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diff --git a/34180.txt b/34180.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f11aacd --- /dev/null +++ b/34180.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: 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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