The bishops are from one mould. Could your readers see the cast, I think they would acknowledge that the figure could not be surpassed. The spirit of religion and meekness has never been developed in a purer form; the countenance, the attitude, the fall of the drapery, are all inexpressibly beautiful.

The knights are likewise from the same mould the grouping of the man and horse is very graceful, and the action highly spirited and characteristic.

66

The castles, also alike, represent a square Donjon keep," with a single turret, or watch tower, at one angle of the battlements.

The pawns, about two inches in height, are figures of men at arms, bill-men and bow-men, in various positions of offence or defence: the attitude of a wounded warrior, and of another who is about to hurl a large stone on his enemy, is very good.

Every figure in this set of chessmen is modelled with anatomical correctness, and, in the movements of the game, they form very beautiful groups, and impart to it an additional interest.

A LESSON ON THE GAME.

[For the Year Book.]

R. R.

A few evenings ago, my friend Jamieson called at my chambers to play a game of chess. He has taste in the fine arts, as well as skill in the game, and I produced a set of Flaxman's chess-men, by Wedgewood, which I deem it good fortune to possess, and which I think must be the pieces alluded to in the Year Book, p. 271.

We had just concluded a game, and were admiring the beauty of the bishop, when a card was brought to my friend. ""Tis from a country client," said he, "I must attend to him." "You can see him in the next room," I replied, "and in the mean time I will endeavour to amuse myself with one of Carrera's situations." Jamieson retired, and I was soon deep in the study of the sixteenth problem. With the assistance of pen and paper to note my moves, I was enabled to master it without reference to the printed solution; and, in expectation of my opponent's return, I arranged the pieces on the board for a fresh game. Upon raising my eyes, I was surprised to find my friend's chair occupied by a very quaint looking person,

whose style of dress reminded me of Vandyk's picture of the earl of Arundel, only that my visitor's garments did not appear to have been made with quite so much care as that nobleman's are represented to have been.

I can hardly describe my sensations; but they were not those of fear. I looked upon a manly brow, illumined by a clear blue eye, and, although the general expression of the face was as I have before termed quaint, the smile that played over the features was highly characteristic of benevolence. Yet I was uneasy; for I felt myself in the presence of an unearthly being, and anxiously waited for him to communicate the object of his

visit.

"My name," said the unknown, "is not strange to you: I am Don Pietro de Carrera; and I have been so much pleased with the patient attention which you have bestowed upon that problem, that, if you will listen to me, I will teach you a lesson on the game which you may find of great service in your path through life."

I bowed, and, as stenography is one of the arts I have studied professionally, I instinctively took up the pen I had just used. I was enabled to write every word that fell from his lips. This circumstance now appears to me to be very extraordinary. The sounds he uttered were in a strange language-it must have been the spirituality of his communication which went direct to my understanding.

Carrera resumed" From the earliest age of civilized society, the game of chess has been considered a study which would amply repay the steady application and serious reflection necessary to acquire its perfect knowledge. In my day its professors were sought after, and entertained as the friends of the great, and the companions of princes-those times are long since past, and I cannot regret, that, with the general diffusion of knowledge, this game, which was once the science of the few,' is now the never-failing source of rational enjoyment to the many. The studious, the wise, the good, in every clime have considered it a noble recreation; following the example of the early masters of its mysteries, they have recorded for the benefit of posterity the result of their practice; and the moralist has formed from it many a pleasing and instructive allegory.

"The work before you contains my

principles of the game of chess. I intended to have given in a concluding chapter some remarks on the application of those principles to the game of life.

"The Board may be considered the field of life, chequered with good and evil, on which man is to play his game and be rewarded according to his deserts.

"The Pawns may be looked upon as representing those feelings which are first excited by circumstances, and form barriers to those stronger passions which I would represent by the superior pieces. Happy is the man, who, by care and attention to his pawns, maintains that barrier, behind which he may securely bring his pieces into play. But in the game of life, as in chess, the players are generally anxious for early distinction; and, to the imprudence of suffering the passions to escape from their line of defence, most of the difficulties and dangers that immediately beset them may be traced.

"The Castle, moving over the board in direct lines, represents that innate sense of justice pervading every human breast, which, however attacked, when properly maintained, cannot be conquered. Strong in its own might, it forms a bulwark of defence at home, while it controls and punishes at a distance the errors of the adversary.

"The Knight, eccentric in his movements, but regulated by fixed principles of action, pourtrays that feeling of honor which, deviating from the beaten course, seeks for adventures. He often proves a firm friend in the hour of need; yet his roving propensity sometimes carries him far from succor, and he falls a victim to his chivalrous nature.

By the walk of the Bishops may be considered the religious feeling which is continually crossed by the movements of ordinary life as they never leave the color of the square they start from, they are typical of a firm faith.

"Ambition may find a representative in the Queen; combining the power of the castle and bishop, she roams over the field; like the ambitious of the world, she requires great support from the lower pieces, and is frequently cut off when she ventures too boldly to attack.

"The King, only moving one square at a time, while every direction is open to his choice, is highly characteristic of Prudence. He seldom moves unless forced, shelters himself behind, and claims the succor of Justice, Honor, Religion and

Ambition. The rule which gives the game to the party who deprives the opponent's king of the power of motion proves that the inventors of the game, unlike the levellers of the present day, were firm loyalists, and duly impressed with the divinity that doth hedge a king.'"

I here felt a touch on my elbow, and my pen fell from my hand, "Confound it, what a blot!" I exclaimed; and, as I spoke, I was surprised to see a cloud, from which issued a most delicious fragrance, pass over the face of Carrera. On its clearing away, I discovered the features of Jamieson.

My friend laughed immoderately. "Why Granville," said he, "when I returned, your candle snuffs were of portentous length; I trimmed them, and as you did not acknowledge the obligation, but continued your writing, I quietly took a cigar; and have been enjoying, for this half hour, the sight of a man making hieroglyphics in his sleep."-" Hieroglyphics do you term them," I replied, I will send them to friend HONE, and, should he deem them worthy of a page in his Year Book, I hope they may not send any of his readers to sleep. A. I.

March, 1831.

WRITERS ON CHESS-PLAYERS AT THE GAME CHESSMEN.

[For the Year Book.]

Much learning has been wasted, to very little purpose, in tracing the origin of the game of chess: it has been referred by some to the TETTɛía, and by others to the Tvoiov of the Greeks. Some have considered it to bear a resemblance to the Latrunculus, some to the Alveus, of the Romans. Some, again, have believed it to be the invention of the Chinese, and some, of the Hindoos; but, after all, the question remains in as much uncertainty as at first. It is clear, however, that the Greek and Roman games were games of chance: in chess chance has no part; and, in so far, the games, as played by the Chinese and Hindoos, from times "beyond which the memory of man reacheth not," resemble that of the present day; varying, as they both do, their similarity is sufficient to prove that, in essentials, they are the same, and, therefore, that the game, as played in Europe, whoever may have been the inventor, was brought from the east.

thrown over their shoulders, the paws crossing in front; the bishops with fools' caps and bells; the knights were horses' heads with flowing manes; and the pawns, eight whites, and eight negroes, of various expressions and ages. But, perhaps, the most splendid set on record was the one brought to this country for the purpose of sale, some years since; they were all of the purest red and white cornelian ;-but the price demanded was so large, that it is not believed that they met with any purchaser here: indeed, however fitted for the cabinet, or the boudoir, as ornaments or accessaries, chessmen so splendid can be of little use to the real player; and it has been generally observed of those who had expended considerable sums in the purchase of such, that, after the novelty had worn off, they have reverted with satisfaction, for all practical purposes, to their old, substantial, black and white, wooden ones.

Various attempts have been made by the learned-amongst whom Sir William Jones, and the late Mr. Christie, are most conspicuous to assimilate the names of our pieces with those used in the east, without, however, much success. Caprice may, perhaps, have influenced the christening them, as much as intention; and it can matter very little, so long as their powers are universally retained. Connected with this subject, however, it does appear a little singular that the sober and religious English should have named the fou the fool, or madman -a bishop; whilst they have preserved the names of the king, the queen, the knight, and the foot-soldier, or pawn. To reconcile some apparent absurdities in this nomenclature, a small tract appeared some thirty years since, acknowledged, it is understood, by the painstaking player known as the anonymous editor of Philidor,-proposing to substitute for the queen, minister; for the pawn, commoner, &c., &c.; and to entitle the operation called "castling," "closeting," &c. This proposal, however, like all others that have been ostensibly made for varying the game, or its terms, from established usages, met with no encouragement; and now, like the same gentleman's "scale of powers," is only referred to for the purpose of a passing smile.

It does not appear that, until the commencement of the last century, any considerable skill in the game was cultivated in England, whilst, amongst the Italians, its refinements had been most elaborately analysed, and its professors were establish

ing to themselves a fame which the skill of players of a more recent date has in vain attempted to rival. In confirmation of this fact, the best players of the present century have done little more to elucidate the game than to give translations, occasionally, from the most esteemed amongst them. In this way have appeared, in an English dress, the works of Damiano, Salvio, Gianutio, Ruy Lopez, &c. &c., by Sarratt; and since, the very accurate and valuable translations by Lewis, of Greco, Carrera, &c., &c.; and that by Bingham, of Dal Rio, the most instructive, perhaps, of all; though it were certainly to be wished that it had been edited by a more experienced player. Up to the time of the appearance of these translations, the only standard work on the game, in England, was that by Philidor; but, treating on little more than one opening, he may perhaps be said to have fettered, rather than expanded, the genius of the English student, inasmuch as, professing as it does to be an analysis of the game, players were led to imagine all openings not recognized by him as bad play; and thus some of the most instructive, if by chance they occurred, were neglected or despised. Still, however, the knowledge was scattered over many volumes; a great portion of it was also much too refined for the mere student: and a work that should convey just as much of instruction as he would be able to appreciate, has always been a desideratum. Players in this country will therefore have seen, with much satisfaction, the first portion of a work by Mr. Lewis,-to whose perseverance the game already owes so much,

- which is intended to contain every information requisite for the perfect development of the pieces in all the usual openings. This work is preceded by a a few apt, but general, rules of great value; and, in the illustration of "the Bishops close game,"" the Kings Knight's Game,' "the Queen's Bishops pawns game," and of "the Kings Gambit," so far as in the three first parts it has gone, leaves nothing to be desired.

Whilst it may be, however, doubted, whether the best players of late years have not been found in France, the question is one of comparative individual strength, that has never been tried; in number, the French certainly exceed us, and so, perhaps, of the generation that has passed away; for, without naming Philidor, in whose constitution the faux brillant appears to have been at least as evident as

the profound, the names of the marquis de Grosminy, the chevalier de Feron, the chevalier du Son, Verdoni, and de Lagalle, amongst the players of the last century, and Du Bourblanc, Le Preton, and La Bourdonnaye, of this, are a host, against which we have only to oppose Sarratt, and Lewis, beyond dispute the two ablest players that England has produced. Notwithstanding, the game is perhaps played more generally by the Germans, than in either of the nations to which we have referred, eminently suited as it is to their peculiar temperament-wary, profound, cautious, and persevering-and, accordingly, that country has produced many fine players.

A singular instance of the estimation in which it has been heretofore held by them occurs in a work written by Silberschmidt, entitled "Chess Secrets," and referred to by Dr. Netto, in one lately published by him; by which it appears that a certain dignitary of the church of Halberstadt, in Prussia, had been, for some offence, banished from that city to the village of Stræbeck, when, for the amusement and occupation of his leisure, he took some pains to instruct the natives in the game of chess; finding apt scholars, and gratified with the opportunity of "improving their manners and morals," he took much pains to render them creditable players, and, subsequently, when, after his recal, he became bishop of Halberstadt, he conferred certain municipal privileges on the village of his banishment, of which, according to another writer, they were to be deprived, if beaten at chess; but, in addition, he bestowed a more valuable benefit in the erection and endowment of a free-school, which still exists,and inwhich the game must be taught. The fame of their skill attracted thither, in the year 1651, Frederick William, of Brandenburg, who, in return for the amusement they had afforded him, and in token of the estimation in which he held their play, presented to them a magnificent carved chess-board, having on its obverse a table for the game of the "Courier," together with two sets of chessmen, the one of ivory, but the other of silver,- one half of the latter being gilt, by way of distinction: this set, however, it is supposed, the churchmen of Halberstadt considered too valuable for a paltry village, accordingly, they were borrowed by them, and never returned. The necessity of protecting themselves from the

impertinences of strangers, induces the inhabitants to decline playing, unless for money, and, accordingly, many persons have lost to them. It appears, however, that they have not been always equally fortunate; for, on a certain occasion, a friend of Silberschmidt, one N. N., indulging the knight errantry of a true chess-player, challenged their provost, and best players, and, after a contest of considerable duration, at the sign of the Chess-board and Marble, came off victorious. Now, it was natural that the aforesaid N. N. should be desirous of carrying off some trophy, and he therefore applied for a certificate; it was given, stating simply the fact; and, "alas, to confess," such is the term, that N. N. had carried off the victory." This important document was signed and sealed with the corporation seal: but no sooner had he obtained it than, probably in alarm for their privileges, they were desirous of withdrawing it, and no intreaties were at first spared to recover possession of it. Fnding these of no avail, they offered money, increasing their estimate of its value, until, had he been so disposed, he might have realized to very considerable advantage. N. N., however, valued his honor too highly, and, not content with inflexibly bearing his certificate away, he has rather ungallantly published it to the world—" alas," to the utter disconfiture of the men of Stræbeck.

Meanwhile, the various works on art and science, the encyclopædias, &c., professing to give instruction, and to contain knowledge on all matters within the circle of human attainment, contained no reference to the abundant works in Italian, German, &c., from which real information on the game of chess might have been acquired; but, contenting themselves with an elaborate rifacimento of Dr. Hyde's researches, and the addition of a few bald anecdotes from the French Encyclopédistes, they contrived to cover a certain portion of space, without affording, to such as might consult them, one sentence of real instruction or useful knowledge.

It has been a question amongst players how far the capacity for conducting a game. without seeing the board-the moves of the pieces being indicated by a third personshould be admitted as evidenceof a superior, or first rate talent for the game Without affecting to decide that question, it is not to be doubted that players of a very inferior grade have frequently excelled in this particular exhibition of memorial tenacity,