to him. So the two travellers were forced to console themselves +with the intricacies of draughts. + +After the death of Philidor, the strongest players were Sarratt, De +Bourblanc, Lewis and Parkinson. Sarratt and Mr. Lewis may be looked upon +as chess professors. We all know the story of the former's playing with +the great Napoleon, and the struggle between pride and courtesy (very +silly courtesy, indeed!) finally overcome by Sarratt's drawing every game. +This could not have been a satisfactory result to the "Little Corporal," +for he never seemed partial to leaving things _in statu quo ante bellum_. +Sarratt was a schoolmaster, Parkinson an architect, and Mr. Lewis +commenced life as a merchant's clerk, and eventually embarked in the +manufacture of piano fortes. This information has nothing whatever to do +with the reputation of the above gentlemen, as successors of Philidor, and +I only mention it because chess players, like other men, are not adverse +to hearing what does not concern them. + +The continental blockade and long wars with Napoleon, isolated England +from the rest of the world, and completed the decay and fall of chess for +a time. But the game did not languish in France and Germany. About 1820, +the Holy Alliance (of Sovereigns against the people) began playing its +pranks: proscribed fugitives, martyrs to liberty--_soi disant_ and +otherwise--came over to England in shoals, and amongst them were to be +found thorough adepts in the mysteries of chess. These refugees rekindled +the fire in Britain. They brought with them new and unknown German and +Italian works, and made Englishmen acquainted with far more extended +information than could be found in Philidor's meagre work. + +Before we enter on the new era of chess, I may add for the benefit of such +of my readers as are not "up" in its history, that Lewis was the pupil of +Sarratt, and McDonnel the pupil of Lewis. It is difficult, from the +paucity of existing _data_, to judge of the strength of former players as +compared with modern examples. Mr. Lewis had been accustomed at one time +to give McDonnel pawn and two; but, when these odds became too heavy, he +declined playing longer, and may be considered to have retired from the +arena. Mr. Walker thinks that, in their best play, Messrs. Sarratt and +Lewis were a pawn below Morphy, and he ranks the latter with Labourdonnais +and McDonnel, stating his belief that the two latter would have played up +to a much higher standard if provoked by defeat. For my own part, I think +it is indisputable that the reputation of these two players is, at this +day, entirely based on their eighty published games, and when Herr +Löwenthal's much looked-for collection of Morphy's contests is published, +we shall then be enabled to judge of the American's strength, as compared +with those celebrated masters. + +The influx of foreigners into London was introductory to the establishment +of numerous chess circles in different coffee houses. Hundreds of "exiled +patriots," bearded Poles and Italians, congregated together to smoke and +play chess, and soon infused a general passion for the game amongst the +Londoners. The first room specially devoted to chess, of which we have any +account, was one opened by Mr. Gliddon, and this led to the establishment +of the London Chess Divan. + + * * * * * + + +THE LONDON CHESS DIVAN. + +What chess player has not heard of the far-famed resort of the devotees of +Caïssa? The Café de la Régence may be the Mecca of chess, but the Divan is +indisputably its Medina. Chess Clubs have risen and fallen, and the +fortunes of the survivors have waxed or waned; but the Divan flourishes in +spring-tide glory, the _Forum Romanum_ for players of every clime and +strength. Now my readers must not suppose that I am about to attempt a +history of the "Divan in the Strand," as the Cockneys call it; for I +should then have to write the history of modern European chess. I merely +intend a sketch, from which they will learn with how much reverence that +classic spot is to be regarded. + +Somewhere about the year 1820, a tobacconist, named Gliddon, opened a room +in the rear of his shop, King Street, Covent Garden, which he fitted up in +Oriental style, and supplied with papers, chess periodicals and +chess-boards, calling the establishment "Gliddon's Divan." Amongst his +patrons was a Mr. Bernhard Ries, who soon perceived that there was room in +London for a similar undertaking on a much larger scale. He accordingly +opened a grand chess saloon in the building now occupied by the Divan. +This was so far back as 1828. It was, at first, on the ground-floor, in +the room known as Simpson's Restaurant, but when Mr. Ries gave up the +establishment to his brother, the present proprietor, in 1836, that +gentleman transferred the Divan to the vast saloon up stairs. In 1838, Mr. +Ries (No. 2) found the Westminster Chess Club suffering from paralysis, +its sinews (of war) being grievously affected. He purchased the good-will +and furniture of the club, giving the members private rooms on the first +floor of his house for their exclusive use. The boards and men now in use +at the Divan were made expressly for the Westminster Club when first +established. The members in their new locale soon found that whilst some +twenty boards would be going in the public room, the game languished with +them; and in the course of two years the club broke up and became absorbed +in the Divan. This will invariably be the case when a private and +exclusive chess association holds its meetings contiguous to a public +resort devoted to the same game. During the past year, the Paris _Cercle +des Echecs_, which met in rooms over the Café de la Régence, found that +the influence of the arena down stairs was too great for them, and they +broke up their meetings, and are now to be found _en masse_ in the public +café. + +In 1842 Mr. Ries invited Labourdonnais to come over from Paris, and play +exclusively at the Divan, which offer that great master accepted. But his +constitution was already shattered, and the malady which eventually +carried him off interfered with his devoting much time to chess, and no +matches of importance were played by him during the period. It was next +door to the Divan, at No. 6 Beaufort Buildings, in rooms taken for him by +Mr. Ries, that Labourdonnais finally succumbed to that terrible antagonist +who, whatever the opening may be, brings the game of life to one +inevitable ending--death! + +Who, known to fame in chess during the past quarter of a century, has not +assisted in making the Divan classic ground? Of bygone palladins we might +instance Popard, Fraser, Zenn, Daniels, Alexander, Williams, Perigal, and +a host of others, never for a moment forgetting Labourdonnais and +Kieseritzky. The veterans Lewis and Walker made it a place of constant +resort before they withdrew from the chess arena. In the Divan, Staunton +rose from a Knight-player to a first rate. St. Arnaud, Anderssen, +Harrwitz, Hörwitz, Kling,--in fact all the great living celebrities--make +it their house of call when in London, whilst the brilliant _corps +d'élite_ composing the phalanx of English players--Löwenthal, Boden, +Barnes, Bird, Lowe, Falkbeer, Wormald, Campbell, Zytogorsky, Brien, &c., +&c., may frequently be found there, ready to meet all antagonists. When +Mr. Buckle casts a "longing, lingering look behind" at his first love, he +offers homage to Caïssa at the Divan. But we must stop, or we shall fain +run through the whole list of living players. + +In the room are busts of Lewis, Philidor, Labourdonnais, and other _vieux +de la vielle_, and the library is replete with all the chief works on +chess. From noon to midnight, players of every shade of strength are to be +met with;--amateurs who learned the moves last week; professors who +analyze openings, adepts inventing new defences, and editors who prove +satisfactorily that the winner ought to have lost and the vanquished to +have gained. [_Sal[=a]m_ to the Divan! May it live a thousand years!] + + * * * * * + +The Divan has certainly done much to spread a liking for the game amongst +the masses; but, at the same time, it has somewhat interfered with the +formation of a flourishing West End Chess Club. There is no city in the +world in which so much chess is played as London, and the British +metropolis should certainly show, at least, one club numbering from 500 to +1,000 members. Club life is an institution peculiar to Englishmen; +divans, even when so well managed as Ries's, partake rather of the Gallic +element, being of the _genus_ café. Your aristocratic Briton frequents not +the public saloon, preferring the _otium cum dignitate_ of the private +club. I am aware that chess in England is not fostered by the upper ranks +of society: its amateurs are to be found mainly in the middle classes. +Shopmen, clerks, professors of the arts, literary men, &c., form its rank +and file. The majority of these, I speak of them as Englishmen, object to +a place of public resort from various reasons. Smoking displeases some, +and smoking is part and parcel of a divan. The Automaton itself could not +get on without its _tchibouk_. All the advantages and none of the +drawbacks of a public hall, are to be obtained at a club; especially when, +as at the St. George's, one room is set apart for smoking. Surely the late +impulse given to chess by Paul Morphy's European feats, will increase the +members of these chess associations, which are incontestably the best +schools for progress in the game. + +About the year 1824, three or four young gentlemen who had recently +learned chess, or rather the mechanical part of it, and had been playing a +good deal together, made vain inquiries as to the existence of a Chess +Club at the West End of London, being desirous of showing off their +abilities to new advantage. The foremost of these ambitious juveniles was +Mr. George Walker, the eminent Chess writer, and an author, too, whose +never failing _bonhommie_ is worthy of Lafontaine. Finding that "westward +the star of empire" and of chess had not, as yet, begun to "take its way," +they resolved to have a Club of their own. Philidor's Club could not be +said to exist; the flame was flickering in some obscure corner, and the +last member was preparing to leave. But the sacred fire was not to die +out:--George Walker and his fellow youngsters built an altar for it at the +Percy Coffee-House in Rathbone Place, Oxford Street, and blew the flame +into a perfect blaze. Percy's Coffee-House was then a first-rate hotel: +Belgravia, Brompton, Pimlico, were corn-fields and market-gardens, and the +aristocracy had not emigrated from the neighborhood of Oxford Street. The +denizens of that ilk might be supposed to find some leisure for the +enjoyment of such a pastime as chess, and Walker and Co. soon enlisted +upwards of a score of recruits. Night after night the members played what +they in their innocence called chess, finishing the Monday evening with a +supper, after which harmony and "the flowing bowl" prevailed. Things went +on swimmingly in this Mutual Admiration Society, until one of the members, +Mr. Perrier, of the War Office, upset the _status quo_ by bringing into +their midst Mr. Murphy, the celebrated ivory miniature painter, and father +of Mrs. Jamieson, the authoress. Dire was the result; Mr. Murphy proved a +very Trojan horse in this West End Ilium: for, as Mr. Walker says, "he +entirely dispelled the illusion of the 'bold Percies' that they had been +playing chess." He gave them one and all a Knight, essayed the Gambit on +every occasion, and not one of the young gentlemen could make a stand +against him. + +As though not sufficiently humiliated, Mr. Murphy introduced Mr. Lewis to +them, and the new comer completed their bewilderment by giving them the +Rook and sweeping them clean off the board. But with such a master, the +Percies, by dint of diligent study and practice, rapidly improved, and it +was suggested to Mr. Lewis that he should open a private club at his own +house. After a short delay this was accomplished, and nearly all the +members joined Mr. Lewis, when he opened subscription rooms in St. +Martin's Lane--classic ground surely, for a former Chess Club had lived +and died at Slaughter's Coffee-House, hard by. + +Mr. Lewis collected quite a number of players around him, and was in fair +way to find his enterprise profitable; but the most prominent members +demurred to his not playing with them so much as they desired, more +especially as Mr. Lewis did not appear to regard the institution as a Free +School for the inculcation of Chess. The best of the young amateurs were +Messrs. Walker, Brand, Mercier and McDonnell; the last, the best of the +lot. McDonnell received from Mr. Lewis the odds of Pawn and Two Moves, but +when he had fairly surmounted that advantage and could win every game, his +antagonist declined playing on even terms, much to McDonnell's +disappointment. This, however, appears to be the usual course with leading +chess players,--Deschappelle's conduct in regard to Labourdonnais being a +notable example of the fact. There are peculiar idiosyncrasies in chess +human nature, as, for instance, the remarkable reserve and +"_don't-come-nigh-me_" _feeling_ with which leading amateurs treat each +other. Go into any public or private chess association, and you will find +that the superior craft steer clear of each other as a general thing; +reserving their antagonism for matches few and far between. + +The Club subsequently removed to the bottom of St. Martin's Lane, and +shortly broke up, McDonnell and others returning to the London Club, +whence they had migrated. A futile attempt was afterwards made to +establish a grand aristocratic silk and satin club in Waterloo Place, the +door of admission to which could only be opened with a golden key of ten +guineas. Here lots of every thing could be found except chess, and no +wonder, for the game does not find supporters, to any extent, among the +rich, depending mainly upon individuals to whom ten guineas are a +consideration. The club expired in twelve months. Caïssa thus lost her +last foothold at the West End, and Mr. Lewis henceforth virtually +abandoned the practice of chess. + +The question has frequently been asked, whether and how Mr. Lewis played +Labourdonnais? They played together on three different occasions, _in all +seven games_, of which Labourdonnais won five and lost two. The first time +they met was at the house of Mr. Domitt, Hon. Sec. of the London Club, and +two Allgaier Gambits were played, each winning one. As they had just done +their duty to a very good dinner, and society was then divided into two, +three, and four bottle men, Labourdonnais remarked, "The victory is not +likely to be gained by the better player, but by him who carries his wine +best." This reminds me of a _bon mot_ of Mr. Boden. Somebody remarked in +his presence that two amateurs (whose names to mention "decency forbids") +were both drunk, though engaged in a match game: he replied--"Then the +best player will win." + +After the conclusion of the two games, Messrs. Mercier, Bonfil and Domit, +particular friends of the English player, challenged Labourdonnais to play +Mr. Lewis a match of twenty-five games at £5 a game. This was rather too +bad, considering that Labourdonnais, to use his own words, was "without a +friend or a shilling in a foreign country;" but he laughed the challenge +away as a joke in his own witty manner, by saying that "in such case he +must be the best player who could offer to play for the highest stake," a +reply which so pleased a gentleman present, Mr. Brand, that he cried out, +"Labourdonnais shall play Lewis a match of 25 games at £10 a game, and I +will find his stakes." It is stated that Mr. Brand evinced considerable +ill-feeling towards Mr. Lewis, at the time, in consequence of the latter's +preferring a move recommended by Mr. Mercier in the match then pending +between the London and Edinburgh clubs, to one proposed by himself, and +perhaps this was the reason for his offering to back the Frenchman +against his own countryman. But Mr. Lewis's friends did not accept the +challenge, and the two champions confined their contests to five off-hand +games, which were played at the residences of Messrs. Bonfil and Mercier, +Lewis winning one and Labourdonnais four, so that the final result was:-- + + Labourdonnais, 5--Lewis, 2--Drawn, 0. + +The above occurrences took place on the occasion of Labourdonnais' first +visit to London, many years before his famous encounters with McDonnell. + +About the year 1830, a gentleman of great parts and education, named +Huttmann, finding his share of this world's loaves and fishes not +precisely what he could wish, opened a coffee house in Covent Garden. His +patrons belonged to what society calls the "upper classes," for his prices +were high and his refreshments first-rate; two considerable attractions to +men of means. Amongst the frequenters of the rooms were Mr. Henry Russell, +the since celebrated singer; Captain Medwin (Byron's medium), and Mr. +Mackay, now Dr. Charles Mackay, the poet. Doctor Mackay was in New York +during the chess tournament, and visited the rooms on that occasion, but +we were then unaware of his early acquaintance with the game. + +At Huttman's Coffee House, the habitués were gentlemen in quest of +quietness; men of calm, reflective turn, given to chit-chat in nooks and +corners; smoking a genuine "Havana" over a cup of unquestionable "Mocha," +and reading that everlasting refuge for an Englishman, "_The Times_." Just +the atmosphere for a chess-board, and two or three were accordingly +introduced. Now you can never get chess-boards into any establishment, +without the fact becoming immediately known amongst amateurs. Mr. George +Walker soon got wind of the arrangement, and forthwith reconnoitred the +lines. The result of his observations was that he suggested the formation +of a chess club in the first floor rooms, and to this Mr. Huttmann +assented. Mr. Walker forthwith began drumming about for recruits; electing +himself secretary, _pro tem._, he drew up a set of rules, and got out +printed circulars, and it was not his fault if any person with whom he +claimed even bowing acquaintance, escaped from the meshes of the proposed +club. Within a few days he had canvassed all his earliest chess friends, +and had rallied round the standard of Caïssa between twenty and thirty +defenders. It was resolved to style the association + + +THE WESTMINSTER CLUB, + +and Captain Medwin was elected the first president. + +We are upon classic ground. Who does not remember the feats performed +within the walls of this home of the glorious departed? Who shall forget +the oft-told wonders of that golden age of chess? Any thing related of the +Westminster Club is swallowed with willing faith by gaping acolytes. +Those were glorious days, indeed, the Homeric age of zatrikiological +worthies! Amongst the early supporters of the Club were the Rev. Mr. +D'Arblay, (son of Madame D'Arblay,) Mr. Skelton, (so well known about town +as "Dandy Skelton,") Mr. Nixon, organist of the Bavarian Catholic Church, +in Warwick Street, Duncan Forbes, Professor of Oriental languages at +University College, and many other celebrated literary characters. The +proprietor, Mr. Huttman, followed the enterprise with spirit. Every cigar +he sold in the coffee-room was wrapt in a printed problem; and, in +addition, he published a periodical penny miscellany on chess. Such +extraordinary exertions quickly bore fruit, and, in a short time the Club +rose to something like fifty members. The room in which the meetings were +held became, in consequence, so hot, that it was deservedly styled "the +oven." + +Emboldened by success, Mr. Huttman began to look about for new and more +commodious quarters; these he eventually found on the opposite side of the +street. Certain gamblers had there taken a house, and furnished the +principal apartments in sumptuous style, for the sole purpose of decoying +thither a young foreign nobleman, who, in one night, is said to have lost +there upwards of £30,000. The house having served their diabolical ends, +was of no further use to them, and Mr. Huttman rented it. Here the +Westminster Club was enshrined. Amongst the chief supporters were Mr. +George Walker, Hon. Sec.; Mr. B. Smith, M. P.; Albany Fonblanque, Esq., of +_The Examiner_; Messrs. Perigal, Slous, Popert, McDonnel, and many others +from the London Club. In 1833, Labourdonnais and McDonnel played their +different matches at these splendid rooms. + +By the continued exertions of Mr. George Walker, the number of members was +increased to three hundred. What a glorious muster-roll! Why should the +"old days" not live again at the West End? Surely the ranks of chess +players are not thinned, nor is their strength diminished. Our Löwenthals, +Bodens, Birds, Stauntons, Barneses, Buckles, Wormalds, Falkbeers, Briens, +Zytogoroskys, Lowes, Hannahs, etc., etc., etc., are worthy descendants of +West End men of the olden time, without even enlisting the support of such +city magnates as the Mongredieus, Slouses, Medleys, etc., of the ancient +and virile London Club. Many members of the Westminster still make love to +the nymph Caïssa; such historical names as Slous and Walker for instance. +But, in addition to the above-mentioned general officers, we now possess a +constantly-increasing rank and file, recruited from the chess-playing +militia of schools and private families. Chess is assuming vast +proportions in England and America: scarcely a weekly paper of any +circulation but gives a column to the game; and certainly no newspaper +editor would do so if he did not find it pay. At the West End of London, +there now exist two clubs of importance, the old St. George's and the new +St. James's; the Philidorean Rooms in Rathbone Place partaking rather of +the divan character. Neither of these clubs require proficiency in the +game as a passport for membership; and a gentleman receiving the Queen +would be just as eligible as the amateur giving it. Surely the advantages +offered for increasing one's strength in this intellectual struggle of +mind against mind, should be an inducement for young players to enroll +themselves in one or the other of these two associations. + +When the Westminster had grown up into a goodly body of three hundred +members, Mr. George Walker began to find that the duties of secretary were +interfering seriously with his other pursuits, and he therefore resigned +the office, and was succeeded by Mr. William Greenwood Walker, to whom the +chess world is so much indebted for taking down the games of McDonnel. The +Club had arrived at its Augustine era, and, in 1838, its fortunes began to +wane; the proprietor getting into pecuniary difficulties. Mr. Huttman +could not let well alone. He introduced a daily dinner, on plans so +profoundly calculated, that the more persons who dined the more he lost. +He got the Club, also, into bad odor, by allowing chess to be played there +on Sundays. Musical soirées and other nonsense followed; the main object +of the establishment thus became ignored, and, instead of new members +joining, the old ones fell off one by one, and the princely mansion in +Bedford street was shortly to let. Mr. Huttman's pecuniary difficulties +perilled the very existence of the Club, notwithstanding that the members +handed over to him the reserve fund, amounting to a few hundred pounds. No +Club can be said to be in safety without such a fund upon which to fall +back in case of emergency, as for instance, retirement of members. Members +of chess clubs will retire--prominent ones even--a very frequent cause +being marriage; the backsliders, however, often come back eventually. + +The Westminster Club being now without house or home, looked about for +some benevolent individual who would "take them in and do for them." Such +an one they found in Mr. Ries, proprietor of the Divan in the Strand, who +offered them private rooms in his establishment; thither the _débris_ of +the old Westminster forthwith removed. Each member was provided with a +latch-key, with which to let himself in at the private door. Here it was +that Mr. Staunton appeared for the first time in chess-circles, although +he was never a member of the Westminster Club. In its new quarters the +association drew out an existence of twelve months, giving up the ghost in +1840. + +About this time, the veteran writer and encyclopædist, Alexandre, made a +lamentable _fiasco_ at his Café de l'Echiquiér in Paris; an establishment +which he vainly hoped would entice away the _habitués_ of the Cafés de la +Régence et de Procope. Coming over to London, he made the acquaintance of +Mr. Staunton, and the two players struck hands together, and resolved to +open a chess establishment as a partnership concern. Alexandre put in his +little all--the change out of his Paris capital--and he and his coadjutor +opened rooms at the Waterloo Chambers. A very good locality, perhaps too +good, for rents in that neighborhood are rather high. Some twenty or +thirty old players rallied round them, but the attempt was only of short +duration. The two _camarades_ took to squabbling and vilifying each other; +and, within a year, the Club was formally dissolved at the request of the +members. + +All connection now being severed between the members and Messrs. Alexandre +and Staunton, the amateurs convened a private meeting for the purpose of +examining their prospects and taking steps for reorganization. Mr. George +Walker advertised for a large room, and was answered by Mr. Beattie, +proprietor of Beattie's Hotel, George street, Hanover square. Here, once +again, the remains of the "old guard" planted their standard, and in +special, solemn convocation, under a full sense of their responsibility, +and with all due solemnity, they christened their Club + + +THE ST. GEORGE'S, + +the name being suggested, in the first place, by the baptismal appellative +of their virtual founder and Hon. Sec., Mr. George Walker; and, secondly, +because the meeting was in George street, in the parish of St. George's. +The Club was exceedingly prosperous during the first year of its +existence, much being due to the fostering care of Mr. B. Smith, M. P. +for Norwich, who was assiduous in his attendance, and a capital +"whipper-in" of members. The room was large, well proportioned, and well +ventilated, cooking first-rate, wines unexceptionable. Wine, by the by, +makes your game brilliant, if not sound. Dull, unimaginative Zsen would +have been betrayed into an attempt at brilliance and dash, with a couple +of bottles of "old crusted" under his belt. But it began to appear as +though a West End Club could be nought but an "annual." Mr. Beattie failed +in business, and the St. George's were turned out of doors, wanderers for +a season, without prospect of refuge. And the devotees of Caïssa were on +the town for some weeks, two or three of the leading and most active +assiduously on the watch to find a fresh location, but almost in blank +despair as to the result. + +Mr. B. Smith was a large shareholder in the Polytechnic Institution, +Regent street. The managing committee of that estimable establishment +were, about this time, endeavoring to form reading-rooms by subscription, +in the first floor of their building, facing Cavendish square. It was +suggested to the committee that chess and reading might be combined; that +one large room facing the square should be set apart for reading +exclusively, and two smaller ones be devoted to chess. A meeting was +forthwith convened, Mr. Nurse representing the proprietors of the +Institution, the chess players present being Mr. B. Smith, Mr. Richard +Penn, and the indefatigable and indomitable George Walker. These three +gentlemen guaranteed that one hundred members, paying an annual +subscription of three guineas each, should be enrolled in the Chess Club +within twelve months; and, once again, the red cross of the St. George's +was floating bravely in the air. Forthwith commenced the hunting up of old +members of the Westminster and other West End Clubs: touching and tender +circulars were issued by Mr. Walker, adjuring the straggling devotees of +Caïssa, by all the recollections of their first and early loves, by all +their hopes of a glorious hereafter, to rush once more to the rescue. +Could such pathetic appeals fall unheeded upon the chess-lover's ear? No. +A hundred and fifty members reiterated "no" to the accompaniment of their +one hundred and fifty three-guinea subscriptions. "Royal Blue-Book" +notabilities enrolled themselves; as, for instance, the present Lord +Ravensworth, Dr. Murray, Lord Bishop of Rochester, the Honorable Charles +Murray, Mr. Brooke Greville, Mr. Albany Fonblanque, the Messrs. Hampton, +Lord Clarence Paget, and a host of other fashionables. So the St. George's +flourished for years, and it began to appear that a Chess Club at the West +End could, under proper management, become a permanent institution. + +It was in this _locale_ that Mr. Staunton played his first match with +Saint Amant, and, losing it, took his revenge by winning in his turn at +Paris. For some reason or other, the French amateur displayed +unaccountable nervousness during the progress of the match in his own +capital. The Baronne de L----, who is well known in Parisian _salons_ as +an excellent player and firm supporter of the game, assured me but lately +that she had no easy task in instilling courage into her countryman, +startled as he was by Mr. Staunton's winning game after game from him. +Warming up under the merry rebukes of his fair inspirer, Saint Amant began +to turn the tables upon his antagonist, and it seemed as if he would +anticipate the result of the contest between Löwenthal and Harrwitz. Mr. +Staunton, however, eventually won, and the stakes were deposited for the +third and deciding match, but Mr. S. was taken ill, and it was never +played. It is unfortunate for Mr. Staunton's reputation that the plea of +bad health was so frequently used by him when opponents appeared, more +especially as he is the first to ridicule such an excuse when coming from +others. And it is more than ever unfortunate in this instance, because the +French players declared that, judging from the later games of the match in +Paris, it was obvious that Mr. Staunton would have succumbed to their +champion if the third and deciding heat had not been prevented by the +Englishman's indisposition. And many of them even affirm that Mr. S. felt +this and acted in consequence. + +It may be added that the St. George's Chess Club had been installed at the +Polytechnic Institution some years before Mr. Staunton joined them, as an +honorary member, in compliment to his rising reputation. Mr. Staunton was +laid under lasting obligations to Mr. George Walker, by the latter's +bringing him from obscurity into public notice, not merely by introducing +him to the London chess world, but, in addition, by flattering notices of +him in his works. He may, in fact, be considered the pupil of Mr. Walker, +and the courtesy with which he has always treated his benefactor makes one +think of Labourdonnais's delicacy towards his old master Deschappelles. + +It would seem as though chess-players, like other men, "get weary in +well-doing," and constantly stand in need of fresh stimulus. Nothing could +have been more suitable or comfortable than the accommodations of the St. +George's at the Polytechnic, and yet they got to yearning after they +scarcely knew what. The cry was raised that members ought to be able to +dine at their Club, and they forthwith migrated _en masse_ to apartments +in Crockford's Club, transmogrified into an eating-house on a splendid +scale, and styled "The Wellington." Here they dwindled away, and the St. +George's would have finally disappeared from existence had it not been for +the kindness of Mr. Thomas Hampton, who offered them apartments at New +Palace Club Chambers, in King street, St. James's. Under his fostering +care, and the patriotic manner in which he is continually arranging +matches and organizing tournaments amongst the members, the St. George's +has largely increased its muster-roll of amateurs, and bids fair to enjoy +more halcyon days than ever. In these rooms Paul Morphy played part of his +match with Herr Löwenthal, and vanquished the well-known amateur "Alter," +in a contest at Pawn and Move. And in dismissing this now prosperous West +End Club, I must not forget to mention, for the benefit of those of my +readers who are ignorant of the fact, that it was the St. George's which +initiated and successfully carried out the Grand International Tournament +of 1851, in which the Teutonic element made itself so conspicuous. + +Experience seems to teach us that no West End Club can be permanently +prosperous, without a recognized professor of the game being constantly, +or frequently, in attendance; one whose object is the interest, not of +himself, but of chess, willing and ready to play with all comers for the +benefit of all. In such a Club as the London, where the members are +business men, there is no hollow principle of _caste_; social democracy +exists, and the players play, talk, laugh, and eat together on a perfect +equality, be they simple clerks or merchant princes. At the Court End of +the town manners are reserved; and such a thing may happen as two members +of the same Club waiting several years, before an introduction justifies +them in speaking to each other. A professor would bring all these stupid +_convenances de la société_ to a speedy end, and, by his recognized +position in the Club, arrange contests between members of equal force, and +thus further the objects for which they are associated. + + +THE LONDON CHESS CLUB. + +In the very heart of the City of London, under the shadows of the Bank and +Royal Exchange, and but a step from Lombard street, the London Chess Club +holds its daily sittings. Who would expect to find such an association in +such a place? Is the quiet of the chess arena consonant with the hum of +busy multitudes, hurrying to and fro in never-failing ardor after the +yellow god? Are stocks and scrip and dividends allied to gambits and +mates? Shall Lloyd's Capel Court and the Corn Exchange furnish supporters +of Caïssa? Come along with me to Cornhill. Stop! This is Purssell's +restaurant. We'll walk up stairs. This room on the first floor is devoted +to billiards. Above it meets the Cosmopolitan Club, and on the third +floor--out of reach of the noise below--is the famous old "London," of +which every player of note during the past fifty years has either been a +member or visitor. + +It is between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, and the rooms of +the Club present the usual appearance at that hour. In the right-hand +corner we perceive the President, Mr. Mongredieu, engaged in dire conflict +with Mr. Maude, to whom he has offered the advantage of Pawn and Move. +Readers of the _Chess Players' Chronicle_, of the _Palamède_, and _La +Régence_, have known Mr. Mongredieu for long years past, as an amateur of +first-rate force, who gets himself invariably into difficulties at the +commencement of a game, by his unvanquishable contempt for book openings, +but who comes out all right at last, by his masterly tactics in the middle +of the contest. Possessed of a fund of native English humor, and a +finished scholar withal, he keeps up a running fire of wit and anecdote +throughout the game, in which the lookers-on join. By his side is Mr. +George Medley, the Secretary of the Club, whose name is also a "household +word" to amateurs; he and Mr. Mongredieu ranking as the strongest players +of the association. The latter gentleman has run in for an hour's play +from the Corn Exchange, being in fact one of those men who, before the +knowledge of Political Economy had become diffused amongst the masses, +were styled "the rogues in grain." Mr. Medley has just arrived from the +Stock Exchange, where, after "Bearing" or "Bulling" Mr. Slous, George +Walker, and Mr. Waite during the morning, he meets them at the Chess Club +towards three o'clock, and they become as much absorbed in the mysteries +of the game as though it were the business of their lives. + +If you wish to see what influence chess can have upon individuals, just +analyze the London Club. The members are not "men of straw," but sound, +substantial citizens, with balances at their bankers heavy enough to buy +up half-a-dozen lords. Does a Rothschild or a Baring negotiate a loan? +Here you will find men to take up the greater part, if not the whole of +it. Is capital for a railroad wanted? You need not wander much further. +Look around you, and you will recognize many of the foremost of Great +Britain's merchant princes; men pushing England's commerce into every bay +and inlet of old ocean, carrying the British flag across seas and lakes, +and penetrating continents; causing British cannon to thunder at the gates +of Pekin, and opening Japan to the commerce of the world. These are the +children of the men who first planted foot in Hindostan, descendants of +those who established England's colonies. These are the men, the very men, +who repealed the Corn Laws in 1846, established the principle of Free +Trade, and told a proud, titled aristocracy--"We, the middle class, the +merchants, bankers, and manufacturers of Great Britain, are the source of +all power in England, as we are the source of her greatness." + +An admirable demonstration of these ideas is to be found in the London +Chess Club. This association has flourished with never-failing vigor since +its establishment in 1807, whilst Clubs have risen, waned, and died at the +fashionable end of the town. City men are too patriotic and too proud to +allow their Club to languish; and, depend upon it, whilst the old London +counts a single member, that one last man will, from his own purse, find +funds to keep it alive, inscribe on his colors "_Lateat scintillula +forsan_," and shout with stentorian lungs for recruits. + +The London Chess Club organized on the 6th of April, 1807, Mr. Augustus +Hankey being first President, and the committee numbering among its +members Sir Astley Cooper, the celebrated surgeon, Sir Isaac Lyon +Goldsmid, and others of almost equal eminence. The meetings took place at +Tom's Coffee House, in Cornhill. Such men as Sarratt, Lewis, Walker, +McDonnel, Cochrane, Popert, Perigal, Staunton, Fraser, etc., have either +been members of the Club or frequenters of it. A good story is told of +Perigal, who, for a long period, officiated as the Honorary Secretary. At +the time Deschappelles made his ridiculous challenge to play any English +amateur a match at Pawn and Two moves, Mr. Perigal was sent out to Paris +to arrange preliminaries with the gasconading Frenchman. Deschappelles +soon showed how little he was in earnest, and the ambassador returned +without having effected any thing. On being questioned at the "London" as +to the appearance, manner, etc., of the French champion, he said, with +much gravity--"Mr. Deschappelles is the greatest chess-player in France; +Mr. Deschappelles is the greatest whist-player in France; Mr. +Deschappelles is the greatest billiard-player in France; Mr. Deschappelles +is the greatest pumpkin-grower in France, and Mr. Deschappelles is the +greatest liar in France." + +A match by correspondence was commenced in 1824, between the London and +Edinburgh Chess Clubs, and was won by the latter. Two games were commenced +simultaneously, the moves being forwarded every night through the +post-office. On one occasion the Londoners sent off three moves at once, +half-an-hour in advance of their usual time; and after the letter was +posted, it was discovered that the last move was founded on a +miscalculation, and might lose the game. Application was immediately made +at the office for the letter to be returned, but such a thing was +impossible without an order from the Secretary of State. A second letter +was thereupon despatched to Edinburgh, retracting the move in question, +but the _cannie_ sons of Auld Reekie held them to their first showing, and +the London Club lost the game in consequence. Shortly afterwards, the +Edinburgh Club made a similar blunder, but they, somehow or other, induced +their postmaster to produce the letter, and they corrected the move on the +outside. Of course the Londoners wouldn't stand that. + +In the spring of 1846, Staunton played and won his match with Harrwitz at +the rooms of the Club, and, in the summer of the same year, he there also +vanquished Harrwitz, in a contest of seven even, seven pawn and move, and +seven pawn and two games. In the latter part of that year, and in the same +locality, Harrwitz and Hörwitz played a match, the former scoring eight +games to his opponent's seven; and, meeting again subsequently, a similar +result was effected. In 1847, the Club entered on a match by +correspondence with the Amsterdam _Cercle des Echecs_, the latter having +sent a challenge of £50 to any London club. One game lasted five years, +and was won by the Englishmen, and a second game was drawn. The Londoners +scored the third, and this game is considered to be one of the finest and +most brilliant contests by correspondence on record. The players selected +by the Club to represent them in this celebrated match were Messrs. +Mongredieu, Slous, Medley, and Greenaway--a glorious quartet, who are now +stronger than ever. + +The London Chess Club did not take part in the Tournament of 1851, because +the St. George's, under the auspices of Mr. Staunton, wished to assume a +position derogatory to their claims; nor was it proper that the oldest and +most influential Club in the United Kingdom should play second-fiddle to a +much younger association. But they gave a cup of the value of one hundred +guineas to be played for by the foreign amateurs then in London, and +Anderssen, Szabs, Zsen, Kling, and Harrwitz were amongst the contestants. +The cup was won by Herr Anderssen. + +In 1852, '53, Harrwitz and Williams played a match at the London Club, the +first-named player winning a large majority of the games. And, finally, on +Paul Morphy's being challenged last year by Herr Löwenthal, this Club, +ever foremost in the interests of chess, doubled the latter's stakes, and +offered the combatants battle-ground for half the games in their saloons. +Nowhere has Paul Morphy met with a heartier English welcome than from the +veterans of this flourishing association. + +Amongst the strongest amateurs now figuring on the muster-roll of the +London Chess Club are those "ancients," Messrs. Slous and George Walker, +and Messrs. Mongredieu, Medley, Maude, Greenaway, and Brien. "May their +shadows never grow less!" + + +THE PHILIDOREAN ROOMS. + +A chess establishment has lately been opened, under the above title, in +Rathbone place, Oxford street, partaking of the peculiar character of the +Divan, in the Strand. The admission, as in the latter, is either by +subscription, or by entrance fee of sixpence, which includes a cup of +coffee or cigar. + +As the Philidorean is too youthful an undertaking to possess a history, I +must confine myself to mentioning some of the principal frequenters, and, +considering the size of the rooms and its age, the establishment may well +be proud of its supporters. The well-known Austrian amateur, Herr +Falkbeer, may be found there daily, with such proficients as Brien, +Zytogorsky, Wormald, Kenny, Healey, and the rising star, Campbell, +together with many others, scarcely less known to fame. As the Philidorean +is centrally situated, in the midst of a very populous and influential +neighborhood, and too far from any similar place of resort, it will +probably hold its own, and become one of the great temples of Caïssa. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +MORPHY IN ENGLAND. + + +It is easy to understand that when a man, and especially a young man, +feels his strength in any department of thought or action, he will be +desirous of putting his abilities to the severest test, so as to take that +rank to which he is entitled. Paul Morphy perceiving that it was a +hopeless task endeavoring to induce the chess magnates of the Old World to +visit America, resolved to cross the Atlantic himself, and it would be +difficult to imagine a more chivalric act in one so young than thus +embarking on a voyage of many thousand miles, for the sake of finding new +antagonists. The journeyings of Il Puttino from Italy into Spain to battle +with Ruy Lopez--the travels of the admirable Crichton through different +countries of Europe, are mediocre in comparison with this. + +But an obstacle stood in the way of the proposed voyage. Paul Morphy was +not yet of age, and it would be necessary to first obtain the consent of +his family. This was difficult, for, in addition to other reasons, +objections were made to our hero's entering on so public a career, +interfering, too, as it would for a time, with his legal pursuits. A +committee was appointed by the Chess Club to wait upon Mr. Morphy's family +to request their consent to the much-desired voyage, and this was +ultimately granted. Strong hopes were entertained in England that the +American champion would assist at the meeting of the British Chess +Association in Birmingham, and, for that purpose, the committee had +offered to place at his disposal a certain sum to cover his expenses. This +was not accepted, Mr. Morphy little wishing to travel as a professional +chess-player. At the commencement of the month of June, the following +announcement appeared in the _Illustrated London News_: + + ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CHESS ASSOCIATION. + + It was noticed in our columns last week that this event, the + Chess-players' Derby day, was fixed to commence on the 22d of + June. The arrangements of the local committee are, of course, + not yet complete, but it is whispered that they have succeeded + in insuring the presence of the American chess phenomenon, Paul + Morphy, an attraction, of itself, sufficient to secure the + largest attendance which has been known for years. + +The date for the assembling of the Association was ultimately postponed +until the latter part of August, it being feared, with reason, that the +sitting of Parliament would interfere with the attendance of many who +would otherwise be present. The committee wrote to inform Mr. Morphy of +this postponement, and again urging him to visit Europe, but he was +already _en route_ before the latter reached New Orleans. + +I was both surprised and gratified when I read the announcement of Paul +Morphy's arrival in the _Illustrated London News_. Now, thought I, these +men who do not believe in an American chess-master, will be convinced. +We'll see if Morphy's games are merely "pretty," and "will not bear the +test of analysis;" and whether "he'll find plenty of matches." I wended my +way to the St. George's, feeling confident that I should find Morphy +there, and, after waiting a short time, I had the pleasure of welcoming +him to England. But, having arisen up from a sick bed to travel, joined to +the fatigues of a first voyage across the Atlantic, he did not appear in +as good fighting trim as when I had last seen him in New York. + +On Mr. Staunton's arrival, Paul Morphy asked him if he had any objection +to play an off-hand game. Now it is Morphy's almost invariable custom to +wait to be asked; the solitary exceptions to this rule (to my knowledge) +being in the cases of Messrs. Staunton and Harrwitz. Mr. Staunton declined +the offer on the ground of an engagement preventing, and, notwithstanding +that they met frequently at the St. George's, he would never consent to a +contest of the most friendly description. Doubtless he was desirous of +first observing Morphy's capabilities against other players. The +well-known amateur, "Alter," whose games frequently grace the columns of +Mr. Staunton's paper, offered himself as a sacrifice. "Alter," however, +was not the first to measure skill with the young American, the Secretary +of the St. George's, Mr. Hampton, having already played two games with +him, on a previous occasion. + +Morphy and "Alter" ultimately effected a score of "Alter" 1, and Morphy 4. +His next antagonist was Mr. Barnes, and the result of their play was, at +first, most surprising. During several successive days they scored +alternate games, and the London chess world consequently measured Morphy's +powers by this antagonist. Ultimately the former recovered from the +effects of his voyage, and the proportion was established of 19 to 7, the +last ten or twelve games being scored by Morphy almost without a break. + +The first challenge which the young American received in London was from +Herr Löwenthal. Morphy says that no one can mention this gentleman's name, +without announcing the fact that he was one of the celebrated triumvirate +in the match between Pesth and Paris. Herr Löwenthal and the 19th century +came arm and arm into the world together, so that he has been contemporary +with many who have gone to another sphere. He was led into chess from +sheer jealousy, not of woman, but of a man. At a _café_ in Pesth, much +frequented by amateurs of the game,--in fact the Magyar Café de la +Régence,--he noticed that a crowd invariably surrounded a certain table +after 4 o'clock in the afternoon; and, on further inquiry, he learned that +the best chess-player in Hungary took upon himself daily to astonish the +natives there. That player was Zsen. Zsen was a clerk in the office of +Archives at Pesth, and, when the business of the day was over, he repaired +to the above-mentioned spot to play chess for a nominal stake, which never +exceeded a _zwanziger_ (sevenpence English). Another peculiarity of his +was, that, no matter what the strength of his opponent might be--queen, +rook, knight, or pawn player--he never would give any odds. His game was +dull, analytical, and sound to a tiresome extent, his only object being to +get through the _opening_ and _middle_, and then winning became a +certainty; for all his strength came out in the _endings_, and a very good +place, too, for it to appear in. Zsen went to Paris in 1831, and played +some games with Labourdonnais at the odds of Pawn and Move, winning the +majority. He then told the great Frenchman that he did not like playing +for stakes as a general thing, but that he would propose to him a match of +twenty-one even games for 200 francs; but Labourdonnais declined. And who +will say he was wrong? for what pleasure could there be in sitting down +day after day before the dullest player in Christendom, for the +eventuality of 200 francs? Zsen was so frightfully slow, even in ordinary +games, that he would have worn out 200 francs' worth of his opponent's +pantaloons before the match was half through. He was an exceedingly +nervous man, and this quality particularly evinced itself during the +Tournament of '51, to the eminent delight of his London friends. But he +was a good-hearted, amiable man, never losing his temper, and ever ready +to declare that he hadn't won the game, but his opponent had lost it. + +We left Zsen over a move at the Pesth café. Herr Löwenthal observing what +interest seemed to be taken in chess, thought he should like to try his +hand at it, and forthwith pored over such works on the game as he was +informed would initiate him into its mysteries. Obtaining a little +knowledge, he soon after began playing daily with Zsen, receiving no odds, +because, as before stated, Zsen would not give any, upon principle. During +eighteen months, Löwenthal never scored one game. But whilst Zsen was away +on his travels at Paris and elsewhere, he made rapid progress, +particularly in the openings; and on his antagonist's return, he induced +him to give the advantage of Pawn and Move, and Zsen lost every game. +Returning to even play, the latter won the large majority; but with +constant practice, Löwenthal decreased the distance between them, although +he never turned the tables upon his adversary. Herr L. considers that, in +their best play, Grimm would win three games to Zsen's seven, and four to +his six. Most chess-players finished Grimm some years back, but he still +flourishes "down East." After the Hungarian agitation of 1848, he fled +into Turkey, and is now settled in Aleppo, where, as he turned Mussulman, +he no doubt revels. + +Grimm was a music publisher in Pesth, and, according to Herr Löwenthal, a +man of high intelligence, being a celebrated _pianist_ and a thorough +proficient in the German, French, Italian, and Latin languages. He was +also renowned as a whist-player, and his equal at the billiard-table was +not to be found throughout the entire Austrian Empire. His chess was the +antithesis of Zsen's, being "brilliant, but not over sound," qualities +which find favor with "the gallery," but are dangerous to one's backers in +a match. This interesting triumvirate--Zsen, Grimm, Löwenthal--had it all +their own way, in Pesth, until July, 1842, when Alexandre came there, and +then they had him too. Alexandre brought his Encyclopædia, or the +Encyclopædia brought him, and both of them got sold in the Hungarian +capital. He thought the idea of anybody there beating him, simply +preposterous; but was irresistibly convinced to the contrary when Grimm & +Co. did it with so much charming facility, that he told them they were a +match for the Paris _Cercle des Echecs_, and advised them to send a +challenge forthwith. The triumvirate were shy at first, then did as they +were told, and, to their surprise, the Paris Club accepted their _défi_ by +return of post, enclosing the first move. The match consisted of two +games, and 1,250 francs a side; the reader can learn, on inquiry at Café +de la Régence in Paris, who didn't win it. + +Herr Löwenthal's business led him twice a year to Vienna, and on those +occasions he improved his play with the amateurs of the _Cercle des +Echecs_ of that capital. In 1846, he won a match of Hampe, beating him +nearly 2 to 1. About the same period he visited Breslau, and won a +majority of games (off-hand) from Anderssen. He then steered for Berlin, +"the city of the seven stars"--Heyderbrandt, Bledow, Bilguer, Hanstein, +Mayet, Hörwitz and Mendheim. The first of these paladins was absent from +the capital, but Herr L. met him subsequently at Vienna, and Heyderbrandt +won a majority of two games. With Hanstein, Löwenthal effected an even +result, but got the better of Mayet. In Von der Lasa's absence, Bledow was +incontestably the strongest player of the club; but Bledow was jealous of +his reputation, and declined opposing the Hungarian, until strongly urged +by the members. Herr Löwenthal states that Bledow evinced the greatest +generosity. Having a certainly-won game, but not wishing to damp a young +reputation by defeat, he said, "Oh, I suppose it can only be a drawn +game," and forthwith made a move which allowed his antagonist to escape +and draw the contest. Not many Bledows in this world! + +In 1849, Herr Löwenthal visited the United States, during the contest +between Messrs. Stanley and Turner. With the latter gentleman he played +two matches, winning both, and subsequently accompanied him into Kentucky, +where he commenced another with Colonel Dudley, being again successful. +Thence he strayed to Cincinnati, where he met his fellow-countryman, +Colonel Pragay, and travelled with him to New Orleans, carrying a letter +of introduction to Mr. Eugene Rousseau. Immediately on arriving he was +taken ill with fever; but on recovery, he called upon that gentleman and +heard, for the first time, of Paul Morphy. Our hero, then but twelve years +of age, won two games, drew one, and lost none; and although Herr +Löwenthal did not imagine that he thus made the acquaintance of a master +whom he would eventually rank as the superior of every chess-player that +ever lived--Labourdonnais not excepted--yet he felt satisfied that his +youthful opponent would rise to equality with the strongest living +amateurs. As proof of this, I will give a paragraph from _The Era_ of +October 5th, 1856, twelve months before Paul Morphy was known outside of +Louisiana. Herr Löwenthal writes as follows: + + "CHESS IN AMERICA.--The progress Chess has made in America is + almost, if not quite, equal to that which it has achieved in + England. This is more than might have been expected; for in a + comparatively new country men may be supposed to be busier and + more restless than in an old one, and it seems to be rather + against probabilities that a game, requiring quiet thought and + study, should have been developed to the same extent as more + bustling amusements in America. Yet that it is so is proved by + the fact that in almost every large town there is a Chess Club, + and many of these clubs are in communication, and play games by + correspondence. Another proof is also to be found in the number + of papers regularly devoting a part of their space to chess, + and giving, as the English chess papers do, well-contested + games, with notes, problems, and chess intelligence. Among the + first in rank of these is the _Albion_, the chess column of + which is, we believe, edited by Mr. Stanley, and among the + latest of the accessions to the chess ranks we observe _Frank + Leslie's Illustrated Paper_. In the first rank of the players + in New York (between which and Philadelphia a correspondence + match is now going on) we may mention Messrs. Stanley, + Sullivan, Thompson, and Perrin. We must pay some _attention to + chess in America if we mean to keep our laurels green_. The men + of the New World are not apt to lag behind when they throw + themselves into any pursuit, and if we do not take care, we may + have the next chess champion from the far west." + +Herr Löwenthal, on quitting the Crescent City, returned to Cincinnati, +where he was induced to settle. He opened a smoking and chess divan, and +was on the high road to fortune, when he received a letter from Mr. +Charles H. Stanley, in New York, enclosing one from Mr. Staunton. This +communication invited Herr Löwenthal to attend the International +Tournament at London, in 1851, and ambition prevailed over cupidity. He, +however, got ousted in the first round of the tournay, his antagonist +being Mr. Williams, but he turned the tables upon that gentleman soon +afterwards, by beating him in a set match. + +When the St. George's Chess Club removed to St. James's street, Herr +Löwenthal was elected secretary out of one hundred and forty candidates, +and officiated in that capacity during four years. "_The Era_" newspaper +commenced a chess column in February, 1854, and he was selected by the +proprietor to conduct it--our readers know with what success. A few months +ago, the _Illustrated News of the World_ announced its intention of +devoting a column weekly to the game, under the direction of Herr +Löwenthal, and he also edits an elementary chess article in the _Family +Herald_. A fair amount of weekly work for one man; especially when his +book labors and frequent play at the London, St. George's, and St. James's +are taken into consideration. The last-named club is his own child, and +promises to become one of the most flourishing in the metropolis. + +Herr Löwenthal did not regard his play with Morphy at New Orleans as any +test of their respective strength, but it was not at all agreeable to his +feelings to have it recorded against him that he was beaten by a boy of +twelve. So, on Paul Morphy's arrival in England, he hastened to challenge +him, and of course a match was immediately agreed upon. It was at first +arranged that the match should be for £50 a side, and the victor he who +first scored seven games, but the challenger possessed so many warm +friends, all of whom wished to have a share in the stakes, that it was +proposed to Morphy to double the amount and increase the number of games +to nine. It is lucky that Morphy was not born a woman, for he never says +"no" to any proposition, and he did not to this. Half of Herr Löwenthal's +stakes were found by the London, and the remainder by members of the St. +George's; and it was stipulated that the games should be played +alternately at the rooms of those two clubs. + +My readers know the result. According to the opinion, or rather the +statements, of numerous London players, Herr Löwenthal played much below +his usual strength--one gentleman stating that his combinations were +unworthy of a rook-player even. I was used to this, and liked it. The New +Yorkers had uttered similar stuff, saying that Morphy only beat them +because he knew the openings better, and I can state on authority that all +the players in Europe came to a mutual understanding not to play their +game when Morphy was their antagonist. But there was also another reason +for the latter's success. He frightened his adversaries, not by his +strength, but by his personal appearance. This boy of twenty-one, five +feet four inches in height, of slim figure, and face like a young girl in +her teens, positively appalled the chess warriors of the old +world--Narcissus defying the Titans. Herr Löwenthal was the first to give +Morphy his due; before the final game in the match was played, he said to +me: "I felt chagrined at the result of the first one or two games, because +I thought that I ought to have won them; but now I feel no longer +dissatisfied, for I am convinced that I am vanquished by superior +strength." And he has since told me--"After the first game I went home +saying to myself, 'Well, Morphy is not so terrible after all!' The second +_partie_ failed to change my opinion; but, in the third, I saw all my +combinations twisted and turned against me, and I felt myself in a grasp +against which it was almost vain to struggle." Chess-players will shortly +see this noble-minded gentleman's opinion of Morphy fully expressed, in a +collection of the latter's games which he has lately been engaged in +editing. + +The following extract from _The Era_ newspaper thus announces the result +of the match to its readers: + + FINISH OF THE GREAT CHESS MATCH. + + The match between Mr. Paul Morphy and Herr Löwenthal came to an + end on Saturday the 22d, the American carrying the victory. + Although it was universally remarked that Herr Löwenthal's play + was far below his usual strength, it must at the same time be + admitted that the play of Mr. Morphy marks that gentleman out + as one of the finest players in the world. We shall be glad to + see him engage with other great European players, in order that + it may be proved which is the stronger in the game, the Old + World or the New. We believe Mr. Morphy is ready to challenge + all comers. There is something exceedingly romantic and + chivalrous about this young man's coming over to Europe and + throwing down the gauntlet to all our veterans. He is certainly + a very admirable Crichton of Chess, and, like the accomplished + Scot, he is as courteous and generous as he is brave and + skilful. + + _The Era_, August 29th, 1858. + +When the above match was only about half through, another was arranged +between our hero and "Alter," the former giving the odds of Pawn and Move. +In conversation one day with some gentlemen at the St. George's, Paul +Morphy had expressed himself dissatisfied with "Alter's" having won a +game from him, stating that he could give him the odds of Pawn and Move. +This coming to "Alter's" ears, he stated to Mr. Hampton, the secretary of +the Club, that he felt confident Mr. Morphy could do no such thing, and +that he would very willingly play a match with him, in a friendly spirit, +to convince him to the contrary. Whereupon Mr. Hampton brought the cartel +to Morphy, who gladly accepted it, and, the two principals being put face +to face, it was agreed that a set of ivory club-size Staunton chessmen +should become the property of the winner of the first five games. Now +"Alter" had been playing for months past at those odds (P. & M.) with Mr. +Staunton, holding his own against that gentleman, and he considered that +if he (Mr. S.) could not beat him, certainly Morphy could not. So +confident was he of the result, that he told the young American: "Were it +not for my position (meaning as a clergyman), I would willingly play you +for a thousand pounds." As far as he was concerned, Morphy, too, was +confident. Before the contest commenced, he said to me: "'Alter' may win +two games, but he will not win more;" and I would here notice his (M.'s) +power of estimating an opponent's strength. When the preliminaries were +settled with Herr Löwenthal, he stated to me: "If I cared about betting, I +would bet that Löwenthal does not win five games. Of course there will be +plenty of draws, but he will not get more than four." On our way to Paris, +he said: "Well, now I am going to play Harrwitz, and I would bet the same +as I did about Löwenthal;" and when he was preparing to meet Anderssen, he +awarded four games to the Prussian champion. In every instance he +overrated his opponents, or, perhaps I should rather say, underrated +himself. + +The preliminaries were soon settled, all ceremony, seconds, &c., being +dispensed with; the only condition, that I can recollect, was in regard to +smoking. "Alter" observed that gentlemen could use the weed in the room +where the match was played, but it must be in moderation, so as not to +render the atmosphere insupportable. "Alter" gave a capital example on the +first game: he sat down in front of Morphy with an ordinary cigar in his +mouth; when that was nearly finished, he ordered the waiter to bring him a +full-sized _regalia_; cutty-pipe and "birdseye" followed the _regalia_; +and then he left the room to fetch an immense _meerschaum_, from which he +blew clouds worthy of Peter Stuyvesant and the Knickerbockers. + +"Alter" was thoroughly acquainted with the peculiar nature of the "pawn +and move" game; Morphy, on the contrary, was less accustomed to those odds +than to any other. In New Orleans, he did not engage even players, or any, +in fact, but such as he gave the knight, and much more frequently, the +rook. In New York he played a short match at pawn and move with Mr. +Stanley, and that may be considered his introduction to such odds; I was +therefore as much astonished as any one when I saw him make such short +work of "Alter," who never won a single game, and only succeeded in +drawing two. I am afraid that this result seriously interfered with Mr. +Staunton's fixing a day for the commencement of the match between himself +and Morphy. + +It must not be supposed that our hero was devoting all his time to chess, +or that the game was always uppermost in his thoughts. A foreigner, and +especially an American, feels bound to visit all "the lions" of the +English metropolis, and Morphy was no exception to the rule. I was almost +constantly with him, and certainly no subject was less frequently referred +to than chess. I have been amused with the conduct of gentlemen on similar +occasions, who seemed to think that no other subject than that could +interest him, and after pertinaciously confining the conversation to the +game, took upon themselves to declare that it was the single thought of +his life. So that, in England, he is looked upon as a chess automaton. In +France they give him the very opposite character, complaining of his +aversion for the game. + +Precisely the same thing was observable in their references to the +peculiar style of his play. In England, they considered him the very +_beau-ideal_ of brilliancy, comparing him to McDonnel, and to "Cochrane, +without his faults." In Paris, however, they characterized his game as +"_solide_, close, and analytical, not possessing brilliance like +Labourdonnais;" although these Frenchmen, one and all, with the exception +of De Rivière, forced their close openings upon him. + +Since Mr. Staunton's voluntary relinquishment of what he terms "actual +play," confining himself to consultation games and "odds," Mr. Boden is +admitted to be the best English player. The B's certainly form a strong +phalanx amongst London amateurs, numbering such names as Buckle, Boden, +Barnes, Brien, Bird; but the first-named gentleman has long since quitted +the lists. Mr. Boden was no exception to the rule of English players in +their opinion of Morphy, on the latter's arriving in Europe; but he was +one of the first to be convinced of the American's superiority, and, with +John Bull honesty, immediately avowed it. The admirably-conducted chess +column in _The Field_, is under his supervision; and his remarks therein +on Morphy's tactics are too well known to require any comment from me. I +have heard him state his conviction that no one could possibly be better +adapted for the game, whether physically or mentally; and he, too, like +Herr Löwenthal, ranks Morphy above all known players. In the month of +January last, he drew my attention to one game in particular, between our +hero and Anderssen, stating that he was satisfied "Labourdonnais would +have lost it ten times over." Now it requires great courage on the part of +any man to place a player beside Labourdonnais, much more above him. Herr +Löwenthal says that he does not wonder that the chess world is so backward +in giving Morphy the rank to which he is entitled; "but few players are +capable of appreciating his games, and it was only after careful analysis +that he could form a proper opinion of them." He assured me that he has +frequently been confounded at the depth of Morphy's combinations whilst +engaged in their work, expressing his firm conviction that when a +collection of his games shall be placed before the public, the chess world +will rank Morphy above all players, living or dead. + +The proportion in which Morphy had beaten Mr. Boden was so great, namely, +five to one, that a prominent member of the St. George's remarked on +hearing it, "Well, I did not think any player living could win in such +proportion." I remember a similar occurrence in reference to Mr. Perrin, +the late secretary of the New York Chess Club, some weeks before the +appearance of Paul Morphy in that city. In answer to a friend, this +gentleman replied, "That is the same as saying that a player could give +any of us a piece," (meaning the principal members of his club, who were +considered about on a par with each other.) "Now, I don't think that +Labourdonnais, even, could give me the knight." Morphy, nevertheless, +after beating him at even, at pawn and move, and pawn and two, offered him +the knight, which was accepted "for trial's sake;" and out of five games +there was a difference of the odd victory, but my memory fails me as to +whether it was won by Morphy or not. Mr. Perrin will not feel displeased +at my mentioning this fact, because it is pretty well conceded now, that +where any other player can give pawn and two moves, Morphy can very easily +give the knight. European celebrities, in making comparison of the +strength of different amateurs, leave Morphy out of the question; and when +they compare him at all, it is only with Labourdonnais. And very few of +them, too, would scruple at taking odds from him. On the publication of +his challenge to Mr. Harrwitz to play a match at pawn and move for 500 +francs, Mr. Boden stated in _The Field_, "There is more than one English +player who will be glad to meet Mr. Morphy on these terms." + +The majority of his games in London, Morphy played at the Divan. It was a +general subject of regret, after he had vanquished the different amateurs +in the capital, that Mr. Bird was absent in the North, and that the +American might leave before that gentleman could visit London. Mr. Bird is +a terrible fellow for attacking right and left; his game was described as +the counterpart of Morphy's, it being added that he was just the +antagonist our hero required. At last, Mr. Bird arrived, and the result +between the two was more startling than ever, Morphy winning ten to one. +It is but just to state that Mr. Bird was somewhat out of play, as he +himself observed; adding, however, that he never was a match for his +antagonist. It gives me much pleasure to relate such instances as these, +because, as a general rule, there are no more self-confident mortals than +prominent chess-players. + +It would be difficult to remember all the men with whom Morphy played at +the Divan; or, rather, with whom he did not play. But I must not forget +that merry individual, Mr. Lowe. It was in the Divan that Mr. Staunton +played Mr. Lowe that celebrated match at pawn and move, the play in which +on both sides, as Mr. S. observed, "was unworthy of second-rate players in +a third-rate coffee-room," because Mr. Staunton was beaten. Since that +occasion, Mr. Staunton has slighted the Divan, but Mr. Lowe still +flourishes there, ever ready to meet all comers, and if not nightly +playing somebody, at all events nightly making everybody laugh. Mr. Lowe +made trial of Morphy privately, immediately on the latter's arrival, and +forthwith ran to the Divan to tell everybody, much to everybody's disgust, +that not one of them would have any chance against the American. They all +laughed at him, the only reply being, "Oh, Lowe, you're a funny fellow!" + +Before the Birmingham meeting, Morphy had met all the leading Metropolitan +players, with, of course, the exception of Mr. Staunton. And yet perhaps I +should not except that gentleman, for our hero had played in two +consultation games with him, Mr. S.'s ally being "Alter," and Morphy's, +Mr. Barnes. Messrs. Barnes and "Alter" are well matched. Both of these +consultation games were won by Messrs. Barnes and Morphy. + +As the latter part of the month of August approached, considerable +curiosity was evinced in various quarters as to whether Paul Morphy would +then be a contestant in the tournament. Although not a Yankee, he +nevertheless displayed as much "cuteness" under oft-repeated +interrogatories as the downiest "down Easter;" feeling what an important +bearing his determination would have upon the expected match with Mr. +Staunton. In a subsequent chapter will be found his reasons for not +entering the lists on that occasion. He was well aware that his decision +must necessarily produce considerable disappointment, but he was conscious +that a tournament triumph is by no means an accurate test of strength. If +chess can ever become a game of chance, it is under such circumstances; +and the only sure criterion of the respective strengths of two opponents +is by actual hand-to-hand encounter. + +But Morphy did not intend disappointing the Birmingham gentry altogether, +and felt convinced that if he played six or eight games blindfold before +the association, they would pardon his absence at the opening of the +meeting. After the tournament had got into the second section, he left +London and arrived at Birmingham before the day's proceedings had fully +commenced. I had the pleasure of accompanying him, and on our arrival at +the College in which the meeting of the British Chess Association was +held, we found quite a crowd in the commodious rooms provided by the +Committee of Management. The President of the Birmingham Club, Mr. Avery, +introduced the young American to the members of the association, and the +cheers with which he was received were such as seldom come from others +than Englishmen. Morphy advanced up the room without the slightest +embarrassment, although his reception was as unlooked-for as it was +flattering. Saint Amant, who was present, wrote a brilliant account of the +meeting to the Paris journal _Le Sport_, and I am only sorry that I have +not the article in question by me at the present moment. The style of the +article, however, is indelibly fixed in my memory, reminding one of the +Lays of the old Troubadours. Saint Amant writes prose in poetry, and he +has made of Morphy an epic hero. He tells the Parisians that the young +American is no mere pale-faced boy, visiting foreign lands to increase his +powers; but "a citizen of the United States, who comes to claim a sceptre +in Europe." Then again, "his walk is that of a king, and he advances +through the crowd of strangers like a monarch receiving homage from his +court." But he does not forget to state that Morphy is innately modest, +and that all this admiration has no bad effect upon him; for such has been +the theme of every one who has been brought in contact with him. + +Most of the principal players in England were assembled at Birmingham, in +August, 1858. Amongst them, Staunton, Löwenthal, Boden, Bird, Kipping, +Owen, Salmon, Avery, Hampton, the President of the Association, Lord +Lyttelton, Falkbeer, Brien, etc. The prominent feature of the meeting was +of course the tournament prizes of sixty and twenty guineas, for which +Messrs. Staunton, Löwenthal, St. Amant, Falkbeer, Kipping, Owen, Hughes, +Brien, Smith, Ingleby, Bird, Zsabo, Hampton, Brettlestone, and Salmon +contended. The sixteenth player was intended to be Morphy, but not +appearing in time, he was ruled to have lost all further share in the +contest. It was matter for much disappointment that Mr. Boden did not +enter the lists, especially after the gallant fight he had made at the +previous meeting of the association in Manchester. The final result was +that Herr Löwenthal carried off the first prize, and Herr Falkbeer the +second; and, so far as the former gentleman was concerned, almost every +player was both astonished and gratified at the _dénouement_. It was only +during the week preceding the Birmingham Festival, that the Hungarian had +succumbed to his youthful antagonist, and he had consequently entered on a +fresh contest with all the disheartening recollections of defeat; a +defeat, too, which he expressed his belief had seriously damaged his chess +reputation. Prominent London players had criticized his games with Morphy +in an inconsiderate spirit, the almost universal statement being that he +had not played up to any thing like his usual strength. The criticisms on +his moves in the widely circulated columns of the _Illustrated London +News_ were cruel to a degree; slighting allusions being made to his +"bookish theoric," etc. Yet this old veteran goes down to the field of +battle with unshaken courage, wins two games, one after the other, from +Mr. Staunton in the second section of the tournay, and carries off the +first prize in the teeth of fourteen able competitors. This result proved +one thing beyond a doubt, namely, that Morphy's late triumph was the +consequence of his superior strength, and not from mere want of practice +and skill on the part of Herr Löwenthal. And it also verified the +observation of Mr. George Walker, in _Bell's Life_, that "Mr. Morphy beat +Mr. Löwenthal because Mr. Morphy was stronger than Mr. Löwenthal." Oh, Mr. +Walker! Mr. Walker! what a rude way you have of putting naked truths +before the public! + +Of course Morphy was not allowed to twirl his thumbs in idleness, +especially with so energetic a master of the ceremonies as Mr. Avery. This +gentleman soon arranged a contest between our hero and Mr. Kipping, the +leading Manchester player, and exponent of the Evans' Gambit. Mr. K. had +the move, and played the opening he has so much at heart; Morphy accepted, +under the impression that he, too, knew something about the Evans'. First +game scored by the American, the Manchester amateur thirsting for revenge. +Morphy, in his turn, plays the Evans', and Mr. Kipping cries "enough." No +other single games were played by Morphy during the meeting, the leading +celebrities present being engaged in the tournament, but our hero made up +the difference by astonishing the natives with a display of his blindfold +powers. + +When Morphy declared his intention, in London, to play eight games +without sight of the board, there were very few who believed the thing +possible. They knew that Labourdonnais and Philidor had played two or +three games simultaneously, and that Kieseritzky and Harrwitz had repeated +the performance in later times, but there was a wide leap from three to +eight antagonists. Harrwitz had earned a great reputation in Europe by his +blindfold prowess, and was regarded without a rival, although many other +players, such as Anderssen, De Rivière, etc., had occasionally met two or +three antagonists at a time. Here was "a coil;" this young champion of the +West, not satisfied with vanquishing all the chess veterans of England +over the board, prepares to cast for ever into the shade the most +astonishing performances of this and past ages. Well might Saint Amant +declare that it was enough to make the bones of Philidor and Labourdonnais +rattle in their graves! + +I well remember Paul Morphy's first blindfold contest in New York. It was +on the occasion of Paulsen's playing against four antagonists without +sight of the board. Morphy offered to be one of his adversaries, and to +meet him on the same conditions; and somewhere about the twentieth move he +announced mate in five, much to Paulsen's astonishment, who did not think +the crash was so near, although well aware he was "going to the bad." Mr. +Paulsen got such an insight into Morphy's blindfold capabilities, that he +subsequently observed to me, "Mr. Morphy can play as many games, without +seeing the board, as I can, only he is so unwilling to lose a game." + +It will here be well to mark the difference between the blindfold +performances of these two gentlemen. Both of them _see the boards_ in the +mind's eye equally well, but there the resemblance stops. Paulsen's +contests average fifty moves, whereas Morphy's seldom extend beyond +thirty. The former is a _balista_, the latter, a rifle bullet. What each +is over the board, he is with his back turned to it, and there are many +even in Europe who maintain that Morphy's blindfold feats are more +brilliant than his usual mode of play. Paul Morphy, however, attaches very +little importance to these displays, calling them mere _tours de force_, +notwithstanding that they appear so wonderful to the multitude. To quote a +favorite expression of his, one frequently used by him in speaking on the +subject--"It proves nothing." + +A young gentleman has lately appeared somewhere in Germany, who, we are +informed, has reproduced Morphy's performances at Birmingham and Paris. In +fact he is represented to have precisely re-enacted the American's victory +in the French capital, playing against eight _strong_ antagonists, winning +from six and drawing from two. There seems some "method" in this; at least +I for one cannot help feeling suspicious, especially as the news is +heralded to the world in connection with Morphy's name. I have seen one of +the games played on the occasion, in which this young gentleman announces +mate in ten or twelve moves--an astonishing announcement, indeed, under +the circumstances. The whole affair is beautifully managed throughout, +and, whether played blindfolded or over the board, marks the player as an +amateur of the very highest order. Was the transaction _bona fide_? Now I +do not wish to depreciate any man for the sake of benefiting another. +_Palmam qui meruit, ferat._ We know that Morphy has played against eight +antagonists on two separate and most public occasions, and that the most +eminent players in England and France were witnesses of his performance. +If Germany does possess a second Morphy, let him step forward and prove +his identity, and I, for one, will do him reverence. Cannot that +responsible body, the Berlin Chess Club, tell us something tangible about +him, and why it is that we never heard any thing about him till now? +Perhaps he is a new Deschappelles, and has acquired chess in forty-eight +hours, on hearing of Morphy's feats. The Berlin Schackzeitung can surely +investigate this affair, and enlighten us on what seems very much like a +_ruse de guerre_--an invention of the enemy. + +But let us return to Birmingham. Mr. Avery asked the young American what +eight antagonists he would select; when the latter replied that it was +immaterial to him, but that he should prefer all strong players. There +were then in the room Messrs. Staunton, Saint Amant, Löwenthal, Boden, +Falkbeer, Brien, and others of not much inferior strength, and Morphy was +in hopes that many, if not all, of these gentlemen would offer themselves +as opponents. But he was mistaken, and great difficulty was experienced by +the Committee of Management in making up the required eight, who were, +finally, as follows: Lord Lyttelton, President of the British Chess +Association, Rev. Mr. Salmon, the strongest Irish player, Messrs. Kipping, +Avery, Wills, Rhodes, Carr, and Dr. Freeman. Paul Morphy was put up in a +corner at the end of the room, and, every thing being prepared for action, +he threw open his portholes and gave the signal, "Pawn to King's Fourth on +all the boards." + +Of course I am not going to mystify the general reader with the scientific +details of the contest. I know that Lord Lyttelton had the first board, +and received the deference due to his exalted rank, by being the first put +_hors du combat_, and I remarked, too, that after his lordship had decided +on his various moves, he would get up from his seat, walk towards the end +of the room, and contemplate Morphy, as though desirous of seeing how he +did it. And I know, too, that St. Amant was running from table to table, +giving advice to one and the other with his continual "Il va croquer ça," +as an intimation that one or the other must look out for a pawn or piece +in danger. And then, too, Morphy kept on checking Mr. Avery's king by +moving his rook from the seventh square to the eighth, backwards and +forwards, until that estimable gentleman declared it was a drawn game, +when a bystander horrified him with the information--"That is only after +fifty moves; Morphy will keep you there until he has kiboshed the others, +and then he will honor you with his sole attention." But the game was +finally declared drawn. + +And, at the finish, how everybody applauded when Morphy arose, the +vanquisher of six, having only lost the game with Mr. Kipping--through an +oversight at the beginning. And how everybody was astonished when he +stepped from his seat as fresh as a newly plucked daisy, and Mr. Staunton +examined him closely to find traces of fatigue. Then indeed his not +playing in the tournament was forgiven and forgotten. + +Then there was the soirée, and the capital matter-of-fact address of Lord +Lyttelton. His lordship lauded Morphy to the skies, both for his blindfold +and other play, and referred to the match with Mr. Staunton, trusting that +Morphy would beat every other antagonist but that gentleman. Nothing more +now remained to be done in England for some months to come; and Morphy +returned to London, to prepare for his campaigns on the Continent. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE STAUNTON AFFAIR. + + +We must anticipate the events of a few months, in order to place the +discussion with Mr. Staunton where it properly belongs, viz., with +Morphy's achievements in England. I do not think I have omitted a single +fact or incident connected with an affair which has now become history, +and my readers will agree with me that Mr. Staunton has suffered a far +worse defeat by not playing the match than if he had been vanquished, as +everybody says he would have been. + +In dealing with this most delicate question, I feel desirous of letting +facts, as far as possible, speak for themselves; but as it is the province +and the duty of historians to seek the causes of events and to criticize +the actions of their _dramatis personæ_, I shall record, in all honesty +and kindliness, what I believe to have been the motives at work in this +contest. And, in order that nothing may remain unsaid, I shall give all +the correspondence on the subject, both _pro_ and _con_. + +Paul Morphy's principal object in coming to Europe was to play a match +with Mr. Staunton. I am well aware that a young gentleman travelling for +the first time in foreign countries must have many objects in view; but in +this particular case, the pretext for the voyage, the very inducement for +his friends to consent to his journey, was to repeat that challenge +personally, in England, which Mr. Staunton had declined, on the ground of +the place of combat not being in Europe. It is necessary that this point +should be understood, because much of the controversy hinges upon it. If +we examine the challenge addressed to Mr. Staunton by the New Orleans +Chess Club, we find therein two main ideas: 1stly. That Mr. Staunton is a +representative of European chess. 2ndly. That American players challenge +him to combat with their representative. Mr. Staunton's reply raised but +one objection; and that objection led Paul Morphy across the Atlantic, in +order to remove the only stumbling-block in the way of the contest. + +I was constantly with Morphy after his arrival in London, and a frequent +subject of conversation between us was the match with Mr. Staunton. That, +too, was the first, the principal topic at all the London Clubs we +visited, and every thing but the date was looked upon as decided. Mr. +Staunton, however, had not, as yet, stated explicitly that he accepted the +challenge, but he did so _viva voce_ shortly after Mr. Morphy's arrival, +and subsequently, in the _Illustrated London News_. + +It seems as if Mr. Staunton had refrained from accepting the _défi_ until +a somewhat accurate estimate could be formed of his challenger's strength. +Previously to the latter's arrival, Mr. S.'s opinion of him was not at all +equal to that entertained by his countrymen in America, nor did any player +in England give him the rank which he now holds. There were no means by +which to judge of his force. Not a dozen of his games _all told_ had been +seen in Europe, and his antagonists were comparatively unknown, with the +exception of Mr. Charles H. Stanley. But that gentleman had, for some +years, withdrawn from the chess arena, and his play with Morphy did not, +certainly, equal his former exploits with Rousseau and Schulten. It was, +therefore, absolutely necessary to await the result of his play with some +known European antagonist; and I feel confident that the stature of his +ability was measured on his first twelve or fifteen games with Mr. Barnes. +Judging from these _parties_, Paul Morphy was little, if any thing, +superior to that gentleman, but time had not been allowed him to recover +from the fatigues of his voyage, and I have always remarked that +travelling, even by rail, seriously deteriorates Morphy's game. + +In accepting the challenge, Mr. Staunton postponed the commencement of the +match for a month, "in order to brush up his openings and endings." This +was too reasonable for Morphy to decline. Subsequently, as will be seen by +the latter's correspondence, Mr. Staunton obtained a postponement until +after the Birmingham meeting, in August. In the mean time, the young +American had won the match with Herr Löwenthal, beaten "Alter" in a set +contest at "pawn and move," and startled the chess community by the +imposing manner in which he had triumphed over every opponent. Public +opinion had changed in respect to him. This was evinced by the way in +which the London players, almost universally, spoke of the proposed match. +I have heard gentlemen at the London Chess Club, the Divan, nay, even at +the St. George's, declare repeatedly--"Mr. Staunton now knows too well +what antagonist he will have to deal with. Depend upon it, he will find +means of backing out." This language, repeated at every turn, necessarily +caused Paul Morphy some anxiety. On myself, however, I can conscientiously +declare it had no effect. I did not believe it possible that any man +having so publicly accepted a challenge, would attempt to avoid a contest, +and expressed this opinion to Mr. Morphy, "It will be well not to accept +all that one hears. Mr. Staunton has numerous enemies; do not allow +yourself to be prejudiced by them, but look upon his acceptance of the +challenge as a certainty that the match will come off." + +With yet unshaken confidence in Mr. Staunton's intention to play, Paul +Morphy addressed him a short note, ten days prior to the Birmingham +meeting; to this he received a somewhat lengthy reply, the main point in +it being that Mr. Staunton still required "a few weeks" for preparation. +Morphy responded forthwith, entirely removing all ground for further +excuse by "leaving the terms to himself." Here was an unjustifiable mode +of putting an end to diplomacy! Mr. S. could not continue a correspondence +with one so overwhelmingly courteous, and he left London for Birmingham +without even acknowledging the receipt of the letter. + +Much argument has been built up against Paul Morphy on his non-appearance +in the tournament, and one writer has endeavored to prove from it that he +was afraid to meet Mr. Staunton. Before leaving London, the latter +gentleman assured his young opponent _that he should not enter the lists, +but should confine himself to simple consultation games_. Why Mr. S. +changed his mind, it is not for me to say; although I might argue that Mr. +Staunton sallied forth courageously when he was certain that "Achilles +keeps his tent." However, Paul Morphy's first reason for not entering the +tournay was that, his main object being to meet Mr. Staunton, and that +gentleman having stated his intention of confining himself to a mere +consultation game, as in past years, there was no chance of their crossing +swords, and, consequently, no use of his spending two or three weeks in a +contest which never could be a decisive test of skill. But, when repeated +telegrams assured him that the English champion had decided on becoming a +contestant, there were still stronger reasons for his continued +declination. These reasons were the consequences of Mr. Staunton's own +acts, added to the opinion of nearly every London player, that that +gentleman was seeking an opportunity to evade the match. All these +occurrences had somewhat shaken Mr. Morphy's faith, and he could not but +be suspicious of his antagonist's movements. _He therefore declined +positively and finally to enter the tournament, under the belief that, +whether he won or lost in that contest, it would be equally to the +prejudice of the challenge. Mr. Staunton might say, "I have beaten Morphy; +what is the use of further contest?" or "He has beaten me, I am +consequently out of play. It would be madness to attempt a set match."_ +This, and this only, prevented Paul Morphy from visiting Birmingham at the +commencement of the tournament. Had he gone there when requested, every +influence would have been brought to bear to induce him to alter his +determination, and he merely consulted the interests of the contest he had +so much at heart, by keeping out of temptation until the tournament was +too far under way to admit of his entering it. + +But the meeting of the association afforded an admirable opportunity to +obtain from Mr. Staunton the naming of the day on which the match should +commence. Part of the proceedings of the anniversary was a public soirée, +and Paul Morphy resolved that he would then ask his antagonist, in the +face of all present, to fix the date. I had the pleasure of accompanying +our hero to Birmingham, and I witnessed the disagreeable _contre temps_ +which upset this admirable intention. Crossing the courtyard of the +college on the morning of the soirée, we met Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Staunton, +Mr. Avery, and, I think, Mr. Wills. Now I do not know whether Mr. Staunton +had got wind of what was to occur, but his action certainly frustrated +Morphy's plan, and, for the moment, gave him the advantage. In all such +rencontres the man who gets the first word has the attack, and Mr. +Staunton instantly availed himself of it. He opened fire by declaring that +he was entirely out of play--that he had long been engaged on a great +work--that he was under bonds to his publishers accordingly--that he might +subject them to a loss of many thousands in playing at the present time, +and so forth. But he never stated aught that appeared to intimate the +possibility of the match not coming off eventually, his plea being that he +required further time, in order to put sufficient matter into the hands of +the printers, and to prepare himself subsequently for the contest. It was +now Morphy's turn, and the attack changed hands. The question was put: +"Mr. Staunton, will you play in October, in November, or December? Choose +your own time, but let the arrangement be final." The answer was: "Well, +Mr. Morphy, if you will consent to the postponement, I will play you at +the beginning of November. I will see my publishers, and let you know the +exact date within a few days." The association now looked upon the affair +as decided, and Morphy left Birmingham, firmly believing that the match +would come off after all. + +On the 28th of August, within a few days of the above conversation, the +following extraordinary announcement appeared in the _Illustrated London +News_: + + A SPECIMEN OF MR. STAUNTON'S STYLE OF PLAY. + + ANTI-BOOK.--As you surmise, "knowing the authority," the slang + of the sporting paper in question regarding the proposed + encounter between Mr. Staunton and the young American is + "bunkum." In matches of importance it is the invariable + practice in this country, before any thing definite is settled, + for each party to be provided with representatives to arrange + the terms and money for the stakes. Mr. Morphy has come here + unfurnished in both respects; and, although both will no doubt + be forthcoming in due time, it is clearly impossible, until + they are, that any determinate arrangement can be made. 2. The + statement of another contemporary that the reduction in the + amount of stakes from £1000 aside to £500 was made at the + suggestion of the English amateur is equally devoid of truth; + the proposal to reduce the amount having been made by Mr. + Morphy. + +I was perfectly astonished when I read this statement. "Mr. Morphy had +caused the stakes to be reduced from £1000 to £500 a side." Without +mentioning Englishmen, there were Americans in London and Paris who +asserted that Morphy could be backed against Mr. Staunton _for £10,000, +and the money be raised within twenty-four hours_. I mentioned this fact +to a noble lady in Paris, in order to show the confidence in which the +young American was held, and she replied, "Oh, as regards that, you may +tell Mr. Morphy from me, that for £10,000 against Mr. Staunton or any +player in Europe, he must not go further than my house." + +I asked Morphy to demand an immediate retraction of the unblushing +statements contained in the above paragraph, but he replied--"When a man +resorts to such means as these, he will not stop until he has committed +himself irremediably. Let him go on." Shortly after that Mr. Staunton +changed his tactics. Let not the reader suppose I am about to represent +things otherwise than they appear on the record. Let him take up the files +of the _Illustrated London News_ from the time of Morphy's arrival in +England to his match with Harrwitz; let him examine the analysis of the +games, the notes to the moves in that paper, and he will invariably +perceive that the American's antagonists _could_ or _might have_ won, the +necessary inference being--"There's nothing so extraordinary about +Morphy's play, after all." A change appeared in the criticism on the eight +blindfold games at Birmingham, but, then, Morphy stood alone, and +interfered with no one's pretensions. When, however, the match with +Harrwitz came off, Mr. Staunton's tone was suddenly altered, and this +gentleman who, previously, had scarcely a word of commendation for Morphy, +now talked of "combinations which would have excited the admiration of +Labourdonnais." + + "The force of 'language' could no further go." + +Mr. Morphy judged from this unexpected change of tone that Mr. Staunton +either believed that these contests with continental players would take +up so much of his time in Europe, that he would have to leave without +playing him; or that Mr. S. was experimenting on the maxim--"There are +more flies caught with honey than with vinegar." He therefore addressed +him the following letter, and in order that the public might no longer be +under misapprehension as to the case in hand, he sent copies of the +communication to those papers which had shown him marked kindness in +Europe. At the suggestion of a very shrewd and attached American friend, a +copy was also forwarded to the editor-in-chief of the _Illustrated London +News_. + +The publication of the letter to Mr. Staunton, in so many journals, was a +judicious proceeding. Newspapers are not fond of embarking in a discussion +which may probably "draw its slow length along," and terminate angrily. +Besides, whatever the feeling might be on the merits of the case, Mr. +Staunton was certainly in the position of English champion, and John Bull +does not like it to be proclaimed that one of his sons shows the "white +feather." But, at the same time, rivalry exists between all journals as to +precedence of news, and one paper would not willingly be behind the others +in giving Morphy's letter. Accordingly, the following Saturday, _Bell's +Life_, _The Era_, _The Field_, and the _Sunday Times_ published it as +follows: + + MORPHY'S LETTER TO STAUNTON. + + CAFE DE LA REGENCE, PARIS, _Oct. 6, '58_. + + HOWARD STAUNTON, ESQ.: + + SIR,--On my arrival in England, three months since, I renewed + the challenge to you personally which the New Orleans Chess + Club had given some months previously. You immediately + accepted, but demanded a month's delay in order to prepare + yourself for the contest. Subsequently, you proposed that the + time should be postponed until after the Birmingham meeting, to + which I assented. On the approach of the period you had fixed, + I addressed you a communication, requesting that the necessary + preliminaries might be immediately settled, but you left London + without replying to it. I went to Birmingham for the express + purpose of asking you to put a stop to further delay by fixing + a date for the opening of our match; but before the opportunity + presented itself you came to me, and, in the presence of Lord + Lyttelton, Mr. Avery, and other gentlemen, you stated that your + time was much occupied in editing a new edition of Shakespeare, + and that you were under heavy bonds to your publishers + accordingly. But you reiterated your intention to play me, and + said that if I would consent to a further postponement until + the first week in November, you would, within a few days, + communicate with me and fix the exact date. I have not heard + further from you, either privately, by letter, or through the + columns of the _Illustrated London News_. + + A statement appeared in the chess department of that journal a + few weeks since, that "Mr. Morphy had come to Europe unprovided + with backers or seconds," the inference being obvious that my + want of funds was the reason of our match not taking place. As + you are the editor of that department of the _Illustrated + London News_, I felt hurt that a gentleman who had always + received me at his club and elsewhere with great kindness and + courtesy, should allow so prejudicial a statement to be made in + reference to me--one, too, which is not strictly in accordance + with fact. + + Permit me to repeat what I have invariably declared in every + chess community I have had the honor of entering, that I am not + a professional player--that I never wished to make any skill I + possess the means of pecuniary advancement--and that my earnest + desire is never to play for any stake but honor. My friends in + New Orleans, however, subscribed a certain sum, without any + countenance from me, and that sum has been ready for you to + meet a considerable time past. Since my arrival in Paris I have + been assured by numerous gentlemen that the value of those + stakes can be immediately increased to any amount; but, for + myself personally, reputation is the only incentive I + recognize. + + The matter of seconds cannot, certainly, offer any difficulty. + I had the pleasure of being first received in London by the St. + George's Chess Club, of which you are so distinguished a + member; and of those gentlemen I request the honor of + appointing my seconds, to whom I give full authority in + settling all preliminaries. + + In conclusion, I beg leave to state that I have addressed a + copy of this letter to the editors of the _Illustrated London + News_, _Bell's Life in London_, _The Era_, _The Field_, and + _The Sunday Times_, being desirous that our true position + should no longer be misunderstood by the community at large. + Again requesting you to fix the date for our commencing the + match, + + I have the honor to remain, sir, + Your very humble servant, + PAUL MORPHY. + +[Illustration: MR. STAUNTON. MR. BODEN. HERR LÖWENTHAL.] + +At the same time Mr. Morphy forwarded the following communication to the +Secretary of the St. George's, requesting the Club to appoint his seconds +in the match:-- + + MORPHY'S LETTER TO THE ST. GEORGE'S CLUB. + + T. HAMPTON, ESQ., + _Secretary of the St. George's Chess Club_: + + SIR,--I beg respectfully to inform you that the New Orleans + Chess Club has deposited £500 at the Banking House of Messrs. + Heywood & Co., London: that sum being my proportion of the + stakes in the approaching match with Mr. Staunton. + + I shall esteem it a great honor if the St. George's Chess Club + will do me the favor of appointing my seconds in that contest. + To such gentlemen as they may appoint I leave the settling of + all preliminaries. + + May I request you to lay this communication before the members + of the Club, and to oblige me with an early answer? + + I have the honor to remain, Sir, + Your very humble and obed't serv't, + PAUL MORPHY. + + CAFE DE LA REGENCE, PARIS, _Oct. 8th, 1858_. + +It would be difficult to imagine a more respectful and kindly letter than +that to Mr. Staunton. Since Morphy's arrival in Europe he had considered +himself ill-used by that gentleman. His games had been annotated in an +inferentially depreciatory manner, his victories _accounted for_, and his +antagonists excused. He had been placed in a ridiculous light before the +public by the utterly false assertion that he had come to Europe to +challenge Mr. Staunton or any one else--_without a groat in his purse_. +And yet he never charges Mr. Staunton with being the author of the +falsehood, although Mr. S. is the known editor of the chess column of the +_Illustrated London News_. He positively invites explanation in the most +charitable and Christian-like manner; never even calling the statement in +question, as he might have done, a positive untruth, but politely +characterizing it as "not strictly in accordance with fact." + +The _Illustrated London News_ did not immediately publish the letter, or +make any remark upon it, as did the other papers; but at the commencement +of the week, Paul Morphy received a private communication from Mr. +Staunton, as follows:-- + + STAUNTON'S REPLY TO MORPHY. + + LONDON, _October 9th, 1858_. + + SIR,--In reply to your letter, I have to observe that you must + be perfectly conscious that the difficulty in the way of my + engaging in a chess-match is one over which I have no control. + You were distinctly apprised, in answer to the extraordinary + proposal of your friends that I should leave my home, family, + and avocations, to proceed to New Orleans for the purpose of + playing chess with you, that a long and arduous contest, even + in London, would be an undertaking too formidable for me to + embark in without ample opportunity for the recovery of my old + strength in play, together with such arrangements as would + prevent the sacrifice of my professional engagements. Upon your + unexpected arrival here, the same thing was repeated to you, + and my acceptance of your challenge was entirely conditional on + my being able to gain time for practice. + + The experience, however, of some weeks, during which I have + labored unceasingly, to the serious injury of my health, shows + that not only is it impracticable for me to save time for that + purpose, but that by no means short of giving up a great work + on which I am engaged, subjecting the publishers to the loss of + thousands, and myself to an action for breach of contract, + could I obtain time even for the match itself. Such a + sacrifice is, of course, out of all question. A match at chess + or cricket (_proh pudor!_ why don't he say, "or skittles"?) may + be a good thing in its way, but none but a madman would for + either forfeit his engagements and imperil his professional + reputation. Under these circumstances, I waited only the + termination of your late struggle (with Mr. Harrwitz) to + explain that, fettered as I am at this moment, it is impossible + for me to undertake any enterprise which would have the effect + of withdrawing me from duties I am pledged to fulfil. + + The result is not, perhaps, what either you or I desired, as it + will occasion disappointment to many; but it is unavoidable, + and the less to be regretted, since a contest, wherein one of + the combatants must fight under disadvantages so manifest as + those I should have to contend against, after many years' + retirement from practical chess, with my attention absorbed and + my brain overtaxed by more important pursuits, could never be + accounted a fair trial of skill. + + I have the honor to be, + Yours, &c., H. STAUNTON. + + PAUL MORPHY, ESQ. + + P. S.--I may add that, although denied the satisfaction of a + set encounter with you at this period, I shall have much + pleasure, if you will again become my guest, in playing you a + few games _sans façon_. + +Now the sending of this private communication was a strange course for Mr. +Staunton to adopt. It seemed to be a bait for Morphy, in order that Mr. S. +might use his reply in the forthcoming article in the Illustrated London +News. The young American resolved that all the correspondence should be +public and above-board, and did not even acknowledge the receipt of the +letter. The Saturday following, Mr. Staunton gave as excuse for not +publishing Morphy's missive, the length of M.'s games, but promised it +and his own response "next week." + +On Saturday the 24th of October, the two following effusions graced the +columns of _Bell's Life_. They had also been sent to _The Era_, _The +Field_, and _The Sunday Times_; but, being anonymous, and inclosing no +name or address, were refused admittance. + + ANONYMOUS LETTER, APPARENTLY FROM MR. STAUNTON. + + TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, _Oct. 9_. + + MR. EDITOR: If you enter any chess circle just now, the + questions sure to be asked are, "How about the Staunton and + Morphy match? Will it come off? Suspect Staunton wants to shirk + it?" Now to these questions it is not always easy to give an + answer, and yet they ought to be answered, so as to allow of no + possible misconstruction amongst either friends or foes. There + is one insinuation which may be very briefly disposed of, + namely, that Mr. Staunton wishes to avoid playing. Every one + who knows him is perfectly aware that he is only too ready to + play at all times, and that at every disadvantage, rather than + incur even the faintest suspicion of showing the white feather. + For the benefit of those who have not the pleasure of knowing + him, or whose memories are not over tenacious, I may cite as an + example that in 1844, after vanquishing St. Amant, upon a hint + in the French papers that his opponent had expressed a wish to + have his revenge, Mr. S. at once started for Paris once more, + and challenged him to the field; that from 1840 to 1848 Mr. S. + played with every antagonist, foreign and English, that could + be brought against him; and at the Chess Congress, in 1851, he + rose superior to all personal considerations, and did not + shrink from risking his hardly-earned reputation, when the + state of his health was such that he felt he could not do + himself justice; and all this solely that the tournament might + not want the _éclat_ which his presence could confer upon it. + But, sir, I would submit that this is not simply a question + between Mr. Staunton and Mr. Morphy. We are all interested in + it. Mr. Staunton is the representative of English chess, and + must not be allowed to risk the national honor in an _unequal + contest_, to gratify either the promptings of his own + chivalrous disposition or the vanity of an antagonist. "Oh! + then you admit that Morphy is the better player?" No such + thing. The question is, not as to which is the better player, + but whether, if they meet now, they can do so on equal terms. + Now, I call it an _unequal contest_ when one player, in tiptop + practice, with nothing to distract his attention, engages + another who is quite out of play, and whose mind is harassed by + the unceasing pressure of other and more important avocations. + This is precisely Mr. Staunton's case. He is engaged, in + addition to his customary occupations, upon a literary work of + great responsibility and magnitude, which leaves him scarcely a + moment for any other pursuit; certainly not for chess practice. + Indeed, were it merely a question of time it would be almost + impossible for Mr. Staunton to play a match at the present + moment; but this is a matter of small importance compared with + the mental strain which accompanies such incessant labor. There + is nothing which requires more concentration of thought than + chess. One moment of relaxed attention, and the fruits of the + most profound combination are scattered to the winds. Real + chess between two great players is no mere recreation, but a + severe study, and should never be attempted when there is any + thing else to claim the least share of that attention which + alone can insure success. If Mr. Staunton can steal a few + months from business, and devote himself wholly to chess, by + all means let him do so, and then meet Mr. Morphy when and + where he pleases, and I for one should have no fear for the + result. If he cannot do this, I trust he will have moral + courage to say "No." If not, his friends should say it for him. + He is at least "Pawn and two" below his force of ten years + back; and I repeat that he owes it to the English chess world, + whose representative he is, not to meet Mr. Morphy at such + odds, when he has every thing to lose and nothing to gain. In + the present instance, moreover he is under not the slightest + obligation to play, as Mr. Morphy gave him no intimation that + he was coming over at this particular time, and I believe Mr. + Staunton was not aware of his intention of so doing till he was + actually _en route_; and it is certainly rather a heavy price + to pay for the position which Mr. Staunton justly occupies if + he is to be held bound to enter the lists with every young + adventurer who has nothing else to do, and who happens to envy + him the laurels so fairly won in many hundreds of encounters + with nearly all the greatest players of the day. The result of + any match which he might now play with Mr. Morphy would prove + literally nothing as to their relative chess powers, and I am + very unwilling to believe that the American would at all value + a victory snatched under such circumstances. + + Yours obediently, M. A. + + P. S. Since writing the above my attention has been drawn to a + letter in _Bell's Life_ addressed to Mr. Staunton by Mr. + Morphy, in which the latter tries to assume the character of a + much-injured and ill-used man. Now, how stands the case. From + the time when he made his sudden appearance here to the present + moment Mr. Morphy has been fully aware that the delay in the + proposed contest did not depend upon Mr. Staunton, who, so far + as he is personally concerned, was, and is, prepared to play; + though it does not speak much for that man's sense of honor who + would ever think of forcing on a contest when the inequality is + so immense as it is between Mr. Morphy's position and that of + Mr. Staunton--the one with literally nothing to do but to go + where he lists to play chess, the other with scarcely time for + sleep and meals, with his brain in a constant whirl with the + strain upon it; the one in the very zenith of his skill, after + ten years of incessant practice, the other utterly out of + practice for that very period. Now, let any one read the reply + of Mr. Staunton to the preposterous proposal on the part of Mr. + Morphy's friends, that he (Mr. S.) should go over to New + Orleans, and then say whether Mr. Morphy, after publicly + announcing in the American papers his inability, from family + engagements, to visit England before 1859, and then choosing + to come over without a moment's warning, has anybody but + himself to blame if he finds there is considerable difficulty + in inducing a man with family cares, and immersed in + professional engagements, to sacrifice all for the sake of + engaging, upon the most unfair and unequal terms, in a match at + chess? If Mr. Morphy does not see the force of what I have + advanced, perhaps the following analogous case may bring + conviction home to him. Let us suppose some ten or fifteen + years have elapsed, and that Mr. Morphy, no longer a chess + knight-errant, eager to do battle against all comers, has + settled down into a steady-going professional man, (the bar, I + believe, is his destination,) and with bewildered brain is + endeavoring to unravel the intricacies of some half-dozen + lawsuits put into his hands by clients, each of whom, in virtue + of his fee, is profoundly impressed with the belief that Mr. + Morphy belongs, body and soul, to him. Presently comes a rap at + the door, and in walks a young man, fresh from school or + college, and at once proceeds to explain the object of his + visit, with:--"Mr. Morphy, I come to challenge you to a match + at chess. I am aware that you are quite out of practice, while + I am in full swing. I freely admit that you may have forgotten + more than I am ever likely to know; that you have a reputation + to lose, while I have one to gain; that you have not a moment + you can call your own, whilst I have just now nothing in the + world to occupy my attention but chess. _N'importe._ Every dog + has his day. I expect you to play me at all costs. My seconds + will wait upon you at once; and if you decline I shall placard + you a craven through the length and breadth of the Union." How + would Mr. Morphy reply to such a challenge? Very much, I + suspect, as Mr. Staunton now replies to his:--"I have no + apprehension of your skill; I am quite willing to meet you when + I can, but I must choose my own time. I cannot put aside my + professional engagements, to say nothing of the loss of + emolument entailed by such a course, and risk my reputation as + a chess-player at a moment's notice, just to gratify your + ambition." In giving such an answer Mr. Morphy would do + perfectly right, and this is precisely the answer which Mr. + Staunton now gives to him. And why Mr. Morphy should feel + himself aggrieved I cannot possibly imagine. There is one other + point which I think deserves mention, namely that four years + ago, on the occasion of his being challenged in a similar + manner, Mr. Staunton put forth a final proposal to play any + player in the world, and to pay his expenses for coming to + England. This _defi_ remained open for six months, and he + announced that if not taken up in that time he should hold + himself exonerated in refusing any future challenges. I now + leave the question in the hands of the public, who will, I + doubt not, arrive at a correct appreciation of its merits. + + + ANOTHER VERY DISGRACEFUL ANONYMOUS LETTER. + + _To the Editor of Bell's Life_: + + MR. EDITOR,--It is a pity chess-players will not "wash their + dirty linen at home." Among a few frivolous noodles to whom + chess forms the staple of life, Mr. Morphy's jeremiads may + assume an air of importance, but to sensible men they sound + ineffably absurd, while to those who take the trouble of + looking a little below the surface they appear something worse. + For what are the plain facts of the case? Mr. Morphy started + for England, not to play a match with Mr. Staunton, for he was + told that that gentleman was too deeply immersed in business to + undertake one, but to take part in a general tourney to be held + in Birmingham. Upon arriving here he duly inscribed his name on + the list of combatants, and paid his entrance fee. On hearing + this, Mr. Staunton, in a spirit of what some may call chivalry, + but which, looking at his utterly unprepared state for an + encounter of this kind, ought more properly to be termed + Quixotism, entered his name also. Well, what happened? On the + mustering of the belligerents, Mr. Morphy, who had come six + thousand miles to run a tilt in this tournament, _was not + present_. In his place came a note to say particular business + prevented his attendance. A message was despatched, intimating + that his absence would be a great disappointment, &c., &c. His + reply was, that, understanding neither Mr. S. nor any other of + the leading players would take the field, he declined to do so. + A second message was forwarded, to the effect that Mr. Staunton + was then in Birmingham expressly to meet Mr. Morphy, and that + he and several of the best players were awaiting Mr. M.'s + arrival to begin the combats. To this came a final answer, to + the effect that the length of time that the tourney would last + prevented Mr. Morphy from joining in it, but he would run down + in two or three days. Passing over the exquisite taste of this + proceeding, and the disappointment and murmurs it occasioned, I + would simply ask, if Mr. Morphy thought himself justified in + withdrawing from a contest which he had come thousands of miles + to take part in, and to which he was in a manner pledged, upon + pretences so vague and flimsy, what right has he to complain if + the English player choose to withdraw from one to which he is + in no respect bound, and against which he may be enabled to + offer the most solid and unanswerable objections? In asking + this, I beg to disclaim all intention of provoking a + chess-players' controversy, a thing in which the public take + not the slightest interest, and for which I individually + entertain supreme contempt. I am moved to it only by the spirit + of FAIR PLAY. + + BIRMINGHAM. + +To these communications the editor appended the following remarks:-- + + [We print the above two letters, being all the communications + we have received from Mr. Staunton's party relative to Morphy's + letter in our last. We regret these lucubrations are anonymous, + as not showing how far they really represent the opinions of + Mr. Staunton himself and his friends on the subject. Regarding + their style and phraseology Mr. Staunton may perhaps ask to be + saved from his friends, but that is matter of taste. We shall + feel bound to print brief replies from Paul Morphy's side. + Inferiority once admitted, no matter from what cause, if Mr. + Staunton takes the ground indicated in the above epistles, Mr. + Morphy has but cheerfully and quietly to drop the subject, and + will certainly as a gentleman never challenge Mr. Staunton + again. Morphy's friends may still reasonably inquire why all + this was not said in June last, instead of giving apparent + acceptance to the young American's challenge. + + --EDITOR BELL'S LIFE.] + +The reader will observe that Mr. Staunton (or his friends) is the first to +commence a newspaper war, probably under the impression that lengthy +_protocoling_ would sink the real question at issue, or induce Paul Morphy +to reply, and commit himself. But the latter saw too clearly what +eventualities might arise, and resolved that, in spite of all attacks, he +would never be drawn into discussion. In his letter to Mr. Staunton, no +point was raised on which to build dispute; Mr. S. was merely required to +say what date he fixed for the match. The most sensitive mind could not be +hurt with any thing in the letter, and yet "Fair Play" talks of "Mr. +Morphy's jeremiads appearing something worse than ineffably absurd." "M. +A.'s" lucubration did not obtain admittance into any other paper, but +"Fair Play's" shone resplendently in the columns of the _Illustrated +London News_. I have not learned who "Fair Play" is; nor do I wish to +know. + +When a man's course is straightforward and courageous, he will always find +defenders, and sometimes, ardent partisans. Morphy's unassuming modesty +had made him friends in every chess community, men who were ready to +battle for him as though it were their own quarrel. Hitherto, not a word +had been said by, or for, Morphy in the press, and he was determined not +to seek succor from that source. The ensuing Saturday the following +letters appeared in Bell's Life, the first being from a friend of our +hero, well acquainted with the circumstances of the case; and the others +from prominent members of the metropolitan chess circles. + + LETTER FROM A FRIEND OF PAUL MORPHY. + + _To the Editor of Bell's Life in London_: + + SIR,--Two letters appeared in your paper of last Sunday, one + with the signature of "M. A.," the other of "Fair Play." In + justice to fact, those communications must not remain + unanswered, as the misstatements they contain might perchance + mislead some as to the good faith of Mr. Morphy. It is in no + improper spirit that I appear before your readers under my own + name, but simply because, as I intend replying to your + anonymous correspondents with facts, not with hypotheses, I + think I am bound in honor to hold myself responsible for what I + advance. The chess players of London and Birmingham are not + ignorant of the intimacy with which Mr. Morphy has honored me + during his visit to Europe, and they will permit me to state, + that no one is better conversant with the facts bearing on the + case in point than your subscriber. Were it not that Paul + Morphy positively refuses to reply to any attack upon himself, + preferring that his actions should be the sole witness to his + faith, I should not have troubled you or the public with this + communication. + + On the 4th of last February, the New Orleans Chess Club + challenged Mr. Staunton to visit the Crescent City, "to meet + Mr. Paul Morphy in a chess match." On the 3d of April the + former gentleman replied to this _defi_ in the _Illustrated + London News_, in the following language:--"The terms of this + cartel are distinguished by extreme courtesy, and, with one + notable exception, by extreme liberality also. The exception in + question, however, (we refer to the clause which stipulates + that the combat shall take place in New Orleans!) appears to us + utterly fatal to the match; and we must confess our + astonishment that the intelligent gentlemen who drew up the + conditions did not themselves discover this. Could it possibly + escape their penetration, that if Mr. Paul Morphy, a young + gentleman without family ties or professional claims upon his + attention, finds it inconvenient to anticipate by a few months + an intended visit to Europe, his proposed antagonist, who is + well known for years to have been compelled, by laborious + literary occupation, to abandon the practice of chess beyond + the indulgence of an occasional game, must find it not merely + inconvenient, but positively impracticable, to cast aside all + engagements, and undertake a journey of many thousand miles for + the sake of a chess encounter. Surely the idea of such a + sacrifice is not admissible for a single moment. If Mr. + Morphy--for whose skill we entertain the liveliest + admiration--be desirous to win his spurs among the chess + chivalry of Europe, he must take advantage of his proposed + visit next year; he will then meet in this country, in France, + in Germany, and in Russia, many champions whose names must be + as household words to him, ready to test and do honor to his + prowess." + + No one would regard the above observations as tantamount to + aught else than "If you will come to Europe I will play you;" + but we are relieved from the difficulty of discovering Mr. + Staunton's real meaning by his reiterated declarations that he + would play Mr. Morphy. Within a few days of the latter's + arrival in London, the English player stated his intention of + accepting the match, but postponed the commencement of it for a + month, on the plea of requiring preparation. In the month of + July the acceptance of the challenge was announced in the + _Illustrated London News_. Before the expiration of the time + demanded in the first instance, Mr. Staunton requested that the + contest should not take place until after the Birmingham + meeting. At Birmingham he again declared his intention of + playing the match, and fixed the date for the first week in + November, in the presence of numerous witnesses. Mr. Morphy + may have erred in believing that his antagonist intended to act + as his words led him to suppose, but it was an error shared in + common by every one then present, and particularly by Lord + Lyttelton, the President of the British Chess Association, who + recognized the true position of the case in his speech to the + association, stating that he "wished him (Mr. Morphy) most + cordially success in his encounters with the celebrated players + of Europe, whom he had gallantly left home to meet; he should + be pleased to hear that he vanquished all--except one; but that + one--Mr. Staunton--he must forgive him, as an Englishman, for + saying he hoped he would conquer him."--(Report of Birmingham + meeting, _Illustrated London News_, Sept. 18, 1858. + + So firmly convinced were the members of Mr. S.'s own club, the + St. George's, that he had accepted the challenge, that a + committee was formed, and funds raised to back him. What those + gentlemen must now think of Mr. Staunton's evasion of the match + can easily be understood; but so strong was the conviction in + other chess circles that he would not play, that large odds + were offered to that effect. + + "M. A.'s" reasons for not playing, or "M. A.'s" reasons for Mr. + Staunton's not playing--a distinction without a difference, as + we shall hereafter show--is that "he is engaged upon a literary + work of great responsibility and magnitude." Did not this + reason exist prior to Mr. Morphy's arrival in June? and if so, + why were Mr. Morphy, the English public, and the chess + community generally, led into the belief that the challenge was + accepted? And what did Mr. Staunton mean by stating at + Birmingham, in the presence of Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Avery, and + myself, that if the delay until November were granted him, he + could in the mean while supply his publishers with sufficient + matter, so as to devote himself subsequently to the match? + + Mr. Staunton's (I mean "M. A.'s") remark in the letter under + review, "I (Staunton or 'M. A.' indifferently) have no + apprehension of your skill," is hardly consonant with the + previous observation, that "he (Staunton) is at least pawn and + two below his force," unless the + "English-chess-world-representative" wishes it to be understood + that he could offer those odds to Paul Morphy. Nor is it + consonant with the fact that he has never consented to play Mr. + Morphy a single game, though asked to do so, and when + frequently meeting him at St. George's. Of course the two + consultation games played by him, in alliance with "Alter," + against Messrs. Barnes and Morphy count for nothing, as they + were gained by the latter; a result due, doubtless, to "Alter" + alone. + + Mr. Morphy, in the eyes of the chess world, can have nothing to + gain from a contest with this gentleman. When Mr. Staunton has + met even players such as Anderssen, Heyderbrandt, and + Löwenthal, he has succumbed; whilst his youthful antagonist can + cite a roll of victories unparalleled since Labourdonnais. And + herein is the true reason for "M. A.'s" saying, "Staunton must + not be allowed to risk the national honor (?) in an unequal + contest." + + In wishing "M. A." adieu, I would state that his style of + composition is so like Mr. Staunton's that no one could detect + the difference. And no one but Mr. Staunton himself would ever + set up such a defence as "M. A.'s"--that of inferiority, "Pawn + and two below his strength," &c. &c. And no one but Mr. + Staunton could have such intimate knowledge of his own thoughts + as we find in the following verbatim quotations from "M. A.'s" + letter: "The state of his health was such that he felt he could + not do himself justice"--"his mind harassed"--"the other + (Staunton) with scarcely time for sleep and meals, with his + brain in a constant whirl with the strain upon it." In the + language of Holy Writ: "No man can know the spirit of man, but + the spirit of man which is in him." + + Served up in a mass of foul language, the letter signed "Fair + Play," contains an obviously untrue assertion, namely, "Mr. + Morphy started for Europe, not to play a match with Mr. + Staunton." This is rather outrageous in the face of the + challenge from the New Orleans Chess Club, and with Mr. S.'s + reply in the _Illustrated London News_ of April 3d. So much was + it Mr. Morphy's desire to play him, and so little his + intention to engage in the Birmingham Tournament, that he + informed the secretary he did not regard such a contest as any + true test of skill. + + To sum up the whole matter, I will state the naked facts. + + 1. Mr. Morphy came to Europe to play Mr. Staunton. + + 2. Mr. Staunton made everybody believe he had accepted the + challenge from Mr. Morphy. + + 3. Mr. Staunton allowed the St. George's Chess Club to raise + the money to back him. + + 4. Mr. Staunton asked for a delay of one month, in order to + brush up his openings and endings. + + 5. Mr. Staunton requested a postponement until after the + Birmingham meeting. + + 6. Mr. Staunton fixed the beginning of November for the + commencement of the match. + + If all this do not mean "I will play," then is there no meaning + in language. I beg to subscribe myself, Mr. Editor, most + respectfully yours, + + FREDERICK MILNS EDGE. + HOTEL BRETEUIL, PARIS, _Oct. 20, 1858_. + +The next epistle is from the pen of a former colleague of Mr. Staunton,--a +gentleman whose literary articles in the _Chess Players' Chronicle_ have +earned world-wide notoriety. In the case under examination, he dissects +Mr. Staunton's procedures with the skill of an able anatomist. + + LETTER FROM A COADJUTOR OF MR. STAUNTON. + + _To the Editor of Bell's Life_:-- + + SIR,--In the few remarks that you have appended to the letters + respecting Mr. Morphy's proposed match with Mr. Staunton you + have dealt satisfactorily with the whole matter. The letters + may be considered under two heads, one of which does not refer + to, the other is written upon, the actual subject. That a few + lines should be devoted _not_ to the merits of the case will + not surprise your readers, when they remember that, prejudice + being created against, or in favor of, a particular + chess-player, questions are not viewed in their true light; + still less will they be surprised when I take this opportunity + of doing justice to Anderssen, who is indirectly alluded to in + one of the letters. Your Cambridge correspondent ridicules the + notion of any evasion of play on the part of Mr. Staunton. His + virtue, even approaching a fault, has been the continual search + after a match. He resought St. Amant after defeating him, he + exposed himself to every one for eight years, and thus earned + two characters, one that of the chivalrous paladin, the other + that of the representative of English chess. I wonder that an + intelligent writer, such as your correspondent is, should not + have traced the distinction between resuming play against + antagonists already beaten, or likely to be beaten, and + commencing matches with really powerful combatants. I wonder, + also, that he did not inform your readers that at the time at + which St. Amant played with Mr. Staunton, the former, excellent + as he was, received odds from Des Chapelles, who was out of + play; I wonder that, as if with perfect knowledge, he could + write upon such a chess match without alluding to Des + Chapelles' celebrated criticism on the Staunton-St. Amant + games, a criticism which, published in the _Berliner + Schachzeitung_ of 1848, puts both players in their true places. + I wonder, again, that he should not have summed up Mr. S.'s + subsequent victories in two contests, one with Hörwitz, the + other with Harrwitz. I wonder that he should not have told us + that Hörwitz publicly announced his inferiority to Der Lasa and + Hanstein, and that Harrwitz _at the time mentioned_ received P + and two moves, but in the same year defeated Hörwitz, the very + player upon whose defeat, on even terms, Mr. S.'s reputation + mainly depended after his match with St. Amant. Another + instance of Mr. Staunton's chivalry is, says your + correspondent, an offer to "play any player in the world, and + to pay his expenses for coming to England." The best answer to + this is to quote the actual conditions of the challenge + propounded by Sir G. Stephen on Mr. S.'s behalf in 1853: "1. If + the acceptor of the challenge be resident abroad, the stake on + each side shall not be less than £250. 2. If the challenge is + taken up by a player resident in this country, the amount of + stake shall be from £100 to £150. 3. That the match be played + at a private hotel," etc. After the proposal, Mr. Staunton gave + it meaning in a public speech (_Chess Players' Chronicle_, + 1853)--"The challenge was intended for Anderssen's acceptance. + The £250 was to cover travelling expenses in a foreign + country." Now I wish to ask your correspondent is there here + any offer to pay a competitor's expenses? Or will he read it as + others do? "I name £100 for men whom I do not fear, but £250 + for Anderssen, whom, as he beat me in 1851, I _wish_ to play + with. Nominally, the larger sum will cover his expenses, but as + I intend to win, he will practically have to find £250, his + expenses, and the bill at a private hotel, simply to give me, + the chivalrous Bayard, my revenge?" After this I trust that we + shall not hear of chivalry in offering to pay the expenses of a + competitor. "M. A.," as a Cambridge man, may be asked whether + Mr. S.'s engagement "on a work of great magnitude" (I quote his + own words) is equal to Anderssen's mathematical and + philological labors? But Mr. S. is the representative of + English chess. By whose election is he "_divinæ particula + auræ_?" Des Chapelles was then irreverent, and I am an + iconoclast. Is he self-elected? Then away with parliaments and + associations of chess, and their self-elected speaker, + "Fairplay." I never yet heard of a man calling himself the + representative of any thing English, if he will not carry out + his representation. I have heard of champions of the river + retiring. I have seen them row, and take a beating manfully. I + know that Lewis, Fraser, Slous, Walker, etc., gave up difficult + chess. I never yet heard of half and half play. Either a man + pretends to represent English chess, or he does not. If he + makes his claim, whether self-elected or not, he must play (a + representative, however ignorant, gives his vote in the House + of Commons), if not, he may retire into private life. Morphy + may reply to your correspondent and to his coryphæus at the + same time--"I have played for ten years. I am not 21, but am + prepared to play the best European masters now. If I am + challenged when I have taken up another pursuit I will not do + one thing. I will not accept a challenge, and months after not + carry out my acceptance. I will not, after long delay, name + even the day for commencing the match, and then have no idea of + playing. True it is that you may not fairly represent English + chess. Two British players separated Anderssen from you in + 1851, but, Williams being dead, Mr. Wyvill not playing matches, + and you still claiming priority in Anglo-Saxon chess, I, an + Anglo-Saxon, on behalf of the race that speaks the same + language, ask you, will you maintain or resign your claim?" + This is true reasoning. The contest, "M. A." assures us, would + be unequal. Mr. S. is P and two moves below his strength, yet + he represents English play. Where, then, are the even players, + where the P and move men? Is the fragrance of the P and two + moves so refreshing, that the P and move must not be classed + amongst our British roses? Des Chapelles tells us that Philidor + classed Legalle as a player on even terms, Verdoni as one to + receive pawn for the move, Bernard, Carlier, etc., as P and + move players. I think better of English chess players than to + claim, with "M. A.," our representative in a P and two moves + player. Your Cambridge correspondent will pardon me for + attempting to refute his positions. From the style of his + letter I am convinced that, had he equal experience, he would + write much the same as I have done. "Fairplay's" letter may + soon be dismissed; his argument is, that Mr. Morphy came to + Europe not to play Mr. Staunton (who had previously refused, F. + P. should have added, "to play in America," not in England), + but to take part in the tournament held by the Chess + Association at Birmingham; that he did not play there, sending + different answers for his non-appearance; and, assuming this to + be a fault, that therefore any one may commit the same fault, + if he can give better reasons for the commission. In answer to + this, Mr. Morphy did not come to Europe to play at Birmingham, + but to test his strength with the cis-Atlantic players. It + reads almost like a joke, when a man writes seriously from + Birmingham to inform us that Morphy came 6000 miles to play the + first two or first three games, especially when every one in + London has known for more than three months that he came to + play long set matches. What was Mr. M.'s behavior? He came to + England in June, and visited Birmingham directly. He had been + offered £70 as a retaining fee on account of the distance + travelled by him (similarly Anderssen, Staunton, etc., received + retaining fees in 1857), but refused the offer, making, with + characteristic generosity, such excuses as "he had not received + the Birmingham letters," and that "the meeting was adjourned + for two months." In other words, Mr. Morphy, giving up all + pecuniary claim, practically paid _nearly seven-eighths of the + prizes offered to public competition_. Hence he did not take + part in the little contests at Birmingham. He civilly assented + to the alteration of time--he civilly left Löwenthal, whom he + had beaten in a set match, a chance of gaining the first + prize--he civilly gave answers to telegraphic messages, + answers--I regret here that they were more polite than + exact--that meant the same thing, "I leave the contest to + others." If these replies did not--as short telegraphic + messages cannot--express Mr. M.'s meaning, it does not become + those who profited by his chivalry to write in the style of + "Fairplay;" and I am sure that the Birmingham local committee + would be the first to gainsay the latter's statement. _He_ must + be satisfied, at all events, as Löwenthal, just beaten by + Morphy, met Mr. Staunton, whom he was anxious to see pitted + against the young American, and won, thereby saving criticism + as to "What was, might be, or could be." What "will be," we + shall see. Mr. M. went to Birmingham simply to get Mr. S. to + name, _in the presence of others_, a day for commencing the + proposed match. Then and there Mr. S. named the 1st of + November. A representative of Englishmen should give either a + _bona fide_ acceptance or a refusal. Morphy's motto is "Play, + not talk." He comes and goes to foreign countries to seek play. + He is the "_Il Puttino_" of the New World. At the risk, then, + sir, of being called a "frivolous noodle" by your very elegant + correspondent "Fairplay," I shall take the liberty of believing + what an honest man like Morphy says. I shall not hold Staunton + to be the representative of English chess, but shall look to + younger and more consistent players as far more likely to + maintain what your correspondents call the national honor, and + am, sir, your obedient servant, + + AN ENGLISH CHESS PLAYER. + + EAST SHEEN, _Oct. 21, 1858_. + +The next two letters, also to the editor of _Bell's Life in London_, do +not profess to argue the question, but are merely _argumenta ad hominum_. +They serve to show how warm a feeling in his favor Mr. Morphy had evoked +amongst the fellow-countrymen of Mr. Staunton. + + _To the Editor of Bell's Life_: + + MR. EDITOR: The general opinion of English chess players is + simply that Staunton is afraid of Morphy. If, as his friends + say, he is out of condition, let him train, or give up the + championship like a man. No one would blame him, at his age and + with his avocation, for declining severe matches; but in that + case he must resign the belt into fresher hands. The champion + ceases to be the champion when he is no longer able or willing + to take up whatever gauntlet is flung down. Let the chivalrous + boy who has crossed the Atlantic to challenge the chess of the + Old World have fair play at the hands of Englishmen. If we + cannot beat him fairly, let us not seek to put him off with + shabby dodges. + + Yours, &c. + THE EX-PRESIDENT OF PROVINCIAL CHESS CLUB. + _Oct. 20th_. + +This is sound, straightforward, English common sense. + + _To the Editor of Bell's Life_:-- + + MR. EDITOR: Mr. Staunton either is, or is not, the chess + champion of England, ready to defend his "belt" against all + comers. If he _be_ the champion, he has _no right_ to plead + "want of practice," "literary avocations," or such like + excuses, for "_semper paratus_" must be a "champion's" motto. + If he be _not_ the champion, why then did he hold himself out + as such by inviting or accepting Mr. Morphy's challenge? Why + did he not say at the first, "I _was_ the champion of England + some years ago, but (_solve senescentem_) I am not so now; I am + only a private gentleman, engaged in literary pursuits, and so + forth." His true position would then have been clearly + understood, and I am sure Mr. Morphy would never have sought to + disturb his retirement. But will the English chess-playing + public allow Mr. Staunton to put in this plea _after all that + has passed_, and after all his declarations of willingness to + play? I trust, sir, that, if such an excuse be allowed, at + least we shall have the candor to acknowledge ourselves fairly + vanquished, and not pretend that we have escaped defeat because + we have "prudently" declined the contest. We must be on our + guard for the future how we proclaim as our "champion" a + gentleman who "retires into private life" the moment a + formidable rival appears. + + Yours, &c., + SCHACK. + +The week following the publication of the above letters, Mr. Staunton +published in the _Illustrated London News_ PART of Mr. Morphy's +communication, with the private answer sent a fortnight before. The +paragraph in the former, relating to Mr. S.'s iniquitous statement of +Morphy's arriving in Europe without funds, was entirely ignored, and that, +too, in the face of its having been given _in extenso_ two weeks +previously by four weekly London papers, and a copy sent to his +editor-in-chief. _Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat_ was never more +thoroughly exemplified, and the course pursued proves incontestably that +Mr. Staunton possesses a certain kind of courage which does not stick at +trifles. Was it presumable that a man of his experience would dare to +commit such an unwarrantable act, or did he think that Mr. Morphy would +pass over, in silence, such a suppression? + +The animus was now evident. Mr. Staunton had never awarded that praise to +the young American's contests which every other chess editor and player in +England and Europe had invariably bestowed: still, no action could be +taken on this. Mr. Staunton had continually postponed the commencement of +the match: no handle to take hold of was offered here, since he had, as +continually, asserted his desire to play. Mr. Staunton had announced that +the stakes were reduced from £1,000 a side to £500 at Mr. Morphy's +request; his antagonist was still silent. Mr. Staunton had published a +knowingly untrue statement, and, when the sufferer complains in such +manner as to afford him the utmost latitude for explanation and apology, +he cancels the paragraph, and does not even deign to refer to it in his +reply. Mr. Staunton caps the climax by declining finally to play the +match. Thus Mr. Staunton's response to the New Orleans Chess Club, _so far +as he was concerned_, meant nothing. His acceptance of Morphy's challenge +in London, and the statement in his paper that the match would come off, +meant nothing. His postponements meant nothing. His declarations before +Lord Lyttelton and other gentlemen, at Birmingham, meant nothing. + +Thus there was apparently an end to the whole matter. But an eventuality +presented itself:--Mr. Staunton had shown himself capable of perverting +facts to his own benefit, and might he not assert ultimately that Mr. +Morphy was the cause of the match not taking place? Could he not, too, at +the moment our hero was quitting Europe, declare his readiness to play, +knowing that Morphy must be off? He had so acted towards Herr Anderssen +after the tournament in 1851, declaring that "the German saw fit to +leave," although he was well aware that the Professor's collegiate duties +at Breslau rendered it impossible for him to stay in England and play the +proposed match. Paul Morphy therefore closed up every avenue of eventual +misrepresentation, by the following address to Lord Lyttelton, in his +official quality of President of the National Association of English +Chess-players: + + MORPHY'S APPEAL TO THE BRITISH CHESS ASSOCIATION. + + _To the Right Hon. Lord Lyttelton, President of the British + Chess Association:_ + + MY LORD,--On the 4th of last February the Chess Club of New + Orleans gave a challenge to your countryman, Mr. Howard + Staunton, to visit that city and engage in a match at chess + with me. On the 3d of April Mr. Staunton replied to this _défi_ + in the _Illustrated London News_, characterizing the terms of + the cartel as "being distinguished by extreme courtesy," but + objecting to so long a journey for such a purpose, and + engaging me "to anticipate by a few months an intended voyage + to Europe." Believing that "a journey of many thousand miles" + was the only obstacle in the way of our meeting, I made + immediate preparation, and, within two months, I had the + pleasure of repeating the challenge personally in the rooms of + the St. George's Chess Club. I need scarcely assure you, my + lord, that Mr. Staunton enjoys a reputation in the United + States unsurpassed by that of any player in Europe since the + death of Labourdonnais, and I felt highly honored when he + accepted my challenge, merely requesting a lapse of one month + for the purpose of preparing himself for the encounter. Within + a short period subsequently, Mr. Staunton obtained my consent + to a postponement until after the annual meeting of the British + Chess Association. A week prior to that event I addressed him + in the following terms:-- + + "DEAR SIR,--As we are now approaching the Birmingham meeting, + at the termination of which you have fixed our match to + commence, I think it would be advisable to settle the + preliminaries during this week. Would you be good enough to + state some early period when your seconds can meet mine, so + that a contest which I have so much at heart, and which from + your eminent position excites so much interest in the chess + world, may be looked upon as a _fait accompli_.--I am, dear + sir, yours very respectfully, PAUL MORPHY." + + Not receiving a satisfactory reply to this communication, I + again wrote Mr. Staunton as follows:-- + + "DEAR SIR,--I must first apologise for not replying to your + previous communication. As you observe, my numerous contests + must be the excuse for my remissness. + + "It is certainly a high compliment to so young a player as + myself that you, whose reputation in the chess arena has been + unapproached during so many long years, should require any + preparation for our match. Immediately on my arrival in + England, some two months since, I spoke to you in reference to + our contest, and, in accepting the challenge, you stated that + you should require some time to prepare, and you proposed a + period for commencing, which I accepted. + + "I am well aware that your many engagements in the literary + world must put you to some inconvenience in meeting me, and I + am therefore desirous to consult your wishes in every respect. + Would you please state the earliest opportunity when those + engagements will permit the match coming off, such time being + consistent with your previous preparation? + + "The 'few weeks' referred to in your favor seem to be rather + vague, and I shall feel highly gratified by your fixing a + definite period for the contest. _I leave the terms entirely to + yourself._--I remain, dear sir, yours very respectfully, + + "PAUL MORPHY." + + Mr. Staunton left London for Birmingham without deigning to + reply. + + I attended the annual meeting of the Association for the + express purpose of requesting a definite period for commencing + the match. In the presence of your lordship and other + gentlemen, Mr. Staunton fixed that commencement for the + forepart of November, promising that he would inform me of the + precise date within a few days. I heard nothing further from + him on the subject. Your lordship will have remarked from the + above that Mr. Staunton has thus obtained three separate and + distinct postponements. + + The approach of November induced me to again address Mr. + Staunton, which I did on the 6th of the present month. As my + letter was published in numerous London journals, and was also + sent to the editor-in-chief of the _Illustrated London News_, I + had a right to expect a public answer, particularly as I had + complained of a false and damaging statement in the chess + department of that paper. On the 16th Mr. Staunton stated + editorially that-- + + "Mr. Morphy's games this week exclude both his letter and Mr. + Staunton's reply. If we can spare space for them they shall be + given in the next number." + + On the 9th inst., within a short time of receiving my letter, + Mr. Staunton replied to me _privately_. As my communication was + a public one, I was somewhat surprised at the course pursued by + a gentleman holding such a position as Mr. Staunton, and did + not, therefore, even acknowledge receipt, fearing that I might + thereby be induced unintentionally to commit myself. Having + promised my letter and his reply, Mr. Staunton published what + he represents as such in the _Illustrated London News_ of the + 23d inst. He has thereby transferred the question from the + chess arena to the bar of public opinion, and as a stranger in + a foreign land--a land which has ever been the foremost in + hospitality--I claim justice from Englishmen. + + The most important portion of my letter Mr. Staunton has dared + to suppress. I refer to the following paragraph, published by + various journals, but omitted by the _Illustrated London News_, + although sent to the editor of that paper as well as to Mr. + Staunton himself:-- + + "A statement appeared in the chess department of that journal a + few weeks since, that 'Mr. Morphy had come to Europe unprovided + with backers or seconds,' the inference being obvious--that my + want of funds was the reason of our match not taking place. As + you are the editor of that department of the _Illustrated + London News_, I felt hurt that a gentleman who had always + received me at his club and elsewhere with great kindness and + courtesy, should allow so prejudicial a statement to be made in + reference to me; one, too, which is not strictly in accordance + with fact." + + On my first arriving in England, I informed Mr. Staunton that + my stakes would be forthcoming the moment he desired, and I was + therefore utterly at a loss to account for so unwarrantable a + statement being made in reference to me, unless with the + intention of compromising my position before the public. And I + would ask your lordship's attention to the terms of the + suppressed paragraph, couched in such language as to avoid all + insinuation of animus, and affording Mr. Staunton the amplest + opportunity for explaining away the difficulty. The course + pursued by that gentleman cannot do otherwise than justify me + in ascribing to him the very worst of motives in publishing + what he knew to be incorrect, in denying me common justice, and + in giving as the whole of my letter _what he knew to be only a + part of it_. + + From Mr. Staunton I now appeal to the great body of English + chess players, I appeal to the British Chess Association, I + appeal to yourself, my lord, as the _Mæcenas_ of English chess; + and, as I visited your country for the purpose of challenging + Mr. Staunton, which challenge he has repeatedly accepted, I now + demand of you that you shall declare to the world it is through + no fault of mine that this match has not taken place.--I have + the honor to remain, my lord, yours very respectfully, + + PAUL MORPHY. + CAFE DE LA REGENCE, PARIS, _October 26, 1858_. + +To this appeal, Lord Lyttelton made the following admirable reply, which +covers the whole ground:-- + + LORD LYTTELTON ON HOWARD STAUNTON. + + BODMIN, CORNWALL, _3d November_. + + DEAR SIR:--I much regret that I have been unable till to-day to + reply to your letter of the 26th October, which only reached me + on the 1st inst. With regard to the appeal which you have made + to the British Chess Association, I may perhaps be allowed to + say, as its President, that I fear nothing can be done about + the matter in question by that body. It is one of recent and + rather imperfect organization; its influence is not yet fully + established. It is practically impossible to procure any + effective meeting of its members at present, and it is doubtful + whether it could take any step in the matter if it were to + meet. I must therefore be understood as writing in my private + character alone, but, at the same time, you are welcome, should + you think it worth while (which I can hardly think it can be), + to make further use of this letter, in any manner you may wish. + + Your letter has but one professed object; that we should + declare that it is not your fault that the match between + yourself and Mr. Staunton has not taken place. To this the + reply might be made in two words. I cannot conceive it possible + that any one should impute that failure to you, nor am I aware + that any one has done so. But, in the circumstances, I shall + not perhaps be blamed, if I go somewhat further into the + matter. In the general circumstances of the case, I conceive + that Mr. Staunton was quite justified in declining the match. + The fact is understood that he has for years been engaged in + labors which must, whatever arrangements might be made, greatly + interfere with his entering into a serious contest with a + player of the highest force and in constant practice, and so + far the failure of the match is the less to be regretted. Nor + can I doubt the correctness of his recent statement, that the + time barely necessary for the match itself could not be spared, + without serious loss and inconvenience both to others and to + himself. + + But I cannot but think that in all fairness and + considerateness, Mr. Staunton might have told you of this long + before he did. I know no reason why he might not have + ascertained it, and informed you of it in answer to your first + letter from America. Instead of this, it seems to me plain, + both as to the interview at which I myself was present, and as + to all the other communications which have passed, that Mr. + Staunton gave you every reason to suppose that he would be + ready to play the match within no long time. I am not aware, + indeed (nor do I perceive that you have said it), that you left + America _solely_ with the view of playing Mr. Staunton. It + would, no doubt, make the case stronger, but it seems to me as + unlikely as that you should have come, as has been already + stated (anonymously, and certainly not with Mr. Staunton's + concurrence), in order to attend the Birmingham Tournament. + + With regard to the suppressions of part of your last letter, I + must observe, that I am not aware how far Mr. Staunton is + responsible for what appears in the _Illustrated London News_. + But whoever is responsible for that suppression, I must say, + that I cannot see how it is possible to justify or excuse it. + + I greatly regret the failure of a contest which would have been + of much interest, and the only one, as I believe, which could + have taken place with you, with any chance of its redounding to + the credit of this country. I still more regret that any + annoyance or disappointment should have been undergone by one, + who--as a foreigner--from his age, his ability, and his conduct + and character, is eminently entitled to the utmost + consideration in the European countries which he may visit. + + I am, dear sir, yours truly, + LYTTELTON. + + PAUL MORPHY, ESQ. + +Mr. Morphy could not do otherwise than avail himself of the permission +accorded him by Lord Lyttelton, to publish so full a justification. He +thus put himself right on the record, and prevented any further +misrepresentation. Numerous clubs in the United Kingdom took action upon +the letter, and the following resolution of the Manchester Chess Club--one +of the most influential in the country--shows what was the general feeling +upon the subject. + + RESOLUTION OF THE MANCHESTER CHESS CLUB. + + At a special meeting, called in compliance with a requisition + numerously signed, it was resolved-- + + "That this meeting, while recognizing Mr. Staunton's right to + decline any chess challenge which he might find inconvenient + and incompatible with his other engagements, deems it proper + (inasmuch as Lord Lyttelton has only felt himself at liberty to + answer, in his private capacity, Mr. Morphy's appeal to him as + President of the British Chess Association) to declare its full + concurrence in the opinion expressed by Lord Lyttelton in his + letter to Mr. Morphy, of the 3d inst., that in all fairness and + considerateness Mr. Staunton should have told Mr. Morphy, long + before he did, that he declined the proposed match. + + "That copies of this resolution be sent to Mr. Morphy, Mr. + Staunton, and the editor of the _Illustrated London News._" + + _17th November, 1858._ + +Mr. Staunton was able to cite but one instance of an association +sufficiently hardy to oppose its opinion to the verdict of Lord Lyttelton. +A select circle of Mr. S.'s friends, the close-borough Cambridge +University Chess Club, ventured the following resolutions, which were +forwarded for publication to several journals, as a would-be antidote to +that of the Manchester Club. + + RESOLUTIONS OF THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY CHESS CLUB. + + At a meeting of the Cambridge University Chess Club, held + November 26, 1858, the following resolutions were passed + unanimously: + + "That the Cambridge University Chess Club, recognizing the + important services rendered by Mr. Staunton to the cause of + chess, and seeing with regret the ungenerous attacks which have + for some time past been directed against him by a certain + section of the press, notorious for its anti-English + tendencies, are of opinion + + "1. That under the peculiar circumstances in which Mr. Staunton + found himself placed, it was scarcely possible for him to do + otherwise than decline the proposed match with Mr. Morphy. + + "2. That his allowing the challenge to remain open so long as + there appeared the slightest hope of his being able to play, + was, beyond all question, the proper course to be adopted by + one really anxious for the encounter." + +I cannot do better than give the remarks upon the above resolutions by the +"Era" newspaper; they make mince-meat of the Cantabs' reasonings. The +"Era" answers thus:-- + + THE "ERA'S" REMARKS. + + "It will be seen that the Cambridge University Chess Club + constitutes itself the champion of Mr. Staunton against + "ungenerous attacks directed against him by a section of the + press, notorious for its anti-English tendencies." We wish the + Cambridge gentlemen had pointed out the section they refer to. + We were not aware that chess was of any country, or that there + were any anti-English tendencies in connection with it. The + fact is, that the section of the metropolitan chess press, + conducted by foreigners who have made their homes in England, + has hitherto refrained from expressing any judgment in the + dispute, contenting itself with giving the letters ungarbled + and unmutilated; but in chess columns, conducted by Englishmen, + have appeared the remarks pointed at by the Cambridge Club; so + here we have the anomaly of anti-English Englishmen. With + regard to the resolutions which follow the preamble, it is + impossible to cavil at. (1.) There is no doubt that under what + are delicately called "the peculiar circumstances," Mr. + Staunton was right in not playing Mr. Morphy. If a man feels he + would have no chance, it would be foolish for him to venture on + a contest. Resolution (2) is not so impervious to criticism. + Coming from so learned a quarter as Cambridge, we are rather + disappointed at the looseness of its wording. The intention, of + course, was to justify Mr. Staunton in taking the course he has + adopted, but it does not do so. It says he was right in + "allowing the challenge to remain open" till the last moment. + If, indeed, Mr. Staunton had kept the challenge open as long as + possible no one would have blamed him, but that was precisely + what he did not do. He accepted the challenge, and thereby + closed with it, and his friends subscribed funds for the + stakes. What Mr. Staunton did allow to remain open was the day; + and, after repeated promises to name it, that has been + postponed to--never. This is what is complained of in Mr. + Staunton's conduct, and Lord Lyttelton was right, and expressed + the judgment of the great majority of English chess players, + when he wrote that Mr. Staunton might and ought, at an earlier + date, to have informed Mr. Morphy of his inability to play. We + say nothing of the paragraphs which have appeared in the + journal of which Mr. Staunton is the chess editor, insinuating + that Mr. Morphy's money was not ready, because he (Mr. + Staunton) may not be answerable for them, but confine + ourselves, in conformity with our English tendencies, to an + expression of our concurrence in the views of an English + nobleman, the whole of the members of the Metropolitan Chess + circle, and those of the provincial clubs who have communicated + with us on the subject." + +Mr. Staunton's short-sighted policy with regard to Paul Morphy, had not +only caused him to be condemned _vis-à-vis_ of that gentleman, but his +former career was also dragged into discussion and severely commented +upon. The following letter appeared in the "Field" a week after the appeal +to Lord Lyttelton; and, as will be seen, it is from the pen of a once warm +friend of Mr. Staunton:-- + + MR. STAUNTON AND MR. MORPHY. + + SIR,--I am desirous, with your permission, of saying a few + words upon the relative position now occupied by Messrs. + Staunton and Morphy, whose proposed encounter has been brought + to such an unfortunate, though not unforeseen, termination. Now + I am well acquainted with Mr. Staunton. I have been concerned + on his behalf in the arrangement of one of his (proposed) + matches, with a player whom he has never ceased to vituperate + since that period when I endeavored so strenuously to bring + them together. I have fought Mr. Staunton's battles for him by + pen and by word of mouth on sundry occasions. I wish, indeed, I + could do so now; for, as a chess player, and as a laborer in + the field of chess literature, I place him on the very highest + pinnacle. Since the time of M'Donnell, I believe that no + player in this country--not to say Europe--has ever reached so + high a standard as was attained by our English champion when he + did battle with St. Amant. Since that time he has been the + rather concerned in editorial duties, and in intimating to real + or imaginary correspondents in the _Chess Players' Chronicle_, + (now defunct,) and in the _Illustrated London News_, (full of + vitality,) what he could do on the chequered field, if those + who dreamed of approaching him could but muster sufficient + money to meet his terms, or what other and peculiar + restrictions (owing to delicate health and "nervous + irritability") he should impose upon any adversary with whom he + engaged himself. + + From what I have seen of Mr. Staunton, I should think the term + "delicate" thoroughly inapplicable to his condition, but that + he is highly irritable, and nervously susceptible of all + antagonistic impressions, no one who knows him can for a moment + doubt. + + How easy 'tis, when destiny proves kind, + With full-spread sails to run before the wind. + + So sings the poet. Destiny _did_ prove kind to Mr. Staunton + when he played his match in Paris with St. Amant. The + Englishman made the most of it, and achieved a splendid + triumph. At the great Chess Tournament in 1851 destiny was not + quite so obliging. The champion from whom we expected so much + had a head-wind against him, and he was beaten. I saw much of + Mr. Staunton at that time. I believe--in all justice let it be + said--that he was thoroughly unnerved, that he was utterly + unequal to an arduous contest, and that his great merits ought + not to be gauged by his play upon the occasion alluded to. He + deserved (he did not receive, for he had never given the same + to others) every sympathy under circumstances which were + intensely mortifying to himself personally, and to us + nationally. + + Since 1851 it has been pretty generally understood that Mr. + Staunton's irritability has not diminished, and that his + literary responsibilities have the rather multiplied. + Consequently we had no right to expect, nationally, that he + would again be our champion, and contend with the young + American, whose reputation ran before him to Europe, and has + accompanied him ever since his arrival from the United States. + We had no right, I say, to expect this, _but for one reason_. + That reason is to be found in the chess department of the + _Illustrated London News_, of which Mr. S. is the acknowledged + editor. It has been there constantly implied--nay, it has been + over and over again unequivocally stated--during the last eight + years, that the vanquisher of St. Amant is still the English + champion; that as such he has a right to dictate his own terms, + and that if any one is prepared to accede to those terms, he + (Mr. Staunton) is prepared for the encounter. It matters not + whether the correspondents to whom these implications are made + are real or (as is generally supposed) imaginary. It is + sufficient that certain statements are made with the intention + of conveying a false impression to the public as regards Mr. + Staunton's desire to play and capability of playing. This is + where he is so greatly to blame; this is the point on which he + has alienated from himself during the last few years so many of + his warmest friends. No one blames Mr. Staunton for not playing + with Mr. Morphy; but every one has a right to blame Mr. + Staunton if, week after week, he implies in his own organ that + there is a chance of a match, if all that time he knows that + there is no chance of a match whatever. This, I affirm + deliberately, and with great pain, is what Mr. Staunton has + done. It has been done times out of number, and this in ways + which have been hardly noticed. If the editor of the chess + department of the _Illustrated London News_ merely states as a + piece of news that Mr. Morphy is coming to England from America + to arrange a match at chess with Mr. Staunton, and Mr. Staunton + (being that editor himself, and being burdened with literary + responsibilities which he knows to be so great as to prevent + his playing an arduous contest) fails to append to such + statement another, to the effect that he has given up public + chess, and has no intention of again renewing it, he is not + acting in a straightforward and honorable manner. But much more + than this has been effected. So solicitous has Mr. Staunton + been to trade as long as possible upon his past reputation, + that it has been written in the _Illustrated London News_ since + Mr. Morphy's arrival in this country, that he (Mr. M.) is not + prepared with the necessary stakes for an encounter with Mr. + Staunton. What truth there was in such averment may be gathered + from the admirable letter in your impression of last Saturday + from the young American to Lord Lyttelton. Why is not Mr. + Staunton content to say (what those who like him best would be + glad to be authorized to say for him): "I have done much for + the cause of chess, but I am not equal to what I once was; and + I am hampered by engagements which do not admit of my playing + matches now. I cannot risk my reputation under such manifest + disadvantages as would surround me in a contest with Mr. + Morphy." The public at large would then respect Mr. Staunton's + candor, and have a larger appreciation than they now have of + his great merits. It is true that Mr. Staunton _has_ said this + at last; but he has been forced to say with a bad grace what + ought long ago to have been said voluntarily with a good one. + + These unpleasant (not to use a harsher term) circumstances are + the more to be deplored at present because of the frank, + courteous, and unassuming conduct of Mr. Morphy upon every + occasion since he set foot in Europe. I have seen him play in + London and in Paris; and I have noted those obliging and + unobtrusive manners which secure to him the good-will of + everybody, and surround him by troops of friends. How is it + that Mr. Staunton is not surrounded by troops of friends + likewise? Is he not a scholar and a gentleman? Has he not many + qualifications for the distinguished literary position he now + fills? Undoubtedly he has. But he has never been able to merge + the personal in the general--to regard his own individuality as + other than the first consideration. Brought into contact many + years ago with players who were not refined gentlemen, an + antagonism was immediately established between the two parties. + Unhappily for the chess world, literary opportunities were + afforded in the columns of rival newspapers for the indulgence + of malevolent feelings on both sides. To this warfare there has + never been a cessation. So notorious is the fact of its + existence that it is impossible to rely, in one paper, upon any + statement having reference to the London Chess Club; it is + equally impossible to rely, in the other, upon any statement + affecting the St. George's Club. Ladies who are devoted to + "Caissa," and write to the _Illustrated London News_, are not + aware of these things. Imaginary correspondents, of course, are + utterly ignorant of them. But we who live in and about London, + who have been behind the scenes at both theatres, know how much + reliance is to be placed upon a certain kind of chess + intelligence with which two rival journals regale their + correspondents and the general public every week. Look even at + the _Illustrated London News_ of last Saturday, and you will + see a letter professing to come from Birmingham, (I think it is + a misprint for Billingsgate,) which is absolutely disgraceful. + Why should Mr. Staunton try to bolster up his reputation (which + is European) with sentiments and language of a purely (I mean + impurely) local character? Why is one player always to be cried + up at the expense of another? Why are ungenerous and + ungentlemanly insinuations to be made against a youth whose + conduct has been characterized by so much unobtrusiveness and + so much good feeling as that of Mr. Morphy? Why is Mr. Harrwitz + always to be run down in the _Illustrated London News_? Why are + Mr. Löwenthal and Mr. Brien, quondam editorial _protégés_, now + never spoken of but in terms of disparagement? Why should Mr. + Staunton call upon the _cercle_ at Paris to insist upon Mr. + Harrwitz progressing with his match with Mr. Morphy at a more + rapid pace, when the German had pleaded ill health as the cause + of the delay? Who has drawn so largely upon the patience of the + British public, on the score of ill health and "palpitations of + the heart," _et hoc genus omne_, as the generous and + sympathizing writer who thus stabs a rival player when he is + down? It is time, sir, that these things should cease. We are + all weary of them. What better opportunity for crying a truce + to these mean and petty warfares of the pen than the one which + now presents itself? Mr. Staunton is our champion no longer. We + must turn to some one else to uphold the national flag upon + that field where Labourdonnais and M'Donnell fought and + struggled. So anxious am I that good feeling should be + restored, and that we should be united as I see chess players + united in other countries, that I have put together hurriedly + these reflections, which, however imperfect they may be, are + true and just. And because I have observed that the chess + department of _The Field_, which you so ably edit, is + peculiarly free from personalities and remarkably authentic in + its information, I ask you to help me in the good cause by + giving publicity to this letter. I am not ashamed of what I + have written, nor do I desire to shrink from the responsibility + of revealing my name, if it is necessary. I enclose my card, as + a guarantee, and prefer, if it meets your views, to appear only + under the name of-- + + PAWN-AND-TWO. + +It is difficult in any country, and quite impossible in England, to +struggle successfully against public opinion. Mr. Staunton had kept +silence as long as possible, but there was but one course for him to +pursue, namely, in one way or another to own that he was wrong. The chess +circles in which he was once the most welcome of all comers, now turned on +him the cold shoulder; the first clubs in the kingdom, _and amongst them +the St. George's_, were signifying their desire to offer Paul Morphy +public dinners; such eminent players as Captain Kennedy volunteered +subscriptions towards a national testimonial for the young American, not +more as an evidence of their admiration for him as a master in the game, +than as marking their esteem for him as a man.[C] Mr. Staunton could no +longer resist such a pressure, and besides, he owed some apology to his +paper for the suppression of the famous paragraph; he therefore addressed +the following communication to his chief, the editor of the _Illustrated +London News_: + + MR. STAUNTON'S EXPLANATION. + + _To the Editor of the Illustrated London News_: + + SIR,--My attention has this moment been directed to a passage + in a letter of Lord Lyttelton to Mr. Morphy, wherein allusion + is made to the "suppression" of a portion of Mr. Morphy's + letter to me, which you published, together with my answer, in + your paper for Oct. 23. I have not seen the epistle to which + Lord Lyttelton's is a reply; but I plead guilty at once to + having omitted, when sending you Mr. Morphy's jeremiade and my + answer, a couple of paragraphs from the former. My reasons for + omitting them were, in the first place, because they appeared + to me to be irrelevant to the main point between Mr. Morphy and + me; secondly, because I know if the letters extended very much + beyond the limited space you apportion to chess, they were + pretty certain of being omitted, or, as Mr. Morphy phrases it, + "_suppressed_" altogether; and, thirdly, because I had already + written to a friend in Paris with whom, through my + introduction, Mr. M. was living upon intimate terms, an + explanation touching the notice Mr. Morphy professes to be so + concerned at; and from my friend's reply, which intimated that + Mr. M. was about to write to me in an amicable spirit, I of + course supposed there was an end of the matter, and that I + should be permitted to pursue my work, and this young gentleman + his play, without further misunderstanding. That, after this, + and in the face of my endeavors through your Journal to set his + blindfold and other chess exploits before the public in the + most advantageous light--in the face of every civility which to + the extent of my opportunities, I have endeavored to show him + from the first moment of his arrival in this country--he could + reconcile it to his sense of honor and honesty, to impute to me + a wilful suppression of any portion of his letter, does, + indeed, amaze me, and I can only account for it, by supposing + he is under the influence of very ill advisers, or that his + idea of what is honorable and honest, is very different from + what I had hoped and believed it to be. + + I am, sir, yours, &c., + H. STAUNTON. + + _November 15._ + + P. S. That you may judge with what likelihood and with what + propriety Mr. Morphy attributes the omission of the _excerpta_ + to sinister motives, I enclose them, and shall be obliged by + your giving them the additional publicity he craves, as soon as + your space permits:-- + + "A statement appeared in the chess department of that Journal, + (_The Illustrated London News_) a few weeks since, that 'Mr. + Morphy had come to Europe unprovided with backers or + seconds'--the inference being obvious, that my want of funds + was the reason of our match not taking place. As you are the + editor of that department of the _Illustrated London News_, I + felt much hurt that a gentleman who had always received me at + his club and elsewhere, with great kindness and courtesy should + allow so prejudicial a statement to be made in reference to me; + one, too, which is not strictly consonant with fact." + + "In conclusion, I beg leave to state, that I have addressed a + copy of this letter to the editors of the _Illustrated London + News_, _Bell's Life in London_, _The Era_, _The Field_, and + _The Sunday Times_; being most desirous that our true position + should no longer be misunderstood by the community at large. I + again request you to fix the date for our commencing the + match." + +Mr. Morphy was not desirous of prolonging the discussion, after so full +and entire an indorsement from Mr. Staunton's fellow-countrymen, or he +could easily have driven that gentleman further into the mire. But Mr. S. +made two statements in the above letter, which Paul Morphy could not allow +to pass unrebuked, and he accordingly denied, publicly, that he had +received any introduction whatever from that gentleman, or that he had +even hinted his intention of writing Mr. Staunton, amicably or otherwise. + +The latter part of the letter is in questionable taste. As though Mr. S. +had acquired any right to misrepresent facts, publish misstatements, and +deny reparation, on account of "having set his (M.'s) blindfold and other +chess-exploits before the public in the most advantageous light." + +By so doing, Mr. Staunton merely fulfilled his editorial duty; for the +entire chess world was on the _qui vive_ after Morphy's exploits. _His +games were being published throughout Europe, to the exclusion of nearly +all others_, and surely Mr. S. could not allow his paper to be behind +other journals. _But he knew full well that, after the first fortnight or +three weeks, Mr. Morphy never gave him a single partie, being hurt at the +ungenerous treatment evinced towards him in the notes._ Mr. Staunton was +using the columns of an influential journal to crush a dangerous opponent, +and, at the time he penned the above letter, he well knew that Paul Morphy +resented from the first such unfairness, and had positively forbidden any +of his games to be sent to him. + +Mr. Staunton makes reference, in conclusion, to "very ill advisers." I +suppose I must take this mainly to myself, more particularly as it is not +the first time of his using the expression during the discussion. Without +attempting to defend myself, I would say to Mr. Staunton: "I can reconcile +it with my sense of honor and honesty, to impute to you a wilful +suppression of the paragraph so frequently referred to. Had you given that +paragraph, you would, _per force_, have been obliged to give your reasons +for the assertion therein contained. And I would remind you, sir, that, in +all this discussion, you have never touched the real point at issue--never +apologized for the misstatement of which Mr. Morphy complains with so much +cause. Paul Morphy is acquainted with the reason for that misstatement, +but he has never evinced a desire to force you to state it publicly. He +can afford to be generous." + +It may be cause of regret to some that the match between these two +_athletæ_ did not take place. Such a contest would not have afforded any +test of comparison, inasmuch as Mr. Staunton is not now the player he was +eight or ten years ago. But an infallible test exists by which to judge of +their respective merits--viz. _their games_. "By their fruits ye shall +know them." + + * * * * * + +MORAL. + +Mr. Staunton's weakness was want of sufficient courage to say, "He is +stronger than I." Löwenthal said it _before his match with Morphy was +finished_; Mr. Boden openly avowed his inferiority, as also Mr. Bird, and +many other eminent players. And Saint Amant, in Paris, led the young hero +up the steps of the throne, and seated him beside Labourdonnais, +proclaiming, "Voiçi notre maitre à nous tous." Had Mr. Staunton so done, +he would merely have anticipated the verdict of posterity, and honored +himself in the eyes of his countrymen and the world. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[C] CAPTAIN KENNEDY'S OPINION OF PAUL MORPHY. + + _To the Editor of the Era_: + + SIR,--As I understand that Mr. Morphy contemplates another + visit to England before his return to America, will you permit + me, through your columns, respectfully to suggest to the chess + community of this country the propriety of offering him a + public entertainment, together with some adequate testimonial + which may serve to mark our sense of his transcendent ability + as a chess player; and also our appreciation of him as a + chivalrous, high-spirited, and honorable man--a character which + I hope Englishmen know how to value far more than even any + amount of skill at chess. + + Should this proposal take any definite shape, I shall be happy + to be allowed to contribute £5 towards its accomplishment. + + I am, sir, your obedient servant, + A. A. KENNEDY. + + BATH, _Jan. 1, 1859_. + +[Captain Kennedy, we feel sure, in this communication, expresses the +feeling of a large majority of English chess players, and we have little +doubt but that his suggestion will be entertained and carried out. For +ourselves we shall be happy to aid to the utmost in any plan that is +formed for the purpose.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MORPHY IN FRANCE. + + +On the last day of last August, I awakened Paul Morphy at an early hour. +The Folkestone train left London Bridge at 9 55 A. M., and there was some +twenty minutes of hard driving to get to the railway station; but Morphy +came down to breakfast with admirable _sang froid_, took his own time at +the meal, laughed at my fears of being too late, and got into a cab at +least ten minutes later than we ought to have done. We arrived at the +depot in time to see the doors shut in our faces. Now this was not +agreeable, inasmuch as there was no other train for Paris, by that line, +during the day. I therefore proposed to Morphy that we should stroll about +until half-past one o'clock in the afternoon, and then take the route +through Dover and Calais, to which he assented. + +The trip across the Straits of Dover is neither long nor pleasant, and Mr. +Morphy was dreadfully sea-sick; but his mind was preoccupied with his +forthcoming campaigns in _la Belle France_, and he observed to me, "Well, +now I am going to meet Harrwitz! I shall beat him in the same proportion +as I beat Löwenthal, although he is a better match-player than Löwenthal. +But I shall play better with Harrwitz." Some of my readers may object to +such an observation; but those who know Morphy, know that he speaks from +thorough acquaintance with his opponents' capabilities, and conviction of +his own superiority--not from any improper feeling of pride. + +People suffering from sea-sickness generally recognize the truth of the +maxim, "It is better to give than to receive:" you have much difficulty in +getting them to take any thing, even fat pork; but if you watch your +opportunity, when the will is stronger than the deed, and induce them to +worry down a modicum of champagne well up, you infuse new life into them. +So I requested the steward to make us acquainted with his Silléry +Mousseux, and Morphy and I toasted each other on the deck of the +steamboat. On my asking him immediately afterwards how he felt, he allowed +that he was better; adding, however, that he believed it was nothing but +imagination which worked the cure. + +It was but a short run to the pier of Calais, and the sea-sickness was +forgotten when our feet again touched _terra firma_. On landing, we got +into a slight difficulty. Morphy speaks the French language with the +purest Gallic accent, and the officials would not at first consent to his +travelling with a United States passport. This our hero soon cleared up by +reading the _gens d'armes_ a _précis_ of the settlement, manners, +customs, &c., of the State of Louisiana, and his own antecedents; +whereupon that official restored him his _papier règlé_, but confiscated a +quantity of underlinen. They told us that was Customary. + +Eight o'clock in the evening; and if we took the train forthwith, we +should arrive in Paris next morning at six. Morphy proposed that we should +sleep there that night, and take an early train the following day, which +course would enable us to see the town of Calais. So we repaired to the +Hotel Dessin, attended to our inner and outer man, and then prepared for a +stroll. As the result of our observations, we agreed Calais must have been +a magnificent town before the discovery of the principles of architecture. +After diligent inquiry, we could not learn that any one knew when the last +house was built, and Morphy gave it as his opinion that, were William the +Conqueror to revisit Calais, he would find it unchanged, except in being +dirtier. When I reminded him that the town possessed peculiar interest for +me as an Englishman, he coolly set me down, by observing that he had a +very poor opinion of my ancestors for wishing to keep such a place. + +The next morning we got into the train at a quarter to eight o'clock, and +commenced the long, dreary ride of ten mortal hours to Paris. But there +was no way out of the difficulty, and, what with yawning and dozing +between the stations, and grumbling at the tedious regulation speed of the +French railways, we ultimately arrived at the capital. Now every +traveller, on getting to this point, thinks he is bound to paint the +various emotions arising in his breast on entering the city of the Seine. +My own sensations were of strong Anglican bias. I wanted to dine. Morphy +is never betrayed into rhapsody, and what he felt he didn't speak. + +Having again submitted our baggage to the inspection of numerous +officials, we thanked our stars for seeing the last of the _Chemin de Fer +du Nord_,--drove off to _Meurice's_, where they gave us rooms about the +fifteenth story,--started for the _Restaurant des Trois Frères +Provençaux_, and got a capital dinner, and then addressed ourselves to the +duties of _flaneurs_. I knew the French capital like a _gamin de Paris_; +and, without saying a word to Morphy of my intention, I led him quietly +down the Palais Royal, past the Théâtre Français, and right into the Café +de la Régence. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE CAFÉ DE LA RÉGENCE. + + +Were I called upon to name the central spot in this whirling sphere, the +point round which all other points revolve, I should say--The Café de la +Régence. + +Probably many of my readers will not think so, but that does not alter the +fact. I name that café, not as a chess player, but from more general +reasons. Take a bowl of water or any other liquid--_punch_ will do--and, +prior to drinking, experiment upon it. Turn it round and round until the +liquid revolves quickly, and mark: there is one spot in the centre, a +bubble, or mass of foam, which appears stationary, and all the other +bubbles are circling and converging spirally towards it. So with my café. + +In Paris, every other house is a café. The inhabitants are divided into +two classes:--waiters at the café, and--frequenters of the café. Paris +never existed until coffee was introduced. Paris is merely a big café, and +is a product of the Mocha berry. + +Every café has its speciality. At Paul Niquet's, for instance, the +chiffoniers congregate, and at Tortoni's, speculators and politicians. Not +one of these establishments, throughout the city, but has its mark, by +which to distinguish it from its fellows, in the same way as an ugly woman +consoles herself with the belief that she has one quality at least which +will captivate admirers. But the Café de la Régence stands out peculiar +from the rest; it is what they are, and more too. It is an epitome of all. + +Now the reader must not suppose I am going to enter on a lengthy history +of this far-famed trysting spot of men of all countries, more particularly +as Mr. George Walker anticipated me many years ago. Everybody knows that +the Café de la Régence and the Café Procope are the two oldest in Paris; +that the former is so named after the famous Regent Duke of Orleans; that +Voltaire, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Duke of Richelieu, Marshall Saxe, +Franklin, Robespierre, Napoleon, etc., etc., etc., made it their place of +frequent resort for the purpose of playing at chess. I am about to give a +daguerreotype of the Régence as Morphy and I found it, and as any one will +find it at the present day. + +The first thing we caught sight of, on entering, was a dense cloud of +tobacco smoke, the product of _tabac de Caporal_ and _cigars de la Régie_. +The second object was a massive individual, with Titanic shoulders, whom +we afterwards learned was Monsieur Morel, or, as they call him there, "Le +père Morel," and "The Rhinoceros." Having turned the flank of this +gentleman, and our eyes becoming used to the peculiar atmosphere, we +observed that tables were placed as close to each other as would admit of +one's passing between them, and that chess was being played on some, +draughts, cards, and dominoes on others. In a second room, two +billiard-tables were in full action, surrounded by still other chess and +card parties, whilst the unceasing hubbub arising from the throng seemed +to render mental abstraction an impossibility. At a table in the first +room, a small crowd was watching the contest between two amateurs of "ye +noble game of chesse playe," and Morphy's attention was immediately +arrested. I stepped up to the _dame du comptoir_ and made inquiries as to +who was then in the room, and learned from her that one of the two players +Morphy was watching was Monsieur Journoud, "un de nos plus forts," the +lady added, as though aware I was a stranger. She informed me that Mr. +Harrwitz was then at Valenciennes, but intended to return to Paris at the +end of the week, in order to meet Mr. Morphy. On my not expressing any +surprise at the mention of the latter's name, she volunteered the +information that Mr. Morphy was a celebrated American player, who had +beaten everybody he had played with, and that they expected him yesterday. +The lady was pleasingly voluble, and I encouraged her; this induced her to +add that Monsieur Arnoux de Rivière had just received a letter from a +friend in London, apprising him that our hero had left the English +capital, and was _en route_ for Paris. + +Having learned as much as the _dame du comptoir_ was able to communicate, +I rejoined Morphy, and we took a second look round the room. Sounds of all +European languages saluted our ears, and types of different races our +eyes. In one corner, a knot of Italians talked, amicably no doubt, in +their rapid, quarrelsome manner. At one of the billiard tables, a party of +Russians were having it their own way, without fear of listeners; +Americans and English, Germans, Danes, Swedes, Greeks, Spaniards, etc., +jabbered together regardless of bystanders, making the café a very Babel. +Scores of journals were lying here and there--the leading newspapers, in +fact, throughout Europe--so that every visitor, no matter what his +nationality, could obtain news of home. + +The crowd seemed, as it always does, to represent every rank of society. +There were military men, from colonels to privates; one or two priests, +who seemed somewhat out of their element; well-dressed, +aristocratic-looking individuals, who kept together in knots in different +corners; and the invariable _pillier de café_, who passes half his +existence in such establishments, and the other half in bed. The Café de +la Régence opens at eight o'clock in the morning, but little or nothing is +done until noon, barring the daily visit of some three or four patrons who +drink their coffee in silence, and are not seen again until early next +day. But at noon men begin to drop in quickly, and, by two o'clock, the +room is as full as it can conveniently hold, and so continues until +midnight. + +The Café de la Régence has only existed on its present site for a few +years; in fact, since Louis Napoleon has made the many magnificent +alterations in the French capital. Previously, it was next door, in a +_locale_ not half so convenient as the present one. The café is separated +into two rooms on the Rue St. Honoré; in the larger one, which we have +already described, smoking is permitted to a frightful extent; in the +other, it is strictly forbidden. The latter chamber is well fitted up, and +the ceiling, which is massive, contains four shields in the cornices, +bearing the names of Philidor, Deschappelles, and Labourdonnais. The +fourth bears the date of the café's foundation, and the proprietor has +stated his intention of placing therein the name MORPHY. Perhaps it is +already done. + +At the time of our arrival in Paris, the _Cercle des Echecs_, or in other +words, the Chess Club, met in rooms over the café. The association had +three rooms set apart for chess, and one for billiards, and Saint Amant, +Devinck, Guibert, Préti, Doazan, Delannoy, Seguin and Lecrivain were +amongst the members. But the great room down stairs prevented their +receiving any accession of numbers, and the rent being very high, and +funds very low, they gave up their quarters at the end of last year, and +are now to be found in the café below. + +Morphy would not announce his arrival on his first visit, preferring to +postpone it until the following day. When it was known that the so much +looked-for player was in Paris, the excitement was great; Frenchmen live +for excitement. M. de Rivière had not been there lately, but we found +Messrs. Lecrivain, Journoud, Guibert, and numbers of knight and +rook-players. The first-named gentleman, by general request, offered +himself as the initiatory sacrifice, accepting the odds of pawn and two +moves, and managed to score some two games to Morphy's six or seven. Then +M. de Rivière arrived, and getting the move, played the Ruy Lopez, which +eventuated in "a draw;" and he was subsequently followed by M. Journoud, +who, though one of the best French players, failed to score a victory. +Morphy had made his mark, and everybody looked forward to the arrival of +Herr Harrwitz, when they hoped to see fun. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE MATCH BETWEEN MORPHY AND HARRWITZ. + + +Saturday came, and so did Harrwitz. We found him a little man, of about +forty, with finely-developed head, and large, piercing black eyes. In +conversation, he is exceedingly witty and "cool," and many are the good +things told of him. Some of my readers will remember the rebuke he gave +Mr. Staunton, when playing his celebrated match with that gentleman. +Harrwitz had made a move which caused much reflection to his opponent, who +rolled about on his chair and stroked his forehead energetically, as only +Mr. Staunton can do, giving spectators the impression that his brain was +in an agony of labor. He examined the position, and re-examined it; but, +the more he looked, the less he liked it. Savage at being balked, he +exclaimed--"Well, I've lost a move," and thereupon played a piece. +Harrwitz coolly rises from his seat, rings the bell frantically, and gives +the following order: "Waiter, look about for a move; Mr. Staunton has lost +one." + +[Illustration: HERR ANDERSSEN. M. SAINT AMANT. HERR HARRWITZ.] + +There is probably no man living who plays so much chess as Herr +Harrwitz. All great chess players I know of, are great _lie-a'beds_, and +he is no exception to the rule. His night-gear and he part company many +hours after sunrise, and he starts forthwith for the Café de la Régence, +where he plays, with only a slight intermission for dinner, until he goes +home to bed again. His opponents are generally visitors to the café, not +the habitués; for these last have taken great dislike to his very +offensive manner, and will not contend with him. They say, too, that he +evinces an improper desire to win, and, in consequence, will only give the +odds of pawn and move, when he could well afford pawn and two, and the +knight instead of the rook. In my character of historian, I am bound to +state that the feeling was very intense at the Régence in favor of Morphy, +and many the prayers (_French_ prayers) that Harrwitz might succumb to +him. + +The two celebrities shook hands together, and Morphy immediately asked if +he would consent to play a match. The fact is, the young Paul meant +mischief. Everybody in England was loud in praise of Harrwitz's skill, and +prophesied a tough encounter. There was reason in this; for the Prussian +player has given himself up, body and soul, to the game. Staunton's +literary avocations now permit him but an hour or two weekly for chess, +although formerly he lived in the London Divan, as Harrwitz in the +Régence, and was so rabid about Caïssa, that he actually wore shirts with +kings, rooks, pawns, etc., printed over the bosoms and tails. Saint Amant +was never a professional chess player, merely regarding it as a pastime. +Löwenthal's duties as chess editor and analyst, prevent his giving much +time to play, and, although he devotes a certain period weekly to the +contests at the London, St. George's, and St. James's Clubs, he seldom +contends for any stake. Anderssen is absorbed in mathematics at the +Breslau Gymnasium; Heyderbrandt's diplomatic career engages nearly his +entire attention; Buckle has forgotten his former love; Boden, Bird, +Medley, Walker, Mongredieu, Slous, Kipping, De Rivière, Laroche, are +engaged in mercantile pursuits; Lowe is getting rich with his hotel; +Hörwitz is painting; Kling is a professor of music; and so on with nearly +all European players. Harrwitz is the only man I know of who seems to live +for chess, and we can, therefore, easily understand why Morphy was so +desirous of playing him. + +To our hero's question, Harrwitz gave a reply so non-committal, that +Morphy said, aside, to me, "He won't play a match." A crowd had collected +around us, and the Prussian, thinking it an admirable opportunity for +display, asked Morphy whether he had any objection to an off-hand game. Of +course he had not. Harrwitz had the move, and played an Allgaier Gambit, +which, after a hard fight, he won. Morphy was somewhat excited, made a +mistake in the opening, by which he lost three pawns for nothing at all, +and yet fought the battle with such determination, that the number of +moves was not far short of a hundred. His antagonist was delighted with +his victory, thought he was sure of Morphy, and engaged to settle the +preliminaries of a match on the following day. + +The next morning Harrwitz arrived at his usual hour--noon. He informed +Morphy that his friends were desirous of backing him, but that the stakes +were not made up yet. Morphy replied that that would be no objection, as +he would accept any bets that might be offered during the match, and they +could therefore begin at once. But another difficulty stood in the way. +Morphy, in pursuance of a settled plan, had chosen his seconds from the +enemy's camp, and had requested De Rivière and Journoud to act as his +friends in this contest. Harrwitz chose to regard these gentlemen with +feelings of enmity, and stated that, "if there were any seconds, there +would be no match." Morphy was thus placed in a very equivocal position. +Without being aware of any dispute existing between his future antagonist +and the gentlemen in question, he had chosen them as his representatives: +how could he now ask them to back out, because Mr. Harrwitz demanded it? +However, on my representing the case to them, Messrs. De Rivière and +Journoud resigned their office in the most kindly and willing manner, so +desirous were they of seeing the match come off. + +Shortly afterwards Monsieur Lequesne arrived. This gentleman, the pupil +and worthy successor of Pradier, is now the first of living French +sculptors, and the peer of Marochetti, Crawford, and Gibson. He is also a +strong chess player, and the most active man in France for arranging +matches, tournaments, &c. He immediately adjourned with Harrwitz, Morphy, +and myself to a private room, to settle preliminaries, and, if I recollect +rightly, Dr. Grosboulogne was of the party. Harrwitz expressed his dislike +to any thing like ceremony, and objected to their being seconds or umpires +in the affair; sorry were Morphy, Lequesne, and H.'s own backers, +afterwards, that he carried the day on that point. The only arrangements +made were, that Morphy was to accept all bets offered, that the winner of +the first seven games should be esteemed the victor, and that the play +should take place on four days in the week; and, finally, at Harrwitz's +express stipulation, the match was to be played in the public café. + +All this being agreed upon, the two champions came forth, and went at it. +On drawing for the move, Harrwitz was again successful, and played, as he +always does in matches, _pawn to queen's fourth_. This opening, and +_Philidor in defence_, as second player, you could no more drive him away +from, than you could induce Great Britain to give up Gibraltar. _Pawn to +queen's fourth_ served Harrwitz's turn once, and so did _Philidor in +defence_, but only once, and I do not think it would then, if Morphy had +been in good condition. + +The night before the commencement of the match, Morphy had been +sight-seeing until a very late hour; and we only got into bed between two +and three o'clock in the morning. He laughed at me for reminding him of +his approaching contest, and the necessity for _mens sana in corpore +sano_, which I said would be seriously interfered with by his not taking +sufficient rest. The next day his appearance verified my prognostics, and +he failed to show that impassibility which ordinarily characterizes him. +He says, however, that Harrwitz beat him because he (H.) played the best +moves; and he would not admit to me that want of rest at all interfered +with his own play. + +Throughout the first game, Harrwitz displayed the most rollicking contempt +for his antagonist, and, at the conclusion, when Morphy resigned, he rose +from his seat, stretched across the table, and taking the latter by the +hand, he felt his pulse and declared to the crowd--"Well, it is +astonishing! His pulse does not beat any faster than if he had won the +game." Everybody was disgusted at such a contemptuous proceeding, but +Morphy took it all as quietly as though it were a part of the match. + +Our hero passed that evening with some friends. Towards eleven o'clock I +said to him, "Now, Morphy, you really must not have a second edition of +last night; let us get home in good time;" but he replied, "Oh, don't be +frightened, I've got the move to-morrow;" and, in spite of all I could say +or do, we did not get to bed until nearly four o'clock. Well, what was the +consequence? After getting a magnificent position in the second game of +the match, bodily fatigue came upon him, and Harrwitz was again victor. +The Prussian came out in greater glory than ever, rolling about in his +seat, talking loudly to persons about the board, and smiling sardonically +at his opponent, as much as to say, "Oh, it takes very little trouble to +beat this fellow." Many leading players in the café, especially De Rivière +and Journoud, were very savage at such conduct, but I told them--"Mark my +words, Mr. Harrwitz will be quiet as a lamb before the end of next week." + +The result of the play with Harrwitz had shaken the faith of the French +players in Morphy. But as we left the café, he said laughingly to me, "How +astonished all these men will be if Harrwitz does not get another game." +And he did not. At dinner, I reasoned the matter with him, saying that the +first requisite for any man engaged in a chess match, was rest for the +brain; and that he ought, by this time, to be convinced of the absolute +necessity of keeping early hours. And I wound up by exacting a promise +from him that he would never be out of bed after midnight, during the +match. + +In the evening we went to the Opera Comique, and witnessed a very +unsatisfactory performance of "La Part du Diable." Morphy has a great love +for music, and his memory for any air he has once heard is astonishing. +Mrs. Morphy is renowned in the _salons_ of New Orleans as a brilliant +pianist and musician, and her son, without ever having studied music, has +a similar aptitude for it, and it is believed that he would have become as +famous therein as in chess, had he given his attention to it. "La Part du +Diable" was a new opera, and Morphy, after leaving the theatre, hummed +over many of the airs to me, which he had just heard for the first time, +with astonishing precision. + +The next day we took a long drive among the "lions," and, in the evening, +dined at the residence of that chess veteran and friend of Deschappelles +and Labourdonnais, Monsieur Doazan. Harrwitz was of the company, and, for +the nonce, acted Jupiter Triumphans in superb style. I felt indignant at +such conduct towards a man so inoffensive and modest as Mr. Morphy, and I +observed: "I am sorry, Mr. Harrwitz, you have not yet found Mr. Morphy in +good fighting trim. The fact is, he has been preparing to meet you by not +going to bed until common men are about to rise, but he has promised to +retire early in future, and you will then find in him a very different +antagonist." It was merely a hint, but the gentle Harrwitz did not like +it. The following morning, Morphy said to me at breakfast, "If I beat +Harrwitz to-day, you will say it is because I went to bed at eleven +o'clock;" to which I replied, "Perhaps; but I do say that you lost the +first two games because you went to bed at four." + +The third and fourth games Morphy scored in beautiful style. The latter, +Staunton declared, "would have excited the admiration of Labourdonnais," +and the effect upon Harrwitz was interesting. During its progress, his +conduct was quite gentlemanly, with the exception of a violent shaking +consequent upon nervous excitement. There was cause for this. On the +other side of the board sat Morphy, looking, in his peculiar way, like a +block of impassible, living marble, the very embodiment of penetration and +decision. No hesitancy or excitement there, but all cool, calm action, +knowing where it must end; and, as he rose from his seat, everybody +congratulated him on the score now standing two to two, and assured him +they were confident what would be the result. We laughed heartily at these +men who, but a few days previous, had looked woefully chopfallen, fearing +that Harrwitz was too strong for Morphy. + +The fifth game was played on the following Monday, and the Prussian lost +it, although he had the move. Harrwitz felt uncomfortable, plainly feeling +that his present antagonist was, as he expressed himself to a friend, +"very much stronger than any he had ever met." We now had several days' +intermission from play, the plea being "ill health;" and, finally, Morphy +received a letter from his opponent, asking for a respite of a week or ten +days, to which a reply was returned granting the request, on condition +that, when the match was resumed, a game should be played daily, Sundays +alone excepted. At the termination of ten days, Harrwitz lost the sixth +game, so that the score now stood--Morphy, four; Harrwitz, two; drawn, +none. And the latter, in spite of the agreement, was again absent from the +battle-field for some days. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MORPHY'S GREATEST BLINDFOLD FEAT. + + +Awaiting the return of his antagonist, Paul Morphy announced his intention +of playing eight blindfold games, simultaneously, in the public café. It +is needless to assure my readers that the mere announcement produced the +greatest excitement; the newspapers heralded the fact throughout the city, +and crowds of strangers came pouring into the Régence, and asking +particulars of the _habitués_ in relation to the approaching performance. +Harrwitz had already asked Morphy to join him in a public display of the +same description, to which the admission was to be five francs, and Morphy +felt embarrassed in answering him; but the good offices of Mr. Lequesne +arranged the difficulty, without hurting any one's _amour propre_, and the +proposed exhibition was set on one side. Morphy has an intense dislike to +money-fingering in connection with chess; and he made it a _sine qua non_ +that, if he played blindfold at all, the _Café de la Régence_ should be +open to any one who chose to walk in. The proprietor, Monsieur Delaunay, +was only too glad to accede to this; not merely foreseeing that the +exhibition would attract crowds to his establishment, and be an admirable +advertisement, but also from a friendly feeling for our hero. The +frequenters of the place used to say that Delaunay would give Morphy half +his café, if he asked him for it. + +The blindfold struggle was publicly announced to commence at noon; but, at +an early hour, the crowd was already considerable. The billiard-tables in +the further room were sacrificed to the exigencies of the occasion; I +requested the waiters to put a thick cord round them, so as to rail off a +space for Morphy, and a large easy-chair, placed in the _enceinte_, made +the whole arrangements as comfortable for him as could be wished. He, +however, was not up to the mark, as regards bodily health. Morphy is a +water-drinker, and Paris water would cure any Maine Liquor Law bigot of +Teetotalism in a week. Since the outset of the match with Harrwitz, he had +been ailing, but he preferred playing to making excuses. His own +expression was, "Je ne suis pas homme aux excuses"--(I am no man to make +excuses,) and he was always ready for Harrwitz, although obliged to ride +to the café. Nothing proves so satisfactorily to me Morphy's wondrous +powers in chess, as his contests in France, laboring, as he constantly +did, under positive bodily suffering. A man's brain will often be more +than ordinarily active and clear when the body is weak from late illness; +but it is not so when there is pain existing. At breakfast, on the +morning fixed for this blindfold exhibition, he said to me, "I don't know +how I shall get through my work to-day. I am afraid I shall be obliged to +leave the room, and some evil-minded persons may think I am examining +positions outside." Yet, in spite of this, he sits down, and, during ten +long hours, creates combinations which have never been surpassed on the +chess-board, although his opponents were men of recognized strength, and, +as a collective body, Pawn and Two Moves stronger than the Birmingham +eight. + +The boards for Morphy's antagonists were arranged in the principal room of +the café, numbered as follows:-- + + No. 1. Baucher, + 2. Bierwirth, + 3. Bornemann, + 4. Guibert, + 5. Lequesne, + 6. Potier, + 7. Préti, + 8. Seguin. + +Nearly all these gentlemen are well known in contemporaneous chess, and +formed such a phalanx that many persons asked whether Morphy knew whom he +was going to play against. Monsieur Arnoux de Rivière called the moves for +the first four, and Monsieur Journoud for the others; and, all being +prepared, Morphy began as usual with "Pawn to King's Fourth on all the +boards." + +Things went on swimmingly and amusingly. It was as good as a volume of +_Punch_ or the _Charivari_ to hear the remarks made by the excited +spectators; more especially when the "openings" were past, and the +science of the combatants came out, in the middle of the game. There was +the huge "Père Morel," hands in his pockets, blowing clouds from an +immense pipe like smoke from Vesuvius, threading his way between the +boards and actually getting fierce when anybody asked him what he thought +of it. Seeing him seated at the end of the room towards evening, and +looking as though dumbfoundered at the performance, I said to him,--"Well, +Mr. Morel, do you believe now that Morphy can play against eight such +antagonists?" He looked at me in an imploring manner and replied,--"Oh, +don't talk to me; Mr. Morphy makes my head ache." It is related of Pitt +that, making a speech in Parliament on a certain occasion, whilst under +the influence of sundry bottles of Port, the doorkeeper of the House of +Commons declared that the son of the great Chatham made his head ache, so +violent was his language, and so loud his tone. This coming to Pitt's +ears, he said--"Nothing could be better; I drink the wine, and the +doorkeeper gets the headache." Monsieur Potier rises from his table to +show on another board how Morphy had actually seen seven moves in advance; +and Signor Préti gets quite nervous and agitated as our hero puts shot +after shot into his bull's-eye; and I had much difficulty in assuring him +that no absolute necessity existed for his playing on, until Morphy mated +him; but that when he found his game was irretrievably lost, he would be +justified in resigning. Monsieur Baucher was the first to give in, +although one of the very strongest of the contestants; Morphy's +combinations against this gentleman were so astonishing, and the finale so +brilliant, that Mr. Walker declared in _Bell's Life_--"This game is worthy +of being inscribed in letters of gold, on the walls of the London Club." +Bornemann and Préti soon followed, and then Potier and Bierwirth; Messrs. +Lequesne and Guibert effecting drawn battles; Monsieur Seguin alone was +left. It was but natural that he should be the last, as he was the +strongest of the eight combatants, and, truth to tell, he did not believe +it possible for any one to beat him without seeing the board; but this +Morphy finally effected in some beautiful pawn play, which would have +tickled Philidor himself. + +Forthwith commenced such a scene as I scarcely hope again to witness. +Morphy stepped from the arm-chair in which he had been almost immovable +for ten consecutive hours, without having tasted a morsel of any thing, +even water, during the whole of the period; yet as fresh, apparently, as +when he sat down. The English and Americans, of whom there were scores +present, set up stentorian Anglo-Saxon cheers, and the French joined in as +the whole crowd made a simultaneous rush at our hero. The waiters of the +Café had formed a conspiracy to carry Morphy in triumph on their +shoulders, but the multitude was so compact, they could not get near him, +and finally, had to abandon the attempt. Great bearded fellows grasped his +hands, and almost shook his arms out of the sockets, and it was nearly +half an hour before we could get out of the Café. A well-known citizen of +New York, Thomas Bryan, Esq., got on one side of him and M. de Rivière on +the other, and "Le Père Morel,"--body and soul for our hero--fought a +passage through the crowd by main strength, and we finally got into the +street. There the scene was repeated; the multitude was greater out of +doors than in the café, and the shouting, if possible, more deafening. +Morphy, Messrs. Bryan and De Rivière and myself, made for the Palais +Royal, but the crowd still followed us, and when we got to the guardhouse +of the Imperial Guard, _sergeants de ville_ and soldiers came running out +to see whether a new revolution was on the _tapis_. We rushed into the +Restaurant Foy, up stairs, and into a private room; whilst, as we +subsequently learned, the landlord made anxious inquiries as to the cause +of all this excitement. Having done our duty to a capital supper, we got +off by a back street, and thus avoided the crowd, who, we were informed, +awaited our reappearance in the quadrangle of the Palais Royal. + +Next morning, Morphy actually awakened me at seven o'clock, and told me, +if I would get up, he would dictate to me the moves of yesterday's games. +I never saw him in better spirits, or less fatigued, than on that +occasion, as he showed me, for two long hours, the hundreds of variations +depending on the play of the previous day, with such rapidity that I found +it hard work to follow the thread of his combinations. + +Harrwitz was in the café for about an hour during blindfold play, and he +actually had the assurance to say to me, "You can tell Mr. Morphy, that I +will continue the match to-morrow." I replied: "I feel satisfied that Mr. +Morphy will be willing to do so, but I shall most certainly object, and +all that lies in my power will be done to prevent his seeing a chess-board +until he has had at least twenty-four hours' rest." And I added: "You had +better not let it be known that you have made the proposition, or you will +be badly received in the café, depend upon it." + +The evening after his blindfold feat, Morphy very inconsiderately took a +nap in his sitting-room, with the window open. On my arrival I awoke him, +and he complained of feeling cold. Next morning he was feverish, and in +any thing but a fit state to meet Harrwitz. Nevertheless I could not +induce him to keep his room; he said to me: "I would sooner lose the game, +than that anybody should think I had exhausted myself by a _tour de +force_, as some will do if I am absent at the proper hour." And he rode to +the Régence in a state only fit for a hot bath and sweating powder. Well +might Saint Amant call him the "chivalrous Bayard of Chess." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +CONTINUATION OF THE MATCH WITH HARRWITZ. + + +Morphy was at the Régence to the minute, but Harrwitz was not forthcoming. +At last we received a message from him that he objected to play any longer +in the public café, and requested Morphy to come up stairs into the rooms +of the Chess Club. It would be difficult to describe the excitement caused +by this announcement. Harrwitz's backers, of whom there were eight or ten, +were very angry; more especially as it was at his own particular desire +that the match was played in the café. The _pretext_ was, that the warm +atmosphere and noise of the crowd interfered with his game; the _real +fact_, because everybody, even the aforementioned backers, were favorable +to Morphy. What was to be done? Our hero, with his clear reasoning, soon +found the correct reply, and he sent back word that "The Chess Club being +a private association, it would be an impertinence on his part to use +their apartments without their permission." Harrwitz would not show +himself, and the entire affair was near being put a stop to, when certain +members of the _Cercle_ kindly opened the doors of their Club, and Morphy +went up stairs. + +The two principals being again face to face, Harrwitz commenced with his +"same old two-and-sixpence" pawn to queen's fourth, and before he had got +past the twentieth move, Morphy had the attack, position, and every thing. +But, in process of administering the _coup de grace_, Morphy's feverish +state told upon him, and he committed an oversight which lost him a rook, +when within a move or two of winning. It was so stupid a mistake, that he +immediately burst out laughing at himself. Harrwitz picked off the +unfortunate rook with the utmost _nonchalance_, as though it were the +result of his own combinations, and actually told me afterwards, "Oh, the +game was a drawn one throughout." Morphy got a perpetual check upon him, +and it was the only "draw" in the contest. + +What does the American Chess Monthly mean by calling this palpable +oversight "an imperfect combination?" + +Again we had to wait some time for Mr. Harrwitz. It must not be supposed +that this gentleman used his frequent "leaves of absence" for the purpose +of recruiting that health which he represented as so bad. No, he came +daily to the _Régence_ at the usual hour, and played with anybody, but +Morphy, until past midnight. He sat down now, in front of his adversary, +for the eighth and last time, apparently in his ordinary health, and +fought as tough a battle as any in the contest. The game lasted to the +fifty-ninth move, and then Harrwitz resigned. + +The score now stood, Morphy 5; Harrwitz 2; drawn 1. Next day Morphy +received a verbal message that "Mr. Harrwitz resigns the match, on account +of ill health." There was something like a row at the _Café de la Régence_ +when this was known, for the Prussian amateur had not even deigned to +consult his backers, or even to inform them of his intention. Mr. +Lequesne, his stake-holder, was requested by him to hand over the +collected amount, two hundred and ninety francs, to our hero, and that +gentleman forthwith called on Morphy at his hotel. Of course we got the +fullest particulars from Mr. Lequesne. He informed us that Harrwitz's +backers were furious, and that they, like himself, were confident that +their principal was merely indisposed in the _morale_, not at all +physically. Morphy replied that it never was his desire to play for stakes +under any circumstances; and, taking into consideration the peculiar facts +of the case, he would certainly decline receiving the money. + +Some time afterwards, Mr. Lequesne returned, and stated that not merely +were the different subscribers to the stakes desirous that Paul Morphy +should receive what had been won by him, but that Mr. Harrwitz would, for +the sake of appeasing his backers, play out the remainder of the match. +Morphy immediately returned answer, that "Mr. H. having resigned the +contest, there was an end of the matter, but that he (Morphy) was ready to +commence a second match immediately." Harrwitz had had enough of beating, +and he unhesitatingly declined this proposition. + +But a difficulty arose in consequence of Morphy's refusal to receive the +stakes. Letters poured in from all quarters, complaining that bets on the +result of the contest were influenced by the decision, and Morphy finally +took the two hundred and ninety francs from Mr. Lequesne. He then caused +it to be announced publicly, that the money was deposited with the +proprietor of the _Café de la Régence_, that any of the subscribers to the +amount were at perfect liberty to withdraw their subscriptions, and that +the remainder should go towards defraying Herr Anderssen's expenses to +Paris. And so the money was eventually used. + +Will any of my readers think it possible that Mr. Harrwitz could, after +all this, publish that "he had not lost the match, but that Mr. Morphy had +consented to its being annulled?" + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +MORPHY IN SOCIETY. + + +All the Paris newspapers soon took to writing about our hero, from the +_Moniteur_ to the _Charivari_. The latter, the oldest and most famous of +all comic papers, gave cut after cut and article after article upon him; +in fact, Morphy was its standing joke for a long period. One day there was +a picture representing "Britannia, astonished at the _checks_ she was +receiving in India, requesting the young American to get her out of the +difficulty." Another represented an individual who declined entering the +_Café de la Régence_ in company with his wife, "because there was inside a +certain Mr. Morphy who would capture his queen from him." After the +blindfold exhibition, the famous Taxile Delord wrote as follows: + +"Well, let us have a game of chess. Shall I give you the rook? Sit down +here, and I will place myself in this arm-chair." + +"Oh, no! Now-a-days, no man who respects himself, thinks of playing with +the board in front of him." + +Upon this imaginary conversation, Delord lets loose a volley of fun, +ending in this manner: + +"I can understand _Ecarté_, I can appreciate _Picquet_, I can even rise to +the grandeur of _Tric Trac_, but don't talk to me of _Chess_. That game +will bring us back to tragedy." + +What with the illustrated papers giving Morphy's portraits, no two of +which were ever alike, and the innumerable articles in the "dailies," he +began to be notorious. Saint Amant wrote that he supplied a want which +Paris had felt for a long time--the want of a hero. Monsieur Lequesne +requested him to sit for his bust, and threw so much labor of love into +the work, that he produced a _chef d'oeuvre_ which all Paris went to +criticize and to praise. All these various occurrences could not but cause +excitement in the _salons_, and invitations began to pour in from the +Faubourgs St. Honoré and St. Germain. The first came from the Duchess de +T----. My readers must forgive me for not mentioning names where a lady is +concerned. The Duchess stated that she had played at chess since a child, +and that she was desirous of becoming acquainted with a gentleman whom +fame heralded as so superior to all amateurs; but that she had no hope of +proving an antagonist worthy of him. Well, Morphy waited on his fair +challenger, and out of five games each won two, and one was drawn! Then +the Princess M---- expressed a desire to play our hero, and other great +dames followed; and knowing, as I do, the result, I solemnly declare +that, in spite of my confidence in Morphy's powers of combination, I never +would bet a cent upon him when his opponent is a lady. + +I am not bound to silence when gentlemen are concerned, and I am glad to +mention amongst chess amateurs, such names as the Duke of Brunswick and +Counts Casabianca, Isouard, and Bastorot. These gentlemen are thorough +veterans in the noble game, and chess works and periodicals are no +strangers to their contests. Count Casabianca was "at home" every Friday +night, and, whilst some of the company were at whist, ecarté, or other +games _de la société_, he would always be in a corner with the Duke of +Brunswick, Count Isouard, Signor Préti, and other chess amateurs. Morphy +played against the Duke and the Counts in consultation, and, although he +almost invariably won, it was no easy matter. + +H. R. H. the Duke of Brunswick is a thorough devotee to Caïssa; we never +saw him but he was playing chess with some one or other. We were frequent +visitors to his box at the Italian Opera; he had got a chess-board even +there, and played throughout the performance. On our first visit "Norma" +was performed. The Duke's box is right on the stage; so close, indeed, +that you might kiss the _prima donna_ without any trouble. Morphy sat with +his back to the stage, and the Duke and Count Isouard facing him. Now it +must not be supposed that he was comfortable. Decidedly otherwise; for I +have already stated that he is passionately fond of music, and, under the +circumstances, wished chess at Pluto. The game began and went on: his +antagonists had heard _Norma_ so often that they could, probably, sing it +through without prompting; they did not even listen to most of it, but +went on disputing with each other as to their next move. Then Madame +Penco, who represented the Druidical priestess, kept looking towards the +box, wondering what was the cause of the excitement inside; little +dreaming that Caïssa was the only _Casta Diva_ the inmates cared about. +And those tremendous fellows, the "supes," who "did" the Druids, how they +marched down the stage, chaunting fire and bloodshed against the Roman +host, who, they appeared to think, were inside the Duke's box. + +Some of the pleasantest hours passed by Paul Morphy in the French capital +were spent at the Baronne de L.'s. This lady, who has long ranked as one +of the great beauties of Parisian society, is renowned as a patroness of +the arts. Her friendship for the lamented Pradier has passed into history, +and her _salons_ are the weekly resort of the most celebrated sculptors, +painters, and authors of France. And no wonder, for the Baronne is +gloriously merry and witty, a true child of the sunny South. A Creole, +from the French West Indies, she immediately took a liking to Morphy, +"Because," said she, "he is another lazy Creole like myself;" and she +invited all her acquaintances to come and see him. She would get Morphy +opposite her, and St. Amant or Lequesne by her side to stop her when she +was about making too serious a mistake, and would play game after game, +making us all laugh the whole time with her charming anecdotes and _jeux +d'esprit_. How she would amuse us when she declared that parties and late +hours were killing her, and that _they did kill her last season_, and yet +she was always as fresh as a newly plucked rose. When she found how fond +Morphy was of music, the principal singers from the opera would be +present. I remember one night she asked that finest of living _baritones_, +"the honey-voiced" Graziani, to play our hero at the odds of the Queen. +Signor Graziani had caught the general enthusiasm, and was applying his +leisure moments to chess with the energy of a Standigl, and had lately +been taking lessons from Préti. He at first objected to play, from +modesty, but the Baronne had determined he should, and she told him that, +if he would play a game, Morphy would sing a _duo_ with him afterwards. +This was a sparkle of her fun, of course; but Graziani played, not one, +but three games, and he then said: "If anybody asks me if I understand +chess, I shall say, 'Oh, yes; I play sometimes with Mr. Morphy.'" + +The United States minister, the Hon. Mr. Mason, took a warm interest in +his young countryman, occasionally sitting at the board when Morphy was at +play. The Judge is acquainted with the "Mystery of Chesse," and asked many +pointed questions after the conclusion of the game, as to the why and the +wherefore of different moves. It were scarcely right for the United +States government to appoint a minister to the Court of the Tuileries who +is ignorant of chess; it would be an insult to the memory of Franklin. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +MORPHY AND THE FRENCH AMATEURS. + + +Morphy's arrival in Paris, and his doings at the Café de la Régence, soon +began to make him much sought after. The way in which some folks get +lionized in the French capital is remarkable, and Morphy had to submit to +it, not merely at the café, but even in his hotel. We soon found that +continued residence at the _Hotel Meurice_ would be inconvenient, for many +reasons; and within a day or two of our arrival, had located ourselves in +the _Hotel Breteuil_, at the corner of the _Rues de Rivoli_ and _du +Dauphine_, where we had a magnificent view of the palace and gardens of +the Tuileries, and were within a stone's throw of the best quarters of +Paris and the _Régence_. What was our surprise to learn, subsequently, +that Harrwitz was residing next door to us; and that Saint Amant had, +formerly, occupied the very apartments in which we had installed +ourselves. We had not been long in our new abode before Morphy received a +visit from the grandson of Philidor. They had a lengthy colloquy together, +and of course Morphy asked his visitor if he played at chess. He replied, +that he once gave some attention to the game, but found that he possessed +little aptitude for it, and therefore relinquished all further study; not +thinking it right that any one bearing the name of Philidor should be +looked upon as a _mazette_. + +Our hero's installation at the Café de la Régence waked up all the +slumbering embers of French chess, and men who had not been seen for years +past came back to their early love. The well-known Polish amateur, +Budzinsky, was amongst these, and Laroche, contemporary of Labourdonnais +and Deschappelles. Then we found there such players as Mr. Eugene +Rousseau, of New Orleans, on a visit to his family in Paris, and who had +been so much "at home" in the café in other years. How proud he was of the +fame and feats of his young fellow-townsman amidst the Gallic paladins! +and how desirous he was that Morphy should encounter Monsieur Laroche, +whose game he characterized as sound to a terrible extent, characterizing +that gentleman as "_un rude gaillard_." It was only after Mr. Rousseau's +departure that Laroche and Morphy met, when we found that the former was +"sound," but the latter "sounder." Mr. L. had not been seen at the Régence +for a long period; some told us that he was settled in Bayonne, others +that he had given up chess altogether: but the appearance in the chess +heavens of this Star of the West, brought him back to the old +battle-field, and no one could make even games with him but De Rivière +and Harrwitz, the Prussian amateur merely winning a small majority. + +Monsieur Journoud, one of the best known and strongest of French players, +and a member of the Paris Committee of Co-operation on the International +Tournament of 1851, played upwards of a dozen games at different times +with Morphy; but though he came very near winning on one or two occasions, +our hero always wriggled out at last at the right end of the horn. +Journoud once described his opponent's game as "disgustingly correct;" +Boden speaks of Morphy's "diabolical steadiness," which means pretty near +the same thing. + +De Rivière certainly made the best show against Morphy of all the players +in Paris, having scored one game in good style, and having lost at least +one which he ought to have gained. He had got his opponent into a position +which might be termed "putting it to him," and Morphy, like the wolf, +was-- + + "Dying in silence, biting hard," + +when he made a move "to please the gallery." Now Morphy never allows +liberties to be taken with so serious a matter as check mate; he goes +straight to the finish himself without fuss or nonsense, and expects +others to do the same; he, therefore, worked clear out of his difficulties +and forced his opponent ultimately to resign. De Rivière was mortified at +the result, and states that he went home very angry with himself in +consequence. + +This gentleman is incontestably the most rising of the French players, and +will make some amateurs tremble for their chess reputation ere long. In +1851, he did not know a move in the game, so that his progress has been +rapid; and as he has not yet reached his thirtieth year, it is only +probable that he will become much stronger; that is, if he will keep up +his practice, which is not certain, inasmuch as he has lately become +"mated" in a manner most agreeable to his feelings, and we have heard of +ladies who object to their lords and masters making love to other +nymphs--even though that nymph be Caïssa. Let us hope that, in this +instance, pater familias, whose "intentions are strictly honorable," may +be allowed an occasional respite from the cradle and perambulator, and +that "curtain lectures" will not deter him from hot pursuit after other +men's queens. + +It was soon found useless for any one to play Morphy even, as he scored +almost every game. Meeting Monsieur Laroche at the café one morning, that +gentleman asked me why our hero did not offer odds to everybody. I replied +that no doubt many gentlemen would feel hurt at such a proposition being +made to them, and I asked him--"Would you play Morphy at pawn and move?" +to which he unhesitatingly replied "Yes." M. Journoud was sitting beside +him, and he expressed himself in like manner. On informing Paul Morphy of +this conversation, he requested me to inform the proprietor of the café +that, in future, he should play no one without giving odds; excepting, +however, Herr Harrwitz. He was most desirous of again meeting the Prussian +amateur, the latter having made some rather peculiar observations with +regard to their match; as, for instance, that he had not lost the affair, +Morphy having consented to annul it: that he was not a match player, and +played much stronger off-hand: that Morphy did not beat him by +combination, _but by sitting him out_, and so forth. But Harrwitz always +took care to keep out of harm's way, and although Morphy came day after +day to the café, with the avowed intention of meeting him, Herr H. had +always got one or the other reason for not playing. + +Laroche, Budzinsky, Devinck, and other leading amateurs tried their luck +at pawn and move, with no better result than contending even. Others tried +at pawn and two, as, for instance, Lequesne, Guibert, Lecrivain, and +Delaunay. Who of my chess readers does not know this brilliant writer in +the Palamède, who has kept everybody on the broad grin throughout his +numerous articles? He is always full of fun and sparkling wit, and merrily +did he display it with Morphy. The first time they played, Delaunay +sacrificed piece after piece, in a way to terrify anybody but his young +antagonist, and certainly seemed to occupy a position dangerous to +Morphy's peace of mind. The latter made one of his peculiar moves, when +Delaunay observed, eyeing the board with one eye, and the spectators with +the other--"_Voila un coup du bon Dieu_," and then making his reply, which +set our hero reflecting, he added--"_Et, en voila un du diable._" But it +was all of no use, and Morphy soon turned the tables upon him. M. Delaunay +styles himself "_un casse échiquier_," for he plays as though driving +spike nails. At the London Divan some months since he astonished the +spectators by breaking one of the pawns, when he immediately cried +out--"Oh, that's nothing; I break the rooks in Paris." + +Morphy was easily approached by anybody, no matter what their strength, +and I doubt much whether there is any frequenter of the Régence who did +not play one or more games with him. As he invariably refused to play for +any stake, this pleased them the more, and set them making comparisons +between him and certain others, not at all complimentary to the latter. +But what pleased them most of all was the quiet unobtrusiveness of his +behavior, and the courtesy with which he treated everybody. Where his +skill gained one admirer, his manner made ten warm friends. + +Some of my readers may complain that I am "laying it on rather thick," and +ask "Why shouldn't he be quiet and unobtrusive?" I reply that I am not to +be deterred from writing what I know to be the fact (having been a witness +thereof for several months) by any accusation of toadyism. I write what +George Walker, Saint Amant, Löwenthal, and all the chess editors Morphy +has met, have written before me; and they wrote as I now write, because +the circumstance is rather extraordinary. Chess players, generally, are a +class vain and imperious; and young players, like the young of all +classes, are apt to be carried away by success. How few eminent amateurs +are there who do not give themselves certain airs when winning--aye, and +losing too--lolling back in their seats, sticking their thumbs in their +arm-holes, and regarding the spectators with a self-satisfied air, as much +as to say--"There, my boys, what d'ye think of that?" One gentleman at the +Régence had long bullied the gallery and his antagonists in this manner; +no wonder, therefore, that Morphy made warm friends of those who were that +man's enemies. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +MORPHY GETS BEATEN. + + +A few weeks after the resignation of the match by Herr Harrwitz, the +amateurs of the Régence invited Herr Anderssen to visit Paris for the +purpose of playing a match with Paul Morphy. Our hero originally intended +making a visit to the principal chess clubs of Germany, and especially to +Berlin, but having been an invalid since his arrival in the French +capital, he feared to undertake the long journey by rail, and it was in +consequence of this that the aforesaid invitation was sent. Herr Anderssen +immediately replied, that his duties as mathematical professor at Breslau +presented an insurmountable objection to his leaving, but that the +Christmas vacation would enable him to meet the American player in Paris. + +Morphy said, thereupon, that he should be deprived of the pleasure of +crossing swords with the victor in the International Tournament, inasmuch +as he must be at home before Christmas. On hearing this, I began to talk +the matter over quietly with him, asserting that his voyage to Europe was +useless, if he did not play Anderssen. All was of no effect. Morphy did +not appear to have the slightest ambition, say what I would to him. He +must be at home in December; he had promised to be there, and home he +would go. Very well; Morphy and I were at daggers drawn and we began our +fight. He said he would go, and I said he shouldn't. He wanted to know how +I could prevent him; I told him that all the clubs in Europe would stop +him. "Very well," answered he, "I'll be stronger than all Europe." +"Bravo," says I, "that's spirited, at all events." Says he--says I--says +I--says he--and Morphy went to sleep and I to work. + +Without saying a word to anybody, I set to writing letters to all the +leading Chess Clubs on the Continent and in England, informing them of the +bad move Morphy was about to make, and requesting those in the interests +of chess to induce him to remain, until at all events he had met Herr +Anderssen. Now, the mere fact of Morphy staying, as the simple individual, +was nothing; but it was something to make sure beyond all dispute that he +was infallibly the best living player; and, in addition, to add many games +to the finest pages of chess literature. I am happy to state that the +different clubs thought as I did; so the result will prove. + +After a week or two, Morphy began receiving letters from Amsterdam, +Leipsic, Brussels, Berlin, Breslau, etc.; from the London and St. George's +Chess Clubs; requisitions signed by the amateurs of the Café and Cercle +de la Régence, expressing the earnest wish of all that he would remain +throughout the winter. Herr Anderssen wrote him a lengthy epistle, in +which he assured him he did not think it possible he could leave Europe +without playing him, and adding his voice to the general cry. + +Morphy thought he must go. Then the society in which our hero was so +frequent a visitor began to declare that he really must remain, and it is +hard work for any man to refuse when a request is backed by such sweet +glances as make requests almost commands. + +Our hero was now wavering, and the game was in my hands, he not at all +sorry if I could win it. I had one final resource: a pretty little +check-mate with a medical man and a certificate. The doctor, calling on +our patient one day, learned from him that he was about returning home, +whereupon he informed him that in the then state of his health a winter +voyage across the Atlantic was not precisely beneficial, and wrote his +opinion accordingly. This I took, and inclosed with other matter to his +friends in New Orleans, and Morphy seeing no way out of the difficulty, +ultimately surrendered, and I had the satisfaction of hearing him declare +that he should pass the winter in Paris. There was only one person +dissatisfied with this. Meeting Harrwitz shortly after, I informed him +with a benignant smile, "You will be happy to hear that Morphy has decided +to pass a few months longer here." Harrwitz replied, with a smile that was +not benignant, "Then Mr. Morphy _is not a man of his word_." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +MORPHY AND ANDERSSEN. + + +The first week in December, Monsieur de Rivière received a communication +from Herr Anderssen, announcing his approaching arrival in Paris. A week +prior to this Morphy had been laid up in bed with a severe illness. The +rigors of a first winter in northern climates had told upon him, and I +feared much for the result. He was leeched, and lost a great quantity of +blood--I told him three or four pints; to which he replied, "Then there's +only a quart left." He was kept very low during a fortnight, and having to +lift him out of bed only four days before the match with the great +Prussian master, I found him too weak to stand upon his legs, although in +bed he did not feel so helpless. For two months he had had an antipathy to +chess, and I had experienced the greatest difficulty in inducing him to go +to the Régence at all. When I would ask him at breakfast what he was going +to do with himself during the day, his immediate reply would be, "I am not +going to the Régence," and he declined invitations if he thought he should +be obliged to play chess. + +When I brought him the news that Anderssen had left Breslau, Herr Mayet +having written me to that effect, Morphy said to me, "I have a positive +chess fever coming over me. Give me the board and pieces, and I'll show +you some of Anderssen's games." And with his astounding memory, he gave me +battle after battle with different adversaries, variations and all. How he +dilated on a certain game between him and Dufresne, in which, though under +the mate, he first of all sacrifices his Queen, and after seven or eight +moves forces his opponent to resign. "There," said Morphy, "that shows the +master." + +What wonderment he has caused with his omnipotent memory! I have seen him +sit for hours at the Divan and the Régence, playing over, not merely his +own battles, but the contests of others, till the spectators could +scarcely believe their senses. It will be remembered by many of my +readers, that when Mr. Staunton published the eight blindfold games played +at Birmingham, he omitted some twenty or thirty of the concluding moves in +the game with the Rev. Mr. Salmon. When we had been two months in Paris, +Herr Löwenthal wrote me to request that I would forward him the remaining +moves, as there was a desire to have the _partie_ complete. It was nearly +midnight, and Morphy had gone into his bedroom after dictating me some +games played during the day, and, mindful of Herr L.'s request, I called +to him, asking whether he was coming back, when he replied that he was +already in bed. I said I should be obliged if he would let me bring him a +board and light, in order that he might dictate me the required moves, +when he answered "There's no necessity for that: read me over what +Staunton published, and I'll give you the remainder." He called over the +omitted moves as fast as I could write them down. + +Going into Morphy's bedroom one morning at ten o'clock, whom should I find +sitting there but Herr Anderssen? He had arrived by a late train the night +previous, and his first visit was to his young challenger, whom he was +indeed sorry to find ill in bed, especially as his absence from Breslau +was limited to two weeks. Morphy assured him that he should be well enough +to play the following week; but Anderssen replied that he should not like +to commence a match until Morphy was in a fit state to undergo the +fatigue. They then agreed that the match should consist of thirteen games; +in other words, he should be victor who first scored seven; and, as +neither of them desired any stake but honor, the preliminaries were +quickly arranged. From that we got to talking on various subjects, and +Anderssen informed us, greatly to our surprise, that the German papers had +published a statement to this effect: "Mr. Morphy has finally decided on +remaining in Europe until spring, in consequence of the pressing +solicitations of his friend, Herr Harrwitz." How we roared! + +This was Anderssen's first visit to the French metropolis, and I +immediately offered to show him some of the lions. So forth we sallied. He +was desirous of going to the Régence; but two hours would elapse before +anybody would be there, and in the mean time he could see a few public +buildings. The first place I took him to was, of course, the Louvre, and, +as it had rained copiously the night before, I walked him across the +_Place du Carrousel_, in order to soil his boots with the mud. Most of his +attention was taken up with keeping that portion of his attire clean; but, +when that had become no longer possible, his leisure was entirely devoted +to sight-seeing. Of course, we could not altogether avoid talking about +the main object of his visit; he told me he had only seen a few of +Morphy's games, and asked me what was the opinion of the Régence in +reference to his style of play. I replied that it was the opposite of what +they thought in England and America, characterizing it as sound rather +than brilliant; but that there was a reason for this, inasmuch as the +French players persisted in playing close openings. He replied, "No +wonder; no man would willingly expose himself to Morphy's thundering +attacks," [attaques foudroyantes.] + +On returning to the Régence, we found Harrwitz, who, by-the-bye, is a +fellow-townsman of Anderssen, and they were at the same school together. +The latter knew that Harrwitz stated that he beat him the majority of +games, and he was most desirous of proving the fallacy of the assertion, +and immediately proposed an encounter. This was accepted, and out of six +games, played on five different occasions, Anderssen won three, Harrwitz +one, and two were drawn. After that, little doubt existed as to which was +the stronger player, and when, just before leaving Paris, Anderssen was +complimented on this result, he said, "Oh, there is but one Morphy in the +world." + +On the day of Anderssen's arrival, Morphy told his medical adviser that he +must get him well enough to commence the match on the following Monday. +The doctor said it all depended upon his feeling sufficiently strong to +undergo the fatigue, when his patient replied, that what he feared was a +hard battle exhausting him too much to continue the struggle next day. On +the doctor's advice, he consented to play the match in the hotel, so as +not to undergo the fatigue of moving, and it was arranged that only such +as were specially invited should be present, but that the moves should be +forwarded every half-hour to the Régence. + +The Saturday before the commencement of the match, Harrwitz performed his +feat of playing eight blindfold games simultaneously at the rooms of the +Cercle, only subscribers of five francs or upwards being admitted. Herr +Harrwitz had fixed upon seven o'clock in the evening as the time for +commencing; and I, like many others, had advised him to choose an earlier +hour, or he would not get through till long past midnight. He replied that +he should finish in from four to five hours; "he knew this positively +because he had been rehearsing for the occasion;" but the result proved +how much he was mistaken, as he did not get through till near sunrise. His +antagonists were mainly rook or rook and knight players, Signor Préti, the +weakest of Morphy's blindfold opponents, being incomparably the strongest. +Herr Anderssen, who was present, assured me that many of the players left +pieces _en prise_, as though designedly, and that, beyond the fact of +seeing the boards in his mind's eye, Harrwitz proved nothing by his +exertions. The strangest affair in connection with this display is, that +although Harrwitz edited a chess column in the _Monde Illustré_ he never +gave a single one of his blindfold games, nor would he permit any to be +made public. + +Mr. Harrwitz was perfectly in his right mind when endeavoring to emulate +Paul Morphy. But the folks at the Régence ridiculed what they called aping +his superior, and many were the squibs got off at his expense. One, the +most popular of all, was as follows:-- + + "Tu veux singer Morphy, joueur phénoménal; + Jeune imprudent, tu forces ta nature. + En vain tu te poses en original, + Tu n'en es que la caricature." + +In plain English prose--"You wish to ape Morphy, the phenomenon; imprudent +young man, you strain yourself. It is useless to put yourself forward as +an original; you are merely a caricature."--Not complimentary, certainly. + +On Monday morning, I got Morphy out of bed for the first time since his +illness, and, at noon, assisted him into the room where the match was to +come off. No time was lost in getting to work, and, within five minutes of +his entering, as many moves had been played. Our hero had first move, and +ventured the Evans' gambit, which he lost after seven hours' fighting, and +upwards of seventy moves. I noticed that he was restless throughout the +contest, which was only to be expected after having been so long in bed, +and without nourishment. + +Morphy was charmed with Anderssen's defence throughout, and has frequently +cited it as an admirably conducted strategy. It proved to him that the +Evans' is indubitably a lost game for the first player, if the defence be +carefully played; inasmuch as the former can never recover the gambit +pawn, and the position supposed to be acquired at the outset, cannot be +maintained. + +He did not appear much fatigued after his exertions, and next morning he +had visibly improved in appearance. Anderssen, now having the move, played +out his king's pawn and knight, and Morphy supposed he too was going to +have a turn at the Evans'. No such thing; he played that disgusting +arrangement, the Ruy Lopez; but it only came to a drawn game, our hero +believing he himself could have won it, had he played properly at the end. +The third day, Morphy looked himself again, his complexion being clear, +and his eyes sparkling with all their Creole brilliancy. He thought he +should like to have a turn at the Ruy Lopez also, and dashed away at such +a furious rate, that Anderssen resigned in a few minutes over the hour, +some twenty-one moves having been played. Anderssen immediately asked if +he would commence another game forthwith, and Morphy consented; this +fourth contest being also a Ruy Lopez, but ending likewise in the +discomfiture of the Prussian champion. And this _partie_ was the last we +saw of R. L. during the struggle. + +Morphy now scored the fifth, sixth, and seventh games, thus having won +five consecutively. The eighth was a draw; the ninth he carried off in +seventeen moves; the tenth, played immediately after, Anderssen marked in +seventy-seven. As the Professor was leaving, he said to me in his quiet, +funny way, "Mr. Morphy wins his games in Seventeen moves, and I in +Seventy. But that is only natural." The eleventh _partie_ Morphy scored, +thus winning the match; having only lost two games and drawn two. + +Immediately after each day's play, Herr Anderssen would walk straight to +the Régence for the purpose of expediting reports of the same to his +friends in Leipsic and Berlin. There were always crowds to meet him, and +to assure him he could have won, and ought not to have lost; but the +Professor smiled at them incredulously. I have heard him tell them, "Dites +cela à M. Morphy," (Tell that to Mr. Morphy,) over and over again. One +individual, who from the beginning, had questioned Morphy's +superiority,--though he had been beaten by him in the proportion of 7 to +1--told the Professor in the presence of a crowd of amateurs: "You are not +playing any thing like as well as with Dufresne."--"No," replied +Anderssen, "Morphy won't let me;" and he added, "It is no use struggling +against him; he is like a piece of machinery which is sure to come to a +certain conclusion." On another occasion he said: "Mr. Morphy always +plays, not merely the best, but the very best move, and if we play the +move only approximatively correct, we are sure to lose. Nobody can hope to +gain more than a game, now and then, from him." And, in reply to a +question of Monsieur de Rivière, he said in my hearing: "It is impossible +to play chess better than Mr. Morphy; if there be any difference in +strength between him and Labourdonnais, it is in his favor." + +I have never seen a nobler-hearted gentleman than Herr Anderssen. He would +sit at the board, examining the frightful positions into which Morphy had +forced him, until his whole face was radiant with admiration of his +antagonist's strategy, and, positively laughing outright, he would +commence resetting the pieces for another game, without a remark. I never +heard him make a single observation to Morphy complimentary of his skill; +but, to others, he was loud in admiration of the young American. + +After the match was over, the two antagonists played six off-hand games, +all gambits, Anderssen winning one, and Morphy five. These also came off +at the Hotel Breteuil, and were rattled away inside of three hours. + +The gallery of spectators who witnessed this great contest between the +champions of the Old World and the New, was select, if not numerous. There +were present, almost constantly, Saint Amant, De Rivière, Journoud, +Carlini, Préti, Grosboulogne, Lequesne, and one or two others, and amongst +the occasional visitors were Counts Casabianca and Bastorot, M. Devinck, +the Paris correspondent of the N. Y. Times, and any of our hero's +countrymen who desired to be present. One night, after the day's battle +was over, Morphy and I were sitting in our room, chatting together, when +an immense stranger appeared and announced himself as follows: "I am +Prince Galitzin; I wish to see Mr. Morphy." Morphy looked up from a +fauteuil in which he was buried, and replied, "I am he." The Prince +answered, "It is not possible! you're too young;" and then he seated +himself by Morphy's side and told him, "I first heard of your wonderful +deeds on the frontiers of Siberia. One of my suite had a copy of the chess +paper published in Berlin, the _Schachzeitung_, and ever since that time I +have been wanting to see you." And he told our hero that he must pay a +visit to St. Petersburg; for the chess club in the Imperial Palace would +receive him with enthusiasm. I did not hear Morphy promise to go, however. + +But to return to Anderssen. The Professor came and went away in a hurry, +his vacations only lasting two weeks. As he wished us good-bye, he said +slyly to Morphy, "They won't be pleased with me at Berlin, but I shall +tell them, 'Mr. Morphy will come here.'" + +After the conclusion of the match, I pointed out to Herr Anderssen certain +remarks on his play in the _Illustrated London News_, in which the writer +observed, "This is not the play of the victor of the Tournament of '51." +He replied--"Oh, we know Mr. Staunton; in 1851 his opinions of my play +were not very high, and he lost not by my skill, but because he was ill. +Mr. Staunton always has two meanings, one which he writes, and one which +he keeps to himself." + +[Illustration: MR. LEWIS. MR. GEORGE WALKER. MR. MONGREDIEU.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +MORPHY AND MONGREDIEU. + + +After Anderssen's departure, Paul Morphy declared he would play no more +even matches, and, certainly, his resolve was justified by the unheard-of +manner in which he had walked over all opponents. There are but two +players who do not confess the inutility of contending against him on even +terms--Messrs. Staunton and Harrwitz--but then the former would not fight, +and the latter fought and ran away, so that their opinions, with regard to +themselves and Morphy, are somewhat damaged by circumstances. The opinions +of these two gentlemen are, in fact, peculiar one towards the other; Mr. +Harrwitz declaring that he can give Mr. Staunton the odds of pawn and +move; and Mr. S., that he also can afford the same advantage to the +Prussian player. But no man in his senses believes either of them. + +Morphy now determined to offer the pawn and move to Herr Harrwitz, and +forthwith challenged him to the contest, but the latter respectfully +declined, on the grounds that he considered himself quite as good a +player as his challenger. Modest, was it not? especially just after their +late match, and the _sauve qui peut_ manner in which the Prussian had +shown his heels before its conclusion? Morphy felt so much desire to play +this proposed match, that he even offered to find stakes to back his +antagonist, but all to no purpose. One or two croakers expressed their +opinion that Morphy would scarcely get a game if the affair came off, when +our hero replied--"If I do not beat him, he will at all events have to +work hard for the odd game." + +Harrwitz having declined all further risk, there now remained little to be +accomplished, and Morphy forsook the Régence and seemed to have taken a +positive aversion to chess. There was, however, one more adversary to be +overcome; one, who, like Anderssen, sought out our hero in the French +capital, and threw down his gauntlet, which was immediately taken up. Mr. +Mongredieu, the President of the London Chess Club, made the journey to +Paris expressly to remind Paul Morphy that before his departure from +England, he had promised to play a match with him, and he now announced +himself as ready for the encounter. Mr. Mongredieu had no idea of +vanquishing his youthful foe, but in addition to the pleasure of a tilt +with him, he was desirous of seeing by how much Morphy could beat him. + +The contest came off at Mr. Mongredieu's rooms in the Hotel du Louvre, +Messrs. St. Amant and De Rivière being the only strangers present. The +first game admirably played by Mr. M. resulted in a draw, and then Morphy +scored seven _parties_ one after the other, which constituted him victor. +The third game, beautifully managed throughout by Mr. Mongredieu, slipped +from his grasp after nine or ten hours' struggle; because of his not +playing _the very best move_, Morphy stepped in at the lucky moment and +the day was his. I can easily understand that Mr. Mongredieu was exhausted +after so many hours' intense application; Morphy never tires, and no +amount of continuous sitting will ever influence his play. I have seen him +sit down, in New York, at 9 A. M., and beat one antagonist after another +until past midnight, for many successive days, yet without weakening his +play in the least; and when Paulsen would take half an hour on a move, an +hour over the succeeding one, and on a certain occasion reached the +unparalleled limit of two hours, Morphy sat calmly looking on, without the +slightest evidence of impatience. Before Mr. Staunton declined Morphy's +challenge, I was frequently amused by gentlemen who knew the former well, +but knew little of the latter, expressing the opinion that the English +player would tire out his youthful challenger, and win by playing "a +waiting game." I laughed heartily at their fears, for I knew Morphy could +sit out Staunton and the late Mr. Williams one after the other. And I +think my readers must also be satisfied of this, remembering Morphy's _ten +hours' blindfold play at Paris, without taking even a glass of water, and +in bodily pain, too_. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +TROPHIES. + + +And now that the battles are over, and the campaigns of this "Attila the +destroyer" concluded, let us count the killed and wounded. + + +IN ENGLAND. + +MATCH GAMES (EVEN.) + +Morphy, 9. Löwenthal, 3. Drawn, 3. + +PAWN AND MOVE. + +Morphy, 5. Rev. J. Owen (Alter), 0. Drawn, 2. + +OFF-HAND GAMES. + + Morphy, 19, Barnes, 7, Drawn, 0 + " 10, Bird, 1, " 1 + " 5, Boden, 1, " 3 + " 2, Hampton, 0, " 0 + " 2, Kipping, 0, " 0 + " 6, Lowe, 0, " 0 + " 3, Medley, 0, " 0 + " 2, Mongredieu, 0, " 0 + " 4, Owen, 1, " 0 + + +CONSULTATION GAMES. + +Staunton and Owen, 0. Morphy and Barnes, 2. Drawn, 0. + +Löwenthal and Medley, 0. Morphy and Mongredieu, 0. Drawn, 1. + +Löwenthal, Mongredieu, and Medley, 0. Morphy, Walker Greenaway, 0. Drawn, +1. + + +EIGHT GAMES BLINDFOLD AT BIRMINGHAM. + +Morphy beat Lord Lyttelton, Doctors Salmon and Freeman, Messrs. Rhodes, +Wills and Carr; drew against Mr. Avery, and lost the game with Mr. +Kipping. + +In addition to the above score there were many contests at odds, which it +is unnecessary to mention; Morphy being almost invariably successful. + + +IN FRANCE. + +MATCH GAMES. + + Morphy, 7, Anderssen, 2, Drawn, 2 + " 5, Harrwitz, 2, " 1 + " 7, Mongredieu, 0, " 1 + +OFF-HAND GAMES (EVEN). + + Morphy, 5, Anderssen, 1, Drawn, 0 + " 2, Bancker, 0, " 0 + " 7, Budzinsky, 0, " 0 + " 0, Harrwitz, 1, " 0 + " 12, Journoud, 0, " 0 + " 5, Laroche, 0, " 2 + " 6, Rivière, 1, " 1 + +ODDS OF PAWN AND MOVE. + + Morphy, 5, Budzinsky, 1, Drawn, 1 + " 2, Devinck, 0, " 2 + " 1, Guibert, 0, " 0 + " 3, Laroche, 0, " 3 + +ODDS OF THE PAWN AND TWO MOVES. + + Morphy, 4, Delaunay, 0, Drawn, 0 + " 5, Lecrivain, 2, " 0 + " 3, Lequesne, 0, " 1 + +CONSULTATION GAMES. + + Morphy, 2, Saint Amant and Lequesne, 0, Drawn, 2 + " 0, De Rivière and Journoud, 1, " 0 + " 5, Duke of Brunswick, Counts + Casabianca and Isouard, 0, " 1 + " 5, Duke of Brunswick and Count + Isouard, 0, " 0 + +BLINDFOLD GAMES. + + Morphy beat Messrs. Bancker, Bierwirth, Bornemann, Potier, + Préti, and Seguin, and drew the games with Messrs. Guibert and + Lequesne. + + At Versailles, Morphy, playing blindfolded, won against + Monsieur Chamouillet and the Versailles Chess Club playing + together against him, _in consultation_. + +I should like to say something on the above score, but feel quite +incompetent to the task. I can merely state that no player who ever lived, +(of whom we know any thing,) can produce such a catalogue of victories. +Surely, it is not too much to declare, on the authority of so much proof, +that + + MORPHY CAN GIVE PAWN AND MOVE TO EVERY LIVING PLAYER. + + +VALEDICTORY. + +Paul Morphy has vanquished the paladins of the Old and New Worlds, and +vaulted into the very throne of Labourdonnais and Philidor. + +Is not this indeed a victory for him,--a triumph for his countrymen? Shall +not this youth be esteemed worthy of all honor, who, without experience, +has, by his own marvellous genius, eclipsed the brightness of those stars +which have flashed in the chess firmament before him? + +Chess may be but a game, a pastime, a relaxation; but Chess has at times +absorbed the faculties of the intellectual in every clime; it numbers +amongst its amateurs the greatest names of battle-fields and thrones; it +tells of warriors, poets, painters, sculptors, statesmen and divines; it +possesses a literature and language of its own; it makes enemies friends, +and finds a temple on the ocean, in the fortress, and by the peaceful +fireside. + +And long as Chess shall last, Paul Morphy's name will be as a "Household +Word," and his deeds be held in lasting memory. + + +THE END. + + + + +NEW PUBLICATIONS AND NEW EDITIONS + +PUBLISHED BY + +D. 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By GEORGE HENRY LEWES, Author of +"Seaside Studies," "Life of Goethe," etc. No. 1. Just Ready. + Price 10 cents. + + EXTRACT FROM PROSPECTUS. + + _No scientific subject can be so important to Man as that of + his own Life. No knowledge can be so incessantly appealed to by + the incidents of every day, as the knowledge of the processes + by which he lives and acts. At every moment he is in danger of + disobeying laws which, when disobeyed, may bring years of + suffering, decline of powers, premature decay. Sanitary + reformers preach in vain, because they preach to a public which + does not understand the laws of life--laws as rigorous as those + of Gravitation or Motion. Even the sad experience of others + yields us no lessons, unless we understand the principles + involved. 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MONGREDIEN standardised to +MONGREDIEU (this may be incorrect and a reference to Augustus +Mongredien). + +General. The following words have variable accenting but have been left +as in the original as they are used in quotations: Café, Caïssa, défi, +Régence. Other accents have been standardised. + +General. Variable spelling of McDonnel/McDonnell as in original + +General. Variable spelling of Deschapelles/Deschappelles as in original + +General. Variable spelling of Huttman/Huttmann as in original + +General. Variable spelling of Zytogorsky/Zytogorosky as in original + +General. Variable spelling of tournay/tourney as in original + +General. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Exploits and Triumphs, in Europe, of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion + +Author: Frederick Milnes Edge + +Release Date: November 1, 2010 [EBook #34180] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EXPLOITS AND TRIUMPHS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Kathryn Lybarger, Brownfox +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 365px;"> +<img src="images/morphy.png" width="365" height="571" alt="Paul Morphy" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> +<h4>THE</h4> + +<h2>EXPLOITS AND TRIUMPHS,</h2> + +<h3>IN EUROPE,</h3> + +<h4>OF</h4> + +<h1>PAUL MORPHY,</h1> + +<h2>The Chess Champion;</h2> + +<p class="center">INCLUDING</p> + +<p class="center">AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF CLUBS, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES</p> +<p class="center">OF FAMOUS PLAYERS, AND VARIOUS INFORMATION AND</p> +<p class="center">ANECDOTE RELATING TO THE NOBLE</p> +<p class="center">GAME OF CHESS.</p> + +<h4 class="gap2">BY</h4> + +<h3>PAUL MORPHY'S LATE SECRETARY.</h3> + +<p class="center">ILLUSTRATED WITH TEN PORTRAITS ON WOOD.</p> + +<p class="center larger gap2">NEW YORK:</p> +<p class="center larger">D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,</p> +<p class="center">346 & 348 BROADWAY.</p> +<p class="center">M.DCCC.LIX.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p> + + + +<p class="smaller gap4 center">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859,</p> + +<p class="smaller center">BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,</p> + +<p class="smaller center">In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the</p> +<p class="smaller center">Southern District of New York.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> + + + +<p class="gap4 center">THIS RECORD</p> + +<p class="smaller center">OF</p> + +<p class="larger center">PAUL MORPHY'S</p> + +<p class="center">ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE OLD WORLD,</p> + +<p class="center">IS DEDICATED</p> + +<p class="smaller center">TO</p> + +<p class="center">The Members of</p> + +<p class="center"><b>THE FIRST AMERICAN CHESS CONGRESS,</b></p> + +<p class="smaller center">BY</p> +<p class=" center">THEIR MOST GRATEFUL</p> +<p style="margin-left:50%;">AND OBLIGED SERVANT,</p> +<p style="margin-left:60%;">THE AUTHOR.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>I am much indebted, in the following pages, to +the kind assistance of that able writer and veteran +chess-player, Mr. George Walker, who has furnished +me with most of the very interesting and +valuable information contained in the fourth chapter +of this work. I am likewise under obligations +to Herr Löwenthal for many anecdotes relating to +chess celebrities of the past, and other information; +and also to Mr. George Medley, Honorary Secretary +of the London Chess Club, and Mr. Ries, of the +Divan.</p> + +<p>The cuts with which this work is embellished +have been engraved by the well-known Brothers +Dalziel. The portrait of Paul Morphy, copied from +a photograph taken shortly after his arrival in London +last year, is an excellent likeness.</p> + +<p>The portraits of Messrs. Staunton, Boden, Anderssen, +and Löwenthal, are copies of photographs,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> +for which they sat at the Manchester Meeting, in +1857. The originals of Messrs. Saint Amant and +Harrwitz are admirably executed lithographs of +those gentlemen, taken about four years ago, and +that of Mr. Mongredieu is copied from a photograph +kindly lent for the purpose.</p> + +<p>I am under great obligations to Mr. Lewis, who +came to London expressly to sit for his likeness; +and I feel assured that my readers will value this +"very form and feature" of an amateur who was +famous before Labourdonnais was known outside +the Régence; and whose works are found in every +chess-player's library.</p> + +<p>I had considerable difficulty in obtaining the +portrait of Mr. George Walker. Photographs, +lithographs, etc., of that most popular of all chess +writers, did not exist, and many friends prophesied +that his likeness would not be in my book. But I +importuned him so that he relented, and confided to +my care an oil painting, for which he sat five years +ago, and which was the only portrait of him in +existence.</p> + +<p>My readers can judge of the resemblance of the +other cuts by the portrait of Paul Morphy. I only +wish my story was as good.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<table summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="smaller">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER I.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">MORPHY'S FIRST GAMES</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER II.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">THE FIRST AMERICAN CHESS CONGRESS</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_4">4</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER III.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">MORPHY PREPARES TO START FOR EUROPE</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER IV.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">CHESS IN ENGLAND</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER V.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">MORPHY IN ENGLAND</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER VI.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">THE STAUNTON AFFAIR</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER VII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">MORPHY IN FRANCE</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_140">140</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER VIII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">THE CAFÉ DE LA RÉGENCE</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER IX.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">THE MATCH BETWEEN MORPHY AND HARRWITZ</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER X.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">MORPHY'S GREATEST BLINDFOLD FEAT</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER XI.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">CONTINUATION OF THE MATCH WITH HARRWITZ</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER XII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">MORPHY IN SOCIETY</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER XIII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">MORPHY AND THE FRENCH AMATEURS</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER XIV.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">MORPHY GETS BEATEN</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_183">183</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER XV.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">MORPHY AND ANDERSSEN</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_186">186</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER XVI.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">MORPHY AND MONGREDIEU</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="contchap">CHAPTER XVII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2">TROPHIES</td> +<td class="contpagenum"><a href="#Page_200">200</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smaller padright2 padtop1">VALEDICTORY</td> +<td class="contpagenum padtop1"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2 class="gap4">PAUL MORPHY.</h2> + + + +<h2 class="gap2"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>MORPHY'S FIRST GAMES.</h3> + + +<p>Paul Morphy's father, Judge Morphy, of the Supreme +Court of Louisiana, beguiled his leisure hours +with the fascinations of Chess, and, finding a precocious +aptitude for the game in his son, he taught him the +moves and the value of the various pieces. In the +language of somebody,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"To teach the young Paul chess,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">His leisure he'd employ;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Until, at last, the old man<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Was beaten by the boy."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I have here spoilt a very pretty story. The report in +chess circles is, that the young Paul learned the moves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +from seeing his father play with his uncle, Mr. Ernest +Morphy, long ranking amongst the first players in the +Union, and one of the brightest living ornaments of +American chess. One evening—so runs the tale—this +gentleman awaited the arrival of the Judge, when +Master Paul impudently offered to be his antagonist. +What was the uncle's astonishment at finding the +stripling a match for his deepest combinations, and +what the father's surprise on discovering a very Philidor +in his son of ten years! Deschapelles became a +first-rate player in three days, at the age of something +like thirty. Nobody ever believed the statement, not +even Deschapelles himself, although his biographer +declares he had told the lie so often that he at last forgot +the facts of the case. But the story about Morphy +beats the Deschapelles story in the proportion of thirty +to ten. I sorrowfully confess that my hero's unromantic +regard for truth makes him characterize the above +statement as a humbug and an impossibility.</p> + +<p>Paul's genius for Chess was, very properly, not +permitted to interfere with his educational pursuits. +At college (in South Carolina) until eighteen years +of age, he had but little time for indulgence in his +favorite game, nor did he find any one capable of +contending with him. When the vacations allowed of +his playing against such adepts as his father and uncle, +or such well-known paladins as Mr. Ernest Rousseau, +of New Orleans, and Judge Meek, of Alabama, he soon +showed himself superior to all antagonists. In the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +autumn of 1849, Herr Löwenthal, the celebrated Hungarian +player, visited the Crescent City, and out of +three games against the young Paul, then but twelve +years old, he lost two and drew one. It is but reasonable +to suppose that the desire of atoning for this +defeat had something to do with Herr Löwenthal's +challenging his youthful victor, on his arrival last year +in Europe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>THE FIRST AMERICAN CHESS CONGRESS.</h3> + + +<p>A circular was issued by the New York Chess +Club, in the month of April, 1857, "for the purpose of +ascertaining the feasibility and propriety of a general +assemblage of the chess players resident in America." +This "met with a hearty and zealous response from the +amateurs and clubs of the United States. So favorable +was the feeling everywhere manifested, that it was +deemed advisable to proceed with the undertaking, +and to complete at once the preliminary arrangements."<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> +In consideration of the movement having +been initiated by the New York Chess Club, it was +conceded that the meeting should take place in that +city.</p> + +<p>Some of the founders of the New York Chess +Club still live to do honor to the game. I believe that +Mr. James Thompson and Colonel Mead suckled the +bantling in times of yore, sometimes forming the entire +of the Club without assistance. In that day of small<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +things, I believe, too, they defeated the Norfolk (Va.) +Club, proving themselves just two too many for their +opponents. Then they travelled about from house to +house, as their members increased, with the arrival of +Mr. Charles H. Stanley, Mr. Frederick Perrin, and +others. About 1855 or 1856, the Club made the acquisition +of two enterprising young players, Mr. Theodore +Lichtenhein and Mr. Daniel W. Fiske; and to the +latter gentleman is due the credit of first suggesting +this Chess Congress, which made known to fame the +genius of Paul Morphy.</p> + +<p>In the summer of 1857, being then engaged on the +New York Herald, I used occasionally to tumble into +the basement of an edifice opposite the newspaper +office, where a jolly, fat German, with a never-to-be-remembered +name, regaled his visitors upon sausages +and "lager." Here the members of the Chess Club +were wont to congregate; for the landlord had provided +chessmen and boards as an inducement to +visitors.</p> + +<p>One afternoon being engaged in a game with a +brother reporter, a gentleman, whom I subsequently +learned was Mr. Theodore Lichtenhein, stepped up to +us, and put into our hands the prospectus of the approaching +Chess Congress, stating his opinion that an +event of so much importance merited newspaper publicity. +So began my acquaintance with American chess +amateurs. Although possessing but little skill as a +player, I had a strong liking for the game, and de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>termined +that every thing in my power should be done +to render the meeting successful.</p> + +<p>My visits to the saloon, and eventually to the Club, +became frequent, and the Committee of Management, +finding that I both could and would work, did me the +honor of appointing me one of the secretaries.</p> + +<p>The Congress was advertised to open on the 6th of +October, but players began to arrive some weeks previously. +First of all came Judge Meek, of Alabama, +a truly imposing specimen of a man. Soon after him +followed Mr. Louis Paulsen, from Dubuque, Iowa, +whose astonishing blindfold feats out West were the +theme of general talk, and almost total disbelief, +amongst Eastern players. From Judge Meek we first +heard of Paul Morphy's wondrous strength. He told +the New York Club that if the youthful Louisianian +entered the tournament, he would infallibly wrest the +palm of victory from all competition.</p> + +<p>We were much afraid, nevertheless, that Mr. Morphy +would be unable to quit his legal studies for the +purpose of attending the Congress, but when Mr. +Fiske announced the receipt of a telegraphic despatch, +which stated that he was <i>en route</i>, everybody hailed +the news with satisfaction. Mr. Paulsen now came to +the support of Judge Meek, and declared that Paul +Morphy would carry off the first prize in the tournament; +giving, as the grounds of his opinion, some two +or three published games of the young Louisianian, +which he considered worthy to rank with the finest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +master-pieces of chess strategy. Benignant fate brought +the young hero safely to New York, some two days +before the assembling of the Congress.</p> + +<p>Who that was present that evening does not remember +Paul Morphy's first appearance at the New +York Chess Club? The secretary, Mr. Frederick +Perrin, valorously offered to be his first antagonist, and +presented about the same resistance as a musquito to +an avalanche. Then who should enter the room but +the warrior Stanley, tomahawk in one hand and the +scalps of Schulten and Rousseau in the other. Loud +cries were made for "Stanley! Stanley!" and Mr. +Perrin resigned his seat to the new comer, in deference +to so general a request. Thus commenced a contest, +or rather a succession of contests, in which Mr. Stanley +was indeed astonished. "Mate" followed upon +"mate," until he arose from his chair in bewildered +defeat.</p> + +<p>The following day, the assembled delegates and +amateurs from the various clubs, organized the Congress +by the election of a president, in the person of +Judge Meek, with Mr. Fiske as secretary, four assistant +secretaries, marshals, treasurer, etc. All these +matters of detail, as well as the games played, the laws +passed, etc., etc., will eventually appear in the long +looked for "Book of the Congress," forthcoming with +the completion of the "British Museum Catalogue."</p> + +<p>In the absence of the "Book of the Congress," I +must give a slight sketch of its proceedings, in order to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +trace the career of Paul Morphy <i>ab initio</i>. After +taking possession of the magnificent hall which the +New York Committee of Management had chosen for +the meeting, the sixteen contestants in the Grand +Tournament, proceeded to pair themselves off by lot. +Never was fate more propitious than on this occasion +in coupling the antagonists. It is obvious, that however +apparently equal in strength two opponents may +be, one will prove stronger than the other. This is an +axiom requiring no proof. Out of sixteen, one is better +than the rest, and one out of the remaining fifteen is +stronger than the fourteen others. The latter player +may be drawn in the first round of the tournay with +the former, and though he stand incomparably the +superior of all but one, he loses every chance of a prize +by being put immediately <i>hors du combat</i>.</p> + +<p>Amongst the sixteen players who entered the lists, +two were unmistakably the strongest, namely, Messrs. +Morphy and Paulsen; and much fear was manifested +lest they might be drawn together, in the first round. +Such, however, was not the case. Mr. Paulsen was +coupled with Mr. Dennis Julien, the well-known problem +maker, and a gentleman whose hospitality to chess +players scarcely requires praise from me. Mr. Julien +had allowed his name to be entered in the Grand Tournament +in the absence of the representative of Connecticut, +Mr. S. R. Calthrop, but the latter player arriving +shortly after, Mr. Julien was but too happy to resign in +his favor. Mr. Morphy's antagonist was Mr. James<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +Thompson, of New York, a gentleman who finished his +chess education at the Café de la Régence, and the +London Chess Divan, noted for the brilliancy and +daring of his attack, and his pertinacity in playing the +Evans' Gambit wherever he has a chance. If Mr. +Thompson had not been pitted against such a terrible +opponent, in the first round, he would have tested the +powers of some of the other players.</p> + +<p>Mr. Morphy's second opponent was Judge Meek. +As they took their seats opposite each other, one +thought of David and Goliath; not that the Judge +gasconaded in any wise after the fashion of the tall +Philistine, for modesty adorns all his actions; but +there was as much difference in cubic contents between +the two antagonists, as between the son of Jesse and +the bully of Gath, and in both cases the little one came +out biggest. Judge Meek sat down with an evident +conviction of the result, and although he assured his +youthful opponent, that if he continued mating him +without ever allowing him the least chance, he would +put him in his pocket, he consoled himself with the reflection +that Paul Morphy would serve everybody else +as he served him.</p> + +<p>Hitherto our hero had won every game. In the third +round he encountered the strongest player of the New +York Club, Mr. Theodore Lichtenhein, a gentleman +who had formerly been President of the Circle des +Echecs at Königsburg in Prussia, and an admirable +exponent of the Berlin school of play. Mr. Lichten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>hein +eventually carried off the third prize in the tournament, +and although he did not win any game from +Mr. Morphy, he succeeded in effecting "a draw," +which, against such a terrible enemy, is almost worthy +of being esteemed a victory.</p> + +<p>Mr. Paulsen had also been successful in the first and +second rounds without losing or drawing a single game, +and, as if to keep even with his great rival, he, too, had +made "a draw" in the third section of the tournament—with +Dr. Raphael, of Kentucky. Now was to +be decided the championship of the New World, and +notwithstanding that the majority anticipated the result, +yet many of the spectators thought that the Western +knight might prove a hard nut for Morphy to crack. +Mr. Paulsen's game is steady and analytical to a nicety. +Modelling his operations on profound acquaintance with +Philidor, he makes as much out of his Pawns as most +others of their Pieces. In reply to Mons. de Rivière, +I once heard Morphy say, "Mr. Paulsen never makes +an oversight; I sometimes do."</p> + +<p>It is only justice to Mr. Paulsen to state, that he +never for one moment imagined that he would beat +Mr. Morphy. So exalted was his appreciation of the +latter's wondrous powers of combination, that he has +been frequently heard to declare—"If Anderssen and +Staunton were here, they would stand no chance with +Paul Morphy; and he would beat Philidor and Labourdonnais +too, if they were alive." And when, after the +termination of the Congress, Mr. Morphy offered Pawn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +and Move to all and every player in America, Mr. +Paulsen declared that he could easily give those odds +to him. But this invariable confession of inferiority +did not at all interfere with his doing the utmost to +become victor, although supremacy was only to be decided +by one player scoring five games. If I recollect +rightly, it was in the third game that Mr. Morphy committed +an error, which spoiled one of the finest combinations +ever seen on a chess-board. This combination +consisted of some eighteen or twenty moves, and its +starting point was one of those daring sacrifices which +European players dignify with the title "à la Morphy." +Certain of the inevitable result, (<i>humanum est erraret</i> +almost loses its signification when applied to his combinations,) +our hero played rapidly, and misplaced a +move. The result was, loss of attack and a piece, and +apparently of the game; the most ardent admirer of +Paul Morphy believed it was impossible for him to +avoid defeat. But though angry with himself for his +carelessness, he was not disheartened, but set to work +with courage, and effected "a draw." The latter part +of this game is a masterpiece of perseverance and +strategy. The result of the tournament is well known. +Mr. Morphy won five games, drew one, and lost one in +the concluding section—only one battle lost during the +entire campaign. The annals of chess do not furnish a +similar victory.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> Prospectus of "The National Chess Congress."</p></div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>MORPHY PREPARES TO START FOR EUROPE.</h3> + + +<p>Arriving in Europe three months before Mr. Morphy, +I was in some sort,—not from any consent or +knowledge on his part, his <i>avant courier</i>; and the fact +of my having been one of the Secretaries at the New +York Chess Congress, joined to my acquaintance with +him, afforded me the opportunity of conversing frequently +with prominent English players in reference to +this new meteor in the chess firmament.</p> + +<p>Shortly after my arrival in London, I called upon +the Secretary of the St. George's Chess Club, Thomas +Hampton, Esq., and introduced myself to him. Chess +is a bond of brotherhood amongst all lovers of the +noble game, as perfect as free masonry. It is a leveller +of rank—title, wealth, nationality, politics, religion—all +are forgotten across the board. Every chess player +recognizes this, and none more so than Mr. Hampton, +who gave me the warmest of welcomes. He told me +that every Saturday there was a full attendance of +members, and kindly invited me to visit the club on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +that day, promising to introduce me to Mr. Staunton. +I was but too happy to accept this invitation, being +desirous of learning how far the prowess of Paul Morphy +was appreciated by one so eminent in the chess +world.</p> + +<p>My acquaintance with the young American was a +passport of general interest to all present on the following +Saturday. In addition to Mr. Staunton, I met there +Herr Falkbeer, Messrs. Barnes, Bird, "Alter," and +other luminaries, and many were the questions asked +in reference to Mr. Morphy. But I am bound to say +that the feeling with which he was regarded in the +United States was not participated in by English +players. I was told by one gentleman—"Mr. Morphy's +games are very pretty, but they will not bear the test +of analysis." Another said—and his opinion was universally +endorsed—"It is quite possible that Mr. Morphy +may arrive at the highest rank, nay, even that he +may become a second Labourdonnais, but he cannot +have the strength his admiring countrymen wish to +believe. Chess requires many long years of attentive +study, and frequent play with the best players, and +neither of these your friend has had. Depend upon it +he will find European amateurs very different opponents +from those he has hitherto encountered." This rather +nettled me, but it was reasonable and just. Any one +possessing the slightest acquaintance with the game +knows that it partakes more of hard, laborious application +to arrive at first-rate skill, than of mere pastime.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +Very few of Morphy's games had been seen in Europe, +and his opponents were not, certainly, of a class to +rank with the Stauntons, Löwenthals, and Anderssens +of the Old World. Was it reasonable to suppose that +a youth, just out of his teens, who had devoted but +little time to chess, and who was about to meet first-rate +players for the first time, should possess the experience +and lore of men double his age? At the present time, +now that he has unmistakably proved himself the +superior of all living players, I feel utterly at a loss to +solve the problem of his skill. At college, until +eighteen years old, what time could he find there, except +out of school hours, for the required practice, and +what antagonists worthy of him? From eighteen to +twenty, he was engaged in reading for the bar. During +that period he was as frequent a visitor at the +chess club as circumstances would permit, but certainly +not sufficiently so to increase his strength. Who were +his antagonists? His father had almost entirely abandoned +chess; Mr. Ernest Morphy had settled in "the +West," and Mr. Rousseau, absorbed in the sterner +duties of life, held the same relation to the game as +Mr. Lewis in England. To one and all of his opponents, +except these gentlemen, he could give the rook; +and playing at odds is somewhat different from contending +with even players. He met strong players for +the first time at New York. Paulsen, Lichtenhein, +Thompson, Montgomery, Marache were all northern +players, and new to him, and vastly superior to the an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>tagonists +he had previously encountered. There is but +one way to account for his annihilation of all precedent. +His skill is intuitive, and I doubt much whether his +prodigious memory has been of assistance to him. In +answer to a gentleman in Paris as to whether he had +not studied many works on chess, I heard him state +that no author had been of much value to him, and that +he was astonished at finding various positions and solutions +given as novel—certain moves producing certain +results, etc., <i>for that he had made the same deductions +himself, as necessary consequences</i>. In like manner, +Newton demonstrated, in his own mind, the problems +of Euclid, the enunciations only being given; and +I can think of no more suitable epithet for Morphy than +to call him "the Newton of Chess."</p> + +<p>But <i>revenons à nos moutons</i>. Morphy's achievements +at the Congress in New York induced many to +believe that America now possessed a champion capable +of contending with the proficients of Europe, and it +was proposed that he should be backed by the American +Chess Association against any player who would +take up the challenge. I am sorry to say that the +action of certain prominent men prevented the gauntlet +being thrown down. These gentlemen said, "He beats +us because he is better versed in the openings, but +such players as Löwenthal and Harrwitz will be too +strong for him. He wants experience, and were we +to make this national challenge, we should appear +ridiculous when our champion is defeated, which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +certainly would be." The proposal, however, got +noised abroad, and the following paragraph appeared, +in consequence, in the Illustrated London News:</p> + +<blockquote class="gap2"><p class="center">"CHALLENGE TO EUROPEAN CHESS PLAYERS."<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a></p> + +<p>"The American Chess Association, it is reported, +are about to challenge any player in Europe to contest +a match with the young victor in the late passage at +arms, for from $2,000 to $5,000 a side, the place of +meeting being New York. If the battle-ground were +to be London or Paris, there can be little doubt, we +apprehend, that a European champion would be found; +but the best players in Europe are not chess professionals, +but have other and more serious avocations, the +interests of which forbid such an expenditure of time +as is required for a voyage to the United States and +back again."</p></blockquote> + +<p class="gap2">I would say, by way of parenthesis, that such a +being as a professional chess player does not exist in +the United States. Paulsen is a tobacco broker, with +tendencies to speculating in "corner lots." (Western +men know what that means.) Lichtenhein deals in dry-goods, +dry wines and Italian opera; Thompson is the +proprietor of a magnificent restaurant; Colonel Mead +devotes himself to democratic cabals at the New York +Hotel; Fiske is an admixture of the Chess Monthly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +the Astor Library and Scandinavian literature; Perrin +and Marache are bothered daily with banks, "bears" +and "bulls." Chess professionals, indeed! they do not +grow in the United States.</p> + +<p>Mr. Morphy returned to his native city without +any further action having been taken, but the New +Orleans Chess Club determined that the challenge +should be made, and they addressed the following +letter to Mr. Staunton, at the commencement of last +year:</p> + +<blockquote class="gap2"><p class="ralign"><span class="smcap">New Orleans</span>, <i>February 4, 1858</i>. +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Howard Staunton, Esq.</span>,</p> + +<p>Sir,—On behalf of the New Orleans Chess Club, +and in compliance with the instructions of that body, +we, the undersigned committee, have the honor to invite +you to visit our city, and there meet Mr. Paul +Morphy in a chess match. In transmitting this invitation, +permit us to observe, that we are prompted no +less by the desire to become personally acquainted with +one whom we have so long admired, than by the very +natural anxiety to ascertain the strength of our American +players by the decisive criterion of actual conflict +over the board.</p> + +<p>We can see no valid reason why an exercise so intellectual +and ennobling as chess, should be excluded +from the generous rivalry which exists between the +Old and the New World, in all branches of human +knowledge and industry. That the spirit of emulation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +from which this rivalry arises has not, hitherto, been +made to embrace our chivalrous game, may be mainly +ascribed to the fact that, although the general attention +paid to chess in the United States during the last fifteen +years has produced a number of fine players, yet +their relative force remained undetermined, and none +could assert an indisputable right to pre-eminence. +The late Chess Congress has, however, removed this +obstacle, by finally settling the claims of the several aspirants +to the championship; and it must now be a +matter of general desire to fix, by actual contest with +the best European amateurs, the rank which American +players shall hold in the hierarchy of chess.</p> + +<p>For this purpose it was suggested that Mr. Morphy, +the winner at the late Congress and the present American +champion, should cross the ocean, and boldly encounter +the distinguished magnates of the transatlantic +chess circles; but it unfortunately happens that serious +family reasons forbid Mr. Morphy, for the present, to +entertain the thought of visiting Europe. It, therefore, +becomes necessary to arrange, if possible, a meeting +between the latter and the acknowledged European +champion, in regard to whom there can be no +scope for choice or hesitation—the common voice of +the chess world pronounces your name; and to us it is +a subject of congratulation that the sceptre of transatlantic +chess is wielded by one who, with respect to +regularity of communication between the two countries, +and for other reasons, enjoys facilities for accept<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>ing +our invitation possessed by no other European +player.</p> + +<p>We take the liberty herewith to inclose a series of +proposed "terms of the match," which has been drawn +up, not for the purpose of imposing conditions, but with +a view to obviate the necessity of repeated correspondence. +We have been studious to make these terms as +equitable as possible, and to include all matters upon +which contestation was likely to arise. You are respectfully +invited to suggest any alterations which you +may deem advisable, not only in the minor points embraced, +but also as to the amount of the stakes, the +time fixed for the commencement of the match, &c., &c.</p> + +<p>Fully subscribing to the wisdom of the proposal +made by you in the introduction to the "Book of the +Tournament," we beg leave to express our entire willingness +to insert a clause providing that "one-half at +least" (or even <i>all</i>) "of the games shall be <i>open</i> ones."</p> + +<p>In conclusion, Sir, receive the assurance that it will +afford us extreme pleasure to welcome among us a gentleman, +who is as greatly admired for his powers in +play as he is esteemed for his many and valuable contributions +to the literature of chess.</p> + +<p>Hoping soon to receive a favorable answer, we remain, +with distinguished regard, your obedient servants,</p> + +<table summary="signatures"> +<tr> +<td class="smcap padright2">E. W. Halsey,</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Chas. A. Maurian, Jr.</span>,</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smcap padright2">Francis Michinard,</td> +<td><span class="smcap">P. E. Bonford</span>,</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smcap padright2">E. Pandely.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +</table> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="gap2 center">TERMS OF THE MATCH.</p> + +<p>1. The amount of the stakes, on each side, to be five +thousand dollars, and the winner of the first eleven +games to be declared the victor, and entitled to the +stakes.</p> + +<p>2. The match to be played in the city of New Orleans.</p> + +<p>3. Should the English player lose the match, the +sum of one thousand dollars (£200) to be paid to him +out of the stakes, in reimbursement of the expenses +incurred by him in accepting this challenge.</p> + +<p>4. The games to be conducted in accordance with +the rules laid down in Mr. Staunton's "Chess Player's +Handbook."</p> + +<p>5. The parties to play with Staunton chessmen of +the usual club-size, and on a board of corresponding +dimensions.</p> + +<p>6. The match to be commenced on or about the +first of May, 1858, (or on any other day during the +present year most agreeable to Mr. Staunton,) and to +be continued at not less than four sittings each week.</p> + +<p>7. In order that the stay of the English player in +New Orleans be not unnecessarily prolonged, he shall +have the right to fix the hours of play at from ten +o'clock, <span class="smaller">A. M.</span>, to two, <span class="smaller">P. M.</span>, and from six to ten o'clock, +<span class="smaller">P. M.</span></p> + +<p>8. The time occupied in deliberating on any move, +shall not exceed thirty minutes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>9. The right to publish the games is reserved exclusively +to the contestants, subject only to such private +arrangements as they may agree upon.</p> + +<p>10. The stakes on the part of Mr. Staunton to be +deposited prior to the commencement of the match in +the hands of ——; and those on the part of Mr. +Morphy, in the hands of Eugene Rousseau, Esq., cashier +of the Citizen's Bank of Louisiana.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="gap2">On the 3d of April, Mr. Staunton replied to this +very flattering communication as follows, through the +"Illustrated London News:"—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Proposed Chess Match between England and +America for One Thousand Pounds a Side.</span>—We have +been favored with a copy of the <i>defi</i> which the friends +of Mr. Paul Morphy, the chess champion of the United +States, have transmitted to Mr. Staunton. The terms +of this cartel are distinguished by extreme courtesy, +and with one notable exception, by extreme liberality +also. The exception in question, however, (we refer to +the clause which stipulates that the combat shall take +place in New Orleans!) appears to us utterly fatal to +the match; and we must confess our astonishment that +the intelligent gentlemen who drew up the conditions +did not themselves discover this. Could it possibly +escape their penetration, that if Mr. Paul Morphy, a +young gentleman without family ties or professional<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +claims upon his attention, finds it inconvenient to anticipate, +by a few months, an intended voyage to Europe, +his proposed antagonist, who is well known for years to +have been compelled, by laborious literary occupation, +to abandon the practice of chess beyond the indulgence +of an occasional game, must find it not merely inconvenient, +but positively impracticable, to cast aside all +engagements, and undertake a journey of many thousand +miles for the sake of a chess-encounter? Surely +the idea of such a sacrifice is not admissible for a single +moment. If Mr. Morphy—for whose skill we entertain +the liveliest admiration—be desirous to win his +spurs among the chess chivalry of Europe, he must +take advantage of his purposed visit next year; he will +then meet in this country, in France, in Germany, and +in Russia, many champions whose names must be as +household words to him, ready to test and do honor to +his prowess."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Can this mean aught else than, "Come over to +England and I will play you?"</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> Illustrated London News, December 26th, 1857.</p></div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>CHESS IN ENGLAND.</h3> + + +<p>Most of us know how "Box," when called upon by +"Cox," to give explanations of the improper attentions +he (Box) was paying to C.'s wife, hums and haws and +begins, "Towards the close of the sixteenth century;" +when Cox very properly cries out, "What the deuce +has the sixteenth century to do with my wife?" +Many of my readers may, like Cox, want to know what +a great deal my book contains has to do with Paul +Morphy; all I have to say, in reply, is,—if you don't +like it, skip it; more especially the following thirty +pages, which, nevertheless, will be interesting to all +chess-players.</p> + +<p>Chess seems to have first acquired social importance +in England during Philidor's residence in that +country. Judging from the number of titled names +attached to his work as subscribers, the British aristocracy +were, in his time, much given to the game, but +"nous avons changé tout cela," and the English nobility<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +nowadays, with but a few notable exceptions, confine +their abilities to "Tattersall's" and "Aunt Sally."</p> + +<p>"What a fall was there, my countrymen!"</p> + +<p>Surely the "King of Games," which has enlisted +amongst its votaries such names as that of the victor +of Culloden, and his rival, Maréchal Saxe; without +enumerating those of all the greatest warriors of many +centuries, might still offer inducements to their comparatively +unknown descendants. We have thousands +of men, composing the British aristocracy, at a loss to +get rid of their time; sauntering down to their clubs at +mid-day; listlessly turning over the leaves of magazines +and reviews, until their dinner-hour arrives. Why, in +the name of common sense, do not these men learn +something of chess, and thus provide themselves with +a pastime which not merely hastens Time's chariot-wheels, +but quickens the intellect? One gets tired of +billiards, cards, horse-racing, etc., but your chess-player +becomes more enamored of his game, the more he +knows of it.</p> + +<p>It may have been that gentlemen and nobles affixed +their names to Philidor's book, out of compliment or +charity, but it is doubtful whether their descendants +would now do so, even from those considerations. +Must we measure the capacity of dukes and lords by +that intellectual standard, "Aunt Sally?"</p> + +<p>Philidor certainly did much for chess, particularly +in England. He possessed peculiar advantages for so +doing. In the first place he had true talent; his powers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +for playing blindfold excited extraordinary interest at +the time, not merely amongst chess players, but especially +with the titled crowd. His political antecedents +increased the general interest, and, last and best of all, +he was a foreigner. If Philidor had been an Englishman +he would hardly have sold a copy of his book.</p> + +<p>Philidor organized a chess club in London, which +met at Parsloe's Coffee House, St. James street. At +the present day little is known of that early association, +and we cannot even tell whether the members +were numerous. After his death, chess seems to have +languished; Parsloe's club dragged on its existence +during some years, dying from inanition about 1825. +The London Chess Club, first organized in 1807, kept +alive the sacred fire; but that was the only community +in England during the first quarter of this century +where the game was publicly played. Some years +after the establishment of the London, the Edinburgh +Chess Club started into existence. In 1833, a great +impetus was given to the game by the commencement +of a weekly chess article in the columns of "Bell's Life +in London." Amateurs now had an organ which could +record their achievements; men hitherto unknown +beyond their private circles felt, that the opportunity +was afforded them to become famous throughout the +country, and provincial clubs started up here and there. +Chess players cannot but regard that paper as a very +nursing mother for Caïssa, and certainly never hear it +mentioned but their thoughts revert to the veteran<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>—George +Walker. I once heard that gentleman relate +the following anecdote as a proof of how little was +known of chess, in England, previous to the year 1833.</p> + +<p>Travelling towards the north somewhere about that +period, he put up one night at a hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. +Now any man with music or poetry in his soul, +would, under such circumstances, wander towards the +home of Shakspeare, or to his last resting-place; provided +always that fear of rheumatism, or influenza, did +not render him regardful of the rain which then fell +"like cats and dogs." How to pass the evening was +the question. Only one other traveller in the coffee-room, +and he as uncommunicative as Englishmen proverbially +are. Mr. Walker did not feel like going to +bed at seven o'clock in the evening, and the idea of +throwing out "a feeler" struck him as interesting. +"Did Traveller play chess?" Traveller did. "Would +he have a game?" Yes, he would. The waiter is +thereupon summoned, and ordered to bring in a set of +chessmen. Waiter, strongly suspicious that Mr. +Walker means skittles, finally awaked to consciousness, +and, with a smile of triumph, produces a backgammon +board.</p> + +<p>The very idea of an opponent obliterated all fear +of the weather in Mr. Walker's breast, and he sallied +forth in quest of the desired pieces. Toyshops, libraries, +etc., were entered, but the proprietors scarcely understood +what was asked of them, and Mr. W. finally +returned to the inn to dispatch "Boots" to the solici<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>tor, +doctor, and neighboring gentry—but all to no purpose. +Thereupon mine host suggested a note to the +parson, but that individual having just rendered himself +famous for all time by cutting down Shakspeare's +mulberry tree, Mr. Walker replied that such a man +could not possibly know anything of the game, and it +would be useless to send to him. So the two travellers +were forced to console themselves with the intricacies +of draughts.</p> + +<p>After the death of Philidor, the strongest players +were Sarratt, De Bourblanc, Lewis and Parkinson. +Sarratt and Mr. Lewis may be looked upon as chess +professors. We all know the story of the former's +playing with the great Napoleon, and the struggle +between pride and courtesy (very silly courtesy, indeed!) +finally overcome by Sarratt's drawing every +game. This could not have been a satisfactory result +to the "Little Corporal," for he never seemed partial +to leaving things <i>in statu quo ante bellum</i>. Sarratt +was a schoolmaster, Parkinson an architect, and Mr. +Lewis commenced life as a merchant's clerk, and eventually +embarked in the manufacture of piano fortes. +This information has nothing whatever to do with the +reputation of the above gentlemen, as successors of +Philidor, and I only mention it because chess players, +like other men, are not adverse to hearing what does +not concern them.</p> + +<p>The continental blockade and long wars with Napoleon, +isolated England from the rest of the world,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +and completed the decay and fall of chess for a time. +But the game did not languish in France and Germany. +About 1820, the Holy Alliance (of Sovereigns against the +people) began playing its pranks: proscribed fugitives, +martyrs to liberty—<i>soi disant</i> and otherwise—came +over to England in shoals, and amongst them were to +be found thorough adepts in the mysteries of chess. +These refugees rekindled the fire in Britain. They +brought with them new and unknown German and +Italian works, and made Englishmen acquainted with +far more extended information than could be found in +Philidor's meagre work.</p> + +<p>Before we enter on the new era of chess, I may add +for the benefit of such of my readers as are not "up" +in its history, that Lewis was the pupil of Sarratt, +and McDonnel the pupil of Lewis. It is difficult, from +the paucity of existing <i>data</i>, to judge of the strength +of former players as compared with modern examples. +Mr. Lewis had been accustomed at one time to give +McDonnel pawn and two; but, when these odds became +too heavy, he declined playing longer, and may +be considered to have retired from the arena. Mr. +Walker thinks that, in their best play, Messrs. Sarratt +and Lewis were a pawn below Morphy, and he ranks +the latter with Labourdonnais and McDonnel, stating +his belief that the two latter would have played up to +a much higher standard if provoked by defeat. For +my own part, I think it is indisputable that the reputation +of these two players is, at this day, entirely based<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +on their eighty published games, and when Herr +Löwenthal's much looked-for collection of Morphy's +contests is published, we shall then be enabled to judge +of the American's strength, as compared with those +celebrated masters.</p> + +<p>The influx of foreigners into London was introductory +to the establishment of numerous chess circles +in different coffee houses. Hundreds of "exiled +patriots," bearded Poles and Italians, congregated together +to smoke and play chess, and soon infused a +general passion for the game amongst the Londoners. +The first room specially devoted to chess, of which we +have any account, was one opened by Mr. Gliddon, and +this led to the establishment of the London Chess +Divan.</p> + + + +<p class="center gap2">THE LONDON CHESS DIVAN.</p> + +<p>What chess player has not heard of the far-famed +resort of the devotees of Caïssa? The Café de la Régence +may be the Mecca of chess, but the Divan is indisputably +its Medina. Chess Clubs have risen and +fallen, and the fortunes of the survivors have waxed or +waned; but the Divan flourishes in spring-tide glory, +the <i>Forum Romanum</i> for players of every clime and +strength. Now my readers must not suppose that I +am about to attempt a history of the "Divan in the +Strand," as the Cockneys call it; for I should then +have to write the history of modern European chess. +I merely intend a sketch, from which they will learn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +with how much reverence that classic spot is to be regarded.</p> + +<p>Somewhere about the year 1820, a tobacconist, +named Gliddon, opened a room in the rear of his shop, +King Street, Covent Garden, which he fitted up in +Oriental style, and supplied with papers, chess periodicals +and chess-boards, calling the establishment "Gliddon's +Divan." Amongst his patrons was a Mr. Bernhard +Ries, who soon perceived that there was room in +London for a similar undertaking on a much larger +scale. He accordingly opened a grand chess saloon in +the building now occupied by the Divan. This was so +far back as 1828. It was, at first, on the ground-floor, +in the room known as Simpson's Restaurant, but when +Mr. Ries gave up the establishment to his brother, the +present proprietor, in 1836, that gentleman transferred +the Divan to the vast saloon up stairs. In 1838, Mr. +Ries (No. 2) found the Westminster Chess Club suffering +from paralysis, its sinews (of war) being grievously +affected. He purchased the good-will and furniture of +the club, giving the members private rooms on the +first floor of his house for their exclusive use. The +boards and men now in use at the Divan were made +expressly for the Westminster Club when first established. +The members in their new locale soon found +that whilst some twenty boards would be going in the +public room, the game languished with them; and in +the course of two years the club broke up and became +absorbed in the Divan. This will invariably be the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +case when a private and exclusive chess association +holds its meetings contiguous to a public resort devoted +to the same game. During the past year, the Paris +<i>Cercle des Echecs</i>, which met in rooms over the Café +de la Régence, found that the influence of the arena +down stairs was too great for them, and they broke up +their meetings, and are now to be found <i>en masse</i> in +the public café.</p> + +<p>In 1842 Mr. Ries invited Labourdonnais to come +over from Paris, and play exclusively at the Divan, +which offer that great master accepted. But his constitution +was already shattered, and the malady which +eventually carried him off interfered with his devoting +much time to chess, and no matches of importance +were played by him during the period. It was next +door to the Divan, at No. 6 Beaufort Buildings, in +rooms taken for him by Mr. Ries, that Labourdonnais +finally succumbed to that terrible antagonist who, +whatever the opening may be, brings the game of life +to one inevitable ending—death!</p> + +<p>Who, known to fame in chess during the past quarter +of a century, has not assisted in making the Divan +classic ground? Of bygone palladins we might instance +Popard, Fraser, Zenn, Daniels, Alexander, Williams, +Perigal, and a host of others, never for a moment +forgetting Labourdonnais and Kieseritzky. The +veterans Lewis and Walker made it a place of constant +resort before they withdrew from the chess arena. +In the Divan, Staunton rose from a Knight-player to a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +first rate. St. Arnaud, Anderssen, Harrwitz, Hörwitz, +Kling,—in fact all the great living celebrities—make it +their house of call when in London, whilst the brilliant +<i>corps d'élite</i> composing the phalanx of English players—Löwenthal, +Boden, Barnes, Bird, Lowe, Falkbeer, +Wormald, Campbell, Zytogorsky, Brien, &c., &c., may +frequently be found there, ready to meet all antagonists. +When Mr. Buckle casts a "longing, lingering +look behind" at his first love, he offers homage to +Caïssa at the Divan. But we must stop, or we shall +fain run through the whole list of living players.</p> + +<p>In the room are busts of Lewis, Philidor, Labourdonnais, +and other <i>vieux de la vielle</i>, and the library is +replete with all the chief works on chess. From noon +to midnight, players of every shade of strength are to +be met with;—amateurs who learned the moves last +week; professors who analyze openings, adepts inventing +new defences, and editors who prove satisfactorily +that the winner ought to have lost and the vanquished +to have gained. [<i>Salām</i> to the Divan! May it live a +thousand years!]</p> + + +<p class="gap2">The Divan has certainly done much to spread a +liking for the game amongst the masses; but, at the +same time, it has somewhat interfered with the formation +of a flourishing West End Chess Club. There is +no city in the world in which so much chess is played +as London, and the British metropolis should certainly +show, at least, one club numbering from 500 to 1,000<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +members. Club life is an institution peculiar to Englishmen; +divans, even when so well managed as Ries's, +partake rather of the Gallic element, being of the <i>genus</i> +café. Your aristocratic Briton frequents not the public +saloon, preferring the <i>otium cum dignitate</i> of the private +club. I am aware that chess in England is not +fostered by the upper ranks of society: its amateurs +are to be found mainly in the middle classes. Shopmen, +clerks, professors of the arts, literary men, &c., +form its rank and file. The majority of these, I speak +of them as Englishmen, object to a place of public resort +from various reasons. Smoking displeases some, +and smoking is part and parcel of a divan. The Automaton +itself could not get on without its <i>tchibouk</i>. +All the advantages and none of the drawbacks of a +public hall, are to be obtained at a club; especially when, +as at the St. George's, one room is set apart for smoking. +Surely the late impulse given to chess by Paul +Morphy's European feats, will increase the members of +these chess associations, which are incontestably the +best schools for progress in the game.</p> + +<p>About the year 1824, three or four young gentlemen +who had recently learned chess, or rather the mechanical +part of it, and had been playing a good deal +together, made vain inquiries as to the existence of a +Chess Club at the West End of London, being desirous +of showing off their abilities to new advantage. The +foremost of these ambitious juveniles was Mr. George +Walker, the eminent Chess writer, and an author, too,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +whose never failing <i>bonhommie</i> is worthy of Lafontaine. +Finding that "westward the star of empire" +and of chess had not, as yet, begun to "take its way," +they resolved to have a Club of their own. Philidor's +Club could not be said to exist; the flame was flickering +in some obscure corner, and the last member was +preparing to leave. But the sacred fire was not to die +out:—George Walker and his fellow youngsters built +an altar for it at the Percy Coffee-House in Rathbone +Place, Oxford Street, and blew the flame into a perfect +blaze. Percy's Coffee-House was then a first-rate hotel: +Belgravia, Brompton, Pimlico, were corn-fields and +market-gardens, and the aristocracy had not emigrated +from the neighborhood of Oxford Street. The denizens +of that ilk might be supposed to find some leisure for +the enjoyment of such a pastime as chess, and Walker +and Co. soon enlisted upwards of a score of recruits. +Night after night the members played what they in +their innocence called chess, finishing the Monday evening +with a supper, after which harmony and "the flowing +bowl" prevailed. Things went on swimmingly in +this Mutual Admiration Society, until one of the members, +Mr. Perrier, of the War Office, upset the <i>status +quo</i> by bringing into their midst Mr. Murphy, the celebrated +ivory miniature painter, and father of Mrs. +Jamieson, the authoress. Dire was the result; Mr. +Murphy proved a very Trojan horse in this West End +Ilium: for, as Mr. Walker says, "he entirely dispelled +the illusion of the 'bold Percies' that they had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +playing chess." He gave them one and all a Knight, +essayed the Gambit on every occasion, and not one of +the young gentlemen could make a stand against him.</p> + +<p>As though not sufficiently humiliated, Mr. Murphy +introduced Mr. Lewis to them, and the new comer +completed their bewilderment by giving them the +Rook and sweeping them clean off the board. But +with such a master, the Percies, by dint of diligent +study and practice, rapidly improved, and it was suggested +to Mr. Lewis that he should open a private club +at his own house. After a short delay this was accomplished, +and nearly all the members joined Mr. Lewis, +when he opened subscription rooms in St. Martin's +Lane—classic ground surely, for a former Chess Club +had lived and died at Slaughter's Coffee-House, hard by.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lewis collected quite a number of players +around him, and was in fair way to find his enterprise +profitable; but the most prominent members demurred +to his not playing with them so much as they desired, +more especially as Mr. Lewis did not appear to regard +the institution as a Free School for the inculcation of +Chess. The best of the young amateurs were Messrs. +Walker, Brand, Mercier and McDonnell; the last, the +best of the lot. McDonnell received from Mr. Lewis +the odds of Pawn and Two Moves, but when he had +fairly surmounted that advantage and could win every +game, his antagonist declined playing on even terms, +much to McDonnell's disappointment. This, however, +appears to be the usual course with leading chess play<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>ers,—Deschappelle's +conduct in regard to Labourdonnais +being a notable example of the fact. There are +peculiar idiosyncrasies in chess human nature, as, for instance, +the remarkable reserve and "<i>don't-come-nigh-me</i>" +<i>feeling</i> with which leading amateurs treat each +other. Go into any public or private chess association, +and you will find that the superior craft steer clear of +each other as a general thing; reserving their antagonism +for matches few and far between.</p> + +<p>The Club subsequently removed to the bottom of +St. Martin's Lane, and shortly broke up, McDonnell +and others returning to the London Club, whence they +had migrated. A futile attempt was afterwards made +to establish a grand aristocratic silk and satin club in +Waterloo Place, the door of admission to which could +only be opened with a golden key of ten guineas. +Here lots of every thing could be found except chess, +and no wonder, for the game does not find supporters, +to any extent, among the rich, depending mainly upon +individuals to whom ten guineas are a consideration. +The club expired in twelve months. Caïssa thus lost +her last foothold at the West End, and Mr. Lewis +henceforth virtually abandoned the practice of chess.</p> + +<p>The question has frequently been asked, whether +and how Mr. Lewis played Labourdonnais? They +played together on three different occasions, <i>in all +seven games</i>, of which Labourdonnais won five and lost +two. The first time they met was at the house of Mr. +Domitt, Hon. Sec. of the London Club, and two All<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>gaier +Gambits were played, each winning one. As +they had just done their duty to a very good dinner, +and society was then divided into two, three, and four +bottle men, Labourdonnais remarked, "The victory is +not likely to be gained by the better player, but by +him who carries his wine best." This reminds me of a +<i>bon mot</i> of Mr. Boden. Somebody remarked in his +presence that two amateurs (whose names to mention +"decency forbids") were both drunk, though engaged +in a match game: he replied—"Then the best player +will win."</p> + +<p>After the conclusion of the two games, Messrs. Mercier, +Bonfil and Domit, particular friends of the English +player, challenged Labourdonnais to play Mr. Lewis a +match of twenty-five games at £5 a game. This was +rather too bad, considering that Labourdonnais, to use +his own words, was "without a friend or a shilling in a +foreign country;" but he laughed the challenge away +as a joke in his own witty manner, by saying that "in +such case he must be the best player who could offer +to play for the highest stake," a reply which so pleased +a gentleman present, Mr. Brand, that he cried out, +"Labourdonnais shall play Lewis a match of 25 games +at £10 a game, and I will find his stakes." It is stated +that Mr. Brand evinced considerable ill-feeling towards +Mr. Lewis, at the time, in consequence of the latter's +preferring a move recommended by Mr. Mercier in the +match then pending between the London and Edinburgh +clubs, to one proposed by himself, and perhaps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +this was the reason for his offering to back the Frenchman +against his own countryman. But Mr. Lewis's +friends did not accept the challenge, and the two +champions confined their contests to five off-hand +games, which were played at the residences of Messrs. +Bonfil and Mercier, Lewis winning one and Labourdonnais +four, so that the final result was:—</p> + +<p class="center">Labourdonnais, 5—Lewis, 2—Drawn, 0.</p> + +<p>The above occurrences took place on the occasion +of Labourdonnais' first visit to London, many years before +his famous encounters with McDonnell.</p> + +<p>About the year 1830, a gentleman of great parts +and education, named Huttmann, finding his share of +this world's loaves and fishes not precisely what he +could wish, opened a coffee house in Covent Garden. +His patrons belonged to what society calls the "upper +classes," for his prices were high and his refreshments +first-rate; two considerable attractions to men +of means. Amongst the frequenters of the rooms +were Mr. Henry Russell, the since celebrated singer; +Captain Medwin (Byron's medium), and Mr. Mackay, +now Dr. Charles Mackay, the poet. Doctor +Mackay was in New York during the chess tournament, +and visited the rooms on that occasion, but +we were then unaware of his early acquaintance with +the game.</p> + +<p>At Huttman's Coffee House, the habitués were +gentlemen in quest of quietness; men of calm, reflect<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>ive +turn, given to chit-chat in nooks and corners; smoking +a genuine "Havana" over a cup of unquestionable +"Mocha," and reading that everlasting refuge for an +Englishman, "<i>The Times</i>." Just the atmosphere for a +chess-board, and two or three were accordingly introduced. +Now you can never get chess-boards into any +establishment, without the fact becoming immediately +known amongst amateurs. Mr. George Walker soon +got wind of the arrangement, and forthwith reconnoitred +the lines. The result of his observations was +that he suggested the formation of a chess club in the +first floor rooms, and to this Mr. Huttmann assented. +Mr. Walker forthwith began drumming about for recruits; +electing himself secretary, <i>pro tem.</i>, he drew up +a set of rules, and got out printed circulars, and it was +not his fault if any person with whom he claimed even +bowing acquaintance, escaped from the meshes of the +proposed club. Within a few days he had canvassed +all his earliest chess friends, and had rallied round the +standard of Caïssa between twenty and thirty defenders. +It was resolved to style the association</p> + + +<p class="center gap2">THE WESTMINSTER CLUB,</p> + +<p>and Captain Medwin was elected the first president.</p> + +<p>We are upon classic ground. Who does not remember +the feats performed within the walls of this +home of the glorious departed? Who shall forget the +oft-told wonders of that golden age of chess? Any +thing related of the Westminster Club is swallowed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +with willing faith by gaping acolytes. Those were +glorious days, indeed, the Homeric age of zatrikiological +worthies! Amongst the early supporters of the +Club were the Rev. Mr. D'Arblay, (son of Madame +D'Arblay,) Mr. Skelton, (so well known about town as +"Dandy Skelton,") Mr. Nixon, organist of the Bavarian +Catholic Church, in Warwick Street, Duncan +Forbes, Professor of Oriental languages at University +College, and many other celebrated literary characters. +The proprietor, Mr. Huttman, followed the enterprise +with spirit. Every cigar he sold in the coffee-room +was wrapt in a printed problem; and, in addition, he +published a periodical penny miscellany on chess. Such +extraordinary exertions quickly bore fruit, and, in a +short time the Club rose to something like fifty members. +The room in which the meetings were held became, +in consequence, so hot, that it was deservedly +styled "the oven."</p> + +<p>Emboldened by success, Mr. Huttman began to +look about for new and more commodious quarters; +these he eventually found on the opposite side of the +street. Certain gamblers had there taken a house, and +furnished the principal apartments in sumptuous style, +for the sole purpose of decoying thither a young foreign +nobleman, who, in one night, is said to have lost +there upwards of £30,000. The house having served +their diabolical ends, was of no further use to them, +and Mr. Huttman rented it. Here the Westminster +Club was enshrined. Amongst the chief supporters<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +were Mr. George Walker, Hon. Sec.; Mr. B. Smith, +M. P.; Albany Fonblanque, Esq., of <i>The Examiner</i>; +Messrs. Perigal, Slous, Popert, McDonnel, and many +others from the London Club. In 1833, Labourdonnais +and McDonnel played their different matches at these +splendid rooms.</p> + +<p>By the continued exertions of Mr. George Walker, +the number of members was increased to three hundred. +What a glorious muster-roll! Why should the "old +days" not live again at the West End? Surely the +ranks of chess players are not thinned, nor is their +strength diminished. Our Löwenthals, Bodens, Birds, +Stauntons, Barneses, Buckles, Wormalds, Falkbeers, +Briens, Zytogoroskys, Lowes, Hannahs, etc., etc., +etc., are worthy descendants of West End men of the +olden time, without even enlisting the support of such +city magnates as the Mongredieus, Slouses, Medleys, +etc., of the ancient and virile London Club. Many +members of the Westminster still make love to the +nymph Caïssa; such historical names as Slous and +Walker for instance. But, in addition to the above-mentioned +general officers, we now possess a constantly-increasing +rank and file, recruited from the chess-playing +militia of schools and private families. Chess is +assuming vast proportions in England and America: +scarcely a weekly paper of any circulation but gives a +column to the game; and certainly no newspaper editor +would do so if he did not find it pay. At the West +End of London, there now exist two clubs of impor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>tance, +the old St. George's and the new St. James's; +the Philidorean Rooms in Rathbone Place partaking +rather of the divan character. Neither of these clubs +require proficiency in the game as a passport for membership; +and a gentleman receiving the Queen would +be just as eligible as the amateur giving it. Surely the +advantages offered for increasing one's strength in this +intellectual struggle of mind against mind, should be +an inducement for young players to enroll themselves +in one or the other of these two associations.</p> + +<p>When the Westminster had grown up into a goodly +body of three hundred members, Mr. George Walker +began to find that the duties of secretary were interfering +seriously with his other pursuits, and he therefore +resigned the office, and was succeeded by Mr. +William Greenwood Walker, to whom the chess world +is so much indebted for taking down the games of McDonnel. +The Club had arrived at its Augustine era, +and, in 1838, its fortunes began to wane; the proprietor +getting into pecuniary difficulties. Mr. Huttman +could not let well alone. He introduced a daily dinner, +on plans so profoundly calculated, that the more persons +who dined the more he lost. He got the Club, +also, into bad odor, by allowing chess to be played +there on Sundays. Musical soirées and other nonsense +followed; the main object of the establishment thus +became ignored, and, instead of new members joining, +the old ones fell off one by one, and the princely mansion +in Bedford street was shortly to let. Mr. Hutt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>man's +pecuniary difficulties perilled the very existence +of the Club, notwithstanding that the members handed +over to him the reserve fund, amounting to a few +hundred pounds. No Club can be said to be in safety +without such a fund upon which to fall back in case of +emergency, as for instance, retirement of members. +Members of chess clubs will retire—prominent ones +even—a very frequent cause being marriage; the +backsliders, however, often come back eventually.</p> + +<p>The Westminster Club being now without house or +home, looked about for some benevolent individual +who would "take them in and do for them." Such an +one they found in Mr. Ries, proprietor of the Divan in +the Strand, who offered them private rooms in his establishment; +thither the <i>débris</i> of the old Westminster +forthwith removed. Each member was provided with +a latch-key, with which to let himself in at the private +door. Here it was that Mr. Staunton appeared for the +first time in chess-circles, although he was never a +member of the Westminster Club. In its new quarters +the association drew out an existence of twelve +months, giving up the ghost in 1840.</p> + +<p>About this time, the veteran writer and encyclopædist, +Alexandre, made a lamentable <i>fiasco</i> at his +Café de l'Echiquiér in Paris; an establishment which +he vainly hoped would entice away the <i>habitués</i> of the +Cafés de la Régence et de Procope. Coming over to +London, he made the acquaintance of Mr. Staunton, +and the two players struck hands together, and resolved +to open a chess establishment as a partnership<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +concern. Alexandre put in his little all—the change +out of his Paris capital—and he and his coadjutor +opened rooms at the Waterloo Chambers. A very +good locality, perhaps too good, for rents in that neighborhood +are rather high. Some twenty or thirty old +players rallied round them, but the attempt was only +of short duration. The two <i>camarades</i> took to squabbling +and vilifying each other; and, within a year, the +Club was formally dissolved at the request of the members.</p> + +<p>All connection now being severed between the +members and Messrs. Alexandre and Staunton, the +amateurs convened a private meeting for the purpose +of examining their prospects and taking steps for reorganization. +Mr. George Walker advertised for a +large room, and was answered by Mr. Beattie, proprietor +of Beattie's Hotel, George street, Hanover +square. Here, once again, the remains of the "old +guard" planted their standard, and in special, solemn +convocation, under a full sense of their responsibility, +and with all due solemnity, they christened their Club</p> + + +<p class="center gap2">THE ST. GEORGE'S,</p> + +<p>the name being suggested, in the first place, by the +baptismal appellative of their virtual founder and Hon. +Sec., Mr. George Walker; and, secondly, because +the meeting was in George street, in the parish of +St. George's. The Club was exceedingly prosperous +during the first year of its existence, much being +due to the fostering care of Mr. B. Smith, M. P.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +for Norwich, who was assiduous in his attendance, and +a capital "whipper-in" of members. The room was +large, well proportioned, and well ventilated, cooking +first-rate, wines unexceptionable. Wine, by the by, +makes your game brilliant, if not sound. Dull, unimaginative +Zsen would have been betrayed into an attempt +at brilliance and dash, with a couple of bottles +of "old crusted" under his belt. But it began to appear +as though a West End Club could be nought but +an "annual." Mr. Beattie failed in business, and the +St. George's were turned out of doors, wanderers for a +season, without prospect of refuge. And the devotees +of Caïssa were on the town for some weeks, two or +three of the leading and most active assiduously on +the watch to find a fresh location, but almost in blank +despair as to the result.</p> + +<p>Mr. B. Smith was a large shareholder in the Polytechnic +Institution, Regent street. The managing +committee of that estimable establishment were, about +this time, endeavoring to form reading-rooms by subscription, +in the first floor of their building, facing Cavendish +square. It was suggested to the committee +that chess and reading might be combined; that one +large room facing the square should be set apart for +reading exclusively, and two smaller ones be devoted +to chess. A meeting was forthwith convened, Mr. +Nurse representing the proprietors of the Institution, +the chess players present being Mr. B. Smith, Mr. +Richard Penn, and the indefatigable and indomitable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +George Walker. These three gentlemen guaranteed +that one hundred members, paying an annual subscription +of three guineas each, should be enrolled in the +Chess Club within twelve months; and, once again, +the red cross of the St. George's was floating bravely +in the air. Forthwith commenced the hunting up of +old members of the Westminster and other West End +Clubs: touching and tender circulars were issued by +Mr. Walker, adjuring the straggling devotees of Caïssa, +by all the recollections of their first and early loves, by +all their hopes of a glorious hereafter, to rush once +more to the rescue. Could such pathetic appeals fall +unheeded upon the chess-lover's ear? No. A hundred +and fifty members reiterated "no" to the accompaniment +of their one hundred and fifty three-guinea +subscriptions. "Royal Blue-Book" notabilities enrolled +themselves; as, for instance, the present Lord +Ravensworth, Dr. Murray, Lord Bishop of Rochester, +the Honorable Charles Murray, Mr. Brooke +Greville, Mr. Albany Fonblanque, the Messrs. Hampton, +Lord Clarence Paget, and a host of other fashionables. +So the St. George's flourished for years, and it +began to appear that a Chess Club at the West End +could, under proper management, become a permanent +institution.</p> + +<p>It was in this <i>locale</i> that Mr. Staunton played his +first match with Saint Amant, and, losing it, took his +revenge by winning in his turn at Paris. For some +reason or other, the French amateur displayed unac<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>countable +nervousness during the progress of the +match in his own capital. The Baronne de L——, who +is well known in Parisian <i>salons</i> as an excellent player +and firm supporter of the game, assured me but lately +that she had no easy task in instilling courage into her +countryman, startled as he was by Mr. Staunton's winning +game after game from him. Warming up under +the merry rebukes of his fair inspirer, Saint Amant +began to turn the tables upon his antagonist, and it +seemed as if he would anticipate the result of the contest +between Löwenthal and Harrwitz. Mr. Staunton, +however, eventually won, and the stakes were +deposited for the third and deciding match, but Mr. S. +was taken ill, and it was never played. It is unfortunate +for Mr. Staunton's reputation that the plea of bad +health was so frequently used by him when opponents +appeared, more especially as he is the first to ridicule +such an excuse when coming from others. And it is +more than ever unfortunate in this instance, because +the French players declared that, judging from the +later games of the match in Paris, it was obvious that +Mr. Staunton would have succumbed to their champion +if the third and deciding heat had not been prevented +by the Englishman's indisposition. And many of them +even affirm that Mr. S. felt this and acted in consequence.</p> + +<p>It may be added that the St. George's Chess Club +had been installed at the Polytechnic Institution some +years before Mr. Staunton joined them, as an honorary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +member, in compliment to his rising reputation. Mr. +Staunton was laid under lasting obligations to Mr. +George Walker, by the latter's bringing him from obscurity +into public notice, not merely by introducing +him to the London chess world, but, in addition, by +flattering notices of him in his works. He may, in +fact, be considered the pupil of Mr. Walker, and the +courtesy with which he has always treated his benefactor +makes one think of Labourdonnais's delicacy +towards his old master Deschappelles.</p> + +<p>It would seem as though chess-players, like other +men, "get weary in well-doing," and constantly stand +in need of fresh stimulus. Nothing could have been +more suitable or comfortable than the accommodations +of the St. George's at the Polytechnic, and yet they +got to yearning after they scarcely knew what. The +cry was raised that members ought to be able to dine +at their Club, and they forthwith migrated <i>en masse</i> to +apartments in Crockford's Club, transmogrified into an +eating-house on a splendid scale, and styled "The Wellington." +Here they dwindled away, and the St. +George's would have finally disappeared from existence +had it not been for the kindness of Mr. Thomas +Hampton, who offered them apartments at New Palace +Club Chambers, in King street, St. James's. Under +his fostering care, and the patriotic manner in which +he is continually arranging matches and organizing +tournaments amongst the members, the St. George's +has largely increased its muster-roll of amateurs, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +bids fair to enjoy more halcyon days than ever. In +these rooms Paul Morphy played part of his match with +Herr Löwenthal, and vanquished the well-known amateur +"Alter," in a contest at Pawn and Move. And in +dismissing this now prosperous West End Club, I must +not forget to mention, for the benefit of those of my +readers who are ignorant of the fact, that it was the +St. George's which initiated and successfully carried +out the Grand International Tournament of 1851, in +which the Teutonic element made itself so conspicuous.</p> + +<p>Experience seems to teach us that no West End +Club can be permanently prosperous, without a recognized +professor of the game being constantly, or frequently, +in attendance; one whose object is the interest, +not of himself, but of chess, willing and ready to +play with all comers for the benefit of all. In such a +Club as the London, where the members are business +men, there is no hollow principle of <i>caste</i>; social democracy +exists, and the players play, talk, laugh, and +eat together on a perfect equality, be they simple +clerks or merchant princes. At the Court End of the +town manners are reserved; and such a thing may +happen as two members of the same Club waiting several +years, before an introduction justifies them in +speaking to each other. A professor would bring all +these stupid <i>convenances de la société</i> to a speedy end, +and, by his recognized position in the Club, arrange contests +between members of equal force, and thus further +the objects for which they are associated.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center gap2">THE LONDON CHESS CLUB.</p> + +<p>In the very heart of the City of London, under the +shadows of the Bank and Royal Exchange, and but a +step from Lombard street, the London Chess Club +holds its daily sittings. Who would expect to find +such an association in such a place? Is the quiet of +the chess arena consonant with the hum of busy multitudes, +hurrying to and fro in never-failing ardor after +the yellow god? Are stocks and scrip and dividends +allied to gambits and mates? Shall Lloyd's Capel +Court and the Corn Exchange furnish supporters of +Caïssa? Come along with me to Cornhill. Stop! +This is Purssell's restaurant. We'll walk up stairs. +This room on the first floor is devoted to billiards. +Above it meets the Cosmopolitan Club, and on the +third floor—out of reach of the noise below—is the +famous old "London," of which every player of note +during the past fifty years has either been a member +or visitor.</p> + +<p>It is between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, +and the rooms of the Club present the usual appearance +at that hour. In the right-hand corner we +perceive the President, Mr. Mongredieu, engaged in +dire conflict with Mr. Maude, to whom he has offered +the advantage of Pawn and Move. Readers of the +<i>Chess Players' Chronicle</i>, of the <i>Palamède</i>, and <i>La +Régence</i>, have known Mr. Mongredieu for long years +past, as an amateur of first-rate force, who gets him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>self +invariably into difficulties at the commencement of +a game, by his unvanquishable contempt for book openings, +but who comes out all right at last, by his masterly +tactics in the middle of the contest. Possessed +of a fund of native English humor, and a finished +scholar withal, he keeps up a running fire of wit and +anecdote throughout the game, in which the lookers-on +join. By his side is Mr. George Medley, the Secretary +of the Club, whose name is also a "household word" +to amateurs; he and Mr. Mongredieu ranking as the +strongest players of the association. The latter gentleman +has run in for an hour's play from the Corn +Exchange, being in fact one of those men who, before +the knowledge of Political Economy had become diffused +amongst the masses, were styled "the rogues in +grain." Mr. Medley has just arrived from the Stock +Exchange, where, after "Bearing" or "Bulling" Mr. +Slous, George Walker, and Mr. Waite during the morning, +he meets them at the Chess Club towards three +o'clock, and they become as much absorbed in the mysteries +of the game as though it were the business of +their lives.</p> + +<p>If you wish to see what influence chess can have +upon individuals, just analyze the London Club. The +members are not "men of straw," but sound, substantial +citizens, with balances at their bankers heavy +enough to buy up half-a-dozen lords. Does a Rothschild +or a Baring negotiate a loan? Here you will find +men to take up the greater part, if not the whole of it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +Is capital for a railroad wanted? You need not wander +much further. Look around you, and you will recognize +many of the foremost of Great Britain's merchant +princes; men pushing England's commerce into every +bay and inlet of old ocean, carrying the British flag +across seas and lakes, and penetrating continents; causing +British cannon to thunder at the gates of Pekin, and +opening Japan to the commerce of the world. These +are the children of the men who first planted foot in +Hindostan, descendants of those who established England's +colonies. These are the men, the very men, who +repealed the Corn Laws in 1846, established the principle +of Free Trade, and told a proud, titled aristocracy—"We, +the middle class, the merchants, bankers, +and manufacturers of Great Britain, are the source of +all power in England, as we are the source of her +greatness."</p> + +<p>An admirable demonstration of these ideas is to be +found in the London Chess Club. This association has +flourished with never-failing vigor since its establishment +in 1807, whilst Clubs have risen, waned, and died +at the fashionable end of the town. City men are +too patriotic and too proud to allow their Club to languish; +and, depend upon it, whilst the old London +counts a single member, that one last man will, from +his own purse, find funds to keep it alive, inscribe on +his colors "<i>Lateat scintillula forsan</i>," and shout with +stentorian lungs for recruits.</p> + +<p>The London Chess Club organized on the 6th of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +April, 1807, Mr. Augustus Hankey being first President, +and the committee numbering among its members +Sir Astley Cooper, the celebrated surgeon, Sir +Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, and others of almost equal eminence. +The meetings took place at Tom's Coffee +House, in Cornhill. Such men as Sarratt, Lewis, +Walker, McDonnel, Cochrane, Popert, Perigal, Staunton, +Fraser, etc., have either been members of the Club +or frequenters of it. A good story is told of Perigal, +who, for a long period, officiated as the Honorary Secretary. +At the time Deschappelles made his ridiculous +challenge to play any English amateur a match at +Pawn and Two moves, Mr. Perigal was sent out to +Paris to arrange preliminaries with the gasconading +Frenchman. Deschappelles soon showed how little he +was in earnest, and the ambassador returned without +having effected any thing. On being questioned at the +"London" as to the appearance, manner, etc., of the +French champion, he said, with much gravity—"Mr. +Deschappelles is the greatest chess-player in France; +Mr. Deschappelles is the greatest whist-player in +France; Mr. Deschappelles is the greatest billiard-player +in France; Mr. Deschappelles is the greatest +pumpkin-grower in France, and Mr. Deschappelles is +the greatest liar in France."</p> + +<p>A match by correspondence was commenced in 1824, +between the London and Edinburgh Chess Clubs, and +was won by the latter. Two games were commenced +simultaneously, the moves being forwarded every night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +through the post-office. On one occasion the Londoners +sent off three moves at once, half-an-hour in advance +of their usual time; and after the letter was +posted, it was discovered that the last move was +founded on a miscalculation, and might lose the game. +Application was immediately made at the office for the +letter to be returned, but such a thing was impossible +without an order from the Secretary of State. A +second letter was thereupon despatched to Edinburgh, +retracting the move in question, but the <i>cannie</i> sons +of Auld Reekie held them to their first showing, and +the London Club lost the game in consequence. Shortly +afterwards, the Edinburgh Club made a similar blunder, +but they, somehow or other, induced their postmaster +to produce the letter, and they corrected the +move on the outside. Of course the Londoners +wouldn't stand that.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1846, Staunton played and won +his match with Harrwitz at the rooms of the Club, and, +in the summer of the same year, he there also vanquished +Harrwitz, in a contest of seven even, seven +pawn and move, and seven pawn and two games. In +the latter part of that year, and in the same locality, +Harrwitz and Hörwitz played a match, the former +scoring eight games to his opponent's seven; and, meeting +again subsequently, a similar result was effected. +In 1847, the Club entered on a match by correspondence +with the Amsterdam <i>Cercle des Echecs</i>, the latter +having sent a challenge of £50 to any London club.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +One game lasted five years, and was won by the Englishmen, +and a second game was drawn. The Londoners +scored the third, and this game is considered +to be one of the finest and most brilliant contests by +correspondence on record. The players selected by the +Club to represent them in this celebrated match were +Messrs. Mongredieu, Slous, Medley, and Greenaway—a +glorious quartet, who are now stronger than ever.</p> + +<p>The London Chess Club did not take part in the +Tournament of 1851, because the St. George's, under +the auspices of Mr. Staunton, wished to assume a +position derogatory to their claims; nor was it proper +that the oldest and most influential Club in the United +Kingdom should play second-fiddle to a much younger +association. But they gave a cup of the value of one +hundred guineas to be played for by the foreign amateurs +then in London, and Anderssen, Szabs, Zsen, +Kling, and Harrwitz were amongst the contestants. +The cup was won by Herr Anderssen.</p> + +<p>In 1852, '53, Harrwitz and Williams played a match +at the London Club, the first-named player winning a +large majority of the games. And, finally, on Paul +Morphy's being challenged last year by Herr Löwenthal, +this Club, ever foremost in the interests of chess, +doubled the latter's stakes, and offered the combatants +battle-ground for half the games in their saloons. Nowhere +has Paul Morphy met with a heartier English +welcome than from the veterans of this flourishing +association.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<p>Amongst the strongest amateurs now figuring on +the muster-roll of the London Chess Club are those +"ancients," Messrs. Slous and George Walker, and +Messrs. Mongredieu, Medley, Maude, Greenaway, and +Brien. "May their shadows never grow less!"</p> + + +<p class="center gap2">THE PHILIDOREAN ROOMS.</p> + +<p>A chess establishment has lately been opened, under +the above title, in Rathbone place, Oxford street, partaking +of the peculiar character of the Divan, in the +Strand. The admission, as in the latter, is either by +subscription, or by entrance fee of sixpence, which +includes a cup of coffee or cigar.</p> + +<p>As the Philidorean is too youthful an undertaking +to possess a history, I must confine myself to mentioning +some of the principal frequenters, and, considering +the size of the rooms and its age, the establishment may +well be proud of its supporters. The well-known +Austrian amateur, Herr Falkbeer, may be found there +daily, with such proficients as Brien, Zytogorsky, +Wormald, Kenny, Healey, and the rising star, Campbell, +together with many others, scarcely less known +to fame. As the Philidorean is centrally situated, in +the midst of a very populous and influential neighborhood, +and too far from any similar place of resort, it +will probably hold its own, and become one of the +great temples of Caïssa.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>MORPHY IN ENGLAND.</h3> + + +<p>It is easy to understand that when a man, and especially +a young man, feels his strength in any department of +thought or action, he will be desirous of putting his +abilities to the severest test, so as to take that rank to +which he is entitled. Paul Morphy perceiving that it +was a hopeless task endeavoring to induce the chess +magnates of the Old World to visit America, resolved +to cross the Atlantic himself, and it would be difficult +to imagine a more chivalric act in one so young than +thus embarking on a voyage of many thousand miles, for +the sake of finding new antagonists. The journeyings +of Il Puttino from Italy into Spain to battle with Ruy +Lopez—the travels of the admirable Crichton through +different countries of Europe, are mediocre in comparison +with this.</p> + +<p>But an obstacle stood in the way of the proposed +voyage. Paul Morphy was not yet of age, and it +would be necessary to first obtain the consent of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +family. This was difficult, for, in addition to other +reasons, objections were made to our hero's entering +on so public a career, interfering, too, as it would for a +time, with his legal pursuits. A committee was appointed +by the Chess Club to wait upon Mr. Morphy's +family to request their consent to the much-desired +voyage, and this was ultimately granted. Strong hopes +were entertained in England that the American champion +would assist at the meeting of the British Chess +Association in Birmingham, and, for that purpose, the +committee had offered to place at his disposal a certain +sum to cover his expenses. This was not accepted, +Mr. Morphy little wishing to travel as a professional +chess-player. At the commencement of the month of +June, the following announcement appeared in the +<i>Illustrated London News</i>:</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CHESS ASSOCIATION.</p> + +<p>It was noticed in our columns last week that this event, the +Chess-players' Derby day, was fixed to commence on the 22d +of June. The arrangements of the local committee are, of +course, not yet complete, but it is whispered that they have +succeeded in insuring the presence of the American chess phenomenon, +Paul Morphy, an attraction, of itself, sufficient to +secure the largest attendance which has been known for years.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The date for the assembling of the Association was +ultimately postponed until the latter part of August, it +being feared, with reason, that the sitting of Parliament +would interfere with the attendance of many who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +would otherwise be present. The committee wrote to +inform Mr. Morphy of this postponement, and again +urging him to visit Europe, but he was already <i>en +route</i> before the latter reached New Orleans.</p> + +<p>I was both surprised and gratified when I read the +announcement of Paul Morphy's arrival in the <i>Illustrated +London News</i>. Now, thought I, these men who +do not believe in an American chess-master, will be +convinced. We'll see if Morphy's games are merely +"pretty," and "will not bear the test of analysis;" and +whether "he'll find plenty of matches." I wended my +way to the St. George's, feeling confident that I should +find Morphy there, and, after waiting a short time, I +had the pleasure of welcoming him to England. But, +having arisen up from a sick bed to travel, joined to +the fatigues of a first voyage across the Atlantic, he did +not appear in as good fighting trim as when I had last +seen him in New York.</p> + +<p>On Mr. Staunton's arrival, Paul Morphy asked him +if he had any objection to play an off-hand game. Now +it is Morphy's almost invariable custom to wait to be +asked; the solitary exceptions to this rule (to my +knowledge) being in the cases of Messrs. Staunton and +Harrwitz. Mr. Staunton declined the offer on the +ground of an engagement preventing, and, notwithstanding +that they met frequently at the St. George's, +he would never consent to a contest of the most friendly +description. Doubtless he was desirous of first observing +Morphy's capabilities against other players. The well-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>known +amateur, "Alter," whose games frequently +grace the columns of Mr. Staunton's paper, offered +himself as a sacrifice. "Alter," however, was not the +first to measure skill with the young American, the +Secretary of the St. George's, Mr. Hampton, having +already played two games with him, on a previous occasion.</p> + +<p>Morphy and "Alter" ultimately effected a score of +"Alter" 1, and Morphy 4. His next antagonist was +Mr. Barnes, and the result of their play was, at first, +most surprising. During several successive days they +scored alternate games, and the London chess world +consequently measured Morphy's powers by this antagonist. +Ultimately the former recovered from the +effects of his voyage, and the proportion was established +of 19 to 7, the last ten or twelve games being +scored by Morphy almost without a break.</p> + +<p>The first challenge which the young American received +in London was from Herr Löwenthal. Morphy +says that no one can mention this gentleman's name, +without announcing the fact that he was one of the celebrated +triumvirate in the match between Pesth and +Paris. Herr Löwenthal and the 19th century came +arm and arm into the world together, so that he has +been contemporary with many who have gone to another +sphere. He was led into chess from sheer jealousy, +not of woman, but of a man. At a <i>café</i> in Pesth, +much frequented by amateurs of the game,—in fact the +Magyar Café de la Régence,—he noticed that a crowd<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +invariably surrounded a certain table after 4 o'clock in +the afternoon; and, on further inquiry, he learned that +the best chess-player in Hungary took upon himself +daily to astonish the natives there. That player was +Zsen. Zsen was a clerk in the office of Archives at +Pesth, and, when the business of the day was over, he +repaired to the above-mentioned spot to play chess for +a nominal stake, which never exceeded a <i>zwanziger</i> +(sevenpence English). Another peculiarity of his was, +that, no matter what the strength of his opponent might +be—queen, rook, knight, or pawn player—he never +would give any odds. His game was dull, analytical, +and sound to a tiresome extent, his only object being +to get through the <i>opening</i> and <i>middle</i>, and then winning +became a certainty; for all his strength came out +in the <i>endings</i>, and a very good place, too, for it to +appear in. Zsen went to Paris in 1831, and played +some games with Labourdonnais at the odds of Pawn +and Move, winning the majority. He then told the +great Frenchman that he did not like playing for stakes +as a general thing, but that he would propose to him a +match of twenty-one even games for 200 francs; but +Labourdonnais declined. And who will say he was +wrong? for what pleasure could there be in sitting +down day after day before the dullest player in Christendom, +for the eventuality of 200 francs? Zsen was +so frightfully slow, even in ordinary games, that he +would have worn out 200 francs' worth of his opponent's +pantaloons before the match was half through. He was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +an exceedingly nervous man, and this quality particularly +evinced itself during the Tournament of '51, to the +eminent delight of his London friends. But he was a +good-hearted, amiable man, never losing his temper, +and ever ready to declare that he hadn't won the game, +but his opponent had lost it.</p> + +<p>We left Zsen over a move at the Pesth café. Herr +Löwenthal observing what interest seemed to be taken +in chess, thought he should like to try his hand at it, +and forthwith pored over such works on the game as +he was informed would initiate him into its mysteries. +Obtaining a little knowledge, he soon after began playing +daily with Zsen, receiving no odds, because, as before +stated, Zsen would not give any, upon principle. +During eighteen months, Löwenthal never scored one +game. But whilst Zsen was away on his travels at +Paris and elsewhere, he made rapid progress, particularly +in the openings; and on his antagonist's return, +he induced him to give the advantage of Pawn and +Move, and Zsen lost every game. Returning to even +play, the latter won the large majority; but with constant +practice, Löwenthal decreased the distance between +them, although he never turned the tables upon +his adversary. Herr L. considers that, in their best +play, Grimm would win three games to Zsen's seven, +and four to his six. Most chess-players finished Grimm +some years back, but he still flourishes "down East." +After the Hungarian agitation of 1848, he fled into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +Turkey, and is now settled in Aleppo, where, as he +turned Mussulman, he no doubt revels.</p> + +<p>Grimm was a music publisher in Pesth, and, according +to Herr Löwenthal, a man of high intelligence, being +a celebrated <i>pianist</i> and a thorough proficient in +the German, French, Italian, and Latin languages. He +was also renowned as a whist-player, and his equal at +the billiard-table was not to be found throughout the +entire Austrian Empire. His chess was the antithesis +of Zsen's, being "brilliant, but not over sound," qualities +which find favor with "the gallery," but are dangerous +to one's backers in a match. This interesting +triumvirate—Zsen, Grimm, Löwenthal—had it all their +own way, in Pesth, until July, 1842, when Alexandre +came there, and then they had him too. Alexandre +brought his Encyclopædia, or the Encyclopædia brought +him, and both of them got sold in the Hungarian capital. +He thought the idea of anybody there beating +him, simply preposterous; but was irresistibly convinced +to the contrary when Grimm & Co. did it with +so much charming facility, that he told them they were +a match for the Paris <i>Cercle des Echecs</i>, and advised +them to send a challenge forthwith. The triumvirate +were shy at first, then did as they were told, and, to +their surprise, the Paris Club accepted their <i>défi</i> by return +of post, enclosing the first move. The match consisted +of two games, and 1,250 francs a side; the reader +can learn, on inquiry at Café de la Régence in Paris, +who didn't win it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>Herr Löwenthal's business led him twice a year to +Vienna, and on those occasions he improved his play +with the amateurs of the <i>Cercle des Echecs</i> of that +capital. In 1846, he won a match of Hampe, beating +him nearly 2 to 1. About the same period he visited +Breslau, and won a majority of games (off-hand) from +Anderssen. He then steered for Berlin, "the city of +the seven stars"—Heyderbrandt, Bledow, Bilguer, +Hanstein, Mayet, Hörwitz and Mendheim. The first +of these paladins was absent from the capital, but Herr +L. met him subsequently at Vienna, and Heyderbrandt +won a majority of two games. With Hanstein, Löwenthal +effected an even result, but got the better of +Mayet. In Von der Lasa's absence, Bledow was incontestably +the strongest player of the club; but Bledow +was jealous of his reputation, and declined opposing the +Hungarian, until strongly urged by the members. +Herr Löwenthal states that Bledow evinced the greatest +generosity. Having a certainly-won game, but not +wishing to damp a young reputation by defeat, he said, +"Oh, I suppose it can only be a drawn game," and +forthwith made a move which allowed his antagonist +to escape and draw the contest. Not many Bledows +in this world!</p> + +<p>In 1849, Herr Löwenthal visited the United States, +during the contest between Messrs. Stanley and Turner. +With the latter gentleman he played two matches, +winning both, and subsequently accompanied him into +Kentucky, where he commenced another with Colonel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +Dudley, being again successful. Thence he strayed to +Cincinnati, where he met his fellow-countryman, Colonel +Pragay, and travelled with him to New Orleans, +carrying a letter of introduction to Mr. Eugene Rousseau. +Immediately on arriving he was taken ill with +fever; but on recovery, he called upon that gentleman +and heard, for the first time, of Paul Morphy. Our +hero, then but twelve years of age, won two games, +drew one, and lost none; and although Herr Löwenthal +did not imagine that he thus made the acquaintance +of a master whom he would eventually rank as +the superior of every chess-player that ever lived—Labourdonnais +not excepted—yet he felt satisfied that his +youthful opponent would rise to equality with the +strongest living amateurs. As proof of this, I will give +a paragraph from <i>The Era</i> of October 5th, 1856, twelve +months before Paul Morphy was known outside of +Louisiana. Herr Löwenthal writes as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Chess in America.</span>—The progress Chess has made in +America is almost, if not quite, equal to that which it has +achieved in England. This is more than might have been expected; +for in a comparatively new country men may be supposed +to be busier and more restless than in an old one, and it +seems to be rather against probabilities that a game, requiring +quiet thought and study, should have been developed to the +same extent as more bustling amusements in America. Yet +that it is so is proved by the fact that in almost every large +town there is a Chess Club, and many of these clubs are in communication, +and play games by correspondence. Another proof +is also to be found in the number of papers regularly devoting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +a part of their space to chess, and giving, as the English chess +papers do, well-contested games, with notes, problems, and +chess intelligence. Among the first in rank of these is the +<i>Albion</i>, the chess column of which is, we believe, edited by +Mr. Stanley, and among the latest of the accessions to the +chess ranks we observe <i>Frank Leslie's Illustrated Paper</i>. In +the first rank of the players in New York (between which and +Philadelphia a correspondence match is now going on) we may +mention Messrs. Stanley, Sullivan, Thompson, and Perrin. +We must pay some <i>attention to chess in America if we mean to +keep our laurels green</i>. The men of the New World are not +apt to lag behind when they throw themselves into any pursuit, +and if we do not take care, we may have the next chess +champion from the far west."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Herr Löwenthal, on quitting the Crescent City, returned +to Cincinnati, where he was induced to settle. +He opened a smoking and chess divan, and was on the +high road to fortune, when he received a letter from +Mr. Charles H. Stanley, in New York, enclosing one +from Mr. Staunton. This communication invited Herr +Löwenthal to attend the International Tournament at +London, in 1851, and ambition prevailed over cupidity. +He, however, got ousted in the first round of the tournay, +his antagonist being Mr. Williams, but he turned +the tables upon that gentleman soon afterwards, by +beating him in a set match.</p> + +<p>When the St. George's Chess Club removed to St. +James's street, Herr Löwenthal was elected secretary +out of one hundred and forty candidates, and officiated +in that capacity during four years. "<i>The Era</i>" newspaper +commenced a chess column in February, 1854,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +and he was selected by the proprietor to conduct it—our +readers know with what success. A few months +ago, the <i>Illustrated News of the World</i> announced its +intention of devoting a column weekly to the game, +under the direction of Herr Löwenthal, and he also +edits an elementary chess article in the <i>Family Herald</i>. +A fair amount of weekly work for one man; especially +when his book labors and frequent play at the London, +St. George's, and St. James's are taken into consideration. +The last-named club is his own child, and promises +to become one of the most flourishing in the metropolis.</p> + +<p>Herr Löwenthal did not regard his play with Morphy +at New Orleans as any test of their respective +strength, but it was not at all agreeable to his feelings +to have it recorded against him that he was beaten by a +boy of twelve. So, on Paul Morphy's arrival in England, +he hastened to challenge him, and of course a match +was immediately agreed upon. It was at first arranged +that the match should be for £50 a side, and the victor +he who first scored seven games, but the challenger +possessed so many warm friends, all of whom wished +to have a share in the stakes, that it was proposed to +Morphy to double the amount and increase the number +of games to nine. It is lucky that Morphy was +not born a woman, for he never says "no" to any +proposition, and he did not to this. Half of Herr Löwenthal's +stakes were found by the London, and the remainder +by members of the St. George's; and it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +stipulated that the games should be played alternately +at the rooms of those two clubs.</p> + +<p>My readers know the result. According to the +opinion, or rather the statements, of numerous London +players, Herr Löwenthal played much below his usual +strength—one gentleman stating that his combinations +were unworthy of a rook-player even. I was used to +this, and liked it. The New Yorkers had uttered +similar stuff, saying that Morphy only beat them because +he knew the openings better, and I can state on +authority that all the players in Europe came to a +mutual understanding not to play their game when +Morphy was their antagonist. But there was also +another reason for the latter's success. He frightened +his adversaries, not by his strength, but by his personal +appearance. This boy of twenty-one, five feet four +inches in height, of slim figure, and face like a young girl +in her teens, positively appalled the chess warriors of +the old world—Narcissus defying the Titans. Herr +Löwenthal was the first to give Morphy his due; before +the final game in the match was played, he said +to me: "I felt chagrined at the result of the first one +or two games, because I thought that I ought to have +won them; but now I feel no longer dissatisfied, for I +am convinced that I am vanquished by superior +strength." And he has since told me—"After the first +game I went home saying to myself, 'Well, Morphy is +not so terrible after all!' The second <i>partie</i> failed to +change my opinion; but, in the third, I saw all my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +combinations twisted and turned against me, and I felt +myself in a grasp against which it was almost vain to +struggle." Chess-players will shortly see this noble-minded +gentleman's opinion of Morphy fully expressed, +in a collection of the latter's games which he has lately +been engaged in editing.</p> + +<p>The following extract from <i>The Era</i> newspaper +thus announces the result of the match to its readers:</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">FINISH OF THE GREAT CHESS MATCH.</p> + +<p>The match between Mr. Paul Morphy and Herr Löwenthal +came to an end on Saturday the 22d, the American carrying the +victory. Although it was universally remarked that Herr +Löwenthal's play was far below his usual strength, it must at +the same time be admitted that the play of Mr. Morphy marks +that gentleman out as one of the finest players in the world. +We shall be glad to see him engage with other great European +players, in order that it may be proved which is the stronger +in the game, the Old World or the New. We believe Mr. +Morphy is ready to challenge all comers. There is something +exceedingly romantic and chivalrous about this young man's +coming over to Europe and throwing down the gauntlet to all +our veterans. He is certainly a very admirable Crichton of +Chess, and, like the accomplished Scot, he is as courteous and +generous as he is brave and skilful.</p> + +<p class="ralign"><i>The Era</i>, August 29th, 1858.</p></blockquote> + +<p>When the above match was only about half through, +another was arranged between our hero and "Alter," +the former giving the odds of Pawn and Move. In +conversation one day with some gentlemen at the St. +George's, Paul Morphy had expressed himself dissatis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>fied +with "Alter's" having won a game from him, +stating that he could give him the odds of Pawn and +Move. This coming to "Alter's" ears, he stated to +Mr. Hampton, the secretary of the Club, that he felt +confident Mr. Morphy could do no such thing, and that +he would very willingly play a match with him, in a +friendly spirit, to convince him to the contrary. Whereupon +Mr. Hampton brought the cartel to Morphy, who +gladly accepted it, and, the two principals being put +face to face, it was agreed that a set of ivory club-size +Staunton chessmen should become the property of the +winner of the first five games. Now "Alter" had been +playing for months past at those odds (P. & M.) with +Mr. Staunton, holding his own against that gentleman, +and he considered that if he (Mr. S.) could not beat +him, certainly Morphy could not. So confident was he +of the result, that he told the young American: "Were +it not for my position (meaning as a clergyman), I would +willingly play you for a thousand pounds." As far as +he was concerned, Morphy, too, was confident. Before +the contest commenced, he said to me: "'Alter' may +win two games, but he will not win more;" and I +would here notice his (M.'s) power of estimating an opponent's +strength. When the preliminaries were settled +with Herr Löwenthal, he stated to me: "If I +cared about betting, I would bet that Löwenthal does +not win five games. Of course there will be plenty of +draws, but he will not get more than four." On our +way to Paris, he said: "Well, now I am going to play<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +Harrwitz, and I would bet the same as I did about +Löwenthal;" and when he was preparing to meet Anderssen, +he awarded four games to the Prussian champion. +In every instance he overrated his opponents, +or, perhaps I should rather say, underrated himself.</p> + +<p>The preliminaries were soon settled, all ceremony, +seconds, &c., being dispensed with; the only condition, +that I can recollect, was in regard to smoking. "Alter" +observed that gentlemen could use the weed in +the room where the match was played, but it must be +in moderation, so as not to render the atmosphere insupportable. +"Alter" gave a capital example on the +first game: he sat down in front of Morphy with an +ordinary cigar in his mouth; when that was nearly +finished, he ordered the waiter to bring him a full-sized +<i>regalia</i>; cutty-pipe and "birdseye" followed the <i>regalia</i>; +and then he left the room to fetch an immense +<i>meerschaum</i>, from which he blew clouds worthy of +Peter Stuyvesant and the Knickerbockers.</p> + +<p>"Alter" was thoroughly acquainted with the peculiar +nature of the "pawn and move" game; Morphy, +on the contrary, was less accustomed to those odds +than to any other. In New Orleans, he did not engage +even players, or any, in fact, but such as he gave the +knight, and much more frequently, the rook. In New +York he played a short match at pawn and move with +Mr. Stanley, and that may be considered his introduction +to such odds; I was therefore as much astonished +as any one when I saw him make such short work of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +"Alter," who never won a single game, and only succeeded +in drawing two. I am afraid that this result +seriously interfered with Mr. Staunton's fixing a day +for the commencement of the match between himself +and Morphy.</p> + +<p>It must not be supposed that our hero was devoting +all his time to chess, or that the game was always uppermost +in his thoughts. A foreigner, and especially +an American, feels bound to visit all "the lions" of the +English metropolis, and Morphy was no exception to +the rule. I was almost constantly with him, and certainly +no subject was less frequently referred to than +chess. I have been amused with the conduct of gentlemen +on similar occasions, who seemed to think that no +other subject than that could interest him, and after +pertinaciously confining the conversation to the game, +took upon themselves to declare that it was the single +thought of his life. So that, in England, he is looked +upon as a chess automaton. In France they give him +the very opposite character, complaining of his aversion +for the game.</p> + +<p>Precisely the same thing was observable in their +references to the peculiar style of his play. In England, +they considered him the very <i>beau-ideal</i> of brilliancy, +comparing him to McDonnel, and to "Cochrane, +without his faults." In Paris, however, they characterized +his game as "<i>solide</i>, close, and analytical, +not possessing brilliance like Labourdonnais;" although +these Frenchmen, one and all, with the ex<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>ception +of De Rivière, forced their close openings +upon him.</p> + +<p>Since Mr. Staunton's voluntary relinquishment of +what he terms "actual play," confining himself to consultation +games and "odds," Mr. Boden is admitted to +be the best English player. The B's certainly form a +strong phalanx amongst London amateurs, numbering +such names as Buckle, Boden, Barnes, Brien, Bird; +but the first-named gentleman has long since quitted +the lists. Mr. Boden was no exception to the rule of +English players in their opinion of Morphy, on the latter's +arriving in Europe; but he was one of the first to +be convinced of the American's superiority, and, with +John Bull honesty, immediately avowed it. The admirably-conducted +chess column in <i>The Field</i>, is under +his supervision; and his remarks therein on Morphy's +tactics are too well known to require any comment +from me. I have heard him state his conviction that +no one could possibly be better adapted for the game, +whether physically or mentally; and he, too, like Herr +Löwenthal, ranks Morphy above all known players. +In the month of January last, he drew my attention to +one game in particular, between our hero and Anderssen, +stating that he was satisfied "Labourdonnais +would have lost it ten times over." Now it requires +great courage on the part of any man to place a player +beside Labourdonnais, much more above him. Herr +Löwenthal says that he does not wonder that the chess +world is so backward in giving Morphy the rank to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +which he is entitled; "but few players are capable of +appreciating his games, and it was only after careful +analysis that he could form a proper opinion of them." +He assured me that he has frequently been confounded +at the depth of Morphy's combinations whilst engaged +in their work, expressing his firm conviction that when +a collection of his games shall be placed before the +public, the chess world will rank Morphy above all +players, living or dead.</p> + +<p>The proportion in which Morphy had beaten Mr. +Boden was so great, namely, five to one, that a prominent +member of the St. George's remarked on hearing +it, "Well, I did not think any player living could win +in such proportion." I remember a similar occurrence +in reference to Mr. Perrin, the late secretary of the +New York Chess Club, some weeks before the appearance +of Paul Morphy in that city. In answer to a +friend, this gentleman replied, "That is the same as saying +that a player could give any of us a piece," (meaning +the principal members of his club, who were considered +about on a par with each other.) "Now, I +don't think that Labourdonnais, even, could give me +the knight." Morphy, nevertheless, after beating him +at even, at pawn and move, and pawn and two, offered +him the knight, which was accepted "for trial's sake;" +and out of five games there was a difference of the odd +victory, but my memory fails me as to whether it was +won by Morphy or not. Mr. Perrin will not feel displeased +at my mentioning this fact, because it is pretty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +well conceded now, that where any other player can +give pawn and two moves, Morphy can very easily give +the knight. European celebrities, in making comparison +of the strength of different amateurs, leave Morphy +out of the question; and when they compare him +at all, it is only with Labourdonnais. And very few of +them, too, would scruple at taking odds from him. +On the publication of his challenge to Mr. Harrwitz to +play a match at pawn and move for 500 francs, Mr. +Boden stated in <i>The Field</i>, "There is more than one +English player who will be glad to meet Mr. Morphy +on these terms."</p> + +<p>The majority of his games in London, Morphy +played at the Divan. It was a general subject of regret, +after he had vanquished the different amateurs in +the capital, that Mr. Bird was absent in the North, and +that the American might leave before that gentleman +could visit London. Mr. Bird is a terrible fellow for +attacking right and left; his game was described as +the counterpart of Morphy's, it being added that he +was just the antagonist our hero required. At last, +Mr. Bird arrived, and the result between the two was +more startling than ever, Morphy winning ten to one. +It is but just to state that Mr. Bird was somewhat out +of play, as he himself observed; adding, however, that +he never was a match for his antagonist. It gives me +much pleasure to relate such instances as these, because, +as a general rule, there are no more self-confident +mortals than prominent chess-players.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>It would be difficult to remember all the men with +whom Morphy played at the Divan; or, rather, with +whom he did not play. But I must not forget that +merry individual, Mr. Lowe. It was in the Divan that +Mr. Staunton played Mr. Lowe that celebrated match +at pawn and move, the play in which on both sides, as +Mr. S. observed, "was unworthy of second-rate players +in a third-rate coffee-room," because Mr. Staunton was +beaten. Since that occasion, Mr. Staunton has slighted +the Divan, but Mr. Lowe still flourishes there, ever +ready to meet all comers, and if not nightly playing +somebody, at all events nightly making everybody +laugh. Mr. Lowe made trial of Morphy privately, immediately +on the latter's arrival, and forthwith ran to +the Divan to tell everybody, much to everybody's disgust, +that not one of them would have any chance +against the American. They all laughed at him, the +only reply being, "Oh, Lowe, you're a funny fellow!"</p> + +<p>Before the Birmingham meeting, Morphy had met +all the leading Metropolitan players, with, of course, +the exception of Mr. Staunton. And yet perhaps I +should not except that gentleman, for our hero had +played in two consultation games with him, Mr. S.'s +ally being "Alter," and Morphy's, Mr. Barnes. +Messrs. Barnes and "Alter" are well matched. Both +of these consultation games were won by Messrs. +Barnes and Morphy.</p> + +<p>As the latter part of the month of August approached, +considerable curiosity was evinced in various<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +quarters as to whether Paul Morphy would then be a +contestant in the tournament. Although not a Yankee, +he nevertheless displayed as much "cuteness" under +oft-repeated interrogatories as the downiest "down +Easter;" feeling what an important bearing his determination +would have upon the expected match with +Mr. Staunton. In a subsequent chapter will be found +his reasons for not entering the lists on that occasion. +He was well aware that his decision must necessarily +produce considerable disappointment, but he was conscious +that a tournament triumph is by no means an +accurate test of strength. If chess can ever become a +game of chance, it is under such circumstances; and +the only sure criterion of the respective strengths of +two opponents is by actual hand-to-hand encounter.</p> + +<p>But Morphy did not intend disappointing the Birmingham +gentry altogether, and felt convinced that if +he played six or eight games blindfold before the association, +they would pardon his absence at the opening +of the meeting. After the tournament had got into +the second section, he left London and arrived at Birmingham +before the day's proceedings had fully commenced. +I had the pleasure of accompanying him, and +on our arrival at the College in which the meeting of +the British Chess Association was held, we found quite +a crowd in the commodious rooms provided by the +Committee of Management. The President of the +Birmingham Club, Mr. Avery, introduced the young +American to the members of the association, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +cheers with which he was received were such as seldom +come from others than Englishmen. Morphy advanced +up the room without the slightest embarrassment, although +his reception was as unlooked-for as it was flattering. +Saint Amant, who was present, wrote a brilliant +account of the meeting to the Paris journal <i>Le +Sport</i>, and I am only sorry that I have not the article +in question by me at the present moment. The style +of the article, however, is indelibly fixed in my memory, +reminding one of the Lays of the old Troubadours. +Saint Amant writes prose in poetry, and he has made +of Morphy an epic hero. He tells the Parisians that +the young American is no mere pale-faced boy, visiting +foreign lands to increase his powers; but "a citizen of +the United States, who comes to claim a sceptre in +Europe." Then again, "his walk is that of a king, and +he advances through the crowd of strangers like a +monarch receiving homage from his court." But he +does not forget to state that Morphy is innately +modest, and that all this admiration has no bad effect +upon him; for such has been the theme of every one +who has been brought in contact with him.</p> + +<p>Most of the principal players in England were assembled +at Birmingham, in August, 1858. Amongst +them, Staunton, Löwenthal, Boden, Bird, Kipping, +Owen, Salmon, Avery, Hampton, the President of +the Association, Lord Lyttelton, Falkbeer, Brien, etc. +The prominent feature of the meeting was of course +the tournament prizes of sixty and twenty guineas, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +which Messrs. Staunton, Löwenthal, St. Amant, Falkbeer, +Kipping, Owen, Hughes, Brien, Smith, Ingleby, +Bird, Zsabo, Hampton, Brettlestone, and Salmon contended. +The sixteenth player was intended to be +Morphy, but not appearing in time, he was ruled to +have lost all further share in the contest. It was matter +for much disappointment that Mr. Boden did not +enter the lists, especially after the gallant fight he had +made at the previous meeting of the association in +Manchester. The final result was that Herr Löwenthal +carried off the first prize, and Herr Falkbeer the +second; and, so far as the former gentleman was concerned, +almost every player was both astonished and +gratified at the <i>dénouement</i>. It was only during the +week preceding the Birmingham Festival, that the +Hungarian had succumbed to his youthful antagonist, +and he had consequently entered on a fresh contest +with all the disheartening recollections of defeat; a +defeat, too, which he expressed his belief had seriously +damaged his chess reputation. Prominent London +players had criticized his games with Morphy in an inconsiderate +spirit, the almost universal statement being +that he had not played up to any thing like his usual +strength. The criticisms on his moves in the widely +circulated columns of the <i>Illustrated London News</i> +were cruel to a degree; slighting allusions being made +to his "bookish theoric," etc. Yet this old veteran +goes down to the field of battle with unshaken courage, +wins two games, one after the other, from Mr. Staunton<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +in the second section of the tournay, and carries off +the first prize in the teeth of fourteen able competitors. +This result proved one thing beyond a doubt, namely, +that Morphy's late triumph was the consequence of his +superior strength, and not from mere want of practice +and skill on the part of Herr Löwenthal. And it also +verified the observation of Mr. George Walker, in +<i>Bell's Life</i>, that "Mr. Morphy beat Mr. Löwenthal +because Mr. Morphy was stronger than Mr. Löwenthal." +Oh, Mr. Walker! Mr. Walker! what a rude +way you have of putting naked truths before the +public!</p> + +<p>Of course Morphy was not allowed to twirl his +thumbs in idleness, especially with so energetic a master +of the ceremonies as Mr. Avery. This gentleman +soon arranged a contest between our hero and Mr. +Kipping, the leading Manchester player, and exponent +of the Evans' Gambit. Mr. K. had the move, and +played the opening he has so much at heart; Morphy +accepted, under the impression that he, too, knew +something about the Evans'. First game scored by +the American, the Manchester amateur thirsting for +revenge. Morphy, in his turn, plays the Evans', and +Mr. Kipping cries "enough." No other single games +were played by Morphy during the meeting, the leading +celebrities present being engaged in the tournament, +but our hero made up the difference by astonishing +the natives with a display of his blindfold powers.</p> + +<p>When Morphy declared his intention, in London,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +to play eight games without sight of the board, there +were very few who believed the thing possible. They +knew that Labourdonnais and Philidor had played two +or three games simultaneously, and that Kieseritzky +and Harrwitz had repeated the performance in later +times, but there was a wide leap from three to eight +antagonists. Harrwitz had earned a great reputation +in Europe by his blindfold prowess, and was regarded +without a rival, although many other players, such as +Anderssen, De Rivière, etc., had occasionally met two +or three antagonists at a time. Here was "a coil;" +this young champion of the West, not satisfied with +vanquishing all the chess veterans of England over the +board, prepares to cast for ever into the shade the most +astonishing performances of this and past ages. Well +might Saint Amant declare that it was enough to +make the bones of Philidor and Labourdonnais rattle +in their graves!</p> + +<p>I well remember Paul Morphy's first blindfold contest +in New York. It was on the occasion of Paulsen's +playing against four antagonists without sight of the +board. Morphy offered to be one of his adversaries, +and to meet him on the same conditions; and somewhere +about the twentieth move he announced mate +in five, much to Paulsen's astonishment, who did not +think the crash was so near, although well aware he +was "going to the bad." Mr. Paulsen got such an insight +into Morphy's blindfold capabilities, that he subsequently +observed to me, "Mr. Morphy can play as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +many games, without seeing the board, as I can, only +he is so unwilling to lose a game."</p> + +<p>It will here be well to mark the difference between +the blindfold performances of these two gentlemen. +Both of them <i>see the boards</i> in the mind's eye equally +well, but there the resemblance stops. Paulsen's contests +average fifty moves, whereas Morphy's seldom +extend beyond thirty. The former is a <i>balista</i>, the latter, +a rifle bullet. What each is over the board, he is +with his back turned to it, and there are many even in +Europe who maintain that Morphy's blindfold feats are +more brilliant than his usual mode of play. Paul +Morphy, however, attaches very little importance to +these displays, calling them mere <i>tours de force</i>, notwithstanding +that they appear so wonderful to the multitude. +To quote a favorite expression of his, one frequently +used by him in speaking on the subject—"It +proves nothing."</p> + +<p>A young gentleman has lately appeared somewhere +in Germany, who, we are informed, has reproduced Morphy's +performances at Birmingham and Paris. In fact +he is represented to have precisely re-enacted the +American's victory in the French capital, playing +against eight <i>strong</i> antagonists, winning from six and +drawing from two. There seems some "method" in +this; at least I for one cannot help feeling suspicious, +especially as the news is heralded to the world in connection +with Morphy's name. I have seen one of the +games played on the occasion, in which this young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +gentleman announces mate in ten or twelve moves—an +astonishing announcement, indeed, under the circumstances. +The whole affair is beautifully managed +throughout, and, whether played blindfolded or over +the board, marks the player as an amateur of the very +highest order. Was the transaction <i>bona fide</i>? Now +I do not wish to depreciate any man for the sake of +benefiting another. <i>Palmam qui meruit, ferat.</i> We +know that Morphy has played against eight antagonists +on two separate and most public occasions, and that +the most eminent players in England and France were +witnesses of his performance. If Germany does possess +a second Morphy, let him step forward and prove +his identity, and I, for one, will do him reverence. +Cannot that responsible body, the Berlin Chess Club, +tell us something tangible about him, and why it is that +we never heard any thing about him till now? Perhaps +he is a new Deschappelles, and has acquired chess +in forty-eight hours, on hearing of Morphy's feats. +The Berlin Schackzeitung can surely investigate this +affair, and enlighten us on what seems very much like +a <i>ruse de guerre</i>—an invention of the enemy.</p> + +<p>But let us return to Birmingham. Mr. Avery asked +the young American what eight antagonists he would +select; when the latter replied that it was immaterial +to him, but that he should prefer all strong players. +There were then in the room Messrs. Staunton, Saint +Amant, Löwenthal, Boden, Falkbeer, Brien, and others +of not much inferior strength, and Morphy was in hopes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +that many, if not all, of these gentlemen would offer +themselves as opponents. But he was mistaken, and +great difficulty was experienced by the Committee of +Management in making up the required eight, who +were, finally, as follows: Lord Lyttelton, President of +the British Chess Association, Rev. Mr. Salmon, the +strongest Irish player, Messrs. Kipping, Avery, Wills, +Rhodes, Carr, and Dr. Freeman. Paul Morphy was +put up in a corner at the end of the room, and, every +thing being prepared for action, he threw open his portholes +and gave the signal, "Pawn to King's Fourth on +all the boards."</p> + +<p>Of course I am not going to mystify the general +reader with the scientific details of the contest. I know +that Lord Lyttelton had the first board, and received +the deference due to his exalted rank, by being the first +put <i>hors du combat</i>, and I remarked, too, that after his +lordship had decided on his various moves, he would +get up from his seat, walk towards the end of the room, +and contemplate Morphy, as though desirous of seeing +how he did it. And I know, too, that St. Amant was +running from table to table, giving advice to one and +the other with his continual "Il va croquer ça," as an +intimation that one or the other must look out for a +pawn or piece in danger. And then, too, Morphy kept +on checking Mr. Avery's king by moving his rook from +the seventh square to the eighth, backwards and forwards, +until that estimable gentleman declared it was a +drawn game, when a bystander horrified him with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +information—"That is only after fifty moves; Morphy +will keep you there until he has kiboshed the others, +and then he will honor you with his sole attention." +But the game was finally declared drawn.</p> + +<p>And, at the finish, how everybody applauded when +Morphy arose, the vanquisher of six, having only lost +the game with Mr. Kipping—through an oversight at +the beginning. And how everybody was astonished +when he stepped from his seat as fresh as a newly +plucked daisy, and Mr. Staunton examined him closely +to find traces of fatigue. Then indeed his not playing +in the tournament was forgiven and forgotten.</p> + +<p>Then there was the soirée, and the capital matter-of-fact +address of Lord Lyttelton. His lordship lauded +Morphy to the skies, both for his blindfold and other +play, and referred to the match with Mr. Staunton, +trusting that Morphy would beat every other antagonist +but that gentleman. Nothing more now remained +to be done in England for some months to come; and +Morphy returned to London, to prepare for his campaigns +on the Continent.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE STAUNTON AFFAIR.</h3> + + +<p>We must anticipate the events of a few months, in +order to place the discussion with Mr. Staunton where +it properly belongs, viz., with Morphy's achievements +in England. I do not think I have omitted a single +fact or incident connected with an affair which has now +become history, and my readers will agree with me +that Mr. Staunton has suffered a far worse defeat by +not playing the match than if he had been vanquished, +as everybody says he would have been.</p> + +<p>In dealing with this most delicate question, I feel +desirous of letting facts, as far as possible, speak for +themselves; but as it is the province and the duty of +historians to seek the causes of events and to criticize +the actions of their <i>dramatis personæ</i>, I shall record, +in all honesty and kindliness, what I believe to have +been the motives at work in this contest. And, in order +that nothing may remain unsaid, I shall give all +the correspondence on the subject, both <i>pro</i> and <i>con</i>.</p> + +<p>Paul Morphy's principal object in coming to Europe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +was to play a match with Mr. Staunton. I am well +aware that a young gentleman travelling for the first +time in foreign countries must have many objects in +view; but in this particular case, the pretext for the +voyage, the very inducement for his friends to consent +to his journey, was to repeat that challenge personally, +in England, which Mr. Staunton had declined, on the +ground of the place of combat not being in Europe. +It is necessary that this point should be understood, +because much of the controversy hinges upon it. If +we examine the challenge addressed to Mr. Staunton +by the New Orleans Chess Club, we find therein two +main ideas: 1stly. That Mr. Staunton is a representative +of European chess. 2ndly. That American players challenge +him to combat with their representative. Mr. +Staunton's reply raised but one objection; and that objection +led Paul Morphy across the Atlantic, in order +to remove the only stumbling-block in the way of the +contest.</p> + +<p>I was constantly with Morphy after his arrival in +London, and a frequent subject of conversation between +us was the match with Mr. Staunton. That, too, was +the first, the principal topic at all the London Clubs +we visited, and every thing but the date was looked +upon as decided. Mr. Staunton, however, had not, as +yet, stated explicitly that he accepted the challenge, +but he did so <i>viva voce</i> shortly after Mr. Morphy's +arrival, and subsequently, in the <i>Illustrated London +News</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<p>It seems as if Mr. Staunton had refrained from +accepting the <i>défi</i> until a somewhat accurate estimate +could be formed of his challenger's strength. Previously +to the latter's arrival, Mr. S.'s opinion of him was +not at all equal to that entertained by his countrymen +in America, nor did any player in England give him the +rank which he now holds. There were no means by +which to judge of his force. Not a dozen of his games +<i>all told</i> had been seen in Europe, and his antagonists +were comparatively unknown, with the exception of +Mr. Charles H. Stanley. But that gentleman had, for +some years, withdrawn from the chess arena, and his +play with Morphy did not, certainly, equal his former +exploits with Rousseau and Schulten. It was, therefore, +absolutely necessary to await the result of his play +with some known European antagonist; and I feel +confident that the stature of his ability was measured +on his first twelve or fifteen games with Mr. Barnes. +Judging from these <i>parties</i>, Paul Morphy was little, if +any thing, superior to that gentleman, but time had not +been allowed him to recover from the fatigues of his +voyage, and I have always remarked that travelling, +even by rail, seriously deteriorates Morphy's game.</p> + +<p>In accepting the challenge, Mr. Staunton postponed +the commencement of the match for a month, "in order +to brush up his openings and endings." This was too +reasonable for Morphy to decline. Subsequently, as +will be seen by the latter's correspondence, Mr. Staunton +obtained a postponement until after the Birmingham<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +meeting, in August. In the mean time, the young +American had won the match with Herr Löwenthal, +beaten "Alter" in a set contest at "pawn and move," +and startled the chess community by the imposing +manner in which he had triumphed over every opponent. +Public opinion had changed in respect to him. +This was evinced by the way in which the London +players, almost universally, spoke of the proposed +match. I have heard gentlemen at the London Chess +Club, the Divan, nay, even at the St. George's, declare +repeatedly—"Mr. Staunton now knows too well what +antagonist he will have to deal with. Depend upon it, +he will find means of backing out." This language, +repeated at every turn, necessarily caused Paul Morphy +some anxiety. On myself, however, I can conscientiously +declare it had no effect. I did not believe it +possible that any man having so publicly accepted a +challenge, would attempt to avoid a contest, and expressed +this opinion to Mr. Morphy, "It will be well +not to accept all that one hears. Mr. Staunton has +numerous enemies; do not allow yourself to be prejudiced +by them, but look upon his acceptance of the +challenge as a certainty that the match will come off."</p> + +<p>With yet unshaken confidence in Mr. Staunton's +intention to play, Paul Morphy addressed him a short +note, ten days prior to the Birmingham meeting; to +this he received a somewhat lengthy reply, the main +point in it being that Mr. Staunton still required "a few +weeks" for preparation. Morphy responded forthwith,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +entirely removing all ground for further excuse by +"leaving the terms to himself." Here was an unjustifiable +mode of putting an end to diplomacy! Mr. S. +could not continue a correspondence with one so overwhelmingly +courteous, and he left London for Birmingham +without even acknowledging the receipt of the +letter.</p> + +<p>Much argument has been built up against Paul Morphy +on his non-appearance in the tournament, and one +writer has endeavored to prove from it that he was +afraid to meet Mr. Staunton. Before leaving London, +the latter gentleman assured his young opponent <i>that +he should not enter the lists, but should confine himself +to simple consultation games</i>. Why Mr. S. changed +his mind, it is not for me to say; although I might +argue that Mr. Staunton sallied forth courageously +when he was certain that "Achilles keeps his tent." +However, Paul Morphy's first reason for not entering +the tournay was that, his main object being to meet +Mr. Staunton, and that gentleman having stated his intention +of confining himself to a mere consultation +game, as in past years, there was no chance of their +crossing swords, and, consequently, no use of his spending +two or three weeks in a contest which never could +be a decisive test of skill. But, when repeated telegrams +assured him that the English champion had decided +on becoming a contestant, there were still stronger +reasons for his continued declination. These reasons +were the consequences of Mr. Staunton's own acts,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +added to the opinion of nearly every London player, +that that gentleman was seeking an opportunity to +evade the match. All these occurrences had somewhat +shaken Mr. Morphy's faith, and he could not but be +suspicious of his antagonist's movements. <i>He therefore +declined positively and finally to enter the tournament, +under the belief that, whether he won or lost in that contest, +it would be equally to the prejudice of the challenge. +Mr. Staunton might say, "I have beaten Morphy; +what is the use of further contest?" or "He has beaten +me, I am consequently out of play. It would be madness +to attempt a set match."</i> This, and this only, prevented +Paul Morphy from visiting Birmingham at the +commencement of the tournament. Had he gone there +when requested, every influence would have been +brought to bear to induce him to alter his determination, +and he merely consulted the interests of the contest +he had so much at heart, by keeping out of temptation +until the tournament was too far under way to +admit of his entering it.</p> + +<p>But the meeting of the association afforded an admirable +opportunity to obtain from Mr. Staunton the +naming of the day on which the match should commence. +Part of the proceedings of the anniversary was +a public soirée, and Paul Morphy resolved that he +would then ask his antagonist, in the face of all present, +to fix the date. I had the pleasure of accompanying +our hero to Birmingham, and I witnessed the disagreeable +<i>contre temps</i> which upset this admirable intention.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +Crossing the courtyard of the college on the morning +of the soirée, we met Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Staunton, +Mr. Avery, and, I think, Mr. Wills. Now I do not +know whether Mr. Staunton had got wind of what was +to occur, but his action certainly frustrated Morphy's +plan, and, for the moment, gave him the advantage. In +all such rencontres the man who gets the first word +has the attack, and Mr. Staunton instantly availed himself +of it. He opened fire by declaring that he was entirely +out of play—that he had long been engaged on a +great work—that he was under bonds to his publishers +accordingly—that he might subject them to a loss of +many thousands in playing at the present time, and so +forth. But he never stated aught that appeared to intimate +the possibility of the match not coming off +eventually, his plea being that he required further time, +in order to put sufficient matter into the hands of the +printers, and to prepare himself subsequently for the +contest. It was now Morphy's turn, and the attack +changed hands. The question was put: "Mr. Staunton, +will you play in October, in November, or December? +Choose your own time, but let the arrangement +be final." The answer was: "Well, Mr. Morphy, if +you will consent to the postponement, I will play you +at the beginning of November. I will see my publishers, +and let you know the exact date within a few days." +The association now looked upon the affair as decided, +and Morphy left Birmingham, firmly believing that the +match would come off after all.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the 28th of August, within a few days of the +above conversation, the following extraordinary announcement +appeared in the <i>Illustrated London News</i>:</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">A SPECIMEN OF MR. STAUNTON'S STYLE OF PLAY.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Anti-book.</span>—As you surmise, "knowing the authority," +the slang of the sporting paper in question regarding the proposed +encounter between Mr. Staunton and the young American +is "bunkum." In matches of importance it is the invariable +practice in this country, before any thing definite is settled, +for each party to be provided with representatives to arrange +the terms and money for the stakes. Mr. Morphy has come +here unfurnished in both respects; and, although both will no +doubt be forthcoming in due time, it is clearly impossible, until +they are, that any determinate arrangement can be made. 2. +The statement of another contemporary that the reduction in +the amount of stakes from £1000 aside to £500 was made at +the suggestion of the English amateur is equally devoid of +truth; the proposal to reduce the amount having been made +by Mr. Morphy.</p></blockquote> + +<p>I was perfectly astonished when I read this statement. +"Mr. Morphy had caused the stakes to be reduced +from £1000 to £500 a side." Without mentioning +Englishmen, there were Americans in London and +Paris who asserted that Morphy could be backed +against Mr. Staunton <i>for £10,000, and the money be +raised within twenty-four hours</i>. I mentioned this fact +to a noble lady in Paris, in order to show the confidence +in which the young American was held, and she +replied, "Oh, as regards that, you may tell Mr. Morphy +from me, that for £10,000 against Mr. Staunton or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +any player in Europe, he must not go further than my +house."</p> + +<p>I asked Morphy to demand an immediate retraction +of the unblushing statements contained in the above +paragraph, but he replied—"When a man resorts to +such means as these, he will not stop until he has committed +himself irremediably. Let him go on." Shortly +after that Mr. Staunton changed his tactics. Let not +the reader suppose I am about to represent things +otherwise than they appear on the record. Let him +take up the files of the <i>Illustrated London News</i> from +the time of Morphy's arrival in England to his match +with Harrwitz; let him examine the analysis of the +games, the notes to the moves in that paper, and he +will invariably perceive that the American's antagonists +<i>could</i> or <i>might have</i> won, the necessary inference being—"There's +nothing so extraordinary about Morphy's +play, after all." A change appeared in the criticism on +the eight blindfold games at Birmingham, but, then, +Morphy stood alone, and interfered with no one's pretensions. +When, however, the match with Harrwitz +came off, Mr. Staunton's tone was suddenly altered, and +this gentleman who, previously, had scarcely a word of +commendation for Morphy, now talked of "combinations +which would have excited the admiration of Labourdonnais."</p> + +<blockquote><p>"The force of 'language' could no further go."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mr. Morphy judged from this unexpected change +of tone that Mr. Staunton either believed that these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +contests with continental players would take up so +much of his time in Europe, that he would have to +leave without playing him; or that Mr. S. was experimenting +on the maxim—"There are more flies +caught with honey than with vinegar." He therefore +addressed him the following letter, and in order that +the public might no longer be under misapprehension +as to the case in hand, he sent copies of the communication +to those papers which had shown him marked +kindness in Europe. At the suggestion of a very +shrewd and attached American friend, a copy was also +forwarded to the editor-in-chief of the <i>Illustrated London +News</i>.</p> + +<p>The publication of the letter to Mr. Staunton, in so +many journals, was a judicious proceeding. Newspapers +are not fond of embarking in a discussion which +may probably "draw its slow length along," and terminate +angrily. Besides, whatever the feeling might +be on the merits of the case, Mr. Staunton was certainly +in the position of English champion, and John +Bull does not like it to be proclaimed that one of his +sons shows the "white feather." But, at the same time, +rivalry exists between all journals as to precedence of +news, and one paper would not willingly be behind the +others in giving Morphy's letter. Accordingly, the following +Saturday, <i>Bell's Life</i>, <i>The Era</i>, <i>The Field</i>, and +the <i>Sunday Times</i> published it as follows:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">MORPHY'S LETTER TO STAUNTON.</p> + +<p class="ralign"><span class="smcap">Cafe de la Regence, Paris,</span> <i>Oct. 6, '58</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Howard Staunton, Esq.</span>:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—On my arrival in England, three months since, I +renewed the challenge to you personally which the New Orleans +Chess Club had given some months previously. You +immediately accepted, but demanded a month's delay in order +to prepare yourself for the contest. Subsequently, you proposed +that the time should be postponed until after the Birmingham +meeting, to which I assented. On the approach of +the period you had fixed, I addressed you a communication, +requesting that the necessary preliminaries might be immediately +settled, but you left London without replying to it. I +went to Birmingham for the express purpose of asking you to +put a stop to further delay by fixing a date for the opening of +our match; but before the opportunity presented itself you +came to me, and, in the presence of Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Avery, +and other gentlemen, you stated that your time was much occupied +in editing a new edition of Shakespeare, and that you +were under heavy bonds to your publishers accordingly. But +you reiterated your intention to play me, and said that if I +would consent to a further postponement until the first week +in November, you would, within a few days, communicate with +me and fix the exact date. I have not heard further from you, +either privately, by letter, or through the columns of the +<i>Illustrated London News</i>.</p> + +<p>A statement appeared in the chess department of that +journal a few weeks since, that "Mr. Morphy had come to +Europe unprovided with backers or seconds," the inference +being obvious that my want of funds was the reason of our +match not taking place. As you are the editor of that department +of the <i>Illustrated London News</i>, I felt hurt that a gentleman +who had always received me at his club and elsewhere +with great kindness and courtesy, should allow so prejudicial +a statement to be made in reference to me—one, too, which is +not strictly in accordance with fact.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>Permit me to repeat what I have invariably declared in +every chess community I have had the honor of entering, that +I am not a professional player—that I never wished to make +any skill I possess the means of pecuniary advancement—and +that my earnest desire is never to play for any stake but +honor. My friends in New Orleans, however, subscribed a +certain sum, without any countenance from me, and that sum +has been ready for you to meet a considerable time past. Since +my arrival in Paris I have been assured by numerous gentlemen +that the value of those stakes can be immediately increased +to any amount; but, for myself personally, reputation +is the only incentive I recognize.</p> + +<p>The matter of seconds cannot, certainly, offer any difficulty. +I had the pleasure of being first received in London by the St. +George's Chess Club, of which you are so distinguished a +member; and of those gentlemen I request the honor of appointing +my seconds, to whom I give full authority in settling +all preliminaries.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, I beg leave to state that I have addressed a +copy of this letter to the editors of the <i>Illustrated London +News</i>, <i>Bell's Life in London</i>, <i>The Era</i>, <i>The Field</i>, and <i>The +Sunday Times</i>, being desirous that our true position should +no longer be misunderstood by the community at large. +Again requesting you to fix the date for our commencing the +match,</p> + +<p style="margin-left:10%">I have the honor to remain, sir,</p> +<p style="margin-left:30%">Your very humble servant,</p> +<p style="margin-left:50%"><span class="smcap">Paul Morphy</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 657px;"> +<img src="images/image2.png" width="657" height="416" alt="MR. STAUNTON. MR. BODEN. HERR LÖWENTHAL." title="" /> +<table style="width:100%;" class="caption" summary="captions 1"> +<tr> +<td style="text-align:left;width:33%;">MR. STAUNTON.</td> +<td class="center" style="width:33%;">MR. BODEN.</td> +<td class="ralign" style="width:33%;">HERR LÖWENTHAL.</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p>At the same time Mr. Morphy forwarded the following +communication to the Secretary of the St. +George's, requesting the Club to appoint his seconds in +the match:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>—</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">MORPHY'S LETTER TO THE ST. GEORGE'S CLUB.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">T. Hampton, Esq.</span>,</p> +<p style="margin-left:2em;"><i>Secretary of the St. George's Chess Club</i>:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—I beg respectfully to inform you that the New Orleans +Chess Club has deposited £500 at the Banking House of +Messrs. Heywood & Co., London: that sum being my proportion +of the stakes in the approaching match with Mr. +Staunton.</p> + +<p>I shall esteem it a great honor if the St. George's Chess +Club will do me the favor of appointing my seconds in that +contest. To such gentlemen as they may appoint I leave the +settling of all preliminaries.</p> + +<p>May I request you to lay this communication before the +members of the Club, and to oblige me with an early answer?</p> + +<p style="margin-left:10%">I have the honor to remain, Sir,</p> +<p style="margin-left:30%">Your very humble and obed't serv't,</p> +<p style="margin-left:50%"><span class="smcap">Paul Morphy</span>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Cafe de la Regence, Paris,</span> <i>Oct. 8th, 1858</i>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>It would be difficult to imagine a more respectful +and kindly letter than that to Mr. Staunton. Since +Morphy's arrival in Europe he had considered himself +ill-used by that gentleman. His games had been annotated +in an inferentially depreciatory manner, his +victories <i>accounted for</i>, and his antagonists excused. +He had been placed in a ridiculous light before the +public by the utterly false assertion that he had come +to Europe to challenge Mr. Staunton or any one else—<i>without +a groat in his purse</i>. And yet he never +charges Mr. Staunton with being the author of the +falsehood, although Mr. S. is the known editor of the +chess column of the <i>Illustrated London News</i>. He +positively invites explanation in the most charitable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +and Christian-like manner; never even calling the statement +in question, as he might have done, a positive untruth, +but politely characterizing it as "not strictly in +accordance with fact."</p> + +<p>The <i>Illustrated London News</i> did not immediately +publish the letter, or make any remark upon it, as did +the other papers; but at the commencement of the +week, Paul Morphy received a private communication +from Mr. Staunton, as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">STAUNTON'S REPLY TO MORPHY.</p> + +<p class="ralign"><span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 9th, 1858</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—In reply to your letter, I have to observe that you +must be perfectly conscious that the difficulty in the way of +my engaging in a chess-match is one over which I have no control. +You were distinctly apprised, in answer to the extraordinary +proposal of your friends that I should leave my +home, family, and avocations, to proceed to New Orleans for +the purpose of playing chess with you, that a long and arduous +contest, even in London, would be an undertaking too +formidable for me to embark in without ample opportunity +for the recovery of my old strength in play, together with +such arrangements as would prevent the sacrifice of my professional +engagements. Upon your unexpected arrival here, +the same thing was repeated to you, and my acceptance of +your challenge was entirely conditional on my being able to +gain time for practice.</p> + +<p>The experience, however, of some weeks, during which I +have labored unceasingly, to the serious injury of my health, +shows that not only is it impracticable for me to save time for +that purpose, but that by no means short of giving up a great +work on which I am engaged, subjecting the publishers to the +loss of thousands, and myself to an action for breach of contract, +could I obtain time even for the match itself. Such a sacrifice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +is, of course, out of all question. A match at chess or cricket +(<i>proh pudor!</i> why don't he say, "or skittles"?) may be a +good thing in its way, but none but a madman would for either +forfeit his engagements and imperil his professional reputation. +Under these circumstances, I waited only the termination of +your late struggle (with Mr. Harrwitz) to explain that, fettered +as I am at this moment, it is impossible for me to undertake +any enterprise which would have the effect of withdrawing +me from duties I am pledged to fulfil.</p> + +<p>The result is not, perhaps, what either you or I desired, as +it will occasion disappointment to many; but it is unavoidable, +and the less to be regretted, since a contest, wherein one of the +combatants must fight under disadvantages so manifest as those +I should have to contend against, after many years' retirement +from practical chess, with my attention absorbed and my brain +overtaxed by more important pursuits, could never be accounted +a fair trial of skill.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:10%">I have the honor to be,</p> +<p style="margin-left:30%;">Yours, &c.,</p> +<p style="margin-left:50%"><span class="smcap">H. Staunton</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Paul Morphy, Esq.</span></p> + +<p>P. S.—I may add that, although denied the satisfaction of a +set encounter with you at this period, I shall have much pleasure, +if you will again become my guest, in playing you a few +games <i>sans façon</i>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Now the sending of this private communication was +a strange course for Mr. Staunton to adopt. It seemed +to be a bait for Morphy, in order that Mr. S. might use +his reply in the forthcoming article in the Illustrated +London News. The young American resolved that all +the correspondence should be public and above-board, +and did not even acknowledge the receipt of the letter. +The Saturday following, Mr. Staunton gave as excuse +for not publishing Morphy's missive, the length of M.'s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +games, but promised it and his own response "next +week."</p> + +<p>On Saturday the 24th of October, the two following +effusions graced the columns of <i>Bell's Life</i>. They had +also been sent to <i>The Era</i>, <i>The Field</i>, and <i>The Sunday +Times</i>; but, being anonymous, and inclosing no name +or address, were refused admittance.</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">ANONYMOUS LETTER, APPARENTLY FROM MR. STAUNTON.</p> + +<p class="ralign"><span class="smcap">Trinity College, Cambridge</span>, <i>Oct. 9</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Editor</span>: If you enter any chess circle just now, the +questions sure to be asked are, "How about the Staunton and +Morphy match? Will it come off? Suspect Staunton wants +to shirk it?" Now to these questions it is not always easy to +give an answer, and yet they ought to be answered, so as to +allow of no possible misconstruction amongst either friends or +foes. There is one insinuation which may be very briefly disposed +of, namely, that Mr. Staunton wishes to avoid playing. +Every one who knows him is perfectly aware that he is only +too ready to play at all times, and that at every disadvantage, +rather than incur even the faintest suspicion of showing the +white feather. For the benefit of those who have not the +pleasure of knowing him, or whose memories are not over tenacious, +I may cite as an example that in 1844, after vanquishing +St. Amant, upon a hint in the French papers that his opponent +had expressed a wish to have his revenge, Mr. S. at once started +for Paris once more, and challenged him to the field; that +from 1840 to 1848 Mr. S. played with every antagonist, foreign +and English, that could be brought against him; and at the +Chess Congress, in 1851, he rose superior to all personal considerations, +and did not shrink from risking his hardly-earned +reputation, when the state of his health was such that he felt +he could not do himself justice; and all this solely that the +tournament might not want the <i>éclat</i> which his presence could +confer upon it. But, sir, I would submit that this is not sim<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>ply +a question between Mr. Staunton and Mr. Morphy. We are +all interested in it. Mr. Staunton is the representative of English +chess, and must not be allowed to risk the national honor +in an <i>unequal contest</i>, to gratify either the promptings of his +own chivalrous disposition or the vanity of an antagonist. +"Oh! then you admit that Morphy is the better player?" No +such thing. The question is, not as to which is the better +player, but whether, if they meet now, they can do so on equal +terms. Now, I call it an <i>unequal contest</i> when one player, in +tiptop practice, with nothing to distract his attention, engages +another who is quite out of play, and whose mind is harassed +by the unceasing pressure of other and more important avocations. +This is precisely Mr. Staunton's case. He is engaged, +in addition to his customary occupations, upon a literary work +of great responsibility and magnitude, which leaves him scarcely +a moment for any other pursuit; certainly not for chess practice. +Indeed, were it merely a question of time it would be +almost impossible for Mr. Staunton to play a match at the +present moment; but this is a matter of small importance compared +with the mental strain which accompanies such incessant +labor. There is nothing which requires more concentration +of thought than chess. One moment of relaxed attention, and +the fruits of the most profound combination are scattered to +the winds. Real chess between two great players is no mere +recreation, but a severe study, and should never be attempted +when there is any thing else to claim the least share of that +attention which alone can insure success. If Mr. Staunton can +steal a few months from business, and devote himself wholly +to chess, by all means let him do so, and then meet Mr. Morphy +when and where he pleases, and I for one should have no fear +for the result. If he cannot do this, I trust he will have moral +courage to say "No." If not, his friends should say it for him. +He is at least "Pawn and two" below his force of ten years +back; and I repeat that he owes it to the English chess world, +whose representative he is, not to meet Mr. Morphy at such +odds, when he has every thing to lose and nothing to gain. In +the present instance, moreover he is under not the slightest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +obligation to play, as Mr. Morphy gave him no intimation that +he was coming over at this particular time, and I believe +Mr. Staunton was not aware of his intention of so doing till he +was actually <i>en route</i>; and it is certainly rather a heavy price +to pay for the position which Mr. Staunton justly occupies if +he is to be held bound to enter the lists with every young adventurer +who has nothing else to do, and who happens to envy +him the laurels so fairly won in many hundreds of encounters +with nearly all the greatest players of the day. The result of +any match which he might now play with Mr. Morphy would +prove literally nothing as to their relative chess powers, and +I am very unwilling to believe that the American would at +all value a victory snatched under such circumstances.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:10%;">Yours obediently, M. A.</p> + +<p>P. S. Since writing the above my attention has been drawn +to a letter in <i>Bell's Life</i> addressed to Mr. Staunton by Mr. +Morphy, in which the latter tries to assume the character of +a much-injured and ill-used man. Now, how stands the case. +From the time when he made his sudden appearance here to the +present moment Mr. Morphy has been fully aware that the +delay in the proposed contest did not depend upon Mr. Staunton, +who, so far as he is personally concerned, was, and is, prepared +to play; though it does not speak much for that man's +sense of honor who would ever think of forcing on a contest +when the inequality is so immense as it is between Mr. Morphy's +position and that of Mr. Staunton—the one with literally +nothing to do but to go where he lists to play chess, the other +with scarcely time for sleep and meals, with his brain in a +constant whirl with the strain upon it; the one in the very +zenith of his skill, after ten years of incessant practice, the +other utterly out of practice for that very period. Now, let any +one read the reply of Mr. Staunton to the preposterous proposal +on the part of Mr. Morphy's friends, that he (Mr. S.) +should go over to New Orleans, and then say whether Mr. +Morphy, after publicly announcing in the American papers +his inability, from family engagements, to visit England before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +1859, and then choosing to come over without a moment's warning, +has anybody but himself to blame if he finds there is considerable +difficulty in inducing a man with family cares, and +immersed in professional engagements, to sacrifice all for the +sake of engaging, upon the most unfair and unequal terms, in +a match at chess? If Mr. Morphy does not see the force of +what I have advanced, perhaps the following analogous case +may bring conviction home to him. Let us suppose some ten +or fifteen years have elapsed, and that Mr. Morphy, no longer +a chess knight-errant, eager to do battle against all comers, has +settled down into a steady-going professional man, (the bar, I believe, +is his destination,) and with bewildered brain is endeavoring +to unravel the intricacies of some half-dozen lawsuits put +into his hands by clients, each of whom, in virtue of his fee, is +profoundly impressed with the belief that Mr. Morphy belongs, +body and soul, to him. Presently comes a rap at the door, +and in walks a young man, fresh from school or college, and +at once proceeds to explain the object of his visit, with:—"Mr. +Morphy, I come to challenge you to a match at chess. +I am aware that you are quite out of practice, while I am in +full swing. I freely admit that you may have forgotten more +than I am ever likely to know; that you have a reputation to +lose, while I have one to gain; that you have not a moment +you can call your own, whilst I have just now nothing in the +world to occupy my attention but chess. <i>N'importe.</i> Every +dog has his day. I expect you to play me at all costs. My +seconds will wait upon you at once; and if you decline I shall +placard you a craven through the length and breadth of the +Union." How would Mr. Morphy reply to such a challenge? +Very much, I suspect, as Mr. Staunton now replies to his:—"I +have no apprehension of your skill; I am quite willing to meet +you when I can, but I must choose my own time. I cannot put +aside my professional engagements, to say nothing of the loss +of emolument entailed by such a course, and risk my reputation +as a chess-player at a moment's notice, just to gratify your +ambition." In giving such an answer Mr. Morphy would do +perfectly right, and this is precisely the answer which Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +Staunton now gives to him. And why Mr. Morphy should +feel himself aggrieved I cannot possibly imagine. There is one +other point which I think deserves mention, namely that four +years ago, on the occasion of his being challenged in a similar +manner, Mr. Staunton put forth a final proposal to play any +player in the world, and to pay his expenses for coming to England. +This <i>defi</i> remained open for six months, and he announced +that if not taken up in that time he should hold himself +exonerated in refusing any future challenges. I now leave the +question in the hands of the public, who will, I doubt not, +arrive at a correct appreciation of its merits.</p> + + +<p class="center">ANOTHER VERY DISGRACEFUL ANONYMOUS LETTER.</p> + +<p><i>To the Editor of Bell's Life</i>:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Editor</span>,—It is a pity chess-players will not "wash +their dirty linen at home." Among a few frivolous noodles to +whom chess forms the staple of life, Mr. Morphy's jeremiads +may assume an air of importance, but to sensible men they +sound ineffably absurd, while to those who take the trouble of +looking a little below the surface they appear something worse. +For what are the plain facts of the case? Mr. Morphy started +for England, not to play a match with Mr. Staunton, for he was +told that that gentleman was too deeply immersed in business +to undertake one, but to take part in a general tourney to be +held in Birmingham. Upon arriving here he duly inscribed +his name on the list of combatants, and paid his entrance fee. +On hearing this, Mr. Staunton, in a spirit of what some may +call chivalry, but which, looking at his utterly unprepared +state for an encounter of this kind, ought more properly to be +termed Quixotism, entered his name also. Well, what happened? +On the mustering of the belligerents, Mr. Morphy, +who had come six thousand miles to run a tilt in this tournament, +<i>was not present</i>. In his place came a note to say particular +business prevented his attendance. A message was +despatched, intimating that his absence would be a great disappointment, +&c., &c. His reply was, that, understanding nei<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>ther +Mr. S. nor any other of the leading players would take +the field, he declined to do so. A second message was forwarded, +to the effect that Mr. Staunton was then in Birmingham +expressly to meet Mr. Morphy, and that he and several of the +best players were awaiting Mr. M.'s arrival to begin the combats. +To this came a final answer, to the effect that the length +of time that the tourney would last prevented Mr. Morphy +from joining in it, but he would run down in two or three days. +Passing over the exquisite taste of this proceeding, and the disappointment +and murmurs it occasioned, I would simply ask, +if Mr. Morphy thought himself justified in withdrawing from a +contest which he had come thousands of miles to take part in, +and to which he was in a manner pledged, upon pretences so +vague and flimsy, what right has he to complain if the English +player choose to withdraw from one to which he is in no respect +bound, and against which he may be enabled to offer the most +solid and unanswerable objections? In asking this, I beg to +disclaim all intention of provoking a chess-players' controversy, +a thing in which the public take not the slightest interest, and +for which I individually entertain supreme contempt. I am +moved to it only by the spirit of</p> +<p style="margin-left:10%;"><span class="smcap">Fair Play</span>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Birmingham</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>To these communications the editor appended the +following remarks:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>[We print the above two letters, being all the communications +we have received from Mr. Staunton's party relative to +Morphy's letter in our last. We regret these lucubrations are +anonymous, as not showing how far they really represent the +opinions of Mr. Staunton himself and his friends on the subject. +Regarding their style and phraseology Mr. Staunton may perhaps +ask to be saved from his friends, but that is matter of +taste. We shall feel bound to print brief replies from Paul +Morphy's side. Inferiority once admitted, no matter from +what cause, if Mr. Staunton takes the ground indicated in the +above epistles, Mr. Morphy has but cheerfully and quietly to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +drop the subject, and will certainly as a gentleman never challenge +Mr. Staunton again. Morphy's friends may still reasonably +inquire why all this was not said in June last, instead of +giving apparent acceptance to the young American's challenge.</p> + +<p>—<span class="smcap">Editor Bell's Life.</span>]</p></blockquote> + +<p>The reader will observe that Mr. Staunton (or his +friends) is the first to commence a newspaper war, +probably under the impression that lengthy <i>protocoling</i> +would sink the real question at issue, or induce +Paul Morphy to reply, and commit himself. But the +latter saw too clearly what eventualities might arise, +and resolved that, in spite of all attacks, he would never +be drawn into discussion. In his letter to Mr. Staunton, +no point was raised on which to build dispute; +Mr. S. was merely required to say what date he fixed +for the match. The most sensitive mind could not be +hurt with any thing in the letter, and yet "Fair Play" +talks of "Mr. Morphy's jeremiads appearing something +worse than ineffably absurd." "M. A.'s" lucubration +did not obtain admittance into any other paper, but +"Fair Play's" shone resplendently in the columns of +the <i>Illustrated London News</i>. I have not learned who +"Fair Play" is; nor do I wish to know.</p> + +<p>When a man's course is straightforward and courageous, +he will always find defenders, and sometimes, +ardent partisans. Morphy's unassuming modesty had +made him friends in every chess community, men who +were ready to battle for him as though it were their +own quarrel. Hitherto, not a word had been said by,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +or for, Morphy in the press, and he was determined not +to seek succor from that source. The ensuing Saturday +the following letters appeared in Bell's Life, the +first being from a friend of our hero, well acquainted +with the circumstances of the case; and the others +from prominent members of the metropolitan chess +circles.</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">LETTER FROM A FRIEND OF PAUL MORPHY.</p> + +<p><i>To the Editor of Bell's Life in London</i>:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—Two letters appeared in your paper of last Sunday, +one with the signature of "M. A.," the other of "Fair Play." +In justice to fact, those communications must not remain unanswered, +as the misstatements they contain might perchance +mislead some as to the good faith of Mr. Morphy. It is in no +improper spirit that I appear before your readers under my +own name, but simply because, as I intend replying to your +anonymous correspondents with facts, not with hypotheses, I +think I am bound in honor to hold myself responsible for what +I advance. The chess players of London and Birmingham are +not ignorant of the intimacy with which Mr. Morphy has +honored me during his visit to Europe, and they will permit +me to state, that no one is better conversant with the facts +bearing on the case in point than your subscriber. Were it +not that Paul Morphy positively refuses to reply to any attack +upon himself, preferring that his actions should be the sole +witness to his faith, I should not have troubled you or the public +with this communication.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of last February, the New Orleans Chess Club +challenged Mr. Staunton to visit the Crescent City, "to meet +Mr. Paul Morphy in a chess match." On the 3d of April the +former gentleman replied to this <i>defi</i> in the <i>Illustrated London +News</i>, in the following language:—"The terms of this cartel +are distinguished by extreme courtesy, and, with one notable +exception, by extreme liberality also. The exception in ques<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>tion, +however, (we refer to the clause which stipulates that the +combat shall take place in New Orleans!) appears to us utterly +fatal to the match; and we must confess our astonishment that +the intelligent gentlemen who drew up the conditions did not +themselves discover this. Could it possibly escape their penetration, +that if Mr. Paul Morphy, a young gentleman without +family ties or professional claims upon his attention, finds it +inconvenient to anticipate by a few months an intended visit to +Europe, his proposed antagonist, who is well known for years +to have been compelled, by laborious literary occupation, to +abandon the practice of chess beyond the indulgence of an occasional +game, must find it not merely inconvenient, but positively +impracticable, to cast aside all engagements, and undertake +a journey of many thousand miles for the sake of a chess +encounter. Surely the idea of such a sacrifice is not admissible +for a single moment. If Mr. Morphy—for whose skill we entertain +the liveliest admiration—be desirous to win his spurs +among the chess chivalry of Europe, he must take advantage +of his proposed visit next year; he will then meet in this country, +in France, in Germany, and in Russia, many champions +whose names must be as household words to him, ready to test +and do honor to his prowess."</p> + +<p>No one would regard the above observations as tantamount +to aught else than "If you will come to Europe I will play +you;" but we are relieved from the difficulty of discovering Mr. +Staunton's real meaning by his reiterated declarations that he +would play Mr. Morphy. Within a few days of the latter's +arrival in London, the English player stated his intention of +accepting the match, but postponed the commencement of it for +a month, on the plea of requiring preparation. In the month +of July the acceptance of the challenge was announced in the +<i>Illustrated London News</i>. Before the expiration of the time +demanded in the first instance, Mr. Staunton requested that +the contest should not take place until after the Birmingham +meeting. At Birmingham he again declared his intention of +playing the match, and fixed the date for the first week in +November, in the presence of numerous witnesses. Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +Morphy may have erred in believing that his antagonist intended +to act as his words led him to suppose, but it was an +error shared in common by every one then present, and particularly +by Lord Lyttelton, the President of the British Chess +Association, who recognized the true position of the case in his +speech to the association, stating that he "wished him (Mr. +Morphy) most cordially success in his encounters with the +celebrated players of Europe, whom he had gallantly left home +to meet; he should be pleased to hear that he vanquished all—except +one; but that one—Mr. Staunton—he must forgive +him, as an Englishman, for saying he hoped he would conquer +him."—(Report of Birmingham meeting, <i>Illustrated London +News</i>, Sept. 18, 1858.</p> + +<p>So firmly convinced were the members of Mr. S.'s own +club, the St. George's, that he had accepted the challenge, that +a committee was formed, and funds raised to back him. What +those gentlemen must now think of Mr. Staunton's evasion of +the match can easily be understood; but so strong was the +conviction in other chess circles that he would not play, that +large odds were offered to that effect.</p> + +<p>"M. A.'s" reasons for not playing, or "M. A.'s" reasons +for Mr. Staunton's not playing—a distinction without a difference, +as we shall hereafter show—is that "he is engaged upon +a literary work of great responsibility and magnitude." Did +not this reason exist prior to Mr. Morphy's arrival in June? +and if so, why were Mr. Morphy, the English public, and the +chess community generally, led into the belief that the challenge +was accepted? And what did Mr. Staunton mean by +stating at Birmingham, in the presence of Lord Lyttelton, Mr. +Avery, and myself, that if the delay until November were +granted him, he could in the mean while supply his publishers +with sufficient matter, so as to devote himself subsequently to +the match?</p> + +<p>Mr. Staunton's (I mean "M. A.'s") remark in the letter +under review, "I (Staunton or 'M. A.' indifferently) have +no apprehension of your skill," is hardly consonant with the +previous observation, that "he (Staunton) is at least pawn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +and two below his force," unless the "English-chess-world-representative" +wishes it to be understood that he could offer +those odds to Paul Morphy. Nor is it consonant with the +fact that he has never consented to play Mr. Morphy a single +game, though asked to do so, and when frequently meeting +him at St. George's. Of course the two consultation games +played by him, in alliance with "Alter," against Messrs. +Barnes and Morphy count for nothing, as they were gained by +the latter; a result due, doubtless, to "Alter" alone.</p> + +<p>Mr. Morphy, in the eyes of the chess world, can have +nothing to gain from a contest with this gentleman. When +Mr. Staunton has met even players such as Anderssen, Heyderbrandt, +and Löwenthal, he has succumbed; whilst his +youthful antagonist can cite a roll of victories unparalleled +since Labourdonnais. And herein is the true reason for +"M. A.'s" saying, "Staunton must not be allowed to risk the +national honor (?) in an unequal contest."</p> + +<p>In wishing "M. A." adieu, I would state that his style of +composition is so like Mr. Staunton's that no one could detect +the difference. And no one but Mr. Staunton himself would +ever set up such a defence as "M. A.'s"—that of inferiority, +"Pawn and two below his strength," &c. &c. And no one but +Mr. Staunton could have such intimate knowledge of his own +thoughts as we find in the following verbatim quotations from +"M. A.'s" letter: "The state of his health was such that he +felt he could not do himself justice"—"his mind harassed"—"the +other (Staunton) with scarcely time for sleep and meals, +with his brain in a constant whirl with the strain upon it." In +the language of Holy Writ: "No man can know the spirit of +man, but the spirit of man which is in him."</p> + +<p>Served up in a mass of foul language, the letter signed +"Fair Play," contains an obviously untrue assertion, namely, +"Mr. Morphy started for Europe, not to play a match with Mr. +Staunton." This is rather outrageous in the face of the challenge +from the New Orleans Chess Club, and with Mr. +S.'s reply in the <i>Illustrated London News</i> of April 3d. So +much was it Mr. Morphy's desire to play him, and so little his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +intention to engage in the Birmingham Tournament, that he +informed the secretary he did not regard such a contest as any +true test of skill.</p> + +<p>To sum up the whole matter, I will state the naked facts.</p> + +<p>1. Mr. Morphy came to Europe to play Mr. Staunton.</p> + +<p>2. Mr. Staunton made everybody believe he had accepted +the challenge from Mr. Morphy.</p> + +<p>3. Mr. Staunton allowed the St. George's Chess Club to +raise the money to back him.</p> + +<p>4. Mr. Staunton asked for a delay of one month, in order +to brush up his openings and endings.</p> + +<p>5. Mr. Staunton requested a postponement until after the +Birmingham meeting.</p> + +<p>6. Mr. Staunton fixed the beginning of November for the +commencement of the match.</p> + +<p>If all this do not mean "I will play," then is there no +meaning in language. I beg to subscribe myself, Mr. Editor, +most respectfully yours,</p> + +<p class="ralign"><span class="smcap">Frederick Milns Edge</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Hotel Breteuil, Paris</span>, <i>Oct. 20, 1858</i>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The next epistle is from the pen of a former colleague +of Mr. Staunton,—a gentleman whose literary +articles in the <i>Chess Players' Chronicle</i> have earned +world-wide notoriety. In the case under examination, +he dissects Mr. Staunton's procedures with the skill of +an able anatomist.</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">LETTER FROM A COADJUTOR OF MR. STAUNTON.</p> + +<p><i>To the Editor of Bell's Life</i>:—</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—In the few remarks that you have appended to the +letters respecting Mr. Morphy's proposed match with Mr. +Staunton you have dealt satisfactorily with the whole matter. +The letters may be considered under two heads, one of which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +does not refer to, the other is written upon, the actual subject. +That a few lines should be devoted <i>not</i> to the merits of the +case will not surprise your readers, when they remember that, +prejudice being created against, or in favor of, a particular +chess-player, questions are not viewed in their true light; still +less will they be surprised when I take this opportunity of +doing justice to Anderssen, who is indirectly alluded to in one +of the letters. Your Cambridge correspondent ridicules the +notion of any evasion of play on the part of Mr. Staunton. +His virtue, even approaching a fault, has been the continual +search after a match. He resought St. Amant after defeating +him, he exposed himself to every one for eight years, and thus +earned two characters, one that of the chivalrous paladin, the +other that of the representative of English chess. I wonder +that an intelligent writer, such as your correspondent is, should +not have traced the distinction between resuming play against +antagonists already beaten, or likely to be beaten, and commencing +matches with really powerful combatants. I wonder, +also, that he did not inform your readers that at the time at +which St. Amant played with Mr. Staunton, the former, excellent +as he was, received odds from Des Chapelles, who was +out of play; I wonder that, as if with perfect knowledge, he +could write upon such a chess match without alluding to Des +Chapelles' celebrated criticism on the Staunton-St. Amant +games, a criticism which, published in the <i>Berliner Schachzeitung</i> +of 1848, puts both players in their true places. I wonder, +again, that he should not have summed up Mr. S.'s subsequent +victories in two contests, one with Hörwitz, the other +with Harrwitz. I wonder that he should not have told us +that Hörwitz publicly announced his inferiority to Der Lasa +and Hanstein, and that Harrwitz <i>at the time mentioned</i> received +P and two moves, but in the same year defeated Hörwitz, +the very player upon whose defeat, on even terms, Mr. +S.'s reputation mainly depended after his match with St. +Amant. Another instance of Mr. Staunton's chivalry is, says +your correspondent, an offer to "play any player in the world, +and to pay his expenses for coming to England." The best<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +answer to this is to quote the actual conditions of the challenge +propounded by Sir G. Stephen on Mr. S.'s behalf in 1853: "1. +If the acceptor of the challenge be resident abroad, the stake +on each side shall not be less than £250. 2. If the challenge +is taken up by a player resident in this country, the amount of +stake shall be from £100 to £150. 3. That the match be +played at a private hotel," etc. After the proposal, Mr. Staunton +gave it meaning in a public speech (<i>Chess Players' Chronicle</i>, +1853)—"The challenge was intended for Anderssen's acceptance. +The £250 was to cover travelling expenses in a +foreign country." Now I wish to ask your correspondent is +there here any offer to pay a competitor's expenses? Or will +he read it as others do? "I name £100 for men whom I do +not fear, but £250 for Anderssen, whom, as he beat me in 1851, +I <i>wish</i> to play with. Nominally, the larger sum will cover his +expenses, but as I intend to win, he will practically have to +find £250, his expenses, and the bill at a private hotel, simply +to give me, the chivalrous Bayard, my revenge?" After this +I trust that we shall not hear of chivalry in offering to pay the +expenses of a competitor. "M. A.," as a Cambridge man, may +be asked whether Mr. S.'s engagement "on a work of great +magnitude" (I quote his own words) is equal to Anderssen's +mathematical and philological labors? But Mr. S. is the +representative of English chess. By whose election is he +"<i>divinæ particula auræ</i>?" Des Chapelles was then irreverent, +and I am an iconoclast. Is he self-elected? Then away +with parliaments and associations of chess, and their self-elected +speaker, "Fairplay." I never yet heard of a man calling himself +the representative of any thing English, if he will not carry +out his representation. I have heard of champions of the river +retiring. I have seen them row, and take a beating manfully. +I know that Lewis, Fraser, Slous, Walker, etc., gave up difficult +chess. I never yet heard of half and half play. Either +a man pretends to represent English chess, or he does not. If +he makes his claim, whether self-elected or not, he must play +(a representative, however ignorant, gives his vote in the +House of Commons), if not, he may retire into private life.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +Morphy may reply to your correspondent and to his coryphæus +at the same time—"I have played for ten years. I am not 21, +but am prepared to play the best European masters now. If +I am challenged when I have taken up another pursuit I will +not do one thing. I will not accept a challenge, and months +after not carry out my acceptance. I will not, after long delay, +name even the day for commencing the match, and then have +no idea of playing. True it is that you may not fairly represent +English chess. Two British players separated Anderssen +from you in 1851, but, Williams being dead, Mr. Wyvill not +playing matches, and you still claiming priority in Anglo-Saxon +chess, I, an Anglo-Saxon, on behalf of the race that +speaks the same language, ask you, will you maintain or resign +your claim?" This is true reasoning. The contest, +"M. A." assures us, would be unequal. Mr. S. is P and two +moves below his strength, yet he represents English play. +Where, then, are the even players, where the P and move +men? Is the fragrance of the P and two moves so refreshing, +that the P and move must not be classed amongst our British +roses? Des Chapelles tells us that Philidor classed Legalle +as a player on even terms, Verdoni as one to receive pawn for +the move, Bernard, Carlier, etc., as P and move players. I +think better of English chess players than to claim, with +"M. A.," our representative in a P and two moves player. +Your Cambridge correspondent will pardon me for attempting +to refute his positions. From the style of his letter I am convinced +that, had he equal experience, he would write much the +same as I have done. "Fairplay's" letter may soon be dismissed; +his argument is, that Mr. Morphy came to Europe not +to play Mr. Staunton (who had previously refused, F. P. should +have added, "to play in America," not in England), but to take +part in the tournament held by the Chess Association at Birmingham; +that he did not play there, sending different answers +for his non-appearance; and, assuming this to be a fault, that +therefore any one may commit the same fault, if he can give +better reasons for the commission. In answer to this, Mr. +Morphy did not come to Europe to play at Birmingham, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +to test his strength with the cis-Atlantic players. It reads +almost like a joke, when a man writes seriously from Birmingham +to inform us that Morphy came 6000 miles to play the +first two or first three games, especially when every one in +London has known for more than three months that he came +to play long set matches. What was Mr. M.'s behavior? He +came to England in June, and visited Birmingham directly. +He had been offered £70 as a retaining fee on account of the +distance travelled by him (similarly Anderssen, Staunton, etc., +received retaining fees in 1857), but refused the offer, making, +with characteristic generosity, such excuses as "he had not +received the Birmingham letters," and that "the meeting was +adjourned for two months." In other words, Mr. Morphy, +giving up all pecuniary claim, practically paid <i>nearly seven-eighths +of the prizes offered to public competition</i>. Hence he +did not take part in the little contests at Birmingham. He +civilly assented to the alteration of time—he civilly left Löwenthal, +whom he had beaten in a set match, a chance of gaining +the first prize—he civilly gave answers to telegraphic messages, +answers—I regret here that they were more polite than +exact—that meant the same thing, "I leave the contest to +others." If these replies did not—as short telegraphic messages +cannot—express Mr. M.'s meaning, it does not become +those who profited by his chivalry to write in the style of +"Fairplay;" and I am sure that the Birmingham local committee +would be the first to gainsay the latter's statement. <i>He</i> +must be satisfied, at all events, as Löwenthal, just beaten by +Morphy, met Mr. Staunton, whom he was anxious to see pitted +against the young American, and won, thereby saving criticism +as to "What was, might be, or could be." What "will be," +we shall see. Mr. M. went to Birmingham simply to get Mr. +S. to name, <i>in the presence of others</i>, a day for commencing the +proposed match. Then and there Mr. S. named the 1st of +November. A representative of Englishmen should give either +a <i>bona fide</i> acceptance or a refusal. Morphy's motto is "Play, +not talk." He comes and goes to foreign countries to seek +play. He is the "<i>Il Puttino</i>" of the New World. At the risk,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +then, sir, of being called a "frivolous noodle" by your very +elegant correspondent "Fairplay," I shall take the liberty of +believing what an honest man like Morphy says. I shall not +hold Staunton to be the representative of English chess, but +shall look to younger and more consistent players as far more +likely to maintain what your correspondents call the national +honor, and am, sir, your obedient servant,</p> + +<p class="ralign"><span class="smcap">An English Chess Player</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">East Sheen</span>, <i>Oct. 21, 1858</i>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The next two letters, also to the editor of <i>Bell's +Life in London</i>, do not profess to argue the question, +but are merely <i>argumenta ad hominum</i>. They serve +to show how warm a feeling in his favor Mr. Morphy +had evoked amongst the fellow-countrymen of Mr. +Staunton.</p> + +<blockquote><p><i>To the Editor of Bell's Life</i>:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Editor</span>: The general opinion of English chess players +is simply that Staunton is afraid of Morphy. If, as his friends +say, he is out of condition, let him train, or give up the championship +like a man. No one would blame him, at his age and +with his avocation, for declining severe matches; but in that +case he must resign the belt into fresher hands. The champion +ceases to be the champion when he is no longer able or willing +to take up whatever gauntlet is flung down. Let the chivalrous +boy who has crossed the Atlantic to challenge the chess +of the Old World have fair play at the hands of Englishmen. +If we cannot beat him fairly, let us not seek to put him off +with shabby dodges.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:10%;">Yours, &c.</p> +<p class="ralign"><span class="smcap">The Ex-President of Provincial Chess Club</span>.</p> +<p><i>Oct. 20th</i>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>This is sound, straightforward, English common +sense.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><p><i>To the Editor of Bell's Life</i>:—</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Editor</span>: Mr. Staunton either is, or is not, the chess +champion of England, ready to defend his "belt" against all +comers. If he <i>be</i> the champion, he has <i>no right</i> to plead "want +of practice," "literary avocations," or such like excuses, for +"<i>semper paratus</i>" must be a "champion's" motto. If he be +<i>not</i> the champion, why then did he hold himself out as such +by inviting or accepting Mr. Morphy's challenge? Why did +he not say at the first, "I <i>was</i> the champion of England some +years ago, but (<i>solve senescentem</i>) I am not so now; I am only a +private gentleman, engaged in literary pursuits, and so forth." +His true position would then have been clearly understood, and +I am sure Mr. Morphy would never have sought to disturb his +retirement. But will the English chess-playing public allow +Mr. Staunton to put in this plea <i>after all that has passed</i>, and +after all his declarations of willingness to play? I trust, sir, +that, if such an excuse be allowed, at least we shall have the +candor to acknowledge ourselves fairly vanquished, and not +pretend that we have escaped defeat because we have "prudently" +declined the contest. We must be on our guard for +the future how we proclaim as our "champion" a gentleman +who "retires into private life" the moment a formidable rival +appears.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:10%">Yours, &c.,</p> +<p class="ralign"><span class="smcap">Schack</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The week following the publication of the above +letters, Mr. Staunton published in the <i>Illustrated London +News</i> <span class="smcap">PART</span> of Mr. Morphy's communication, with +the private answer sent a fortnight before. The paragraph +in the former, relating to Mr. S.'s iniquitous +statement of Morphy's arriving in Europe without +funds, was entirely ignored, and that, too, in the face +of its having been given <i>in extenso</i> two weeks previously +by four weekly London papers, and a copy sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +to his editor-in-chief. <i>Quos Deus vult perdere, prius +dementat</i> was never more thoroughly exemplified, and +the course pursued proves incontestably that Mr. Staunton +possesses a certain kind of courage which does not +stick at trifles. Was it presumable that a man of his +experience would dare to commit such an unwarrantable +act, or did he think that Mr. Morphy would pass +over, in silence, such a suppression?</p> + +<p>The animus was now evident. Mr. Staunton had +never awarded that praise to the young American's +contests which every other chess editor and player in +England and Europe had invariably bestowed: still, no +action could be taken on this. Mr. Staunton had continually +postponed the commencement of the match: +no handle to take hold of was offered here, since he +had, as continually, asserted his desire to play. Mr. +Staunton had announced that the stakes were reduced +from £1,000 a side to £500 at Mr. Morphy's request; +his antagonist was still silent. Mr. Staunton had published +a knowingly untrue statement, and, when the +sufferer complains in such manner as to afford him the +utmost latitude for explanation and apology, he cancels +the paragraph, and does not even deign to refer to it +in his reply. Mr. Staunton caps the climax by declining +finally to play the match. Thus Mr. Staunton's +response to the New Orleans Chess Club, <i>so far as he +was concerned</i>, meant nothing. His acceptance of Morphy's +challenge in London, and the statement in his +paper that the match would come off, meant nothing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +His postponements meant nothing. His declarations +before Lord Lyttelton and other gentlemen, at Birmingham, +meant nothing.</p> + +<p>Thus there was apparently an end to the whole matter. +But an eventuality presented itself:—Mr. Staunton +had shown himself capable of perverting facts to his +own benefit, and might he not assert ultimately that +Mr. Morphy was the cause of the match not taking +place? Could he not, too, at the moment our hero +was quitting Europe, declare his readiness to play, +knowing that Morphy must be off? He had so acted +towards Herr Anderssen after the tournament in 1851, +declaring that "the German saw fit to leave," although +he was well aware that the Professor's collegiate duties +at Breslau rendered it impossible for him to stay in +England and play the proposed match. Paul Morphy +therefore closed up every avenue of eventual misrepresentation, +by the following address to Lord Lyttelton, +in his official quality of President of the National Association +of English Chess-players:</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">MORPHY'S APPEAL TO THE BRITISH CHESS ASSOCIATION.</p> + +<p><i>To the Right Hon. Lord Lyttelton, President of the British Chess Association:</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My Lord</span>,—On the 4th of last February the Chess Club of +New Orleans gave a challenge to your countryman, Mr. Howard +Staunton, to visit that city and engage in a match at chess +with me. On the 3d of April Mr. Staunton replied to this <i>défi</i> +in the <i>Illustrated London News</i>, characterizing the terms of the +cartel as "being distinguished by extreme courtesy," but objecting +to so long a journey for such a purpose, and engaging<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +me "to anticipate by a few months an intended voyage to Europe." +Believing that "a journey of many thousand miles" +was the only obstacle in the way of our meeting, I made immediate +preparation, and, within two months, I had the pleasure +of repeating the challenge personally in the rooms of the St. +George's Chess Club. I need scarcely assure you, my lord, +that Mr. Staunton enjoys a reputation in the United States unsurpassed +by that of any player in Europe since the death of +Labourdonnais, and I felt highly honored when he accepted my +challenge, merely requesting a lapse of one month for the purpose +of preparing himself for the encounter. Within a short +period subsequently, Mr. Staunton obtained my consent to a +postponement until after the annual meeting of the British +Chess Association. A week prior to that event I addressed +him in the following terms:—</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—As we are now approaching the Birmingham +meeting, at the termination of which you have fixed our match +to commence, I think it would be advisable to settle the preliminaries +during this week. Would you be good enough to +state some early period when your seconds can meet mine, so +that a contest which I have so much at heart, and which from +your eminent position excites so much interest in the chess +world, may be looked upon as a <i>fait accompli</i>.—I am, dear sir, +yours very respectfully,</p> +<p class="ralign"><span class="smcap">Paul Morphy</span>."</p> + +<p>Not receiving a satisfactory reply to this communication, I +again wrote Mr. Staunton as follows:—</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—I must first apologise for not replying to your +previous communication. As you observe, my numerous contests +must be the excuse for my remissness.</p> + +<p>"It is certainly a high compliment to so young a player as +myself that you, whose reputation in the chess arena has been +unapproached during so many long years, should require any +preparation for our match. Immediately on my arrival in +England, some two months since, I spoke to you in reference +to our contest, and, in accepting the challenge, you stated that +you should require some time to prepare, and you proposed a +period for commencing, which I accepted.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am well aware that your many engagements in the literary +world must put you to some inconvenience in meeting me, +and I am therefore desirous to consult your wishes in every respect. +Would you please state the earliest opportunity when +those engagements will permit the match coming off, such time +being consistent with your previous preparation?</p> + +<p>"The 'few weeks' referred to in your favor seem to be +rather vague, and I shall feel highly gratified by your fixing a +definite period for the contest. <i>I leave the terms entirely to +yourself.</i>—I remain, dear sir, yours very respectfully,</p> + +<p class="ralign">"<span class="smcap">Paul Morphy</span>."</p> + +<p>Mr. Staunton left London for Birmingham without deigning +to reply.</p> + +<p>I attended the annual meeting of the Association for the express +purpose of requesting a definite period for commencing +the match. In the presence of your lordship and other gentlemen, +Mr. Staunton fixed that commencement for the forepart +of November, promising that he would inform me of the precise +date within a few days. I heard nothing further from him on +the subject. Your lordship will have remarked from the above +that Mr. Staunton has thus obtained three separate and distinct +postponements.</p> + +<p>The approach of November induced me to again address Mr. +Staunton, which I did on the 6th of the present month. As +my letter was published in numerous London journals, and was +also sent to the editor-in-chief of the <i>Illustrated London News</i>, +I had a right to expect a public answer, particularly as I had +complained of a false and damaging statement in the chess department +of that paper. On the 16th Mr. Staunton stated editorially +that—</p> + +<p>"Mr. Morphy's games this week exclude both his letter and +Mr. Staunton's reply. If we can spare space for them they +shall be given in the next number."</p> + +<p>On the 9th inst., within a short time of receiving my letter, +Mr. Staunton replied to me <i>privately</i>. As my communication +was a public one, I was somewhat surprised at the course pursued +by a gentleman holding such a position as Mr. Staunton,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +and did not, therefore, even acknowledge receipt, fearing that I +might thereby be induced unintentionally to commit myself. +Having promised my letter and his reply, Mr. Staunton published +what he represents as such in the <i>Illustrated London +News</i> of the 23d inst. He has thereby transferred the question +from the chess arena to the bar of public opinion, and as a +stranger in a foreign land—a land which has ever been the +foremost in hospitality—I claim justice from Englishmen.</p> + +<p>The most important portion of my letter Mr. Staunton has +dared to suppress. I refer to the following paragraph, published +by various journals, but omitted by the <i>Illustrated London +News</i>, although sent to the editor of that paper as well as +to Mr. Staunton himself:—</p> + +<p>"A statement appeared in the chess department of that journal +a few weeks since, that 'Mr. Morphy had come to Europe +unprovided with backers or seconds,' the inference being obvious—that +my want of funds was the reason of our match not +taking place. As you are the editor of that department of the +<i>Illustrated London News</i>, I felt hurt that a gentleman who had +always received me at his club and elsewhere with great kindness +and courtesy, should allow so prejudicial a statement to +be made in reference to me; one, too, which is not strictly in +accordance with fact."</p> + +<p>On my first arriving in England, I informed Mr. Staunton +that my stakes would be forthcoming the moment he desired, +and I was therefore utterly at a loss to account for so unwarrantable +a statement being made in reference to me, unless with +the intention of compromising my position before the public. +And I would ask your lordship's attention to the terms of the +suppressed paragraph, couched in such language as to avoid all +insinuation of animus, and affording Mr. Staunton the amplest +opportunity for explaining away the difficulty. The course +pursued by that gentleman cannot do otherwise than justify +me in ascribing to him the very worst of motives in publishing +what he knew to be incorrect, in denying me common justice, +and in giving as the whole of my letter <i>what he knew to be only +a part of it</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + +<p>From Mr. Staunton I now appeal to the great body of English +chess players, I appeal to the British Chess Association, I +appeal to yourself, my lord, as the <i>Mæcenas</i> of English chess; +and, as I visited your country for the purpose of challenging +Mr. Staunton, which challenge he has repeatedly accepted, I +now demand of you that you shall declare to the world it is +through no fault of mine that this match has not taken place.—I +have the honor to remain, my lord, yours very respectfully,</p> + +<p class="ralign"><span class="smcap">Paul Morphy</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cafe de la Regence, Paris</span>, <i>October 26, 1858</i>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>To this appeal, Lord Lyttelton made the following +admirable reply, which covers the whole ground:—</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">LORD LYTTELTON ON HOWARD STAUNTON.</p> + +<p class="ralign"><span class="smcap">Bodmin, Cornwall</span>, <i>3d November</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>:—I much regret that I have been unable till to-day +to reply to your letter of the 26th October, which only reached +me on the 1st inst. With regard to the appeal which you +have made to the British Chess Association, I may perhaps be +allowed to say, as its President, that I fear nothing can be done +about the matter in question by that body. It is one of recent +and rather imperfect organization; its influence is not yet fully +established. It is practically impossible to procure any effective +meeting of its members at present, and it is doubtful +whether it could take any step in the matter if it were to meet. +I must therefore be understood as writing in my private character +alone, but, at the same time, you are welcome, should +you think it worth while (which I can hardly think it can be), +to make further use of this letter, in any manner you may +wish.</p> + +<p>Your letter has but one professed object; that we should +declare that it is not your fault that the match between yourself +and Mr. Staunton has not taken place. To this the reply +might be made in two words. I cannot conceive it possible +that any one should impute that failure to you, nor am I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +aware that any one has done so. But, in the circumstances, +I shall not perhaps be blamed, if I go somewhat further into +the matter. In the general circumstances of the case, I conceive +that Mr. Staunton was quite justified in declining the +match. The fact is understood that he has for years been engaged +in labors which must, whatever arrangements might be +made, greatly interfere with his entering into a serious contest +with a player of the highest force and in constant practice, and +so far the failure of the match is the less to be regretted. Nor can +I doubt the correctness of his recent statement, that the time +barely necessary for the match itself could not be spared, +without serious loss and inconvenience both to others and to +himself.</p> + +<p>But I cannot but think that in all fairness and considerateness, +Mr. Staunton might have told you of this long before he +did. I know no reason why he might not have ascertained it, +and informed you of it in answer to your first letter from +America. Instead of this, it seems to me plain, both as to the +interview at which I myself was present, and as to all the other +communications which have passed, that Mr. Staunton gave +you every reason to suppose that he would be ready to play +the match within no long time. I am not aware, indeed (nor +do I perceive that you have said it), that you left America +<i>solely</i> with the view of playing Mr. Staunton. It would, +no doubt, make the case stronger, but it seems to me as unlikely +as that you should have come, as has been already stated +(anonymously, and certainly not with Mr. Staunton's concurrence), +in order to attend the Birmingham Tournament.</p> + +<p>With regard to the suppressions of part of your last letter, +I must observe, that I am not aware how far Mr. Staunton is +responsible for what appears in the <i>Illustrated London News</i>. +But whoever is responsible for that suppression, I must say, +that I cannot see how it is possible to justify or excuse it.</p> + +<p>I greatly regret the failure of a contest which would have +been of much interest, and the only one, as I believe, which +could have taken place with you, with any chance of its redounding +to the credit of this country. I still more regret<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +that any annoyance or disappointment should have been undergone +by one, who—as a foreigner—from his age, his ability, +and his conduct and character, is eminently entitled to the +utmost consideration in the European countries which he may +visit.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:10%;">I am, dear sir, yours truly,</p> +<p style="margin-left:30%;"><span class="smcap">Lyttelton</span>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Paul Morphy, Esq.</span></p></blockquote> + +<p>Mr. Morphy could not do otherwise than avail himself +of the permission accorded him by Lord Lyttelton, +to publish so full a justification. He thus put himself +right on the record, and prevented any further misrepresentation. +Numerous clubs in the United Kingdom +took action upon the letter, and the following +resolution of the Manchester Chess Club—one of the +most influential in the country—shows what was the +general feeling upon the subject.</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">RESOLUTION OF THE MANCHESTER CHESS CLUB.</p> + +<p>At a special meeting, called in compliance with a requisition +numerously signed, it was resolved—</p> + +<p>"That this meeting, while recognizing Mr. Staunton's +right to decline any chess challenge which he might find inconvenient +and incompatible with his other engagements, +deems it proper (inasmuch as Lord Lyttelton has only felt +himself at liberty to answer, in his private capacity, Mr. +Morphy's appeal to him as President of the British Chess Association) +to declare its full concurrence in the opinion expressed +by Lord Lyttelton in his letter to Mr. Morphy, of the 3d +inst., that in all fairness and considerateness Mr. Staunton +should have told Mr. Morphy, long before he did, that he declined +the proposed match.</p> + +<p>"That copies of this resolution be sent to Mr. Morphy, Mr. +Staunton, and the editor of the <i>Illustrated London News.</i>"</p> + +<p><i>17th November, 1858.</i></p></blockquote><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Staunton was able to cite but one instance of +an association sufficiently hardy to oppose its opinion +to the verdict of Lord Lyttelton. A select circle of +Mr. S.'s friends, the close-borough Cambridge University +Chess Club, ventured the following resolutions, +which were forwarded for publication to several journals, +as a would-be antidote to that of the Manchester +Club.</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">RESOLUTIONS OF THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY CHESS CLUB.</p> + +<p>At a meeting of the Cambridge University Chess Club, +held November 26, 1858, the following resolutions were passed +unanimously:</p> + +<p>"That the Cambridge University Chess Club, recognizing +the important services rendered by Mr. Staunton to the cause +of chess, and seeing with regret the ungenerous attacks which +have for some time past been directed against him by a certain +section of the press, notorious for its anti-English tendencies, +are of opinion</p> + +<p>"1. That under the peculiar circumstances in which Mr. +Staunton found himself placed, it was scarcely possible for him +to do otherwise than decline the proposed match with Mr. +Morphy.</p> + +<p>"2. That his allowing the challenge to remain open so long +as there appeared the slightest hope of his being able to play, +was, beyond all question, the proper course to be adopted by +one really anxious for the encounter."</p></blockquote> + +<p>I cannot do better than give the remarks upon the +above resolutions by the "Era" newspaper; they +make mince-meat of the Cantabs' reasonings. The +"Era" answers thus:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>—</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">THE "ERA'S" REMARKS.</p> + +<p>"It will be seen that the Cambridge University Chess Club +constitutes itself the champion of Mr. Staunton against "ungenerous +attacks directed against him by a section of the press, +notorious for its anti-English tendencies." We wish the Cambridge +gentlemen had pointed out the section they refer to. +We were not aware that chess was of any country, or that +there were any anti-English tendencies in connection with it. +The fact is, that the section of the metropolitan chess press, +conducted by foreigners who have made their homes in England, +has hitherto refrained from expressing any judgment in the +dispute, contenting itself with giving the letters ungarbled and +unmutilated; but in chess columns, conducted by Englishmen, +have appeared the remarks pointed at by the Cambridge Club; +so here we have the anomaly of anti-English Englishmen. +With regard to the resolutions which follow the preamble, it is +impossible to cavil at. (1.) There is no doubt that under what +are delicately called "the peculiar circumstances," Mr. Staunton +was right in not playing Mr. Morphy. If a man feels he +would have no chance, it would be foolish for him to venture on +a contest. Resolution (2) is not so impervious to criticism. +Coming from so learned a quarter as Cambridge, we are rather +disappointed at the looseness of its wording. The intention, of +course, was to justify Mr. Staunton in taking the course he has +adopted, but it does not do so. It says he was right in "allowing +the challenge to remain open" till the last moment. If, +indeed, Mr. Staunton had kept the challenge open as long as +possible no one would have blamed him, but that was precisely +what he did not do. He accepted the challenge, and thereby +closed with it, and his friends subscribed funds for the stakes. +What Mr. Staunton did allow to remain open was the day; +and, after repeated promises to name it, that has been postponed +to—never. This is what is complained of in Mr. Staunton's +conduct, and Lord Lyttelton was right, and expressed the +judgment of the great majority of English chess players, when +he wrote that Mr. Staunton might and ought, at an earlier date,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +to have informed Mr. Morphy of his inability to play. We say +nothing of the paragraphs which have appeared in the journal +of which Mr. Staunton is the chess editor, insinuating that Mr. +Morphy's money was not ready, because he (Mr. Staunton) +may not be answerable for them, but confine ourselves, in conformity +with our English tendencies, to an expression of our +concurrence in the views of an English nobleman, the whole of +the members of the Metropolitan Chess circle, and those of the +provincial clubs who have communicated with us on the subject."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mr. Staunton's short-sighted policy with regard to +Paul Morphy, had not only caused him to be condemned +<i>vis-à-vis</i> of that gentleman, but his former career +was also dragged into discussion and severely commented +upon. The following letter appeared in the +"Field" a week after the appeal to Lord Lyttelton; +and, as will be seen, it is from the pen of a once warm +friend of Mr. Staunton:—</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">MR. STAUNTON AND MR. MORPHY.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—I am desirous, with your permission, of saying a few +words upon the relative position now occupied by Messrs. +Staunton and Morphy, whose proposed encounter has been +brought to such an unfortunate, though not unforeseen, termination. +Now I am well acquainted with Mr. Staunton. I have +been concerned on his behalf in the arrangement of one of his +(proposed) matches, with a player whom he has never ceased +to vituperate since that period when I endeavored so strenuously +to bring them together. I have fought Mr. Staunton's +battles for him by pen and by word of mouth on sundry occasions. +I wish, indeed, I could do so now; for, as a chess player, +and as a laborer in the field of chess literature, I place him on +the very highest pinnacle. Since the time of M'Donnell, I be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>lieve +that no player in this country—not to say Europe—has +ever reached so high a standard as was attained by our English +champion when he did battle with St. Amant. Since that time +he has been the rather concerned in editorial duties, and in intimating +to real or imaginary correspondents in the <i>Chess Players' +Chronicle</i>, (now defunct,) and in the <i>Illustrated London +News</i>, (full of vitality,) what he could do on the chequered +field, if those who dreamed of approaching him could but muster +sufficient money to meet his terms, or what other and peculiar +restrictions (owing to delicate health and "nervous irritability") +he should impose upon any adversary with whom he +engaged himself.</p> + +<p>From what I have seen of Mr. Staunton, I should think the +term "delicate" thoroughly inapplicable to his condition, but +that he is highly irritable, and nervously susceptible of all antagonistic +impressions, no one who knows him can for a moment +doubt.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">How easy 'tis, when destiny proves kind,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With full-spread sails to run before the wind.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>So sings the poet. Destiny <i>did</i> prove kind to Mr. Staunton +when he played his match in Paris with St. Amant. The Englishman +made the most of it, and achieved a splendid triumph. +At the great Chess Tournament in 1851 destiny was not quite so +obliging. The champion from whom we expected so much +had a head-wind against him, and he was beaten. I saw much +of Mr. Staunton at that time. I believe—in all justice let it be +said—that he was thoroughly unnerved, that he was utterly +unequal to an arduous contest, and that his great merits ought +not to be gauged by his play upon the occasion alluded to. He +deserved (he did not receive, for he had never given the same +to others) every sympathy under circumstances which were +intensely mortifying to himself personally, and to us nationally.</p> + +<p>Since 1851 it has been pretty generally understood that +Mr. Staunton's irritability has not diminished, and that his literary +responsibilities have the rather multiplied. Consequently +we had no right to expect, nationally, that he would again be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +our champion, and contend with the young American, whose +reputation ran before him to Europe, and has accompanied him +ever since his arrival from the United States. We had no right, +I say, to expect this, <i>but for one reason</i>. That reason is to be +found in the chess department of the <i>Illustrated London News</i>, +of which Mr. S. is the acknowledged editor. It has been there +constantly implied—nay, it has been over and over again unequivocally +stated—during the last eight years, that the vanquisher +of St. Amant is still the English champion; that as +such he has a right to dictate his own terms, and that if any +one is prepared to accede to those terms, he (Mr. Staunton) is +prepared for the encounter. It matters not whether the correspondents +to whom these implications are made are real or +(as is generally supposed) imaginary. It is sufficient that certain +statements are made with the intention of conveying a +false impression to the public as regards Mr. Staunton's desire +to play and capability of playing. This is where he is so greatly +to blame; this is the point on which he has alienated from +himself during the last few years so many of his warmest +friends. No one blames Mr. Staunton for not playing with +Mr. Morphy; but every one has a right to blame Mr. Staunton +if, week after week, he implies in his own organ that there is a +chance of a match, if all that time he knows that there is no +chance of a match whatever. This, I affirm deliberately, and +with great pain, is what Mr. Staunton has done. It has been +done times out of number, and this in ways which have been +hardly noticed. If the editor of the chess department of the +<i>Illustrated London News</i> merely states as a piece of news that +Mr. Morphy is coming to England from America to arrange a +match at chess with Mr. Staunton, and Mr. Staunton (being +that editor himself, and being burdened with literary responsibilities +which he knows to be so great as to prevent his playing +an arduous contest) fails to append to such statement another, +to the effect that he has given up public chess, and has no intention +of again renewing it, he is not acting in a straightforward +and honorable manner. But much more than this has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +been effected. So solicitous has Mr. Staunton been to trade +as long as possible upon his past reputation, that it has been +written in the <i>Illustrated London News</i> since Mr. Morphy's +arrival in this country, that he (Mr. M.) is not prepared with +the necessary stakes for an encounter with Mr. Staunton. +What truth there was in such averment may be gathered from +the admirable letter in your impression of last Saturday from +the young American to Lord Lyttelton. Why is not Mr. Staunton +content to say (what those who like him best would be +glad to be authorized to say for him): "I have done much +for the cause of chess, but I am not equal to what I once was; +and I am hampered by engagements which do not admit of +my playing matches now. I cannot risk my reputation under +such manifest disadvantages as would surround me in a contest +with Mr. Morphy." The public at large would then respect +Mr. Staunton's candor, and have a larger appreciation than +they now have of his great merits. It is true that Mr. Staunton +<i>has</i> said this at last; but he has been forced to say with a +bad grace what ought long ago to have been said voluntarily +with a good one.</p> + +<p>These unpleasant (not to use a harsher term) circumstances +are the more to be deplored at present because of the frank, +courteous, and unassuming conduct of Mr. Morphy upon every +occasion since he set foot in Europe. I have seen him play in +London and in Paris; and I have noted those obliging and unobtrusive +manners which secure to him the good-will of everybody, +and surround him by troops of friends. How is it that +Mr. Staunton is not surrounded by troops of friends likewise? +Is he not a scholar and a gentleman? Has he not many qualifications +for the distinguished literary position he now fills? +Undoubtedly he has. But he has never been able to merge the +personal in the general—to regard his own individuality as +other than the first consideration. Brought into contact many +years ago with players who were not refined gentlemen, an antagonism +was immediately established between the two parties. +Unhappily for the chess world, literary opportunities were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +afforded in the columns of rival newspapers for the indulgence +of malevolent feelings on both sides. To this warfare there has +never been a cessation. So notorious is the fact of its existence +that it is impossible to rely, in one paper, upon any statement +having reference to the London Chess Club; it is equally impossible +to rely, in the other, upon any statement affecting the +St. George's Club. Ladies who are devoted to "Caissa," and +write to the <i>Illustrated London News</i>, are not aware of these +things. Imaginary correspondents, of course, are utterly ignorant +of them. But we who live in and about London, who +have been behind the scenes at both theatres, know how much +reliance is to be placed upon a certain kind of chess intelligence +with which two rival journals regale their correspondents and +the general public every week. Look even at the <i>Illustrated +London News</i> of last Saturday, and you will see a letter professing +to come from Birmingham, (I think it is a misprint for +Billingsgate,) which is absolutely disgraceful. Why should +Mr. Staunton try to bolster up his reputation (which is European) +with sentiments and language of a purely (I mean impurely) +local character? Why is one player always to be +cried up at the expense of another? Why are ungenerous and +ungentlemanly insinuations to be made against a youth whose +conduct has been characterized by so much unobtrusiveness +and so much good feeling as that of Mr. Morphy? Why is +Mr. Harrwitz always to be run down in the <i>Illustrated London +News</i>? Why are Mr. Löwenthal and Mr. Brien, quondam +editorial <i>protégés</i>, now never spoken of but in terms of disparagement? +Why should Mr. Staunton call upon the <i>cercle</i> +at Paris to insist upon Mr. Harrwitz progressing with his +match with Mr. Morphy at a more rapid pace, when the German +had pleaded ill health as the cause of the delay? Who +has drawn so largely upon the patience of the British public, on +the score of ill health and "palpitations of the heart," <i>et hoc +genus omne</i>, as the generous and sympathizing writer who thus +stabs a rival player when he is down? It is time, sir, that +these things should cease. We are all weary of them. What<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +better opportunity for crying a truce to these mean and petty +warfares of the pen than the one which now presents itself? +Mr. Staunton is our champion no longer. We must turn to +some one else to uphold the national flag upon that field where +Labourdonnais and M'Donnell fought and struggled. So +anxious am I that good feeling should be restored, and that we +should be united as I see chess players united in other countries, +that I have put together hurriedly these reflections, which, +however imperfect they may be, are true and just. And because +I have observed that the chess department of <i>The Field</i>, +which you so ably edit, is peculiarly free from personalities and +remarkably authentic in its information, I ask you to help me +in the good cause by giving publicity to this letter. I am not +ashamed of what I have written, nor do I desire to shrink from +the responsibility of revealing my name, if it is necessary. I +enclose my card, as a guarantee, and prefer, if it meets your +views, to appear only under the name of—</p> + +<p style="margin-left:10%;"><span class="smcap">Pawn-and-Two</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>It is difficult in any country, and quite impossible +in England, to struggle successfully against public +opinion. Mr. Staunton had kept silence as long as +possible, but there was but one course for him to pursue, +namely, in one way or another to own that he was +wrong. The chess circles in which he was once the +most welcome of all comers, now turned on him the +cold shoulder; the first clubs in the kingdom, <i>and +amongst them the St. George's</i>, were signifying their +desire to offer Paul Morphy public dinners; such eminent +players as Captain Kennedy volunteered subscriptions +towards a national testimonial for the young +American, not more as an evidence of their admiration +for him as a master in the game, than as marking their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +esteem for him as a man.<a name="FNanchor_C_3" id="FNanchor_C_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_C_3" class="fnanchor">[C]</a> Mr. Staunton could no +longer resist such a pressure, and besides, he owed +some apology to his paper for the suppression of the +famous paragraph; he therefore addressed the following +communication to his chief, the editor of the <i>Illustrated +London News</i>:</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">MR. STAUNTON'S EXPLANATION.</p> + +<p><i>To the Editor of the Illustrated London News</i>:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—My attention has this moment been directed to a +passage in a letter of Lord Lyttelton to Mr. Morphy, +wherein allusion is made to the "suppression" of a portion of +Mr. Morphy's letter to me, which you published, together with +my answer, in your paper for Oct. 23. I have not seen the +epistle to which Lord Lyttelton's is a reply; but I plead guilty +at once to having omitted, when sending you Mr. Morphy's +jeremiade and my answer, a couple of paragraphs from the +former. My reasons for omitting them were, in the first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +place, because they appeared to me to be irrelevant to the +main point between Mr. Morphy and me; secondly, because I +know if the letters extended very much beyond the limited +space you apportion to chess, they were pretty certain of being +omitted, or, as Mr. Morphy phrases it, "<i>suppressed</i>" altogether; +and, thirdly, because I had already written to a friend in Paris +with whom, through my introduction, Mr. M. was living upon +intimate terms, an explanation touching the notice Mr. Morphy +professes to be so concerned at; and from my friend's reply, +which intimated that Mr. M. was about to write to me in an +amicable spirit, I of course supposed there was an end of the +matter, and that I should be permitted to pursue my work, +and this young gentleman his play, without further misunderstanding. +That, after this, and in the face of my endeavors +through your Journal to set his blindfold and other chess exploits +before the public in the most advantageous light—in the +face of every civility which to the extent of my opportunities, +I have endeavored to show him from the first moment of his +arrival in this country—he could reconcile it to his sense of +honor and honesty, to impute to me a wilful suppression of +any portion of his letter, does, indeed, amaze me, and I can +only account for it, by supposing he is under the influence of +very ill advisers, or that his idea of what is honorable and +honest, is very different from what I had hoped and believed it +to be.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:10%;">I am, sir, yours, &c.,</p> +<p style="margin-left:30%;"><span class="smcap">H. Staunton</span>.</p> + +<p><i>November 15.</i></p> + +<p>P. S. That you may judge with what likelihood and with +what propriety Mr. Morphy attributes the omission of the +<i>excerpta</i> to sinister motives, I enclose them, and shall be +obliged by your giving them the additional publicity he craves, +as soon as your space permits:—</p> + +<p>"A statement appeared in the chess department of that +Journal, (<i>The Illustrated London News</i>) a few weeks since, +that 'Mr. Morphy had come to Europe unprovided with backers +or seconds'—the inference being obvious, that my want of +funds was the reason of our match not taking place. As you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +are the editor of that department of the <i>Illustrated London +News</i>, I felt much hurt that a gentleman who had always +received me at his club and elsewhere, with great kindness and +courtesy should allow so prejudicial a statement to be made in +reference to me; one, too, which is not strictly consonant with +fact."</p> + +<p>"In conclusion, I beg leave to state, that I have addressed +a copy of this letter to the editors of the <i>Illustrated London +News</i>, <i>Bell's Life in London</i>, <i>The Era</i>, <i>The Field</i>, and <i>The Sunday +Times</i>; being most desirous that our true position should +no longer be misunderstood by the community at large. I +again request you to fix the date for our commencing the +match."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mr. Morphy was not desirous of prolonging the discussion, +after so full and entire an indorsement from +Mr. Staunton's fellow-countrymen, or he could easily +have driven that gentleman further into the mire. But +Mr. S. made two statements in the above letter, which +Paul Morphy could not allow to pass unrebuked, and +he accordingly denied, publicly, that he had received +any introduction whatever from that gentleman, or that +he had even hinted his intention of writing Mr. Staunton, +amicably or otherwise.</p> + +<p>The latter part of the letter is in questionable taste. +As though Mr. S. had acquired any right to misrepresent +facts, publish misstatements, and deny reparation, +on account of "having set his (M.'s) blindfold and other +chess-exploits before the public in the most advantageous +light."</p> + +<p>By so doing, Mr. Staunton merely fulfilled his editorial +duty; for the entire chess world was on the <i>qui<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +vive</i> after Morphy's exploits. <i>His games were being +published throughout Europe, to the exclusion of nearly +all others</i>, and surely Mr. S. could not allow his paper +to be behind other journals. <i>But he knew full well that, +after the first fortnight or three weeks, Mr. Morphy +never gave him a single partie, being hurt at the ungenerous +treatment evinced towards him in the notes.</i> Mr. +Staunton was using the columns of an influential journal +to crush a dangerous opponent, and, at the time he +penned the above letter, he well knew that Paul Morphy +resented from the first such unfairness, and had +positively forbidden any of his games to be sent to him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Staunton makes reference, in conclusion, to +"very ill advisers." I suppose I must take this mainly +to myself, more particularly as it is not the first time of +his using the expression during the discussion. Without +attempting to defend myself, I would say to Mr. +Staunton: "I can reconcile it with my sense of honor +and honesty, to impute to you a wilful suppression of +the paragraph so frequently referred to. Had you +given that paragraph, you would, <i>per force</i>, have been +obliged to give your reasons for the assertion therein +contained. And I would remind you, sir, that, in all +this discussion, you have never touched the real point +at issue—never apologized for the misstatement of +which Mr. Morphy complains with so much cause. +Paul Morphy is acquainted with the reason for that misstatement, +but he has never evinced a desire to force +you to state it publicly. He can afford to be generous."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p>It may be cause of regret to some that the match +between these two <i>athletæ</i> did not take place. Such a +contest would not have afforded any test of comparison, +inasmuch as Mr. Staunton is not now the player he +was eight or ten years ago. But an infallible test exists +by which to judge of their respective merits—viz. +<i>their games</i>. "By their fruits ye shall know them."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p class="center">MORAL.</p> + +<p>Mr. Staunton's weakness was want of sufficient +courage to say, "He is stronger than I." Löwenthal +said it <i>before his match with Morphy was finished</i>; +Mr. Boden openly avowed his inferiority, as also Mr. +Bird, and many other eminent players. And Saint +Amant, in Paris, led the young hero up the steps of the +throne, and seated him beside Labourdonnais, proclaiming, +"Voiçi notre maitre à nous tous." Had Mr. Staunton +so done, he would merely have anticipated the verdict +of posterity, and honored himself in the eyes of his +countrymen and the world.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_C_3" id="Footnote_C_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_C_3"><span class="label">[C]</span></a> CAPTAIN KENNEDY'S OPINION OF PAUL MORPHY. +</p> +<blockquote><p><i>To the Editor of the Era</i>:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—As I understand that Mr. Morphy contemplates another +visit to England before his return to America, will you permit me, +through your columns, respectfully to suggest to the chess community +of this country the propriety of offering him a public entertainment, +together with some adequate testimonial which may serve +to mark our sense of his transcendent ability as a chess player; and +also our appreciation of him as a chivalrous, high-spirited, and +honorable man—a character which I hope Englishmen know how +to value far more than even any amount of skill at chess.</p> + +<p>Should this proposal take any definite shape, I shall be happy to +be allowed to contribute £5 towards its accomplishment.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:10%;">I am, sir, your obedient servant,</p> +<p style="margin-left:30%;"><span class="smcap">A. A. Kennedy.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bath</span>, <i>Jan. 1, 1859</i>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>[Captain Kennedy, we feel sure, in this communication, expresses +the feeling of a large majority of English chess players, and we have +little doubt but that his suggestion will be entertained and carried +out. For ourselves we shall be happy to aid to the utmost in any +plan that is formed for the purpose.]</p></div> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>MORPHY IN FRANCE.</h3> + + +<p>On the last day of last August, I awakened Paul Morphy +at an early hour. The Folkestone train left London +Bridge at 9 55 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, and there was some twenty +minutes of hard driving to get to the railway station; +but Morphy came down to breakfast with admirable +<i>sang froid</i>, took his own time at the meal, laughed at +my fears of being too late, and got into a cab at least +ten minutes later than we ought to have done. We +arrived at the depot in time to see the doors shut in our +faces. Now this was not agreeable, inasmuch as there +was no other train for Paris, by that line, during the +day. I therefore proposed to Morphy that we should +stroll about until half-past one o'clock in the afternoon, +and then take the route through Dover and Calais, to +which he assented.</p> + +<p>The trip across the Straits of Dover is neither long +nor pleasant, and Mr. Morphy was dreadfully sea-sick; +but his mind was preoccupied with his forthcoming +campaigns in <i>la Belle France</i>, and he observed to me,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +"Well, now I am going to meet Harrwitz! I shall +beat him in the same proportion as I beat Löwenthal, +although he is a better match-player than Löwenthal. +But I shall play better with Harrwitz." Some of my +readers may object to such an observation; but those +who know Morphy, know that he speaks from thorough +acquaintance with his opponents' capabilities, and conviction +of his own superiority—not from any improper +feeling of pride.</p> + +<p>People suffering from sea-sickness generally recognize +the truth of the maxim, "It is better to give than +to receive:" you have much difficulty in getting them +to take any thing, even fat pork; but if you watch your +opportunity, when the will is stronger than the deed, +and induce them to worry down a modicum of champagne +well up, you infuse new life into them. So I requested +the steward to make us acquainted with his +Silléry Mousseux, and Morphy and I toasted each other +on the deck of the steamboat. On my asking him immediately +afterwards how he felt, he allowed that he +was better; adding, however, that he believed it was +nothing but imagination which worked the cure.</p> + +<p>It was but a short run to the pier of Calais, and the +sea-sickness was forgotten when our feet again touched +<i>terra firma</i>. On landing, we got into a slight difficulty. +Morphy speaks the French language with the purest +Gallic accent, and the officials would not at first consent +to his travelling with a United States passport. This +our hero soon cleared up by reading the <i>gens d'armes</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +a <i>précis</i> of the settlement, manners, customs, &c., of the +State of Louisiana, and his own antecedents; whereupon +that official restored him his <i>papier règlé</i>, but confiscated +a quantity of underlinen. They told us that +was Customary.</p> + +<p>Eight o'clock in the evening; and if we took the +train forthwith, we should arrive in Paris next morning +at six. Morphy proposed that we should sleep there that +night, and take an early train the following day, which +course would enable us to see the town of Calais. So +we repaired to the Hotel Dessin, attended to our inner +and outer man, and then prepared for a stroll. As the +result of our observations, we agreed Calais must have +been a magnificent town before the discovery of the +principles of architecture. After diligent inquiry, we +could not learn that any one knew when the last house +was built, and Morphy gave it as his opinion that, were +William the Conqueror to revisit Calais, he would find +it unchanged, except in being dirtier. When I reminded +him that the town possessed peculiar interest +for me as an Englishman, he coolly set me down, by +observing that he had a very poor opinion of my ancestors +for wishing to keep such a place.</p> + +<p>The next morning we got into the train at a quarter +to eight o'clock, and commenced the long, dreary +ride of ten mortal hours to Paris. But there was no +way out of the difficulty, and, what with yawning and +dozing between the stations, and grumbling at the tedious +regulation speed of the French railways, we ulti<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>mately +arrived at the capital. Now every traveller, +on getting to this point, thinks he is bound to paint the +various emotions arising in his breast on entering the +city of the Seine. My own sensations were of strong +Anglican bias. I wanted to dine. Morphy is never +betrayed into rhapsody, and what he felt he didn't +speak.</p> + +<p>Having again submitted our baggage to the inspection +of numerous officials, we thanked our stars for +seeing the last of the <i>Chemin de Fer du Nord</i>,—drove +off to <i>Meurice's</i>, where they gave us rooms about the +fifteenth story,—started for the <i>Restaurant des Trois +Frères Provençaux</i>, and got a capital dinner, and then +addressed ourselves to the duties of <i>flaneurs</i>. I knew +the French capital like a <i>gamin de Paris</i>; and, without +saying a word to Morphy of my intention, I led +him quietly down the Palais Royal, past the Théâtre +Français, and right into the Café de la Régence.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE CAFÉ DE LA RÉGENCE.</h3> + + +<p>Were I called upon to name the central spot in this +whirling sphere, the point round which all other points +revolve, I should say—The Café de la Régence.</p> + +<p>Probably many of my readers will not think so, but +that does not alter the fact. I name that café, not as a +chess player, but from more general reasons. Take a +bowl of water or any other liquid—<i>punch</i> will do—and, +prior to drinking, experiment upon it. Turn it round +and round until the liquid revolves quickly, and mark: +there is one spot in the centre, a bubble, or mass of +foam, which appears stationary, and all the other bubbles +are circling and converging spirally towards it. +So with my café.</p> + +<p>In Paris, every other house is a café. The inhabitants +are divided into two classes:—waiters at the café, +and—frequenters of the café. Paris never existed +until coffee was introduced. Paris is merely a big +café, and is a product of the Mocha berry.</p> + +<p>Every café has its speciality. At Paul Niquet's,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +for instance, the chiffoniers congregate, and at Tortoni's, +speculators and politicians. Not one of these establishments, +throughout the city, but has its mark, by +which to distinguish it from its fellows, in the same +way as an ugly woman consoles herself with the belief +that she has one quality at least which will captivate +admirers. But the Café de la Régence stands out peculiar +from the rest; it is what they are, and more too. +It is an epitome of all.</p> + +<p>Now the reader must not suppose I am going to +enter on a lengthy history of this far-famed trysting +spot of men of all countries, more particularly as Mr. +George Walker anticipated me many years ago. +Everybody knows that the Café de la Régence and +the Café Procope are the two oldest in Paris; that the +former is so named after the famous Regent Duke of +Orleans; that Voltaire, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Duke +of Richelieu, Marshall Saxe, Franklin, Robespierre, +Napoleon, etc., etc., etc., made it their place of frequent +resort for the purpose of playing at chess. I am +about to give a daguerreotype of the Régence as Morphy +and I found it, and as any one will find it at the +present day.</p> + +<p>The first thing we caught sight of, on entering, was +a dense cloud of tobacco smoke, the product of <i>tabac +de Caporal</i> and <i>cigars de la Régie</i>. The second object +was a massive individual, with Titanic shoulders, whom +we afterwards learned was Monsieur Morel, or, as they +call him there, "Le père Morel," and "The Rhinoce<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>ros." +Having turned the flank of this gentleman, and +our eyes becoming used to the peculiar atmosphere, we +observed that tables were placed as close to each other +as would admit of one's passing between them, and +that chess was being played on some, draughts, cards, +and dominoes on others. In a second room, two billiard-tables +were in full action, surrounded by still +other chess and card parties, whilst the unceasing hubbub +arising from the throng seemed to render mental +abstraction an impossibility. At a table in the first +room, a small crowd was watching the contest between +two amateurs of "ye noble game of chesse playe," +and Morphy's attention was immediately arrested. I +stepped up to the <i>dame du comptoir</i> and made inquiries +as to who was then in the room, and learned +from her that one of the two players Morphy was +watching was Monsieur Journoud, "un de nos plus +forts," the lady added, as though aware I was a stranger. +She informed me that Mr. Harrwitz was then at +Valenciennes, but intended to return to Paris at the +end of the week, in order to meet Mr. Morphy. On +my not expressing any surprise at the mention of the +latter's name, she volunteered the information that Mr. +Morphy was a celebrated American player, who had +beaten everybody he had played with, and that they +expected him yesterday. The lady was pleasingly +voluble, and I encouraged her; this induced her to add +that Monsieur Arnoux de Rivière had just received a +letter from a friend in London, apprising him that our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +hero had left the English capital, and was <i>en route</i> for +Paris.</p> + +<p>Having learned as much as the <i>dame du comptoir</i> +was able to communicate, I rejoined Morphy, and we +took a second look round the room. Sounds of all European +languages saluted our ears, and types of different +races our eyes. In one corner, a knot of Italians +talked, amicably no doubt, in their rapid, quarrelsome +manner. At one of the billiard tables, a party of Russians +were having it their own way, without fear of +listeners; Americans and English, Germans, Danes, +Swedes, Greeks, Spaniards, etc., jabbered together regardless +of bystanders, making the café a very Babel. +Scores of journals were lying here and there—the +leading newspapers, in fact, throughout Europe—so +that every visitor, no matter what his nationality, could +obtain news of home.</p> + +<p>The crowd seemed, as it always does, to represent +every rank of society. There were military men, from +colonels to privates; one or two priests, who seemed +somewhat out of their element; well-dressed, aristocratic-looking +individuals, who kept together in knots +in different corners; and the invariable <i>pillier de café</i>, +who passes half his existence in such establishments, +and the other half in bed. The Café de la Régence +opens at eight o'clock in the morning, but little or +nothing is done until noon, barring the daily visit of +some three or four patrons who drink their coffee in +silence, and are not seen again until early next day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +But at noon men begin to drop in quickly, and, by +two o'clock, the room is as full as it can conveniently +hold, and so continues until midnight.</p> + +<p>The Café de la Régence has only existed on its +present site for a few years; in fact, since Louis Napoleon +has made the many magnificent alterations in +the French capital. Previously, it was next door, in a +<i>locale</i> not half so convenient as the present one. The +café is separated into two rooms on the Rue St. +Honoré; in the larger one, which we have already described, +smoking is permitted to a frightful extent; in +the other, it is strictly forbidden. The latter chamber +is well fitted up, and the ceiling, which is massive, contains +four shields in the cornices, bearing the names of +Philidor, Deschappelles, and Labourdonnais. The +fourth bears the date of the café's foundation, and the +proprietor has stated his intention of placing therein +the name <span class="smcap">Morphy</span>. Perhaps it is already done.</p> + +<p>At the time of our arrival in Paris, the <i>Cercle des +Echecs</i>, or in other words, the Chess Club, met in +rooms over the café. The association had three rooms +set apart for chess, and one for billiards, and Saint +Amant, Devinck, Guibert, Préti, Doazan, Delannoy, +Seguin and Lecrivain were amongst the members. +But the great room down stairs prevented their receiving +any accession of numbers, and the rent being very +high, and funds very low, they gave up their quarters +at the end of last year, and are now to be found in the +café below.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + +<p>Morphy would not announce his arrival on his first +visit, preferring to postpone it until the following day. +When it was known that the so much looked-for player +was in Paris, the excitement was great; Frenchmen +live for excitement. M. de Rivière had not been +there lately, but we found Messrs. Lecrivain, Journoud, +Guibert, and numbers of knight and rook-players. The +first-named gentleman, by general request, offered himself +as the initiatory sacrifice, accepting the odds of +pawn and two moves, and managed to score some two +games to Morphy's six or seven. Then M. de Rivière +arrived, and getting the move, played the Ruy Lopez, +which eventuated in "a draw;" and he was subsequently +followed by M. Journoud, who, though one of +the best French players, failed to score a victory. +Morphy had made his mark, and everybody looked forward +to the arrival of Herr Harrwitz, when they hoped +to see fun.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>THE MATCH BETWEEN MORPHY AND HARRWITZ.</h3> + + +<p>Saturday came, and so did Harrwitz. We found him +a little man, of about forty, with finely-developed head, +and large, piercing black eyes. In conversation, he is +exceedingly witty and "cool," and many are the good +things told of him. Some of my readers will remember +the rebuke he gave Mr. Staunton, when playing his +celebrated match with that gentleman. Harrwitz had +made a move which caused much reflection to his opponent, +who rolled about on his chair and stroked his +forehead energetically, as only Mr. Staunton can do, +giving spectators the impression that his brain was in +an agony of labor. He examined the position, and re-examined +it; but, the more he looked, the less he liked +it. Savage at being balked, he exclaimed—"Well, +I've lost a move," and thereupon played a piece. +Harrwitz coolly rises from his seat, rings the bell frantically, +and gives the following order: "Waiter, look +about for a move; Mr. Staunton has lost one."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 650px;"> +<img src="images/image3.png" width="650" height="414" alt="HERR ANDERSSEN. M. SAINT AMANT. HERR HARRWITZ." title="" /> +<table style="width:100%;" class="caption" summary="captions 2"> +<tr> +<td style="text-align:left;width:33%;">HERR ANDERSSEN.</td> +<td class="center" style="width:33%;">M. SAINT AMANT.</td> +<td class="ralign" style="width:33%;">HERR HARRWITZ.</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p>There is probably no man living who plays so much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +chess as Herr Harrwitz. All great chess players I +know of, are great <i>lie-a'beds</i>, and he is no exception to +the rule. His night-gear and he part company many +hours after sunrise, and he starts forthwith for the Café +de la Régence, where he plays, with only a slight intermission +for dinner, until he goes home to bed again. +His opponents are generally visitors to the café, not the +habitués; for these last have taken great dislike to his +very offensive manner, and will not contend with him. +They say, too, that he evinces an improper desire to +win, and, in consequence, will only give the odds of +pawn and move, when he could well afford pawn and +two, and the knight instead of the rook. In my +character of historian, I am bound to state that the +feeling was very intense at the Régence in favor of +Morphy, and many the prayers (<i>French</i> prayers) that +Harrwitz might succumb to him.</p> + +<p>The two celebrities shook hands together, and Morphy +immediately asked if he would consent to play a +match. The fact is, the young Paul meant mischief. +Everybody in England was loud in praise of Harrwitz's +skill, and prophesied a tough encounter. There was +reason in this; for the Prussian player has given himself +up, body and soul, to the game. Staunton's literary +avocations now permit him but an hour or two +weekly for chess, although formerly he lived in the +London Divan, as Harrwitz in the Régence, and was so +rabid about Caïssa, that he actually wore shirts with +kings, rooks, pawns, etc., printed over the bosoms and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +tails. Saint Amant was never a professional chess +player, merely regarding it as a pastime. Löwenthal's +duties as chess editor and analyst, prevent his giving +much time to play, and, although he devotes a certain +period weekly to the contests at the London, St. +George's, and St. James's Clubs, he seldom contends +for any stake. Anderssen is absorbed in mathematics +at the Breslau Gymnasium; Heyderbrandt's diplomatic +career engages nearly his entire attention; Buckle has +forgotten his former love; Boden, Bird, Medley, Walker, +Mongredieu, Slous, Kipping, De Rivière, Laroche, +are engaged in mercantile pursuits; Lowe is getting +rich with his hotel; Hörwitz is painting; Kling is a professor +of music; and so on with nearly all European +players. Harrwitz is the only man I know of who seems +to live for chess, and we can, therefore, easily understand +why Morphy was so desirous of playing him.</p> + +<p>To our hero's question, Harrwitz gave a reply so +non-committal, that Morphy said, aside, to me, "He +won't play a match." A crowd had collected around +us, and the Prussian, thinking it an admirable opportunity +for display, asked Morphy whether he had any objection +to an off-hand game. Of course he had not. +Harrwitz had the move, and played an Allgaier Gambit, +which, after a hard fight, he won. Morphy was somewhat +excited, made a mistake in the opening, by which +he lost three pawns for nothing at all, and yet fought +the battle with such determination, that the number of +moves was not far short of a hundred. His antagonist<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +was delighted with his victory, thought he was sure of +Morphy, and engaged to settle the preliminaries of a +match on the following day.</p> + +<p>The next morning Harrwitz arrived at his usual +hour—noon. He informed Morphy that his friends +were desirous of backing him, but that the stakes were +not made up yet. Morphy replied that that would be +no objection, as he would accept any bets that might +be offered during the match, and they could therefore +begin at once. But another difficulty stood in the +way. Morphy, in pursuance of a settled plan, had +chosen his seconds from the enemy's camp, and had requested +De Rivière and Journoud to act as his friends +in this contest. Harrwitz chose to regard these gentlemen +with feelings of enmity, and stated that, "if there +were any seconds, there would be no match." Morphy +was thus placed in a very equivocal position. Without +being aware of any dispute existing between his future +antagonist and the gentlemen in question, he had chosen +them as his representatives: how could he now ask +them to back out, because Mr. Harrwitz demanded it? +However, on my representing the case to them, Messrs. +De Rivière and Journoud resigned their office in the +most kindly and willing manner, so desirous were they +of seeing the match come off.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards Monsieur Lequesne arrived. +This gentleman, the pupil and worthy successor of Pradier, +is now the first of living French sculptors, and the +peer of Marochetti, Crawford, and Gibson. He is also<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +a strong chess player, and the most active man in +France for arranging matches, tournaments, &c. He +immediately adjourned with Harrwitz, Morphy, and +myself to a private room, to settle preliminaries, and, if +I recollect rightly, Dr. Grosboulogne was of the party. +Harrwitz expressed his dislike to any thing like ceremony, +and objected to their being seconds or umpires +in the affair; sorry were Morphy, Lequesne, and H.'s +own backers, afterwards, that he carried the day on +that point. The only arrangements made were, that +Morphy was to accept all bets offered, that the winner +of the first seven games should be esteemed the victor, +and that the play should take place on four days in the +week; and, finally, at Harrwitz's express stipulation, +the match was to be played in the public café.</p> + +<p>All this being agreed upon, the two champions +came forth, and went at it. On drawing for the move, +Harrwitz was again successful, and played, as he always +does in matches, <i>pawn to queen's fourth</i>. This opening, +and <i>Philidor in defence</i>, as second player, you +could no more drive him away from, than you could +induce Great Britain to give up Gibraltar. <i>Pawn to +queen's fourth</i> served Harrwitz's turn once, and so did +<i>Philidor in defence</i>, but only once, and I do not think +it would then, if Morphy had been in good condition.</p> + +<p>The night before the commencement of the match, +Morphy had been sight-seeing until a very late hour; +and we only got into bed between two and three +o'clock in the morning. He laughed at me for remind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>ing +him of his approaching contest, and the necessity +for <i>mens sana in corpore sano</i>, which I said would be +seriously interfered with by his not taking sufficient +rest. The next day his appearance verified my prognostics, +and he failed to show that impassibility which +ordinarily characterizes him. He says, however, that +Harrwitz beat him because he (H.) played the best +moves; and he would not admit to me that want of +rest at all interfered with his own play.</p> + +<p>Throughout the first game, Harrwitz displayed the +most rollicking contempt for his antagonist, and, at the +conclusion, when Morphy resigned, he rose from his +seat, stretched across the table, and taking the latter +by the hand, he felt his pulse and declared to the +crowd—"Well, it is astonishing! His pulse does not +beat any faster than if he had won the game." Everybody +was disgusted at such a contemptuous proceeding, +but Morphy took it all as quietly as though it were a +part of the match.</p> + +<p>Our hero passed that evening with some friends. +Towards eleven o'clock I said to him, "Now, Morphy, +you really must not have a second edition of last night; +let us get home in good time;" but he replied, "Oh, +don't be frightened, I've got the move to-morrow;" +and, in spite of all I could say or do, we did not get to +bed until nearly four o'clock. Well, what was the consequence? +After getting a magnificent position in the +second game of the match, bodily fatigue came upon +him, and Harrwitz was again victor. The Prussian<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +came out in greater glory than ever, rolling about in +his seat, talking loudly to persons about the board, and +smiling sardonically at his opponent, as much as to say, +"Oh, it takes very little trouble to beat this fellow." +Many leading players in the café, especially De Rivière +and Journoud, were very savage at such conduct, but +I told them—"Mark my words, Mr. Harrwitz will be +quiet as a lamb before the end of next week."</p> + +<p>The result of the play with Harrwitz had shaken +the faith of the French players in Morphy. But as we +left the café, he said laughingly to me, "How astonished +all these men will be if Harrwitz does not get +another game." And he did not. At dinner, I reasoned +the matter with him, saying that the first requisite +for any man engaged in a chess match, was rest for the +brain; and that he ought, by this time, to be convinced +of the absolute necessity of keeping early hours. And +I wound up by exacting a promise from him that he +would never be out of bed after midnight, during the +match.</p> + +<p>In the evening we went to the Opera Comique, +and witnessed a very unsatisfactory performance of +"La Part du Diable." Morphy has a great love for +music, and his memory for any air he has once heard +is astonishing. Mrs. Morphy is renowned in the <i>salons</i> +of New Orleans as a brilliant pianist and musician, and +her son, without ever having studied music, has a +similar aptitude for it, and it is believed that he would +have become as famous therein as in chess, had he given<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +his attention to it. "La Part du Diable" was a new +opera, and Morphy, after leaving the theatre, hummed +over many of the airs to me, which he had just heard +for the first time, with astonishing precision.</p> + +<p>The next day we took a long drive among the +"lions," and, in the evening, dined at the residence of +that chess veteran and friend of Deschappelles and Labourdonnais, +Monsieur Doazan. Harrwitz was of the +company, and, for the nonce, acted Jupiter Triumphans +in superb style. I felt indignant at such conduct +towards a man so inoffensive and modest as Mr. +Morphy, and I observed: "I am sorry, Mr. Harrwitz, you +have not yet found Mr. Morphy in good fighting trim. +The fact is, he has been preparing to meet you by not +going to bed until common men are about to rise, but +he has promised to retire early in future, and you will +then find in him a very different antagonist." It was +merely a hint, but the gentle Harrwitz did not like it. +The following morning, Morphy said to me at breakfast, +"If I beat Harrwitz to-day, you will say it is because +I went to bed at eleven o'clock;" to which I +replied, "Perhaps; but I do say that you lost the first +two games because you went to bed at four."</p> + +<p>The third and fourth games Morphy scored in beautiful +style. The latter, Staunton declared, "would +have excited the admiration of Labourdonnais," and +the effect upon Harrwitz was interesting. During its +progress, his conduct was quite gentlemanly, with the +exception of a violent shaking consequent upon nervous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +excitement. There was cause for this. On the other +side of the board sat Morphy, looking, in his peculiar +way, like a block of impassible, living marble, the very +embodiment of penetration and decision. No hesitancy +or excitement there, but all cool, calm action, knowing +where it must end; and, as he rose from his seat, everybody +congratulated him on the score now standing two +to two, and assured him they were confident what +would be the result. We laughed heartily at these +men who, but a few days previous, had looked woefully +chopfallen, fearing that Harrwitz was too strong +for Morphy.</p> + +<p>The fifth game was played on the following Monday, +and the Prussian lost it, although he had the move. +Harrwitz felt uncomfortable, plainly feeling that his +present antagonist was, as he expressed himself to a +friend, "very much stronger than any he had ever +met." We now had several days' intermission from +play, the plea being "ill health;" and, finally, Morphy +received a letter from his opponent, asking for a respite +of a week or ten days, to which a reply was returned +granting the request, on condition that, when the +match was resumed, a game should be played daily, +Sundays alone excepted. At the termination of ten +days, Harrwitz lost the sixth game, so that the score +now stood—Morphy, four; Harrwitz, two; drawn, none. +And the latter, in spite of the agreement, was again +absent from the battle-field for some days.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>MORPHY'S GREATEST BLINDFOLD FEAT.</h3> + + +<p>Awaiting the return of his antagonist, Paul Morphy +announced his intention of playing eight blindfold games, +simultaneously, in the public café. It is needless to assure +my readers that the mere announcement produced +the greatest excitement; the newspapers heralded the +fact throughout the city, and crowds of strangers came +pouring into the Régence, and asking particulars of +the <i>habitués</i> in relation to the approaching performance. +Harrwitz had already asked Morphy to join him in a +public display of the same description, to which the +admission was to be five francs, and Morphy felt embarrassed +in answering him; but the good offices of +Mr. Lequesne arranged the difficulty, without hurting +any one's <i>amour propre</i>, and the proposed exhibition +was set on one side. Morphy has an intense dislike to +money-fingering in connection with chess; and he made +it a <i>sine qua non</i> that, if he played blindfold at all, the +<i>Café de la Régence</i> should be open to any one who +chose to walk in. The proprietor, Monsieur Delaunay,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +was only too glad to accede to this; not merely foreseeing +that the exhibition would attract crowds to his establishment, +and be an admirable advertisement, but +also from a friendly feeling for our hero. The frequenters +of the place used to say that Delaunay would give +Morphy half his café, if he asked him for it.</p> + +<p>The blindfold struggle was publicly announced to +commence at noon; but, at an early hour, the crowd +was already considerable. The billiard-tables in the +further room were sacrificed to the exigencies of the +occasion; I requested the waiters to put a thick cord +round them, so as to rail off a space for Morphy, and a +large easy-chair, placed in the <i>enceinte</i>, made the whole +arrangements as comfortable for him as could be wished. +He, however, was not up to the mark, as regards bodily +health. Morphy is a water-drinker, and Paris water +would cure any Maine Liquor Law bigot of Teetotalism +in a week. Since the outset of the match with Harrwitz, +he had been ailing, but he preferred playing to +making excuses. His own expression was, "Je ne suis +pas homme aux excuses"—(I am no man to make excuses,) +and he was always ready for Harrwitz, although +obliged to ride to the café. Nothing proves so satisfactorily +to me Morphy's wondrous powers in chess, as +his contests in France, laboring, as he constantly did, +under positive bodily suffering. A man's brain will +often be more than ordinarily active and clear when the +body is weak from late illness; but it is not so when +there is pain existing. At breakfast, on the morning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +fixed for this blindfold exhibition, he said to me, "I +don't know how I shall get through my work to-day. +I am afraid I shall be obliged to leave the room, and +some evil-minded persons may think I am examining +positions outside." Yet, in spite of this, he sits down, +and, during ten long hours, creates combinations which +have never been surpassed on the chess-board, although +his opponents were men of recognized strength, and, as +a collective body, Pawn and Two Moves stronger than +the Birmingham eight.</p> + +<p>The boards for Morphy's antagonists were arranged +in the principal room of the café, numbered as follows:—</p> + +<table summary="Morphy antgonists"> +<tr> +<td class="ralign">No. 1.</td><td>Baucher,</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ralign">2.</td><td>Bierwirth,</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ralign">3.</td><td>Bornemann,</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ralign">4.</td><td>Guibert,</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ralign">5.</td><td>Lequesne,</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ralign">6.</td><td>Potier,</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ralign">7.</td><td>Préti,</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ralign">8.</td><td>Seguin.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Nearly all these gentlemen are well known in contemporaneous +chess, and formed such a phalanx that +many persons asked whether Morphy knew whom he +was going to play against. Monsieur Arnoux de Rivière +called the moves for the first four, and Monsieur +Journoud for the others; and, all being prepared, Morphy +began as usual with "Pawn to King's Fourth on +all the boards."</p> + +<p>Things went on swimmingly and amusingly. It +was as good as a volume of <i>Punch</i> or the <i>Charivari</i> to +hear the remarks made by the excited spectators; more +especially when the "openings" were past, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +science of the combatants came out, in the middle of +the game. There was the huge "Père Morel," hands in +his pockets, blowing clouds from an immense pipe like +smoke from Vesuvius, threading his way between the +boards and actually getting fierce when anybody asked +him what he thought of it. Seeing him seated at the +end of the room towards evening, and looking as though +dumbfoundered at the performance, I said to him,—"Well, +Mr. Morel, do you believe now that Morphy +can play against eight such antagonists?" He looked +at me in an imploring manner and replied,—"Oh, don't +talk to me; Mr. Morphy makes my head ache." It is +related of Pitt that, making a speech in Parliament on +a certain occasion, whilst under the influence of sundry +bottles of Port, the doorkeeper of the House of Commons +declared that the son of the great Chatham made +his head ache, so violent was his language, and so loud +his tone. This coming to Pitt's ears, he said—"Nothing +could be better; I drink the wine, and the doorkeeper +gets the headache." Monsieur Potier rises +from his table to show on another board how Morphy +had actually seen seven moves in advance; and Signor +Préti gets quite nervous and agitated as our hero puts +shot after shot into his bull's-eye; and I had much difficulty +in assuring him that no absolute necessity existed +for his playing on, until Morphy mated him; but +that when he found his game was irretrievably lost, he +would be justified in resigning. Monsieur Baucher was +the first to give in, although one of the very strongest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +of the contestants; Morphy's combinations against this +gentleman were so astonishing, and the finale so brilliant, +that Mr. Walker declared in <i>Bell's Life</i>—"This +game is worthy of being inscribed in letters of gold, on +the walls of the London Club." Bornemann and Préti +soon followed, and then Potier and Bierwirth; Messrs. +Lequesne and Guibert effecting drawn battles; Monsieur +Seguin alone was left. It was but natural that he +should be the last, as he was the strongest of the eight +combatants, and, truth to tell, he did not believe it +possible for any one to beat him without seeing the +board; but this Morphy finally effected in some beautiful +pawn play, which would have tickled Philidor +himself.</p> + +<p>Forthwith commenced such a scene as I scarcely +hope again to witness. Morphy stepped from the arm-chair +in which he had been almost immovable for ten +consecutive hours, without having tasted a morsel of +any thing, even water, during the whole of the period; +yet as fresh, apparently, as when he sat down. The +English and Americans, of whom there were scores +present, set up stentorian Anglo-Saxon cheers, and the +French joined in as the whole crowd made a simultaneous +rush at our hero. The waiters of the Café had +formed a conspiracy to carry Morphy in triumph on +their shoulders, but the multitude was so compact, they +could not get near him, and finally, had to abandon the +attempt. Great bearded fellows grasped his hands, and +almost shook his arms out of the sockets, and it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +nearly half an hour before we could get out of the Café. +A well-known citizen of New York, Thomas Bryan, +Esq., got on one side of him and M. de Rivière on the +other, and "Le Père Morel,"—body and soul for our +hero—fought a passage through the crowd by main +strength, and we finally got into the street. There the +scene was repeated; the multitude was greater out of +doors than in the café, and the shouting, if possible, +more deafening. Morphy, Messrs. Bryan and De Rivière +and myself, made for the Palais Royal, but the +crowd still followed us, and when we got to the guardhouse +of the Imperial Guard, <i>sergeants de ville</i> and +soldiers came running out to see whether a new revolution +was on the <i>tapis</i>. We rushed into the Restaurant +Foy, up stairs, and into a private room; whilst, as +we subsequently learned, the landlord made anxious +inquiries as to the cause of all this excitement. Having +done our duty to a capital supper, we got off by a back +street, and thus avoided the crowd, who, we were informed, +awaited our reappearance in the quadrangle of +the Palais Royal.</p> + +<p>Next morning, Morphy actually awakened me at +seven o'clock, and told me, if I would get up, he would +dictate to me the moves of yesterday's games. I never +saw him in better spirits, or less fatigued, than on that +occasion, as he showed me, for two long hours, the hundreds +of variations depending on the play of the previous +day, with such rapidity that I found it hard work +to follow the thread of his combinations.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<p>Harrwitz was in the café for about an hour during +blindfold play, and he actually had the assurance to say +to me, "You can tell Mr. Morphy, that I will continue +the match to-morrow." I replied: "I feel satisfied that +Mr. Morphy will be willing to do so, but I shall most +certainly object, and all that lies in my power will be +done to prevent his seeing a chess-board until he has +had at least twenty-four hours' rest." And I added: +"You had better not let it be known that you have +made the proposition, or you will be badly received in +the café, depend upon it."</p> + +<p>The evening after his blindfold feat, Morphy very +inconsiderately took a nap in his sitting-room, with the +window open. On my arrival I awoke him, and he +complained of feeling cold. Next morning he was +feverish, and in any thing but a fit state to meet Harrwitz. +Nevertheless I could not induce him to keep his +room; he said to me: "I would sooner lose the game, +than that anybody should think I had exhausted myself +by a <i>tour de force</i>, as some will do if I am absent at +the proper hour." And he rode to the Régence in a +state only fit for a hot bath and sweating powder. +Well might Saint Amant call him the "chivalrous Bayard +of Chess."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>CONTINUATION OF THE MATCH WITH HARRWITZ.</h3> + + +<p>Morphy was at the Régence to the minute, but Harrwitz +was not forthcoming. At last we received a message +from him that he objected to play any longer in +the public café, and requested Morphy to come up +stairs into the rooms of the Chess Club. It would be +difficult to describe the excitement caused by this announcement. +Harrwitz's backers, of whom there were +eight or ten, were very angry; more especially as it +was at his own particular desire that the match was +played in the café. The <i>pretext</i> was, that the warm atmosphere +and noise of the crowd interfered with his +game; the <i>real fact</i>, because everybody, even the +aforementioned backers, were favorable to Morphy. +What was to be done? Our hero, with his clear reasoning, +soon found the correct reply, and he sent back +word that "The Chess Club being a private association, +it would be an impertinence on his part to use their +apartments without their permission." Harrwitz would +not show himself, and the entire affair was near being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +put a stop to, when certain members of the <i>Cercle</i> kindly +opened the doors of their Club, and Morphy went +up stairs.</p> + +<p>The two principals being again face to face, Harrwitz +commenced with his "same old two-and-sixpence" +pawn to queen's fourth, and before he had got past +the twentieth move, Morphy had the attack, position, +and every thing. But, in process of administering the +<i>coup de grace</i>, Morphy's feverish state told upon him, +and he committed an oversight which lost him a rook, +when within a move or two of winning. It was so +stupid a mistake, that he immediately burst out laughing +at himself. Harrwitz picked off the unfortunate +rook with the utmost <i>nonchalance</i>, as though it were +the result of his own combinations, and actually told +me afterwards, "Oh, the game was a drawn one +throughout." Morphy got a perpetual check upon +him, and it was the only "draw" in the contest.</p> + +<p>What does the American Chess Monthly mean by +calling this palpable oversight "an imperfect combination?"</p> + +<p>Again we had to wait some time for Mr. Harrwitz. +It must not be supposed that this gentleman used his +frequent "leaves of absence" for the purpose of recruiting +that health which he represented as so bad. No, +he came daily to the <i>Régence</i> at the usual hour, and +played with anybody, but Morphy, until past midnight. +He sat down now, in front of his adversary, for the +eighth and last time, apparently in his ordinary health,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +and fought as tough a battle as any in the contest. +The game lasted to the fifty-ninth move, and then +Harrwitz resigned.</p> + +<p>The score now stood, Morphy 5; Harrwitz 2; drawn +1. Next day Morphy received a verbal message that +"Mr. Harrwitz resigns the match, on account of ill +health." There was something like a row at the <i>Café +de la Régence</i> when this was known, for the Prussian +amateur had not even deigned to consult his backers, +or even to inform them of his intention. Mr. Lequesne, +his stake-holder, was requested by him to hand over +the collected amount, two hundred and ninety francs, +to our hero, and that gentleman forthwith called on +Morphy at his hotel. Of course we got the fullest particulars +from Mr. Lequesne. He informed us that +Harrwitz's backers were furious, and that they, like +himself, were confident that their principal was merely +indisposed in the <i>morale</i>, not at all physically. Morphy +replied that it never was his desire to play for stakes +under any circumstances; and, taking into consideration +the peculiar facts of the case, he would certainly +decline receiving the money.</p> + +<p>Some time afterwards, Mr. Lequesne returned, and +stated that not merely were the different subscribers +to the stakes desirous that Paul Morphy should receive +what had been won by him, but that Mr. Harrwitz +would, for the sake of appeasing his backers, play out +the remainder of the match. Morphy immediately +returned answer, that "Mr. H. having resigned the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +contest, there was an end of the matter, but that he +(Morphy) was ready to commence a second match immediately." +Harrwitz had had enough of beating, and +he unhesitatingly declined this proposition.</p> + +<p>But a difficulty arose in consequence of Morphy's +refusal to receive the stakes. Letters poured in from +all quarters, complaining that bets on the result of the +contest were influenced by the decision, and Morphy +finally took the two hundred and ninety francs from +Mr. Lequesne. He then caused it to be announced +publicly, that the money was deposited with the proprietor +of the <i>Café de la Régence</i>, that any of the subscribers +to the amount were at perfect liberty to withdraw +their subscriptions, and that the remainder should +go towards defraying Herr Anderssen's expenses to +Paris. And so the money was eventually used.</p> + +<p>Will any of my readers think it possible that Mr. +Harrwitz could, after all this, publish that "he had not +lost the match, but that Mr. Morphy had consented to +its being annulled?"</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>MORPHY IN SOCIETY.</h3> + + +<p>All the Paris newspapers soon took to writing about +our hero, from the <i>Moniteur</i> to the <i>Charivari</i>. The +latter, the oldest and most famous of all comic papers, +gave cut after cut and article after article upon him; in +fact, Morphy was its standing joke for a long period. +One day there was a picture representing "Britannia, +astonished at the <i>checks</i> she was receiving in India, requesting +the young American to get her out of the +difficulty." Another represented an individual who +declined entering the <i>Café de la Régence</i> in company +with his wife, "because there was inside a certain Mr. +Morphy who would capture his queen from him." +After the blindfold exhibition, the famous Taxile Delord +wrote as follows:</p> + +<p>"Well, let us have a game of chess. Shall I give +you the rook? Sit down here, and I will place myself +in this arm-chair."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! Now-a-days, no man who respects himself, +thinks of playing with the board in front of him."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + +<p>Upon this imaginary conversation, Delord lets loose +a volley of fun, ending in this manner:</p> + +<p>"I can understand <i>Ecarté</i>, I can appreciate <i>Picquet</i>, +I can even rise to the grandeur of <i>Tric Trac</i>, but don't +talk to me of <i>Chess</i>. That game will bring us back to +tragedy."</p> + +<p>What with the illustrated papers giving Morphy's +portraits, no two of which were ever alike, and the innumerable +articles in the "dailies," he began to be +notorious. Saint Amant wrote that he supplied a want +which Paris had felt for a long time—the want of a +hero. Monsieur Lequesne requested him to sit for his +bust, and threw so much labor of love into the work, +that he produced a <i>chef d'œuvre</i> which all Paris went +to criticize and to praise. All these various occurrences +could not but cause excitement in the <i>salons</i>, and invitations +began to pour in from the Faubourgs St. +Honoré and St. Germain. The first came from the +Duchess de T——. My readers must forgive me for +not mentioning names where a lady is concerned. The +Duchess stated that she had played at chess since a +child, and that she was desirous of becoming acquainted +with a gentleman whom fame heralded as so superior +to all amateurs; but that she had no hope of proving +an antagonist worthy of him. Well, Morphy waited +on his fair challenger, and out of five games each won +two, and one was drawn! Then the Princess M—— +expressed a desire to play our hero, and other great +dames followed; and knowing, as I do, the result, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +solemnly declare that, in spite of my confidence in +Morphy's powers of combination, I never would bet a +cent upon him when his opponent is a lady.</p> + +<p>I am not bound to silence when gentlemen are concerned, +and I am glad to mention amongst chess amateurs, +such names as the Duke of Brunswick and Counts +Casabianca, Isouard, and Bastorot. These gentlemen +are thorough veterans in the noble game, and chess +works and periodicals are no strangers to their contests. +Count Casabianca was "at home" every Friday +night, and, whilst some of the company were at whist, +ecarté, or other games <i>de la société</i>, he would always +be in a corner with the Duke of Brunswick, Count +Isouard, Signor Préti, and other chess amateurs. Morphy +played against the Duke and the Counts in consultation, +and, although he almost invariably won, it was +no easy matter.</p> + +<p>H. R. H. the Duke of Brunswick is a thorough +devotee to Caïssa; we never saw him but he was playing +chess with some one or other. We were frequent +visitors to his box at the Italian Opera; he had got a +chess-board even there, and played throughout the performance. +On our first visit "Norma" was performed. +The Duke's box is right on the stage; so close, indeed, +that you might kiss the <i>prima donna</i> without any +trouble. Morphy sat with his back to the stage, and +the Duke and Count Isouard facing him. Now it must +not be supposed that he was comfortable. Decidedly +otherwise; for I have already stated that he is passion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>ately +fond of music, and, under the circumstances, +wished chess at Pluto. The game began and went on: +his antagonists had heard <i>Norma</i> so often that they +could, probably, sing it through without prompting; +they did not even listen to most of it, but went on disputing +with each other as to their next move. Then +Madame Penco, who represented the Druidical priestess, +kept looking towards the box, wondering what was +the cause of the excitement inside; little dreaming that +Caïssa was the only <i>Casta Diva</i> the inmates cared +about. And those tremendous fellows, the "supes," +who "did" the Druids, how they marched down the +stage, chaunting fire and bloodshed against the Roman +host, who, they appeared to think, were inside the +Duke's box.</p> + +<p>Some of the pleasantest hours passed by Paul Morphy +in the French capital were spent at the Baronne +de L.'s. This lady, who has long ranked as one of the +great beauties of Parisian society, is renowned as a +patroness of the arts. Her friendship for the lamented +Pradier has passed into history, and her <i>salons</i> are the +weekly resort of the most celebrated sculptors, painters, +and authors of France. And no wonder, for the Baronne +is gloriously merry and witty, a true child of the +sunny South. A Creole, from the French West Indies, +she immediately took a liking to Morphy, "Because," +said she, "he is another lazy Creole like myself;" and +she invited all her acquaintances to come and see him. +She would get Morphy opposite her, and St. Amant or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +Lequesne by her side to stop her when she was about +making too serious a mistake, and would play game +after game, making us all laugh the whole time with +her charming anecdotes and <i>jeux d'esprit</i>. How she +would amuse us when she declared that parties and late +hours were killing her, and that <i>they did kill her last +season</i>, and yet she was always as fresh as a newly +plucked rose. When she found how fond Morphy was +of music, the principal singers from the opera would be +present. I remember one night she asked that finest +of living <i>baritones</i>, "the honey-voiced" Graziani, to +play our hero at the odds of the Queen. Signor Graziani +had caught the general enthusiasm, and was applying +his leisure moments to chess with the energy of +a Standigl, and had lately been taking lessons from +Préti. He at first objected to play, from modesty, but +the Baronne had determined he should, and she told +him that, if he would play a game, Morphy would sing +a <i>duo</i> with him afterwards. This was a sparkle of her +fun, of course; but Graziani played, not one, but three +games, and he then said: "If anybody asks me if I understand +chess, I shall say, 'Oh, yes; I play sometimes +with Mr. Morphy.'"</p> + +<p>The United States minister, the Hon. Mr. Mason, +took a warm interest in his young countryman, occasionally +sitting at the board when Morphy was at play. +The Judge is acquainted with the "Mystery of +Chesse," and asked many pointed questions after the +conclusion of the game, as to the why and the where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>fore +of different moves. It were scarcely right for the +United States government to appoint a minister to the +Court of the Tuileries who is ignorant of chess; it +would be an insult to the memory of Franklin.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>MORPHY AND THE FRENCH AMATEURS.</h3> + + +<p>Morphy's arrival in Paris, and his doings at the Café +de la Régence, soon began to make him much sought +after. The way in which some folks get lionized in +the French capital is remarkable, and Morphy had to +submit to it, not merely at the café, but even in his +hotel. We soon found that continued residence at the +<i>Hotel Meurice</i> would be inconvenient, for many +reasons; and within a day or two of our arrival, had +located ourselves in the <i>Hotel Breteuil</i>, at the corner +of the <i>Rues de Rivoli</i> and <i>du Dauphine</i>, where we had +a magnificent view of the palace and gardens of the +Tuileries, and were within a stone's throw of the best +quarters of Paris and the <i>Régence</i>. What was our surprise +to learn, subsequently, that Harrwitz was residing +next door to us; and that Saint Amant had, formerly, +occupied the very apartments in which we had installed +ourselves. We had not been long in our new abode +before Morphy received a visit from the grandson of +Philidor. They had a lengthy colloquy together, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +of course Morphy asked his visitor if he played at chess. +He replied, that he once gave some attention to the +game, but found that he possessed little aptitude for it, +and therefore relinquished all further study; not thinking +it right that any one bearing the name of Philidor +should be looked upon as a <i>mazette</i>.</p> + +<p>Our hero's installation at the Café de la Régence +waked up all the slumbering embers of French chess, +and men who had not been seen for years past came +back to their early love. The well-known Polish amateur, +Budzinsky, was amongst these, and Laroche, contemporary +of Labourdonnais and Deschappelles. Then +we found there such players as Mr. Eugene Rousseau, +of New Orleans, on a visit to his family in Paris, and +who had been so much "at home" in the café in other +years. How proud he was of the fame and feats of his +young fellow-townsman amidst the Gallic paladins! and +how desirous he was that Morphy should encounter +Monsieur Laroche, whose game he characterized as +sound to a terrible extent, characterizing that gentleman +as "<i>un rude gaillard</i>." It was only after Mr. +Rousseau's departure that Laroche and Morphy met, +when we found that the former was "sound," but the +latter "sounder." Mr. L. had not been seen at the +Régence for a long period; some told us that he was +settled in Bayonne, others that he had given up chess +altogether: but the appearance in the chess heavens of +this Star of the West, brought him back to the old +battle-field, and no one could make even games with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +him but De Rivière and Harrwitz, the Prussian amateur +merely winning a small majority.</p> + +<p>Monsieur Journoud, one of the best known and +strongest of French players, and a member of the Paris +Committee of Co-operation on the International Tournament +of 1851, played upwards of a dozen games at +different times with Morphy; but though he came very +near winning on one or two occasions, our hero always +wriggled out at last at the right end of the horn. +Journoud once described his opponent's game as "disgustingly +correct;" Boden speaks of Morphy's "diabolical +steadiness," which means pretty near the same +thing.</p> + +<p>De Rivière certainly made the best show against +Morphy of all the players in Paris, having scored one +game in good style, and having lost at least one which +he ought to have gained. He had got his opponent +into a position which might be termed "putting it to +him," and Morphy, like the wolf, was—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Dying in silence, biting hard,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>when he made a move "to please the gallery." Now +Morphy never allows liberties to be taken with so +serious a matter as check mate; he goes straight to +the finish himself without fuss or nonsense, and expects +others to do the same; he, therefore, worked clear out +of his difficulties and forced his opponent ultimately to +resign. De Rivière was mortified at the result, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +states that he went home very angry with himself in +consequence.</p> + +<p>This gentleman is incontestably the most rising of +the French players, and will make some amateurs +tremble for their chess reputation ere long. In 1851, +he did not know a move in the game, so that his progress +has been rapid; and as he has not yet reached +his thirtieth year, it is only probable that he will become +much stronger; that is, if he will keep up his +practice, which is not certain, inasmuch as he has lately +become "mated" in a manner most agreeable to his +feelings, and we have heard of ladies who object to +their lords and masters making love to other nymphs—even +though that nymph be Caïssa. Let us hope that, +in this instance, pater familias, whose "intentions are +strictly honorable," may be allowed an occasional +respite from the cradle and perambulator, and that +"curtain lectures" will not deter him from hot pursuit +after other men's queens.</p> + +<p>It was soon found useless for any one to play Morphy +even, as he scored almost every game. Meeting +Monsieur Laroche at the café one morning, that gentleman +asked me why our hero did not offer odds to +everybody. I replied that no doubt many gentlemen +would feel hurt at such a proposition being made to +them, and I asked him—"Would you play Morphy at +pawn and move?" to which he unhesitatingly replied +"Yes." M. Journoud was sitting beside him, and he +expressed himself in like manner. On informing Paul<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +Morphy of this conversation, he requested me to inform +the proprietor of the café that, in future, he should play +no one without giving odds; excepting, however, Herr +Harrwitz. He was most desirous of again meeting the +Prussian amateur, the latter having made some rather +peculiar observations with regard to their match; as, +for instance, that he had not lost the affair, Morphy +having consented to annul it: that he was not a match +player, and played much stronger off-hand: that Morphy +did not beat him by combination, <i>but by sitting +him out</i>, and so forth. But Harrwitz always took care +to keep out of harm's way, and although Morphy came +day after day to the café, with the avowed intention of +meeting him, Herr H. had always got one or the other +reason for not playing.</p> + +<p>Laroche, Budzinsky, Devinck, and other leading +amateurs tried their luck at pawn and move, with no +better result than contending even. Others tried at +pawn and two, as, for instance, Lequesne, Guibert, Lecrivain, +and Delaunay. Who of my chess readers does +not know this brilliant writer in the Palamède, who has +kept everybody on the broad grin throughout his +numerous articles? He is always full of fun and sparkling +wit, and merrily did he display it with Morphy. +The first time they played, Delaunay sacrificed piece +after piece, in a way to terrify anybody but his young +antagonist, and certainly seemed to occupy a position +dangerous to Morphy's peace of mind. The latter made +one of his peculiar moves, when Delaunay observed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +eyeing the board with one eye, and the spectators with +the other—"<i>Voila un coup du bon Dieu</i>," and then +making his reply, which set our hero reflecting, he added—"<i>Et, +en voila un du diable.</i>" But it was all of +no use, and Morphy soon turned the tables upon him. +M. Delaunay styles himself "<i>un casse échiquier</i>," for +he plays as though driving spike nails. At the London +Divan some months since he astonished the spectators +by breaking one of the pawns, when he immediately +cried out—"Oh, that's nothing; I break the rooks in +Paris."</p> + +<p>Morphy was easily approached by anybody, no +matter what their strength, and I doubt much whether +there is any frequenter of the Régence who did not +play one or more games with him. As he invariably +refused to play for any stake, this pleased them the +more, and set them making comparisons between him +and certain others, not at all complimentary to the latter. +But what pleased them most of all was the quiet +unobtrusiveness of his behavior, and the courtesy with +which he treated everybody. Where his skill gained +one admirer, his manner made ten warm friends.</p> + +<p>Some of my readers may complain that I am "laying +it on rather thick," and ask "Why shouldn't he +be quiet and unobtrusive?" I reply that I am not +to be deterred from writing what I know to be the +fact (having been a witness thereof for several months) +by any accusation of toadyism. I write what George +Walker, Saint Amant, Löwenthal, and all the chess<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +editors Morphy has met, have written before me; and +they wrote as I now write, because the circumstance is +rather extraordinary. Chess players, generally, are a +class vain and imperious; and young players, like the +young of all classes, are apt to be carried away by success. +How few eminent amateurs are there who do not +give themselves certain airs when winning—aye, and +losing too—lolling back in their seats, sticking their +thumbs in their arm-holes, and regarding the spectators +with a self-satisfied air, as much as to say—"There, +my boys, what d'ye think of that?" One gentleman +at the Régence had long bullied the gallery and his +antagonists in this manner; no wonder, therefore, that +Morphy made warm friends of those who were that +man's enemies.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>MORPHY GETS BEATEN.</h3> + + +<p>A few weeks after the resignation of the match by +Herr Harrwitz, the amateurs of the Régence invited +Herr Anderssen to visit Paris for the purpose of playing +a match with Paul Morphy. Our hero originally +intended making a visit to the principal chess clubs of +Germany, and especially to Berlin, but having been an +invalid since his arrival in the French capital, he feared +to undertake the long journey by rail, and it was in +consequence of this that the aforesaid invitation was +sent. Herr Anderssen immediately replied, that his +duties as mathematical professor at Breslau presented +an insurmountable objection to his leaving, but that the +Christmas vacation would enable him to meet the +American player in Paris.</p> + +<p>Morphy said, thereupon, that he should be deprived +of the pleasure of crossing swords with the victor in +the International Tournament, inasmuch as he must be +at home before Christmas. On hearing this, I began +to talk the matter over quietly with him, asserting that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +his voyage to Europe was useless, if he did not play +Anderssen. All was of no effect. Morphy did not +appear to have the slightest ambition, say what I would +to him. He must be at home in December; he had +promised to be there, and home he would go. Very +well; Morphy and I were at daggers drawn and we +began our fight. He said he would go, and I said he +shouldn't. He wanted to know how I could prevent +him; I told him that all the clubs in Europe would stop +him. "Very well," answered he, "I'll be stronger +than all Europe." "Bravo," says I, "that's spirited, at +all events." Says he—says I—says I—says he—and +Morphy went to sleep and I to work.</p> + +<p>Without saying a word to anybody, I set to writing +letters to all the leading Chess Clubs on the Continent +and in England, informing them of the bad move Morphy +was about to make, and requesting those in the +interests of chess to induce him to remain, until at all +events he had met Herr Anderssen. Now, the mere +fact of Morphy staying, as the simple individual, was +nothing; but it was something to make sure beyond all +dispute that he was infallibly the best living player; +and, in addition, to add many games to the finest pages +of chess literature. I am happy to state that the different +clubs thought as I did; so the result will prove.</p> + +<p>After a week or two, Morphy began receiving letters +from Amsterdam, Leipsic, Brussels, Berlin, Breslau, +etc.; from the London and St. George's Chess +Clubs; requisitions signed by the amateurs of the Café<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +and Cercle de la Régence, expressing the earnest wish +of all that he would remain throughout the winter. +Herr Anderssen wrote him a lengthy epistle, in which +he assured him he did not think it possible he could +leave Europe without playing him, and adding his voice +to the general cry.</p> + +<p>Morphy thought he must go. Then the society in +which our hero was so frequent a visitor began to declare +that he really must remain, and it is hard work +for any man to refuse when a request is backed by such +sweet glances as make requests almost commands.</p> + +<p>Our hero was now wavering, and the game was in +my hands, he not at all sorry if I could win it. I had +one final resource: a pretty little check-mate with a +medical man and a certificate. The doctor, calling on +our patient one day, learned from him that he was +about returning home, whereupon he informed him +that in the then state of his health a winter voyage +across the Atlantic was not precisely beneficial, and +wrote his opinion accordingly. This I took, and inclosed +with other matter to his friends in New Orleans, +and Morphy seeing no way out of the difficulty, ultimately +surrendered, and I had the satisfaction of hearing +him declare that he should pass the winter in Paris. +There was only one person dissatisfied with this. Meeting +Harrwitz shortly after, I informed him with a benignant +smile, "You will be happy to hear that Morphy +has decided to pass a few months longer here." +Harrwitz replied, with a smile that was not benignant, +"Then Mr. Morphy <i>is not a man of his word</i>."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>MORPHY AND ANDERSSEN.</h3> + + +<p>The first week in December, Monsieur de Rivière +received a communication from Herr Anderssen, announcing +his approaching arrival in Paris. A week +prior to this Morphy had been laid up in bed with a +severe illness. The rigors of a first winter in northern +climates had told upon him, and I feared much for the +result. He was leeched, and lost a great quantity of +blood—I told him three or four pints; to which he replied, +"Then there's only a quart left." He was kept +very low during a fortnight, and having to lift him out +of bed only four days before the match with the great +Prussian master, I found him too weak to stand upon +his legs, although in bed he did not feel so helpless. +For two months he had had an antipathy to chess, and +I had experienced the greatest difficulty in inducing +him to go to the Régence at all. When I would ask +him at breakfast what he was going to do with himself +during the day, his immediate reply would be, "I am +not going to the Régence," and he declined invitations +if he thought he should be obliged to play chess.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> + +<p>When I brought him the news that Anderssen had +left Breslau, Herr Mayet having written me to that effect, +Morphy said to me, "I have a positive chess fever +coming over me. Give me the board and pieces, and +I'll show you some of Anderssen's games." And with +his astounding memory, he gave me battle after battle +with different adversaries, variations and all. How he +dilated on a certain game between him and Dufresne, +in which, though under the mate, he first of all sacrifices +his Queen, and after seven or eight moves forces +his opponent to resign. "There," said Morphy, "that +shows the master."</p> + +<p>What wonderment he has caused with his omnipotent +memory! I have seen him sit for hours at the +Divan and the Régence, playing over, not merely his +own battles, but the contests of others, till the spectators +could scarcely believe their senses. It will be remembered +by many of my readers, that when Mr. +Staunton published the eight blindfold games played at +Birmingham, he omitted some twenty or thirty of the +concluding moves in the game with the Rev. Mr. +Salmon. When we had been two months in Paris, +Herr Löwenthal wrote me to request that I would forward +him the remaining moves, as there was a desire +to have the <i>partie</i> complete. It was nearly midnight, +and Morphy had gone into his bedroom after dictating +me some games played during the day, and, mindful of +Herr L.'s request, I called to him, asking whether he +was coming back, when he replied that he was already<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +in bed. I said I should be obliged if he would let me +bring him a board and light, in order that he might +dictate me the required moves, when he answered +"There's no necessity for that: read me over what +Staunton published, and I'll give you the remainder." +He called over the omitted moves as fast as I could +write them down.</p> + +<p>Going into Morphy's bedroom one morning at ten +o'clock, whom should I find sitting there but Herr Anderssen? +He had arrived by a late train the night +previous, and his first visit was to his young challenger, +whom he was indeed sorry to find ill in bed, especially +as his absence from Breslau was limited to two weeks. +Morphy assured him that he should be well enough to +play the following week; but Anderssen replied that +he should not like to commence a match until Morphy +was in a fit state to undergo the fatigue. They then +agreed that the match should consist of thirteen games; +in other words, he should be victor who first scored +seven; and, as neither of them desired any stake but +honor, the preliminaries were quickly arranged. From +that we got to talking on various subjects, and Anderssen +informed us, greatly to our surprise, that the +German papers had published a statement to this effect: +"Mr. Morphy has finally decided on remaining in Europe +until spring, in consequence of the pressing solicitations +of his friend, Herr Harrwitz." How we +roared!</p> + +<p>This was Anderssen's first visit to the French me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>tropolis, +and I immediately offered to show him some +of the lions. So forth we sallied. He was desirous of +going to the Régence; but two hours would elapse before +anybody would be there, and in the mean time he +could see a few public buildings. The first place I took +him to was, of course, the Louvre, and, as it had rained +copiously the night before, I walked him across the +<i>Place du Carrousel</i>, in order to soil his boots with the +mud. Most of his attention was taken up with keeping +that portion of his attire clean; but, when that had +become no longer possible, his leisure was entirely devoted +to sight-seeing. Of course, we could not altogether +avoid talking about the main object of his visit; +he told me he had only seen a few of Morphy's games, +and asked me what was the opinion of the Régence in +reference to his style of play. I replied that it was the +opposite of what they thought in England and America, +characterizing it as sound rather than brilliant; but that +there was a reason for this, inasmuch as the French +players persisted in playing close openings. He replied, +"No wonder; no man would willingly expose +himself to Morphy's thundering attacks," [attaques foudroyantes.]</p> + +<p>On returning to the Régence, we found Harrwitz, +who, by-the-bye, is a fellow-townsman of Anderssen, +and they were at the same school together. The latter +knew that Harrwitz stated that he beat him the majority +of games, and he was most desirous of proving the +fallacy of the assertion, and immediately proposed an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +encounter. This was accepted, and out of six games, +played on five different occasions, Anderssen won three, +Harrwitz one, and two were drawn. After that, little +doubt existed as to which was the stronger player, and +when, just before leaving Paris, Anderssen was complimented +on this result, he said, "Oh, there is but one +Morphy in the world."</p> + +<p>On the day of Anderssen's arrival, Morphy told his +medical adviser that he must get him well enough to +commence the match on the following Monday. The +doctor said it all depended upon his feeling sufficiently +strong to undergo the fatigue, when his patient replied, +that what he feared was a hard battle exhausting him +too much to continue the struggle next day. On the +doctor's advice, he consented to play the match in the +hotel, so as not to undergo the fatigue of moving, and +it was arranged that only such as were specially invited +should be present, but that the moves should be forwarded +every half-hour to the Régence.</p> + +<p>The Saturday before the commencement of the +match, Harrwitz performed his feat of playing eight +blindfold games simultaneously at the rooms of the Cercle, +only subscribers of five francs or upwards being admitted. +Herr Harrwitz had fixed upon seven o'clock in +the evening as the time for commencing; and I, like many +others, had advised him to choose an earlier hour, or he +would not get through till long past midnight. He replied +that he should finish in from four to five hours; +"he knew this positively because he had been rehearsing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +for the occasion;" but the result proved how much he +was mistaken, as he did not get through till near sunrise. +His antagonists were mainly rook or rook and knight +players, Signor Préti, the weakest of Morphy's blindfold +opponents, being incomparably the strongest. +Herr Anderssen, who was present, assured me that +many of the players left pieces <i>en prise</i>, as though designedly, +and that, beyond the fact of seeing the boards +in his mind's eye, Harrwitz proved nothing by his exertions. +The strangest affair in connection with this +display is, that although Harrwitz edited a chess column +in the <i>Monde Illustré</i> he never gave a single one +of his blindfold games, nor would he permit any to be +made public.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harrwitz was perfectly in his right mind when +endeavoring to emulate Paul Morphy. But the folks +at the Régence ridiculed what they called aping his +superior, and many were the squibs got off at his expense. +One, the most popular of all, was as follows:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Tu veux singer Morphy, joueur phénoménal;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Jeune imprudent, tu forces ta nature.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">En vain tu te poses en original,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Tu n'en es que la caricature."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>In plain English prose—"You wish to ape Morphy, the +phenomenon; imprudent young man, you strain yourself. +It is useless to put yourself forward as an original; +you are merely a caricature."—Not complimentary, +certainly.</p> + +<p>On Monday morning, I got Morphy out of bed for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +the first time since his illness, and, at noon, assisted him +into the room where the match was to come off. No +time was lost in getting to work, and, within five minutes +of his entering, as many moves had been played. +Our hero had first move, and ventured the Evans' gambit, +which he lost after seven hours' fighting, and upwards +of seventy moves. I noticed that he was restless +throughout the contest, which was only to be expected +after having been so long in bed, and without +nourishment.</p> + +<p>Morphy was charmed with Anderssen's defence +throughout, and has frequently cited it as an admirably +conducted strategy. It proved to him that the Evans' +is indubitably a lost game for the first player, if the defence +be carefully played; inasmuch as the former can +never recover the gambit pawn, and the position supposed +to be acquired at the outset, cannot be maintained.</p> + +<p>He did not appear much fatigued after his exertions, +and next morning he had visibly improved in appearance. +Anderssen, now having the move, played +out his king's pawn and knight, and Morphy supposed +he too was going to have a turn at the Evans'. No +such thing; he played that disgusting arrangement, the +Ruy Lopez; but it only came to a drawn game, our +hero believing he himself could have won it, had he +played properly at the end. The third day, Morphy +looked himself again, his complexion being clear, and +his eyes sparkling with all their Creole brilliancy. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +thought he should like to have a turn at the Ruy Lopez +also, and dashed away at such a furious rate, that +Anderssen resigned in a few minutes over the hour, +some twenty-one moves having been played. Anderssen +immediately asked if he would commence another +game forthwith, and Morphy consented; this fourth +contest being also a Ruy Lopez, but ending likewise in +the discomfiture of the Prussian champion. And this +<i>partie</i> was the last we saw of R. L. during the struggle.</p> + +<p>Morphy now scored the fifth, sixth, and seventh +games, thus having won five consecutively. The eighth +was a draw; the ninth he carried off in seventeen +moves; the tenth, played immediately after, Anderssen +marked in seventy-seven. As the Professor was leaving, +he said to me in his quiet, funny way, "Mr. Morphy +wins his games in Seventeen moves, and I in Seventy. +But that is only natural." The eleventh <i>partie</i> +Morphy scored, thus winning the match; having only +lost two games and drawn two.</p> + +<p>Immediately after each day's play, Herr Anderssen +would walk straight to the Régence for the purpose of +expediting reports of the same to his friends in Leipsic +and Berlin. There were always crowds to meet him, +and to assure him he could have won, and ought not to +have lost; but the Professor smiled at them incredulously. +I have heard him tell them, "Dites cela à M. +Morphy," (Tell that to Mr. Morphy,) over and over +again. One individual, who from the beginning, had +questioned Morphy's superiority,—though he had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +beaten by him in the proportion of 7 to 1—told the +Professor in the presence of a crowd of amateurs: +"You are not playing any thing like as well as with +Dufresne."—"No," replied Anderssen, "Morphy won't +let me;" and he added, "It is no use struggling against +him; he is like a piece of machinery which is sure to +come to a certain conclusion." On another occasion +he said: "Mr. Morphy always plays, not merely the +best, but the very best move, and if we play the move +only approximatively correct, we are sure to lose. Nobody +can hope to gain more than a game, now and +then, from him." And, in reply to a question of Monsieur +de Rivière, he said in my hearing: "It is impossible +to play chess better than Mr. Morphy; if there +be any difference in strength between him and Labourdonnais, +it is in his favor."</p> + +<p>I have never seen a nobler-hearted gentleman than +Herr Anderssen. He would sit at the board, examining +the frightful positions into which Morphy had forced +him, until his whole face was radiant with admiration +of his antagonist's strategy, and, positively laughing +outright, he would commence resetting the pieces for +another game, without a remark. I never heard him +make a single observation to Morphy complimentary +of his skill; but, to others, he was loud in admiration +of the young American.</p> + +<p>After the match was over, the two antagonists +played six off-hand games, all gambits, Anderssen winning +one, and Morphy five. These also came off at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +Hotel Breteuil, and were rattled away inside of three +hours.</p> + +<p>The gallery of spectators who witnessed this great +contest between the champions of the Old World and +the New, was select, if not numerous. There were +present, almost constantly, Saint Amant, De Rivière, +Journoud, Carlini, Préti, Grosboulogne, Lequesne, and +one or two others, and amongst the occasional visitors +were Counts Casabianca and Bastorot, M. Devinck, +the Paris correspondent of the N. Y. Times, and any +of our hero's countrymen who desired to be present. +One night, after the day's battle was over, Morphy and +I were sitting in our room, chatting together, when an +immense stranger appeared and announced himself as +follows: "I am Prince Galitzin; I wish to see Mr. +Morphy." Morphy looked up from a fauteuil in which +he was buried, and replied, "I am he." The Prince +answered, "It is not possible! you're too young;" and +then he seated himself by Morphy's side and told him, +"I first heard of your wonderful deeds on the frontiers +of Siberia. One of my suite had a copy of the chess +paper published in Berlin, the <i>Schachzeitung</i>, and ever +since that time I have been wanting to see you." And +he told our hero that he must pay a visit to St. Petersburg; +for the chess club in the Imperial Palace would +receive him with enthusiasm. I did not hear Morphy +promise to go, however.</p> + +<p>But to return to Anderssen. The Professor came +and went away in a hurry, his vacations only lasting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +two weeks. As he wished us good-bye, he said slyly to +Morphy, "They won't be pleased with me at Berlin, +but I shall tell them, 'Mr. Morphy will come here.'"</p> + +<p>After the conclusion of the match, I pointed out to +Herr Anderssen certain remarks on his play in the +<i>Illustrated London News</i>, in which the writer observed, +"This is not the play of the victor of the Tournament +of '51." He replied—"Oh, we know Mr. Staunton; in +1851 his opinions of my play were not very high, and +he lost not by my skill, but because he was ill. Mr. +Staunton always has two meanings, one which he writes, +and one which he keeps to himself."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 660px;"> +<img src="images/image4.png" width="660" height="419" alt="MR. LEWIS. MR. GEORGE WALKER. MR. MONGREDIEU." title="" /> +<table style="width:100%;" class="caption" summary="captions 3"> +<tr> +<td style="text-align:left;width:33%;">MR. LEWIS.</td> +<td class="center" style="width:33%;">MR. GEORGE WALKER.</td> +<td class="ralign" style="width:33%;">MR. MONGREDIEU.</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>MORPHY AND MONGREDIEU.</h3> + + +<p>After Anderssen's departure, Paul Morphy declared +he would play no more even matches, and, certainly, +his resolve was justified by the unheard-of manner in +which he had walked over all opponents. There are +but two players who do not confess the inutility of +contending against him on even terms—Messrs. Staunton +and Harrwitz—but then the former would not +fight, and the latter fought and ran away, so that their +opinions, with regard to themselves and Morphy, are +somewhat damaged by circumstances. The opinions +of these two gentlemen are, in fact, peculiar one +towards the other; Mr. Harrwitz declaring that he +can give Mr. Staunton the odds of pawn and move; and +Mr. S., that he also can afford the same advantage to +the Prussian player. But no man in his senses believes +either of them.</p> + +<p>Morphy now determined to offer the pawn and +move to Herr Harrwitz, and forthwith challenged him +to the contest, but the latter respectfully declined, on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +the grounds that he considered himself quite as good a +player as his challenger. Modest, was it not? especially +just after their late match, and the <i>sauve qui peut</i> manner +in which the Prussian had shown his heels before +its conclusion? Morphy felt so much desire to play +this proposed match, that he even offered to find stakes +to back his antagonist, but all to no purpose. One or +two croakers expressed their opinion that Morphy +would scarcely get a game if the affair came off, when +our hero replied—"If I do not beat him, he will at all +events have to work hard for the odd game."</p> + +<p>Harrwitz having declined all further risk, there now +remained little to be accomplished, and Morphy forsook +the Régence and seemed to have taken a positive +aversion to chess. There was, however, one more adversary +to be overcome; one, who, like Anderssen, +sought out our hero in the French capital, and threw +down his gauntlet, which was immediately taken up. +Mr. Mongredieu, the President of the London Chess +Club, made the journey to Paris expressly to remind +Paul Morphy that before his departure from England, +he had promised to play a match with him, and he now +announced himself as ready for the encounter. Mr. +Mongredieu had no idea of vanquishing his youthful +foe, but in addition to the pleasure of a tilt with him, +he was desirous of seeing by how much Morphy could +beat him.</p> + +<p>The contest came off at Mr. Mongredieu's rooms in +the Hotel du Louvre, Messrs. St. Amant and De<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +Rivière being the only strangers present. The first +game admirably played by Mr. M. resulted in a draw, +and then Morphy scored seven <i>parties</i> one after the +other, which constituted him victor. The third game, +beautifully managed throughout by Mr. Mongredieu, +slipped from his grasp after nine or ten hours' struggle; +because of his not playing <i>the very best move</i>, Morphy +stepped in at the lucky moment and the day was his. +I can easily understand that Mr. Mongredieu was exhausted +after so many hours' intense application; Morphy +never tires, and no amount of continuous sitting +will ever influence his play. I have seen him sit down, +in New York, at 9 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, and beat one antagonist after +another until past midnight, for many successive days, +yet without weakening his play in the least; and when +Paulsen would take half an hour on a move, an hour +over the succeeding one, and on a certain occasion +reached the unparalleled limit of two hours, Morphy +sat calmly looking on, without the slightest evidence of +impatience. Before Mr. Staunton declined Morphy's +challenge, I was frequently amused by gentlemen who +knew the former well, but knew little of the latter, +expressing the opinion that the English player would +tire out his youthful challenger, and win by playing +"a waiting game." I laughed heartily at their fears, +for I knew Morphy could sit out Staunton and the late +Mr. Williams one after the other. And I think my +readers must also be satisfied of this, remembering +Morphy's <i>ten hours' blindfold play at Paris, without +taking even a glass of water, and in bodily pain, too</i>.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>TROPHIES.</h3> + + +<p>And now that the battles are over, and the campaigns +of this "Attila the destroyer" concluded, let us +count the killed and wounded.</p> + + +<h3>IN ENGLAND.</h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Match Games (Even.)</span></p> + +<p class="center">Morphy, 9. Löwenthal, 3. Drawn, 3.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Pawn and Move.</span></p> + +<p class="center">Morphy, 5. Rev. J. Owen (Alter), 0. Drawn, 2.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Off-hand Games.</span></p> + +<table summary="results 1"> +<tr> +<td>Morphy,</td><td class="ralign">19,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Barnes, 7,</td><td class="ralign">Drawn,</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">10,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Bird, 1,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">5,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Boden, 1,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">3</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">2,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Hampton, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">2,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Kipping, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">6,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Lowe, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">3,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Medley, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">2,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Mongredieu, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">4,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Owen, 1,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Consultation Games.</span></p> + +<p class="center">Staunton and Owen, 0. Morphy and Barnes, 2. Drawn, 0.</p> + +<p class="center">Löwenthal and Medley, 0. Morphy and Mongredieu, 0. +Drawn, 1.</p> + +<p class="center">Löwenthal, Mongredieu, and Medley, 0. Morphy, Walker +Greenaway, 0. Drawn, 1.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Eight Games Blindfold at Birmingham.</span></p> + +<p>Morphy beat Lord Lyttelton, Doctors Salmon and Freeman, +Messrs. Rhodes, Wills and Carr; drew against Mr. +Avery, and lost the game with Mr. Kipping.</p> + +<p>In addition to the above score there were many contests at +odds, which it is unnecessary to mention; Morphy being almost +invariably successful.</p> + + +<h3>IN FRANCE.</h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Match Games.</span></p> + +<table summary="results 2"> +<tr> +<td>Morphy,</td><td class="ralign">7,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Anderssen, 2,</td><td>Drawn,</td><td class="ralign">2</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">5,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Harrwitz, 2,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">7,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Mongredieu, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">1</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Off-hand Games (Even).</span></p> + +<table summary="results 3"> +<tr> +<td>Morphy,</td><td class="ralign">5,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Anderssen, 1,</td><td>Drawn,</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">2,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Bancker, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">7,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Budzinsky, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Harrwitz, 1,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">12,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Journoud, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">5,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Laroche, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">2</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">6,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Rivière, 1,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">1</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Odds of Pawn and Move.</span></p> + +<table summary="results 4"> +<tr> +<td>Morphy,</td><td class="ralign">5,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Budzinsky, 1,</td><td>Drawn,</td><td class="ralign">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">2,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Devinck, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">2</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">1,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Guibert, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">3,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Laroche, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">3</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Odds of the Pawn and two Moves.</span></p> + +<table summary="results 5"> +<tr> +<td>Morphy,</td><td class="ralign">4,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Delaunay, 0,</td><td>Drawn,</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">5,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Lecrivain, 2,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">3,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Lequesne, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">1</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Consultation Games.</span></p> + +<table summary="results 6"> +<tr> +<td>Morphy,</td><td class="ralign">2,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Saint Amant and Lequesne, 0,</td><td>Drawn,</td><td class="ralign">2</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">De Rivière and Journoud, 1,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">5,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Duke of Brunswick, Counts Casabianca and Isouard, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">5,</td><td style="padding-left:2em;padding-right:2em;">Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard, 0,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="ralign">0</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Blindfold Games.</span></p> + +<blockquote><p>Morphy beat Messrs. Bancker, Bierwirth, Bornemann, Potier, +Préti, and Seguin, and drew the games with Messrs. +Guibert and Lequesne.</p> + +<p>At Versailles, Morphy, playing blindfolded, won against +Monsieur Chamouillet and the Versailles Chess Club playing +together against him, <i>in consultation</i>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>I should like to say something on the above score, +but feel quite incompetent to the task. I can merely +state that no player who ever lived, (of whom we know +any thing,) can produce such a catalogue of victories. +Surely, it is not too much to declare, on the authority +of so much proof, that</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Morphy can give Pawn and Move to every +living Player.</span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center gap2"><span class="smcap">Valedictory</span>.</p> + +<p>Paul Morphy has vanquished the paladins of the +Old and New Worlds, and vaulted into the very throne +of Labourdonnais and Philidor.</p> + +<p>Is not this indeed a victory for him,—a triumph for +his countrymen? Shall not this youth be esteemed +worthy of all honor, who, without experience, has, by +his own marvellous genius, eclipsed the brightness of +those stars which have flashed in the chess firmament +before him?</p> + +<p>Chess may be but a game, a pastime, a relaxation; +but Chess has at times absorbed the faculties of the intellectual +in every clime; it numbers amongst its amateurs +the greatest names of battle-fields and thrones; it tells +of warriors, poets, painters, sculptors, statesmen and +divines; it possesses a literature and language of its +own; it makes enemies friends, and finds a temple on +the ocean, in the fortress, and by the peaceful fireside.</p> + +<p>And long as Chess shall last, Paul Morphy's name +will be as a "Household Word," and his deeds be held +in lasting memory.</p> + + +<p class="center">THE END.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Ad_Page_1" id="Ad_Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>NEW PUBLICATIONS AND NEW EDITIONS</h2> + +<p class="smaller center">PUBLISHED BY</p> + +<h3>D. 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It is long since the reading public has been admitted +to so great a treat as this fascinating collection of wit, anecdote and gossip. +It is a delightful reminiscence of a brilliant past, told by one of the best wits +still extant.</i>"—<span class="smcap">London Daily News.</span></p></blockquote> + + +<table summary="" style="width:100%"> +<tr> +<td style="width:80%"><span class="larger">Onward; or, The Mountain Clamberers.</span> A Tale of Progress. By <span class="smcap">Jane Anne +Winscom</span>.</td> +<td style="width:20%;vertical-align:bottom;" class="ralign">1 vol. 12mo. 75 cents.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<blockquote><p class="smaller">CONTENTS.—LOOKING UPWARDS; COLIN AND JEANIE; THE FAMILY AT ALLEYNE; +OFF! OFF! 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By <span class="smcap">F. W. +Evans</span>.</td> +<td style="width:20%;vertical-align:bottom;" class="ralign">1 vol. 12mo. 75 cents.</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<table summary="" style="width:100%"> +<tr> +<td style="width:80%"><span class="larger">Cyclopædia of Wit and Humor,</span> Comprising a Unique Collection of Complete +Articles, and specimens of Written Humor from Celebrated Humorists of +America, England, Ireland and Scotland. Illustrated with upwards of 600 +Characteristic Original Designs, and 24 Portraits, from Steel Plates. +Edited by <span class="smcap">William E. Burton</span>, the Celebrated Comedian.</td> +<td style="width:20%;vertical-align:bottom;" class="ralign">Two vols., 8vo., cloth, $7. +sheep, $8; half mor., $9; half calf, $10.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<blockquote><p>"<i>As this task is a labor of love to Mr. Burton, we are sure of its being well +performed.</i>"—<span class="smcap">New York Times.</span></p> + +<p>"<i>The editor has raked many old pieces out of the dust, while he has drawn +freely from the great masters of humor in modern times.</i>"—<span class="smcap">N. Y. Tribune.</span></p> + +<p>"<i>We do not see how any lover of humorous literature can help buying it.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Phila. +Pennsylvanian.</span></p> + +<p>"<i>Mr. Burton is the very man to prepare this Cyclopædia of Fun.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Louis. +Journal.</span></p> + +<p>"<i>We do not know how any family fond of the ludicrous can afford to dispense +with this feast of fun and humor.</i>"—<span class="smcap">New Bedford Mercury.</span></p></blockquote> + + +<table summary="" style="width:100%"> +<tr> +<td style="width:80%"><span class="larger">From New York to Delhi.</span> By the way of RIO DE JANEIRO, AUSTRALIA AND +CHINA. By <span class="smcap">Robert B. Minturn, Jr.</span></td> +<td style="width:20%;vertical-align:bottom;" class="ralign">1 vol. 12mo. With a Map. $1 25.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<blockquote><p>"<i>Mr. Minturn's volume is very different from an ordinary sketch of +travel over a well-beaten road. He writes with singular condensation. His +power of observation is of that intuitive strength which catches at a glance +the salient and distinctive points of every thing he sees. He has shown rare +cleverness, too, in mingling throughout the work, agreeably and unobtrusively, +so much of the history of India, and yet without ever suffering it to clog the +narrative.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Churchman.</span></p> + +<p>"<i>This book shows how much can be accomplished by a wide-awake, thoughtful +man in a six months' tour. The literary execution of Mr. Minturn's +book is of a high order, and, altogether, we consider it a timely and important +contribution to our stock of meritorious works.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Boston Journal.</span></p></blockquote> + + +<table summary="" style="width:100%"> +<tr> +<td style="width:80%"><span class="larger">Le Cabinet des Fées; or, Recreative Readings.</span> Arranged for the Express +Use of Students in French. By <span class="smcap">George S. Gerard</span>, A. M., Prof. of French +and Literature.</td> +<td style="width:20%;vertical-align:bottom;" class="ralign">1 vol. 12mo. $1.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<blockquote><p>"<i>After an experience of many years in teaching, we are convinced that +such works as the Adventures of Telemachus and the History of Charles XII., +despite their incontestable beauty of style and richness of material, are too +difficult for beginners, even of mature age. Such works, too, consisting of a +continuous narrative, present to most students the discouraging prospect of a +formidable undertaking, which they fear will never be completed.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Extract +from Preface.</span></p></blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Ad_Page_3" id="Ad_Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + + +<table summary="" style="width:100%"> +<tr> +<td style="width:80%"><span class="larger">The Banks of New York;</span> Their Dealers; The Clearing-House; and the Panic +of 1857. With a Financial Chart. By <span class="smcap">J. S. Gibbons</span>. With Thirty +Illustrations, by Herrick.</td> +<td style="width:20%;vertical-align:bottom;" class="ralign">1 vol. 12mo. 400 pages. Cloth, $1.50.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<blockquote><p><i>A book for every Man of Business, for the Bank Officer and Clerk; for +the Bank Stockholder and Depositor; and especially for the Merchant and +his Cash Manager; also for the Lawyer, who will here find the exact Responsibilities +that exist between the different officers of Banks and the Clerks, +and between them and the Dealers.</i></p> + +<p><i>The operations of the Clearing-House are described in detail, and illustrated +by a financial Chart, which exhibits, in an interesting manner, the +Fluctuations of the Bank Loans.</i></p> + +<p><i>The immediate and exact cause of the Panic of 1857 is clearly demonstrated +by the records of the Clearing-House, and a scale is presented by +which the deviation of the volume of Bank Loans from an average standard +of safety can be ascertained at a single glance</i>.</p></blockquote> + + +<table summary="" style="width:100%"> +<tr> +<td style="width:80%"><span class="larger">History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.</span> By +<span class="smcap">Samuel Greene Arnold</span>. Vol. I. 1636-1700.</td> +<td style="width:20%;vertical-align:bottom;" class="ralign">1 vol. 8vo. 574 pages. $2.50.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<blockquote><p>"<i>To trace the rise and progress of a State, the offspring of ideas that +were novel and startling, even amid the philosophical speculations of the +Seventeenth Century; whose birth was a protest against, whose infancy was +a struggle with, and whose maturity was a triumph over, the retrograde +tendency of established Puritanism; a State that was the second-born of persecution, +whose founders had been doubly tried in the purifying fire; a State +which, more than any other, has exerted, by the weight of its example, an influence +to shape the political ideas of the present day, whose moral power has +been in the inverse ratio with its material importance; of which an eminent +Historian of the United States has said that, had its territory "corresponded +to the importance and singularity of the principles of its early existence, the +world would have been filled with wonder at the phenomena of its history," +is a task not to be lightly attempted or hastily performed.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Extract from +Preface.</span></p></blockquote> + + +<p><span class="larger">The Ministry of Life.</span> By <span class="smcap">Maria Louisa Charlesworth</span>, Author of +"Ministering Children." 1 vol., 12mo, with Two Eng's., $1. Of the +"Ministering Children," (the author's previous work,) +50,000 copies have been sold.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<i>The higher walks of life, the blessedness of doing good, and the paths +of usefulness and enjoyment, are drawn out with beautiful simplicity, and +made attractive and easy in the attractive pages of this author. To do good, +to teach others how to do good, to render the home circle and the neighborhood +glad with the voice and hand of Christian charity, is the aim of the author, +who has great power of description, a genuine love for evangelical religion, +and blends instruction with the story, so as to give charm to all her books.</i>"—<span class="smcap">N. Y. +Observer.</span></p></blockquote><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Ad_Page_4" id="Ad_Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> + + +<table summary="" style="width:100%"> +<tr> +<td style="width:80%"><span class="larger">The Coopers; or, Getting Under Way.</span> By <span class="smcap">Alice B. Haven</span>, Author +of "No Such Word as Fail," "All's Not Gold that Glitters," etc., etc.</td> +<td style="width:20%;vertical-align:bottom;" class="ralign">1 vol. 12mo. 336 pages. 75 cents.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<blockquote><p>"<i>To grace and freshness of style, Mrs. Haven adds a genial, cheerful +philosophy of Life, and Naturalness of Character and Incident, in the +History of the Cooper Family.</i>"</p></blockquote> + + +<table summary="" style="width:100%"> +<tr> +<td style="width:80%"><span class="larger">A Text Book of Vegetable and Animal Physiology.</span> Designed for the use of +Schools, Seminaries and Colleges in the United States. By <span class="smcap">Henry Goadby</span>, +M. D., Professor of Vegetable and Animal Physiology and Entomology, in +the State Agricultural College of Michigan, &c. A new edition. One +handsome vol., 8vo., embellished with upwards of 450 wood engravings +(many of them colored.)</td> +<td style="width:20%;vertical-align:bottom;" class="ralign">Price, $2.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<blockquote><p>"<i>The attempt to teach only Human physiology, like a similar proceeding +in regard to Anatomy, can only end in failure; whereas, if the +origin (so to speak) of the organic structures in the animal kingdom, be +sought for and steadily pursued through all the classes, showing their gradual +complication, and the necessity for the addition of accessory organs, till they +reach their utmost development and culminate in man, the study may be rendered +an agreeable and interesting one, and be fruitful in profitable results.</i></p> + +<p>"<i>Throughout the accompanying pages, this principle has been kept steadily +in view, and it has been deemed of more importance to impart solid and +thorough instruction on the subjects discussed, rather than embrace the whole +field of physiology, and, for want of space, fail to do justice to any part of +it.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Extract from Preface.</span></p></blockquote> + + +<table summary="" style="width:100%"> +<tr> +<td style="width:80%"><span class="larger">The Physiology of Common Life.</span> By <span class="smcap">George Henry Lewes</span>, Author of +"Seaside Studies," "Life of Goethe," etc. No. 1. Just Ready.</td> +<td style="width:20%;vertical-align:bottom;" class="ralign">Price 10 cents.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<blockquote><p class="center smaller">EXTRACT FROM PROSPECTUS.</p> + +<p><i>No scientific subject can be so important to Man as that of his own Life. +No knowledge can be so incessantly appealed to by the incidents of every day, +as the knowledge of the processes by which he lives and acts. At every +moment he is in danger of disobeying laws which, when disobeyed, may bring +years of suffering, decline of powers, premature decay. Sanitary reformers +preach in vain, because they preach to a public which does not understand the +laws of life—laws as rigorous as those of Gravitation or Motion. Even the +sad experience of others yields us no lessons, unless we understand the principles +involved. If one Man is seen to suffer from vitiated air, another is +seen to endure it without apparent harm; a third concludes that "it is all +chance," and trusts to that chance. Had he understood the principle involved, +he would not have been left to chance—his first lesson in swimming would not +have been a shipwreck.</i></p> + +<p><i>The work will be illustrated with from 20 to 25 woodcuts, to assist the +exposition. It will be published in monthly numbers, uniform with Johnston's +"Chemistry of Common Life."</i></p></blockquote> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="bbox" style="padding:1em;"> + +<h2>TRANSCRIBERS' NOTES</h2> + +<p>Page 7. musquito as in original</p> + +<p>Pages 16, 20. Variable hyphenation of master-pieces, masterpiece as in +original</p> + +<p>Page 31. palladins as in original</p> + +<p>Page 98. depreciatory as in original</p> + +<p>Page 115. coryphoeus corrected to coryphaeus</p> + +<p>Page 135. In the signature, Keneedy changed to Kennedy</p> + +<p>Page 152. Algaier corrected to Allgaier</p> + +<p>Illustration caption before page 197. MONGREDIEN standardised to +MONGREDIEU (this may be incorrect and a reference to Augustus +Mongredien).</p> + +<p>General. The following words have variable accenting but have been left +as in the original as they are used in quotations: Café, Caïssa, défi, +Régence. Other accents have been standardised.</p> + +<p>General. Variable spelling of McDonnel/McDonnell as in original</p> + +<p>General. Variable spelling of Deschapelles/Deschappelles as in original</p> + +<p>General. Variable spelling of Huttman/Huttmann as in original</p> + +<p>General. Variable spelling of Zytogorsky/Zytogorosky as in original</p> + +<p>General. Variable spelling of tournay/tourney as in original</p> + +<p>General. Variable capitalisation of Street/street in street names as in original</p> + +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Exploits and Triumphs, in Europe, +of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion, by Frederick Milnes Edge + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EXPLOITS AND TRIUMPHS *** + +***** This file should be named 34180-h.htm or 34180-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/1/8/34180/ + +Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Kathryn Lybarger, Brownfox +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Exploits and Triumphs, in Europe, of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion + +Author: Frederick Milnes Edge + +Release Date: November 1, 2010 [EBook #34180] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EXPLOITS AND TRIUMPHS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Kathryn Lybarger, Brownfox +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Paul Morphy] + +THE + +EXPLOITS AND TRIUMPHS, + +IN EUROPE, + +OF + +PAUL MORPHY, + +The Chess Champion; + +INCLUDING + +AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF CLUBS, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES +OF FAMOUS PLAYERS, AND VARIOUS INFORMATION AND +ANECDOTE RELATING TO THE NOBLE +GAME OF CHESS. + +BY + +PAUL MORPHY'S LATE SECRETARY. + +ILLUSTRATED WITH TEN PORTRAITS ON WOOD. + +NEW YORK: +D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, +346 & 348 BROADWAY. +M.DCCC.LIX. + + + + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, + +BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, + +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the +Southern District of New York. + + + + +THIS RECORD + +OF + +PAUL MORPHY'S + +ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE OLD WORLD, + +IS DEDICATED + +TO + +The Members of + +THE FIRST AMERICAN CHESS CONGRESS, + +BY +THEIR MOST GRATEFUL + AND OBLIGED SERVANT, + THE AUTHOR. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +I am much indebted, in the following pages, to the kind assistance of that +able writer and veteran chess-player, Mr. George Walker, who has furnished +me with most of the very interesting and valuable information contained in +the fourth chapter of this work. I am likewise under obligations to Herr +Loewenthal for many anecdotes relating to chess celebrities of the past, +and other information; and also to Mr. George Medley, Honorary Secretary +of the London Chess Club, and Mr. Ries, of the Divan. + +The cuts with which this work is embellished have been engraved by the +well-known Brothers Dalziel. The portrait of Paul Morphy, copied from a +photograph taken shortly after his arrival in London last year, is an +excellent likeness. + +The portraits of Messrs. Staunton, Boden, Anderssen, and Loewenthal, are +copies of photographs, for which they sat at the Manchester Meeting, in +1857. The originals of Messrs. Saint Amant and Harrwitz are admirably +executed lithographs of those gentlemen, taken about four years ago, and +that of Mr. Mongredieu is copied from a photograph kindly lent for the +purpose. + +I am under great obligations to Mr. Lewis, who came to London expressly to +sit for his likeness; and I feel assured that my readers will value this +"very form and feature" of an amateur who was famous before Labourdonnais +was known outside the Regence; and whose works are found in every +chess-player's library. + +I had considerable difficulty in obtaining the portrait of Mr. George +Walker. Photographs, lithographs, etc., of that most popular of all chess +writers, did not exist, and many friends prophesied that his likeness +would not be in my book. But I importuned him so that he relented, and +confided to my care an oil painting, for which he sat five years ago, and +which was the only portrait of him in existence. + +My readers can judge of the resemblance of the other cuts by the portrait +of Paul Morphy. I only wish my story was as good. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + +CHAPTER I. + +MORPHY'S FIRST GAMES 1 + +CHAPTER II. + +THE FIRST AMERICAN CHESS CONGRESS 4 + +CHAPTER III. + +MORPHY PREPARES TO START FOR EUROPE 12 + +CHAPTER IV. + +CHESS IN ENGLAND 23 + +CHAPTER V. + +MORPHY IN ENGLAND 57 + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE STAUNTON AFFAIR 86 + +CHAPTER VII. + +MORPHY IN FRANCE 140 + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE CAFE DE LA REGENCE 144 + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE MATCH BETWEEN MORPHY AND HARRWITZ 150 + +CHAPTER X. + +MORPHY'S GREATEST BLINDFOLD FEAT 159 + +CHAPTER XI. + +CONTINUATION OF THE MATCH WITH HARRWITZ 166 + +CHAPTER XII. + +MORPHY IN SOCIETY 170 + +CHAPTER XIII. + +MORPHY AND THE FRENCH AMATEURS 176 + +CHAPTER XIV. + +MORPHY GETS BEATEN 183 + +CHAPTER XV. + +MORPHY AND ANDERSSEN 186 + +CHAPTER XVI. + +MORPHY AND MONGREDIEU 197 + +CHAPTER XVII. + +TROPHIES 200 + +VALEDICTORY 203 + + + + +PAUL MORPHY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +MORPHY'S FIRST GAMES. + + +Paul Morphy's father, Judge Morphy, of the Supreme Court of Louisiana, +beguiled his leisure hours with the fascinations of Chess, and, finding a +precocious aptitude for the game in his son, he taught him the moves and +the value of the various pieces. In the language of somebody,-- + + "To teach the young Paul chess, + His leisure he'd employ; + Until, at last, the old man + Was beaten by the boy." + +I have here spoilt a very pretty story. The report in chess circles is, +that the young Paul learned the moves from seeing his father play with +his uncle, Mr. Ernest Morphy, long ranking amongst the first players in +the Union, and one of the brightest living ornaments of American chess. +One evening--so runs the tale--this gentleman awaited the arrival of the +Judge, when Master Paul impudently offered to be his antagonist. What was +the uncle's astonishment at finding the stripling a match for his deepest +combinations, and what the father's surprise on discovering a very +Philidor in his son of ten years! Deschapelles became a first-rate player +in three days, at the age of something like thirty. Nobody ever believed +the statement, not even Deschapelles himself, although his biographer +declares he had told the lie so often that he at last forgot the facts of +the case. But the story about Morphy beats the Deschapelles story in the +proportion of thirty to ten. I sorrowfully confess that my hero's +unromantic regard for truth makes him characterize the above statement as +a humbug and an impossibility. + +Paul's genius for Chess was, very properly, not permitted to interfere +with his educational pursuits. At college (in South Carolina) until +eighteen years of age, he had but little time for indulgence in his +favorite game, nor did he find any one capable of contending with him. +When the vacations allowed of his playing against such adepts as his +father and uncle, or such well-known paladins as Mr. Ernest Rousseau, of +New Orleans, and Judge Meek, of Alabama, he soon showed himself superior +to all antagonists. In the autumn of 1849, Herr Loewenthal, the celebrated +Hungarian player, visited the Crescent City, and out of three games +against the young Paul, then but twelve years old, he lost two and drew +one. It is but reasonable to suppose that the desire of atoning for this +defeat had something to do with Herr Loewenthal's challenging his youthful +victor, on his arrival last year in Europe. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE FIRST AMERICAN CHESS CONGRESS. + + +A circular was issued by the New York Chess Club, in the month of April, +1857, "for the purpose of ascertaining the feasibility and propriety of a +general assemblage of the chess players resident in America." This "met +with a hearty and zealous response from the amateurs and clubs of the +United States. So favorable was the feeling everywhere manifested, that it +was deemed advisable to proceed with the undertaking, and to complete at +once the preliminary arrangements."[A] In consideration of the movement +having been initiated by the New York Chess Club, it was conceded that the +meeting should take place in that city. + +Some of the founders of the New York Chess Club still live to do honor to +the game. I believe that Mr. James Thompson and Colonel Mead suckled the +bantling in times of yore, sometimes forming the entire of the Club +without assistance. In that day of small things, I believe, too, they +defeated the Norfolk (Va.) Club, proving themselves just two too many for +their opponents. Then they travelled about from house to house, as their +members increased, with the arrival of Mr. Charles H. Stanley, Mr. +Frederick Perrin, and others. About 1855 or 1856, the Club made the +acquisition of two enterprising young players, Mr. Theodore Lichtenhein +and Mr. Daniel W. Fiske; and to the latter gentleman is due the credit of +first suggesting this Chess Congress, which made known to fame the genius +of Paul Morphy. + +In the summer of 1857, being then engaged on the New York Herald, I used +occasionally to tumble into the basement of an edifice opposite the +newspaper office, where a jolly, fat German, with a never-to-be-remembered +name, regaled his visitors upon sausages and "lager." Here the members of +the Chess Club were wont to congregate; for the landlord had provided +chessmen and boards as an inducement to visitors. + +One afternoon being engaged in a game with a brother reporter, a +gentleman, whom I subsequently learned was Mr. Theodore Lichtenhein, +stepped up to us, and put into our hands the prospectus of the approaching +Chess Congress, stating his opinion that an event of so much importance +merited newspaper publicity. So began my acquaintance with American chess +amateurs. Although possessing but little skill as a player, I had a strong +liking for the game, and determined that every thing in my power should +be done to render the meeting successful. + +My visits to the saloon, and eventually to the Club, became frequent, and +the Committee of Management, finding that I both could and would work, did +me the honor of appointing me one of the secretaries. + +The Congress was advertised to open on the 6th of October, but players +began to arrive some weeks previously. First of all came Judge Meek, of +Alabama, a truly imposing specimen of a man. Soon after him followed Mr. +Louis Paulsen, from Dubuque, Iowa, whose astonishing blindfold feats out +West were the theme of general talk, and almost total disbelief, amongst +Eastern players. From Judge Meek we first heard of Paul Morphy's wondrous +strength. He told the New York Club that if the youthful Louisianian +entered the tournament, he would infallibly wrest the palm of victory from +all competition. + +We were much afraid, nevertheless, that Mr. Morphy would be unable to quit +his legal studies for the purpose of attending the Congress, but when Mr. +Fiske announced the receipt of a telegraphic despatch, which stated that +he was _en route_, everybody hailed the news with satisfaction. Mr. +Paulsen now came to the support of Judge Meek, and declared that Paul +Morphy would carry off the first prize in the tournament; giving, as the +grounds of his opinion, some two or three published games of the young +Louisianian, which he considered worthy to rank with the finest +master-pieces of chess strategy. Benignant fate brought the young hero +safely to New York, some two days before the assembling of the Congress. + +Who that was present that evening does not remember Paul Morphy's first +appearance at the New York Chess Club? The secretary, Mr. Frederick +Perrin, valorously offered to be his first antagonist, and presented about +the same resistance as a musquito to an avalanche. Then who should enter +the room but the warrior Stanley, tomahawk in one hand and the scalps of +Schulten and Rousseau in the other. Loud cries were made for "Stanley! +Stanley!" and Mr. Perrin resigned his seat to the new comer, in deference +to so general a request. Thus commenced a contest, or rather a succession +of contests, in which Mr. Stanley was indeed astonished. "Mate" followed +upon "mate," until he arose from his chair in bewildered defeat. + +The following day, the assembled delegates and amateurs from the various +clubs, organized the Congress by the election of a president, in the +person of Judge Meek, with Mr. Fiske as secretary, four assistant +secretaries, marshals, treasurer, etc. All these matters of detail, as +well as the games played, the laws passed, etc., etc., will eventually +appear in the long looked for "Book of the Congress," forthcoming with the +completion of the "British Museum Catalogue." + +In the absence of the "Book of the Congress," I must give a slight sketch +of its proceedings, in order to trace the career of Paul Morphy _ab +initio_. After taking possession of the magnificent hall which the New +York Committee of Management had chosen for the meeting, the sixteen +contestants in the Grand Tournament, proceeded to pair themselves off by +lot. Never was fate more propitious than on this occasion in coupling the +antagonists. It is obvious, that however apparently equal in strength two +opponents may be, one will prove stronger than the other. This is an axiom +requiring no proof. Out of sixteen, one is better than the rest, and one +out of the remaining fifteen is stronger than the fourteen others. The +latter player may be drawn in the first round of the tournay with the +former, and though he stand incomparably the superior of all but one, he +loses every chance of a prize by being put immediately _hors du combat_. + +Amongst the sixteen players who entered the lists, two were unmistakably +the strongest, namely, Messrs. Morphy and Paulsen; and much fear was +manifested lest they might be drawn together, in the first round. Such, +however, was not the case. Mr. Paulsen was coupled with Mr. Dennis Julien, +the well-known problem maker, and a gentleman whose hospitality to chess +players scarcely requires praise from me. Mr. Julien had allowed his name +to be entered in the Grand Tournament in the absence of the representative +of Connecticut, Mr. S. R. Calthrop, but the latter player arriving shortly +after, Mr. Julien was but too happy to resign in his favor. Mr. Morphy's +antagonist was Mr. James Thompson, of New York, a gentleman who finished +his chess education at the Cafe de la Regence, and the London Chess Divan, +noted for the brilliancy and daring of his attack, and his pertinacity in +playing the Evans' Gambit wherever he has a chance. If Mr. Thompson had +not been pitted against such a terrible opponent, in the first round, he +would have tested the powers of some of the other players. + +Mr. Morphy's second opponent was Judge Meek. As they took their seats +opposite each other, one thought of David and Goliath; not that the Judge +gasconaded in any wise after the fashion of the tall Philistine, for +modesty adorns all his actions; but there was as much difference in cubic +contents between the two antagonists, as between the son of Jesse and the +bully of Gath, and in both cases the little one came out biggest. Judge +Meek sat down with an evident conviction of the result, and although he +assured his youthful opponent, that if he continued mating him without +ever allowing him the least chance, he would put him in his pocket, he +consoled himself with the reflection that Paul Morphy would serve +everybody else as he served him. + +Hitherto our hero had won every game. In the third round he encountered +the strongest player of the New York Club, Mr. Theodore Lichtenhein, a +gentleman who had formerly been President of the Circle des Echecs at +Koenigsburg in Prussia, and an admirable exponent of the Berlin school of +play. Mr. Lichtenhein eventually carried off the third prize in the +tournament, and although he did not win any game from Mr. Morphy, he +succeeded in effecting "a draw," which, against such a terrible enemy, is +almost worthy of being esteemed a victory. + +Mr. Paulsen had also been successful in the first and second rounds +without losing or drawing a single game, and, as if to keep even with his +great rival, he, too, had made "a draw" in the third section of the +tournament--with Dr. Raphael, of Kentucky. Now was to be decided the +championship of the New World, and notwithstanding that the majority +anticipated the result, yet many of the spectators thought that the +Western knight might prove a hard nut for Morphy to crack. Mr. Paulsen's +game is steady and analytical to a nicety. Modelling his operations on +profound acquaintance with Philidor, he makes as much out of his Pawns as +most others of their Pieces. In reply to Mons. de Riviere, I once heard +Morphy say, "Mr. Paulsen never makes an oversight; I sometimes do." + +It is only justice to Mr. Paulsen to state, that he never for one moment +imagined that he would beat Mr. Morphy. So exalted was his appreciation of +the latter's wondrous powers of combination, that he has been frequently +heard to declare--"If Anderssen and Staunton were here, they would stand +no chance with Paul Morphy; and he would beat Philidor and Labourdonnais +too, if they were alive." And when, after the termination of the Congress, +Mr. Morphy offered Pawn and Move to all and every player in America, Mr. +Paulsen declared that he could easily give those odds to him. But this +invariable confession of inferiority did not at all interfere with his +doing the utmost to become victor, although supremacy was only to be +decided by one player scoring five games. If I recollect rightly, it was +in the third game that Mr. Morphy committed an error, which spoiled one of +the finest combinations ever seen on a chess-board. This combination +consisted of some eighteen or twenty moves, and its starting point was one +of those daring sacrifices which European players dignify with the title +"a la Morphy." Certain of the inevitable result, (_humanum est erraret_ +almost loses its signification when applied to his combinations,) our hero +played rapidly, and misplaced a move. The result was, loss of attack and a +piece, and apparently of the game; the most ardent admirer of Paul Morphy +believed it was impossible for him to avoid defeat. But though angry with +himself for his carelessness, he was not disheartened, but set to work +with courage, and effected "a draw." The latter part of this game is a +masterpiece of perseverance and strategy. The result of the tournament is +well known. Mr. Morphy won five games, drew one, and lost one in the +concluding section--only one battle lost during the entire campaign. The +annals of chess do not furnish a similar victory. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[A] Prospectus of "The National Chess Congress." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +MORPHY PREPARES TO START FOR EUROPE. + + +Arriving in Europe three months before Mr. Morphy, I was in some +sort,--not from any consent or knowledge on his part, his _avant courier_; +and the fact of my having been one of the Secretaries at the New York +Chess Congress, joined to my acquaintance with him, afforded me the +opportunity of conversing frequently with prominent English players in +reference to this new meteor in the chess firmament. + +Shortly after my arrival in London, I called upon the Secretary of the St. +George's Chess Club, Thomas Hampton, Esq., and introduced myself to him. +Chess is a bond of brotherhood amongst all lovers of the noble game, as +perfect as free masonry. It is a leveller of rank--title, wealth, +nationality, politics, religion--all are forgotten across the board. Every +chess player recognizes this, and none more so than Mr. Hampton, who gave +me the warmest of welcomes. He told me that every Saturday there was a +full attendance of members, and kindly invited me to visit the club on +that day, promising to introduce me to Mr. Staunton. I was but too happy +to accept this invitation, being desirous of learning how far the prowess +of Paul Morphy was appreciated by one so eminent in the chess world. + +My acquaintance with the young American was a passport of general interest +to all present on the following Saturday. In addition to Mr. Staunton, I +met there Herr Falkbeer, Messrs. Barnes, Bird, "Alter," and other +luminaries, and many were the questions asked in reference to Mr. Morphy. +But I am bound to say that the feeling with which he was regarded in the +United States was not participated in by English players. I was told by +one gentleman--"Mr. Morphy's games are very pretty, but they will not bear +the test of analysis." Another said--and his opinion was universally +endorsed--"It is quite possible that Mr. Morphy may arrive at the highest +rank, nay, even that he may become a second Labourdonnais, but he cannot +have the strength his admiring countrymen wish to believe. Chess requires +many long years of attentive study, and frequent play with the best +players, and neither of these your friend has had. Depend upon it he will +find European amateurs very different opponents from those he has hitherto +encountered." This rather nettled me, but it was reasonable and just. Any +one possessing the slightest acquaintance with the game knows that it +partakes more of hard, laborious application to arrive at first-rate +skill, than of mere pastime. Very few of Morphy's games had been seen in +Europe, and his opponents were not, certainly, of a class to rank with the +Stauntons, Loewenthals, and Anderssens of the Old World. Was it reasonable +to suppose that a youth, just out of his teens, who had devoted but little +time to chess, and who was about to meet first-rate players for the first +time, should possess the experience and lore of men double his age? At the +present time, now that he has unmistakably proved himself the superior of +all living players, I feel utterly at a loss to solve the problem of his +skill. At college, until eighteen years old, what time could he find +there, except out of school hours, for the required practice, and what +antagonists worthy of him? From eighteen to twenty, he was engaged in +reading for the bar. During that period he was as frequent a visitor at +the chess club as circumstances would permit, but certainly not +sufficiently so to increase his strength. Who were his antagonists? His +father had almost entirely abandoned chess; Mr. Ernest Morphy had settled +in "the West," and Mr. Rousseau, absorbed in the sterner duties of life, +held the same relation to the game as Mr. Lewis in England. To one and all +of his opponents, except these gentlemen, he could give the rook; and +playing at odds is somewhat different from contending with even players. +He met strong players for the first time at New York. Paulsen, +Lichtenhein, Thompson, Montgomery, Marache were all northern players, and +new to him, and vastly superior to the antagonists he had previously +encountered. There is but one way to account for his annihilation of all +precedent. His skill is intuitive, and I doubt much whether his prodigious +memory has been of assistance to him. In answer to a gentleman in Paris as +to whether he had not studied many works on chess, I heard him state that +no author had been of much value to him, and that he was astonished at +finding various positions and solutions given as novel--certain moves +producing certain results, etc., _for that he had made the same deductions +himself, as necessary consequences_. In like manner, Newton demonstrated, +in his own mind, the problems of Euclid, the enunciations only being +given; and I can think of no more suitable epithet for Morphy than to call +him "the Newton of Chess." + +But _revenons a nos moutons_. Morphy's achievements at the Congress in New +York induced many to believe that America now possessed a champion capable +of contending with the proficients of Europe, and it was proposed that he +should be backed by the American Chess Association against any player who +would take up the challenge. I am sorry to say that the action of certain +prominent men prevented the gauntlet being thrown down. These gentlemen +said, "He beats us because he is better versed in the openings, but such +players as Loewenthal and Harrwitz will be too strong for him. He wants +experience, and were we to make this national challenge, we should appear +ridiculous when our champion is defeated, which he certainly would be." +The proposal, however, got noised abroad, and the following paragraph +appeared, in consequence, in the Illustrated London News: + + "CHALLENGE TO EUROPEAN CHESS PLAYERS."[B] + + "The American Chess Association, it is reported, are about to + challenge any player in Europe to contest a match with the + young victor in the late passage at arms, for from $2,000 to + $5,000 a side, the place of meeting being New York. If the + battle-ground were to be London or Paris, there can be little + doubt, we apprehend, that a European champion would be found; + but the best players in Europe are not chess professionals, but + have other and more serious avocations, the interests of which + forbid such an expenditure of time as is required for a voyage + to the United States and back again." + +I would say, by way of parenthesis, that such a being as a professional +chess player does not exist in the United States. Paulsen is a tobacco +broker, with tendencies to speculating in "corner lots." (Western men know +what that means.) Lichtenhein deals in dry-goods, dry wines and Italian +opera; Thompson is the proprietor of a magnificent restaurant; Colonel +Mead devotes himself to democratic cabals at the New York Hotel; Fiske is +an admixture of the Chess Monthly, the Astor Library and Scandinavian +literature; Perrin and Marache are bothered daily with banks, "bears" and +"bulls." Chess professionals, indeed! they do not grow in the United +States. + +Mr. Morphy returned to his native city without any further action having +been taken, but the New Orleans Chess Club determined that the challenge +should be made, and they addressed the following letter to Mr. Staunton, +at the commencement of last year: + + NEW ORLEANS, _February 4, 1858_. + + HOWARD STAUNTON, ESQ., + + Sir,--On behalf of the New Orleans Chess Club, and in + compliance with the instructions of that body, we, the + undersigned committee, have the honor to invite you to visit + our city, and there meet Mr. Paul Morphy in a chess match. In + transmitting this invitation, permit us to observe, that we are + prompted no less by the desire to become personally acquainted + with one whom we have so long admired, than by the very natural + anxiety to ascertain the strength of our American players by + the decisive criterion of actual conflict over the board. + + We can see no valid reason why an exercise so intellectual and + ennobling as chess, should be excluded from the generous + rivalry which exists between the Old and the New World, in all + branches of human knowledge and industry. That the spirit of + emulation from which this rivalry arises has not, hitherto, + been made to embrace our chivalrous game, may be mainly + ascribed to the fact that, although the general attention paid + to chess in the United States during the last fifteen years has + produced a number of fine players, yet their relative force + remained undetermined, and none could assert an indisputable + right to pre-eminence. The late Chess Congress has, however, + removed this obstacle, by finally settling the claims of the + several aspirants to the championship; and it must now be a + matter of general desire to fix, by actual contest with the + best European amateurs, the rank which American players shall + hold in the hierarchy of chess. + + For this purpose it was suggested that Mr. Morphy, the winner + at the late Congress and the present American champion, should + cross the ocean, and boldly encounter the distinguished + magnates of the transatlantic chess circles; but it + unfortunately happens that serious family reasons forbid Mr. + Morphy, for the present, to entertain the thought of visiting + Europe. It, therefore, becomes necessary to arrange, if + possible, a meeting between the latter and the acknowledged + European champion, in regard to whom there can be no scope for + choice or hesitation--the common voice of the chess world + pronounces your name; and to us it is a subject of + congratulation that the sceptre of transatlantic chess is + wielded by one who, with respect to regularity of communication + between the two countries, and for other reasons, enjoys + facilities for accepting our invitation possessed by no other + European player. + + We take the liberty herewith to inclose a series of proposed + "terms of the match," which has been drawn up, not for the + purpose of imposing conditions, but with a view to obviate the + necessity of repeated correspondence. We have been studious to + make these terms as equitable as possible, and to include all + matters upon which contestation was likely to arise. You are + respectfully invited to suggest any alterations which you may + deem advisable, not only in the minor points embraced, but also + as to the amount of the stakes, the time fixed for the + commencement of the match, &c., &c. + + Fully subscribing to the wisdom of the proposal made by you in + the introduction to the "Book of the Tournament," we beg leave + to express our entire willingness to insert a clause providing + that "one-half at least" (or even _all_) "of the games shall be + _open_ ones." + + In conclusion, Sir, receive the assurance that it will afford + us extreme pleasure to welcome among us a gentleman, who is as + greatly admired for his powers in play as he is esteemed for + his many and valuable contributions to the literature of chess. + + Hoping soon to receive a favorable answer, we remain, with + distinguished regard, your obedient servants, + + E. W. HALSEY, CHAS. A. MAURIAN, JR., + FRANCIS MICHINARD, P. E. BONFORD, + E. PANDELY. + + + TERMS OF THE MATCH. + + 1. The amount of the stakes, on each side, to be five thousand + dollars, and the winner of the first eleven games to be + declared the victor, and entitled to the stakes. + + 2. The match to be played in the city of New Orleans. + + 3. Should the English player lose the match, the sum of one + thousand dollars (L200) to be paid to him out of the stakes, in + reimbursement of the expenses incurred by him in accepting this + challenge. + + 4. The games to be conducted in accordance with the rules laid + down in Mr. Staunton's "Chess Player's Handbook." + + 5. The parties to play with Staunton chessmen of the usual + club-size, and on a board of corresponding dimensions. + + 6. The match to be commenced on or about the first of May, + 1858, (or on any other day during the present year most + agreeable to Mr. Staunton,) and to be continued at not less + than four sittings each week. + + 7. In order that the stay of the English player in New Orleans + be not unnecessarily prolonged, he shall have the right to fix + the hours of play at from ten o'clock, A. M., to two, P. M., + and from six to ten o'clock, P. M. + + 8. The time occupied in deliberating on any move, shall not + exceed thirty minutes. + + 9. The right to publish the games is reserved exclusively to + the contestants, subject only to such private arrangements as + they may agree upon. + + 10. The stakes on the part of Mr. Staunton to be deposited + prior to the commencement of the match in the hands of ----; + and those on the part of Mr. Morphy, in the hands of Eugene + Rousseau, Esq., cashier of the Citizen's Bank of Louisiana. + + * * * * * + +On the 3d of April, Mr. Staunton replied to this very flattering +communication as follows, through the "Illustrated London News:"-- + + "PROPOSED CHESS MATCH BETWEEN ENGLAND AND AMERICA FOR ONE + THOUSAND POUNDS A SIDE.--We have been favored with a copy of + the _defi_ which the friends of Mr. Paul Morphy, the chess + champion of the United States, have transmitted to Mr. + Staunton. The terms of this cartel are distinguished by extreme + courtesy, and with one notable exception, by extreme liberality + also. The exception in question, however, (we refer to the + clause which stipulates that the combat shall take place in New + Orleans!) appears to us utterly fatal to the match; and we must + confess our astonishment that the intelligent gentlemen who + drew up the conditions did not themselves discover this. Could + it possibly escape their penetration, that if Mr. Paul Morphy, + a young gentleman without family ties or professional claims + upon his attention, finds it inconvenient to anticipate, by a + few months, an intended voyage to Europe, his proposed + antagonist, who is well known for years to have been compelled, + by laborious literary occupation, to abandon the practice of + chess beyond the indulgence of an occasional game, must find it + not merely inconvenient, but positively impracticable, to cast + aside all engagements, and undertake a journey of many thousand + miles for the sake of a chess-encounter? Surely the idea of + such a sacrifice is not admissible for a single moment. If Mr. + Morphy--for whose skill we entertain the liveliest + admiration--be desirous to win his spurs among the chess + chivalry of Europe, he must take advantage of his purposed + visit next year; he will then meet in this country, in France, + in Germany, and in Russia, many champions whose names must be + as household words to him, ready to test and do honor to his + prowess." + +Can this mean aught else than, "Come over to England and I will play +you?" + +FOOTNOTES: + +[B] Illustrated London News, December 26th, 1857. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CHESS IN ENGLAND. + + +Most of us know how "Box," when called upon by "Cox," to give explanations +of the improper attentions he (Box) was paying to C.'s wife, hums and haws +and begins, "Towards the close of the sixteenth century;" when Cox very +properly cries out, "What the deuce has the sixteenth century to do with +my wife?" Many of my readers may, like Cox, want to know what a great deal +my book contains has to do with Paul Morphy; all I have to say, in reply, +is,--if you don't like it, skip it; more especially the following thirty +pages, which, nevertheless, will be interesting to all chess-players. + +Chess seems to have first acquired social importance in England during +Philidor's residence in that country. Judging from the number of titled +names attached to his work as subscribers, the British aristocracy were, +in his time, much given to the game, but "nous avons change tout cela," +and the English nobility nowadays, with but a few notable exceptions, +confine their abilities to "Tattersall's" and "Aunt Sally." + +"What a fall was there, my countrymen!" + +Surely the "King of Games," which has enlisted amongst its votaries such +names as that of the victor of Culloden, and his rival, Marechal Saxe; +without enumerating those of all the greatest warriors of many centuries, +might still offer inducements to their comparatively unknown descendants. +We have thousands of men, composing the British aristocracy, at a loss to +get rid of their time; sauntering down to their clubs at mid-day; +listlessly turning over the leaves of magazines and reviews, until their +dinner-hour arrives. Why, in the name of common sense, do not these men +learn something of chess, and thus provide themselves with a pastime which +not merely hastens Time's chariot-wheels, but quickens the intellect? One +gets tired of billiards, cards, horse-racing, etc., but your chess-player +becomes more enamored of his game, the more he knows of it. + +It may have been that gentlemen and nobles affixed their names to +Philidor's book, out of compliment or charity, but it is doubtful whether +their descendants would now do so, even from those considerations. Must we +measure the capacity of dukes and lords by that intellectual standard, +"Aunt Sally?" + +Philidor certainly did much for chess, particularly in England. He +possessed peculiar advantages for so doing. In the first place he had true +talent; his powers for playing blindfold excited extraordinary interest +at the time, not merely amongst chess players, but especially with the +titled crowd. His political antecedents increased the general interest, +and, last and best of all, he was a foreigner. If Philidor had been an +Englishman he would hardly have sold a copy of his book. + +Philidor organized a chess club in London, which met at Parsloe's Coffee +House, St. James street. At the present day little is known of that early +association, and we cannot even tell whether the members were numerous. +After his death, chess seems to have languished; Parsloe's club dragged on +its existence during some years, dying from inanition about 1825. The +London Chess Club, first organized in 1807, kept alive the sacred fire; +but that was the only community in England during the first quarter of +this century where the game was publicly played. Some years after the +establishment of the London, the Edinburgh Chess Club started into +existence. In 1833, a great impetus was given to the game by the +commencement of a weekly chess article in the columns of "Bell's Life in +London." Amateurs now had an organ which could record their achievements; +men hitherto unknown beyond their private circles felt, that the +opportunity was afforded them to become famous throughout the country, and +provincial clubs started up here and there. Chess players cannot but +regard that paper as a very nursing mother for Caissa, and certainly never +hear it mentioned but their thoughts revert to the veteran--George +Walker. I once heard that gentleman relate the following anecdote as a +proof of how little was known of chess, in England, previous to the year +1833. + +Travelling towards the north somewhere about that period, he put up one +night at a hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. Now any man with music or poetry +in his soul, would, under such circumstances, wander towards the home of +Shakspeare, or to his last resting-place; provided always that fear of +rheumatism, or influenza, did not render him regardful of the rain which +then fell "like cats and dogs." How to pass the evening was the question. +Only one other traveller in the coffee-room, and he as uncommunicative as +Englishmen proverbially are. Mr. Walker did not feel like going to bed at +seven o'clock in the evening, and the idea of throwing out "a feeler" +struck him as interesting. "Did Traveller play chess?" Traveller did. +"Would he have a game?" Yes, he would. The waiter is thereupon summoned, +and ordered to bring in a set of chessmen. Waiter, strongly suspicious +that Mr. Walker means skittles, finally awaked to consciousness, and, with +a smile of triumph, produces a backgammon board. + +The very idea of an opponent obliterated all fear of the weather in Mr. +Walker's breast, and he sallied forth in quest of the desired pieces. +Toyshops, libraries, etc., were entered, but the proprietors scarcely +understood what was asked of them, and Mr. W. finally returned to the inn +to dispatch "Boots" to the solicitor, doctor, and neighboring gentry--but +all to no purpose. Thereupon mine host suggested a note to the parson, but +that individual having just rendered himself famous for all time by +cutting down Shakspeare's mulberry tree, Mr. Walker replied that such a +man could not possibly know anything of the game, and it would be useless +to send to him. So the two travellers were forced to console themselves +with the intricacies of draughts. + +After the death of Philidor, the strongest players were Sarratt, De +Bourblanc, Lewis and Parkinson. Sarratt and Mr. Lewis may be looked upon +as chess professors. We all know the story of the former's playing with +the great Napoleon, and the struggle between pride and courtesy (very +silly courtesy, indeed!) finally overcome by Sarratt's drawing every game. +This could not have been a satisfactory result to the "Little Corporal," +for he never seemed partial to leaving things _in statu quo ante bellum_. +Sarratt was a schoolmaster, Parkinson an architect, and Mr. Lewis +commenced life as a merchant's clerk, and eventually embarked in the +manufacture of piano fortes. This information has nothing whatever to do +with the reputation of the above gentlemen, as successors of Philidor, and +I only mention it because chess players, like other men, are not adverse +to hearing what does not concern them. + +The continental blockade and long wars with Napoleon, isolated England +from the rest of the world, and completed the decay and fall of chess for +a time. But the game did not languish in France and Germany. About 1820, +the Holy Alliance (of Sovereigns against the people) began playing its +pranks: proscribed fugitives, martyrs to liberty--_soi disant_ and +otherwise--came over to England in shoals, and amongst them were to be +found thorough adepts in the mysteries of chess. These refugees rekindled +the fire in Britain. They brought with them new and unknown German and +Italian works, and made Englishmen acquainted with far more extended +information than could be found in Philidor's meagre work. + +Before we enter on the new era of chess, I may add for the benefit of such +of my readers as are not "up" in its history, that Lewis was the pupil of +Sarratt, and McDonnel the pupil of Lewis. It is difficult, from the +paucity of existing _data_, to judge of the strength of former players as +compared with modern examples. Mr. Lewis had been accustomed at one time +to give McDonnel pawn and two; but, when these odds became too heavy, he +declined playing longer, and may be considered to have retired from the +arena. Mr. Walker thinks that, in their best play, Messrs. Sarratt and +Lewis were a pawn below Morphy, and he ranks the latter with Labourdonnais +and McDonnel, stating his belief that the two latter would have played up +to a much higher standard if provoked by defeat. For my own part, I think +it is indisputable that the reputation of these two players is, at this +day, entirely based on their eighty published games, and when Herr +Loewenthal's much looked-for collection of Morphy's contests is published, +we shall then be enabled to judge of the American's strength, as compared +with those celebrated masters. + +The influx of foreigners into London was introductory to the establishment +of numerous chess circles in different coffee houses. Hundreds of "exiled +patriots," bearded Poles and Italians, congregated together to smoke and +play chess, and soon infused a general passion for the game amongst the +Londoners. The first room specially devoted to chess, of which we have any +account, was one opened by Mr. Gliddon, and this led to the establishment +of the London Chess Divan. + + * * * * * + + +THE LONDON CHESS DIVAN. + +What chess player has not heard of the far-famed resort of the devotees of +Caissa? The Cafe de la Regence may be the Mecca of chess, but the Divan is +indisputably its Medina. Chess Clubs have risen and fallen, and the +fortunes of the survivors have waxed or waned; but the Divan flourishes in +spring-tide glory, the _Forum Romanum_ for players of every clime and +strength. Now my readers must not suppose that I am about to attempt a +history of the "Divan in the Strand," as the Cockneys call it; for I +should then have to write the history of modern European chess. I merely +intend a sketch, from which they will learn with how much reverence that +classic spot is to be regarded. + +Somewhere about the year 1820, a tobacconist, named Gliddon, opened a room +in the rear of his shop, King Street, Covent Garden, which he fitted up in +Oriental style, and supplied with papers, chess periodicals and +chess-boards, calling the establishment "Gliddon's Divan." Amongst his +patrons was a Mr. Bernhard Ries, who soon perceived that there was room in +London for a similar undertaking on a much larger scale. He accordingly +opened a grand chess saloon in the building now occupied by the Divan. +This was so far back as 1828. It was, at first, on the ground-floor, in +the room known as Simpson's Restaurant, but when Mr. Ries gave up the +establishment to his brother, the present proprietor, in 1836, that +gentleman transferred the Divan to the vast saloon up stairs. In 1838, Mr. +Ries (No. 2) found the Westminster Chess Club suffering from paralysis, +its sinews (of war) being grievously affected. He purchased the good-will +and furniture of the club, giving the members private rooms on the first +floor of his house for their exclusive use. The boards and men now in use +at the Divan were made expressly for the Westminster Club when first +established. The members in their new locale soon found that whilst some +twenty boards would be going in the public room, the game languished with +them; and in the course of two years the club broke up and became absorbed +in the Divan. This will invariably be the case when a private and +exclusive chess association holds its meetings contiguous to a public +resort devoted to the same game. During the past year, the Paris _Cercle +des Echecs_, which met in rooms over the Cafe de la Regence, found that +the influence of the arena down stairs was too great for them, and they +broke up their meetings, and are now to be found _en masse_ in the public +cafe. + +In 1842 Mr. Ries invited Labourdonnais to come over from Paris, and play +exclusively at the Divan, which offer that great master accepted. But his +constitution was already shattered, and the malady which eventually +carried him off interfered with his devoting much time to chess, and no +matches of importance were played by him during the period. It was next +door to the Divan, at No. 6 Beaufort Buildings, in rooms taken for him by +Mr. Ries, that Labourdonnais finally succumbed to that terrible antagonist +who, whatever the opening may be, brings the game of life to one +inevitable ending--death! + +Who, known to fame in chess during the past quarter of a century, has not +assisted in making the Divan classic ground? Of bygone palladins we might +instance Popard, Fraser, Zenn, Daniels, Alexander, Williams, Perigal, and +a host of others, never for a moment forgetting Labourdonnais and +Kieseritzky. The veterans Lewis and Walker made it a place of constant +resort before they withdrew from the chess arena. In the Divan, Staunton +rose from a Knight-player to a first rate. St. Arnaud, Anderssen, +Harrwitz, Hoerwitz, Kling,--in fact all the great living celebrities--make +it their house of call when in London, whilst the brilliant _corps +d'elite_ composing the phalanx of English players--Loewenthal, Boden, +Barnes, Bird, Lowe, Falkbeer, Wormald, Campbell, Zytogorsky, Brien, &c., +&c., may frequently be found there, ready to meet all antagonists. When +Mr. Buckle casts a "longing, lingering look behind" at his first love, he +offers homage to Caissa at the Divan. But we must stop, or we shall fain +run through the whole list of living players. + +In the room are busts of Lewis, Philidor, Labourdonnais, and other _vieux +de la vielle_, and the library is replete with all the chief works on +chess. From noon to midnight, players of every shade of strength are to be +met with;--amateurs who learned the moves last week; professors who +analyze openings, adepts inventing new defences, and editors who prove +satisfactorily that the winner ought to have lost and the vanquished to +have gained. [_Sal[=a]m_ to the Divan! May it live a thousand years!] + + * * * * * + +The Divan has certainly done much to spread a liking for the game amongst +the masses; but, at the same time, it has somewhat interfered with the +formation of a flourishing West End Chess Club. There is no city in the +world in which so much chess is played as London, and the British +metropolis should certainly show, at least, one club numbering from 500 to +1,000 members. Club life is an institution peculiar to Englishmen; +divans, even when so well managed as Ries's, partake rather of the Gallic +element, being of the _genus_ cafe. Your aristocratic Briton frequents not +the public saloon, preferring the _otium cum dignitate_ of the private +club. I am aware that chess in England is not fostered by the upper ranks +of society: its amateurs are to be found mainly in the middle classes. +Shopmen, clerks, professors of the arts, literary men, &c., form its rank +and file. The majority of these, I speak of them as Englishmen, object to +a place of public resort from various reasons. Smoking displeases some, +and smoking is part and parcel of a divan. The Automaton itself could not +get on without its _tchibouk_. All the advantages and none of the +drawbacks of a public hall, are to be obtained at a club; especially when, +as at the St. George's, one room is set apart for smoking. Surely the late +impulse given to chess by Paul Morphy's European feats, will increase the +members of these chess associations, which are incontestably the best +schools for progress in the game. + +About the year 1824, three or four young gentlemen who had recently +learned chess, or rather the mechanical part of it, and had been playing a +good deal together, made vain inquiries as to the existence of a Chess +Club at the West End of London, being desirous of showing off their +abilities to new advantage. The foremost of these ambitious juveniles was +Mr. George Walker, the eminent Chess writer, and an author, too, whose +never failing _bonhommie_ is worthy of Lafontaine. Finding that "westward +the star of empire" and of chess had not, as yet, begun to "take its way," +they resolved to have a Club of their own. Philidor's Club could not be +said to exist; the flame was flickering in some obscure corner, and the +last member was preparing to leave. But the sacred fire was not to die +out:--George Walker and his fellow youngsters built an altar for it at the +Percy Coffee-House in Rathbone Place, Oxford Street, and blew the flame +into a perfect blaze. Percy's Coffee-House was then a first-rate hotel: +Belgravia, Brompton, Pimlico, were corn-fields and market-gardens, and the +aristocracy had not emigrated from the neighborhood of Oxford Street. The +denizens of that ilk might be supposed to find some leisure for the +enjoyment of such a pastime as chess, and Walker and Co. soon enlisted +upwards of a score of recruits. Night after night the members played what +they in their innocence called chess, finishing the Monday evening with a +supper, after which harmony and "the flowing bowl" prevailed. Things went +on swimmingly in this Mutual Admiration Society, until one of the members, +Mr. Perrier, of the War Office, upset the _status quo_ by bringing into +their midst Mr. Murphy, the celebrated ivory miniature painter, and father +of Mrs. Jamieson, the authoress. Dire was the result; Mr. Murphy proved a +very Trojan horse in this West End Ilium: for, as Mr. Walker says, "he +entirely dispelled the illusion of the 'bold Percies' that they had been +playing chess." He gave them one and all a Knight, essayed the Gambit on +every occasion, and not one of the young gentlemen could make a stand +against him. + +As though not sufficiently humiliated, Mr. Murphy introduced Mr. Lewis to +them, and the new comer completed their bewilderment by giving them the +Rook and sweeping them clean off the board. But with such a master, the +Percies, by dint of diligent study and practice, rapidly improved, and it +was suggested to Mr. Lewis that he should open a private club at his own +house. After a short delay this was accomplished, and nearly all the +members joined Mr. Lewis, when he opened subscription rooms in St. +Martin's Lane--classic ground surely, for a former Chess Club had lived +and died at Slaughter's Coffee-House, hard by. + +Mr. Lewis collected quite a number of players around him, and was in fair +way to find his enterprise profitable; but the most prominent members +demurred to his not playing with them so much as they desired, more +especially as Mr. Lewis did not appear to regard the institution as a Free +School for the inculcation of Chess. The best of the young amateurs were +Messrs. Walker, Brand, Mercier and McDonnell; the last, the best of the +lot. McDonnell received from Mr. Lewis the odds of Pawn and Two Moves, but +when he had fairly surmounted that advantage and could win every game, his +antagonist declined playing on even terms, much to McDonnell's +disappointment. This, however, appears to be the usual course with leading +chess players,--Deschappelle's conduct in regard to Labourdonnais being a +notable example of the fact. There are peculiar idiosyncrasies in chess +human nature, as, for instance, the remarkable reserve and +"_don't-come-nigh-me_" _feeling_ with which leading amateurs treat each +other. Go into any public or private chess association, and you will find +that the superior craft steer clear of each other as a general thing; +reserving their antagonism for matches few and far between. + +The Club subsequently removed to the bottom of St. Martin's Lane, and +shortly broke up, McDonnell and others returning to the London Club, +whence they had migrated. A futile attempt was afterwards made to +establish a grand aristocratic silk and satin club in Waterloo Place, the +door of admission to which could only be opened with a golden key of ten +guineas. Here lots of every thing could be found except chess, and no +wonder, for the game does not find supporters, to any extent, among the +rich, depending mainly upon individuals to whom ten guineas are a +consideration. The club expired in twelve months. Caissa thus lost her +last foothold at the West End, and Mr. Lewis henceforth virtually +abandoned the practice of chess. + +The question has frequently been asked, whether and how Mr. Lewis played +Labourdonnais? They played together on three different occasions, _in all +seven games_, of which Labourdonnais won five and lost two. The first time +they met was at the house of Mr. Domitt, Hon. Sec. of the London Club, and +two Allgaier Gambits were played, each winning one. As they had just done +their duty to a very good dinner, and society was then divided into two, +three, and four bottle men, Labourdonnais remarked, "The victory is not +likely to be gained by the better player, but by him who carries his wine +best." This reminds me of a _bon mot_ of Mr. Boden. Somebody remarked in +his presence that two amateurs (whose names to mention "decency forbids") +were both drunk, though engaged in a match game: he replied--"Then the +best player will win." + +After the conclusion of the two games, Messrs. Mercier, Bonfil and Domit, +particular friends of the English player, challenged Labourdonnais to play +Mr. Lewis a match of twenty-five games at L5 a game. This was rather too +bad, considering that Labourdonnais, to use his own words, was "without a +friend or a shilling in a foreign country;" but he laughed the challenge +away as a joke in his own witty manner, by saying that "in such case he +must be the best player who could offer to play for the highest stake," a +reply which so pleased a gentleman present, Mr. Brand, that he cried out, +"Labourdonnais shall play Lewis a match of 25 games at L10 a game, and I +will find his stakes." It is stated that Mr. Brand evinced considerable +ill-feeling towards Mr. Lewis, at the time, in consequence of the latter's +preferring a move recommended by Mr. Mercier in the match then pending +between the London and Edinburgh clubs, to one proposed by himself, and +perhaps this was the reason for his offering to back the Frenchman +against his own countryman. But Mr. Lewis's friends did not accept the +challenge, and the two champions confined their contests to five off-hand +games, which were played at the residences of Messrs. Bonfil and Mercier, +Lewis winning one and Labourdonnais four, so that the final result was:-- + + Labourdonnais, 5--Lewis, 2--Drawn, 0. + +The above occurrences took place on the occasion of Labourdonnais' first +visit to London, many years before his famous encounters with McDonnell. + +About the year 1830, a gentleman of great parts and education, named +Huttmann, finding his share of this world's loaves and fishes not +precisely what he could wish, opened a coffee house in Covent Garden. His +patrons belonged to what society calls the "upper classes," for his prices +were high and his refreshments first-rate; two considerable attractions to +men of means. Amongst the frequenters of the rooms were Mr. Henry Russell, +the since celebrated singer; Captain Medwin (Byron's medium), and Mr. +Mackay, now Dr. Charles Mackay, the poet. Doctor Mackay was in New York +during the chess tournament, and visited the rooms on that occasion, but +we were then unaware of his early acquaintance with the game. + +At Huttman's Coffee House, the habitues were gentlemen in quest of +quietness; men of calm, reflective turn, given to chit-chat in nooks and +corners; smoking a genuine "Havana" over a cup of unquestionable "Mocha," +and reading that everlasting refuge for an Englishman, "_The Times_." Just +the atmosphere for a chess-board, and two or three were accordingly +introduced. Now you can never get chess-boards into any establishment, +without the fact becoming immediately known amongst amateurs. Mr. George +Walker soon got wind of the arrangement, and forthwith reconnoitred the +lines. The result of his observations was that he suggested the formation +of a chess club in the first floor rooms, and to this Mr. Huttmann +assented. Mr. Walker forthwith began drumming about for recruits; electing +himself secretary, _pro tem._, he drew up a set of rules, and got out +printed circulars, and it was not his fault if any person with whom he +claimed even bowing acquaintance, escaped from the meshes of the proposed +club. Within a few days he had canvassed all his earliest chess friends, +and had rallied round the standard of Caissa between twenty and thirty +defenders. It was resolved to style the association + + +THE WESTMINSTER CLUB, + +and Captain Medwin was elected the first president. + +We are upon classic ground. Who does not remember the feats performed +within the walls of this home of the glorious departed? Who shall forget +the oft-told wonders of that golden age of chess? Any thing related of the +Westminster Club is swallowed with willing faith by gaping acolytes. +Those were glorious days, indeed, the Homeric age of zatrikiological +worthies! Amongst the early supporters of the Club were the Rev. Mr. +D'Arblay, (son of Madame D'Arblay,) Mr. Skelton, (so well known about town +as "Dandy Skelton,") Mr. Nixon, organist of the Bavarian Catholic Church, +in Warwick Street, Duncan Forbes, Professor of Oriental languages at +University College, and many other celebrated literary characters. The +proprietor, Mr. Huttman, followed the enterprise with spirit. Every cigar +he sold in the coffee-room was wrapt in a printed problem; and, in +addition, he published a periodical penny miscellany on chess. Such +extraordinary exertions quickly bore fruit, and, in a short time the Club +rose to something like fifty members. The room in which the meetings were +held became, in consequence, so hot, that it was deservedly styled "the +oven." + +Emboldened by success, Mr. Huttman began to look about for new and more +commodious quarters; these he eventually found on the opposite side of the +street. Certain gamblers had there taken a house, and furnished the +principal apartments in sumptuous style, for the sole purpose of decoying +thither a young foreign nobleman, who, in one night, is said to have lost +there upwards of L30,000. The house having served their diabolical ends, +was of no further use to them, and Mr. Huttman rented it. Here the +Westminster Club was enshrined. Amongst the chief supporters were Mr. +George Walker, Hon. Sec.; Mr. B. Smith, M. P.; Albany Fonblanque, Esq., of +_The Examiner_; Messrs. Perigal, Slous, Popert, McDonnel, and many others +from the London Club. In 1833, Labourdonnais and McDonnel played their +different matches at these splendid rooms. + +By the continued exertions of Mr. George Walker, the number of members was +increased to three hundred. What a glorious muster-roll! Why should the +"old days" not live again at the West End? Surely the ranks of chess +players are not thinned, nor is their strength diminished. Our Loewenthals, +Bodens, Birds, Stauntons, Barneses, Buckles, Wormalds, Falkbeers, Briens, +Zytogoroskys, Lowes, Hannahs, etc., etc., etc., are worthy descendants of +West End men of the olden time, without even enlisting the support of such +city magnates as the Mongredieus, Slouses, Medleys, etc., of the ancient +and virile London Club. Many members of the Westminster still make love to +the nymph Caissa; such historical names as Slous and Walker for instance. +But, in addition to the above-mentioned general officers, we now possess a +constantly-increasing rank and file, recruited from the chess-playing +militia of schools and private families. Chess is assuming vast +proportions in England and America: scarcely a weekly paper of any +circulation but gives a column to the game; and certainly no newspaper +editor would do so if he did not find it pay. At the West End of London, +there now exist two clubs of importance, the old St. George's and the new +St. James's; the Philidorean Rooms in Rathbone Place partaking rather of +the divan character. Neither of these clubs require proficiency in the +game as a passport for membership; and a gentleman receiving the Queen +would be just as eligible as the amateur giving it. Surely the advantages +offered for increasing one's strength in this intellectual struggle of +mind against mind, should be an inducement for young players to enroll +themselves in one or the other of these two associations. + +When the Westminster had grown up into a goodly body of three hundred +members, Mr. George Walker began to find that the duties of secretary were +interfering seriously with his other pursuits, and he therefore resigned +the office, and was succeeded by Mr. William Greenwood Walker, to whom the +chess world is so much indebted for taking down the games of McDonnel. The +Club had arrived at its Augustine era, and, in 1838, its fortunes began to +wane; the proprietor getting into pecuniary difficulties. Mr. Huttman +could not let well alone. He introduced a daily dinner, on plans so +profoundly calculated, that the more persons who dined the more he lost. +He got the Club, also, into bad odor, by allowing chess to be played there +on Sundays. Musical soirees and other nonsense followed; the main object +of the establishment thus became ignored, and, instead of new members +joining, the old ones fell off one by one, and the princely mansion in +Bedford street was shortly to let. Mr. Huttman's pecuniary difficulties +perilled the very existence of the Club, notwithstanding that the members +handed over to him the reserve fund, amounting to a few hundred pounds. No +Club can be said to be in safety without such a fund upon which to fall +back in case of emergency, as for instance, retirement of members. Members +of chess clubs will retire--prominent ones even--a very frequent cause +being marriage; the backsliders, however, often come back eventually. + +The Westminster Club being now without house or home, looked about for +some benevolent individual who would "take them in and do for them." Such +an one they found in Mr. Ries, proprietor of the Divan in the Strand, who +offered them private rooms in his establishment; thither the _debris_ of +the old Westminster forthwith removed. Each member was provided with a +latch-key, with which to let himself in at the private door. Here it was +that Mr. Staunton appeared for the first time in chess-circles, although +he was never a member of the Westminster Club. In its new quarters the +association drew out an existence of twelve months, giving up the ghost in +1840. + +About this time, the veteran writer and encyclopaedist, Alexandre, made a +lamentable _fiasco_ at his Cafe de l'Echiquier in Paris; an establishment +which he vainly hoped would entice away the _habitues_ of the Cafes de la +Regence et de Procope. Coming over to London, he made the acquaintance of +Mr. Staunton, and the two players struck hands together, and resolved to +open a chess establishment as a partnership concern. Alexandre put in his +little all--the change out of his Paris capital--and he and his coadjutor +opened rooms at the Waterloo Chambers. A very good locality, perhaps too +good, for rents in that neighborhood are rather high. Some twenty or +thirty old players rallied round them, but the attempt was only of short +duration. The two _camarades_ took to squabbling and vilifying each other; +and, within a year, the Club was formally dissolved at the request of the +members. + +All connection now being severed between the members and Messrs. Alexandre +and Staunton, the amateurs convened a private meeting for the purpose of +examining their prospects and taking steps for reorganization. Mr. George +Walker advertised for a large room, and was answered by Mr. Beattie, +proprietor of Beattie's Hotel, George street, Hanover square. Here, once +again, the remains of the "old guard" planted their standard, and in +special, solemn convocation, under a full sense of their responsibility, +and with all due solemnity, they christened their Club + + +THE ST. GEORGE'S, + +the name being suggested, in the first place, by the baptismal appellative +of their virtual founder and Hon. Sec., Mr. George Walker; and, secondly, +because the meeting was in George street, in the parish of St. George's. +The Club was exceedingly prosperous during the first year of its +existence, much being due to the fostering care of Mr. B. Smith, M. P. +for Norwich, who was assiduous in his attendance, and a capital +"whipper-in" of members. The room was large, well proportioned, and well +ventilated, cooking first-rate, wines unexceptionable. Wine, by the by, +makes your game brilliant, if not sound. Dull, unimaginative Zsen would +have been betrayed into an attempt at brilliance and dash, with a couple +of bottles of "old crusted" under his belt. But it began to appear as +though a West End Club could be nought but an "annual." Mr. Beattie failed +in business, and the St. George's were turned out of doors, wanderers for +a season, without prospect of refuge. And the devotees of Caissa were on +the town for some weeks, two or three of the leading and most active +assiduously on the watch to find a fresh location, but almost in blank +despair as to the result. + +Mr. B. Smith was a large shareholder in the Polytechnic Institution, +Regent street. The managing committee of that estimable establishment +were, about this time, endeavoring to form reading-rooms by subscription, +in the first floor of their building, facing Cavendish square. It was +suggested to the committee that chess and reading might be combined; that +one large room facing the square should be set apart for reading +exclusively, and two smaller ones be devoted to chess. A meeting was +forthwith convened, Mr. Nurse representing the proprietors of the +Institution, the chess players present being Mr. B. Smith, Mr. Richard +Penn, and the indefatigable and indomitable George Walker. These three +gentlemen guaranteed that one hundred members, paying an annual +subscription of three guineas each, should be enrolled in the Chess Club +within twelve months; and, once again, the red cross of the St. George's +was floating bravely in the air. Forthwith commenced the hunting up of old +members of the Westminster and other West End Clubs: touching and tender +circulars were issued by Mr. Walker, adjuring the straggling devotees of +Caissa, by all the recollections of their first and early loves, by all +their hopes of a glorious hereafter, to rush once more to the rescue. +Could such pathetic appeals fall unheeded upon the chess-lover's ear? No. +A hundred and fifty members reiterated "no" to the accompaniment of their +one hundred and fifty three-guinea subscriptions. "Royal Blue-Book" +notabilities enrolled themselves; as, for instance, the present Lord +Ravensworth, Dr. Murray, Lord Bishop of Rochester, the Honorable Charles +Murray, Mr. Brooke Greville, Mr. Albany Fonblanque, the Messrs. Hampton, +Lord Clarence Paget, and a host of other fashionables. So the St. George's +flourished for years, and it began to appear that a Chess Club at the West +End could, under proper management, become a permanent institution. + +It was in this _locale_ that Mr. Staunton played his first match with +Saint Amant, and, losing it, took his revenge by winning in his turn at +Paris. For some reason or other, the French amateur displayed +unaccountable nervousness during the progress of the match in his own +capital. The Baronne de L----, who is well known in Parisian _salons_ as +an excellent player and firm supporter of the game, assured me but lately +that she had no easy task in instilling courage into her countryman, +startled as he was by Mr. Staunton's winning game after game from him. +Warming up under the merry rebukes of his fair inspirer, Saint Amant began +to turn the tables upon his antagonist, and it seemed as if he would +anticipate the result of the contest between Loewenthal and Harrwitz. Mr. +Staunton, however, eventually won, and the stakes were deposited for the +third and deciding match, but Mr. S. was taken ill, and it was never +played. It is unfortunate for Mr. Staunton's reputation that the plea of +bad health was so frequently used by him when opponents appeared, more +especially as he is the first to ridicule such an excuse when coming from +others. And it is more than ever unfortunate in this instance, because the +French players declared that, judging from the later games of the match in +Paris, it was obvious that Mr. Staunton would have succumbed to their +champion if the third and deciding heat had not been prevented by the +Englishman's indisposition. And many of them even affirm that Mr. S. felt +this and acted in consequence. + +It may be added that the St. George's Chess Club had been installed at the +Polytechnic Institution some years before Mr. Staunton joined them, as an +honorary member, in compliment to his rising reputation. Mr. Staunton was +laid under lasting obligations to Mr. George Walker, by the latter's +bringing him from obscurity into public notice, not merely by introducing +him to the London chess world, but, in addition, by flattering notices of +him in his works. He may, in fact, be considered the pupil of Mr. Walker, +and the courtesy with which he has always treated his benefactor makes one +think of Labourdonnais's delicacy towards his old master Deschappelles. + +It would seem as though chess-players, like other men, "get weary in +well-doing," and constantly stand in need of fresh stimulus. Nothing could +have been more suitable or comfortable than the accommodations of the St. +George's at the Polytechnic, and yet they got to yearning after they +scarcely knew what. The cry was raised that members ought to be able to +dine at their Club, and they forthwith migrated _en masse_ to apartments +in Crockford's Club, transmogrified into an eating-house on a splendid +scale, and styled "The Wellington." Here they dwindled away, and the St. +George's would have finally disappeared from existence had it not been for +the kindness of Mr. Thomas Hampton, who offered them apartments at New +Palace Club Chambers, in King street, St. James's. Under his fostering +care, and the patriotic manner in which he is continually arranging +matches and organizing tournaments amongst the members, the St. George's +has largely increased its muster-roll of amateurs, and bids fair to enjoy +more halcyon days than ever. In these rooms Paul Morphy played part of his +match with Herr Loewenthal, and vanquished the well-known amateur "Alter," +in a contest at Pawn and Move. And in dismissing this now prosperous West +End Club, I must not forget to mention, for the benefit of those of my +readers who are ignorant of the fact, that it was the St. George's which +initiated and successfully carried out the Grand International Tournament +of 1851, in which the Teutonic element made itself so conspicuous. + +Experience seems to teach us that no West End Club can be permanently +prosperous, without a recognized professor of the game being constantly, +or frequently, in attendance; one whose object is the interest, not of +himself, but of chess, willing and ready to play with all comers for the +benefit of all. In such a Club as the London, where the members are +business men, there is no hollow principle of _caste_; social democracy +exists, and the players play, talk, laugh, and eat together on a perfect +equality, be they simple clerks or merchant princes. At the Court End of +the town manners are reserved; and such a thing may happen as two members +of the same Club waiting several years, before an introduction justifies +them in speaking to each other. A professor would bring all these stupid +_convenances de la societe_ to a speedy end, and, by his recognized +position in the Club, arrange contests between members of equal force, and +thus further the objects for which they are associated. + + +THE LONDON CHESS CLUB. + +In the very heart of the City of London, under the shadows of the Bank and +Royal Exchange, and but a step from Lombard street, the London Chess Club +holds its daily sittings. Who would expect to find such an association in +such a place? Is the quiet of the chess arena consonant with the hum of +busy multitudes, hurrying to and fro in never-failing ardor after the +yellow god? Are stocks and scrip and dividends allied to gambits and +mates? Shall Lloyd's Capel Court and the Corn Exchange furnish supporters +of Caissa? Come along with me to Cornhill. Stop! This is Purssell's +restaurant. We'll walk up stairs. This room on the first floor is devoted +to billiards. Above it meets the Cosmopolitan Club, and on the third +floor--out of reach of the noise below--is the famous old "London," of +which every player of note during the past fifty years has either been a +member or visitor. + +It is between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, and the rooms of +the Club present the usual appearance at that hour. In the right-hand +corner we perceive the President, Mr. Mongredieu, engaged in dire conflict +with Mr. Maude, to whom he has offered the advantage of Pawn and Move. +Readers of the _Chess Players' Chronicle_, of the _Palamede_, and _La +Regence_, have known Mr. Mongredieu for long years past, as an amateur of +first-rate force, who gets himself invariably into difficulties at the +commencement of a game, by his unvanquishable contempt for book openings, +but who comes out all right at last, by his masterly tactics in the middle +of the contest. Possessed of a fund of native English humor, and a +finished scholar withal, he keeps up a running fire of wit and anecdote +throughout the game, in which the lookers-on join. By his side is Mr. +George Medley, the Secretary of the Club, whose name is also a "household +word" to amateurs; he and Mr. Mongredieu ranking as the strongest players +of the association. The latter gentleman has run in for an hour's play +from the Corn Exchange, being in fact one of those men who, before the +knowledge of Political Economy had become diffused amongst the masses, +were styled "the rogues in grain." Mr. Medley has just arrived from the +Stock Exchange, where, after "Bearing" or "Bulling" Mr. Slous, George +Walker, and Mr. Waite during the morning, he meets them at the Chess Club +towards three o'clock, and they become as much absorbed in the mysteries +of the game as though it were the business of their lives. + +If you wish to see what influence chess can have upon individuals, just +analyze the London Club. The members are not "men of straw," but sound, +substantial citizens, with balances at their bankers heavy enough to buy +up half-a-dozen lords. Does a Rothschild or a Baring negotiate a loan? +Here you will find men to take up the greater part, if not the whole of +it. Is capital for a railroad wanted? You need not wander much further. +Look around you, and you will recognize many of the foremost of Great +Britain's merchant princes; men pushing England's commerce into every bay +and inlet of old ocean, carrying the British flag across seas and lakes, +and penetrating continents; causing British cannon to thunder at the gates +of Pekin, and opening Japan to the commerce of the world. These are the +children of the men who first planted foot in Hindostan, descendants of +those who established England's colonies. These are the men, the very men, +who repealed the Corn Laws in 1846, established the principle of Free +Trade, and told a proud, titled aristocracy--"We, the middle class, the +merchants, bankers, and manufacturers of Great Britain, are the source of +all power in England, as we are the source of her greatness." + +An admirable demonstration of these ideas is to be found in the London +Chess Club. This association has flourished with never-failing vigor since +its establishment in 1807, whilst Clubs have risen, waned, and died at the +fashionable end of the town. City men are too patriotic and too proud to +allow their Club to languish; and, depend upon it, whilst the old London +counts a single member, that one last man will, from his own purse, find +funds to keep it alive, inscribe on his colors "_Lateat scintillula +forsan_," and shout with stentorian lungs for recruits. + +The London Chess Club organized on the 6th of April, 1807, Mr. Augustus +Hankey being first President, and the committee numbering among its +members Sir Astley Cooper, the celebrated surgeon, Sir Isaac Lyon +Goldsmid, and others of almost equal eminence. The meetings took place at +Tom's Coffee House, in Cornhill. Such men as Sarratt, Lewis, Walker, +McDonnel, Cochrane, Popert, Perigal, Staunton, Fraser, etc., have either +been members of the Club or frequenters of it. A good story is told of +Perigal, who, for a long period, officiated as the Honorary Secretary. At +the time Deschappelles made his ridiculous challenge to play any English +amateur a match at Pawn and Two moves, Mr. Perigal was sent out to Paris +to arrange preliminaries with the gasconading Frenchman. Deschappelles +soon showed how little he was in earnest, and the ambassador returned +without having effected any thing. On being questioned at the "London" as +to the appearance, manner, etc., of the French champion, he said, with +much gravity--"Mr. Deschappelles is the greatest chess-player in France; +Mr. Deschappelles is the greatest whist-player in France; Mr. +Deschappelles is the greatest billiard-player in France; Mr. Deschappelles +is the greatest pumpkin-grower in France, and Mr. Deschappelles is the +greatest liar in France." + +A match by correspondence was commenced in 1824, between the London and +Edinburgh Chess Clubs, and was won by the latter. Two games were commenced +simultaneously, the moves being forwarded every night through the +post-office. On one occasion the Londoners sent off three moves at once, +half-an-hour in advance of their usual time; and after the letter was +posted, it was discovered that the last move was founded on a +miscalculation, and might lose the game. Application was immediately made +at the office for the letter to be returned, but such a thing was +impossible without an order from the Secretary of State. A second letter +was thereupon despatched to Edinburgh, retracting the move in question, +but the _cannie_ sons of Auld Reekie held them to their first showing, and +the London Club lost the game in consequence. Shortly afterwards, the +Edinburgh Club made a similar blunder, but they, somehow or other, induced +their postmaster to produce the letter, and they corrected the move on the +outside. Of course the Londoners wouldn't stand that. + +In the spring of 1846, Staunton played and won his match with Harrwitz at +the rooms of the Club, and, in the summer of the same year, he there also +vanquished Harrwitz, in a contest of seven even, seven pawn and move, and +seven pawn and two games. In the latter part of that year, and in the same +locality, Harrwitz and Hoerwitz played a match, the former scoring eight +games to his opponent's seven; and, meeting again subsequently, a similar +result was effected. In 1847, the Club entered on a match by +correspondence with the Amsterdam _Cercle des Echecs_, the latter having +sent a challenge of L50 to any London club. One game lasted five years, +and was won by the Englishmen, and a second game was drawn. The Londoners +scored the third, and this game is considered to be one of the finest and +most brilliant contests by correspondence on record. The players selected +by the Club to represent them in this celebrated match were Messrs. +Mongredieu, Slous, Medley, and Greenaway--a glorious quartet, who are now +stronger than ever. + +The London Chess Club did not take part in the Tournament of 1851, because +the St. George's, under the auspices of Mr. Staunton, wished to assume a +position derogatory to their claims; nor was it proper that the oldest and +most influential Club in the United Kingdom should play second-fiddle to a +much younger association. But they gave a cup of the value of one hundred +guineas to be played for by the foreign amateurs then in London, and +Anderssen, Szabs, Zsen, Kling, and Harrwitz were amongst the contestants. +The cup was won by Herr Anderssen. + +In 1852, '53, Harrwitz and Williams played a match at the London Club, the +first-named player winning a large majority of the games. And, finally, on +Paul Morphy's being challenged last year by Herr Loewenthal, this Club, +ever foremost in the interests of chess, doubled the latter's stakes, and +offered the combatants battle-ground for half the games in their saloons. +Nowhere has Paul Morphy met with a heartier English welcome than from the +veterans of this flourishing association. + +Amongst the strongest amateurs now figuring on the muster-roll of the +London Chess Club are those "ancients," Messrs. Slous and George Walker, +and Messrs. Mongredieu, Medley, Maude, Greenaway, and Brien. "May their +shadows never grow less!" + + +THE PHILIDOREAN ROOMS. + +A chess establishment has lately been opened, under the above title, in +Rathbone place, Oxford street, partaking of the peculiar character of the +Divan, in the Strand. The admission, as in the latter, is either by +subscription, or by entrance fee of sixpence, which includes a cup of +coffee or cigar. + +As the Philidorean is too youthful an undertaking to possess a history, I +must confine myself to mentioning some of the principal frequenters, and, +considering the size of the rooms and its age, the establishment may well +be proud of its supporters. The well-known Austrian amateur, Herr +Falkbeer, may be found there daily, with such proficients as Brien, +Zytogorsky, Wormald, Kenny, Healey, and the rising star, Campbell, +together with many others, scarcely less known to fame. As the Philidorean +is centrally situated, in the midst of a very populous and influential +neighborhood, and too far from any similar place of resort, it will +probably hold its own, and become one of the great temples of Caissa. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +MORPHY IN ENGLAND. + + +It is easy to understand that when a man, and especially a young man, +feels his strength in any department of thought or action, he will be +desirous of putting his abilities to the severest test, so as to take that +rank to which he is entitled. Paul Morphy perceiving that it was a +hopeless task endeavoring to induce the chess magnates of the Old World to +visit America, resolved to cross the Atlantic himself, and it would be +difficult to imagine a more chivalric act in one so young than thus +embarking on a voyage of many thousand miles, for the sake of finding new +antagonists. The journeyings of Il Puttino from Italy into Spain to battle +with Ruy Lopez--the travels of the admirable Crichton through different +countries of Europe, are mediocre in comparison with this. + +But an obstacle stood in the way of the proposed voyage. Paul Morphy was +not yet of age, and it would be necessary to first obtain the consent of +his family. This was difficult, for, in addition to other reasons, +objections were made to our hero's entering on so public a career, +interfering, too, as it would for a time, with his legal pursuits. A +committee was appointed by the Chess Club to wait upon Mr. Morphy's family +to request their consent to the much-desired voyage, and this was +ultimately granted. Strong hopes were entertained in England that the +American champion would assist at the meeting of the British Chess +Association in Birmingham, and, for that purpose, the committee had +offered to place at his disposal a certain sum to cover his expenses. This +was not accepted, Mr. Morphy little wishing to travel as a professional +chess-player. At the commencement of the month of June, the following +announcement appeared in the _Illustrated London News_: + + ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CHESS ASSOCIATION. + + It was noticed in our columns last week that this event, the + Chess-players' Derby day, was fixed to commence on the 22d of + June. The arrangements of the local committee are, of course, + not yet complete, but it is whispered that they have succeeded + in insuring the presence of the American chess phenomenon, Paul + Morphy, an attraction, of itself, sufficient to secure the + largest attendance which has been known for years. + +The date for the assembling of the Association was ultimately postponed +until the latter part of August, it being feared, with reason, that the +sitting of Parliament would interfere with the attendance of many who +would otherwise be present. The committee wrote to inform Mr. Morphy of +this postponement, and again urging him to visit Europe, but he was +already _en route_ before the latter reached New Orleans. + +I was both surprised and gratified when I read the announcement of Paul +Morphy's arrival in the _Illustrated London News_. Now, thought I, these +men who do not believe in an American chess-master, will be convinced. +We'll see if Morphy's games are merely "pretty," and "will not bear the +test of analysis;" and whether "he'll find plenty of matches." I wended my +way to the St. George's, feeling confident that I should find Morphy +there, and, after waiting a short time, I had the pleasure of welcoming +him to England. But, having arisen up from a sick bed to travel, joined to +the fatigues of a first voyage across the Atlantic, he did not appear in +as good fighting trim as when I had last seen him in New York. + +On Mr. Staunton's arrival, Paul Morphy asked him if he had any objection +to play an off-hand game. Now it is Morphy's almost invariable custom to +wait to be asked; the solitary exceptions to this rule (to my knowledge) +being in the cases of Messrs. Staunton and Harrwitz. Mr. Staunton declined +the offer on the ground of an engagement preventing, and, notwithstanding +that they met frequently at the St. George's, he would never consent to a +contest of the most friendly description. Doubtless he was desirous of +first observing Morphy's capabilities against other players. The +well-known amateur, "Alter," whose games frequently grace the columns of +Mr. Staunton's paper, offered himself as a sacrifice. "Alter," however, +was not the first to measure skill with the young American, the Secretary +of the St. George's, Mr. Hampton, having already played two games with +him, on a previous occasion. + +Morphy and "Alter" ultimately effected a score of "Alter" 1, and Morphy 4. +His next antagonist was Mr. Barnes, and the result of their play was, at +first, most surprising. During several successive days they scored +alternate games, and the London chess world consequently measured Morphy's +powers by this antagonist. Ultimately the former recovered from the +effects of his voyage, and the proportion was established of 19 to 7, the +last ten or twelve games being scored by Morphy almost without a break. + +The first challenge which the young American received in London was from +Herr Loewenthal. Morphy says that no one can mention this gentleman's name, +without announcing the fact that he was one of the celebrated triumvirate +in the match between Pesth and Paris. Herr Loewenthal and the 19th century +came arm and arm into the world together, so that he has been contemporary +with many who have gone to another sphere. He was led into chess from +sheer jealousy, not of woman, but of a man. At a _cafe_ in Pesth, much +frequented by amateurs of the game,--in fact the Magyar Cafe de la +Regence,--he noticed that a crowd invariably surrounded a certain table +after 4 o'clock in the afternoon; and, on further inquiry, he learned that +the best chess-player in Hungary took upon himself daily to astonish the +natives there. That player was Zsen. Zsen was a clerk in the office of +Archives at Pesth, and, when the business of the day was over, he repaired +to the above-mentioned spot to play chess for a nominal stake, which never +exceeded a _zwanziger_ (sevenpence English). Another peculiarity of his +was, that, no matter what the strength of his opponent might be--queen, +rook, knight, or pawn player--he never would give any odds. His game was +dull, analytical, and sound to a tiresome extent, his only object being to +get through the _opening_ and _middle_, and then winning became a +certainty; for all his strength came out in the _endings_, and a very good +place, too, for it to appear in. Zsen went to Paris in 1831, and played +some games with Labourdonnais at the odds of Pawn and Move, winning the +majority. He then told the great Frenchman that he did not like playing +for stakes as a general thing, but that he would propose to him a match of +twenty-one even games for 200 francs; but Labourdonnais declined. And who +will say he was wrong? for what pleasure could there be in sitting down +day after day before the dullest player in Christendom, for the +eventuality of 200 francs? Zsen was so frightfully slow, even in ordinary +games, that he would have worn out 200 francs' worth of his opponent's +pantaloons before the match was half through. He was an exceedingly +nervous man, and this quality particularly evinced itself during the +Tournament of '51, to the eminent delight of his London friends. But he +was a good-hearted, amiable man, never losing his temper, and ever ready +to declare that he hadn't won the game, but his opponent had lost it. + +We left Zsen over a move at the Pesth cafe. Herr Loewenthal observing what +interest seemed to be taken in chess, thought he should like to try his +hand at it, and forthwith pored over such works on the game as he was +informed would initiate him into its mysteries. Obtaining a little +knowledge, he soon after began playing daily with Zsen, receiving no odds, +because, as before stated, Zsen would not give any, upon principle. During +eighteen months, Loewenthal never scored one game. But whilst Zsen was away +on his travels at Paris and elsewhere, he made rapid progress, +particularly in the openings; and on his antagonist's return, he induced +him to give the advantage of Pawn and Move, and Zsen lost every game. +Returning to even play, the latter won the large majority; but with +constant practice, Loewenthal decreased the distance between them, although +he never turned the tables upon his adversary. Herr L. considers that, in +their best play, Grimm would win three games to Zsen's seven, and four to +his six. Most chess-players finished Grimm some years back, but he still +flourishes "down East." After the Hungarian agitation of 1848, he fled +into Turkey, and is now settled in Aleppo, where, as he turned Mussulman, +he no doubt revels. + +Grimm was a music publisher in Pesth, and, according to Herr Loewenthal, a +man of high intelligence, being a celebrated _pianist_ and a thorough +proficient in the German, French, Italian, and Latin languages. He was +also renowned as a whist-player, and his equal at the billiard-table was +not to be found throughout the entire Austrian Empire. His chess was the +antithesis of Zsen's, being "brilliant, but not over sound," qualities +which find favor with "the gallery," but are dangerous to one's backers in +a match. This interesting triumvirate--Zsen, Grimm, Loewenthal--had it all +their own way, in Pesth, until July, 1842, when Alexandre came there, and +then they had him too. Alexandre brought his Encyclopaedia, or the +Encyclopaedia brought him, and both of them got sold in the Hungarian +capital. He thought the idea of anybody there beating him, simply +preposterous; but was irresistibly convinced to the contrary when Grimm & +Co. did it with so much charming facility, that he told them they were a +match for the Paris _Cercle des Echecs_, and advised them to send a +challenge forthwith. The triumvirate were shy at first, then did as they +were told, and, to their surprise, the Paris Club accepted their _defi_ by +return of post, enclosing the first move. The match consisted of two +games, and 1,250 francs a side; the reader can learn, on inquiry at Cafe +de la Regence in Paris, who didn't win it. + +Herr Loewenthal's business led him twice a year to Vienna, and on those +occasions he improved his play with the amateurs of the _Cercle des +Echecs_ of that capital. In 1846, he won a match of Hampe, beating him +nearly 2 to 1. About the same period he visited Breslau, and won a +majority of games (off-hand) from Anderssen. He then steered for Berlin, +"the city of the seven stars"--Heyderbrandt, Bledow, Bilguer, Hanstein, +Mayet, Hoerwitz and Mendheim. The first of these paladins was absent from +the capital, but Herr L. met him subsequently at Vienna, and Heyderbrandt +won a majority of two games. With Hanstein, Loewenthal effected an even +result, but got the better of Mayet. In Von der Lasa's absence, Bledow was +incontestably the strongest player of the club; but Bledow was jealous of +his reputation, and declined opposing the Hungarian, until strongly urged +by the members. Herr Loewenthal states that Bledow evinced the greatest +generosity. Having a certainly-won game, but not wishing to damp a young +reputation by defeat, he said, "Oh, I suppose it can only be a drawn +game," and forthwith made a move which allowed his antagonist to escape +and draw the contest. Not many Bledows in this world! + +In 1849, Herr Loewenthal visited the United States, during the contest +between Messrs. Stanley and Turner. With the latter gentleman he played +two matches, winning both, and subsequently accompanied him into Kentucky, +where he commenced another with Colonel Dudley, being again successful. +Thence he strayed to Cincinnati, where he met his fellow-countryman, +Colonel Pragay, and travelled with him to New Orleans, carrying a letter +of introduction to Mr. Eugene Rousseau. Immediately on arriving he was +taken ill with fever; but on recovery, he called upon that gentleman and +heard, for the first time, of Paul Morphy. Our hero, then but twelve years +of age, won two games, drew one, and lost none; and although Herr +Loewenthal did not imagine that he thus made the acquaintance of a master +whom he would eventually rank as the superior of every chess-player that +ever lived--Labourdonnais not excepted--yet he felt satisfied that his +youthful opponent would rise to equality with the strongest living +amateurs. As proof of this, I will give a paragraph from _The Era_ of +October 5th, 1856, twelve months before Paul Morphy was known outside of +Louisiana. Herr Loewenthal writes as follows: + + "CHESS IN AMERICA.--The progress Chess has made in America is + almost, if not quite, equal to that which it has achieved in + England. This is more than might have been expected; for in a + comparatively new country men may be supposed to be busier and + more restless than in an old one, and it seems to be rather + against probabilities that a game, requiring quiet thought and + study, should have been developed to the same extent as more + bustling amusements in America. Yet that it is so is proved by + the fact that in almost every large town there is a Chess Club, + and many of these clubs are in communication, and play games by + correspondence. Another proof is also to be found in the number + of papers regularly devoting a part of their space to chess, + and giving, as the English chess papers do, well-contested + games, with notes, problems, and chess intelligence. Among the + first in rank of these is the _Albion_, the chess column of + which is, we believe, edited by Mr. Stanley, and among the + latest of the accessions to the chess ranks we observe _Frank + Leslie's Illustrated Paper_. In the first rank of the players + in New York (between which and Philadelphia a correspondence + match is now going on) we may mention Messrs. Stanley, + Sullivan, Thompson, and Perrin. We must pay some _attention to + chess in America if we mean to keep our laurels green_. The men + of the New World are not apt to lag behind when they throw + themselves into any pursuit, and if we do not take care, we may + have the next chess champion from the far west." + +Herr Loewenthal, on quitting the Crescent City, returned to Cincinnati, +where he was induced to settle. He opened a smoking and chess divan, and +was on the high road to fortune, when he received a letter from Mr. +Charles H. Stanley, in New York, enclosing one from Mr. Staunton. This +communication invited Herr Loewenthal to attend the International +Tournament at London, in 1851, and ambition prevailed over cupidity. He, +however, got ousted in the first round of the tournay, his antagonist +being Mr. Williams, but he turned the tables upon that gentleman soon +afterwards, by beating him in a set match. + +When the St. George's Chess Club removed to St. James's street, Herr +Loewenthal was elected secretary out of one hundred and forty candidates, +and officiated in that capacity during four years. "_The Era_" newspaper +commenced a chess column in February, 1854, and he was selected by the +proprietor to conduct it--our readers know with what success. A few months +ago, the _Illustrated News of the World_ announced its intention of +devoting a column weekly to the game, under the direction of Herr +Loewenthal, and he also edits an elementary chess article in the _Family +Herald_. A fair amount of weekly work for one man; especially when his +book labors and frequent play at the London, St. George's, and St. James's +are taken into consideration. The last-named club is his own child, and +promises to become one of the most flourishing in the metropolis. + +Herr Loewenthal did not regard his play with Morphy at New Orleans as any +test of their respective strength, but it was not at all agreeable to his +feelings to have it recorded against him that he was beaten by a boy of +twelve. So, on Paul Morphy's arrival in England, he hastened to challenge +him, and of course a match was immediately agreed upon. It was at first +arranged that the match should be for L50 a side, and the victor he who +first scored seven games, but the challenger possessed so many warm +friends, all of whom wished to have a share in the stakes, that it was +proposed to Morphy to double the amount and increase the number of games +to nine. It is lucky that Morphy was not born a woman, for he never says +"no" to any proposition, and he did not to this. Half of Herr Loewenthal's +stakes were found by the London, and the remainder by members of the St. +George's; and it was stipulated that the games should be played +alternately at the rooms of those two clubs. + +My readers know the result. According to the opinion, or rather the +statements, of numerous London players, Herr Loewenthal played much below +his usual strength--one gentleman stating that his combinations were +unworthy of a rook-player even. I was used to this, and liked it. The New +Yorkers had uttered similar stuff, saying that Morphy only beat them +because he knew the openings better, and I can state on authority that all +the players in Europe came to a mutual understanding not to play their +game when Morphy was their antagonist. But there was also another reason +for the latter's success. He frightened his adversaries, not by his +strength, but by his personal appearance. This boy of twenty-one, five +feet four inches in height, of slim figure, and face like a young girl in +her teens, positively appalled the chess warriors of the old +world--Narcissus defying the Titans. Herr Loewenthal was the first to give +Morphy his due; before the final game in the match was played, he said to +me: "I felt chagrined at the result of the first one or two games, because +I thought that I ought to have won them; but now I feel no longer +dissatisfied, for I am convinced that I am vanquished by superior +strength." And he has since told me--"After the first game I went home +saying to myself, 'Well, Morphy is not so terrible after all!' The second +_partie_ failed to change my opinion; but, in the third, I saw all my +combinations twisted and turned against me, and I felt myself in a grasp +against which it was almost vain to struggle." Chess-players will shortly +see this noble-minded gentleman's opinion of Morphy fully expressed, in a +collection of the latter's games which he has lately been engaged in +editing. + +The following extract from _The Era_ newspaper thus announces the result +of the match to its readers: + + FINISH OF THE GREAT CHESS MATCH. + + The match between Mr. Paul Morphy and Herr Loewenthal came to an + end on Saturday the 22d, the American carrying the victory. + Although it was universally remarked that Herr Loewenthal's play + was far below his usual strength, it must at the same time be + admitted that the play of Mr. Morphy marks that gentleman out + as one of the finest players in the world. We shall be glad to + see him engage with other great European players, in order that + it may be proved which is the stronger in the game, the Old + World or the New. We believe Mr. Morphy is ready to challenge + all comers. There is something exceedingly romantic and + chivalrous about this young man's coming over to Europe and + throwing down the gauntlet to all our veterans. He is certainly + a very admirable Crichton of Chess, and, like the accomplished + Scot, he is as courteous and generous as he is brave and + skilful. + + _The Era_, August 29th, 1858. + +When the above match was only about half through, another was arranged +between our hero and "Alter," the former giving the odds of Pawn and Move. +In conversation one day with some gentlemen at the St. George's, Paul +Morphy had expressed himself dissatisfied with "Alter's" having won a +game from him, stating that he could give him the odds of Pawn and Move. +This coming to "Alter's" ears, he stated to Mr. Hampton, the secretary of +the Club, that he felt confident Mr. Morphy could do no such thing, and +that he would very willingly play a match with him, in a friendly spirit, +to convince him to the contrary. Whereupon Mr. Hampton brought the cartel +to Morphy, who gladly accepted it, and, the two principals being put face +to face, it was agreed that a set of ivory club-size Staunton chessmen +should become the property of the winner of the first five games. Now +"Alter" had been playing for months past at those odds (P. & M.) with Mr. +Staunton, holding his own against that gentleman, and he considered that +if he (Mr. S.) could not beat him, certainly Morphy could not. So +confident was he of the result, that he told the young American: "Were it +not for my position (meaning as a clergyman), I would willingly play you +for a thousand pounds." As far as he was concerned, Morphy, too, was +confident. Before the contest commenced, he said to me: "'Alter' may win +two games, but he will not win more;" and I would here notice his (M.'s) +power of estimating an opponent's strength. When the preliminaries were +settled with Herr Loewenthal, he stated to me: "If I cared about betting, I +would bet that Loewenthal does not win five games. Of course there will be +plenty of draws, but he will not get more than four." On our way to Paris, +he said: "Well, now I am going to play Harrwitz, and I would bet the same +as I did about Loewenthal;" and when he was preparing to meet Anderssen, he +awarded four games to the Prussian champion. In every instance he +overrated his opponents, or, perhaps I should rather say, underrated +himself. + +The preliminaries were soon settled, all ceremony, seconds, &c., being +dispensed with; the only condition, that I can recollect, was in regard to +smoking. "Alter" observed that gentlemen could use the weed in the room +where the match was played, but it must be in moderation, so as not to +render the atmosphere insupportable. "Alter" gave a capital example on the +first game: he sat down in front of Morphy with an ordinary cigar in his +mouth; when that was nearly finished, he ordered the waiter to bring him a +full-sized _regalia_; cutty-pipe and "birdseye" followed the _regalia_; +and then he left the room to fetch an immense _meerschaum_, from which he +blew clouds worthy of Peter Stuyvesant and the Knickerbockers. + +"Alter" was thoroughly acquainted with the peculiar nature of the "pawn +and move" game; Morphy, on the contrary, was less accustomed to those odds +than to any other. In New Orleans, he did not engage even players, or any, +in fact, but such as he gave the knight, and much more frequently, the +rook. In New York he played a short match at pawn and move with Mr. +Stanley, and that may be considered his introduction to such odds; I was +therefore as much astonished as any one when I saw him make such short +work of "Alter," who never won a single game, and only succeeded in +drawing two. I am afraid that this result seriously interfered with Mr. +Staunton's fixing a day for the commencement of the match between himself +and Morphy. + +It must not be supposed that our hero was devoting all his time to chess, +or that the game was always uppermost in his thoughts. A foreigner, and +especially an American, feels bound to visit all "the lions" of the +English metropolis, and Morphy was no exception to the rule. I was almost +constantly with him, and certainly no subject was less frequently referred +to than chess. I have been amused with the conduct of gentlemen on similar +occasions, who seemed to think that no other subject than that could +interest him, and after pertinaciously confining the conversation to the +game, took upon themselves to declare that it was the single thought of +his life. So that, in England, he is looked upon as a chess automaton. In +France they give him the very opposite character, complaining of his +aversion for the game. + +Precisely the same thing was observable in their references to the +peculiar style of his play. In England, they considered him the very +_beau-ideal_ of brilliancy, comparing him to McDonnel, and to "Cochrane, +without his faults." In Paris, however, they characterized his game as +"_solide_, close, and analytical, not possessing brilliance like +Labourdonnais;" although these Frenchmen, one and all, with the exception +of De Riviere, forced their close openings upon him. + +Since Mr. Staunton's voluntary relinquishment of what he terms "actual +play," confining himself to consultation games and "odds," Mr. Boden is +admitted to be the best English player. The B's certainly form a strong +phalanx amongst London amateurs, numbering such names as Buckle, Boden, +Barnes, Brien, Bird; but the first-named gentleman has long since quitted +the lists. Mr. Boden was no exception to the rule of English players in +their opinion of Morphy, on the latter's arriving in Europe; but he was +one of the first to be convinced of the American's superiority, and, with +John Bull honesty, immediately avowed it. The admirably-conducted chess +column in _The Field_, is under his supervision; and his remarks therein +on Morphy's tactics are too well known to require any comment from me. I +have heard him state his conviction that no one could possibly be better +adapted for the game, whether physically or mentally; and he, too, like +Herr Loewenthal, ranks Morphy above all known players. In the month of +January last, he drew my attention to one game in particular, between our +hero and Anderssen, stating that he was satisfied "Labourdonnais would +have lost it ten times over." Now it requires great courage on the part of +any man to place a player beside Labourdonnais, much more above him. Herr +Loewenthal says that he does not wonder that the chess world is so backward +in giving Morphy the rank to which he is entitled; "but few players are +capable of appreciating his games, and it was only after careful analysis +that he could form a proper opinion of them." He assured me that he has +frequently been confounded at the depth of Morphy's combinations whilst +engaged in their work, expressing his firm conviction that when a +collection of his games shall be placed before the public, the chess world +will rank Morphy above all players, living or dead. + +The proportion in which Morphy had beaten Mr. Boden was so great, namely, +five to one, that a prominent member of the St. George's remarked on +hearing it, "Well, I did not think any player living could win in such +proportion." I remember a similar occurrence in reference to Mr. Perrin, +the late secretary of the New York Chess Club, some weeks before the +appearance of Paul Morphy in that city. In answer to a friend, this +gentleman replied, "That is the same as saying that a player could give +any of us a piece," (meaning the principal members of his club, who were +considered about on a par with each other.) "Now, I don't think that +Labourdonnais, even, could give me the knight." Morphy, nevertheless, +after beating him at even, at pawn and move, and pawn and two, offered him +the knight, which was accepted "for trial's sake;" and out of five games +there was a difference of the odd victory, but my memory fails me as to +whether it was won by Morphy or not. Mr. Perrin will not feel displeased +at my mentioning this fact, because it is pretty well conceded now, that +where any other player can give pawn and two moves, Morphy can very easily +give the knight. European celebrities, in making comparison of the +strength of different amateurs, leave Morphy out of the question; and when +they compare him at all, it is only with Labourdonnais. And very few of +them, too, would scruple at taking odds from him. On the publication of +his challenge to Mr. Harrwitz to play a match at pawn and move for 500 +francs, Mr. Boden stated in _The Field_, "There is more than one English +player who will be glad to meet Mr. Morphy on these terms." + +The majority of his games in London, Morphy played at the Divan. It was a +general subject of regret, after he had vanquished the different amateurs +in the capital, that Mr. Bird was absent in the North, and that the +American might leave before that gentleman could visit London. Mr. Bird is +a terrible fellow for attacking right and left; his game was described as +the counterpart of Morphy's, it being added that he was just the +antagonist our hero required. At last, Mr. Bird arrived, and the result +between the two was more startling than ever, Morphy winning ten to one. +It is but just to state that Mr. Bird was somewhat out of play, as he +himself observed; adding, however, that he never was a match for his +antagonist. It gives me much pleasure to relate such instances as these, +because, as a general rule, there are no more self-confident mortals than +prominent chess-players. + +It would be difficult to remember all the men with whom Morphy played at +the Divan; or, rather, with whom he did not play. But I must not forget +that merry individual, Mr. Lowe. It was in the Divan that Mr. Staunton +played Mr. Lowe that celebrated match at pawn and move, the play in which +on both sides, as Mr. S. observed, "was unworthy of second-rate players in +a third-rate coffee-room," because Mr. Staunton was beaten. Since that +occasion, Mr. Staunton has slighted the Divan, but Mr. Lowe still +flourishes there, ever ready to meet all comers, and if not nightly +playing somebody, at all events nightly making everybody laugh. Mr. Lowe +made trial of Morphy privately, immediately on the latter's arrival, and +forthwith ran to the Divan to tell everybody, much to everybody's disgust, +that not one of them would have any chance against the American. They all +laughed at him, the only reply being, "Oh, Lowe, you're a funny fellow!" + +Before the Birmingham meeting, Morphy had met all the leading Metropolitan +players, with, of course, the exception of Mr. Staunton. And yet perhaps I +should not except that gentleman, for our hero had played in two +consultation games with him, Mr. S.'s ally being "Alter," and Morphy's, +Mr. Barnes. Messrs. Barnes and "Alter" are well matched. Both of these +consultation games were won by Messrs. Barnes and Morphy. + +As the latter part of the month of August approached, considerable +curiosity was evinced in various quarters as to whether Paul Morphy would +then be a contestant in the tournament. Although not a Yankee, he +nevertheless displayed as much "cuteness" under oft-repeated +interrogatories as the downiest "down Easter;" feeling what an important +bearing his determination would have upon the expected match with Mr. +Staunton. In a subsequent chapter will be found his reasons for not +entering the lists on that occasion. He was well aware that his decision +must necessarily produce considerable disappointment, but he was conscious +that a tournament triumph is by no means an accurate test of strength. If +chess can ever become a game of chance, it is under such circumstances; +and the only sure criterion of the respective strengths of two opponents +is by actual hand-to-hand encounter. + +But Morphy did not intend disappointing the Birmingham gentry altogether, +and felt convinced that if he played six or eight games blindfold before +the association, they would pardon his absence at the opening of the +meeting. After the tournament had got into the second section, he left +London and arrived at Birmingham before the day's proceedings had fully +commenced. I had the pleasure of accompanying him, and on our arrival at +the College in which the meeting of the British Chess Association was +held, we found quite a crowd in the commodious rooms provided by the +Committee of Management. The President of the Birmingham Club, Mr. Avery, +introduced the young American to the members of the association, and the +cheers with which he was received were such as seldom come from others +than Englishmen. Morphy advanced up the room without the slightest +embarrassment, although his reception was as unlooked-for as it was +flattering. Saint Amant, who was present, wrote a brilliant account of the +meeting to the Paris journal _Le Sport_, and I am only sorry that I have +not the article in question by me at the present moment. The style of the +article, however, is indelibly fixed in my memory, reminding one of the +Lays of the old Troubadours. Saint Amant writes prose in poetry, and he +has made of Morphy an epic hero. He tells the Parisians that the young +American is no mere pale-faced boy, visiting foreign lands to increase his +powers; but "a citizen of the United States, who comes to claim a sceptre +in Europe." Then again, "his walk is that of a king, and he advances +through the crowd of strangers like a monarch receiving homage from his +court." But he does not forget to state that Morphy is innately modest, +and that all this admiration has no bad effect upon him; for such has been +the theme of every one who has been brought in contact with him. + +Most of the principal players in England were assembled at Birmingham, in +August, 1858. Amongst them, Staunton, Loewenthal, Boden, Bird, Kipping, +Owen, Salmon, Avery, Hampton, the President of the Association, Lord +Lyttelton, Falkbeer, Brien, etc. The prominent feature of the meeting was +of course the tournament prizes of sixty and twenty guineas, for which +Messrs. Staunton, Loewenthal, St. Amant, Falkbeer, Kipping, Owen, Hughes, +Brien, Smith, Ingleby, Bird, Zsabo, Hampton, Brettlestone, and Salmon +contended. The sixteenth player was intended to be Morphy, but not +appearing in time, he was ruled to have lost all further share in the +contest. It was matter for much disappointment that Mr. Boden did not +enter the lists, especially after the gallant fight he had made at the +previous meeting of the association in Manchester. The final result was +that Herr Loewenthal carried off the first prize, and Herr Falkbeer the +second; and, so far as the former gentleman was concerned, almost every +player was both astonished and gratified at the _denouement_. It was only +during the week preceding the Birmingham Festival, that the Hungarian had +succumbed to his youthful antagonist, and he had consequently entered on a +fresh contest with all the disheartening recollections of defeat; a +defeat, too, which he expressed his belief had seriously damaged his chess +reputation. Prominent London players had criticized his games with Morphy +in an inconsiderate spirit, the almost universal statement being that he +had not played up to any thing like his usual strength. The criticisms on +his moves in the widely circulated columns of the _Illustrated London +News_ were cruel to a degree; slighting allusions being made to his +"bookish theoric," etc. Yet this old veteran goes down to the field of +battle with unshaken courage, wins two games, one after the other, from +Mr. Staunton in the second section of the tournay, and carries off the +first prize in the teeth of fourteen able competitors. This result proved +one thing beyond a doubt, namely, that Morphy's late triumph was the +consequence of his superior strength, and not from mere want of practice +and skill on the part of Herr Loewenthal. And it also verified the +observation of Mr. George Walker, in _Bell's Life_, that "Mr. Morphy beat +Mr. Loewenthal because Mr. Morphy was stronger than Mr. Loewenthal." Oh, Mr. +Walker! Mr. Walker! what a rude way you have of putting naked truths +before the public! + +Of course Morphy was not allowed to twirl his thumbs in idleness, +especially with so energetic a master of the ceremonies as Mr. Avery. This +gentleman soon arranged a contest between our hero and Mr. Kipping, the +leading Manchester player, and exponent of the Evans' Gambit. Mr. K. had +the move, and played the opening he has so much at heart; Morphy accepted, +under the impression that he, too, knew something about the Evans'. First +game scored by the American, the Manchester amateur thirsting for revenge. +Morphy, in his turn, plays the Evans', and Mr. Kipping cries "enough." No +other single games were played by Morphy during the meeting, the leading +celebrities present being engaged in the tournament, but our hero made up +the difference by astonishing the natives with a display of his blindfold +powers. + +When Morphy declared his intention, in London, to play eight games +without sight of the board, there were very few who believed the thing +possible. They knew that Labourdonnais and Philidor had played two or +three games simultaneously, and that Kieseritzky and Harrwitz had repeated +the performance in later times, but there was a wide leap from three to +eight antagonists. Harrwitz had earned a great reputation in Europe by his +blindfold prowess, and was regarded without a rival, although many other +players, such as Anderssen, De Riviere, etc., had occasionally met two or +three antagonists at a time. Here was "a coil;" this young champion of the +West, not satisfied with vanquishing all the chess veterans of England +over the board, prepares to cast for ever into the shade the most +astonishing performances of this and past ages. Well might Saint Amant +declare that it was enough to make the bones of Philidor and Labourdonnais +rattle in their graves! + +I well remember Paul Morphy's first blindfold contest in New York. It was +on the occasion of Paulsen's playing against four antagonists without +sight of the board. Morphy offered to be one of his adversaries, and to +meet him on the same conditions; and somewhere about the twentieth move he +announced mate in five, much to Paulsen's astonishment, who did not think +the crash was so near, although well aware he was "going to the bad." Mr. +Paulsen got such an insight into Morphy's blindfold capabilities, that he +subsequently observed to me, "Mr. Morphy can play as many games, without +seeing the board, as I can, only he is so unwilling to lose a game." + +It will here be well to mark the difference between the blindfold +performances of these two gentlemen. Both of them _see the boards_ in the +mind's eye equally well, but there the resemblance stops. Paulsen's +contests average fifty moves, whereas Morphy's seldom extend beyond +thirty. The former is a _balista_, the latter, a rifle bullet. What each +is over the board, he is with his back turned to it, and there are many +even in Europe who maintain that Morphy's blindfold feats are more +brilliant than his usual mode of play. Paul Morphy, however, attaches very +little importance to these displays, calling them mere _tours de force_, +notwithstanding that they appear so wonderful to the multitude. To quote a +favorite expression of his, one frequently used by him in speaking on the +subject--"It proves nothing." + +A young gentleman has lately appeared somewhere in Germany, who, we are +informed, has reproduced Morphy's performances at Birmingham and Paris. In +fact he is represented to have precisely re-enacted the American's victory +in the French capital, playing against eight _strong_ antagonists, winning +from six and drawing from two. There seems some "method" in this; at least +I for one cannot help feeling suspicious, especially as the news is +heralded to the world in connection with Morphy's name. I have seen one of +the games played on the occasion, in which this young gentleman announces +mate in ten or twelve moves--an astonishing announcement, indeed, under +the circumstances. The whole affair is beautifully managed throughout, +and, whether played blindfolded or over the board, marks the player as an +amateur of the very highest order. Was the transaction _bona fide_? Now I +do not wish to depreciate any man for the sake of benefiting another. +_Palmam qui meruit, ferat._ We know that Morphy has played against eight +antagonists on two separate and most public occasions, and that the most +eminent players in England and France were witnesses of his performance. +If Germany does possess a second Morphy, let him step forward and prove +his identity, and I, for one, will do him reverence. Cannot that +responsible body, the Berlin Chess Club, tell us something tangible about +him, and why it is that we never heard any thing about him till now? +Perhaps he is a new Deschappelles, and has acquired chess in forty-eight +hours, on hearing of Morphy's feats. The Berlin Schackzeitung can surely +investigate this affair, and enlighten us on what seems very much like a +_ruse de guerre_--an invention of the enemy. + +But let us return to Birmingham. Mr. Avery asked the young American what +eight antagonists he would select; when the latter replied that it was +immaterial to him, but that he should prefer all strong players. There +were then in the room Messrs. Staunton, Saint Amant, Loewenthal, Boden, +Falkbeer, Brien, and others of not much inferior strength, and Morphy was +in hopes that many, if not all, of these gentlemen would offer themselves +as opponents. But he was mistaken, and great difficulty was experienced by +the Committee of Management in making up the required eight, who were, +finally, as follows: Lord Lyttelton, President of the British Chess +Association, Rev. Mr. Salmon, the strongest Irish player, Messrs. Kipping, +Avery, Wills, Rhodes, Carr, and Dr. Freeman. Paul Morphy was put up in a +corner at the end of the room, and, every thing being prepared for action, +he threw open his portholes and gave the signal, "Pawn to King's Fourth on +all the boards." + +Of course I am not going to mystify the general reader with the scientific +details of the contest. I know that Lord Lyttelton had the first board, +and received the deference due to his exalted rank, by being the first put +_hors du combat_, and I remarked, too, that after his lordship had decided +on his various moves, he would get up from his seat, walk towards the end +of the room, and contemplate Morphy, as though desirous of seeing how he +did it. And I know, too, that St. Amant was running from table to table, +giving advice to one and the other with his continual "Il va croquer ca," +as an intimation that one or the other must look out for a pawn or piece +in danger. And then, too, Morphy kept on checking Mr. Avery's king by +moving his rook from the seventh square to the eighth, backwards and +forwards, until that estimable gentleman declared it was a drawn game, +when a bystander horrified him with the information--"That is only after +fifty moves; Morphy will keep you there until he has kiboshed the others, +and then he will honor you with his sole attention." But the game was +finally declared drawn. + +And, at the finish, how everybody applauded when Morphy arose, the +vanquisher of six, having only lost the game with Mr. Kipping--through an +oversight at the beginning. And how everybody was astonished when he +stepped from his seat as fresh as a newly plucked daisy, and Mr. Staunton +examined him closely to find traces of fatigue. Then indeed his not +playing in the tournament was forgiven and forgotten. + +Then there was the soiree, and the capital matter-of-fact address of Lord +Lyttelton. His lordship lauded Morphy to the skies, both for his blindfold +and other play, and referred to the match with Mr. Staunton, trusting that +Morphy would beat every other antagonist but that gentleman. Nothing more +now remained to be done in England for some months to come; and Morphy +returned to London, to prepare for his campaigns on the Continent. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE STAUNTON AFFAIR. + + +We must anticipate the events of a few months, in order to place the +discussion with Mr. Staunton where it properly belongs, viz., with +Morphy's achievements in England. I do not think I have omitted a single +fact or incident connected with an affair which has now become history, +and my readers will agree with me that Mr. Staunton has suffered a far +worse defeat by not playing the match than if he had been vanquished, as +everybody says he would have been. + +In dealing with this most delicate question, I feel desirous of letting +facts, as far as possible, speak for themselves; but as it is the province +and the duty of historians to seek the causes of events and to criticize +the actions of their _dramatis personae_, I shall record, in all honesty +and kindliness, what I believe to have been the motives at work in this +contest. And, in order that nothing may remain unsaid, I shall give all +the correspondence on the subject, both _pro_ and _con_. + +Paul Morphy's principal object in coming to Europe was to play a match +with Mr. Staunton. I am well aware that a young gentleman travelling for +the first time in foreign countries must have many objects in view; but in +this particular case, the pretext for the voyage, the very inducement for +his friends to consent to his journey, was to repeat that challenge +personally, in England, which Mr. Staunton had declined, on the ground of +the place of combat not being in Europe. It is necessary that this point +should be understood, because much of the controversy hinges upon it. If +we examine the challenge addressed to Mr. Staunton by the New Orleans +Chess Club, we find therein two main ideas: 1stly. That Mr. Staunton is a +representative of European chess. 2ndly. That American players challenge +him to combat with their representative. Mr. Staunton's reply raised but +one objection; and that objection led Paul Morphy across the Atlantic, in +order to remove the only stumbling-block in the way of the contest. + +I was constantly with Morphy after his arrival in London, and a frequent +subject of conversation between us was the match with Mr. Staunton. That, +too, was the first, the principal topic at all the London Clubs we +visited, and every thing but the date was looked upon as decided. Mr. +Staunton, however, had not, as yet, stated explicitly that he accepted the +challenge, but he did so _viva voce_ shortly after Mr. Morphy's arrival, +and subsequently, in the _Illustrated London News_. + +It seems as if Mr. Staunton had refrained from accepting the _defi_ until +a somewhat accurate estimate could be formed of his challenger's strength. +Previously to the latter's arrival, Mr. S.'s opinion of him was not at all +equal to that entertained by his countrymen in America, nor did any player +in England give him the rank which he now holds. There were no means by +which to judge of his force. Not a dozen of his games _all told_ had been +seen in Europe, and his antagonists were comparatively unknown, with the +exception of Mr. Charles H. Stanley. But that gentleman had, for some +years, withdrawn from the chess arena, and his play with Morphy did not, +certainly, equal his former exploits with Rousseau and Schulten. It was, +therefore, absolutely necessary to await the result of his play with some +known European antagonist; and I feel confident that the stature of his +ability was measured on his first twelve or fifteen games with Mr. Barnes. +Judging from these _parties_, Paul Morphy was little, if any thing, +superior to that gentleman, but time had not been allowed him to recover +from the fatigues of his voyage, and I have always remarked that +travelling, even by rail, seriously deteriorates Morphy's game. + +In accepting the challenge, Mr. Staunton postponed the commencement of the +match for a month, "in order to brush up his openings and endings." This +was too reasonable for Morphy to decline. Subsequently, as will be seen by +the latter's correspondence, Mr. Staunton obtained a postponement until +after the Birmingham meeting, in August. In the mean time, the young +American had won the match with Herr Loewenthal, beaten "Alter" in a set +contest at "pawn and move," and startled the chess community by the +imposing manner in which he had triumphed over every opponent. Public +opinion had changed in respect to him. This was evinced by the way in +which the London players, almost universally, spoke of the proposed match. +I have heard gentlemen at the London Chess Club, the Divan, nay, even at +the St. George's, declare repeatedly--"Mr. Staunton now knows too well +what antagonist he will have to deal with. Depend upon it, he will find +means of backing out." This language, repeated at every turn, necessarily +caused Paul Morphy some anxiety. On myself, however, I can conscientiously +declare it had no effect. I did not believe it possible that any man +having so publicly accepted a challenge, would attempt to avoid a contest, +and expressed this opinion to Mr. Morphy, "It will be well not to accept +all that one hears. Mr. Staunton has numerous enemies; do not allow +yourself to be prejudiced by them, but look upon his acceptance of the +challenge as a certainty that the match will come off." + +With yet unshaken confidence in Mr. Staunton's intention to play, Paul +Morphy addressed him a short note, ten days prior to the Birmingham +meeting; to this he received a somewhat lengthy reply, the main point in +it being that Mr. Staunton still required "a few weeks" for preparation. +Morphy responded forthwith, entirely removing all ground for further +excuse by "leaving the terms to himself." Here was an unjustifiable mode +of putting an end to diplomacy! Mr. S. could not continue a correspondence +with one so overwhelmingly courteous, and he left London for Birmingham +without even acknowledging the receipt of the letter. + +Much argument has been built up against Paul Morphy on his non-appearance +in the tournament, and one writer has endeavored to prove from it that he +was afraid to meet Mr. Staunton. Before leaving London, the latter +gentleman assured his young opponent _that he should not enter the lists, +but should confine himself to simple consultation games_. Why Mr. S. +changed his mind, it is not for me to say; although I might argue that Mr. +Staunton sallied forth courageously when he was certain that "Achilles +keeps his tent." However, Paul Morphy's first reason for not entering the +tournay was that, his main object being to meet Mr. Staunton, and that +gentleman having stated his intention of confining himself to a mere +consultation game, as in past years, there was no chance of their crossing +swords, and, consequently, no use of his spending two or three weeks in a +contest which never could be a decisive test of skill. But, when repeated +telegrams assured him that the English champion had decided on becoming a +contestant, there were still stronger reasons for his continued +declination. These reasons were the consequences of Mr. Staunton's own +acts, added to the opinion of nearly every London player, that that +gentleman was seeking an opportunity to evade the match. All these +occurrences had somewhat shaken Mr. Morphy's faith, and he could not but +be suspicious of his antagonist's movements. _He therefore declined +positively and finally to enter the tournament, under the belief that, +whether he won or lost in that contest, it would be equally to the +prejudice of the challenge. Mr. Staunton might say, "I have beaten Morphy; +what is the use of further contest?" or "He has beaten me, I am +consequently out of play. It would be madness to attempt a set match."_ +This, and this only, prevented Paul Morphy from visiting Birmingham at the +commencement of the tournament. Had he gone there when requested, every +influence would have been brought to bear to induce him to alter his +determination, and he merely consulted the interests of the contest he had +so much at heart, by keeping out of temptation until the tournament was +too far under way to admit of his entering it. + +But the meeting of the association afforded an admirable opportunity to +obtain from Mr. Staunton the naming of the day on which the match should +commence. Part of the proceedings of the anniversary was a public soiree, +and Paul Morphy resolved that he would then ask his antagonist, in the +face of all present, to fix the date. I had the pleasure of accompanying +our hero to Birmingham, and I witnessed the disagreeable _contre temps_ +which upset this admirable intention. Crossing the courtyard of the +college on the morning of the soiree, we met Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Staunton, +Mr. Avery, and, I think, Mr. Wills. Now I do not know whether Mr. Staunton +had got wind of what was to occur, but his action certainly frustrated +Morphy's plan, and, for the moment, gave him the advantage. In all such +rencontres the man who gets the first word has the attack, and Mr. +Staunton instantly availed himself of it. He opened fire by declaring that +he was entirely out of play--that he had long been engaged on a great +work--that he was under bonds to his publishers accordingly--that he might +subject them to a loss of many thousands in playing at the present time, +and so forth. But he never stated aught that appeared to intimate the +possibility of the match not coming off eventually, his plea being that he +required further time, in order to put sufficient matter into the hands of +the printers, and to prepare himself subsequently for the contest. It was +now Morphy's turn, and the attack changed hands. The question was put: +"Mr. Staunton, will you play in October, in November, or December? Choose +your own time, but let the arrangement be final." The answer was: "Well, +Mr. Morphy, if you will consent to the postponement, I will play you at +the beginning of November. I will see my publishers, and let you know the +exact date within a few days." The association now looked upon the affair +as decided, and Morphy left Birmingham, firmly believing that the match +would come off after all. + +On the 28th of August, within a few days of the above conversation, the +following extraordinary announcement appeared in the _Illustrated London +News_: + + A SPECIMEN OF MR. STAUNTON'S STYLE OF PLAY. + + ANTI-BOOK.--As you surmise, "knowing the authority," the slang + of the sporting paper in question regarding the proposed + encounter between Mr. Staunton and the young American is + "bunkum." In matches of importance it is the invariable + practice in this country, before any thing definite is settled, + for each party to be provided with representatives to arrange + the terms and money for the stakes. Mr. Morphy has come here + unfurnished in both respects; and, although both will no doubt + be forthcoming in due time, it is clearly impossible, until + they are, that any determinate arrangement can be made. 2. The + statement of another contemporary that the reduction in the + amount of stakes from L1000 aside to L500 was made at the + suggestion of the English amateur is equally devoid of truth; + the proposal to reduce the amount having been made by Mr. + Morphy. + +I was perfectly astonished when I read this statement. "Mr. Morphy had +caused the stakes to be reduced from L1000 to L500 a side." Without +mentioning Englishmen, there were Americans in London and Paris who +asserted that Morphy could be backed against Mr. Staunton _for L10,000, +and the money be raised within twenty-four hours_. I mentioned this fact +to a noble lady in Paris, in order to show the confidence in which the +young American was held, and she replied, "Oh, as regards that, you may +tell Mr. Morphy from me, that for L10,000 against Mr. Staunton or any +player in Europe, he must not go further than my house." + +I asked Morphy to demand an immediate retraction of the unblushing +statements contained in the above paragraph, but he replied--"When a man +resorts to such means as these, he will not stop until he has committed +himself irremediably. Let him go on." Shortly after that Mr. Staunton +changed his tactics. Let not the reader suppose I am about to represent +things otherwise than they appear on the record. Let him take up the files +of the _Illustrated London News_ from the time of Morphy's arrival in +England to his match with Harrwitz; let him examine the analysis of the +games, the notes to the moves in that paper, and he will invariably +perceive that the American's antagonists _could_ or _might have_ won, the +necessary inference being--"There's nothing so extraordinary about +Morphy's play, after all." A change appeared in the criticism on the eight +blindfold games at Birmingham, but, then, Morphy stood alone, and +interfered with no one's pretensions. When, however, the match with +Harrwitz came off, Mr. Staunton's tone was suddenly altered, and this +gentleman who, previously, had scarcely a word of commendation for Morphy, +now talked of "combinations which would have excited the admiration of +Labourdonnais." + + "The force of 'language' could no further go." + +Mr. Morphy judged from this unexpected change of tone that Mr. Staunton +either believed that these contests with continental players would take +up so much of his time in Europe, that he would have to leave without +playing him; or that Mr. S. was experimenting on the maxim--"There are +more flies caught with honey than with vinegar." He therefore addressed +him the following letter, and in order that the public might no longer be +under misapprehension as to the case in hand, he sent copies of the +communication to those papers which had shown him marked kindness in +Europe. At the suggestion of a very shrewd and attached American friend, a +copy was also forwarded to the editor-in-chief of the _Illustrated London +News_. + +The publication of the letter to Mr. Staunton, in so many journals, was a +judicious proceeding. Newspapers are not fond of embarking in a discussion +which may probably "draw its slow length along," and terminate angrily. +Besides, whatever the feeling might be on the merits of the case, Mr. +Staunton was certainly in the position of English champion, and John Bull +does not like it to be proclaimed that one of his sons shows the "white +feather." But, at the same time, rivalry exists between all journals as to +precedence of news, and one paper would not willingly be behind the others +in giving Morphy's letter. Accordingly, the following Saturday, _Bell's +Life_, _The Era_, _The Field_, and the _Sunday Times_ published it as +follows: + + MORPHY'S LETTER TO STAUNTON. + + CAFE DE LA REGENCE, PARIS, _Oct. 6, '58_. + + HOWARD STAUNTON, ESQ.: + + SIR,--On my arrival in England, three months since, I renewed + the challenge to you personally which the New Orleans Chess + Club had given some months previously. You immediately + accepted, but demanded a month's delay in order to prepare + yourself for the contest. Subsequently, you proposed that the + time should be postponed until after the Birmingham meeting, to + which I assented. On the approach of the period you had fixed, + I addressed you a communication, requesting that the necessary + preliminaries might be immediately settled, but you left London + without replying to it. I went to Birmingham for the express + purpose of asking you to put a stop to further delay by fixing + a date for the opening of our match; but before the opportunity + presented itself you came to me, and, in the presence of Lord + Lyttelton, Mr. Avery, and other gentlemen, you stated that your + time was much occupied in editing a new edition of Shakespeare, + and that you were under heavy bonds to your publishers + accordingly. But you reiterated your intention to play me, and + said that if I would consent to a further postponement until + the first week in November, you would, within a few days, + communicate with me and fix the exact date. I have not heard + further from you, either privately, by letter, or through the + columns of the _Illustrated London News_. + + A statement appeared in the chess department of that journal a + few weeks since, that "Mr. Morphy had come to Europe unprovided + with backers or seconds," the inference being obvious that my + want of funds was the reason of our match not taking place. As + you are the editor of that department of the _Illustrated + London News_, I felt hurt that a gentleman who had always + received me at his club and elsewhere with great kindness and + courtesy, should allow so prejudicial a statement to be made in + reference to me--one, too, which is not strictly in accordance + with fact. + + Permit me to repeat what I have invariably declared in every + chess community I have had the honor of entering, that I am not + a professional player--that I never wished to make any skill I + possess the means of pecuniary advancement--and that my earnest + desire is never to play for any stake but honor. My friends in + New Orleans, however, subscribed a certain sum, without any + countenance from me, and that sum has been ready for you to + meet a considerable time past. Since my arrival in Paris I have + been assured by numerous gentlemen that the value of those + stakes can be immediately increased to any amount; but, for + myself personally, reputation is the only incentive I + recognize. + + The matter of seconds cannot, certainly, offer any difficulty. + I had the pleasure of being first received in London by the St. + George's Chess Club, of which you are so distinguished a + member; and of those gentlemen I request the honor of + appointing my seconds, to whom I give full authority in + settling all preliminaries. + + In conclusion, I beg leave to state that I have addressed a + copy of this letter to the editors of the _Illustrated London + News_, _Bell's Life in London_, _The Era_, _The Field_, and + _The Sunday Times_, being desirous that our true position + should no longer be misunderstood by the community at large. + Again requesting you to fix the date for our commencing the + match, + + I have the honor to remain, sir, + Your very humble servant, + PAUL MORPHY. + +[Illustration: MR. STAUNTON. MR. BODEN. HERR LOeWENTHAL.] + +At the same time Mr. Morphy forwarded the following communication to the +Secretary of the St. George's, requesting the Club to appoint his seconds +in the match:-- + + MORPHY'S LETTER TO THE ST. GEORGE'S CLUB. + + T. HAMPTON, ESQ., + _Secretary of the St. George's Chess Club_: + + SIR,--I beg respectfully to inform you that the New Orleans + Chess Club has deposited L500 at the Banking House of Messrs. + Heywood & Co., London: that sum being my proportion of the + stakes in the approaching match with Mr. Staunton. + + I shall esteem it a great honor if the St. George's Chess Club + will do me the favor of appointing my seconds in that contest. + To such gentlemen as they may appoint I leave the settling of + all preliminaries. + + May I request you to lay this communication before the members + of the Club, and to oblige me with an early answer? + + I have the honor to remain, Sir, + Your very humble and obed't serv't, + PAUL MORPHY. + + CAFE DE LA REGENCE, PARIS, _Oct. 8th, 1858_. + +It would be difficult to imagine a more respectful and kindly letter than +that to Mr. Staunton. Since Morphy's arrival in Europe he had considered +himself ill-used by that gentleman. His games had been annotated in an +inferentially depreciatory manner, his victories _accounted for_, and his +antagonists excused. He had been placed in a ridiculous light before the +public by the utterly false assertion that he had come to Europe to +challenge Mr. Staunton or any one else--_without a groat in his purse_. +And yet he never charges Mr. Staunton with being the author of the +falsehood, although Mr. S. is the known editor of the chess column of the +_Illustrated London News_. He positively invites explanation in the most +charitable and Christian-like manner; never even calling the statement in +question, as he might have done, a positive untruth, but politely +characterizing it as "not strictly in accordance with fact." + +The _Illustrated London News_ did not immediately publish the letter, or +make any remark upon it, as did the other papers; but at the commencement +of the week, Paul Morphy received a private communication from Mr. +Staunton, as follows:-- + + STAUNTON'S REPLY TO MORPHY. + + LONDON, _October 9th, 1858_. + + SIR,--In reply to your letter, I have to observe that you must + be perfectly conscious that the difficulty in the way of my + engaging in a chess-match is one over which I have no control. + You were distinctly apprised, in answer to the extraordinary + proposal of your friends that I should leave my home, family, + and avocations, to proceed to New Orleans for the purpose of + playing chess with you, that a long and arduous contest, even + in London, would be an undertaking too formidable for me to + embark in without ample opportunity for the recovery of my old + strength in play, together with such arrangements as would + prevent the sacrifice of my professional engagements. Upon your + unexpected arrival here, the same thing was repeated to you, + and my acceptance of your challenge was entirely conditional on + my being able to gain time for practice. + + The experience, however, of some weeks, during which I have + labored unceasingly, to the serious injury of my health, shows + that not only is it impracticable for me to save time for that + purpose, but that by no means short of giving up a great work + on which I am engaged, subjecting the publishers to the loss of + thousands, and myself to an action for breach of contract, + could I obtain time even for the match itself. Such a + sacrifice is, of course, out of all question. A match at chess + or cricket (_proh pudor!_ why don't he say, "or skittles"?) may + be a good thing in its way, but none but a madman would for + either forfeit his engagements and imperil his professional + reputation. Under these circumstances, I waited only the + termination of your late struggle (with Mr. Harrwitz) to + explain that, fettered as I am at this moment, it is impossible + for me to undertake any enterprise which would have the effect + of withdrawing me from duties I am pledged to fulfil. + + The result is not, perhaps, what either you or I desired, as it + will occasion disappointment to many; but it is unavoidable, + and the less to be regretted, since a contest, wherein one of + the combatants must fight under disadvantages so manifest as + those I should have to contend against, after many years' + retirement from practical chess, with my attention absorbed and + my brain overtaxed by more important pursuits, could never be + accounted a fair trial of skill. + + I have the honor to be, + Yours, &c., H. STAUNTON. + + PAUL MORPHY, ESQ. + + P. S.--I may add that, although denied the satisfaction of a + set encounter with you at this period, I shall have much + pleasure, if you will again become my guest, in playing you a + few games _sans facon_. + +Now the sending of this private communication was a strange course for Mr. +Staunton to adopt. It seemed to be a bait for Morphy, in order that Mr. S. +might use his reply in the forthcoming article in the Illustrated London +News. The young American resolved that all the correspondence should be +public and above-board, and did not even acknowledge the receipt of the +letter. The Saturday following, Mr. Staunton gave as excuse for not +publishing Morphy's missive, the length of M.'s games, but promised it +and his own response "next week." + +On Saturday the 24th of October, the two following effusions graced the +columns of _Bell's Life_. They had also been sent to _The Era_, _The +Field_, and _The Sunday Times_; but, being anonymous, and inclosing no +name or address, were refused admittance. + + ANONYMOUS LETTER, APPARENTLY FROM MR. STAUNTON. + + TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, _Oct. 9_. + + MR. EDITOR: If you enter any chess circle just now, the + questions sure to be asked are, "How about the Staunton and + Morphy match? Will it come off? Suspect Staunton wants to shirk + it?" Now to these questions it is not always easy to give an + answer, and yet they ought to be answered, so as to allow of no + possible misconstruction amongst either friends or foes. There + is one insinuation which may be very briefly disposed of, + namely, that Mr. Staunton wishes to avoid playing. Every one + who knows him is perfectly aware that he is only too ready to + play at all times, and that at every disadvantage, rather than + incur even the faintest suspicion of showing the white feather. + For the benefit of those who have not the pleasure of knowing + him, or whose memories are not over tenacious, I may cite as an + example that in 1844, after vanquishing St. Amant, upon a hint + in the French papers that his opponent had expressed a wish to + have his revenge, Mr. S. at once started for Paris once more, + and challenged him to the field; that from 1840 to 1848 Mr. S. + played with every antagonist, foreign and English, that could + be brought against him; and at the Chess Congress, in 1851, he + rose superior to all personal considerations, and did not + shrink from risking his hardly-earned reputation, when the + state of his health was such that he felt he could not do + himself justice; and all this solely that the tournament might + not want the _eclat_ which his presence could confer upon it. + But, sir, I would submit that this is not simply a question + between Mr. Staunton and Mr. Morphy. We are all interested in + it. Mr. Staunton is the representative of English chess, and + must not be allowed to risk the national honor in an _unequal + contest_, to gratify either the promptings of his own + chivalrous disposition or the vanity of an antagonist. "Oh! + then you admit that Morphy is the better player?" No such + thing. The question is, not as to which is the better player, + but whether, if they meet now, they can do so on equal terms. + Now, I call it an _unequal contest_ when one player, in tiptop + practice, with nothing to distract his attention, engages + another who is quite out of play, and whose mind is harassed by + the unceasing pressure of other and more important avocations. + This is precisely Mr. Staunton's case. He is engaged, in + addition to his customary occupations, upon a literary work of + great responsibility and magnitude, which leaves him scarcely a + moment for any other pursuit; certainly not for chess practice. + Indeed, were it merely a question of time it would be almost + impossible for Mr. Staunton to play a match at the present + moment; but this is a matter of small importance compared with + the mental strain which accompanies such incessant labor. There + is nothing which requires more concentration of thought than + chess. One moment of relaxed attention, and the fruits of the + most profound combination are scattered to the winds. Real + chess between two great players is no mere recreation, but a + severe study, and should never be attempted when there is any + thing else to claim the least share of that attention which + alone can insure success. If Mr. Staunton can steal a few + months from business, and devote himself wholly to chess, by + all means let him do so, and then meet Mr. Morphy when and + where he pleases, and I for one should have no fear for the + result. If he cannot do this, I trust he will have moral + courage to say "No." If not, his friends should say it for him. + He is at least "Pawn and two" below his force of ten years + back; and I repeat that he owes it to the English chess world, + whose representative he is, not to meet Mr. Morphy at such + odds, when he has every thing to lose and nothing to gain. In + the present instance, moreover he is under not the slightest + obligation to play, as Mr. Morphy gave him no intimation that + he was coming over at this particular time, and I believe Mr. + Staunton was not aware of his intention of so doing till he was + actually _en route_; and it is certainly rather a heavy price + to pay for the position which Mr. Staunton justly occupies if + he is to be held bound to enter the lists with every young + adventurer who has nothing else to do, and who happens to envy + him the laurels so fairly won in many hundreds of encounters + with nearly all the greatest players of the day. The result of + any match which he might now play with Mr. Morphy would prove + literally nothing as to their relative chess powers, and I am + very unwilling to believe that the American would at all value + a victory snatched under such circumstances. + + Yours obediently, M. A. + + P. S. Since writing the above my attention has been drawn to a + letter in _Bell's Life_ addressed to Mr. Staunton by Mr. + Morphy, in which the latter tries to assume the character of a + much-injured and ill-used man. Now, how stands the case. From + the time when he made his sudden appearance here to the present + moment Mr. Morphy has been fully aware that the delay in the + proposed contest did not depend upon Mr. Staunton, who, so far + as he is personally concerned, was, and is, prepared to play; + though it does not speak much for that man's sense of honor who + would ever think of forcing on a contest when the inequality is + so immense as it is between Mr. Morphy's position and that of + Mr. Staunton--the one with literally nothing to do but to go + where he lists to play chess, the other with scarcely time for + sleep and meals, with his brain in a constant whirl with the + strain upon it; the one in the very zenith of his skill, after + ten years of incessant practice, the other utterly out of + practice for that very period. Now, let any one read the reply + of Mr. Staunton to the preposterous proposal on the part of Mr. + Morphy's friends, that he (Mr. S.) should go over to New + Orleans, and then say whether Mr. Morphy, after publicly + announcing in the American papers his inability, from family + engagements, to visit England before 1859, and then choosing + to come over without a moment's warning, has anybody but + himself to blame if he finds there is considerable difficulty + in inducing a man with family cares, and immersed in + professional engagements, to sacrifice all for the sake of + engaging, upon the most unfair and unequal terms, in a match at + chess? If Mr. Morphy does not see the force of what I have + advanced, perhaps the following analogous case may bring + conviction home to him. Let us suppose some ten or fifteen + years have elapsed, and that Mr. Morphy, no longer a chess + knight-errant, eager to do battle against all comers, has + settled down into a steady-going professional man, (the bar, I + believe, is his destination,) and with bewildered brain is + endeavoring to unravel the intricacies of some half-dozen + lawsuits put into his hands by clients, each of whom, in virtue + of his fee, is profoundly impressed with the belief that Mr. + Morphy belongs, body and soul, to him. Presently comes a rap at + the door, and in walks a young man, fresh from school or + college, and at once proceeds to explain the object of his + visit, with:--"Mr. Morphy, I come to challenge you to a match + at chess. I am aware that you are quite out of practice, while + I am in full swing. I freely admit that you may have forgotten + more than I am ever likely to know; that you have a reputation + to lose, while I have one to gain; that you have not a moment + you can call your own, whilst I have just now nothing in the + world to occupy my attention but chess. _N'importe._ Every dog + has his day. I expect you to play me at all costs. My seconds + will wait upon you at once; and if you decline I shall placard + you a craven through the length and breadth of the Union." How + would Mr. Morphy reply to such a challenge? Very much, I + suspect, as Mr. Staunton now replies to his:--"I have no + apprehension of your skill; I am quite willing to meet you when + I can, but I must choose my own time. I cannot put aside my + professional engagements, to say nothing of the loss of + emolument entailed by such a course, and risk my reputation as + a chess-player at a moment's notice, just to gratify your + ambition." In giving such an answer Mr. Morphy would do + perfectly right, and this is precisely the answer which Mr. + Staunton now gives to him. And why Mr. Morphy should feel + himself aggrieved I cannot possibly imagine. There is one other + point which I think deserves mention, namely that four years + ago, on the occasion of his being challenged in a similar + manner, Mr. Staunton put forth a final proposal to play any + player in the world, and to pay his expenses for coming to + England. This _defi_ remained open for six months, and he + announced that if not taken up in that time he should hold + himself exonerated in refusing any future challenges. I now + leave the question in the hands of the public, who will, I + doubt not, arrive at a correct appreciation of its merits. + + + ANOTHER VERY DISGRACEFUL ANONYMOUS LETTER. + + _To the Editor of Bell's Life_: + + MR. EDITOR,--It is a pity chess-players will not "wash their + dirty linen at home." Among a few frivolous noodles to whom + chess forms the staple of life, Mr. Morphy's jeremiads may + assume an air of importance, but to sensible men they sound + ineffably absurd, while to those who take the trouble of + looking a little below the surface they appear something worse. + For what are the plain facts of the case? Mr. Morphy started + for England, not to play a match with Mr. Staunton, for he was + told that that gentleman was too deeply immersed in business to + undertake one, but to take part in a general tourney to be held + in Birmingham. Upon arriving here he duly inscribed his name on + the list of combatants, and paid his entrance fee. On hearing + this, Mr. Staunton, in a spirit of what some may call chivalry, + but which, looking at his utterly unprepared state for an + encounter of this kind, ought more properly to be termed + Quixotism, entered his name also. Well, what happened? On the + mustering of the belligerents, Mr. Morphy, who had come six + thousand miles to run a tilt in this tournament, _was not + present_. In his place came a note to say particular business + prevented his attendance. A message was despatched, intimating + that his absence would be a great disappointment, &c., &c. His + reply was, that, understanding neither Mr. S. nor any other of + the leading players would take the field, he declined to do so. + A second message was forwarded, to the effect that Mr. Staunton + was then in Birmingham expressly to meet Mr. Morphy, and that + he and several of the best players were awaiting Mr. M.'s + arrival to begin the combats. To this came a final answer, to + the effect that the length of time that the tourney would last + prevented Mr. Morphy from joining in it, but he would run down + in two or three days. Passing over the exquisite taste of this + proceeding, and the disappointment and murmurs it occasioned, I + would simply ask, if Mr. Morphy thought himself justified in + withdrawing from a contest which he had come thousands of miles + to take part in, and to which he was in a manner pledged, upon + pretences so vague and flimsy, what right has he to complain if + the English player choose to withdraw from one to which he is + in no respect bound, and against which he may be enabled to + offer the most solid and unanswerable objections? In asking + this, I beg to disclaim all intention of provoking a + chess-players' controversy, a thing in which the public take + not the slightest interest, and for which I individually + entertain supreme contempt. I am moved to it only by the spirit + of FAIR PLAY. + + BIRMINGHAM. + +To these communications the editor appended the following remarks:-- + + [We print the above two letters, being all the communications + we have received from Mr. Staunton's party relative to Morphy's + letter in our last. We regret these lucubrations are anonymous, + as not showing how far they really represent the opinions of + Mr. Staunton himself and his friends on the subject. Regarding + their style and phraseology Mr. Staunton may perhaps ask to be + saved from his friends, but that is matter of taste. We shall + feel bound to print brief replies from Paul Morphy's side. + Inferiority once admitted, no matter from what cause, if Mr. + Staunton takes the ground indicated in the above epistles, Mr. + Morphy has but cheerfully and quietly to drop the subject, and + will certainly as a gentleman never challenge Mr. Staunton + again. Morphy's friends may still reasonably inquire why all + this was not said in June last, instead of giving apparent + acceptance to the young American's challenge. + + --EDITOR BELL'S LIFE.] + +The reader will observe that Mr. Staunton (or his friends) is the first to +commence a newspaper war, probably under the impression that lengthy +_protocoling_ would sink the real question at issue, or induce Paul Morphy +to reply, and commit himself. But the latter saw too clearly what +eventualities might arise, and resolved that, in spite of all attacks, he +would never be drawn into discussion. In his letter to Mr. Staunton, no +point was raised on which to build dispute; Mr. S. was merely required to +say what date he fixed for the match. The most sensitive mind could not be +hurt with any thing in the letter, and yet "Fair Play" talks of "Mr. +Morphy's jeremiads appearing something worse than ineffably absurd." "M. +A.'s" lucubration did not obtain admittance into any other paper, but +"Fair Play's" shone resplendently in the columns of the _Illustrated +London News_. I have not learned who "Fair Play" is; nor do I wish to +know. + +When a man's course is straightforward and courageous, he will always find +defenders, and sometimes, ardent partisans. Morphy's unassuming modesty +had made him friends in every chess community, men who were ready to +battle for him as though it were their own quarrel. Hitherto, not a word +had been said by, or for, Morphy in the press, and he was determined not +to seek succor from that source. The ensuing Saturday the following +letters appeared in Bell's Life, the first being from a friend of our +hero, well acquainted with the circumstances of the case; and the others +from prominent members of the metropolitan chess circles. + + LETTER FROM A FRIEND OF PAUL MORPHY. + + _To the Editor of Bell's Life in London_: + + SIR,--Two letters appeared in your paper of last Sunday, one + with the signature of "M. A.," the other of "Fair Play." In + justice to fact, those communications must not remain + unanswered, as the misstatements they contain might perchance + mislead some as to the good faith of Mr. Morphy. It is in no + improper spirit that I appear before your readers under my own + name, but simply because, as I intend replying to your + anonymous correspondents with facts, not with hypotheses, I + think I am bound in honor to hold myself responsible for what I + advance. The chess players of London and Birmingham are not + ignorant of the intimacy with which Mr. Morphy has honored me + during his visit to Europe, and they will permit me to state, + that no one is better conversant with the facts bearing on the + case in point than your subscriber. Were it not that Paul + Morphy positively refuses to reply to any attack upon himself, + preferring that his actions should be the sole witness to his + faith, I should not have troubled you or the public with this + communication. + + On the 4th of last February, the New Orleans Chess Club + challenged Mr. Staunton to visit the Crescent City, "to meet + Mr. Paul Morphy in a chess match." On the 3d of April the + former gentleman replied to this _defi_ in the _Illustrated + London News_, in the following language:--"The terms of this + cartel are distinguished by extreme courtesy, and, with one + notable exception, by extreme liberality also. The exception in + question, however, (we refer to the clause which stipulates + that the combat shall take place in New Orleans!) appears to us + utterly fatal to the match; and we must confess our + astonishment that the intelligent gentlemen who drew up the + conditions did not themselves discover this. Could it possibly + escape their penetration, that if Mr. Paul Morphy, a young + gentleman without family ties or professional claims upon his + attention, finds it inconvenient to anticipate by a few months + an intended visit to Europe, his proposed antagonist, who is + well known for years to have been compelled, by laborious + literary occupation, to abandon the practice of chess beyond + the indulgence of an occasional game, must find it not merely + inconvenient, but positively impracticable, to cast aside all + engagements, and undertake a journey of many thousand miles for + the sake of a chess encounter. Surely the idea of such a + sacrifice is not admissible for a single moment. If Mr. + Morphy--for whose skill we entertain the liveliest + admiration--be desirous to win his spurs among the chess + chivalry of Europe, he must take advantage of his proposed + visit next year; he will then meet in this country, in France, + in Germany, and in Russia, many champions whose names must be + as household words to him, ready to test and do honor to his + prowess." + + No one would regard the above observations as tantamount to + aught else than "If you will come to Europe I will play you;" + but we are relieved from the difficulty of discovering Mr. + Staunton's real meaning by his reiterated declarations that he + would play Mr. Morphy. Within a few days of the latter's + arrival in London, the English player stated his intention of + accepting the match, but postponed the commencement of it for a + month, on the plea of requiring preparation. In the month of + July the acceptance of the challenge was announced in the + _Illustrated London News_. Before the expiration of the time + demanded in the first instance, Mr. Staunton requested that the + contest should not take place until after the Birmingham + meeting. At Birmingham he again declared his intention of + playing the match, and fixed the date for the first week in + November, in the presence of numerous witnesses. Mr. Morphy + may have erred in believing that his antagonist intended to act + as his words led him to suppose, but it was an error shared in + common by every one then present, and particularly by Lord + Lyttelton, the President of the British Chess Association, who + recognized the true position of the case in his speech to the + association, stating that he "wished him (Mr. Morphy) most + cordially success in his encounters with the celebrated players + of Europe, whom he had gallantly left home to meet; he should + be pleased to hear that he vanquished all--except one; but that + one--Mr. Staunton--he must forgive him, as an Englishman, for + saying he hoped he would conquer him."--(Report of Birmingham + meeting, _Illustrated London News_, Sept. 18, 1858. + + So firmly convinced were the members of Mr. S.'s own club, the + St. George's, that he had accepted the challenge, that a + committee was formed, and funds raised to back him. What those + gentlemen must now think of Mr. Staunton's evasion of the match + can easily be understood; but so strong was the conviction in + other chess circles that he would not play, that large odds + were offered to that effect. + + "M. A.'s" reasons for not playing, or "M. A.'s" reasons for Mr. + Staunton's not playing--a distinction without a difference, as + we shall hereafter show--is that "he is engaged upon a literary + work of great responsibility and magnitude." Did not this + reason exist prior to Mr. Morphy's arrival in June? and if so, + why were Mr. Morphy, the English public, and the chess + community generally, led into the belief that the challenge was + accepted? And what did Mr. Staunton mean by stating at + Birmingham, in the presence of Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Avery, and + myself, that if the delay until November were granted him, he + could in the mean while supply his publishers with sufficient + matter, so as to devote himself subsequently to the match? + + Mr. Staunton's (I mean "M. A.'s") remark in the letter under + review, "I (Staunton or 'M. A.' indifferently) have no + apprehension of your skill," is hardly consonant with the + previous observation, that "he (Staunton) is at least pawn and + two below his force," unless the + "English-chess-world-representative" wishes it to be understood + that he could offer those odds to Paul Morphy. Nor is it + consonant with the fact that he has never consented to play Mr. + Morphy a single game, though asked to do so, and when + frequently meeting him at St. George's. Of course the two + consultation games played by him, in alliance with "Alter," + against Messrs. Barnes and Morphy count for nothing, as they + were gained by the latter; a result due, doubtless, to "Alter" + alone. + + Mr. Morphy, in the eyes of the chess world, can have nothing to + gain from a contest with this gentleman. When Mr. Staunton has + met even players such as Anderssen, Heyderbrandt, and + Loewenthal, he has succumbed; whilst his youthful antagonist can + cite a roll of victories unparalleled since Labourdonnais. And + herein is the true reason for "M. A.'s" saying, "Staunton must + not be allowed to risk the national honor (?) in an unequal + contest." + + In wishing "M. A." adieu, I would state that his style of + composition is so like Mr. Staunton's that no one could detect + the difference. And no one but Mr. Staunton himself would ever + set up such a defence as "M. A.'s"--that of inferiority, "Pawn + and two below his strength," &c. &c. And no one but Mr. + Staunton could have such intimate knowledge of his own thoughts + as we find in the following verbatim quotations from "M. A.'s" + letter: "The state of his health was such that he felt he could + not do himself justice"--"his mind harassed"--"the other + (Staunton) with scarcely time for sleep and meals, with his + brain in a constant whirl with the strain upon it." In the + language of Holy Writ: "No man can know the spirit of man, but + the spirit of man which is in him." + + Served up in a mass of foul language, the letter signed "Fair + Play," contains an obviously untrue assertion, namely, "Mr. + Morphy started for Europe, not to play a match with Mr. + Staunton." This is rather outrageous in the face of the + challenge from the New Orleans Chess Club, and with Mr. S.'s + reply in the _Illustrated London News_ of April 3d. So much was + it Mr. Morphy's desire to play him, and so little his + intention to engage in the Birmingham Tournament, that he + informed the secretary he did not regard such a contest as any + true test of skill. + + To sum up the whole matter, I will state the naked facts. + + 1. Mr. Morphy came to Europe to play Mr. Staunton. + + 2. Mr. Staunton made everybody believe he had accepted the + challenge from Mr. Morphy. + + 3. Mr. Staunton allowed the St. George's Chess Club to raise + the money to back him. + + 4. Mr. Staunton asked for a delay of one month, in order to + brush up his openings and endings. + + 5. Mr. Staunton requested a postponement until after the + Birmingham meeting. + + 6. Mr. Staunton fixed the beginning of November for the + commencement of the match. + + If all this do not mean "I will play," then is there no meaning + in language. I beg to subscribe myself, Mr. Editor, most + respectfully yours, + + FREDERICK MILNS EDGE. + HOTEL BRETEUIL, PARIS, _Oct. 20, 1858_. + +The next epistle is from the pen of a former colleague of Mr. Staunton,--a +gentleman whose literary articles in the _Chess Players' Chronicle_ have +earned world-wide notoriety. In the case under examination, he dissects +Mr. Staunton's procedures with the skill of an able anatomist. + + LETTER FROM A COADJUTOR OF MR. STAUNTON. + + _To the Editor of Bell's Life_:-- + + SIR,--In the few remarks that you have appended to the letters + respecting Mr. Morphy's proposed match with Mr. Staunton you + have dealt satisfactorily with the whole matter. The letters + may be considered under two heads, one of which does not refer + to, the other is written upon, the actual subject. That a few + lines should be devoted _not_ to the merits of the case will + not surprise your readers, when they remember that, prejudice + being created against, or in favor of, a particular + chess-player, questions are not viewed in their true light; + still less will they be surprised when I take this opportunity + of doing justice to Anderssen, who is indirectly alluded to in + one of the letters. Your Cambridge correspondent ridicules the + notion of any evasion of play on the part of Mr. Staunton. His + virtue, even approaching a fault, has been the continual search + after a match. He resought St. Amant after defeating him, he + exposed himself to every one for eight years, and thus earned + two characters, one that of the chivalrous paladin, the other + that of the representative of English chess. I wonder that an + intelligent writer, such as your correspondent is, should not + have traced the distinction between resuming play against + antagonists already beaten, or likely to be beaten, and + commencing matches with really powerful combatants. I wonder, + also, that he did not inform your readers that at the time at + which St. Amant played with Mr. Staunton, the former, excellent + as he was, received odds from Des Chapelles, who was out of + play; I wonder that, as if with perfect knowledge, he could + write upon such a chess match without alluding to Des + Chapelles' celebrated criticism on the Staunton-St. Amant + games, a criticism which, published in the _Berliner + Schachzeitung_ of 1848, puts both players in their true places. + I wonder, again, that he should not have summed up Mr. S.'s + subsequent victories in two contests, one with Hoerwitz, the + other with Harrwitz. I wonder that he should not have told us + that Hoerwitz publicly announced his inferiority to Der Lasa and + Hanstein, and that Harrwitz _at the time mentioned_ received P + and two moves, but in the same year defeated Hoerwitz, the very + player upon whose defeat, on even terms, Mr. S.'s reputation + mainly depended after his match with St. Amant. Another + instance of Mr. Staunton's chivalry is, says your + correspondent, an offer to "play any player in the world, and + to pay his expenses for coming to England." The best answer to + this is to quote the actual conditions of the challenge + propounded by Sir G. Stephen on Mr. S.'s behalf in 1853: "1. If + the acceptor of the challenge be resident abroad, the stake on + each side shall not be less than L250. 2. If the challenge is + taken up by a player resident in this country, the amount of + stake shall be from L100 to L150. 3. That the match be played + at a private hotel," etc. After the proposal, Mr. Staunton gave + it meaning in a public speech (_Chess Players' Chronicle_, + 1853)--"The challenge was intended for Anderssen's acceptance. + The L250 was to cover travelling expenses in a foreign + country." Now I wish to ask your correspondent is there here + any offer to pay a competitor's expenses? Or will he read it as + others do? "I name L100 for men whom I do not fear, but L250 + for Anderssen, whom, as he beat me in 1851, I _wish_ to play + with. Nominally, the larger sum will cover his expenses, but as + I intend to win, he will practically have to find L250, his + expenses, and the bill at a private hotel, simply to give me, + the chivalrous Bayard, my revenge?" After this I trust that we + shall not hear of chivalry in offering to pay the expenses of a + competitor. "M. A.," as a Cambridge man, may be asked whether + Mr. S.'s engagement "on a work of great magnitude" (I quote his + own words) is equal to Anderssen's mathematical and + philological labors? But Mr. S. is the representative of + English chess. By whose election is he "_divinae particula + aurae_?" Des Chapelles was then irreverent, and I am an + iconoclast. Is he self-elected? Then away with parliaments and + associations of chess, and their self-elected speaker, + "Fairplay." I never yet heard of a man calling himself the + representative of any thing English, if he will not carry out + his representation. I have heard of champions of the river + retiring. I have seen them row, and take a beating manfully. I + know that Lewis, Fraser, Slous, Walker, etc., gave up difficult + chess. I never yet heard of half and half play. Either a man + pretends to represent English chess, or he does not. If he + makes his claim, whether self-elected or not, he must play (a + representative, however ignorant, gives his vote in the House + of Commons), if not, he may retire into private life. Morphy + may reply to your correspondent and to his coryphaeus at the + same time--"I have played for ten years. I am not 21, but am + prepared to play the best European masters now. If I am + challenged when I have taken up another pursuit I will not do + one thing. I will not accept a challenge, and months after not + carry out my acceptance. I will not, after long delay, name + even the day for commencing the match, and then have no idea of + playing. True it is that you may not fairly represent English + chess. Two British players separated Anderssen from you in + 1851, but, Williams being dead, Mr. Wyvill not playing matches, + and you still claiming priority in Anglo-Saxon chess, I, an + Anglo-Saxon, on behalf of the race that speaks the same + language, ask you, will you maintain or resign your claim?" + This is true reasoning. The contest, "M. A." assures us, would + be unequal. Mr. S. is P and two moves below his strength, yet + he represents English play. Where, then, are the even players, + where the P and move men? Is the fragrance of the P and two + moves so refreshing, that the P and move must not be classed + amongst our British roses? Des Chapelles tells us that Philidor + classed Legalle as a player on even terms, Verdoni as one to + receive pawn for the move, Bernard, Carlier, etc., as P and + move players. I think better of English chess players than to + claim, with "M. A.," our representative in a P and two moves + player. Your Cambridge correspondent will pardon me for + attempting to refute his positions. From the style of his + letter I am convinced that, had he equal experience, he would + write much the same as I have done. "Fairplay's" letter may + soon be dismissed; his argument is, that Mr. Morphy came to + Europe not to play Mr. Staunton (who had previously refused, F. + P. should have added, "to play in America," not in England), + but to take part in the tournament held by the Chess + Association at Birmingham; that he did not play there, sending + different answers for his non-appearance; and, assuming this to + be a fault, that therefore any one may commit the same fault, + if he can give better reasons for the commission. In answer to + this, Mr. Morphy did not come to Europe to play at Birmingham, + but to test his strength with the cis-Atlantic players. It + reads almost like a joke, when a man writes seriously from + Birmingham to inform us that Morphy came 6000 miles to play the + first two or first three games, especially when every one in + London has known for more than three months that he came to + play long set matches. What was Mr. M.'s behavior? He came to + England in June, and visited Birmingham directly. He had been + offered L70 as a retaining fee on account of the distance + travelled by him (similarly Anderssen, Staunton, etc., received + retaining fees in 1857), but refused the offer, making, with + characteristic generosity, such excuses as "he had not received + the Birmingham letters," and that "the meeting was adjourned + for two months." In other words, Mr. Morphy, giving up all + pecuniary claim, practically paid _nearly seven-eighths of the + prizes offered to public competition_. Hence he did not take + part in the little contests at Birmingham. He civilly assented + to the alteration of time--he civilly left Loewenthal, whom he + had beaten in a set match, a chance of gaining the first + prize--he civilly gave answers to telegraphic messages, + answers--I regret here that they were more polite than + exact--that meant the same thing, "I leave the contest to + others." If these replies did not--as short telegraphic + messages cannot--express Mr. M.'s meaning, it does not become + those who profited by his chivalry to write in the style of + "Fairplay;" and I am sure that the Birmingham local committee + would be the first to gainsay the latter's statement. _He_ must + be satisfied, at all events, as Loewenthal, just beaten by + Morphy, met Mr. Staunton, whom he was anxious to see pitted + against the young American, and won, thereby saving criticism + as to "What was, might be, or could be." What "will be," we + shall see. Mr. M. went to Birmingham simply to get Mr. S. to + name, _in the presence of others_, a day for commencing the + proposed match. Then and there Mr. S. named the 1st of + November. A representative of Englishmen should give either a + _bona fide_ acceptance or a refusal. Morphy's motto is "Play, + not talk." He comes and goes to foreign countries to seek play. + He is the "_Il Puttino_" of the New World. At the risk, then, + sir, of being called a "frivolous noodle" by your very elegant + correspondent "Fairplay," I shall take the liberty of believing + what an honest man like Morphy says. I shall not hold Staunton + to be the representative of English chess, but shall look to + younger and more consistent players as far more likely to + maintain what your correspondents call the national honor, and + am, sir, your obedient servant, + + AN ENGLISH CHESS PLAYER. + + EAST SHEEN, _Oct. 21, 1858_. + +The next two letters, also to the editor of _Bell's Life in London_, do +not profess to argue the question, but are merely _argumenta ad hominum_. +They serve to show how warm a feeling in his favor Mr. Morphy had evoked +amongst the fellow-countrymen of Mr. Staunton. + + _To the Editor of Bell's Life_: + + MR. EDITOR: The general opinion of English chess players is + simply that Staunton is afraid of Morphy. If, as his friends + say, he is out of condition, let him train, or give up the + championship like a man. No one would blame him, at his age and + with his avocation, for declining severe matches; but in that + case he must resign the belt into fresher hands. The champion + ceases to be the champion when he is no longer able or willing + to take up whatever gauntlet is flung down. Let the chivalrous + boy who has crossed the Atlantic to challenge the chess of the + Old World have fair play at the hands of Englishmen. If we + cannot beat him fairly, let us not seek to put him off with + shabby dodges. + + Yours, &c. + THE EX-PRESIDENT OF PROVINCIAL CHESS CLUB. + _Oct. 20th_. + +This is sound, straightforward, English common sense. + + _To the Editor of Bell's Life_:-- + + MR. EDITOR: Mr. Staunton either is, or is not, the chess + champion of England, ready to defend his "belt" against all + comers. If he _be_ the champion, he has _no right_ to plead + "want of practice," "literary avocations," or such like + excuses, for "_semper paratus_" must be a "champion's" motto. + If he be _not_ the champion, why then did he hold himself out + as such by inviting or accepting Mr. Morphy's challenge? Why + did he not say at the first, "I _was_ the champion of England + some years ago, but (_solve senescentem_) I am not so now; I am + only a private gentleman, engaged in literary pursuits, and so + forth." His true position would then have been clearly + understood, and I am sure Mr. Morphy would never have sought to + disturb his retirement. But will the English chess-playing + public allow Mr. Staunton to put in this plea _after all that + has passed_, and after all his declarations of willingness to + play? I trust, sir, that, if such an excuse be allowed, at + least we shall have the candor to acknowledge ourselves fairly + vanquished, and not pretend that we have escaped defeat because + we have "prudently" declined the contest. We must be on our + guard for the future how we proclaim as our "champion" a + gentleman who "retires into private life" the moment a + formidable rival appears. + + Yours, &c., + SCHACK. + +The week following the publication of the above letters, Mr. Staunton +published in the _Illustrated London News_ PART of Mr. Morphy's +communication, with the private answer sent a fortnight before. The +paragraph in the former, relating to Mr. S.'s iniquitous statement of +Morphy's arriving in Europe without funds, was entirely ignored, and that, +too, in the face of its having been given _in extenso_ two weeks +previously by four weekly London papers, and a copy sent to his +editor-in-chief. _Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat_ was never more +thoroughly exemplified, and the course pursued proves incontestably that +Mr. Staunton possesses a certain kind of courage which does not stick at +trifles. Was it presumable that a man of his experience would dare to +commit such an unwarrantable act, or did he think that Mr. Morphy would +pass over, in silence, such a suppression? + +The animus was now evident. Mr. Staunton had never awarded that praise to +the young American's contests which every other chess editor and player in +England and Europe had invariably bestowed: still, no action could be +taken on this. Mr. Staunton had continually postponed the commencement of +the match: no handle to take hold of was offered here, since he had, as +continually, asserted his desire to play. Mr. Staunton had announced that +the stakes were reduced from L1,000 a side to L500 at Mr. Morphy's +request; his antagonist was still silent. Mr. Staunton had published a +knowingly untrue statement, and, when the sufferer complains in such +manner as to afford him the utmost latitude for explanation and apology, +he cancels the paragraph, and does not even deign to refer to it in his +reply. Mr. Staunton caps the climax by declining finally to play the +match. Thus Mr. Staunton's response to the New Orleans Chess Club, _so far +as he was concerned_, meant nothing. His acceptance of Morphy's challenge +in London, and the statement in his paper that the match would come off, +meant nothing. His postponements meant nothing. His declarations before +Lord Lyttelton and other gentlemen, at Birmingham, meant nothing. + +Thus there was apparently an end to the whole matter. But an eventuality +presented itself:--Mr. Staunton had shown himself capable of perverting +facts to his own benefit, and might he not assert ultimately that Mr. +Morphy was the cause of the match not taking place? Could he not, too, at +the moment our hero was quitting Europe, declare his readiness to play, +knowing that Morphy must be off? He had so acted towards Herr Anderssen +after the tournament in 1851, declaring that "the German saw fit to +leave," although he was well aware that the Professor's collegiate duties +at Breslau rendered it impossible for him to stay in England and play the +proposed match. Paul Morphy therefore closed up every avenue of eventual +misrepresentation, by the following address to Lord Lyttelton, in his +official quality of President of the National Association of English +Chess-players: + + MORPHY'S APPEAL TO THE BRITISH CHESS ASSOCIATION. + + _To the Right Hon. Lord Lyttelton, President of the British + Chess Association:_ + + MY LORD,--On the 4th of last February the Chess Club of New + Orleans gave a challenge to your countryman, Mr. Howard + Staunton, to visit that city and engage in a match at chess + with me. On the 3d of April Mr. Staunton replied to this _defi_ + in the _Illustrated London News_, characterizing the terms of + the cartel as "being distinguished by extreme courtesy," but + objecting to so long a journey for such a purpose, and + engaging me "to anticipate by a few months an intended voyage + to Europe." Believing that "a journey of many thousand miles" + was the only obstacle in the way of our meeting, I made + immediate preparation, and, within two months, I had the + pleasure of repeating the challenge personally in the rooms of + the St. George's Chess Club. I need scarcely assure you, my + lord, that Mr. Staunton enjoys a reputation in the United + States unsurpassed by that of any player in Europe since the + death of Labourdonnais, and I felt highly honored when he + accepted my challenge, merely requesting a lapse of one month + for the purpose of preparing himself for the encounter. Within + a short period subsequently, Mr. Staunton obtained my consent + to a postponement until after the annual meeting of the British + Chess Association. A week prior to that event I addressed him + in the following terms:-- + + "DEAR SIR,--As we are now approaching the Birmingham meeting, + at the termination of which you have fixed our match to + commence, I think it would be advisable to settle the + preliminaries during this week. Would you be good enough to + state some early period when your seconds can meet mine, so + that a contest which I have so much at heart, and which from + your eminent position excites so much interest in the chess + world, may be looked upon as a _fait accompli_.--I am, dear + sir, yours very respectfully, PAUL MORPHY." + + Not receiving a satisfactory reply to this communication, I + again wrote Mr. Staunton as follows:-- + + "DEAR SIR,--I must first apologise for not replying to your + previous communication. As you observe, my numerous contests + must be the excuse for my remissness. + + "It is certainly a high compliment to so young a player as + myself that you, whose reputation in the chess arena has been + unapproached during so many long years, should require any + preparation for our match. Immediately on my arrival in + England, some two months since, I spoke to you in reference to + our contest, and, in accepting the challenge, you stated that + you should require some time to prepare, and you proposed a + period for commencing, which I accepted. + + "I am well aware that your many engagements in the literary + world must put you to some inconvenience in meeting me, and I + am therefore desirous to consult your wishes in every respect. + Would you please state the earliest opportunity when those + engagements will permit the match coming off, such time being + consistent with your previous preparation? + + "The 'few weeks' referred to in your favor seem to be rather + vague, and I shall feel highly gratified by your fixing a + definite period for the contest. _I leave the terms entirely to + yourself._--I remain, dear sir, yours very respectfully, + + "PAUL MORPHY." + + Mr. Staunton left London for Birmingham without deigning to + reply. + + I attended the annual meeting of the Association for the + express purpose of requesting a definite period for commencing + the match. In the presence of your lordship and other + gentlemen, Mr. Staunton fixed that commencement for the + forepart of November, promising that he would inform me of the + precise date within a few days. I heard nothing further from + him on the subject. Your lordship will have remarked from the + above that Mr. Staunton has thus obtained three separate and + distinct postponements. + + The approach of November induced me to again address Mr. + Staunton, which I did on the 6th of the present month. As my + letter was published in numerous London journals, and was also + sent to the editor-in-chief of the _Illustrated London News_, I + had a right to expect a public answer, particularly as I had + complained of a false and damaging statement in the chess + department of that paper. On the 16th Mr. Staunton stated + editorially that-- + + "Mr. Morphy's games this week exclude both his letter and Mr. + Staunton's reply. If we can spare space for them they shall be + given in the next number." + + On the 9th inst., within a short time of receiving my letter, + Mr. Staunton replied to me _privately_. As my communication was + a public one, I was somewhat surprised at the course pursued by + a gentleman holding such a position as Mr. Staunton, and did + not, therefore, even acknowledge receipt, fearing that I might + thereby be induced unintentionally to commit myself. Having + promised my letter and his reply, Mr. Staunton published what + he represents as such in the _Illustrated London News_ of the + 23d inst. He has thereby transferred the question from the + chess arena to the bar of public opinion, and as a stranger in + a foreign land--a land which has ever been the foremost in + hospitality--I claim justice from Englishmen. + + The most important portion of my letter Mr. Staunton has dared + to suppress. I refer to the following paragraph, published by + various journals, but omitted by the _Illustrated London News_, + although sent to the editor of that paper as well as to Mr. + Staunton himself:-- + + "A statement appeared in the chess department of that journal a + few weeks since, that 'Mr. Morphy had come to Europe unprovided + with backers or seconds,' the inference being obvious--that my + want of funds was the reason of our match not taking place. As + you are the editor of that department of the _Illustrated + London News_, I felt hurt that a gentleman who had always + received me at his club and elsewhere with great kindness and + courtesy, should allow so prejudicial a statement to be made in + reference to me; one, too, which is not strictly in accordance + with fact." + + On my first arriving in England, I informed Mr. Staunton that + my stakes would be forthcoming the moment he desired, and I was + therefore utterly at a loss to account for so unwarrantable a + statement being made in reference to me, unless with the + intention of compromising my position before the public. And I + would ask your lordship's attention to the terms of the + suppressed paragraph, couched in such language as to avoid all + insinuation of animus, and affording Mr. Staunton the amplest + opportunity for explaining away the difficulty. The course + pursued by that gentleman cannot do otherwise than justify me + in ascribing to him the very worst of motives in publishing + what he knew to be incorrect, in denying me common justice, and + in giving as the whole of my letter _what he knew to be only a + part of it_. + + From Mr. Staunton I now appeal to the great body of English + chess players, I appeal to the British Chess Association, I + appeal to yourself, my lord, as the _Maecenas_ of English chess; + and, as I visited your country for the purpose of challenging + Mr. Staunton, which challenge he has repeatedly accepted, I now + demand of you that you shall declare to the world it is through + no fault of mine that this match has not taken place.--I have + the honor to remain, my lord, yours very respectfully, + + PAUL MORPHY. + CAFE DE LA REGENCE, PARIS, _October 26, 1858_. + +To this appeal, Lord Lyttelton made the following admirable reply, which +covers the whole ground:-- + + LORD LYTTELTON ON HOWARD STAUNTON. + + BODMIN, CORNWALL, _3d November_. + + DEAR SIR:--I much regret that I have been unable till to-day to + reply to your letter of the 26th October, which only reached me + on the 1st inst. With regard to the appeal which you have made + to the British Chess Association, I may perhaps be allowed to + say, as its President, that I fear nothing can be done about + the matter in question by that body. It is one of recent and + rather imperfect organization; its influence is not yet fully + established. It is practically impossible to procure any + effective meeting of its members at present, and it is doubtful + whether it could take any step in the matter if it were to + meet. I must therefore be understood as writing in my private + character alone, but, at the same time, you are welcome, should + you think it worth while (which I can hardly think it can be), + to make further use of this letter, in any manner you may wish. + + Your letter has but one professed object; that we should + declare that it is not your fault that the match between + yourself and Mr. Staunton has not taken place. To this the + reply might be made in two words. I cannot conceive it possible + that any one should impute that failure to you, nor am I aware + that any one has done so. But, in the circumstances, I shall + not perhaps be blamed, if I go somewhat further into the + matter. In the general circumstances of the case, I conceive + that Mr. Staunton was quite justified in declining the match. + The fact is understood that he has for years been engaged in + labors which must, whatever arrangements might be made, greatly + interfere with his entering into a serious contest with a + player of the highest force and in constant practice, and so + far the failure of the match is the less to be regretted. Nor + can I doubt the correctness of his recent statement, that the + time barely necessary for the match itself could not be spared, + without serious loss and inconvenience both to others and to + himself. + + But I cannot but think that in all fairness and + considerateness, Mr. Staunton might have told you of this long + before he did. I know no reason why he might not have + ascertained it, and informed you of it in answer to your first + letter from America. Instead of this, it seems to me plain, + both as to the interview at which I myself was present, and as + to all the other communications which have passed, that Mr. + Staunton gave you every reason to suppose that he would be + ready to play the match within no long time. I am not aware, + indeed (nor do I perceive that you have said it), that you left + America _solely_ with the view of playing Mr. Staunton. It + would, no doubt, make the case stronger, but it seems to me as + unlikely as that you should have come, as has been already + stated (anonymously, and certainly not with Mr. Staunton's + concurrence), in order to attend the Birmingham Tournament. + + With regard to the suppressions of part of your last letter, I + must observe, that I am not aware how far Mr. Staunton is + responsible for what appears in the _Illustrated London News_. + But whoever is responsible for that suppression, I must say, + that I cannot see how it is possible to justify or excuse it. + + I greatly regret the failure of a contest which would have been + of much interest, and the only one, as I believe, which could + have taken place with you, with any chance of its redounding to + the credit of this country. I still more regret that any + annoyance or disappointment should have been undergone by one, + who--as a foreigner--from his age, his ability, and his conduct + and character, is eminently entitled to the utmost + consideration in the European countries which he may visit. + + I am, dear sir, yours truly, + LYTTELTON. + + PAUL MORPHY, ESQ. + +Mr. Morphy could not do otherwise than avail himself of the permission +accorded him by Lord Lyttelton, to publish so full a justification. He +thus put himself right on the record, and prevented any further +misrepresentation. Numerous clubs in the United Kingdom took action upon +the letter, and the following resolution of the Manchester Chess Club--one +of the most influential in the country--shows what was the general feeling +upon the subject. + + RESOLUTION OF THE MANCHESTER CHESS CLUB. + + At a special meeting, called in compliance with a requisition + numerously signed, it was resolved-- + + "That this meeting, while recognizing Mr. Staunton's right to + decline any chess challenge which he might find inconvenient + and incompatible with his other engagements, deems it proper + (inasmuch as Lord Lyttelton has only felt himself at liberty to + answer, in his private capacity, Mr. Morphy's appeal to him as + President of the British Chess Association) to declare its full + concurrence in the opinion expressed by Lord Lyttelton in his + letter to Mr. Morphy, of the 3d inst., that in all fairness and + considerateness Mr. Staunton should have told Mr. Morphy, long + before he did, that he declined the proposed match. + + "That copies of this resolution be sent to Mr. Morphy, Mr. + Staunton, and the editor of the _Illustrated London News._" + + _17th November, 1858._ + +Mr. Staunton was able to cite but one instance of an association +sufficiently hardy to oppose its opinion to the verdict of Lord Lyttelton. +A select circle of Mr. S.'s friends, the close-borough Cambridge +University Chess Club, ventured the following resolutions, which were +forwarded for publication to several journals, as a would-be antidote to +that of the Manchester Club. + + RESOLUTIONS OF THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY CHESS CLUB. + + At a meeting of the Cambridge University Chess Club, held + November 26, 1858, the following resolutions were passed + unanimously: + + "That the Cambridge University Chess Club, recognizing the + important services rendered by Mr. Staunton to the cause of + chess, and seeing with regret the ungenerous attacks which have + for some time past been directed against him by a certain + section of the press, notorious for its anti-English + tendencies, are of opinion + + "1. That under the peculiar circumstances in which Mr. Staunton + found himself placed, it was scarcely possible for him to do + otherwise than decline the proposed match with Mr. Morphy. + + "2. That his allowing the challenge to remain open so long as + there appeared the slightest hope of his being able to play, + was, beyond all question, the proper course to be adopted by + one really anxious for the encounter." + +I cannot do better than give the remarks upon the above resolutions by the +"Era" newspaper; they make mince-meat of the Cantabs' reasonings. The +"Era" answers thus:-- + + THE "ERA'S" REMARKS. + + "It will be seen that the Cambridge University Chess Club + constitutes itself the champion of Mr. Staunton against + "ungenerous attacks directed against him by a section of the + press, notorious for its anti-English tendencies." We wish the + Cambridge gentlemen had pointed out the section they refer to. + We were not aware that chess was of any country, or that there + were any anti-English tendencies in connection with it. The + fact is, that the section of the metropolitan chess press, + conducted by foreigners who have made their homes in England, + has hitherto refrained from expressing any judgment in the + dispute, contenting itself with giving the letters ungarbled + and unmutilated; but in chess columns, conducted by Englishmen, + have appeared the remarks pointed at by the Cambridge Club; so + here we have the anomaly of anti-English Englishmen. With + regard to the resolutions which follow the preamble, it is + impossible to cavil at. (1.) There is no doubt that under what + are delicately called "the peculiar circumstances," Mr. + Staunton was right in not playing Mr. Morphy. If a man feels he + would have no chance, it would be foolish for him to venture on + a contest. Resolution (2) is not so impervious to criticism. + Coming from so learned a quarter as Cambridge, we are rather + disappointed at the looseness of its wording. The intention, of + course, was to justify Mr. Staunton in taking the course he has + adopted, but it does not do so. It says he was right in + "allowing the challenge to remain open" till the last moment. + If, indeed, Mr. Staunton had kept the challenge open as long as + possible no one would have blamed him, but that was precisely + what he did not do. He accepted the challenge, and thereby + closed with it, and his friends subscribed funds for the + stakes. What Mr. Staunton did allow to remain open was the day; + and, after repeated promises to name it, that has been + postponed to--never. This is what is complained of in Mr. + Staunton's conduct, and Lord Lyttelton was right, and expressed + the judgment of the great majority of English chess players, + when he wrote that Mr. Staunton might and ought, at an earlier + date, to have informed Mr. Morphy of his inability to play. We + say nothing of the paragraphs which have appeared in the + journal of which Mr. Staunton is the chess editor, insinuating + that Mr. Morphy's money was not ready, because he (Mr. + Staunton) may not be answerable for them, but confine + ourselves, in conformity with our English tendencies, to an + expression of our concurrence in the views of an English + nobleman, the whole of the members of the Metropolitan Chess + circle, and those of the provincial clubs who have communicated + with us on the subject." + +Mr. Staunton's short-sighted policy with regard to Paul Morphy, had not +only caused him to be condemned _vis-a-vis_ of that gentleman, but his +former career was also dragged into discussion and severely commented +upon. The following letter appeared in the "Field" a week after the appeal +to Lord Lyttelton; and, as will be seen, it is from the pen of a once warm +friend of Mr. Staunton:-- + + MR. STAUNTON AND MR. MORPHY. + + SIR,--I am desirous, with your permission, of saying a few + words upon the relative position now occupied by Messrs. + Staunton and Morphy, whose proposed encounter has been brought + to such an unfortunate, though not unforeseen, termination. Now + I am well acquainted with Mr. Staunton. I have been concerned + on his behalf in the arrangement of one of his (proposed) + matches, with a player whom he has never ceased to vituperate + since that period when I endeavored so strenuously to bring + them together. I have fought Mr. Staunton's battles for him by + pen and by word of mouth on sundry occasions. I wish, indeed, I + could do so now; for, as a chess player, and as a laborer in + the field of chess literature, I place him on the very highest + pinnacle. Since the time of M'Donnell, I believe that no + player in this country--not to say Europe--has ever reached so + high a standard as was attained by our English champion when he + did battle with St. Amant. Since that time he has been the + rather concerned in editorial duties, and in intimating to real + or imaginary correspondents in the _Chess Players' Chronicle_, + (now defunct,) and in the _Illustrated London News_, (full of + vitality,) what he could do on the chequered field, if those + who dreamed of approaching him could but muster sufficient + money to meet his terms, or what other and peculiar + restrictions (owing to delicate health and "nervous + irritability") he should impose upon any adversary with whom he + engaged himself. + + From what I have seen of Mr. Staunton, I should think the term + "delicate" thoroughly inapplicable to his condition, but that + he is highly irritable, and nervously susceptible of all + antagonistic impressions, no one who knows him can for a moment + doubt. + + How easy 'tis, when destiny proves kind, + With full-spread sails to run before the wind. + + So sings the poet. Destiny _did_ prove kind to Mr. Staunton + when he played his match in Paris with St. Amant. The + Englishman made the most of it, and achieved a splendid + triumph. At the great Chess Tournament in 1851 destiny was not + quite so obliging. The champion from whom we expected so much + had a head-wind against him, and he was beaten. I saw much of + Mr. Staunton at that time. I believe--in all justice let it be + said--that he was thoroughly unnerved, that he was utterly + unequal to an arduous contest, and that his great merits ought + not to be gauged by his play upon the occasion alluded to. He + deserved (he did not receive, for he had never given the same + to others) every sympathy under circumstances which were + intensely mortifying to himself personally, and to us + nationally. + + Since 1851 it has been pretty generally understood that Mr. + Staunton's irritability has not diminished, and that his + literary responsibilities have the rather multiplied. + Consequently we had no right to expect, nationally, that he + would again be our champion, and contend with the young + American, whose reputation ran before him to Europe, and has + accompanied him ever since his arrival from the United States. + We had no right, I say, to expect this, _but for one reason_. + That reason is to be found in the chess department of the + _Illustrated London News_, of which Mr. S. is the acknowledged + editor. It has been there constantly implied--nay, it has been + over and over again unequivocally stated--during the last eight + years, that the vanquisher of St. Amant is still the English + champion; that as such he has a right to dictate his own terms, + and that if any one is prepared to accede to those terms, he + (Mr. Staunton) is prepared for the encounter. It matters not + whether the correspondents to whom these implications are made + are real or (as is generally supposed) imaginary. It is + sufficient that certain statements are made with the intention + of conveying a false impression to the public as regards Mr. + Staunton's desire to play and capability of playing. This is + where he is so greatly to blame; this is the point on which he + has alienated from himself during the last few years so many of + his warmest friends. No one blames Mr. Staunton for not playing + with Mr. Morphy; but every one has a right to blame Mr. + Staunton if, week after week, he implies in his own organ that + there is a chance of a match, if all that time he knows that + there is no chance of a match whatever. This, I affirm + deliberately, and with great pain, is what Mr. Staunton has + done. It has been done times out of number, and this in ways + which have been hardly noticed. If the editor of the chess + department of the _Illustrated London News_ merely states as a + piece of news that Mr. Morphy is coming to England from America + to arrange a match at chess with Mr. Staunton, and Mr. Staunton + (being that editor himself, and being burdened with literary + responsibilities which he knows to be so great as to prevent + his playing an arduous contest) fails to append to such + statement another, to the effect that he has given up public + chess, and has no intention of again renewing it, he is not + acting in a straightforward and honorable manner. But much more + than this has been effected. So solicitous has Mr. Staunton + been to trade as long as possible upon his past reputation, + that it has been written in the _Illustrated London News_ since + Mr. Morphy's arrival in this country, that he (Mr. M.) is not + prepared with the necessary stakes for an encounter with Mr. + Staunton. What truth there was in such averment may be gathered + from the admirable letter in your impression of last Saturday + from the young American to Lord Lyttelton. Why is not Mr. + Staunton content to say (what those who like him best would be + glad to be authorized to say for him): "I have done much for + the cause of chess, but I am not equal to what I once was; and + I am hampered by engagements which do not admit of my playing + matches now. I cannot risk my reputation under such manifest + disadvantages as would surround me in a contest with Mr. + Morphy." The public at large would then respect Mr. Staunton's + candor, and have a larger appreciation than they now have of + his great merits. It is true that Mr. Staunton _has_ said this + at last; but he has been forced to say with a bad grace what + ought long ago to have been said voluntarily with a good one. + + These unpleasant (not to use a harsher term) circumstances are + the more to be deplored at present because of the frank, + courteous, and unassuming conduct of Mr. Morphy upon every + occasion since he set foot in Europe. I have seen him play in + London and in Paris; and I have noted those obliging and + unobtrusive manners which secure to him the good-will of + everybody, and surround him by troops of friends. How is it + that Mr. Staunton is not surrounded by troops of friends + likewise? Is he not a scholar and a gentleman? Has he not many + qualifications for the distinguished literary position he now + fills? Undoubtedly he has. But he has never been able to merge + the personal in the general--to regard his own individuality as + other than the first consideration. Brought into contact many + years ago with players who were not refined gentlemen, an + antagonism was immediately established between the two parties. + Unhappily for the chess world, literary opportunities were + afforded in the columns of rival newspapers for the indulgence + of malevolent feelings on both sides. To this warfare there has + never been a cessation. So notorious is the fact of its + existence that it is impossible to rely, in one paper, upon any + statement having reference to the London Chess Club; it is + equally impossible to rely, in the other, upon any statement + affecting the St. George's Club. Ladies who are devoted to + "Caissa," and write to the _Illustrated London News_, are not + aware of these things. Imaginary correspondents, of course, are + utterly ignorant of them. But we who live in and about London, + who have been behind the scenes at both theatres, know how much + reliance is to be placed upon a certain kind of chess + intelligence with which two rival journals regale their + correspondents and the general public every week. Look even at + the _Illustrated London News_ of last Saturday, and you will + see a letter professing to come from Birmingham, (I think it is + a misprint for Billingsgate,) which is absolutely disgraceful. + Why should Mr. Staunton try to bolster up his reputation (which + is European) with sentiments and language of a purely (I mean + impurely) local character? Why is one player always to be cried + up at the expense of another? Why are ungenerous and + ungentlemanly insinuations to be made against a youth whose + conduct has been characterized by so much unobtrusiveness and + so much good feeling as that of Mr. Morphy? Why is Mr. Harrwitz + always to be run down in the _Illustrated London News_? Why are + Mr. Loewenthal and Mr. Brien, quondam editorial _proteges_, now + never spoken of but in terms of disparagement? Why should Mr. + Staunton call upon the _cercle_ at Paris to insist upon Mr. + Harrwitz progressing with his match with Mr. Morphy at a more + rapid pace, when the German had pleaded ill health as the cause + of the delay? Who has drawn so largely upon the patience of the + British public, on the score of ill health and "palpitations of + the heart," _et hoc genus omne_, as the generous and + sympathizing writer who thus stabs a rival player when he is + down? It is time, sir, that these things should cease. We are + all weary of them. What better opportunity for crying a truce + to these mean and petty warfares of the pen than the one which + now presents itself? Mr. Staunton is our champion no longer. We + must turn to some one else to uphold the national flag upon + that field where Labourdonnais and M'Donnell fought and + struggled. So anxious am I that good feeling should be + restored, and that we should be united as I see chess players + united in other countries, that I have put together hurriedly + these reflections, which, however imperfect they may be, are + true and just. And because I have observed that the chess + department of _The Field_, which you so ably edit, is + peculiarly free from personalities and remarkably authentic in + its information, I ask you to help me in the good cause by + giving publicity to this letter. I am not ashamed of what I + have written, nor do I desire to shrink from the responsibility + of revealing my name, if it is necessary. I enclose my card, as + a guarantee, and prefer, if it meets your views, to appear only + under the name of-- + + PAWN-AND-TWO. + +It is difficult in any country, and quite impossible in England, to +struggle successfully against public opinion. Mr. Staunton had kept +silence as long as possible, but there was but one course for him to +pursue, namely, in one way or another to own that he was wrong. The chess +circles in which he was once the most welcome of all comers, now turned on +him the cold shoulder; the first clubs in the kingdom, _and amongst them +the St. George's_, were signifying their desire to offer Paul Morphy +public dinners; such eminent players as Captain Kennedy volunteered +subscriptions towards a national testimonial for the young American, not +more as an evidence of their admiration for him as a master in the game, +than as marking their esteem for him as a man.[C] Mr. Staunton could no +longer resist such a pressure, and besides, he owed some apology to his +paper for the suppression of the famous paragraph; he therefore addressed +the following communication to his chief, the editor of the _Illustrated +London News_: + + MR. STAUNTON'S EXPLANATION. + + _To the Editor of the Illustrated London News_: + + SIR,--My attention has this moment been directed to a passage + in a letter of Lord Lyttelton to Mr. Morphy, wherein allusion + is made to the "suppression" of a portion of Mr. Morphy's + letter to me, which you published, together with my answer, in + your paper for Oct. 23. I have not seen the epistle to which + Lord Lyttelton's is a reply; but I plead guilty at once to + having omitted, when sending you Mr. Morphy's jeremiade and my + answer, a couple of paragraphs from the former. My reasons for + omitting them were, in the first place, because they appeared + to me to be irrelevant to the main point between Mr. Morphy and + me; secondly, because I know if the letters extended very much + beyond the limited space you apportion to chess, they were + pretty certain of being omitted, or, as Mr. Morphy phrases it, + "_suppressed_" altogether; and, thirdly, because I had already + written to a friend in Paris with whom, through my + introduction, Mr. M. was living upon intimate terms, an + explanation touching the notice Mr. Morphy professes to be so + concerned at; and from my friend's reply, which intimated that + Mr. M. was about to write to me in an amicable spirit, I of + course supposed there was an end of the matter, and that I + should be permitted to pursue my work, and this young gentleman + his play, without further misunderstanding. That, after this, + and in the face of my endeavors through your Journal to set his + blindfold and other chess exploits before the public in the + most advantageous light--in the face of every civility which to + the extent of my opportunities, I have endeavored to show him + from the first moment of his arrival in this country--he could + reconcile it to his sense of honor and honesty, to impute to me + a wilful suppression of any portion of his letter, does, + indeed, amaze me, and I can only account for it, by supposing + he is under the influence of very ill advisers, or that his + idea of what is honorable and honest, is very different from + what I had hoped and believed it to be. + + I am, sir, yours, &c., + H. STAUNTON. + + _November 15._ + + P. S. That you may judge with what likelihood and with what + propriety Mr. Morphy attributes the omission of the _excerpta_ + to sinister motives, I enclose them, and shall be obliged by + your giving them the additional publicity he craves, as soon as + your space permits:-- + + "A statement appeared in the chess department of that Journal, + (_The Illustrated London News_) a few weeks since, that 'Mr. + Morphy had come to Europe unprovided with backers or + seconds'--the inference being obvious, that my want of funds + was the reason of our match not taking place. As you are the + editor of that department of the _Illustrated London News_, I + felt much hurt that a gentleman who had always received me at + his club and elsewhere, with great kindness and courtesy should + allow so prejudicial a statement to be made in reference to me; + one, too, which is not strictly consonant with fact." + + "In conclusion, I beg leave to state, that I have addressed a + copy of this letter to the editors of the _Illustrated London + News_, _Bell's Life in London_, _The Era_, _The Field_, and + _The Sunday Times_; being most desirous that our true position + should no longer be misunderstood by the community at large. I + again request you to fix the date for our commencing the + match." + +Mr. Morphy was not desirous of prolonging the discussion, after so full +and entire an indorsement from Mr. Staunton's fellow-countrymen, or he +could easily have driven that gentleman further into the mire. But Mr. S. +made two statements in the above letter, which Paul Morphy could not allow +to pass unrebuked, and he accordingly denied, publicly, that he had +received any introduction whatever from that gentleman, or that he had +even hinted his intention of writing Mr. Staunton, amicably or otherwise. + +The latter part of the letter is in questionable taste. As though Mr. S. +had acquired any right to misrepresent facts, publish misstatements, and +deny reparation, on account of "having set his (M.'s) blindfold and other +chess-exploits before the public in the most advantageous light." + +By so doing, Mr. Staunton merely fulfilled his editorial duty; for the +entire chess world was on the _qui vive_ after Morphy's exploits. _His +games were being published throughout Europe, to the exclusion of nearly +all others_, and surely Mr. S. could not allow his paper to be behind +other journals. _But he knew full well that, after the first fortnight or +three weeks, Mr. Morphy never gave him a single partie, being hurt at the +ungenerous treatment evinced towards him in the notes._ Mr. Staunton was +using the columns of an influential journal to crush a dangerous opponent, +and, at the time he penned the above letter, he well knew that Paul Morphy +resented from the first such unfairness, and had positively forbidden any +of his games to be sent to him. + +Mr. Staunton makes reference, in conclusion, to "very ill advisers." I +suppose I must take this mainly to myself, more particularly as it is not +the first time of his using the expression during the discussion. Without +attempting to defend myself, I would say to Mr. Staunton: "I can reconcile +it with my sense of honor and honesty, to impute to you a wilful +suppression of the paragraph so frequently referred to. Had you given that +paragraph, you would, _per force_, have been obliged to give your reasons +for the assertion therein contained. And I would remind you, sir, that, in +all this discussion, you have never touched the real point at issue--never +apologized for the misstatement of which Mr. Morphy complains with so much +cause. Paul Morphy is acquainted with the reason for that misstatement, +but he has never evinced a desire to force you to state it publicly. He +can afford to be generous." + +It may be cause of regret to some that the match between these two +_athletae_ did not take place. Such a contest would not have afforded any +test of comparison, inasmuch as Mr. Staunton is not now the player he was +eight or ten years ago. But an infallible test exists by which to judge of +their respective merits--viz. _their games_. "By their fruits ye shall +know them." + + * * * * * + +MORAL. + +Mr. Staunton's weakness was want of sufficient courage to say, "He is +stronger than I." Loewenthal said it _before his match with Morphy was +finished_; Mr. Boden openly avowed his inferiority, as also Mr. Bird, and +many other eminent players. And Saint Amant, in Paris, led the young hero +up the steps of the throne, and seated him beside Labourdonnais, +proclaiming, "Voici notre maitre a nous tous." Had Mr. Staunton so done, +he would merely have anticipated the verdict of posterity, and honored +himself in the eyes of his countrymen and the world. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[C] CAPTAIN KENNEDY'S OPINION OF PAUL MORPHY. + + _To the Editor of the Era_: + + SIR,--As I understand that Mr. Morphy contemplates another + visit to England before his return to America, will you permit + me, through your columns, respectfully to suggest to the chess + community of this country the propriety of offering him a + public entertainment, together with some adequate testimonial + which may serve to mark our sense of his transcendent ability + as a chess player; and also our appreciation of him as a + chivalrous, high-spirited, and honorable man--a character which + I hope Englishmen know how to value far more than even any + amount of skill at chess. + + Should this proposal take any definite shape, I shall be happy + to be allowed to contribute L5 towards its accomplishment. + + I am, sir, your obedient servant, + A. A. KENNEDY. + + BATH, _Jan. 1, 1859_. + +[Captain Kennedy, we feel sure, in this communication, expresses the +feeling of a large majority of English chess players, and we have little +doubt but that his suggestion will be entertained and carried out. For +ourselves we shall be happy to aid to the utmost in any plan that is +formed for the purpose.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MORPHY IN FRANCE. + + +On the last day of last August, I awakened Paul Morphy at an early hour. +The Folkestone train left London Bridge at 9 55 A. M., and there was some +twenty minutes of hard driving to get to the railway station; but Morphy +came down to breakfast with admirable _sang froid_, took his own time at +the meal, laughed at my fears of being too late, and got into a cab at +least ten minutes later than we ought to have done. We arrived at the +depot in time to see the doors shut in our faces. Now this was not +agreeable, inasmuch as there was no other train for Paris, by that line, +during the day. I therefore proposed to Morphy that we should stroll about +until half-past one o'clock in the afternoon, and then take the route +through Dover and Calais, to which he assented. + +The trip across the Straits of Dover is neither long nor pleasant, and Mr. +Morphy was dreadfully sea-sick; but his mind was preoccupied with his +forthcoming campaigns in _la Belle France_, and he observed to me, "Well, +now I am going to meet Harrwitz! I shall beat him in the same proportion +as I beat Loewenthal, although he is a better match-player than Loewenthal. +But I shall play better with Harrwitz." Some of my readers may object to +such an observation; but those who know Morphy, know that he speaks from +thorough acquaintance with his opponents' capabilities, and conviction of +his own superiority--not from any improper feeling of pride. + +People suffering from sea-sickness generally recognize the truth of the +maxim, "It is better to give than to receive:" you have much difficulty in +getting them to take any thing, even fat pork; but if you watch your +opportunity, when the will is stronger than the deed, and induce them to +worry down a modicum of champagne well up, you infuse new life into them. +So I requested the steward to make us acquainted with his Sillery +Mousseux, and Morphy and I toasted each other on the deck of the +steamboat. On my asking him immediately afterwards how he felt, he allowed +that he was better; adding, however, that he believed it was nothing but +imagination which worked the cure. + +It was but a short run to the pier of Calais, and the sea-sickness was +forgotten when our feet again touched _terra firma_. On landing, we got +into a slight difficulty. Morphy speaks the French language with the +purest Gallic accent, and the officials would not at first consent to his +travelling with a United States passport. This our hero soon cleared up by +reading the _gens d'armes_ a _precis_ of the settlement, manners, +customs, &c., of the State of Louisiana, and his own antecedents; +whereupon that official restored him his _papier regle_, but confiscated a +quantity of underlinen. They told us that was Customary. + +Eight o'clock in the evening; and if we took the train forthwith, we +should arrive in Paris next morning at six. Morphy proposed that we should +sleep there that night, and take an early train the following day, which +course would enable us to see the town of Calais. So we repaired to the +Hotel Dessin, attended to our inner and outer man, and then prepared for a +stroll. As the result of our observations, we agreed Calais must have been +a magnificent town before the discovery of the principles of architecture. +After diligent inquiry, we could not learn that any one knew when the last +house was built, and Morphy gave it as his opinion that, were William the +Conqueror to revisit Calais, he would find it unchanged, except in being +dirtier. When I reminded him that the town possessed peculiar interest for +me as an Englishman, he coolly set me down, by observing that he had a +very poor opinion of my ancestors for wishing to keep such a place. + +The next morning we got into the train at a quarter to eight o'clock, and +commenced the long, dreary ride of ten mortal hours to Paris. But there +was no way out of the difficulty, and, what with yawning and dozing +between the stations, and grumbling at the tedious regulation speed of the +French railways, we ultimately arrived at the capital. Now every +traveller, on getting to this point, thinks he is bound to paint the +various emotions arising in his breast on entering the city of the Seine. +My own sensations were of strong Anglican bias. I wanted to dine. Morphy +is never betrayed into rhapsody, and what he felt he didn't speak. + +Having again submitted our baggage to the inspection of numerous +officials, we thanked our stars for seeing the last of the _Chemin de Fer +du Nord_,--drove off to _Meurice's_, where they gave us rooms about the +fifteenth story,--started for the _Restaurant des Trois Freres +Provencaux_, and got a capital dinner, and then addressed ourselves to the +duties of _flaneurs_. I knew the French capital like a _gamin de Paris_; +and, without saying a word to Morphy of my intention, I led him quietly +down the Palais Royal, past the Theatre Francais, and right into the Cafe +de la Regence. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE CAFE DE LA REGENCE. + + +Were I called upon to name the central spot in this whirling sphere, the +point round which all other points revolve, I should say--The Cafe de la +Regence. + +Probably many of my readers will not think so, but that does not alter the +fact. I name that cafe, not as a chess player, but from more general +reasons. Take a bowl of water or any other liquid--_punch_ will do--and, +prior to drinking, experiment upon it. Turn it round and round until the +liquid revolves quickly, and mark: there is one spot in the centre, a +bubble, or mass of foam, which appears stationary, and all the other +bubbles are circling and converging spirally towards it. So with my cafe. + +In Paris, every other house is a cafe. The inhabitants are divided into +two classes:--waiters at the cafe, and--frequenters of the cafe. Paris +never existed until coffee was introduced. Paris is merely a big cafe, and +is a product of the Mocha berry. + +Every cafe has its speciality. At Paul Niquet's, for instance, the +chiffoniers congregate, and at Tortoni's, speculators and politicians. Not +one of these establishments, throughout the city, but has its mark, by +which to distinguish it from its fellows, in the same way as an ugly woman +consoles herself with the belief that she has one quality at least which +will captivate admirers. But the Cafe de la Regence stands out peculiar +from the rest; it is what they are, and more too. It is an epitome of all. + +Now the reader must not suppose I am going to enter on a lengthy history +of this far-famed trysting spot of men of all countries, more particularly +as Mr. George Walker anticipated me many years ago. Everybody knows that +the Cafe de la Regence and the Cafe Procope are the two oldest in Paris; +that the former is so named after the famous Regent Duke of Orleans; that +Voltaire, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Duke of Richelieu, Marshall Saxe, +Franklin, Robespierre, Napoleon, etc., etc., etc., made it their place of +frequent resort for the purpose of playing at chess. I am about to give a +daguerreotype of the Regence as Morphy and I found it, and as any one will +find it at the present day. + +The first thing we caught sight of, on entering, was a dense cloud of +tobacco smoke, the product of _tabac de Caporal_ and _cigars de la Regie_. +The second object was a massive individual, with Titanic shoulders, whom +we afterwards learned was Monsieur Morel, or, as they call him there, "Le +pere Morel," and "The Rhinoceros." Having turned the flank of this +gentleman, and our eyes becoming used to the peculiar atmosphere, we +observed that tables were placed as close to each other as would admit of +one's passing between them, and that chess was being played on some, +draughts, cards, and dominoes on others. In a second room, two +billiard-tables were in full action, surrounded by still other chess and +card parties, whilst the unceasing hubbub arising from the throng seemed +to render mental abstraction an impossibility. At a table in the first +room, a small crowd was watching the contest between two amateurs of "ye +noble game of chesse playe," and Morphy's attention was immediately +arrested. I stepped up to the _dame du comptoir_ and made inquiries as to +who was then in the room, and learned from her that one of the two players +Morphy was watching was Monsieur Journoud, "un de nos plus forts," the +lady added, as though aware I was a stranger. She informed me that Mr. +Harrwitz was then at Valenciennes, but intended to return to Paris at the +end of the week, in order to meet Mr. Morphy. On my not expressing any +surprise at the mention of the latter's name, she volunteered the +information that Mr. Morphy was a celebrated American player, who had +beaten everybody he had played with, and that they expected him yesterday. +The lady was pleasingly voluble, and I encouraged her; this induced her to +add that Monsieur Arnoux de Riviere had just received a letter from a +friend in London, apprising him that our hero had left the English +capital, and was _en route_ for Paris. + +Having learned as much as the _dame du comptoir_ was able to communicate, +I rejoined Morphy, and we took a second look round the room. Sounds of all +European languages saluted our ears, and types of different races our +eyes. In one corner, a knot of Italians talked, amicably no doubt, in +their rapid, quarrelsome manner. At one of the billiard tables, a party of +Russians were having it their own way, without fear of listeners; +Americans and English, Germans, Danes, Swedes, Greeks, Spaniards, etc., +jabbered together regardless of bystanders, making the cafe a very Babel. +Scores of journals were lying here and there--the leading newspapers, in +fact, throughout Europe--so that every visitor, no matter what his +nationality, could obtain news of home. + +The crowd seemed, as it always does, to represent every rank of society. +There were military men, from colonels to privates; one or two priests, +who seemed somewhat out of their element; well-dressed, +aristocratic-looking individuals, who kept together in knots in different +corners; and the invariable _pillier de cafe_, who passes half his +existence in such establishments, and the other half in bed. The Cafe de +la Regence opens at eight o'clock in the morning, but little or nothing is +done until noon, barring the daily visit of some three or four patrons who +drink their coffee in silence, and are not seen again until early next +day. But at noon men begin to drop in quickly, and, by two o'clock, the +room is as full as it can conveniently hold, and so continues until +midnight. + +The Cafe de la Regence has only existed on its present site for a few +years; in fact, since Louis Napoleon has made the many magnificent +alterations in the French capital. Previously, it was next door, in a +_locale_ not half so convenient as the present one. The cafe is separated +into two rooms on the Rue St. Honore; in the larger one, which we have +already described, smoking is permitted to a frightful extent; in the +other, it is strictly forbidden. The latter chamber is well fitted up, and +the ceiling, which is massive, contains four shields in the cornices, +bearing the names of Philidor, Deschappelles, and Labourdonnais. The +fourth bears the date of the cafe's foundation, and the proprietor has +stated his intention of placing therein the name MORPHY. Perhaps it is +already done. + +At the time of our arrival in Paris, the _Cercle des Echecs_, or in other +words, the Chess Club, met in rooms over the cafe. The association had +three rooms set apart for chess, and one for billiards, and Saint Amant, +Devinck, Guibert, Preti, Doazan, Delannoy, Seguin and Lecrivain were +amongst the members. But the great room down stairs prevented their +receiving any accession of numbers, and the rent being very high, and +funds very low, they gave up their quarters at the end of last year, and +are now to be found in the cafe below. + +Morphy would not announce his arrival on his first visit, preferring to +postpone it until the following day. When it was known that the so much +looked-for player was in Paris, the excitement was great; Frenchmen live +for excitement. M. de Riviere had not been there lately, but we found +Messrs. Lecrivain, Journoud, Guibert, and numbers of knight and +rook-players. The first-named gentleman, by general request, offered +himself as the initiatory sacrifice, accepting the odds of pawn and two +moves, and managed to score some two games to Morphy's six or seven. Then +M. de Riviere arrived, and getting the move, played the Ruy Lopez, which +eventuated in "a draw;" and he was subsequently followed by M. Journoud, +who, though one of the best French players, failed to score a victory. +Morphy had made his mark, and everybody looked forward to the arrival of +Herr Harrwitz, when they hoped to see fun. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE MATCH BETWEEN MORPHY AND HARRWITZ. + + +Saturday came, and so did Harrwitz. We found him a little man, of about +forty, with finely-developed head, and large, piercing black eyes. In +conversation, he is exceedingly witty and "cool," and many are the good +things told of him. Some of my readers will remember the rebuke he gave +Mr. Staunton, when playing his celebrated match with that gentleman. +Harrwitz had made a move which caused much reflection to his opponent, who +rolled about on his chair and stroked his forehead energetically, as only +Mr. Staunton can do, giving spectators the impression that his brain was +in an agony of labor. He examined the position, and re-examined it; but, +the more he looked, the less he liked it. Savage at being balked, he +exclaimed--"Well, I've lost a move," and thereupon played a piece. +Harrwitz coolly rises from his seat, rings the bell frantically, and gives +the following order: "Waiter, look about for a move; Mr. Staunton has lost +one." + +[Illustration: HERR ANDERSSEN. M. SAINT AMANT. HERR HARRWITZ.] + +There is probably no man living who plays so much chess as Herr +Harrwitz. All great chess players I know of, are great _lie-a'beds_, and +he is no exception to the rule. His night-gear and he part company many +hours after sunrise, and he starts forthwith for the Cafe de la Regence, +where he plays, with only a slight intermission for dinner, until he goes +home to bed again. His opponents are generally visitors to the cafe, not +the habitues; for these last have taken great dislike to his very +offensive manner, and will not contend with him. They say, too, that he +evinces an improper desire to win, and, in consequence, will only give the +odds of pawn and move, when he could well afford pawn and two, and the +knight instead of the rook. In my character of historian, I am bound to +state that the feeling was very intense at the Regence in favor of Morphy, +and many the prayers (_French_ prayers) that Harrwitz might succumb to +him. + +The two celebrities shook hands together, and Morphy immediately asked if +he would consent to play a match. The fact is, the young Paul meant +mischief. Everybody in England was loud in praise of Harrwitz's skill, and +prophesied a tough encounter. There was reason in this; for the Prussian +player has given himself up, body and soul, to the game. Staunton's +literary avocations now permit him but an hour or two weekly for chess, +although formerly he lived in the London Divan, as Harrwitz in the +Regence, and was so rabid about Caissa, that he actually wore shirts with +kings, rooks, pawns, etc., printed over the bosoms and tails. Saint Amant +was never a professional chess player, merely regarding it as a pastime. +Loewenthal's duties as chess editor and analyst, prevent his giving much +time to play, and, although he devotes a certain period weekly to the +contests at the London, St. George's, and St. James's Clubs, he seldom +contends for any stake. Anderssen is absorbed in mathematics at the +Breslau Gymnasium; Heyderbrandt's diplomatic career engages nearly his +entire attention; Buckle has forgotten his former love; Boden, Bird, +Medley, Walker, Mongredieu, Slous, Kipping, De Riviere, Laroche, are +engaged in mercantile pursuits; Lowe is getting rich with his hotel; +Hoerwitz is painting; Kling is a professor of music; and so on with nearly +all European players. Harrwitz is the only man I know of who seems to live +for chess, and we can, therefore, easily understand why Morphy was so +desirous of playing him. + +To our hero's question, Harrwitz gave a reply so non-committal, that +Morphy said, aside, to me, "He won't play a match." A crowd had collected +around us, and the Prussian, thinking it an admirable opportunity for +display, asked Morphy whether he had any objection to an off-hand game. Of +course he had not. Harrwitz had the move, and played an Allgaier Gambit, +which, after a hard fight, he won. Morphy was somewhat excited, made a +mistake in the opening, by which he lost three pawns for nothing at all, +and yet fought the battle with such determination, that the number of +moves was not far short of a hundred. His antagonist was delighted with +his victory, thought he was sure of Morphy, and engaged to settle the +preliminaries of a match on the following day. + +The next morning Harrwitz arrived at his usual hour--noon. He informed +Morphy that his friends were desirous of backing him, but that the stakes +were not made up yet. Morphy replied that that would be no objection, as +he would accept any bets that might be offered during the match, and they +could therefore begin at once. But another difficulty stood in the way. +Morphy, in pursuance of a settled plan, had chosen his seconds from the +enemy's camp, and had requested De Riviere and Journoud to act as his +friends in this contest. Harrwitz chose to regard these gentlemen with +feelings of enmity, and stated that, "if there were any seconds, there +would be no match." Morphy was thus placed in a very equivocal position. +Without being aware of any dispute existing between his future antagonist +and the gentlemen in question, he had chosen them as his representatives: +how could he now ask them to back out, because Mr. Harrwitz demanded it? +However, on my representing the case to them, Messrs. De Riviere and +Journoud resigned their office in the most kindly and willing manner, so +desirous were they of seeing the match come off. + +Shortly afterwards Monsieur Lequesne arrived. This gentleman, the pupil +and worthy successor of Pradier, is now the first of living French +sculptors, and the peer of Marochetti, Crawford, and Gibson. He is also a +strong chess player, and the most active man in France for arranging +matches, tournaments, &c. He immediately adjourned with Harrwitz, Morphy, +and myself to a private room, to settle preliminaries, and, if I recollect +rightly, Dr. Grosboulogne was of the party. Harrwitz expressed his dislike +to any thing like ceremony, and objected to their being seconds or umpires +in the affair; sorry were Morphy, Lequesne, and H.'s own backers, +afterwards, that he carried the day on that point. The only arrangements +made were, that Morphy was to accept all bets offered, that the winner of +the first seven games should be esteemed the victor, and that the play +should take place on four days in the week; and, finally, at Harrwitz's +express stipulation, the match was to be played in the public cafe. + +All this being agreed upon, the two champions came forth, and went at it. +On drawing for the move, Harrwitz was again successful, and played, as he +always does in matches, _pawn to queen's fourth_. This opening, and +_Philidor in defence_, as second player, you could no more drive him away +from, than you could induce Great Britain to give up Gibraltar. _Pawn to +queen's fourth_ served Harrwitz's turn once, and so did _Philidor in +defence_, but only once, and I do not think it would then, if Morphy had +been in good condition. + +The night before the commencement of the match, Morphy had been +sight-seeing until a very late hour; and we only got into bed between two +and three o'clock in the morning. He laughed at me for reminding him of +his approaching contest, and the necessity for _mens sana in corpore +sano_, which I said would be seriously interfered with by his not taking +sufficient rest. The next day his appearance verified my prognostics, and +he failed to show that impassibility which ordinarily characterizes him. +He says, however, that Harrwitz beat him because he (H.) played the best +moves; and he would not admit to me that want of rest at all interfered +with his own play. + +Throughout the first game, Harrwitz displayed the most rollicking contempt +for his antagonist, and, at the conclusion, when Morphy resigned, he rose +from his seat, stretched across the table, and taking the latter by the +hand, he felt his pulse and declared to the crowd--"Well, it is +astonishing! His pulse does not beat any faster than if he had won the +game." Everybody was disgusted at such a contemptuous proceeding, but +Morphy took it all as quietly as though it were a part of the match. + +Our hero passed that evening with some friends. Towards eleven o'clock I +said to him, "Now, Morphy, you really must not have a second edition of +last night; let us get home in good time;" but he replied, "Oh, don't be +frightened, I've got the move to-morrow;" and, in spite of all I could say +or do, we did not get to bed until nearly four o'clock. Well, what was the +consequence? After getting a magnificent position in the second game of +the match, bodily fatigue came upon him, and Harrwitz was again victor. +The Prussian came out in greater glory than ever, rolling about in his +seat, talking loudly to persons about the board, and smiling sardonically +at his opponent, as much as to say, "Oh, it takes very little trouble to +beat this fellow." Many leading players in the cafe, especially De Riviere +and Journoud, were very savage at such conduct, but I told them--"Mark my +words, Mr. Harrwitz will be quiet as a lamb before the end of next week." + +The result of the play with Harrwitz had shaken the faith of the French +players in Morphy. But as we left the cafe, he said laughingly to me, "How +astonished all these men will be if Harrwitz does not get another game." +And he did not. At dinner, I reasoned the matter with him, saying that the +first requisite for any man engaged in a chess match, was rest for the +brain; and that he ought, by this time, to be convinced of the absolute +necessity of keeping early hours. And I wound up by exacting a promise +from him that he would never be out of bed after midnight, during the +match. + +In the evening we went to the Opera Comique, and witnessed a very +unsatisfactory performance of "La Part du Diable." Morphy has a great love +for music, and his memory for any air he has once heard is astonishing. +Mrs. Morphy is renowned in the _salons_ of New Orleans as a brilliant +pianist and musician, and her son, without ever having studied music, has +a similar aptitude for it, and it is believed that he would have become as +famous therein as in chess, had he given his attention to it. "La Part du +Diable" was a new opera, and Morphy, after leaving the theatre, hummed +over many of the airs to me, which he had just heard for the first time, +with astonishing precision. + +The next day we took a long drive among the "lions," and, in the evening, +dined at the residence of that chess veteran and friend of Deschappelles +and Labourdonnais, Monsieur Doazan. Harrwitz was of the company, and, for +the nonce, acted Jupiter Triumphans in superb style. I felt indignant at +such conduct towards a man so inoffensive and modest as Mr. Morphy, and I +observed: "I am sorry, Mr. Harrwitz, you have not yet found Mr. Morphy in +good fighting trim. The fact is, he has been preparing to meet you by not +going to bed until common men are about to rise, but he has promised to +retire early in future, and you will then find in him a very different +antagonist." It was merely a hint, but the gentle Harrwitz did not like +it. The following morning, Morphy said to me at breakfast, "If I beat +Harrwitz to-day, you will say it is because I went to bed at eleven +o'clock;" to which I replied, "Perhaps; but I do say that you lost the +first two games because you went to bed at four." + +The third and fourth games Morphy scored in beautiful style. The latter, +Staunton declared, "would have excited the admiration of Labourdonnais," +and the effect upon Harrwitz was interesting. During its progress, his +conduct was quite gentlemanly, with the exception of a violent shaking +consequent upon nervous excitement. There was cause for this. On the +other side of the board sat Morphy, looking, in his peculiar way, like a +block of impassible, living marble, the very embodiment of penetration and +decision. No hesitancy or excitement there, but all cool, calm action, +knowing where it must end; and, as he rose from his seat, everybody +congratulated him on the score now standing two to two, and assured him +they were confident what would be the result. We laughed heartily at these +men who, but a few days previous, had looked woefully chopfallen, fearing +that Harrwitz was too strong for Morphy. + +The fifth game was played on the following Monday, and the Prussian lost +it, although he had the move. Harrwitz felt uncomfortable, plainly feeling +that his present antagonist was, as he expressed himself to a friend, +"very much stronger than any he had ever met." We now had several days' +intermission from play, the plea being "ill health;" and, finally, Morphy +received a letter from his opponent, asking for a respite of a week or ten +days, to which a reply was returned granting the request, on condition +that, when the match was resumed, a game should be played daily, Sundays +alone excepted. At the termination of ten days, Harrwitz lost the sixth +game, so that the score now stood--Morphy, four; Harrwitz, two; drawn, +none. And the latter, in spite of the agreement, was again absent from the +battle-field for some days. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MORPHY'S GREATEST BLINDFOLD FEAT. + + +Awaiting the return of his antagonist, Paul Morphy announced his intention +of playing eight blindfold games, simultaneously, in the public cafe. It +is needless to assure my readers that the mere announcement produced the +greatest excitement; the newspapers heralded the fact throughout the city, +and crowds of strangers came pouring into the Regence, and asking +particulars of the _habitues_ in relation to the approaching performance. +Harrwitz had already asked Morphy to join him in a public display of the +same description, to which the admission was to be five francs, and Morphy +felt embarrassed in answering him; but the good offices of Mr. Lequesne +arranged the difficulty, without hurting any one's _amour propre_, and the +proposed exhibition was set on one side. Morphy has an intense dislike to +money-fingering in connection with chess; and he made it a _sine qua non_ +that, if he played blindfold at all, the _Cafe de la Regence_ should be +open to any one who chose to walk in. The proprietor, Monsieur Delaunay, +was only too glad to accede to this; not merely foreseeing that the +exhibition would attract crowds to his establishment, and be an admirable +advertisement, but also from a friendly feeling for our hero. The +frequenters of the place used to say that Delaunay would give Morphy half +his cafe, if he asked him for it. + +The blindfold struggle was publicly announced to commence at noon; but, at +an early hour, the crowd was already considerable. The billiard-tables in +the further room were sacrificed to the exigencies of the occasion; I +requested the waiters to put a thick cord round them, so as to rail off a +space for Morphy, and a large easy-chair, placed in the _enceinte_, made +the whole arrangements as comfortable for him as could be wished. He, +however, was not up to the mark, as regards bodily health. Morphy is a +water-drinker, and Paris water would cure any Maine Liquor Law bigot of +Teetotalism in a week. Since the outset of the match with Harrwitz, he had +been ailing, but he preferred playing to making excuses. His own +expression was, "Je ne suis pas homme aux excuses"--(I am no man to make +excuses,) and he was always ready for Harrwitz, although obliged to ride +to the cafe. Nothing proves so satisfactorily to me Morphy's wondrous +powers in chess, as his contests in France, laboring, as he constantly +did, under positive bodily suffering. A man's brain will often be more +than ordinarily active and clear when the body is weak from late illness; +but it is not so when there is pain existing. At breakfast, on the +morning fixed for this blindfold exhibition, he said to me, "I don't know +how I shall get through my work to-day. I am afraid I shall be obliged to +leave the room, and some evil-minded persons may think I am examining +positions outside." Yet, in spite of this, he sits down, and, during ten +long hours, creates combinations which have never been surpassed on the +chess-board, although his opponents were men of recognized strength, and, +as a collective body, Pawn and Two Moves stronger than the Birmingham +eight. + +The boards for Morphy's antagonists were arranged in the principal room of +the cafe, numbered as follows:-- + + No. 1. Baucher, + 2. Bierwirth, + 3. Bornemann, + 4. Guibert, + 5. Lequesne, + 6. Potier, + 7. Preti, + 8. Seguin. + +Nearly all these gentlemen are well known in contemporaneous chess, and +formed such a phalanx that many persons asked whether Morphy knew whom he +was going to play against. Monsieur Arnoux de Riviere called the moves for +the first four, and Monsieur Journoud for the others; and, all being +prepared, Morphy began as usual with "Pawn to King's Fourth on all the +boards." + +Things went on swimmingly and amusingly. It was as good as a volume of +_Punch_ or the _Charivari_ to hear the remarks made by the excited +spectators; more especially when the "openings" were past, and the +science of the combatants came out, in the middle of the game. There was +the huge "Pere Morel," hands in his pockets, blowing clouds from an +immense pipe like smoke from Vesuvius, threading his way between the +boards and actually getting fierce when anybody asked him what he thought +of it. Seeing him seated at the end of the room towards evening, and +looking as though dumbfoundered at the performance, I said to him,--"Well, +Mr. Morel, do you believe now that Morphy can play against eight such +antagonists?" He looked at me in an imploring manner and replied,--"Oh, +don't talk to me; Mr. Morphy makes my head ache." It is related of Pitt +that, making a speech in Parliament on a certain occasion, whilst under +the influence of sundry bottles of Port, the doorkeeper of the House of +Commons declared that the son of the great Chatham made his head ache, so +violent was his language, and so loud his tone. This coming to Pitt's +ears, he said--"Nothing could be better; I drink the wine, and the +doorkeeper gets the headache." Monsieur Potier rises from his table to +show on another board how Morphy had actually seen seven moves in advance; +and Signor Preti gets quite nervous and agitated as our hero puts shot +after shot into his bull's-eye; and I had much difficulty in assuring him +that no absolute necessity existed for his playing on, until Morphy mated +him; but that when he found his game was irretrievably lost, he would be +justified in resigning. Monsieur Baucher was the first to give in, +although one of the very strongest of the contestants; Morphy's +combinations against this gentleman were so astonishing, and the finale so +brilliant, that Mr. Walker declared in _Bell's Life_--"This game is worthy +of being inscribed in letters of gold, on the walls of the London Club." +Bornemann and Preti soon followed, and then Potier and Bierwirth; Messrs. +Lequesne and Guibert effecting drawn battles; Monsieur Seguin alone was +left. It was but natural that he should be the last, as he was the +strongest of the eight combatants, and, truth to tell, he did not believe +it possible for any one to beat him without seeing the board; but this +Morphy finally effected in some beautiful pawn play, which would have +tickled Philidor himself. + +Forthwith commenced such a scene as I scarcely hope again to witness. +Morphy stepped from the arm-chair in which he had been almost immovable +for ten consecutive hours, without having tasted a morsel of any thing, +even water, during the whole of the period; yet as fresh, apparently, as +when he sat down. The English and Americans, of whom there were scores +present, set up stentorian Anglo-Saxon cheers, and the French joined in as +the whole crowd made a simultaneous rush at our hero. The waiters of the +Cafe had formed a conspiracy to carry Morphy in triumph on their +shoulders, but the multitude was so compact, they could not get near him, +and finally, had to abandon the attempt. Great bearded fellows grasped his +hands, and almost shook his arms out of the sockets, and it was nearly +half an hour before we could get out of the Cafe. A well-known citizen of +New York, Thomas Bryan, Esq., got on one side of him and M. de Riviere on +the other, and "Le Pere Morel,"--body and soul for our hero--fought a +passage through the crowd by main strength, and we finally got into the +street. There the scene was repeated; the multitude was greater out of +doors than in the cafe, and the shouting, if possible, more deafening. +Morphy, Messrs. Bryan and De Riviere and myself, made for the Palais +Royal, but the crowd still followed us, and when we got to the guardhouse +of the Imperial Guard, _sergeants de ville_ and soldiers came running out +to see whether a new revolution was on the _tapis_. We rushed into the +Restaurant Foy, up stairs, and into a private room; whilst, as we +subsequently learned, the landlord made anxious inquiries as to the cause +of all this excitement. Having done our duty to a capital supper, we got +off by a back street, and thus avoided the crowd, who, we were informed, +awaited our reappearance in the quadrangle of the Palais Royal. + +Next morning, Morphy actually awakened me at seven o'clock, and told me, +if I would get up, he would dictate to me the moves of yesterday's games. +I never saw him in better spirits, or less fatigued, than on that +occasion, as he showed me, for two long hours, the hundreds of variations +depending on the play of the previous day, with such rapidity that I found +it hard work to follow the thread of his combinations. + +Harrwitz was in the cafe for about an hour during blindfold play, and he +actually had the assurance to say to me, "You can tell Mr. Morphy, that I +will continue the match to-morrow." I replied: "I feel satisfied that Mr. +Morphy will be willing to do so, but I shall most certainly object, and +all that lies in my power will be done to prevent his seeing a chess-board +until he has had at least twenty-four hours' rest." And I added: "You had +better not let it be known that you have made the proposition, or you will +be badly received in the cafe, depend upon it." + +The evening after his blindfold feat, Morphy very inconsiderately took a +nap in his sitting-room, with the window open. On my arrival I awoke him, +and he complained of feeling cold. Next morning he was feverish, and in +any thing but a fit state to meet Harrwitz. Nevertheless I could not +induce him to keep his room; he said to me: "I would sooner lose the game, +than that anybody should think I had exhausted myself by a _tour de +force_, as some will do if I am absent at the proper hour." And he rode to +the Regence in a state only fit for a hot bath and sweating powder. Well +might Saint Amant call him the "chivalrous Bayard of Chess." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +CONTINUATION OF THE MATCH WITH HARRWITZ. + + +Morphy was at the Regence to the minute, but Harrwitz was not forthcoming. +At last we received a message from him that he objected to play any longer +in the public cafe, and requested Morphy to come up stairs into the rooms +of the Chess Club. It would be difficult to describe the excitement caused +by this announcement. Harrwitz's backers, of whom there were eight or ten, +were very angry; more especially as it was at his own particular desire +that the match was played in the cafe. The _pretext_ was, that the warm +atmosphere and noise of the crowd interfered with his game; the _real +fact_, because everybody, even the aforementioned backers, were favorable +to Morphy. What was to be done? Our hero, with his clear reasoning, soon +found the correct reply, and he sent back word that "The Chess Club being +a private association, it would be an impertinence on his part to use +their apartments without their permission." Harrwitz would not show +himself, and the entire affair was near being put a stop to, when certain +members of the _Cercle_ kindly opened the doors of their Club, and Morphy +went up stairs. + +The two principals being again face to face, Harrwitz commenced with his +"same old two-and-sixpence" pawn to queen's fourth, and before he had got +past the twentieth move, Morphy had the attack, position, and every thing. +But, in process of administering the _coup de grace_, Morphy's feverish +state told upon him, and he committed an oversight which lost him a rook, +when within a move or two of winning. It was so stupid a mistake, that he +immediately burst out laughing at himself. Harrwitz picked off the +unfortunate rook with the utmost _nonchalance_, as though it were the +result of his own combinations, and actually told me afterwards, "Oh, the +game was a drawn one throughout." Morphy got a perpetual check upon him, +and it was the only "draw" in the contest. + +What does the American Chess Monthly mean by calling this palpable +oversight "an imperfect combination?" + +Again we had to wait some time for Mr. Harrwitz. It must not be supposed +that this gentleman used his frequent "leaves of absence" for the purpose +of recruiting that health which he represented as so bad. No, he came +daily to the _Regence_ at the usual hour, and played with anybody, but +Morphy, until past midnight. He sat down now, in front of his adversary, +for the eighth and last time, apparently in his ordinary health, and +fought as tough a battle as any in the contest. The game lasted to the +fifty-ninth move, and then Harrwitz resigned. + +The score now stood, Morphy 5; Harrwitz 2; drawn 1. Next day Morphy +received a verbal message that "Mr. Harrwitz resigns the match, on account +of ill health." There was something like a row at the _Cafe de la Regence_ +when this was known, for the Prussian amateur had not even deigned to +consult his backers, or even to inform them of his intention. Mr. +Lequesne, his stake-holder, was requested by him to hand over the +collected amount, two hundred and ninety francs, to our hero, and that +gentleman forthwith called on Morphy at his hotel. Of course we got the +fullest particulars from Mr. Lequesne. He informed us that Harrwitz's +backers were furious, and that they, like himself, were confident that +their principal was merely indisposed in the _morale_, not at all +physically. Morphy replied that it never was his desire to play for stakes +under any circumstances; and, taking into consideration the peculiar facts +of the case, he would certainly decline receiving the money. + +Some time afterwards, Mr. Lequesne returned, and stated that not merely +were the different subscribers to the stakes desirous that Paul Morphy +should receive what had been won by him, but that Mr. Harrwitz would, for +the sake of appeasing his backers, play out the remainder of the match. +Morphy immediately returned answer, that "Mr. H. having resigned the +contest, there was an end of the matter, but that he (Morphy) was ready to +commence a second match immediately." Harrwitz had had enough of beating, +and he unhesitatingly declined this proposition. + +But a difficulty arose in consequence of Morphy's refusal to receive the +stakes. Letters poured in from all quarters, complaining that bets on the +result of the contest were influenced by the decision, and Morphy finally +took the two hundred and ninety francs from Mr. Lequesne. He then caused +it to be announced publicly, that the money was deposited with the +proprietor of the _Cafe de la Regence_, that any of the subscribers to the +amount were at perfect liberty to withdraw their subscriptions, and that +the remainder should go towards defraying Herr Anderssen's expenses to +Paris. And so the money was eventually used. + +Will any of my readers think it possible that Mr. Harrwitz could, after +all this, publish that "he had not lost the match, but that Mr. Morphy had +consented to its being annulled?" + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +MORPHY IN SOCIETY. + + +All the Paris newspapers soon took to writing about our hero, from the +_Moniteur_ to the _Charivari_. The latter, the oldest and most famous of +all comic papers, gave cut after cut and article after article upon him; +in fact, Morphy was its standing joke for a long period. One day there was +a picture representing "Britannia, astonished at the _checks_ she was +receiving in India, requesting the young American to get her out of the +difficulty." Another represented an individual who declined entering the +_Cafe de la Regence_ in company with his wife, "because there was inside a +certain Mr. Morphy who would capture his queen from him." After the +blindfold exhibition, the famous Taxile Delord wrote as follows: + +"Well, let us have a game of chess. Shall I give you the rook? Sit down +here, and I will place myself in this arm-chair." + +"Oh, no! Now-a-days, no man who respects himself, thinks of playing with +the board in front of him." + +Upon this imaginary conversation, Delord lets loose a volley of fun, +ending in this manner: + +"I can understand _Ecarte_, I can appreciate _Picquet_, I can even rise to +the grandeur of _Tric Trac_, but don't talk to me of _Chess_. That game +will bring us back to tragedy." + +What with the illustrated papers giving Morphy's portraits, no two of +which were ever alike, and the innumerable articles in the "dailies," he +began to be notorious. Saint Amant wrote that he supplied a want which +Paris had felt for a long time--the want of a hero. Monsieur Lequesne +requested him to sit for his bust, and threw so much labor of love into +the work, that he produced a _chef d'oeuvre_ which all Paris went to +criticize and to praise. All these various occurrences could not but cause +excitement in the _salons_, and invitations began to pour in from the +Faubourgs St. Honore and St. Germain. The first came from the Duchess de +T----. My readers must forgive me for not mentioning names where a lady is +concerned. The Duchess stated that she had played at chess since a child, +and that she was desirous of becoming acquainted with a gentleman whom +fame heralded as so superior to all amateurs; but that she had no hope of +proving an antagonist worthy of him. Well, Morphy waited on his fair +challenger, and out of five games each won two, and one was drawn! Then +the Princess M---- expressed a desire to play our hero, and other great +dames followed; and knowing, as I do, the result, I solemnly declare +that, in spite of my confidence in Morphy's powers of combination, I never +would bet a cent upon him when his opponent is a lady. + +I am not bound to silence when gentlemen are concerned, and I am glad to +mention amongst chess amateurs, such names as the Duke of Brunswick and +Counts Casabianca, Isouard, and Bastorot. These gentlemen are thorough +veterans in the noble game, and chess works and periodicals are no +strangers to their contests. Count Casabianca was "at home" every Friday +night, and, whilst some of the company were at whist, ecarte, or other +games _de la societe_, he would always be in a corner with the Duke of +Brunswick, Count Isouard, Signor Preti, and other chess amateurs. Morphy +played against the Duke and the Counts in consultation, and, although he +almost invariably won, it was no easy matter. + +H. R. H. the Duke of Brunswick is a thorough devotee to Caissa; we never +saw him but he was playing chess with some one or other. We were frequent +visitors to his box at the Italian Opera; he had got a chess-board even +there, and played throughout the performance. On our first visit "Norma" +was performed. The Duke's box is right on the stage; so close, indeed, +that you might kiss the _prima donna_ without any trouble. Morphy sat with +his back to the stage, and the Duke and Count Isouard facing him. Now it +must not be supposed that he was comfortable. Decidedly otherwise; for I +have already stated that he is passionately fond of music, and, under the +circumstances, wished chess at Pluto. The game began and went on: his +antagonists had heard _Norma_ so often that they could, probably, sing it +through without prompting; they did not even listen to most of it, but +went on disputing with each other as to their next move. Then Madame +Penco, who represented the Druidical priestess, kept looking towards the +box, wondering what was the cause of the excitement inside; little +dreaming that Caissa was the only _Casta Diva_ the inmates cared about. +And those tremendous fellows, the "supes," who "did" the Druids, how they +marched down the stage, chaunting fire and bloodshed against the Roman +host, who, they appeared to think, were inside the Duke's box. + +Some of the pleasantest hours passed by Paul Morphy in the French capital +were spent at the Baronne de L.'s. This lady, who has long ranked as one +of the great beauties of Parisian society, is renowned as a patroness of +the arts. Her friendship for the lamented Pradier has passed into history, +and her _salons_ are the weekly resort of the most celebrated sculptors, +painters, and authors of France. And no wonder, for the Baronne is +gloriously merry and witty, a true child of the sunny South. A Creole, +from the French West Indies, she immediately took a liking to Morphy, +"Because," said she, "he is another lazy Creole like myself;" and she +invited all her acquaintances to come and see him. She would get Morphy +opposite her, and St. Amant or Lequesne by her side to stop her when she +was about making too serious a mistake, and would play game after game, +making us all laugh the whole time with her charming anecdotes and _jeux +d'esprit_. How she would amuse us when she declared that parties and late +hours were killing her, and that _they did kill her last season_, and yet +she was always as fresh as a newly plucked rose. When she found how fond +Morphy was of music, the principal singers from the opera would be +present. I remember one night she asked that finest of living _baritones_, +"the honey-voiced" Graziani, to play our hero at the odds of the Queen. +Signor Graziani had caught the general enthusiasm, and was applying his +leisure moments to chess with the energy of a Standigl, and had lately +been taking lessons from Preti. He at first objected to play, from +modesty, but the Baronne had determined he should, and she told him that, +if he would play a game, Morphy would sing a _duo_ with him afterwards. +This was a sparkle of her fun, of course; but Graziani played, not one, +but three games, and he then said: "If anybody asks me if I understand +chess, I shall say, 'Oh, yes; I play sometimes with Mr. Morphy.'" + +The United States minister, the Hon. Mr. Mason, took a warm interest in +his young countryman, occasionally sitting at the board when Morphy was at +play. The Judge is acquainted with the "Mystery of Chesse," and asked many +pointed questions after the conclusion of the game, as to the why and the +wherefore of different moves. It were scarcely right for the United +States government to appoint a minister to the Court of the Tuileries who +is ignorant of chess; it would be an insult to the memory of Franklin. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +MORPHY AND THE FRENCH AMATEURS. + + +Morphy's arrival in Paris, and his doings at the Cafe de la Regence, soon +began to make him much sought after. The way in which some folks get +lionized in the French capital is remarkable, and Morphy had to submit to +it, not merely at the cafe, but even in his hotel. We soon found that +continued residence at the _Hotel Meurice_ would be inconvenient, for many +reasons; and within a day or two of our arrival, had located ourselves in +the _Hotel Breteuil_, at the corner of the _Rues de Rivoli_ and _du +Dauphine_, where we had a magnificent view of the palace and gardens of +the Tuileries, and were within a stone's throw of the best quarters of +Paris and the _Regence_. What was our surprise to learn, subsequently, +that Harrwitz was residing next door to us; and that Saint Amant had, +formerly, occupied the very apartments in which we had installed +ourselves. We had not been long in our new abode before Morphy received a +visit from the grandson of Philidor. They had a lengthy colloquy together, +and of course Morphy asked his visitor if he played at chess. He replied, +that he once gave some attention to the game, but found that he possessed +little aptitude for it, and therefore relinquished all further study; not +thinking it right that any one bearing the name of Philidor should be +looked upon as a _mazette_. + +Our hero's installation at the Cafe de la Regence waked up all the +slumbering embers of French chess, and men who had not been seen for years +past came back to their early love. The well-known Polish amateur, +Budzinsky, was amongst these, and Laroche, contemporary of Labourdonnais +and Deschappelles. Then we found there such players as Mr. Eugene +Rousseau, of New Orleans, on a visit to his family in Paris, and who had +been so much "at home" in the cafe in other years. How proud he was of the +fame and feats of his young fellow-townsman amidst the Gallic paladins! +and how desirous he was that Morphy should encounter Monsieur Laroche, +whose game he characterized as sound to a terrible extent, characterizing +that gentleman as "_un rude gaillard_." It was only after Mr. Rousseau's +departure that Laroche and Morphy met, when we found that the former was +"sound," but the latter "sounder." Mr. L. had not been seen at the Regence +for a long period; some told us that he was settled in Bayonne, others +that he had given up chess altogether: but the appearance in the chess +heavens of this Star of the West, brought him back to the old +battle-field, and no one could make even games with him but De Riviere +and Harrwitz, the Prussian amateur merely winning a small majority. + +Monsieur Journoud, one of the best known and strongest of French players, +and a member of the Paris Committee of Co-operation on the International +Tournament of 1851, played upwards of a dozen games at different times +with Morphy; but though he came very near winning on one or two occasions, +our hero always wriggled out at last at the right end of the horn. +Journoud once described his opponent's game as "disgustingly correct;" +Boden speaks of Morphy's "diabolical steadiness," which means pretty near +the same thing. + +De Riviere certainly made the best show against Morphy of all the players +in Paris, having scored one game in good style, and having lost at least +one which he ought to have gained. He had got his opponent into a position +which might be termed "putting it to him," and Morphy, like the wolf, +was-- + + "Dying in silence, biting hard," + +when he made a move "to please the gallery." Now Morphy never allows +liberties to be taken with so serious a matter as check mate; he goes +straight to the finish himself without fuss or nonsense, and expects +others to do the same; he, therefore, worked clear out of his difficulties +and forced his opponent ultimately to resign. De Riviere was mortified at +the result, and states that he went home very angry with himself in +consequence. + +This gentleman is incontestably the most rising of the French players, and +will make some amateurs tremble for their chess reputation ere long. In +1851, he did not know a move in the game, so that his progress has been +rapid; and as he has not yet reached his thirtieth year, it is only +probable that he will become much stronger; that is, if he will keep up +his practice, which is not certain, inasmuch as he has lately become +"mated" in a manner most agreeable to his feelings, and we have heard of +ladies who object to their lords and masters making love to other +nymphs--even though that nymph be Caissa. Let us hope that, in this +instance, pater familias, whose "intentions are strictly honorable," may +be allowed an occasional respite from the cradle and perambulator, and +that "curtain lectures" will not deter him from hot pursuit after other +men's queens. + +It was soon found useless for any one to play Morphy even, as he scored +almost every game. Meeting Monsieur Laroche at the cafe one morning, that +gentleman asked me why our hero did not offer odds to everybody. I replied +that no doubt many gentlemen would feel hurt at such a proposition being +made to them, and I asked him--"Would you play Morphy at pawn and move?" +to which he unhesitatingly replied "Yes." M. Journoud was sitting beside +him, and he expressed himself in like manner. On informing Paul Morphy of +this conversation, he requested me to inform the proprietor of the cafe +that, in future, he should play no one without giving odds; excepting, +however, Herr Harrwitz. He was most desirous of again meeting the Prussian +amateur, the latter having made some rather peculiar observations with +regard to their match; as, for instance, that he had not lost the affair, +Morphy having consented to annul it: that he was not a match player, and +played much stronger off-hand: that Morphy did not beat him by +combination, _but by sitting him out_, and so forth. But Harrwitz always +took care to keep out of harm's way, and although Morphy came day after +day to the cafe, with the avowed intention of meeting him, Herr H. had +always got one or the other reason for not playing. + +Laroche, Budzinsky, Devinck, and other leading amateurs tried their luck +at pawn and move, with no better result than contending even. Others tried +at pawn and two, as, for instance, Lequesne, Guibert, Lecrivain, and +Delaunay. Who of my chess readers does not know this brilliant writer in +the Palamede, who has kept everybody on the broad grin throughout his +numerous articles? He is always full of fun and sparkling wit, and merrily +did he display it with Morphy. The first time they played, Delaunay +sacrificed piece after piece, in a way to terrify anybody but his young +antagonist, and certainly seemed to occupy a position dangerous to +Morphy's peace of mind. The latter made one of his peculiar moves, when +Delaunay observed, eyeing the board with one eye, and the spectators with +the other--"_Voila un coup du bon Dieu_," and then making his reply, which +set our hero reflecting, he added--"_Et, en voila un du diable._" But it +was all of no use, and Morphy soon turned the tables upon him. M. Delaunay +styles himself "_un casse echiquier_," for he plays as though driving +spike nails. At the London Divan some months since he astonished the +spectators by breaking one of the pawns, when he immediately cried +out--"Oh, that's nothing; I break the rooks in Paris." + +Morphy was easily approached by anybody, no matter what their strength, +and I doubt much whether there is any frequenter of the Regence who did +not play one or more games with him. As he invariably refused to play for +any stake, this pleased them the more, and set them making comparisons +between him and certain others, not at all complimentary to the latter. +But what pleased them most of all was the quiet unobtrusiveness of his +behavior, and the courtesy with which he treated everybody. Where his +skill gained one admirer, his manner made ten warm friends. + +Some of my readers may complain that I am "laying it on rather thick," and +ask "Why shouldn't he be quiet and unobtrusive?" I reply that I am not to +be deterred from writing what I know to be the fact (having been a witness +thereof for several months) by any accusation of toadyism. I write what +George Walker, Saint Amant, Loewenthal, and all the chess editors Morphy +has met, have written before me; and they wrote as I now write, because +the circumstance is rather extraordinary. Chess players, generally, are a +class vain and imperious; and young players, like the young of all +classes, are apt to be carried away by success. How few eminent amateurs +are there who do not give themselves certain airs when winning--aye, and +losing too--lolling back in their seats, sticking their thumbs in their +arm-holes, and regarding the spectators with a self-satisfied air, as much +as to say--"There, my boys, what d'ye think of that?" One gentleman at the +Regence had long bullied the gallery and his antagonists in this manner; +no wonder, therefore, that Morphy made warm friends of those who were that +man's enemies. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +MORPHY GETS BEATEN. + + +A few weeks after the resignation of the match by Herr Harrwitz, the +amateurs of the Regence invited Herr Anderssen to visit Paris for the +purpose of playing a match with Paul Morphy. Our hero originally intended +making a visit to the principal chess clubs of Germany, and especially to +Berlin, but having been an invalid since his arrival in the French +capital, he feared to undertake the long journey by rail, and it was in +consequence of this that the aforesaid invitation was sent. Herr Anderssen +immediately replied, that his duties as mathematical professor at Breslau +presented an insurmountable objection to his leaving, but that the +Christmas vacation would enable him to meet the American player in Paris. + +Morphy said, thereupon, that he should be deprived of the pleasure of +crossing swords with the victor in the International Tournament, inasmuch +as he must be at home before Christmas. On hearing this, I began to talk +the matter over quietly with him, asserting that his voyage to Europe was +useless, if he did not play Anderssen. All was of no effect. Morphy did +not appear to have the slightest ambition, say what I would to him. He +must be at home in December; he had promised to be there, and home he +would go. Very well; Morphy and I were at daggers drawn and we began our +fight. He said he would go, and I said he shouldn't. He wanted to know how +I could prevent him; I told him that all the clubs in Europe would stop +him. "Very well," answered he, "I'll be stronger than all Europe." +"Bravo," says I, "that's spirited, at all events." Says he--says I--says +I--says he--and Morphy went to sleep and I to work. + +Without saying a word to anybody, I set to writing letters to all the +leading Chess Clubs on the Continent and in England, informing them of the +bad move Morphy was about to make, and requesting those in the interests +of chess to induce him to remain, until at all events he had met Herr +Anderssen. Now, the mere fact of Morphy staying, as the simple individual, +was nothing; but it was something to make sure beyond all dispute that he +was infallibly the best living player; and, in addition, to add many games +to the finest pages of chess literature. I am happy to state that the +different clubs thought as I did; so the result will prove. + +After a week or two, Morphy began receiving letters from Amsterdam, +Leipsic, Brussels, Berlin, Breslau, etc.; from the London and St. George's +Chess Clubs; requisitions signed by the amateurs of the Cafe and Cercle +de la Regence, expressing the earnest wish of all that he would remain +throughout the winter. Herr Anderssen wrote him a lengthy epistle, in +which he assured him he did not think it possible he could leave Europe +without playing him, and adding his voice to the general cry. + +Morphy thought he must go. Then the society in which our hero was so +frequent a visitor began to declare that he really must remain, and it is +hard work for any man to refuse when a request is backed by such sweet +glances as make requests almost commands. + +Our hero was now wavering, and the game was in my hands, he not at all +sorry if I could win it. I had one final resource: a pretty little +check-mate with a medical man and a certificate. The doctor, calling on +our patient one day, learned from him that he was about returning home, +whereupon he informed him that in the then state of his health a winter +voyage across the Atlantic was not precisely beneficial, and wrote his +opinion accordingly. This I took, and inclosed with other matter to his +friends in New Orleans, and Morphy seeing no way out of the difficulty, +ultimately surrendered, and I had the satisfaction of hearing him declare +that he should pass the winter in Paris. There was only one person +dissatisfied with this. Meeting Harrwitz shortly after, I informed him +with a benignant smile, "You will be happy to hear that Morphy has decided +to pass a few months longer here." Harrwitz replied, with a smile that was +not benignant, "Then Mr. Morphy _is not a man of his word_." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +MORPHY AND ANDERSSEN. + + +The first week in December, Monsieur de Riviere received a communication +from Herr Anderssen, announcing his approaching arrival in Paris. A week +prior to this Morphy had been laid up in bed with a severe illness. The +rigors of a first winter in northern climates had told upon him, and I +feared much for the result. He was leeched, and lost a great quantity of +blood--I told him three or four pints; to which he replied, "Then there's +only a quart left." He was kept very low during a fortnight, and having to +lift him out of bed only four days before the match with the great +Prussian master, I found him too weak to stand upon his legs, although in +bed he did not feel so helpless. For two months he had had an antipathy to +chess, and I had experienced the greatest difficulty in inducing him to go +to the Regence at all. When I would ask him at breakfast what he was going +to do with himself during the day, his immediate reply would be, "I am not +going to the Regence," and he declined invitations if he thought he should +be obliged to play chess. + +When I brought him the news that Anderssen had left Breslau, Herr Mayet +having written me to that effect, Morphy said to me, "I have a positive +chess fever coming over me. Give me the board and pieces, and I'll show +you some of Anderssen's games." And with his astounding memory, he gave me +battle after battle with different adversaries, variations and all. How he +dilated on a certain game between him and Dufresne, in which, though under +the mate, he first of all sacrifices his Queen, and after seven or eight +moves forces his opponent to resign. "There," said Morphy, "that shows the +master." + +What wonderment he has caused with his omnipotent memory! I have seen him +sit for hours at the Divan and the Regence, playing over, not merely his +own battles, but the contests of others, till the spectators could +scarcely believe their senses. It will be remembered by many of my +readers, that when Mr. Staunton published the eight blindfold games played +at Birmingham, he omitted some twenty or thirty of the concluding moves in +the game with the Rev. Mr. Salmon. When we had been two months in Paris, +Herr Loewenthal wrote me to request that I would forward him the remaining +moves, as there was a desire to have the _partie_ complete. It was nearly +midnight, and Morphy had gone into his bedroom after dictating me some +games played during the day, and, mindful of Herr L.'s request, I called +to him, asking whether he was coming back, when he replied that he was +already in bed. I said I should be obliged if he would let me bring him a +board and light, in order that he might dictate me the required moves, +when he answered "There's no necessity for that: read me over what +Staunton published, and I'll give you the remainder." He called over the +omitted moves as fast as I could write them down. + +Going into Morphy's bedroom one morning at ten o'clock, whom should I find +sitting there but Herr Anderssen? He had arrived by a late train the night +previous, and his first visit was to his young challenger, whom he was +indeed sorry to find ill in bed, especially as his absence from Breslau +was limited to two weeks. Morphy assured him that he should be well enough +to play the following week; but Anderssen replied that he should not like +to commence a match until Morphy was in a fit state to undergo the +fatigue. They then agreed that the match should consist of thirteen games; +in other words, he should be victor who first scored seven; and, as +neither of them desired any stake but honor, the preliminaries were +quickly arranged. From that we got to talking on various subjects, and +Anderssen informed us, greatly to our surprise, that the German papers had +published a statement to this effect: "Mr. Morphy has finally decided on +remaining in Europe until spring, in consequence of the pressing +solicitations of his friend, Herr Harrwitz." How we roared! + +This was Anderssen's first visit to the French metropolis, and I +immediately offered to show him some of the lions. So forth we sallied. He +was desirous of going to the Regence; but two hours would elapse before +anybody would be there, and in the mean time he could see a few public +buildings. The first place I took him to was, of course, the Louvre, and, +as it had rained copiously the night before, I walked him across the +_Place du Carrousel_, in order to soil his boots with the mud. Most of his +attention was taken up with keeping that portion of his attire clean; but, +when that had become no longer possible, his leisure was entirely devoted +to sight-seeing. Of course, we could not altogether avoid talking about +the main object of his visit; he told me he had only seen a few of +Morphy's games, and asked me what was the opinion of the Regence in +reference to his style of play. I replied that it was the opposite of what +they thought in England and America, characterizing it as sound rather +than brilliant; but that there was a reason for this, inasmuch as the +French players persisted in playing close openings. He replied, "No +wonder; no man would willingly expose himself to Morphy's thundering +attacks," [attaques foudroyantes.] + +On returning to the Regence, we found Harrwitz, who, by-the-bye, is a +fellow-townsman of Anderssen, and they were at the same school together. +The latter knew that Harrwitz stated that he beat him the majority of +games, and he was most desirous of proving the fallacy of the assertion, +and immediately proposed an encounter. This was accepted, and out of six +games, played on five different occasions, Anderssen won three, Harrwitz +one, and two were drawn. After that, little doubt existed as to which was +the stronger player, and when, just before leaving Paris, Anderssen was +complimented on this result, he said, "Oh, there is but one Morphy in the +world." + +On the day of Anderssen's arrival, Morphy told his medical adviser that he +must get him well enough to commence the match on the following Monday. +The doctor said it all depended upon his feeling sufficiently strong to +undergo the fatigue, when his patient replied, that what he feared was a +hard battle exhausting him too much to continue the struggle next day. On +the doctor's advice, he consented to play the match in the hotel, so as +not to undergo the fatigue of moving, and it was arranged that only such +as were specially invited should be present, but that the moves should be +forwarded every half-hour to the Regence. + +The Saturday before the commencement of the match, Harrwitz performed his +feat of playing eight blindfold games simultaneously at the rooms of the +Cercle, only subscribers of five francs or upwards being admitted. Herr +Harrwitz had fixed upon seven o'clock in the evening as the time for +commencing; and I, like many others, had advised him to choose an earlier +hour, or he would not get through till long past midnight. He replied that +he should finish in from four to five hours; "he knew this positively +because he had been rehearsing for the occasion;" but the result proved +how much he was mistaken, as he did not get through till near sunrise. His +antagonists were mainly rook or rook and knight players, Signor Preti, the +weakest of Morphy's blindfold opponents, being incomparably the strongest. +Herr Anderssen, who was present, assured me that many of the players left +pieces _en prise_, as though designedly, and that, beyond the fact of +seeing the boards in his mind's eye, Harrwitz proved nothing by his +exertions. The strangest affair in connection with this display is, that +although Harrwitz edited a chess column in the _Monde Illustre_ he never +gave a single one of his blindfold games, nor would he permit any to be +made public. + +Mr. Harrwitz was perfectly in his right mind when endeavoring to emulate +Paul Morphy. But the folks at the Regence ridiculed what they called aping +his superior, and many were the squibs got off at his expense. One, the +most popular of all, was as follows:-- + + "Tu veux singer Morphy, joueur phenomenal; + Jeune imprudent, tu forces ta nature. + En vain tu te poses en original, + Tu n'en es que la caricature." + +In plain English prose--"You wish to ape Morphy, the phenomenon; imprudent +young man, you strain yourself. It is useless to put yourself forward as +an original; you are merely a caricature."--Not complimentary, certainly. + +On Monday morning, I got Morphy out of bed for the first time since his +illness, and, at noon, assisted him into the room where the match was to +come off. No time was lost in getting to work, and, within five minutes of +his entering, as many moves had been played. Our hero had first move, and +ventured the Evans' gambit, which he lost after seven hours' fighting, and +upwards of seventy moves. I noticed that he was restless throughout the +contest, which was only to be expected after having been so long in bed, +and without nourishment. + +Morphy was charmed with Anderssen's defence throughout, and has frequently +cited it as an admirably conducted strategy. It proved to him that the +Evans' is indubitably a lost game for the first player, if the defence be +carefully played; inasmuch as the former can never recover the gambit +pawn, and the position supposed to be acquired at the outset, cannot be +maintained. + +He did not appear much fatigued after his exertions, and next morning he +had visibly improved in appearance. Anderssen, now having the move, played +out his king's pawn and knight, and Morphy supposed he too was going to +have a turn at the Evans'. No such thing; he played that disgusting +arrangement, the Ruy Lopez; but it only came to a drawn game, our hero +believing he himself could have won it, had he played properly at the end. +The third day, Morphy looked himself again, his complexion being clear, +and his eyes sparkling with all their Creole brilliancy. He thought he +should like to have a turn at the Ruy Lopez also, and dashed away at such +a furious rate, that Anderssen resigned in a few minutes over the hour, +some twenty-one moves having been played. Anderssen immediately asked if +he would commence another game forthwith, and Morphy consented; this +fourth contest being also a Ruy Lopez, but ending likewise in the +discomfiture of the Prussian champion. And this _partie_ was the last we +saw of R. L. during the struggle. + +Morphy now scored the fifth, sixth, and seventh games, thus having won +five consecutively. The eighth was a draw; the ninth he carried off in +seventeen moves; the tenth, played immediately after, Anderssen marked in +seventy-seven. As the Professor was leaving, he said to me in his quiet, +funny way, "Mr. Morphy wins his games in Seventeen moves, and I in +Seventy. But that is only natural." The eleventh _partie_ Morphy scored, +thus winning the match; having only lost two games and drawn two. + +Immediately after each day's play, Herr Anderssen would walk straight to +the Regence for the purpose of expediting reports of the same to his +friends in Leipsic and Berlin. There were always crowds to meet him, and +to assure him he could have won, and ought not to have lost; but the +Professor smiled at them incredulously. I have heard him tell them, "Dites +cela a M. Morphy," (Tell that to Mr. Morphy,) over and over again. One +individual, who from the beginning, had questioned Morphy's +superiority,--though he had been beaten by him in the proportion of 7 to +1--told the Professor in the presence of a crowd of amateurs: "You are not +playing any thing like as well as with Dufresne."--"No," replied +Anderssen, "Morphy won't let me;" and he added, "It is no use struggling +against him; he is like a piece of machinery which is sure to come to a +certain conclusion." On another occasion he said: "Mr. Morphy always +plays, not merely the best, but the very best move, and if we play the +move only approximatively correct, we are sure to lose. Nobody can hope to +gain more than a game, now and then, from him." And, in reply to a +question of Monsieur de Riviere, he said in my hearing: "It is impossible +to play chess better than Mr. Morphy; if there be any difference in +strength between him and Labourdonnais, it is in his favor." + +I have never seen a nobler-hearted gentleman than Herr Anderssen. He would +sit at the board, examining the frightful positions into which Morphy had +forced him, until his whole face was radiant with admiration of his +antagonist's strategy, and, positively laughing outright, he would +commence resetting the pieces for another game, without a remark. I never +heard him make a single observation to Morphy complimentary of his skill; +but, to others, he was loud in admiration of the young American. + +After the match was over, the two antagonists played six off-hand games, +all gambits, Anderssen winning one, and Morphy five. These also came off +at the Hotel Breteuil, and were rattled away inside of three hours. + +The gallery of spectators who witnessed this great contest between the +champions of the Old World and the New, was select, if not numerous. There +were present, almost constantly, Saint Amant, De Riviere, Journoud, +Carlini, Preti, Grosboulogne, Lequesne, and one or two others, and amongst +the occasional visitors were Counts Casabianca and Bastorot, M. Devinck, +the Paris correspondent of the N. Y. Times, and any of our hero's +countrymen who desired to be present. One night, after the day's battle +was over, Morphy and I were sitting in our room, chatting together, when +an immense stranger appeared and announced himself as follows: "I am +Prince Galitzin; I wish to see Mr. Morphy." Morphy looked up from a +fauteuil in which he was buried, and replied, "I am he." The Prince +answered, "It is not possible! you're too young;" and then he seated +himself by Morphy's side and told him, "I first heard of your wonderful +deeds on the frontiers of Siberia. One of my suite had a copy of the chess +paper published in Berlin, the _Schachzeitung_, and ever since that time I +have been wanting to see you." And he told our hero that he must pay a +visit to St. Petersburg; for the chess club in the Imperial Palace would +receive him with enthusiasm. I did not hear Morphy promise to go, however. + +But to return to Anderssen. The Professor came and went away in a hurry, +his vacations only lasting two weeks. As he wished us good-bye, he said +slyly to Morphy, "They won't be pleased with me at Berlin, but I shall +tell them, 'Mr. Morphy will come here.'" + +After the conclusion of the match, I pointed out to Herr Anderssen certain +remarks on his play in the _Illustrated London News_, in which the writer +observed, "This is not the play of the victor of the Tournament of '51." +He replied--"Oh, we know Mr. Staunton; in 1851 his opinions of my play +were not very high, and he lost not by my skill, but because he was ill. +Mr. Staunton always has two meanings, one which he writes, and one which +he keeps to himself." + +[Illustration: MR. LEWIS. MR. GEORGE WALKER. MR. MONGREDIEU.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +MORPHY AND MONGREDIEU. + + +After Anderssen's departure, Paul Morphy declared he would play no more +even matches, and, certainly, his resolve was justified by the unheard-of +manner in which he had walked over all opponents. There are but two +players who do not confess the inutility of contending against him on even +terms--Messrs. Staunton and Harrwitz--but then the former would not fight, +and the latter fought and ran away, so that their opinions, with regard to +themselves and Morphy, are somewhat damaged by circumstances. The opinions +of these two gentlemen are, in fact, peculiar one towards the other; Mr. +Harrwitz declaring that he can give Mr. Staunton the odds of pawn and +move; and Mr. S., that he also can afford the same advantage to the +Prussian player. But no man in his senses believes either of them. + +Morphy now determined to offer the pawn and move to Herr Harrwitz, and +forthwith challenged him to the contest, but the latter respectfully +declined, on the grounds that he considered himself quite as good a +player as his challenger. Modest, was it not? especially just after their +late match, and the _sauve qui peut_ manner in which the Prussian had +shown his heels before its conclusion? Morphy felt so much desire to play +this proposed match, that he even offered to find stakes to back his +antagonist, but all to no purpose. One or two croakers expressed their +opinion that Morphy would scarcely get a game if the affair came off, when +our hero replied--"If I do not beat him, he will at all events have to +work hard for the odd game." + +Harrwitz having declined all further risk, there now remained little to be +accomplished, and Morphy forsook the Regence and seemed to have taken a +positive aversion to chess. There was, however, one more adversary to be +overcome; one, who, like Anderssen, sought out our hero in the French +capital, and threw down his gauntlet, which was immediately taken up. Mr. +Mongredieu, the President of the London Chess Club, made the journey to +Paris expressly to remind Paul Morphy that before his departure from +England, he had promised to play a match with him, and he now announced +himself as ready for the encounter. Mr. Mongredieu had no idea of +vanquishing his youthful foe, but in addition to the pleasure of a tilt +with him, he was desirous of seeing by how much Morphy could beat him. + +The contest came off at Mr. Mongredieu's rooms in the Hotel du Louvre, +Messrs. St. Amant and De Riviere being the only strangers present. The +first game admirably played by Mr. M. resulted in a draw, and then Morphy +scored seven _parties_ one after the other, which constituted him victor. +The third game, beautifully managed throughout by Mr. Mongredieu, slipped +from his grasp after nine or ten hours' struggle; because of his not +playing _the very best move_, Morphy stepped in at the lucky moment and +the day was his. I can easily understand that Mr. Mongredieu was exhausted +after so many hours' intense application; Morphy never tires, and no +amount of continuous sitting will ever influence his play. I have seen him +sit down, in New York, at 9 A. M., and beat one antagonist after another +until past midnight, for many successive days, yet without weakening his +play in the least; and when Paulsen would take half an hour on a move, an +hour over the succeeding one, and on a certain occasion reached the +unparalleled limit of two hours, Morphy sat calmly looking on, without the +slightest evidence of impatience. Before Mr. Staunton declined Morphy's +challenge, I was frequently amused by gentlemen who knew the former well, +but knew little of the latter, expressing the opinion that the English +player would tire out his youthful challenger, and win by playing "a +waiting game." I laughed heartily at their fears, for I knew Morphy could +sit out Staunton and the late Mr. Williams one after the other. And I +think my readers must also be satisfied of this, remembering Morphy's _ten +hours' blindfold play at Paris, without taking even a glass of water, and +in bodily pain, too_. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +TROPHIES. + + +And now that the battles are over, and the campaigns of this "Attila the +destroyer" concluded, let us count the killed and wounded. + + +IN ENGLAND. + +MATCH GAMES (EVEN.) + +Morphy, 9. Loewenthal, 3. Drawn, 3. + +PAWN AND MOVE. + +Morphy, 5. Rev. J. Owen (Alter), 0. Drawn, 2. + +OFF-HAND GAMES. + + Morphy, 19, Barnes, 7, Drawn, 0 + " 10, Bird, 1, " 1 + " 5, Boden, 1, " 3 + " 2, Hampton, 0, " 0 + " 2, Kipping, 0, " 0 + " 6, Lowe, 0, " 0 + " 3, Medley, 0, " 0 + " 2, Mongredieu, 0, " 0 + " 4, Owen, 1, " 0 + + +CONSULTATION GAMES. + +Staunton and Owen, 0. Morphy and Barnes, 2. Drawn, 0. + +Loewenthal and Medley, 0. Morphy and Mongredieu, 0. Drawn, 1. + +Loewenthal, Mongredieu, and Medley, 0. Morphy, Walker Greenaway, 0. Drawn, +1. + + +EIGHT GAMES BLINDFOLD AT BIRMINGHAM. + +Morphy beat Lord Lyttelton, Doctors Salmon and Freeman, Messrs. Rhodes, +Wills and Carr; drew against Mr. Avery, and lost the game with Mr. +Kipping. + +In addition to the above score there were many contests at odds, which it +is unnecessary to mention; Morphy being almost invariably successful. + + +IN FRANCE. + +MATCH GAMES. + + Morphy, 7, Anderssen, 2, Drawn, 2 + " 5, Harrwitz, 2, " 1 + " 7, Mongredieu, 0, " 1 + +OFF-HAND GAMES (EVEN). + + Morphy, 5, Anderssen, 1, Drawn, 0 + " 2, Bancker, 0, " 0 + " 7, Budzinsky, 0, " 0 + " 0, Harrwitz, 1, " 0 + " 12, Journoud, 0, " 0 + " 5, Laroche, 0, " 2 + " 6, Riviere, 1, " 1 + +ODDS OF PAWN AND MOVE. + + Morphy, 5, Budzinsky, 1, Drawn, 1 + " 2, Devinck, 0, " 2 + " 1, Guibert, 0, " 0 + " 3, Laroche, 0, " 3 + +ODDS OF THE PAWN AND TWO MOVES. + + Morphy, 4, Delaunay, 0, Drawn, 0 + " 5, Lecrivain, 2, " 0 + " 3, Lequesne, 0, " 1 + +CONSULTATION GAMES. + + Morphy, 2, Saint Amant and Lequesne, 0, Drawn, 2 + " 0, De Riviere and Journoud, 1, " 0 + " 5, Duke of Brunswick, Counts + Casabianca and Isouard, 0, " 1 + " 5, Duke of Brunswick and Count + Isouard, 0, " 0 + +BLINDFOLD GAMES. + + Morphy beat Messrs. Bancker, Bierwirth, Bornemann, Potier, + Preti, and Seguin, and drew the games with Messrs. Guibert and + Lequesne. + + At Versailles, Morphy, playing blindfolded, won against + Monsieur Chamouillet and the Versailles Chess Club playing + together against him, _in consultation_. + +I should like to say something on the above score, but feel quite +incompetent to the task. I can merely state that no player who ever lived, +(of whom we know any thing,) can produce such a catalogue of victories. +Surely, it is not too much to declare, on the authority of so much proof, +that + + MORPHY CAN GIVE PAWN AND MOVE TO EVERY LIVING PLAYER. + + +VALEDICTORY. + +Paul Morphy has vanquished the paladins of the Old and New Worlds, and +vaulted into the very throne of Labourdonnais and Philidor. + +Is not this indeed a victory for him,--a triumph for his countrymen? Shall +not this youth be esteemed worthy of all honor, who, without experience, +has, by his own marvellous genius, eclipsed the brightness of those stars +which have flashed in the chess firmament before him? + +Chess may be but a game, a pastime, a relaxation; but Chess has at times +absorbed the faculties of the intellectual in every clime; it numbers +amongst its amateurs the greatest names of battle-fields and thrones; it +tells of warriors, poets, painters, sculptors, statesmen and divines; it +possesses a literature and language of its own; it makes enemies friends, +and finds a temple on the ocean, in the fortress, and by the peaceful +fireside. + +And long as Chess shall last, Paul Morphy's name will be as a "Household +Word," and his deeds be held in lasting memory. + + +THE END. + + + + +NEW PUBLICATIONS AND NEW EDITIONS + +PUBLISHED BY + +D. 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By GEORGE HENRY LEWES, Author of +"Seaside Studies," "Life of Goethe," etc. No. 1. Just Ready. + Price 10 cents. + + EXTRACT FROM PROSPECTUS. + + _No scientific subject can be so important to Man as that of + his own Life. No knowledge can be so incessantly appealed to by + the incidents of every day, as the knowledge of the processes + by which he lives and acts. At every moment he is in danger of + disobeying laws which, when disobeyed, may bring years of + suffering, decline of powers, premature decay. Sanitary + reformers preach in vain, because they preach to a public which + does not understand the laws of life--laws as rigorous as those + of Gravitation or Motion. Even the sad experience of others + yields us no lessons, unless we understand the principles + involved. 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MONGREDIEN standardised to +MONGREDIEU (this may be incorrect and a reference to Augustus +Mongredien). + +General. The following words have variable accenting but have been left +as in the original as they are used in quotations: Cafe, Caissa, defi, +Regence. Other accents have been standardised. + +General. Variable spelling of McDonnel/McDonnell as in original + +General. Variable spelling of Deschapelles/Deschappelles as in original + +General. Variable spelling of Huttman/Huttmann as in original + +General. Variable spelling of Zytogorsky/Zytogorosky as in original + +General. Variable spelling of tournay/tourney as in original + +General. 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