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MISCELLANIES . IN TWO VOLUMES . BY RICHARD TWISS. VOL. II. Tres mihi convivæ prope dissentire videntur, Poscentes vario multum diversa palato. Quid dem? Quid non dem? Hor. How few the guests united in one wish ! A different palate asks a different dish. What can I give those guests, or what omit ?— How hard the labour every taste to hit! LONDON : PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, And sold by T. EGERTON, MILITARY LIBRARY, WHITEHALL ; 3. BOOTH, DUKE-STREET, PORTLAND-PLACE ; AND J. MURRAY, FLEET-STREET. 1805.
Printed by George Hayden, 4, Brydges Street, Cov. Garden.
CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. Page - 1 , 233 and 389 Chess Index to ditto - 237 Translations -· 124 135 Draughts Index to ditto - 241 Chemical Experiments - 243 Galvanism - 272 Natural Courtship - 278 Poetry -· 319 Kolf-grounds - 359 Billiard Diagram - 371 - Two Squares made into one Multiplication Diagram Ditto with a Fraction Musick 373 · 376 380 - Final Quotation 384 - 391
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MISCELLANIES . ADDITIONS TO THE TWO VOLUMES OF CHESS , PUBLISHED IN 1787 AND 1789 . Savoir la Marche est chose très unie Jouer le Jeu, c'est le fruit du Genie. Rousseau, Ep. à Marot. To know the Moves is trifling fame, "Tis Genius only, plays the game. VOL. II. B
* 14 ཎཱི ཙཾ, ༢
ADDITIONS TO THE TWO VOLUMES OF CHESS, PUBLISHED IN 1787 AND 1789 . IN the old Romance, " l'Histoire du Noble Tristan Prince de Leonnois, Cheva lier de la Table Ronde, et d'Yseulte Prin cesse d ' Yrlande, Royne de Cornouaille" Tristan and Yseulte play at chess on board a ship in which they were sailing " De fait ayant finis luy et la Princesse un Jeu d' Echets, continuerent si longuement au A second, que d'esperez et l'un et l'autre de pouvoir mater son compagnon, n'ayans seulement l'avantage de venir à l'Echec, alteré Tristan de l'air sallé, de la chaleur B2 1
4 du soleil, et de la Douleur recente des traits sortans des yeux de sa Deesse, qui luy avoyent transpercé cœur et ame, demanda du vin que Gouvernail alla querir en dili gence. " -Brangienne, the princess's at tendant gives him by mistake a beverage which Iseulte's mother had committed to her care, in order to administer to her and Mare her intended husband. proposed effect of this The liquor was to excite a most violent passion in the par ties for each other. Iseulte having like wise tasted of this mixture, the conse quence is thus described : mettans à leur jeu, " Lors se re sentent les amans nouvelles alterations en eux, non de boire ou se rafraichir, ains de jouir de ce que 1 l'adolescent ne peut nommer sans honte, né la Pucelle penser sans rougir, estans inexperimentez et à l'un 1 et à l'autre. Ainsi ces deux astres luisans, comparables en beauté et rareté au blond Phoebus et à la blanche Diane, jettans Tablier et Eschets par terre".
5 The rest of the story is omitted, as it has nothing to do with chess . It was composed about the year 1120. Tristan A was slightly mentioned in Chess , vol. 11, P. 122.8 10% genel ol Syninės seret sith 3o correop ) is rundha SE {a Maitre Wace in his ནཊྛཾ(༣ ནྟི Roman du Rou speaking of Richard the son of William longsword, thus describes his accomplish "' quest ments : .. Richard sout en Daneis et en Normant parler , 6 Une charte sout lire et les pars deviser Deschez sout et des tables son compagnon mater. From a MS. in the time of Henry I. about the year 1130. in the Na tional Library at Paris. 014 In the MS . Romance of Renard the fox and Isangrin the wolf, composed in Y!! the 14th century, a game at chess is play ed between these two animals . B 3
6 At last Renard defies Isangrin at Chess , and being confident of winning it, maliciously proposes to play for het what both of them are most interested in pre serving. He loses, and dies in conse quence of this foolery. LE GRAND . - Fabliaux et Contes, tom , II. 360 . In the old French mystery of " la Passion" is a scene between Judas and the son of the king of Scarioth, as follows: Le filtz du Roy. Judas. F. Que voulez vous dire Judas. Tout ce qu'il vous plaist et vous Sire. Allons nous en quelque part rire Et passer temps car il m' ennuye Je n'ayme que joyeuse vie et eviter oisiveté J. En ce temps de joyeulx este Bon fait eviter la chaleur Parquoy Monsieur pour le meilleur S'il vous plaist le temps passerons A quelque Jeu.
F. 932 Bien nous jouerons Aux Eschetz vous et moy Judas J. Je le vueil a ce ne debas vela le tablier apreste F. Chacun monstre l'abilité Qui est en soy J. Le Roy la Royne le Roc et les Pion je maine comme il me plaist F. A bien grant peine Mes feres vous echec et mat J. Sus sus mestons nous en estat Que chascun se monstre vaillant F. Vela qui vous est assaillant J. Et vela qu' encontre je metz F. Perdu lavex je vous prometz J. Non ay F. Vous voyez bien que cy J. Je lay gaigne F. Et moy aussi J. Touttefoys vous ne laurez pas B4 1
8 F. Si en mentirez vous Judas Je le gaigneray devant tous J. Et pourquoi me desmentez vous Qui vous meut il men desplaist trop Corps bieu je vous donray tel cop Quil y parestra a jamais F. Se me touchez je vous prometz Quoncques ne feistes tel folie J. Tous nos puissans Dieux je regnye Se mettez la main dessus moy Nonobstant questes filz de Roy Par moy vous serez affole F. Paix coquin marault avolle On ne scait dou tu es venu Tu es ung paillart incongneu en faitz et ditz oultre cuide J. Se devoye estre lapide Ou geste en leaue en ung sac Si aurez vous en lestomac Cecy plante pour reverdir Nul ne me Scauroit refroidir Que n'ayez le coup de la mort Icy le tue. The citizens of Scarioth now make their appearance and finding their young
9 prince dead, express their sorrow upon the occasion , and make their reflections upon the King's situation when he should be apprised of the Event. Then follows 99 this stage direction . Icy est Judas tout } effraye et tient ung glaive tout fr nud sang lant comme se il venoit de faire meurtre. He afterwards murders the Father, mar ries the Mother , flies the country , and enters into the service Gifford's Hist. of France, of Pilate. - See 1792. BESIDES the passage quoted from Chau cer in C. vol. 1. p. 112. in his Canterbury tales , verse 11212. is this line . " They dancen and they play at ches and tables.” In the History of Beryn, being the Merchant's second tale in Urry's Chaucer, 1. 913. a chess-board is thus described, **** 1. 1000 .
10 “ Whe ches was all ofivory, the meynefreshandnew, ་་ " I pulsfid and ypikio, of white, asure and blew ." From this word " meyne” which occurs twice more, it is probable that the word means a company or collection of pieces ; it is absurd to call the Queens and castles, Men. To meine, to mingle. -AINSWORth . Meiny, a retinue ; domestick servants. —SHAK. In ** the Boke of Murture oz Governance of youth, with Stans puer að mensam , comppled by Hewe Rodes one of the kynges chapell." Printed by T. Petit, 4to . Black Letter, no date, are the following Lines. Afore Dyner nor after with thy knyfe scorche not the borde Such toyes are not commendable, trust me at a worde. Leane not on the bozde, when your mayster is thereat Forthen wyll your soverayne thynke in you checkemate.
11 In another Edition of this book, these lines are thus : Know honest men have honest wordes early and also late : Before thy equals and thy betters playe thou not friend checkemate. *** Extract from a Letter of John Hus, prin ted in Fox's Book of Martyrs.- See C. vol. 1. p. 95 . " You knowe how before my Priesthod, which greveth me now I have delyghted to play often times at Chesse and have neglected my time, and thereby have un happily provoked bothe myself and other to anger many tymes by that playe ; wherefore besydes other my innumerable faultes, for this also I desyre you to invo cate the mercy of the Lord, that he will pardone me, and so to directe my lyfe, that having overcome the wickedness of
12 this present lyfe, the flesh , the world, and the Devill, I maye fynde place in the heavenly countrey at the lest in the daye of Judgement. "-He was burnt at Con stance, in 1415 . In the ancient Romance of Huon de Bourdeaux, there is a chapter with the following title : - " Comment le roy Ivo ryn de Montbrant fist jouer sa fille aux echets a l'encontre de Huon de Bordeaulx estoit gaygne il elle estoit par tel si que si par elle auroit le chief couppe Etse la Damoyselle estoit perdant Huon de Bordeaulx debvoyt coucher avec elle." -In the course of this match Huon loses so many pieces that the spectators have little doubt of the game turning out unfavourable to him . The • Princess, however, who was secretly touched with his beauty, though disguised as a Minstrel's boy, contrives to lose the game, and the King becoming outrageous for the consequences , Huon very ungal lantly desires him not to be uneasy , for
13 that the Princess had his leave to retire to her chamber, and amuse herself with her damsels , or otherwise, as she pleases. The Princess, full of grief and resentment at his conduct, said to herself, " ah ! dis loyal heart, be thou cursed of Mahomet, had I known thee sufficiently I would have checkmated thee, and caused thee to lose thy head." Fo. XLV. no date, but was printed about the year 1500 . Mr. Steevens, in a note on Ferdinand and Miranda's playing at Chess in the Tem " Shaks pest, (C. vol. 1. p . 111. ) says , peare might not have ventured to engage his hero and heroine at this game , had he not found Huon de Bourdeaux and a princess employed in the same manner . " See the Romance of Huon, chap. LIII . ed. 1601 .
14 In the beginning of the fourteenth century a curious spiritual romance was composed entitled " Le Pelerin de vie humaine." by W. de Guileville, a Cister cian monk, in French rhyme, and at the instance of Jeanne de Laval, Queen of Sicily, rendered into prose by Jean Gallo pez, a priest at 量 Angiers. In this book the author has described the chess-king at the head of his pieces attacking and undermining the foundations of a church . In an edition of the translation printed in 1504 , there is a cut of a chess -board with a Fool among the pieces. From, " Remarks on the European names of Chess-men , " by Francis Douce, Esq. published in the 11th volume of the Archæologia. In a very particular description given by Stowe of the Banquet to which the French Ambassador was invited by Car dinal Wolsey at Hampton- court in the
15 66 year 1528 , he says, Among all other was a chesse-boord made of spiced plate with men there of the same, and for the good proportion, and because the French men be very expert in that play, my Lord Cardinall gave the same to a gentleman of France, commanding there should be made a goodly case for the preservation thereof in all hast, that hee might convey the same into his countrey." Stowe's Chronicle, ed. 1631 . THERE are several allusions to chess in the works of Skelton, who was Poet Laureate to Henry VIII . about the year 1540. " Support Parrot, I pray you with your suffrage ornat of confuse tantum, avoyding the checkmate . - p. 98 Lost is your game, ye are checkemate. - p . 105 } *
16 And he wil play checke mate with royall maiestee . p . 158 . For ye play so at the chesse as they suppose and gesse That some of you but late Hath played so checkmate with Lords of great estate. -p . 207. Oure dayes be datyed To be chek matyd. - p . 258 . 77 In the Life of Roger Ascham, prefixed to to the 4to . Edition of his works , is said, " In 1558 , his pupil Elizabeth mounted 1 the Throne. He was former Employment continued in his (Latin Secretary) with the same stipend : but though he was daily admitted to the presence of the Queen, assisted her private studies , and partook of her diversions ; sometimes read to her in the learned Languages, and sometimes played with her at Draughts and Chess ; he added nothing to his twenty pounds a year but the Prebend of Westwang in the church of York .
17 Edmund Bohun in his character of Queen Elizabeth says , " And when she was in private she would recreate herself with various discourses, a game at chess, dancing or singing. " In a speech made to Queen Elizabeth upon her progress to the Lord Chandos's at Sudley, Melibaus, one of the charac ters says , " We call ourselves Kinges and Queenes to make mirth, but when we see a King or Queene we stand amazed . At chests there are Kings and Queenes, and they of wood. " Nicholls's Progresses of Qu. El. v . 11 .. Hentzer says that he saw in the house of Felix Blater, at Basil, about the year 1580, a set of chessmen so small that they might be inclosed in a goose-quill. Itinerar, p. 259, 8vo, edit. I remember fower years since, a very VOL. II. C
18 neer kinsman of myne, becawse I lost a game at chesse for vid. somewhat to pa tiently unto him , whearby he mistrusted, as yt was indeed, that I lost yt volunta ry, vowed he would never play with me at chesse agayne, though he love the game, and we meet often ; neyther can I hyre him with the best horse I have, to dispence with this foolysh vow." Harrington's Nugæ Antiquæ, II . 198 . In Cardiff castle, in Glamorganshire, is a picture painted on wood, with a date, 1562 , representing the family of the Lord Windsor, at that period . The Father and Mother are playing at chess , the children at cards . The chess -board and Men are exactly the same as used at this day ; the cards are much smaller. "Chess was the favourite amusement of the Gothic Nations and known among them in the earliest times , and F their most barbaric Possessions . in all In Ice
19 land chess eleventh was general ; century we find and in the Gunlaug the Scald playing at chess with the beautiful Helga, whose love so Rafen, another excited him and Scald, that they fought and fell by mutual wounds ." Pinkerton's Hist. of Scotland, 1. 396 . In the first vol. of Pinkerton's Scotish Poems, is one by Sir David Lindsay, wherein is said, Thay past the time with chess and tabill, For he to every game was abill. And further on this abill Poet says He wan the pryse above thame all, Baith at the buttis and the futeball . Till every solace he was abill At cartes, and dyce, at ches, and tabill . In the old Scottish metrical version of " The Sevin Seages" by John Rolland, . 1578 , the Example of the seventh wise master (of Rome) begins thus : C 2
20 Upon a time thair was ane nobill knicht That had ane wife yt was baith fair and bricht Quhome he sa lufit, that be na way he micht Of the haill day ane hour want hir of sicht. Upon a time efter meit and glaidnes For thair pastime thir twa went to the Ches. In addition to the accounts given in C. vol . 11. p . 156-160 , I find in the Pri mera Parte de la Carolea Inchiridion, which is a work by Juan Ochoa de la Salde, printed at Lisbon 1585 , in folio, and which contains the History of Charles V. from 1500, to 1555 , the following pas sage : " Estaua entonces el Duque de Saxonia en su tienda con el Duque Hernesto de Branzuic, quando le fue leyda esta sen tencia a quatro de Mayo deste ano, ( 1547) y no se le mudò punto su color, -antes acabada de leer dixo , no por aquello el Emperador auria en su poder a Vitim berga, pues despues de el muerto dexaua
21 hijos, que cada vno dellos seria su misma persona, y assi tenia que hazer con mu chos : Dicho esto combidò al de Branzuic a jugar al axedrez, con el alegria de animo que otros en libertad bien afortu nada suelen tener. ” John, Duke of Saxony, when the com mission was brought him, as he was playing at chess, wherein his death was commanded the next day, called to one 66 Look, that stood by him , and smiling, (says he, ) if I have not the better hand of the game. For he (pointing to him with whom he played) will boast, when I am dead, that himself was the better of the set." Lord Bacon's Essays, vol. 1. p. 166. -See C. vol . II . p . 156 to 160. " I would say that the game of Tarots, (Cards used in Germany and Switzerland , 78 to the pack) represents C 3 a republick
22 much better than Chess does the court of a king. At Tarots there are all sta tions as in a republick ; there are Pence to reward the good, and Swords for the defence of the Country ; there are " Knights, Sergeants, Mountebanks , umphs, (Trumps) Emperors, Fools. Tri Popes, and He who would moralise on this, might make a book larger than “ the Researches of Master Pasquier. " -Șee C. vol. p. 96. From Recherches des Recherches de Pasquier, by the Jesuit Francois Garasse, about the year 1640. In 1783 was published , A continuation of Ben Jonson's Sad Shepherd, with notes, and an Appendix ; in this latter is an account of an old called Prose Morality, " A Dialogue botve pleasaunte and pietifull, wherein is a goodly regi mente against the fever Pestilence, with a consolacion and comfort against death ." 1564 . By William Bulleyn, 8vo.
23 In this play Ambodexter, personages, man, says, three thynges, and cause . one of the mentioning a certain sick (C I then providentlie by did foresee this tyme The first was, his great surfeictes in banquetyng : the seconde, his watchyng at Chesse and Cards : the third, you knowe what. ” In another part Mendax, a lying tra CC In the Isle called Ruc, veller says, in the greate Canes lande, I did see an Ape plaie at ticke tacke, and after at Irishe on the tables, with 覆 one of that lande : and also a Parate, gebe one of A their gentlewomen a checke mate at Chesse. " In C. vol . II. p . 13. a book is mentioned of which here follows an account ; it is entitled Ludus Scacchice , or Chesse-play ; a game both pleasant, wittie , C 4 and po
24 " " liticke : with certain briefe instructions there unto belonging ; translated out of the Italian into the English tongue con taining also therein a prety and pleasant Poeme of a whole game played at Chesse. Written by G. B. Printed at London by Jackson, dwelling beneath the con H. duite in Fleet Street, 1597 , in 4to. The prose part consists of 14 pages and the verse of 30 , containing 950 lines, which are 190 more than Vida's poem. And Mercury long afterward in trauell, as I gesse, Did teach the men of Italie to play this game at chesse . For landed on th' Italian shore as ancient stories tell : He spied by chance a louely Dame, that likte him passing well, And seeing her and liking her, he loued her withall this was a brave Sereian Nymph, whome Scacchis men did call : who while she kept her snowie swannes About the riuers wilde,
25 He spyde, and lou'd and lay with her, And got the maid with childe. And to requite such curtesie Shewd by so kind a Dame : To drive away the time withall, he taught her first this game . And for the losse of libertie, and maiden-head withall : of her name Scaccis Scacchia this play at chesse did call. And that this God in memorie the Lasse might longer have A Boxen chesse boord gilded round vnto the gerle he gave, And taught her cunning in the same, to playe the game by Arte. Which after to the country Swaines this Lady did impart : Who taught their late posteritie to vse this kinde of play, A game of great antiquitie Still used at this day. The two Similes of Vida, there are half a dozen of which English trans lations in C. vol . 1. p . 219 , &c. are in this poem, as follows :
26 The army white beginnes to rage much like a furious Bull, who having lost one horne in fight, yet beates his horned scull, against his raging enemy, begored all in blood : So they inforst, with greater force their furious foes withstoode. Much like a Heard of oxen faire or Heyfers on the plaine when as they see the wolfe approach their legges begin to strain And stand about the master Bull all round as in a Ring Euen so these seely fearfull Swaines Stood round about their king. It was my chance one day to play at Chess For some few crowns, with a minion of this King's, A mean poor man, that only serv'd his pleasures ; Removing of a Rook, we grew to words, From this to hotter anger : to be short I got a blow Beaumont and Fletcher's Double Marriage, Act 11. ... མ་ར .
27 " NOR can there be a pleasanter sight, hardly, than to see a bold fellow out of countenance ; since that puts his face into a most confused and humiliating posture ; for in bashfulness the fluctuate ; like spirits naturally but with bold men upon occasion, they stand still ; like a a Stale at chess , where it is no mate, but yet the game cannot stir." Bacon, Lord Verulam's Essays, 8vo, 1787, p. 57. f Disse Brunoro noi faremo un patto,, Che s' io ti vinco i' vo' questo destriere Ch' al primo io ti daro scacco matto Con la pedona in mezzo lo Scacchiere Disse Rinaldo come uvoi sia fatto Se tu m' abbatti questo é ben dovere E anco a Scacchi ti potria dir reo Ch' io foi tuo par ballar, come ' l paleo. PULCI . - Il Morgante Maggiore, canto III. 1 Un giorno a Scacchi Ulivier Borgognone, In una loggia con Rinaldo giuoca ; Vennero insieme giucando a quistione, E tanto ogn' un di parole rinfuoca
28 Ch' Ulivier disse a Rinaldo d' Amone Tu hai tal volta men cervel ch' un oca, 1. E col gridar difendi sempre il torto ; Non sò sem' hai per tuo ragazzo scorto ." Ibid, canto XI. Stanza 9. - See C. vol. 1. 1 p. 117 , and vol . 11. p . 134 . " Marini is mentioned in C. vol. 1. p. 76 and 80. The following lines are from his Adone, canto xv. Il cavallo leggier per dritta lista, Come gli altri, l'arringo unqua non fende, Ma la lizza attraversa, e fiero in vista Curvo in giro, e lunato il salto stende, E sempre nel saltar due case acquista, Quel colore abbandona, e questo prende. Epitaph on Coquillart, and his coat of arms, Marot. three golden shells. By Clement (about the year 1525 ) La Morre est jeu pire qu'aux Quilles Ne qu'aux Eschetz, ne qu' au Quillart A ce mechant jeu, Coquillart Perdit sa vie, et ses Coquilles .
29 Grecourt in his tale of le Saut de la Planche, mentions a Lady who playing with a gentleman Sept fois le fit echec et mat. All the lines in this poem end in elle (About the year 1715 ) and at. " As to Greek, of which I know very little, if any thing at all, my father in tended to make me learn it by art, but in a new way, by the means of recrea tion and exercise, tossing our declensions after the manner of those to and fro, who learn arithmetick and geometry, by certain games on the Chess- board . " Montagne's Essays, b . 1. c. xxv. " There is not the least idle subtlety that will not gravel cunning where is me : required, in games, as cards , chess, draughts , and the like , I under stand only the common tricks and moves ." Ibid, book 11. chap. XVII .
30 " Do but consider, that even in vain and frivolous actions, as at chess , tennis , and the like, this eager and ardent enga ging with an impetuous desire , immedi ately throws the mind and members into indiscretion and disorder. and bewilders himself. himself the most A man puzzles He that carries moderately both to wards gain and loss , has always his wits about him. The less peevish and pas sionate he is at play, he plays with much more advantage and safety." Ibid, book 111. chap. x. last English translation, 1776, from Peter Coste's French edition . [Montagne died in 1592 , aged 60. — See two more quotations, from his works, C. vol. I. p . 17. ] " A court Life is a serious, melancholy game, which demands application . must arrange our teries , have a pieces design, and We our bat follow it, parry
31 that of our adversary, hazard sometimes, and play capriciously ; and after all our reveries and all our measures , checked, sometimes mated . we are Often with Pawns which we properly manage we go to Queen and win the game : the most skilful carries it, or the most fortunate. " Caractères de la Bruyere , tom . 1 . p. 298.--See C. vol . 1. p . 150 . " THESE gilt carved things (the bad company of a court) were seldom answer able for more than the men on a Chess board, who are moved about at will, and on whom the conduct of the game is not to be charged." M4 Lord Bolingbroke's Idea of a Patriot King, 1749 .
32 From Dr. Henry's History of Great Bri tain, vol. III . octavo edition, p. 382 . THE judge of the household (of the Kings of Wales in the time of the Anglo Saxons ) possessed the fifth place of rank and dignity, and had a seat at the royal table . - He was sworn into his office with very great solemnity, and invested with it by the King's giving him a chess- board of curious workmanship, the Queen pre senting him with one gold ring, and. the poet of the court with another ; all which he was obliged to keep with great care as long as he lived. pilDen en View of the manners, customs, Arms, Ha bits, &c. of the ancient inhabitants of England, by Joseph Strutt, 4to. THE Danish Kings and heroes always. carried a Poet with them to battle, to
33 immortalize their prowess ; and they filled + up their leisure hours with chess, dice, and backgammon. Henry's History of Great Britain, 8v0 ed. vol. IV. p. 404. " WHEN Bishop Etheric obtained ad mission to Canute the Great about mid night, upon some urgent business, he found the king and his courtiers engaged at play ; some at dice, and others at chess. When a young nobleman applied to a fa ther for permission to pay his addresses to his daughter, the parent, it is said , commonly made a trial of his temper by playing with him at dice and chess, before he gave him an answer." This was be tween the years 1017 and 1028. Ibid, vol. VI . p. 376.-" The game at Chess, and several games at dice, were VOL. II. D f
34 much practised by persons of rank and fortune in this period . " lowing the conquest, (Immediatelyfol 1066.) Curiosities of Literature, vol. 1. • Lond. 1793 , p. 329. 3d ed. 66 Princes, says Balthazar Gracian, are willing to be aided, but not surpassed. This maxim Amelot de la Houssaie illus trates by the following anecdote : → A Spanish Lord, having frequently played at chess with Philip II. and won all the 1 games , perceived when his Majesty rose if from play, that he was much disturbed, The Lord, and felt a profound chagrin . $ to his said when he returned home, My children we have nothing 1 more to do at court ; there we must family expect no favour ; for the king is of fended at my having won of him every game at chess.'- This was not an unjust 1
35 observation ; as chess entirely depends on the genius of the player and not on for tune, it was no wonder, that Philip , him self a chess-player, should be jealous of the superior sagacity of his rival. " 511 t 6 ! " THEY (the Utopians) do not so much as know dice, or any such foolish and mischievous games ; they have, however, two sorts of games, not unlike our chess." Sir Thomas More's Utopia. .18 .. 20 ; 15 1 } 5/201 "i " This ancientgame called the Chesse is an earnest exercise of the minde and convenient for Students, and may easi ly be provided to be alwaies readie in their chambers.” ,, ནཊྛསུ Cogan's Haven of Health, bl. lr. 101 www.4to. 1612 , fo. 19 . $ 99*** ‫' ܐ ܕ ܪ ܕ ܢ܂‬ D 2
36 To play at the Chesse is a pleasant game . So you can forbeare to chafe at the same Dodecadron of Fortune, 1613. 4to. p. 129. -[ . In a speech of James I. concerning some books , written by Cowel and Black wood, subvertive of the constitution, he says, " The King's power is in the hands of the Lord, & c . They ( Kings ) can exalt low things , and abase high things , making the subjects, like men at chess , a pawn to take a Bishop or a Knight." ** 1 .. J 25.01 " MAY 31 . Waller attempting to pass Isis at New -bridge, and being then re pulsed , retired to Abingdon, where he, to revenge himself, demolished Abingdon crosse , defaced the church , burnt all the Tables and Chesse -boards in Abingdon , and plundered most of the people of their awsoul! goods . " Memorable Occurrences in 1644 , at the end of MERCURIUS RUSTICUS , 1646. 12mo.
37 In the Works of M. St. Evremond, is a letter to the Earl of St. Albans, (who died in 1684) from which the following : lines are transcribed : " Come to town, my Lord, the coun try was never made for such as you . A man of honour and politeness ought to live and die in a capital City.. Free conversations at table, with a few guests ; a game at Hombre at the Dutchess of York's, and Chess at home, will make you easily wait the last period of Life in London ." Randle Holme in his Academy of Ar mory, fol. Chester, 1688 , part 11. p. 263 , says, " Chess is a royal game and more difficult to be understood than any other game whatsoever , and will take up some D3
38 time in the playing. Artists at the game have played a fortnight by times before it hath been ended. The Chess-men are these following : The Kings, which are the first and highest called. The Queens, which are the next in height, called also the Amazons. The Bishops, which have cloven heads, called the Archers . The Knights, having their heads cut aslaunt like a feather in a helmet. The Rooks have a round buttoned cap on their heads called also the Rocks or Dukes . The Pawns are all alike, they are serving men to the Noblemen ." " Soon after the condemnation of the Duke de Montmorenci, the King sent for his Marshal's staff and his collar of the order of the 1 Holy Ghost . These distin guished marks of his Sovereign's favour, and of the Duke's merit, were brought "" to Louis as he was playing at chess .' Seward's Anecdotes of some distinguished persons, vol. III . p. 220, 2nd ed. 1795 .
39 " THE weather is now so extream hot, that may chance to make sick my Lady's foisting Dog which is her only Jewel and dearest delight ; for these fizzling Curs are a main piece of a Lady's Essence , and the proper passion of a gentlewoman, which they can be no more without than a Physician without his gloves and his ring, board, a Chess Kit, or an Apothecary without a Miller without a a Spanish Don without a Toothpick . Poor Robin's Almanack, for 1693 . Month of July. And in the same almanack for 1694 , in the month of April are these lines : Now Men at Cards and Dice do play their Money and their time away At Irish, Tick- tack, most at Thrice At Passage, Hazard, plays at Dice At Trey- trip, Doublets, Draughts or Chess Their Money runs with carelessness. At Noddy, Nonum, Mumchance, Mischunce Thus they their Money make to dance D4
40 Ruff, Slam, Whisk, Uptails, Sart, New -cut To keeping of four Knaves they put At Gleek, Best, Piquet, and Primero Some win and some do lose all clero, At Loadum, Cribbidge and All-fours They wast away time's precious hours Maw, Whip-her-ginny, Poor and Rich With other Games besides, the which I know not nor yet care to know From whence there does no goodness grow. THE following quotation is taken from the manuscripts of Mr. Bogle, who was sent by Mr. Hastings, when Governor General of Bengal, to Teshoo Loombo . We are indebted for it to Mr. Craufurd . -See Sketches, relating to the Hindoos, vol. 11. p. 204. Lond. 1792 . " I must confess , the pleasantest hours, I spent before the arrival of the Pyn Cooshos , (the Lama's nephews ) were either in my audience with the Lama, or in playing at chess. The arrival of a
41 large party of Calmucks furnished with enough of combatants . me Their (the Thibetians ) method ofplaying differs from ours, in this particular ; the privilege of moving two steps at once is confined by them to the first pawn played by each party, and they know nothing of castleing and stalemate : Instead of this last, it is a drawn game, when the king is left solus, without a piece or a pawn on the board. In my first trial of skill with the Tartars, I used often to come off a loser. For when a Tartar sits down to chess, he gets two or three of his countrymen to assist him . They lay all their bare heads to gether, considering and consulting about every move. At length I found out the way of managing them, and encountered them in their own way. If I could not get a Tartar to enter the list with me in single combat, I engaged an equal num ber of them on my side, and used easily to beat them . "
42 " THE Company sat down to cards , being in reality no other than an amuse ment, invented by the Europeans , as chess was by our ancestors, for the pas time of the rich and idle . ” —Letters of a Hindoo Rajah, vol. 1. p . 255. 8vo. Lond. 1796. " As, after having lost a game at chess, it is my custom to ponder on } the past moves until I find out the false step that led to my defeat , so do I ruminate on the disappointment of expected felicity, till I make a discovery of the source from wh. it has flowed ."— Ibid , vol. 11. p. 137. . 6.6 Votre altesse royale sait que la France destinait d ' abord au Roi Stanislas un secours un peu plus honnête que celui de quinze cens fantassins contre cinquante mille Russes ; mais les menaces des An glais, et leur flotte , toute prète à nous
43 fermer le passage, retinrent dans le port le fameux du Gué -Trouin , qui comptait bien se mesurer avec les maitres des mers. On donna donc au Roi Stanislas le secours d'un Pion contre une Dame et une Tour ; et le Roi qu'on n'osait ni secourir ni abandonner, fut Echec et Mat . "-Tom. 1 . P. 302 . " J'ai recu deux de vos Lettres, mais " je suis je n'ai pu y repondre plutot ' Echecs de Charles XII . comme le Roi d qui marchait toujours. " Tom, 2 p . 65 . 10% " L'homme à toque et à Epée papale s' est placé sur les confins de la Saxe et de la Bohême. Je me suis mis vis- à-vis de lui dans une position avantageuse en tout Nous en sommes à present à ces " coups d' Echecs qui preparent la partie. sens. Vous qui 1 jouez si bien ce jeu, vous savez que tout depend de la Y maniere dont on a entable." -Tom . 2. p . 297. Lettres du Prince Royal de Prusse, à M. de Voltaire.
44 In the Travels through Cyprus, Syria, and Palestine, by the Abbé Mariti , trans lated from the Italian in 1791 , he says, • " The Arabs often amuse themselves in playing at chess ; but this they do only at their hours of relaxation . ” " Amongst the various presents which he (the old man of the mountain) sent to Lewis, ( IX. in the year 1235 ) there was a superb chess-board, formed of Rock-crystal, produced in the mountains of his country, and ornamented with gold and amber." - See C. vol. 1. p. 105 . " Chess is almost the only game which the Mohammedan Doctors * allow to be lawful, (though it has been a doubt with some, ) because it depends wholly on skill and management, chance and but then it is not at allowed all on under 曩 certain restrictions, viz. that it be no
45 hinderance to the regular performance of their devotions, and that no money, or other thing be played for or betted ; which last the Turks and Sonnites reli giously observe, but the Persians and Mogols do not. But what Mohammed 1 is supposed chiefly to have disliked in the game of chess, was the carved pieces or men with which the Pagan Arabs played, being little figures of men, elephants , horses, and dromedaries ; and these are thought by some commentators to be truly meant by the images prohibited in one of the passages of the Koran quoted above . $ " That the Arabs in Mohammed's time actually used such images for chess- men , appears from what is related in the Sonna of Ali, who, passing accidentally by some who were playing at chess, asked, what images they were which they were so in tent upon, for they were perfectly new to
46 him , 1 that game having been but very 1 lately introduced into Arabia, long before into and not Persia, whither it was first brought from India in the reign of Khosrú. 4 ***** *p! Viol "Hence the Mohammedan doctors infer that the game was disapproved only for the sake of the images ; wherefore the Sonnites always play with plain pieces of wood or 粤 ivory; but the Persians and Indians, who are not so scrupulous , con tinue to make use of the carved ones . 1.4. A BIT 7244 " THE Roman civil law forbad all perni cious games, and though the Laity were, in some cases, permitted to play for mo ney, provided they kept within reasonable bounds, yet the clergy were forbidden to play at tables , (which is a game of ha zard) or even played . to look on while others Accursius, indeed, is of opinion they may play at chess, notwithstanding that law, because it is a game not subject
47 to chance ; and being but newly invented in the time of Justinian, was not then known in the western parts . However , the monks for some time were not allow ed even chess. " Sale's Preliminary Discourse to the Koran, p. 166, 7 , 8 . A. ok. According to the Mussulmen Law is an Abomination to play at Chess , dice, or any other game : for, if any thing be staked, it is gambling, which is expressly prohibited in the Koran. Or if, on the other hand, nothing be hazarded , useless and vain. it is Besides the prophet has declared all the Entertainments of a Mussulman to be vain, except viz. three ; the breaking in of his horse ; the draw ing of his bow ; and the playing amusing himself with his wives . or Several of the learned, however, deem the game of Chess to be allowed, as having a
48 tendency to quicken the understanding . " -qy See the HECTAYA, or PERSIAN GUIDE, being a Commentary on the Mussulmen Laws . Published 1791 . John Barbeyrac, Professor of Law and History, at Lausanne, published in 1719 99 his " Traité du Jeu, or " Treatise on Gaming, wherein the principal questions of natural right, and of morality, relative to that subject are examined, " in 2 vols, 12mo. His comments upon Chess are as fol lows : " It is thus that a Flemish Minister of the last Age, (Dan. Souterius in Pala mede, lib. 111. cap. XI .) condemns the game of chess , because, as he says it teaches the method of laying snares for others, and that moreover, as it is an image of
49 war, it makes us hate peace and run to arms . Princes who want if they do ill- advised soldiers are not every where establish academies for Chess , which would in a short time enable them to 6 raise a number of recruits yearly . But, without joking, besides that the military profes sion is not in itself blamable, doubt whether the game I much of Chess has ever produced any such effects, nor that it has in the least encouraged any per son already disposed to insnare, or to be attached to war . those who I even doubt whether are 1 said to have made use of a similar game to teach the military art, have ever by those means made a single good soldier. on a They could scarcely Draught-board , or a Chess - board have given more than a few general ideas, which a little experience teaches in a short time much more easily, and in an * infinitely more distinct manner. ** VOL. II. *E
50 " I can hardly agree with the opinion of Mr. de la Placette, in his Treatise on Games ofChance, chap. VII. however this celebra ted Minister may be praiseworthy for his uncommon and indefatigable application in meditating and writing on moral sub jects . He peculiar pretends to games there is of skill, one effect . especially those wherein chance has no share , such as the games of Draughts, and of Chess ; which is that nothing more readily nou rishes pride. What, says he, makes the ragout of those two games ? they require extraordinary It is, that, as penetration , application , and address , (particularly the second ) when we conquer , we congratu late ourselves on our superiority over those persons we have played with. Con sequently , to play at those kind of games augments and fortifies Pride : which on the contrary we ought to strive to eradi cate entirely . But I wish with all my heart there were no stronger temptations to pride than those , } nor other matters
51 more apt to maintain it : that passion would not then make any great progress . Let us render justice to men, and without dissembling or excusing their real defects, let us not make them greater than they appear to be. Let us not confound the weaknesses which are inseparable from humanity, and those motions which are in some measure involuntary, with the real seeds and certain effects of a visible and voluntary corruption . We pique ourselves, it is true, on winning at Chess and at other games of skill, although we play for nothing, and sometimes we are even vexed at losing. But these im pulsions are commonly sudden and un premeditated, which evaporate almost as soon as formed, without profound impression . leaving any I presume no one raises his idea of his own merits because he has won a few games successively, and is a good player at Draughts or at Chess . If we play for nothing at any E2
52 game sirous losing . of chance , we are of winning, and likewise de discontented at If, independently of any interest ed motive, we attach a slight honour to the victory, it is a necessary consequence of that natural desire, (in itself innocent) which causes us to prefer our own ad vantage to that of others, and to be displeased if we do not obtain it in every thing. As long as we stop there, and that those primary motions do not degenerate into an excess of frivolous joy, or ridicu lous chagrin, they are not more vicious than the simple motion of the dice, the 4 cards, or the chess-men. I own there are many stories which show that losing at chess is more vexatious than at any other game, and that nothing more shows "" the weakness of the greatest men ." Vol. 1. p. 279 . " It is sometimes , although rarely, seen that persons who play for nothing, be come seriously angry, and testify a puerile
53 spite after losing, particularly at chess and the like games . " -P. 355 . " We must say the same thing of Chess and in proportion of other games of mere skill, at which we cannot become expert and actually play well, if we do not apply to them more than they deserve , and more than the scope of the game per mits. " -Vol. II . p. 491 . " It must be acknowledged that Chess and other such games are not near so dangerous as those of chance , as to the interested view, but on the other hand they are certainly more so as to the ex cess of attachment. Take from the play ers at games of chance the ardent desire of gain , and you deprive them of the principal inducement to play. Whereas 1 with little or no desire of gaining money, we may play a long while at Ombre, at Draughts, or at Chess, without being wea E 3:
54 ry. We are easily piqued in honour at those games ; we take a pleasure in con ducting them well ; in dexterously ma naging a nice move ; and in retrieving a game which has turn . taken an unfavourable Besides which the variety of the moves and situations incessantly to take vents the disgust which oblige new measures , caused by the us pre great uniformity of games of chance, notwith standing the inconstancy of fortune which presides at them ; we form plans , we seek the means of executing them, we change our designs and our batteries according to unforeseen moves. Those ideas of order occupy the mind not only during the game, but even after it is ended, more or less , according as the game or sitting has lasted ; and some people may be found whose heads appear to be full of nothing else, during while after playing . a considerable Chess renders those who have played some time attentively at it, very pensive, and they become the
55 more piqued, as they can only lose by reason of their want of skill. The at tachment to this game which the Orien tals , from whom we have it, show, as well as that of many Europeans to the same, clearly prove this . " -Vol. 11. p. 494 . " The proper time to play at Ombre or at Chess, is when we are absolutely des titute of every other recreation : if we can amuse ourselves in a less gloomy, although alluring manner, it will be the safest as well as the most agreeable way to do so. I only see one case when we may reasonably give some time to such games , which is when we are so situated as to have nothing better to do ; for example in travelling ; in the country ; when we are detained at home through indisposition and unable to pursue our usual vocations , &c. In these and similar occasions it is better to occupy our mind with such games, than not to occupy it at all, and E 4
56 thus to suffer it to relax itself, or to evaporate in a thousand confused ideas : provided care be taken that we do not insensibly take up as a business what was only intended as a temporary diversion , and that we seek as soon as possible, some more useful occupation . " - Vol. 11. p . 500 . " As to Chess, Draughts, Ombre, Back gammon, and such games , I aver, that to play often and long at them, fatigues us more than if we played Billiards, at Bowls , &c . every day at I own we shall be more immediately sensible of weari ness at these latter games , but on the whole the fatigue will be greater at the former, because the mind is continually active, which in some measure likewise affects the body. " — Vol. 11. p . 507 . " Moderate and often exercise is very useful, absolutely necessary to pre serve our health, and enable us to apply vigorously to our functions , or to our
# 57 Now Cards and Dice, Draughts affairs . and Chess, exercise hands certainly do needful for not afford the our welfare . may grow tired, The but the rest of the body remains almost immovable , or if we give it any motion, it is a kind of convulsive one, which, after all , does more harm than good . " --Vol . 11. p. 509. From du Halde's China, 1736 , in French. Extracts from a compilation made under the Dynasty Ming , which lasted from the year 1300, to the year 1600 , An author speaking zel of the game of Chess , which is the favourite game in China, says as follows : * 1 " Some persons have said that the game of Chess came from the Emperor Yao, who invented it to instruct his son
58 . in the art of governing his subjects, and in making war : but there is nothing less probable. The great art of Yao, consist ed in the continual practice of the five principal virtues, of which the exercise was as familiar to him as the use of his limbs. He employed virtue and not arms to subdue the most barbarous people. " The art of war, of which the game of Chess is as it were an image, is the * art of being noxious to each other. Yao was far from giving such lessons to his son . The game of Chess without doubt did not commence till after those un happy times when the whole empire was desolated by wars. It is an invention nowise worthy of the great Yao ." From against another author the eager who attachment exclaims to this game. " In our age, alas ! how many people
59 abandoning their studies, selves wholly with themselves occupy them Chess : they so vehemently up to give it, as to attend to nothing else, not even to 1 When daylight eating and drinking. fails, they light candles . They continue to play, and often the day breaks before they have done. They exhaust both body and mind in that amusement, with out thinking about any thing else. Their business is These entirely neglected . gamesters cannot be persuaded to inter rupt their frivolous combats, in order to assist at a solemn festival, or to attend to the most exquisite musick. Lastly, at this game, as well as at every other, one may * or at least one lose even one's clothes ; becomes troubled , chagrined, and irrita ted ; and for what ? to remain master of a field of battle which after all is but a board, and to gain a kind of victory from whence no Vanquisher has ever obtained any titles, appointments, or lands . #
60 " I am willing to believe it requires address : but an address as equally useless to the state in general, as to families in particular. This road leads to nothing : for if I examine the game as to its relation to the art of war I find no similitude . If I examine it as to civil government , I find still less. " The art in this game consists in surprising the adversary, in laying snares * for him, in profiting by his mistakes. Is it thus we inspire honesty and integri ty into the mind ? To plunder , to kill, and other similar terms, form the lan Is it thus we guage of these players . * inspire people with goodness and મ cle mency ? In short, 7 the least that may be said of this and 1 some45 other games, is, that such trivial diversions prevent us It is from employing ourselves usefully. $ wood or a as if you set up a piece of stone, and amused yourself in beating it, or fencing against it : I see no difference.
-1 61 << Every wise man, if he is a private person, ought to occupy himself with his domestick affairs, in order to provide for his family : if he be at court and in the service of his prince , his attention should be employed in giving proofs of his zeal. He must often for those purposes neglect even his own private concerns . How much farther ought he not to be from idly amusing himself with the game of Chess ! " A useless skill causes you to win at Chess, and renders you board. } master of the What comparison between that puerile advantage, and the honours, lands, and appointments with which the Empe ror, if you chose it, could reward your services ! Which do you suppose prefer able, to move a few paltry pieces of wood on a plank, or to command several thou sand men ? what gain which can possibly accrue from Chess , is comparable to the
62 honour and profit of a considerable of fice ?" & c. Dr. Adam Smith, Theory of Moral Senti ments, vol. 11. p. 110 , 6 ed. Lond. 1790 . "The man of system seems to imagine, that he can arrange the different members of a great society with as much ease as the hand arranges the upon a chess-board . different pieces He does not con sider that the pieces upon the chess -board have no other principle of motion besides that which the hand impresses upon them ; but that, in the great chess-board of human society, every single piece has a principle of motion of its own, altoge ther different from that which the legis lature might chuse to impress upon it." 1 Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophi
63 1 Vol. 1. p. cal Society of Manchester. 112. 8vo. Warrington, 1785 . " WOULD not one imagine, on seeing a chess-player, so entirely wrapt up in himself as to appear insensible to every thing around him , that he is taken up with the care of his own fortune , the preservation of the state, or some such great and important subject ? And yet, all his intenseness of thought is produced by the position of a small piece of ivory, which gives exercise to his mind, and procures him that pleasure, in which he seems so totally absorbed . " Chess -men are distinguished upon the board whilst the game is playing, but it being done, they are tumbled into the rai bag without order. Private Devotions . 18mo. 1706. p. 160.
64 Pope Innocent and Squire Sancho said the same thing .-See C. vol . 11. p. 4. 201 , and 27. Fielding's Covent-garden Journal, No. 24 . vol. VIII. of Murphy's edition, 8vo, 1762, p. 237. " The same labour, and, perhaps, the same genius, which brings a man to a perfection at the game 20 of Chess would make a great proficiency in the mathe 1 maticks. Critical Review, New Arrangement, vol. IV. p. 533 . " In a free government, the Russian might appear with equal advantages, as in the military department, intelligent, active, reflecting, and endowed with a spirit of calculation he might succeed in every pursuit : at present he excels only at Chess . " The book reviewed is, Idée
65 Generale de la Siberie et de ses Habitans, par Mr. Patrin, 11 June , 1792 . In the Works of Sir Wm . Jones, pub lished in 1799 , in quarto , are six pages on the Indian game of Chess, from which the following is extracted . " If evidence be required to prove that Chess was invented by the Hindus, we may be satisfied with the testimony of the Persians ; who , though as much in clined as other nations to appropriate the ingenious inventions of a foreign people, unanimously agree, that the game was imported from the west of India, in the + sixth century of our Era . " " It seems to have been immemorially known in Hindustan by the names of Chaturanga ; Chatrang, by the old Per VOL. II. F 1
66 sians ; Shatranj, by the Arabs and modern Persians. ------- Thus has a very significant word in the sacred language of the Brah mans been transformed by successive changes into axedrez, scacchi, échecs, chess, and, by a whimsical concurrence of cir cumstances, given birth to the English word check, and even a name to the Exchequer of Great- Britain . “ The beautiful simplicity and extreme perfection of the game , as it is commonly played in Europe and Asia, convince me, that it was some great invented by one effort of Genius ; not completed by gradual improvements, but formed, to use the phrase of Italian criticks, by the first intention ; yet of this simple game, so exquisitely contrived, and so certainly invented in India, I cannot find any account in the classical writings of the Brahmans . At present I can only ex hibit a description of a very ancient In
67 dian game of the same kind ; but more complex, and, in my opinion, more mo dern than the simple chess of the Per sians. Chaturanga means the four anga's, or members of an army, which are explained in the Essay to which I refer, as they do not relate to our Chess. From a discourse on the Hindus, de livered by Sir William (who was then President) at a meeting of the Asiatick Society in Calcutta , in 1786 , " The Hindus are said to have boasted of three inventions, all of which indeed are admirable ; the method of instructing by Apologues, the Decimal Scale adopted now by all civilized nations , and the game of Chess, on which they have some curious treatises." F 2
68 Sir William also mentions that in the Island of Hinzuan or Johanna , where he passed a few days in 1783 , he " played at Chess with the king's brother's younger son, in whose manner and address there } was something remarkably pleasing. " In the 4th vol . is a satyrical Letter in French to a Monsieur A. du P. on his translation of books attributed to Zoroas In this letter is the following pas ter. sage : " That Dr. extraordinary man, Hunt) who sixty years to has (perhaps continued cultivate letters during and to enrich them, made no scruple of writing to M. d ' Greek and Olivet, four years ago , Latin are to all the that other languages in the world what the game of Chess is to the game of Draughts , and what a beautiful dance is to a com mon gait. "
1 1 69 Caissa or the Game at Chess . A poem of 334 lines, written in the year 1763 , J at the age of between 16 and 17 years, T by William, afterward Sir Wm . Jones. ? The following extracts are inserted. 1 S See C. vol. 1. p. 91 . Of armies on the chequer'd field array'd , And guiltless war in pleasing form display'd ; When two bold Kings contend with vain alarms, In ivory this, and that in ebon arms ; I sing- He rose, and on the cedar table plac'd A polish'd board, with differing colours grac'd ; Squares eight times eight in equal order lie ; These bright as snow, those dark with sable dye ; Then from a chest, with harmless heroes stor❜d, O'er the smooth plain two well-wrought hosts he T pour'd ; The champions burn'd their rivals to assail, Twice eight in black , twice eight in milk-white mail ; 1 In shape and station different, as in name Their motions various, nor their power the same. High in the midst the reverend Kings appear, And o'er the rest their pearly sceptres rear : F 3
70 One solemn step, majestically slow, They gravely move, and shun the dangerous foe ; If e'er they call , the watchful subjects spring And die with rapture if they save their king ; On him the glory of the day depends, He once imprison'd, all the conflict ends . The queens exulting near their consorts stand ; Each bears a deadly falchion in her hand ; Now here, now there, they bound with furious pride, And thin the trembling ranks from side to side ; Fierce as they seem, some bold Plebeian spear May pierce their shield, or stop their full career. The valiant guards, their minds on havock bent, Fill the next Squares, and watch the royal tent ; Though weak their spears, though dwarfish be their height, Compact they move, the bulwark of the fight. To right and left the martial wings display Their shining arms, and stand in close array. Behold four archers, eager to advance, Send the light reed, and rush with sidelong glance ; Through angles ever they assault the foes, True to the colour which at first they chose. Then four bold knights for courage fam'd and speed, Each knight exalted on a prancing steed :
71 Their arching course no vulgar limit knows Transverse they leap, and aim insidious blows : Nor friends, nor foes, their rapid force restrain, By one quick bound two changing squares they gain ; From varying hues renew the fierce attack, And rush from black to white, from white to black, Four solemn elephants the sides defend ; Beneath the load of ponderous towers they bend : In one unalter'd line they tempt the fight ; Now crush the left, and now o'erwhelm the right. soldiers raise Bright i in the front the dauntless Their polish'd spears ; their steely helmets * ་ blaze : Prepar❜d they stand the daring foe to strike, Direct their progress, but their wounds oblique. He hears, where'er he moves, the dreadful sound ; Check the deep vales, and check the woods rebound, No place remains : he sees the certain fate, And yields his throne to ruin and check-mate. Low in their chest the mimick troops were lay'd, And peaceful slept the sable hero's shade. " The chief art in the tacticks of Chess 1 consists in the nice conduct of the royal F 4
72 Pawns ; in supporting them against every attack ; and, if they are taken, in supply ing their places with others equally sup ported ; a principle, on which the success of the game in great measure depends , though it seems to be omitted by Vida." THE following Rössel-sprung, (Horse leap) or trick of covering all the squares of the Chess -board with an equal number of moves of the Knight, is by Euler the late celebrated German mathematician . 42 57 44 9 40 55 10 41 58 45 12 43 56 61 63 54 11 32 13 62 53 64 14 1 8 39 20 22 59 6 47 25 28 19 38 27 60 23 48 5 31 24 29 26 37 18 33 2 51 16 35 4 49 52 15 34 3 50 17 36 3980 7 126 46
3 73. In C. vol. i. p. 139 , are three other methods of performing this, and in vol . II. another very ancient one : likewise one on a round board. This circular Chess- board had probably lain dormant till 1789 , when I found it in a French manuscript of four hundred years old, in the British Museum . not mentioned in any other book. ral of these boards have It is Seve latterly been made in London , and a great number in Calcutta, although I have not learnt that the game has been much played. In " A Narrative of the Operations of a Detachment from the Mahratta Army, by Lieutenant Edw . Moor," 1794 , 4to, is an account of a Game at Chess played in a Pagoda by the Author against four 66 Shah mat was Bramins, who won it. pronounced not with the exultation of casual conquest , but with the moderate
74 gratification arising from a foreseen event, which a consciousness of superior infor mation authorised them to expect. " The discomfited antagonist, not feel ing the aggravations of the defeat, forgets his inferiority in the clemency of his vic tors." In 1802 ,. a small book was published in Paris, printed in Strasbourg, 2 vol . 24to, entitled, Les Stratagèmes des Echecs, being a collection of the most brilliant and curious from strokes at Chess, extracted. Stamma, Lolli, and others , with many new ones. The whole are ends of games , in num ber 120. The first eighty show the method of giving check-mate , in two, three, four, five , six, seven, eight, nine, or ten moves ; these are supposed to be ends of common games. Then follow
75 twenty-two singular ends, to be won by a particular piece or a pawn, or in a specified number of moves ; twelve Stale mates ; and six qui perd gagne in which the adversary is forced to give the check & mate. The second volume consists solely of 120 cuts of Chess -boards , whereon the Men are placed as described in the first volume, with occasional notes. In this volume is a poem of 244 lines, entitled, " Poëme de CERUTTI Sur les Echecs ." " The Game of Chess is transformed into a combat which is described by one of the two Kings." The following lines are the best half of the composition, being the thirty two first, the thirty six last lines, and some account of all the different pieces .
76 LES noirs, les blancs jadis se disputaient la terre. Deux peuples de leur race éternisent la guerre : Opposés d'intérêt ainsi que de couleur, Egaux par le genie égaux par la valeur, Depuis plus de mille ans ils se battent sans cesse. Ils sont jaloux de gloire, et non pas de richesse ; L'aviditéjamais n ' a terni leurs lauriers : Une pauvreté noble honore des guerriers. Deux monarques fameux, chargés de les conduire, Triomphent tour- à- tour sans vouloir se détruire ; A mesurer leur force ils bornent leurs desseins Mesure délicate entre deux rois voisins. Je suis l'un de ces rois, les blancs sont mon partage, Les noirs, de mon rival, sont l'antique héritage. Nous possédons tous deux seize petits Etats Avec un nombre égal de chefs et de soldats. Compagnons de fortune et fréres d'origine, Les soldats suivent tous la même discipline, Les chefs, gardiens du peuple et défenseurs des rois, Sont soumis dans leur marche à de sévères lois. Dressés pour nos combats, des Eléphans fidèles, De l'un et l'autre camp protégent les deux ailes : Moins esclaves qu' amis, ces animaux puissans, Sont notre ferme appui dans les dangers pressans ; Sur leur dos colossal des tours sont élevées, Pour le dernier assaut sagement reservées, Et qui, frappant de loin aussi bien que de près, Lancent sur l'ennemi d' inevitables traits .
77 Ainsi que nos sujets, nos reines sont guerrieres ; Errant en liberté, ces Amazones fieres, Exercent, sous notre ordre, un absolu pouvoir ; Leur promptitude étonne, ainsi que leur savoir. ……………... ... Ils savent préparer la victoire et l'attendre, " Profiter du hasard, et n' en jamais dependre ; Aux projets médités joindre ceux du moment, Soumettre leur fortune aux lois du mouvement. ....... Sur une double ligne, en deux corps partagés, En ordre de bataille on nous voit tous rangés. Le genie attentif garde un profond silence, ... Et l'aveugle destin lui remet sa balance... On donne le signal, on part des deux côtés, Les postes sont choisis, les coups sont ajustés, Les premiers combattans expirent sur la place ; D'autres suivent de près et vengent leur disgrace. Les rangs sont enfoncés les deux camps sont ouverts ; On passe tour-á- tour des succés aux revers, Onprend, on perd un chef; onforme, on lève un siège ; On garde, on quitte un poste, on dresse, on rompt un piege ; Les moindres intérêts ne sont pas oubliés, Mais, à ceux de l'Etat, ils sont sacrifiés : La barbarie alors devenant légitime, Pourfaire une conquête, on livre une victime. On expose un soldat pour surprendre un héros.
78 Tous ne sont pas formés pour les memes travaux. A l'ennemi qui vient, l' un ferme le passage, Sur l'ennemi qui fuit, l'autre fond avec rage : Malheur à l'imprudent qui s' engage trop loin, Et qui de son retour a negligé le soin ! Infortuné captif, il périt sans défense. Ses braves compagnons courent à sa vengeance; Mais ils règlent leur marche, observant, calculant ; Ceux-ci d'un pas rapide, et ceux - là d' un pas lent ; Avant de l'occuper, fortifiant la place, Evaluant le nombre, et le tems, et l'espace, Ils perdent l'ennemi sans se perdre avec lui, Se ménagent partout un asyle, un appui, Avec dextérité s'avancent, se replient, Se dispersent soudain, et soudain se rallient. Ainsi la discipline et l'art de la tactique Ont fait de l'héroïsme un ressort mécanique : Debout à mes côtés, modérant son courage, La reine, d'un front calme, a vu grossir l'orage : Elle part, elle vole au sein des escadrons L'éclair sort de la nue avec des feux moins prompts, Vers mon rival tremblant d'un pas elle s'elance, Elle revient d'un pas veiller à ma défense. Prompte à voir le péril et prompte à l'éloigner, Mettant à secourir le plaisir de régner, Sa présence embellit mon camp et le protège; Et sa seule valeur compose son cortége.
79 Deux héros à cheval, voltigeant dans la plaine, Ont vu près de leur roifrapper leur souveraine. En chevalier fidèle un d'eux court la venger ; Vers la cour ennemie il va d' un pas léger, S'élance, et profitant d'une attaque soudaine, A coté du monarque il enlève la reine. On s' assemble, on poursuit le ravisseur fatal ; Mais prompt à s' echapper d' un combat inègal, Sur son coursier agile il fuit de place en place. Deux autres chefs à pied fameux par leur audace, A travers les périls marchant obliquement, Au secours du héros s' avancent brusquement ; Ils croisent, dans leur route, et l'une et l'autre armée. Le vulgaire jaloux de toute renommée, Du titre de folie à payé leurs exploits ; Cette folie heureuse est le salut des rois. ... Tandis que mes héros affrontet le trépas, Mesfantassins unis s'avancent pas à pas, Et de leurs rangs serrés opposant la barriere, Aux chefs les plus hardis ils ferment la carriere. Ils suivent l'ordre mince, et non l'ordre profond Ils frappent de cóté ; mais ils marchent de front. Contraints à chaque pas de s'arrêter, ils brulent De faire un pas de plus, et jamais ne reculent. Un noble espoir anime et soutient leurs travaux, Ils peuvent de soldats devenir généraux.
80 Un d'eux a-t- ilforcé, par une marche heureuse, Du monarque ennemi l'enceinte glorieuse ; Il est proclamé chefpar l'un et l'autre camp, Et des premiers honneurs revêtu sur- le- champ. .. ………… Je parle en roi guerrier, et de qui le destin A dependu cent fois du moindre fantassin . Mais pour un qui s'élève, hélas, combien succombent ! Sous des coups redoublés l'un après l'autre tombent ; Je déplore leur chute, et je sens que l'Etat Perd un bras nécessaire en perdant un soldat . De moi dépend surtout le salut de l'Empire. Rien n'est désespéré tandis que je respire. ...... ...... Je marche alors suivi de tous mes generaux, Je cherche mon rival qui s ' expose en héros ; Quelques soldats encore, amis dans la disgrace, Pressés autour de lui signalent leur audace. Les miens, impatiens, voudraient tout ravager ; Mais je retiens leurs coups pour les mieux diriger. Tout le peuple ignorant accuse ma faiblesse ; Les spectateurs instruits approuvent ma sagesse. Par de savans détours je voile mes projets ; Par des retours prudens je háte mes succés . Ainsi le temps soumet lentement toute chose, Et combat en secret quand on croit qu'il repose. Cependant mon rival est près de sa défaite ; Après avoir erré de retraite en retraite,
81 Après avoir perdu ses places, ses soutiens, Il se voit dans sa fuite enveloppé des miens. Il va périr ; mais non, la troupe qui l'assiége, Respecte sa personne en frappant son cortège. Conserver le monarque est la loi de l'Etat ; Le forcer à se rendre est le droit du combat ..... Il se rend ; avec lui je me réconcilie ; Et je ne souffre point qu'un grand roi s'humilie : Par son exemple instruit des rigueurs du destin, Je renferme ma joie, et je rends mon butin. Non content de sauver l'honneur du diademe, A reprendre son rang je l'invite moi- même ; Il reparait en pompe au milieu de sa cour, Et rentré dans la lice il triomphe à son tour. Ainsi nous prolongeons une innocente guerre Qui charme nos loisirs sans desoler la terre. L'ambition se plait dans les combats sanglans, Et la philosophie aux combats des talens. L'Indefut le berceau de nos premiers ancêtres ; Les ma tres de Platon furent aussi nos ma’tres : Le peuple qui trouva le plus savant des jeux, Fut des peuples enfans le plus ingénieux. VOL. II.
82 Count de Bruhl's Letter on Chess, to Mr. D. Barrington, published in 1789 , by the Society of Antiquaries. " Chess would deserve the name of a Science, if its utility was not limited to those who understand it." " I have known a person consume an hour in looking over a game at Chess, without understanding the moves. " (Per haps he was a married Man, who did not care to go home. )- Looker-on, No. viii. 1792 . ;; Such is the Philosophical Candour with which Nature has endowed me, that I never could endure to read Phi lidor's publication upon Chess, by reason of the manifest partiality he discovers in favour of his reader against his antago nist."-Ibid, No. LXVI . 1793.
83 This candid Philosopher could not it seems discover that the games were to be won by one of the players , and the par tiality would have been as manifest on the other side. Arundel, vol. 1. p. 46 , by Mr. Cumber land, 1789.- " She is, in return , teach 1 ing me Chess , but she is much more likely to be a rival to Sir Isaac, (he was teaching Miss, Astronomy) than I am ever to be a match for Philidor, for I can make nothing of it, and if she had not all the patience have in the world, given me up for she would an incorrigible blockhead before now." I have met with two gentlemen and one lady who were perfectly unteachable. When the Sansculottes, at Paris, in 1792, attempted to hang a woman, after the G 2
84 rope had broke three times, the mob said, " Cette femme s'en aille ; " est impendable , and let her go , qu'elle as being unhangable. --Cumberland's Observer, vol . v. p. 54. " The good bishop it seems was passion ately fond of the game of Chess, and my father, though the better player of the two, knew how to make a timely move so as to throw the victory into his lord ship's hands after a hard battle, which was a triumph very grateful to his va nity, and not a little serviceable to my father's purposes . " " Chess and the Polish Drafts are the only games that are indulged in ; and in these some of the Beys are skilled . " In Kahira [Cairo] 66 they play remarkably quick, and apparently without much pre
85 meditation ; --but habit has given facility ; -they practise daily, and their minds are occupied by few objects." Travels in Africa, Egypt, and Syria, in 1792 to 1798 , by W. G. Browne, 4to, 1799. Necker on the • Executive Power in Great States, vol. II . 1792 .-" This easy resource (the creation of assignats) in facilitating the means of administration has converted government into a simple game of skill, and France is become like a Chess-board, on which all the pieces may be moved at will ." Rochambeau's France, Letter to the King of on resigning the command of the grand northern army in 1792. • G 3
86 “ As it appears , Sire, I am to remain a mere passive piece on the chess-board, liable to be externally thwarted, and com pelled to adopt measures my judgement disapproves, it becomes high time for me to resign a situation I cannot consci entiously retain. " The Interest of Great Britain, respecting the French war, p. 13. Lond. 1793 . 3rd ed. by William Fox. " Let it be recollected we are now playing a royal game. has cried check ; Our adversary let us take care that our King be not in danger." Of the other books on Chess which have been published since my last volume, the following is some account.
87 Sur les Echecs . E. Stein. 8vo. à la Haye, 1789. -A collection of Games. A German book, with Chess - games, in a thick octavo vol. by N. Koch. 1801 . Both the volumes of my Chess transla ted into German , but which I have never been able to procure, not even from the Leipzig and Frankfort fairs, they being long out of print, so that I have only seen them announced in catalogues. Several Editions of Philidor's Analysis of Chess, which being so easily be procured ; recent, the last may is in two volumes, 1804 : this contains the whole of the poem of Caissa, which the Editor says " is introduced as a relief from a serious application to the game, and an elegant embellishment :" and this is the (6 engaging part of the work which re mains to be noticed , " but which is in-. serted in a work of this kind improperly. G 4
88 This Edition contains " a Systematic Introduction to the Game," from which is extracted from p . 79-81 , as follows . " Situations occur on the board, in which it is necessary that the most cri tical calculations of force should be con sulted ; and as the propriety of accepting or declining some exchanges depends on punctilious considerations, it is thought proper to give the following scales : " With respect to qualification for attack and defence, facility of transpo sition, and extent of action , the powers of the different pieces are to each other in this proportion : 2 , Pawn 15 , Rook 12 , Knight 28 , Queen 14 , Bishop 9, King " The values of all the chess- men except the Pawn, and King, are com
89 mensurate with their powers . The na ture of the game puts the King's value above competition . " In this estimate, the highest force of . the five Pieces is taken, that is, each is supposed to be where its sphere of action is largest if in play the probability of their occupying any given square is equal, their powers will be 4 , Pawn 15 , Rook 9,25 23,75 Queen Knight 9,75 Bishop " The value of every pawn with the chance of becoming the most powerful Piece can scarcely be less than 4 ; and it may attain all the intermediate degrees of value by position . ” " IT is in vain to look in this little
90. field for exact parallels either with war or politicks . " The game of Chess is like the game of Chess, and like nothing else. " This work is entitled " Studies of Chess, with the whole Analysis of Chess, by A. D. Philidor, " in two volumes . In a new edition, by leaving out the Caissa poem, on disputed almost all the Appendix points, and several other unnecessary matters, it would be render ed the completest scientifick book extant, for the Student. If to this he were to to add the French book, by a society of Amateurs in 1775 , being a Theoretical and Practical Treatise on Chess, (see C. vol. 1. p. 88 ) and of which there are later Editions ; and the Stratagèmes late ly mentioned, he would possess the books which afford the best instructions as to the Practical part .
91 Many puerile pamphlets on Chess have made their appearance , some with emen dations of the moves, or augmentations of the Pieces and Squares : of these it cannot be expected I should take any no 1 tice, they having been only Chess - Ephe mera and Fungi : Books, " without name, no more remembered. ” Printed, they " perish ." The last compilation on Chess is an 8vo, printed at Cheltenham in 1804 , entitled " An Introduction to the History and Study of Chess, with copious descriptions, &c. by an Amateur : to which is added the Analysis of Chess, by Philidor." The historical part of the book is con tained in 94 pages, exactly 47 of which consist of anecdotes, &c . taken word for word from my two books ; quotations, translations, original matter, all indiscri- , minately. This Amateur candidly con fesses that " " " where he has had access to "
92 the originals he where not, has consulted them ; he has freely transcribed ,' which may be true enough, even taking for granted he has never seen any one of the originals which I quoted , and if he had, it does not appear he could have made use of any of them except perhaps those in the modern English tongue . The other half is taken from the paper A in the Archælogia, vol . xi . and Sir Wm. Jones's memoir. The learned composer kindly explains the hard words en prise to mean when applied to a piece, that " it is 99 adversary's power to capture it.' in the He has also inserted two or three moves at the end of a game, which he calls “ A Clever Legacy, deserving notice , which will amuse the who may find 120 Young Player, " : more such in the Stratagèmes mentioned in p . 74 . ... 7 and ་་་
93 The only observations in Philidor's book which claim a place here, are those 66 on the ends of Parties and on the powers of pieces to which it is recur. variously combined," frequently requisite to They are as follows : 1 A single Pawn cannot win if the ad verse King be placed in opposition to it. 2 A single Pawn may win if the King be placed in the van of his Pawn. 3 Two Pawns against one almost in all cases : has Pawns the two changing , one must win, but he that must avoid of them with the adversary's Pawn. 4 A Pawn and any Piece must always win with the single exception of a Pawn on a Rook's file, co -operating with a Bishop , whose diagonal is of a different colour from the square where the Pawn becomes a Queen. 5 Two Bishops may mate.
94 6 A Knight and a Bishop may mate. 7 A Rook and a Bishop, against a Rook, win . 8 A Queen, against a Bishop and a Knight , may win. 9 Two Knights cannot mate. The following Eight are Drawn games. A Rook, against a Knight. A Rook, against a Bishop . A Rook and a Knight, against a Rook. A Rook and a Bishop, against a Queen. A Rook and a Knight, against a Queen. A Rook, against a Bishop and two Pawns. A Rook, against a Knight and two Pawns, because in this, as in the last case, he who has the 4 single Piece cannot be hindered from sacrificing it for the two Pawns . A Queen, against a Rook and two Pawns. At all conclusions of Parties , when a Player knows not 40how to give the dif
95 ficult mates, such as that of a Knight and a Bishop ; that of a Rook and a Bi shop against a Rook, &c . at the adversa ry's request, fifty moves on each side must be appointed for the end of the game : these being accomplished , it will be a Drawn game . From " Three Dialogues on the Amuse ments of Clergymen," 1797, published from a MS in Dr. Josiah Frampton's own hand - writing : the between him and conversations were Dr. Stillingfleet (at 3 that time Dean of St. Paul's , afterwards Bishop of Worcester, ) in 1686. " But all this, said I, Sir, requires taste ; and if a clergyman have no taste for these amusements, I hope you have no objection to indulge him in some amusement which does not require it in a game at Chess, for instance, with f
96 a neighbouring vicar ; or at backgammon with the squire ? " " In my opinion , said the Dean, Chess is so far from being a relaxation , as all amusements should be, that if you are fairly matched, it is a severe study. in which a great variety of is a game, movements different It create double the variety of different circumstances , so nu merous a train of consequences again depend, that to provide for all the con tingences that moves, 1 and arise from your own may arise from the proba ble moves of your antagonist , requires a mind intensely occupied in the pursuit before it, and vacant from every other.. In short, a skill in this game, like mathe matical knowledge , may be continually advancing to perfection. " When I was Fellow of St. John's, I played much at Chess ; and being fond of it, I attained, as I thought, some de
97 till at length, from gree of excellence ; beating all the young men at Cambridge who played with me, I began to think myself the best Chess - player in England. It happened, on a visit to a friend in London, that an old German officer made After dinner we went one of the party. to amusements , different and it was proposed, that he and I should play a game at Chess , as we were both known I modestly threw to be Chess -players . my glove ; but my heart beat with a full I soon , however, assurance of triumph . perceived, that my antagonist opened 1 his game in a manner to which I had not been accustomed . my attention. This roused all But while I was defend ing myself in one quarter (for I quickly found I had to act only on the defen sive) I received a severe blow on ano ther . to And while recover my I was disordered endeavouring affairs, the enemy broke in upon me, and shamefully VOL. II. H
98 defeated me, without giving me an op portunity of displaying one instance of my prowess . how I was convinced, ever, 1 that all this mischief had befallen and an me from too great confidence , incautious manner of opening the game. I begged another trial : but it ended in the My antagonist, same disgrace. by this time, was fully apprized what a hero he had to deal with ; and, exulting in his success , desired me to fix upon any cham ber on the board I pleased , and use all my strength merely to defend that single post : he engaged But to in spite of all attack no other. my endeavours he gave me check- mate upon that very spot. Nay, he did it repeatedly ; for my shame was now turned into admiration . I sat down, therefore contented, and en deavoured to console myself by forming the disgrace I had suffered into a lesson against presumption ." yllur ... " I cannot, in return , said I, Sir, tell
99 you a story of my prowess at Chess ; but if you will give me leave , I will tell you one of my perseverance . " I played a game with a gentleman at my own lodgings, and was victorious. You have taken me, said he, rather inop portunely to -day ; but if you will be va cant on Thursday, I shall be this way, and will demand satisfaction. Accord ingly on Thursday he came about eleven o'clock ; and by the time we had played three games, two of which I had won, his horses came to the door. leave the matter thus , I cannot said he ; if you can set any little matter before me, we will go on. Two games more were played, when in the midst of the third, a bit of roasted mutton appeared ; and by the time it was cold , I had defeated him again . games before I was now him. four Our five intercourse therefore with the mutton was H 2 or short ;
100 and we went to work I was again . still victorious, when the horses return ed at six . This is provoking, said he, I cannot leave the matter thus . have a bed at the inn ? Can I His orders to his servant now were, not to bring the horses till they were sent for. This was a melancholy note to me, fatigued , as I was already, beyond measure . However, as I was under some obligations to the gentleman, and in my own lodgings , had no choice. The night ended late , and the morning began early. came I Breakfast the barber came -- dinner came— all was negligently treated, main point. except the I sighed inwardly, and ho 'ped this visitation would now soon have an end. It lasted, however, all that day ; and I was still two games before my antagonist ; though I had played as care lessly as I could , without discovering my indifference . As the evening drew on, and I expected every moment to hear a message sent for the horses, I was shock
101 ed with his telling me we could not part As the next on these unequal terms. day was Saturday, and he must of neces sity he said, then finish, he would try his fortune once more . So we continued nailed to our board , till a late hour on Friday night ; breakfast, and began again before on Saturday morning, To wards the close of the day, our accounts differed in one game . But I was too complaisant to dispute the the horses were delivered from sent for, such a trial matter ; and I so was of my pa tience, as I never before experienced , " " Scarce any mischief happens to us , said the Dean, but we have the comfort of thinking it might have been worse : and you were happy that your friend did not come to you on Monday, instead of Thursday. - As it from my story, appears, how much however, time and pains are necessary to obtain excellence H 3
102 in this game, and from your story, how fascinating a game it is —it is worth while to consider how far it may be a proper amusement for a clergyman - and whe ther it really answers the of an amusement by unbending the mind. If it only substitute one another, it cannot end severe certainly name of an amusement . study for take the Let every one however judge for himself. I found it too interesting to be amusing to me, and therefore in early life I left it off. - It is certainly, however, a noble game. It gives us an idea of war without its guilt. It gives us a just idea too of common life-of the happy effects of prudent, and cautious steps on one hand ; and of the fatal mischief, which often attends even one false step on the other." " I know not, said I, Sir, whether such games, as are made up of skill, and chance together, are not closer imitations of life. Our most prudent plans are
103 often defeated by events, which do not depend on ourselves, but arise from what call chance we plan while an sometimes succeeds ill -digested without prudence . own any Games, aid from our therefore, consisting partly of skill, and partly of chance, seem more to resemble the course of events in human life , than games of mere skill, like Chess ." replied the Dean, " Certainly, games afford a juster picture such of the circumstances of life : but I am speaking Sometimes , it is of the conduct of it. true, we are ruled by unavoidable cala mity ; but more often by our own mis conduct and it is this latter view of life which Chess so much resembles ." 66 Well, said I, Sir, as you repudiate Chess from the list of your clerical a musements, of its intricacy, because hope you will take back- gammon favour, because of its simplicity." H4 I into
104 " Not into my favour truly, answered the Dean. I know too little make it a favourite. of it to 1 I have no objection, however, to it, but its stupidity." The book is referred to for the remain der of this subject . No mention is made of Draughts , nor of Domine, which are games much played by the clergy on the Continent, especial ly in Holland, where the latter game has been known above fifty years under the name The of Domine- spel, French call it Parson's Domino . Play. It first began to be played in the coffee- houses in Paris, in 1770. Its inventer origin are both wholly unknown. and
105 CLOSURE OF MY ACCOUNT OF MR. C. vol. 1. PHILIDOR. p. 149 to 171 ; and vol. 11. p. 215 , 217 . I have but little more to say of this celebrated Chess - player, than to mention the various matches he played at Parsloe's in St. James's Street, as follows : In all the latter Editions of his Chess book are the following three matches at length : First- May 8th, 1783 , he played with Count de Bruhl, Mr. Bowdler, and Mr. Maseres, without three boards. seeing either of the He gave the Move to each
106 of the two first gentlemen , and a Pawn and the Move to the last. The Count lost his game in 47 Moves, which took an hour and twenty minutes in playing . Mr. B. made his a drawn game in an hour, and three quarters, with 51 Moves ; and Mr. M. lost his in two hours, making 59 Moves. of each party were The Moves alternate . W See C. vol. 1. p. 153. — For a match in 1787 , see C. vol. 1. p. 167 . May 10 , 1788 , another match in the same manner, against Count de Bruhl, (who received the Move) Mr. Nowell, and received the odds of the King's Bishop's Pawn and Mr. Leycester, who the Move. Philidor won all three : the first in 45, the second in 60 , and the last in only 24 Moves. In these two Parties Philidor played
107 with the White men, but in the following one with the Black. The last Party was, 1 May 13, 1790, three games at once ; two, without see ing the board, Capt. with Mr. Sheldon and and the third, Smith ; allowed to see the pieces, Hon. H. Move to S. Conway. each of his he being against the He gave the Adversaries . Mr. C. 1 lost his game in 46, Mr. S. in 31 , and Capt. S. in 33 Moves. * These three Parties are the only ones of the kind which are on record , with all the moves . The first, with three boards at a time, without seeing any, was when he was 56 years of age. At the next match of the same kind he was 61.
J 108 The third, he saw one of the three boards ; this was two years after the last . The six following accounts are taken from the public advertisements. In 1792 , March 23 , he played three games at once against three good Chess players ; two of them without seeing the boards, and the third on looking over the table, Aged 66. In 1794 , February 22 , two games at once, blindfold , in presence of the Turkish Ambassador . Ditto, March 22 , three games at once, ✨ as in 1792 , in presence of the Turk , In 1795 , Feb. 21 , two games at once, blindfold. Ditto, May 2 , two ditto ,
109 ! The whole of the last Advertisement he inserted ran thus. " CHESS- CLUB, 1795 . " PARSLOE'S HOUSE, St. James's Street. -By particular desire, Mr. PHILIDOR, positively the very last time, will play on Saturday the 20th of June, at two o'clock precisely, three games at once against three good Chess- players, two of them without seeing either boards , third on looking over most respectfully invites the and the table-He all the mem bers of the Chess- club to honour him with their presence. -Ladies and Gentle men not belonging to the Club may be provided with tickets at the above- men tioned house, to see the match, at five shillings each. " At this time he wanted less than three months of 69 years of age, as he was
110 born on the 7th Sept. 1726, at Dreux, in Champagne. This was the last himself in this time he extraordinary exerted manner ; and on Saturday the 29th August , 1795 , the following paragraph appeared in most of the Newspapers . " Mr. PHILIDOR, the CHESS-PLAYER . " On Monday last, the 24th August, 1 1795, this (long celebrated ) Foreigner made his last move into the other world. For the last two months he was kept alive merely by art, and the kind atten tions of an old and worthy friend . To the last moment of his existence he en joyed, though near seventy years of age, a strong retentive memory, which long rendered him remarkable in the circle of his acquaintance in this capital. 66 Mr. Philidor was Member of the
111 Chess Club near thirty years, and was a man of those meek qualities, that render ed him not less esteemed as a companion, than admired for his extraordinary skill in the difficult game of Chess, for which he was pre- eminently distinguished . " It is only two months since he play ed two games blind- fold at the same time, against two excellent chess -players , and was declared 4 the victor. He was besides an admirable and musician, a capital composer. " What seemed most to have shook the poor old man's constitution , and to have precipitated his exit, was not being able to procure a passport to return to Paris to see his family, who reside there, before he paid the last debt of nature, but this refusal was rendered more bitter, on its being intimated that he was a sus pected character, and one of those persons denounced by a Committee of French In
112 formers . From the moment he was made acquainted with this circumstance, he became the martyr of grief-his philoso phy forsook him- his tears were inces sant-and he sunk into the grave." I became acquainted with him in Lon 1781 , don in and was with him at his own apartments in Paris in 1783 , where I saw his wife . nineteen whom had He children he had published had living, at that to none taught Chess . his Life in time of After 1787 , I our intimacy subsided so much, that for the last five years of his life I had no further intercourse with him, so that I cannot vouch for the truth of the latter part of the paragraph . The following anecdote was commu nicated by a gentleman who frequently played at Chess with the Interpreter of the Turkish Ambassador.
113 He was informed by the Interpreter, (who spoke French, ) that soon after the last match on the 20th of June, the Ambassador was desirous of playing at Chess with Philidor, who accordingly attended, and played six games with him, every one of which Philidor lost, and the Ambassador moreover told him he knew at Constantinople several Chess - players who were able to beat himself (the Am bassador) even giving him a Rook. It must be could only which were used by us, observed that the Turk play with very his own men, different from those and difficult to be distin guished, and that the Queen had likewise the move of the Knight, as in Russia. The truth of this anecdote rests entire ly on the Interpreter, as the Turk knew no European language ; it should not have been noticed here, had it not been VOL. II. ! I
114 inserted soon after the death of Philidor, in many newspapers . 1 The Turk won three game s very rea dily of the gentleman abovementioned , who is a good player ; though it is pos sible he might have lost them all , had he played with Pieces to which he had not been accustomed. IN 1784 and 5, four German Professors in Leipzig inserted sundry treatises in the periodical prints, with their opinions, about the Chess-playing image ; and in 1789, was published in Dresden a pam phlet of 48 pages in 8vo, in the German Language, " On the Chess-player of Mr. de Kempelen, and on an imitation of it." With seven copperplates. The two first, copied from those in the French pamphlet mentioned in C. vol. 1. p. 12 , and which was translated from the German 1 original
115 published at Presburg. The third show ing a Man in the inside, who was suppo sed to play the games and regulate the motion of the arm and head of the figure ; the fourth, the position of the Man in a drawer ; the fifth , the interior mechanism of the arm ; the sixth, that of the head ; and the last that of the hand and fingers , and a representation of the Chess -men and squares armed with magnetised needles which moved others under the board, and enabled the living Player to make similar moves on his own board, and then guide the arm of the figure so as to make the proper move. The German author says, " The Turk played extremely well , so most of the games ; 99 not invincible .' that he won however, In the first volume of Chess, he was p . 187, I mentioned a pamphlet written by the 12
116 I late Mr. Philip Thicknesse on this sub ject. Both he and M. de Cremps now appear to me to have been in the right, and I was mistaking. However, Mr. de Kempelen himself never called his figure an Automaton . It played only two games in a day, and those (by daylight only, between the hours of one not immediately following generally and three) each other, for the figure, as well as the whole ma chine, after the end of a game, wheeled into the next room, and was re mained there near half an hour ere it was wheeled back again . This was pro bably to let the confined player rest a while . There was always a wax-light burning in the case during the previously served playing, which to show the interior wheels to the spectators, 4 as well as to light the person inclosed ; and a candle
117 was constantly burning on a table within the rails which parted the machine from the company , in order to light the lamp again immediately if it should be extin guished ; the pretext then was to regulate some of the wheels behind ; and perhaps this candle served likewise to hide the light of the inclosed tapers . The following were two remarkable proofs of the skill of the player. Six small chess -boards were set before the Turk, being different and difficult ends of games with the pieces ready placed . The choice of the Red or White pieces was left to the Stranger who wished to play, and the Turk was sure to win with either. One of the spectators placed a Knight on any square he chose, and the Turk marched it properly over all the remain I 3
118 ing sixty-three squares in as many moves, and after all returned into the square it set out from ; which was ascertained by the spectator putting a white counter on the square it began with , and red ones on each of the others it successively travelled over. The moves inserted in this volume, p . 72 , embellish the frontispiece of the Ger man pamphlet ; the last move is just a single knight's move first. distant from the Euler died in 1783 , in Petersburg. This was about the time the figure was exhibited in London, and the chessboard in the print is supported by a turban : perhaps this may have been the plan upon which the Turk proceeded . Marini in the fifteenth Canto of Adonis has inserted a translation of the greatest :
119 part of Vida's Chess in 55 Stanzas, or 440 lines. The Stanza which contains the inci dent mentioned in C. vol. II . p. 76, where Venus, after playing at Chess with Adonis, quarrels with Galania, one ofher Nymphs, is thus : E dal loco levata ov' era assisa, Spinta dall' ira, che nel petto accoglie, Corre a Galania, e la percote in guisa Che con quel colpo ogni beltà le toglie. Ahi quanto é folle, ahi quanto mal s'avvisa Chi tenta opporsi alle divine voglie. capo alla misera percosso B Fu sì il Con lo Schacchier, che le rimase adosso. which Chess -board incorporates and con solidates with her cracked Scull, and the young lady is gradually metamorphosed into a Tortoise. Vida's simile of the Bull (see C. vol. 11 . p. 218) is thus rendered : 14
120 Qual toro s'egli avvien che perdut' abbia Pugnando un corno, inferocisce e mugge, E insanguinando la minuta sabbia L'armi incontra col petto, e non lefugge. Soon after the publication of the se cond volume of Chess, in 1789 , I receiv ed the following Letter, which I thought worth preserving. " Your Olla podrida is now a well filled Repository of Materials for a plea sant History of Chess , and a concerning it. volumes , discourse I wish to see the two and all that you may have gleaned towards a third, set out by and bye in another form . And here follows a hasty sketch of my Idea. " I would have a kind of Narrative divided into Chapters. There should be a chapter on the probability of the An cients ' playing at Chess . Another on
121 the Game as played in the middle ages. Another on the playing the accounts of the we have Game of among * the farther Indians, and another on its po-. pularity among the hither Orientals, the Turks and Persians, as well as the Moors in Spain and elsewhere. Then I would have a chapter or two on the ancient and modern practice of the Game among the Icelanders, Norwegians , Swedes, Danes, Russians, & c. Then should follow dif ferent Chapters on the universality of the Game, as well as the mode of playing it, and the technical terms, and names of the Men, amongst the different nations of modern Europe . " This narrative I would accompany with the whole of the present volumes where the Quotations afford any facts in the form of notes at the bottom of the page ; and where the Quotations contain nothing but the casual mention of Chess, 7
122 or a Chess - man, or a metaphorical allu sion to the game, I would totally disre gard and cashier them. " The account of those authors who have written expressly on the Game, I would give in the form of Prolegomena , and would subjoin the Anecdotes of Phi lidor, with the Laws and directions con cerning Chess, to the whole. Then you should give a variety of little plates, and by these means an elegant, entertaining , regular, and classical performance would be produced . " You will observe I have said nothing of the absolute necessity for a masterly engraving of Yourself prefixed to the work, and one of Philidor heading the anecdotical chapter relating to him . All Historians give engravings of their own dear Persons . Look into Robertson , and there you have the Reverend Doctor in +
123 his full canonicals, and well combed Wig, holding the same place in the first vo lume of his work, which Charles V. and Philip next." II. his Heroes, do in the two
TRANSLATIONS. THE Extracts are as in the former vo lumes exactly copied . The few neces sary translations are as follows. PAGE 3 . History of the noble Tristan, Prince of Leonnois Knight of the round table, and of Yseulte Princess of Ireland, Queen of Cornwall Indeed he and the Princess having finished a Game at Chess, continued so long at the second that each of them despairing of being able to mate his companion , not having even the advantage of arriving at a check, Tristan, thirsty from the saline air, the heat of the Sun, and the recent smart from the glances of the bright eyes of his goddess, which had pierced his heart and soul, asked for some wine, which Gouvernail went for immediately .
125 Page 4 . Then returning to their game, the lovers were sensible of uncommon desires, not to drink or refresh themselves, but after other things in which they were both inexperienced . So that these two bright stars, comparable in beauty and rarity to Phoebus and the fair Diana, flinging both Chess-board and men on the ground Page 5. Richard knew how to speak Danish and Norman, He could read a charter, and discourse about its parts, He knew Chess and tables, and to mate his com panion . Page 6. F. What will you say Judas J. What you please and you Sire F. Let us go somewhere to laugh And pass time, for I am weary I only like a joyous life and to avoid idleness J. In this joyous summer-time it is good to avoid the heat therefore Sir for the better : If you please we will pass the time at some game
126 F. Well we will play At Chess you and I Judas. J. I will so I do not hesitate there is the board ready prepared F. Each must show his skill J. The King, the Queen, the Rook and the Pawn I conduct as I please F. You will find it very difficult to make me check- mate J. Come, come, let us prepare ourselves and each show his valour F. There you are assailed J. And there I guard against it F. You have lost it I promise you J. I have not F. You see you have J. I have won it F. And I too J. However you shall not have it F. You shall have the lie Judas LES I shall win it before all
127 J. And why do you give me the lie Who moves you it displeases me too much I swear I will give you such a blow that it will always appear F. If you touch me I promise you That you never before committed such a folly J. I deny all our powerful gods Ifyou lay your hand on me Notwithstanding you are son of a king You shall be made a fool of by me F. Peace Peace rogue and sorry rascal no one knows from whence you came you are an unknown bully in actions and words not worth minding J. If I were to be lapidated or flung in the water in a sack Still you shall have in the stomach This planted to break out again Nothing can cool me But your having the death stroke Here he kills him. Page 9. Here Judas is much terrified, and holds a naked bloody sword, as if he had just committed a murder.
128 This fine scene was written about the year 1425 . The translation is precisely literal, the most satisfac tory way of rendering the original sense, in matters of mere curiosity, either as to antiquity or quaint ness. In translating modern and entire books of Science, History, or Facts, the case is different. Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus HOR. Interpres ; " Nor must you be so faithful a translator ; as to take the pains of rendering your author word for word." Page 12 . How the King Ivoryn de Montbrant made his daughter play at Chess against Huon of Bordeaulx, in such sort that if by her the game was won he should have his head cut off, and if the Damsel was the loser, Huon of Bordeaulx should lie with her . Page 20. The sense of this Spanish quotation has already been given, (as referred to in the abovementioned page . ) The passage itself is exactly thus . The Duke of Saxony was in his tent with the Duke Ernest of Brunswick when the sentence of the first of May of this year ( 1547) was read to him, and he did not change colour in the least, on the contrary, 1
129 before the reading was finished he said that the Empe for would notwithstanding that, not have Wittemberg in his power, because after his own (the D. of S's . ) death, he left sons, every one of whom would repre sent himself, so that he (the Emperor) would have to do with many. Having saidthis he invited the D. of Brunswick to play at Chess, with that plea santness of mind, which is common to those who are in a happy state of liberty. Page 21 . Tarots in French, Tarocchi in Italian, is the name of a pack of Cards invented in 1549. Of the game . which is played at with these cards I know not any thing, neither is any account of it to be met with in print. These Cards are used in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. In this last country I procured a pack, of which the following particulars may perhaps be acceptable, especially as no notice has been hitherto taken of them in any English publication . The pack consists of 78 Cards, of the breadth of our common cards, but half as large again . There are four Suits tons. Deniers, Coupes, Epées, and Ba In Italian Danari, Coppe, Spade, Bastoni; or Pence, Money ; Cups ; Swords, or Spades ; Clubs. Each Suit has the Ace, 2, 3, 4 , 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. VOL. II. K
130 Valet, Knave ; Cavalier, (a Knight on horseback) ; Queen ; and King ; which are 16 Court-cards and 40 plain. And besides these there are 22 more pic ture-cards, the names of which are as follows : The Sun The Moon The Star The World Death The last Judgment The Devil The wheel of Fortune The Emperor The Empress The Pope (The Protestant Germans have instead of this Gentleman and Lady, Ju The Popess piter and Juno. Justice Strength Temperance The Mountebank The Hermit (Bateleur) The Fool (Le Mat. The Lover The Hanged The Hospital The Chariot Il Matto) . (Le Pendu) (La Maison-Dieu) As to the French word Tarots, it literally means 1
131 cards which are printed on the backs with blue or gray compartments, Cartes tarotées . In German this is termed Musirung, (Opus mu sivum) Mosaick. From a German pamphlet, entitled " Essay on the Origin of Playing- cards, by J. Breitkopf, 1784, in 4to, with plates." Page 27. These Italian verses are hardly to be Englished. Brunoro says to Rinaldo, We will make an agree ment that I will bet you this courser, that at the first I shall give you checkmate with the pawn in the middle of the Chess- board, &c. One day Oliver Borgognone was playing at Chess with Rinaldo, they quarrel, and Oliver tells Rinaldo, he has often less brains than a goose, &c. Pulci, the author of il Morgante Maggiore died in 1487 . Page 28. This is the move of the Knight or horse, from which description that of Sir Wm . Jones, p. 70, of this book is taken. K 2
132 Marini died in 1625. Page 28 . The Morra (an Italian Game of guessing the fingers held up) is a worse game than Bowls, or than Chess, or than Quillart (I know not what this last word means, but suppose it to be coined to rhyme to the gentleman's name.) At this bad play Coquillart lost his life and his Shells. See poor Renard, p. 6, of this volume. Page 42. Your royal Highness knows that France had at first destined a rather more effectual succour than : that of fifteen hundred foot- soldiers against thirty thousand Russians ; but the menaces of the English, and their fleet, ready to shut the passage against us, kept the famous du Gué- Trouin in the harbour, who had counted upon contesting with the masters of the Seas. There was then given to King Stanislaus the succour of a Pawn against a Queen and a Castle : and the King whom France dared neither to aid nor abandon was checkmated, Voltaire to the Prince. Page 43. I have received two of your Letters but I have not been able to answer them sooner : I am like the
133 . Chess -king of Charles XII . which was always moving. The Prince to Voltaire. The man with the papal cap and sword has placed himself on the confines of Saxony and Bohemia . I have put myself opposite to him in a position advan tageous every way. We are now at those Chess moves which prepare the game. You who play that game so well know that every thing depends on the manner in which we have set out . The same to the same . Page 76-81 . No prose translation would be proper ; and the number of the lines, besides their being only frag ments of the poem, are thought sufficient objections to the insertion of their versification. Page 119, And rising from her seat impelled by anger she ran to Galania, and beat her so as to spoil her beauty. Alas ! how foolish and unadvised are all endeavours to oppose the divine will . The poor creature was so beaten with the chess-board that it remained sticking to her head and back, Page 120. See page 26 of this volume. K 3
134 " In the treasury of the Abbey of St. Denis were formerly preserved the Chess- men of Charlemagne ; these . I de scribed in the first volume of Chess, published in 1787 ; they are now either stolen or strayed, and will probably never more be heard of." From my " Trip to Paris in 1792. " · :
ON DRAUGHTS . Minerve à tous ne départ ses largesses, Tous sçavent l'art, peu sçavent ses finesses. ………………………… ………………... Pour bien jouer, hantez les bons Joueurs. Rousseau, Epitre à Marot. Not on all does Minerva bestow her largesses, All can judge of the art, but few know its finesses. " ..... Ifyou wish to play well, observe the good Players. K 4

ON DRAUGHTS . THE Origin of this Game is very un certain. The first historical work on the subject is a book in French, entitled " The Game of Draughts with all the maxims amd rules, general as well as particular, which must be observed in the same, and the method of playing it well." -By Peter Mallet, ordinary to the King, Engineer in and Professor of Mathematicks, 1668 . I never saw this book : but in a work which shall be hereafter noticed , I find the following paragraphs .
138 “ He asserts that this game greatly pre ceded that of Chess, (which assertion it is difficult to believe,) and that many nations played at it in the earliest ages. It how ever appears to be certain that more than a century before his time, the game was, Almost every as then, much in vogue. tolerable house had at least one Draught board ; Kings, Princes, Lords, Citizens , Soldiers, Mechanicks , all played at it ; a board made even part of the camp - equi page of Generals and other Officers . " 66 Many years published he before saw at his book was Paris a very rich Draught-board which was offered for sale by a German ; the board was co vered with white amber, and yellow amber, of the most lively and beautiful colours , and the men were of the same materials . " I once saw a small Spanish book, Jue go de las Damas, being only ends of
139 games, and cuts of the board , printed about the year 1610 . There is a book on Draughts , printed in Paris in the year 1760 , called L' Egide de Pallas. 66 In 1756, was published in London “ An Introduction to the Game of Draughts ; containing Fifty select games, many criti cal situations for drawn games , won games and fine strokes ," by Wm. Payne. The Preface and the Dedication are both by Dr. Johnson ; and, as they are left out of almost all the later Editions of this book , are likewise omitted in Mr. Murphy's Edition of Dr. Johnson's works, and also in another Edition of the same works, I thought they might with pro priety be introduced in this place. &
140 Preface to AN INTRODUCTION to the Game of DRAUGHTS. By WILLIAM PAYNE, Teacher of Mathematicks , 1756. " It is natural for a man to think well of the art which he professes to teach , and I may therefore be expected to have some esteem for the play of DRAUGHTS. I would not, however, be thought to * over rate it. Every art is valued in a joint proportion to its difficulty and use fulness. The same with use of DRAUGHTS is the that of any other game of skill, that it may amuse those hours for which more laudable employment is not at hand ; and happy is the man whose equability of temper and perseverance in constancy of better things , exempt him from the need of such reliefs . " Whatever may be determined con cerning its use, its difficulty is incon testible : for among the multitudes that
141 practise it, very few understand it. There are indeed not many who by any frequen cy of playing can attain a moderate de gree of skill, without examples and in structions . a collection I have therefore here given of the most artful games, and the most striking revolutions , that have fallen within my notice ; which are such as may, in some respects, set this game equal with that of Chess . " There is indeed one secret boasted in the world, which I cannnot teach . Some men pretend to an infallible me thod, by which he that moves first shall win the game ; but no such hero has it. ever been my fortune to encounter, and Nor can it no such do I expect to find . be proved that the first mover has any considerable advantage over a perso equally skilful with himself. " In this opinion I have the concur rence of those excellent players Mr.
142 James Randell, Capt . John Godfrey, and Mr. Wm. Wolly, my intimate and worthy friends, whose examples have greatly con tributed to my skill in the game ; but in particular those of the great Randell, of whom it may with probability be asser ted, that what he could not attain will never be discovered . " Dedication to the Earl of Rochford. 66 ' My Lord, " When I take the liberty of addressing to your Lordship A Treatise on " the Game of DRAUGHTS, that I shall be in I easily foresee danger of suffering ridicule on one part , while I am gaining honour on the other, and that many who may envy me the distinction of approach ing you , will deride the present I presume to offer. 1
143 " Had I considered this little volume as having no purpose 1 beyond that teaching a game, of I should indeed have left it to take its fate without a patron . Triflers may find or make any thing a trifle ; but since it is the great charac teristick of a wise man to see events in their causes, to obviate consequences , and ascertain contingencies , your Lord ship will think nothing a trifle by which the mind is inured to caution , foresight , and circumspection . The same skill, and often the same degree of skill , is exerted in great and little things, and your Lord ship may sometimes at a harmless game, exercise those abilities which have been so happily employed in the service your country. " I am, & c." of
144 The next book is with the following title, " Guide to the Game of Draughts, containing five hundred select games, to gether with one hundred and forty strik ing situations, exhibiting games drawn, and won, by critical strokes ; comprising 1 almost every possible board can display, and familiar to variety which the and rendered `plain the learner, by clear arrangement, and explanatory directions. The whole designed to form the scientific and accomplished Player in the pleasing but difficult Game of Draughts . " - By Joshua Sturges, London, 1800 . All this is in 53 octavo pages. There is besides , a List of above four hundred subscribers , and a declamatory preface, from which I extract the first and last paragraphs . " To ascertain distinctly consequences in their causes - to calculate with promp titude the result of intricate variety- to
145 elude by vigilant caution the snares of stratagem ; are lessons which the Game of Draughts strongly uniformly explains . inculcates , While , and thus , the Game on one hand , affords the means of intellectual improvement ; on the other, it banishes depravity. every temptation to moral It guards simplicity from the lures of deceit, from preying and prevents on credulity : cunning for where superior skill alone commands the ignorant are not mad success , enough, to hazard their fortune or their happiness , in a contest, where loss is certain , and gain impossible. Considering the Game as an amusement, it cannot be denied that it tends to improve those faculties of the mind, which are eminently useful in every condition of life ; and may there fore be made the School of Wisdom, but cannot, like the Gaming-table of Chance, become the Nursery of Vice. " VOL. II. L
146 " In short, the Author entertains a hope, that the numerous improvements he has introduced, will, in the estimation of judges, raise the Game of Draughts in rank and consideration equal to that of Chess ; and that whatever fate his Book may experience from the surly critic, the liberal student will at least allow, that he has encreased the number of his enjoy ments, by enlarging the circle of innocent and useful amusements . " The surly critic has nothing else left to animadvert upon, as the rest of the book consists merely of numeral figures, noting the Squares where the Draughts are to be moved to and fro on the board. He must think it is not probable the Author knew any thing of Chess ; and perhaps the student will not be liberal enough to grant that his circle of innocent ( useful out of the question ) amusements has been enlarged .
147 It must be however allowed, that of above forty books professedly written on Chess , in various languages, which have been reviewed, not one displays such a magnificent Title, with such a Host of Expletives . These five are all the books extant on the ancient Game, that I know of. I have never examined any of the games in these books, having reserved my patience for the more complicated Games on the Draught- board, of which some account shall be given, and which it is hoped may prove acceptable to English Players , as no book on those games has hitherto been published in the English language. Chess- players will most likely slight these modern games as much as they do the ancient Game. Four books have been published in the French language on Polish Draughts . L 2
148 The first " Essai sur le jeu de Dames à la Polonoise, par le Sieur Manoury , Marchand Limonadier à Paris, 1770 ," 130 pages in 12mo, containing the Elements and Rules of the game ; observations on the odds , Fifteen and on drawn games ; brilliant strokes, and with ends of games. Manoury published a new Edition of his book in 1787 , in one volume 8vo, 272 pages, entitled " Historical Treatise on the Game of Polish Draughts, its Moves, its Rules, their Explication, and many relative Observations, with a great number of curious Positions ." He was in 1752 waiter at a coffee house, in Paris, Quai de l' Ecole. At the time his first book was published he was master of the same before 1798. after his Robert. house. He died The coffeehouse was called name, and taken by citizen
149 This circumstance is mentioned be cause that house has constantly been re sorted to by the most celebrated Draught players, ever since the year 1730. As this book is the most complete work on the subject, I shall select the essential parts. The Author begins with mentioning the book of Mallet, with the two extracts already given in p. 138. He says M. de la Condamine, who delighted in the game of Polish Draughts, was himself a good Player, and very curious about every thing concerning it, frequently played with him at his coffeehouse about the year 1770 . " He had resided some time at the court of the king of Poland , (Stanislaus) and was informed by the King himself, that what we call Polish Draughts , was in Poland known only by the name of L 3
150 French Draughts ; which, proved as he said, that the game was introduced into Poland by Frenchmen . ” " Charles de la Condamine, Knight of St. Lazarus, was a member of the French Academy, of that of Sciences, and of almost all the illustrious foreign Acade mies. He died in 1774. Voltaire has said of him Lorsque ce grand courier de la Philosophie, Condamine l'observateur, De l'Afrique au Perou, conduit par Uranie, Par la gloire et par la manie, S'en va griller sous l' Equateur, &c. 66 Gloire et manie characteristically comprise the entire life of Condamine, Nobody ever did so much for the Sciences -so much ardour and courage was never shown." This last paragraph, taken from the Encyclopedie Méthodique, tome 2 , was in serted as a note by Manoury, who added
151 " But if in such sportful verses we over look Voltaire's manie, especially for the sake of Uranie, is that the word which in a serious discourse ought to be applied to Mr. de la Condamine's zeal for the pro 99 gress of human knowledge ? This matter shall be investigated here after, in order to enable the reader to judge how far gloire et manie may be applicable to other travellers who died since Mr. Condamine. The Chevalier was indefatigable in his researches after the origin of this game, and so was Manoury. All the discovery they made was only that the game was said to have been played in London at the beginning of the century, and first appeared in Paris about the year 1727 . Some old Players recollected to have then seen one Tavernier play at it. He was a descendant of the famous traveller of that L 4 !
1.52 name, who perhaps might have brought it from the Levant, which country we ought to regard as the cradle of all games on chequer-boards . Other ancient Play ers were consulted and the result of their investigations was, that the game was in vented by an officer of the Regent, and a foreign traveller known in the palace by the name of the Polonese, either from his dress or that he was really a native of Poland. They were one day playing at the old game, and a position occurred which occasioned the officer to remark that a fine stroke might be made, pro vided the laws of the game permitted the Pawns to take backwards ; This stroke was examined in its various combinations , and the stranger agreed to it, at the same time observing in his turn , that a much finer stroke might be made, if the board, instead of Eight lines , were to be of Ten, and instead of four houses or squares on a line there were five : which he proved by drawing such a Draught- board on paper
153 immediately, and demonstrating the prac ticableness of his scheme. A new board was accordingly made, with twenty black, and twenty white Pawns : they frequently met to examine , arrange and settle the moves and laws of their new game , which is now known by the name Polish Draughts . The whole of of this story, it must be owned is merely found ed on a note written in 1740, by a fa mous Player, mentioned , no names rary witness be found . in or places are neither could any cotempo December The Regent died 1723 , which would allow three or four years between the Inven tion and the Publication of the game. Poem which shall be quoted, the game to have Holland. been A mentions brought from I have been in coffeehouses in that country where daily before the time of meeting at the Exchange several hun dred merchants , &c . were assembled all smoking, and eight or ten Draughtboards in constant use, which could hardly be
154 discovered through the clouds of smoke. Philidor, who, French Encyclo as the pedie says, was at Eighteen " the best player of Polish Draughts there ever was or ever will be, " was (see C. v. 1. p. 152 , 154, ) in Holland in 1745 , where “ his skill at Draughts was a great resource to him at Rotterdam and Amsterdam . " The ancient French game is much limited in comparison with the Polish. The first is played on a board as for Chess, with sixty-four squares and twenty four Draughts ; The Pawns twelve against twelve. only march forwards, step at a time, except when one they take, neither does the Queen do more, only she may march and latter is played take backwards. on a board with The one hundred squares, and forty Pawns, twen ty against twenty. The Pawns take backwards as well as forwards, and the Queens leap over several squares in their march also diagonally, which renders the
* 155 combinations more varied, more nume rous, and more extended . But, game limited however may be, it has the common nevertheless its finesses and its difficulties, and to play well at it, requires both intelligence and talent. If there are no great strokes, as in the Polish game, there are some which are no less combined. There is above all the art of playing the Pawn so as to get what is called the Move, of enclosing the adversary, and placing him in dangerous situations, which is likewise the true science at the Polish game. Mallet in one respect preferred the common game even to Chess , because a good Chess- player may be certain of making the Mate with any of his pieces, whereas at Draughts it is impossible to point out the Pawn or the Queen which will play the last game. move, and win the
156 This Game cannot be played at well, by rote or by demonstration, impossible to and it is give rules whereby every game may be won. In common Draughts it rarely happens that above two Pawns are taken at a time , but at the often four or five are lost . Polish These nume rous captures are the fruit of a skilful combination, which frequently, besides the gain of the Pawns, procures also that of the Game, either by superiority in number, or by advantage of position . It is in these strokes that the art of the great Player appears ; it is this which all the books in the world cannot teach him who has not in himself the aptitude , or germ of the art. But the talent of a great Draught- player is no proof of genius out of the game. Many instances might be given of mere blockheads being excel lent Players , and on the contrary of learned and intelligent men who could never become even second- rate Players ,
157 For instance Jean Jacques Rousseau if he had chosen to match himself against a good Player, might have received two Pawns ; but he would play with no one who played better than himself, and at last abandoned the game, in despair of ever attaining to mediocrity. (See C. vol. 1. p. 6, for an account of Rousseau's attainments at Chess. He used to play almost every day at the Café de la Re gence in Paris which attracted such crowds to see him, that the Lieutenant de Police was obliged to place a sentinel at the door.) The first class of Players consists of such as give odds to others, but never take any themselves . The second, of those who receive a slight advantage from the first, such as the half-Pawn, the third of a Pawn, the 看 half-drawn, the third of the drawn ; which means that they receive such ad
158 vantage only every other game, or one game in three. The third class is then composed of such Players as receive the Pawn ; or the drawn game , which signifies that if the inferior player makes such a game, it is reckoned as if he had won it. And the fourth receive both sometimes of Pawn even such Players as and drawn game, Pawns ; beyond two that there is no longer any proportion, nor even any amusement for either of the Players . Time and application are of no after a Player has got to a certain point, which he generally does in three months, and there he remains . But at any point if the two Players are of equal skill, the game is equally interesting ; they will be as much because pleased as the as the events best Players, of their games
159 are in proportion to their knowledge, it is to them no privation, not to enjoy what they know nothing about. It is very rare, but not impossible, to get beyond the pitch attained to , after three months' play ; but in general those who consider a long while in playing seldom become skilful ; they tire them selves and their adversaries to no purpose. A continual tension during whole hours, is no longer a recreation but a severe labour. The only quotation I have met with on Draughts is the following, Dutch Spectator, from published in The Amster dam in 1733 : " When I entered this Coffeehouse, I found most of the Company, which con sisted chiefly of Jews, speaking a word, smoking without so that I sought to amuse myself by sitting near two players
160 at Draughts, and overlooking their game, which they both understood well ; extremely but the one who appeared to be a Christian lost game after game to his adversary, (whom I took to be a Portu gese Jew, ) notwithstanding he himself was the best Player. But the evident reason of his being continually defeated , was his giving his antagonist two Pawns and persisting in so doing. This convin ced me that inexpertness in a game is not near so hurtful to a Player, as a thorough knowledge of it, attended with too great an opinion of his own skill : I also imagined 1 perceived as it were in the back-ground , that this truth might be justly applied to many other cases besides gaming. " The most convenient size for a Draught board is Eighteen inches, ( on the other side of a Chess- board if thought proper. ) This will make each square one inch and five eighths, and leave an inch and three
161 quarters for the borders. properly termed should be of the third and squares , of that Germany Draughts Ebony diameter equal The Men , more or and Ivory, to the side and their their of one thickness diameter. the Pawns, In Pawns are of one Holland placed on the black squares , but in England and France on the white ones. In this last case the board must be so placed that the white diagonal line, from 46 to 5, be at the left hand. usually numbered in The squares are order to particular situations, from describe 1 to 50, be ginning at the top left-hand corner. As there is no account of this game in the English language, it may not be deemed improper to enlarge somewhat on the subject, and to insert a few spe cimens of ends of games.. Instead VOL. II. of King, we M shall call the
162 crowned Pawn, Queen, as it is so named in every other language, or rather Dame, as at Chess, which is translated Queen. The French call simply Pawn, " la Dame qui n'est point Damée, et l'on n'appelle Dame proprement dite, que le Pion qui est Damé, et couvert d'un autre Pion," which means " the Draught or Pawn which is not damed, and which is only termed Dame or Queen, when the Pawn which is damed, is covered with another Pawn ." The Players are colour of their white. distinguished Pawns, by the the black, the The black shall be placed at top of the board, in four rows, from 1 to 20 ; the white of course at bottom, from 31 to 50. These shall always play first, if nothing be said to the contrary, and al ways win in the following examples . to the application of the As numbers in executing the moves, when for instance 45 to 40 is marked, it means that the Pawn or Queen which stands must be moved to 45. on 40, And when Takes
163 from 40 to 1 , is said, it implies that the Pawn or Queen takes all the Pawns or Queens which can be taken and settles in 1 . The Rules of the Game are the same as those of the common Draughts ; there is no other difference than what has been K necessarily occasioned by the greater ex tent of the board, and by the moves of the Pawns and Queens being enlarged as has already been mentioned . The prin ciples and drift of the two games are the same. The few additional Rules are the fol lowing : 1 1. A number of Pawns must not be taken in marching , or one by one. Pawn or Queen which takes The must be placed on the square where it is to stop, before any thing be taken off. M 2
164 2. It, or she, cannot pass twice over the same square in taking, even if there might be one or more Pawns or Queens to take : -For example : The Black. 2 , 7 , 8 , 13Q, 14 , 18 , 27 . The White. 24 , 33 , 34 , 40, 43 . The Black 13 , who has four Pawns to take, 24 , 40 , 43 , and 33 , is obliged to remain on 29, either because of the Pawn 24, which may not be passed over twice, or because of the Pawn 40, which cannot be taken up before the stroke be comple ted ; otherwise the Pawn 34 , might like wise be taken, so that this last White Pawn not only escapes, but as it is his turn to play, and that the Black Queen is between him and an empty square, he takes her, and two Pawns, going himself to Queen on 1 , or on 3 . Another Example which is at the same time a curious stroke.
165 White. 28 , 29, 32 , 33 , 37, 43 . Black. 9Q , 10Q , 30 , 46Q . EXECUTION . W. 29 to 24, B. 30 to 19, takes 28 to 22, 9 to 28, takes 22, 37, 43, 33, 32 to 50, and rests on 28, being stopped by takes 28, 19 , & 10. 32, over which he cannot go, as 37 is not yet taken off. 46 cannot stirwithout being taken. 3. The most and strongest is to be taken preferably ; two Pawns in prefe rence to one, &c ; a Queen rather than a Pawn ; a Pawn and a Queen rather than two Pawns ; three Pawns in preference to two Queens . (This last rule appears to be ill calculated, for a Queen is usually between equal Players estimated at three Pawns.) 4. It is not sufficient for a Pawn to pass over one of the five squares which are at the opposite extreme line of the M 3
166 board, to become a Queen ; it must be first settled there . When at the end of a game between 1 two equal Players, one of them has three Queens, the other only one, but in posses sion of the middle line, it is a forced drawn game . . If the single Queen have not the dia gonal line there are Eight different strokes to take her, not forcedly it is true, but in which she may be entrapped ; for this reason twenty moves on each side are granted ; should these be unsuccessfully played , the game is drawn. The Eight situations are as follows : All Queens : 1 , W. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 46, 19, 18, 10, 32, 1, 9, 7, 37, 27, 26, 36, 37, 23, 28, 35 , 27 37 28 37 41 49 35 37 B. 11 11 20 29 15 17 21 43
167 The first is easily seen and avoided, and therefore seldom attempted . 2d . on 22. The White gives two to be taken If the Black does not go to the end of the line, in 46 or 5 , she is retaken. If she does, the White retreats into the opposite corner, and the Black cannot stir without being taken, 3d . The White carries 18 to 9, the Black takes on 3, and the White plays 28 on 17. 4th. The White 37 to 42 , and the next move 10 on 15 . 5th. White 41 on 47 . Black to 4 32 to 38, and the Black must lose. She can only go to 9 , 13 , 18 , 22 or 36 ; if on any of the four first, 37 offers two to be M 4
168 - taken, and wins ; if on 36, then 38 goes to 15, the Black can only move on the line 36 and 4, so that the White offers one to be taken by placing it on 31 , and then takes 15 to 4, which shuts up the Black Queen. 6th . taken. The White 49 to 44 , which is Then the White to 6, the Black to 45 , and the White back to 1 , and wins. The two last are more complicated and more difficult to be avoided . young beginner should The try to find out the execution without having recourse to the explanation . 7th. The White, 9 to 25 , and the Black must lose. She can only go on 26, 12 , 38 , 27, and 16 ; if on either of the two first, the White give 35 to be taken, by placing it on 8, and afterwards force one for one.
169 If on any of the three last, 25 is played on 43 , and then 28 on 44. 8th. lose. 37 to 48 and the Black must She cannot go on the line 48 to 25 , or she would be taken one for one : She has only the line 49 to 16 left : if she goes to the bottom, the White play 48 back to 37, let her take 7 , and then place 37 on 19 . A Pawn is said to be en prise when the adversary can place a Pawn behind it in order to take it, which must happen the next move if not prevented by another Pawn which the adversary moves into the vacant square ; or if he makes some other move by which his antagonist may take to greater advantage. This expression in Chess means that a Pawn or Piece is evidently liable to be taken, and may remain so , as in that
170 game there is no huffing, so that there it requires no explanation . Coup de Repos, or Resting-stroke is a position in which one of the Players is occupied in taking several times succes sively, and the other may consequently make as many moves at pleasure, and without impediment , To . huff, or to blow, is termed in French Souffler ; the rules for this ope ration are the same as in the common game. When two Pawns are situated with a vacant square between them, and another similar behind each, so that the adversary may move a pawn in the middle with the certainty of taking one, nettes, Spectacles. they form Lu (Examples of these situations shall be given .)
171 There are various ways of playing this game, which are ties . called combined Par The most common is where two Players reciprocally give each other at the beginning, a Queen for two Pawns, some times for three ; when the one is stronger than the other, he gives the more Pawns . Another is when one of the Players, always supposed to be of equal skill , has five Queens and ten Pawns against the other's twenty Pawns. The Qui perd gagne or losing game, is not exactly the inverse of the other. It is not so easy as may be imagined , to offer your own Pawns to be taken with out exposing yourself to the hazard of being obliged to desire . A good take more than you Player generally plays his twenty Pawns against a single one, and contrives to get rid of them all, or to entrap his Adversary.
172 There was a game in fashion in Paris about the year 1736 , wherein the Pawns marched and took in all directions , back wards and forwards, in front, like the Chess -Rook, as well as diagonally. This game, which was called The Babylonian, probably from some allusion to the con ( fusion at the Tower of Babel) was sus ceptible of innumerable combinations, and presented singular and extraordinary strokes. This new game Polish game to be caused the neglected for some time, and might perhaps have superseded it , if a board had been made answer able to the extent of its march. The field of battle is too small on the Polish boards, and the combatants are not suffi ciently numerous . Besides , few persons were able to play at it ; much application was required, great order and connexion in the ideas, and precise calculation : no body attempted it but those who were Masters of the Polish game, to which they returned, wearied out ; and the game is
173 now disused except in Holland , where it is still played . Specimen of the moves. Black. 13 , 18 , 24 , 33 , 27 . White in the middle; on 23 , takes them all five, passing on the squares 12 , 14 , 34 , 32 and 21. In the Diagonal game, the Pawns are so arranged that the middle line is vacant at the beginning, instead of the two pa rallel lines which usually are so. Two other games are played in Hol land, likewise on the board with a hun dred squares, and forty Men, one called the Maleys, Malayan, probably from its originating in some of the Dutch settle ments in the East- Indies, although it ap pears to have been taken from the Baby lonian game. The Pawns take straight on like the Chess- rook, and also Diago nally, in which last manner only they
174 can but there move when not taking, must be an open square between the two Pawns as well as one behind the Pawn to Supposing nine Black Pawns be taken. to be placed on 26, 7 , 4 , 25 , 33 , 23 , 30 , 44 , and 38 , a White Pawn in 46, might take them all successively in many as moves, going over them on the squares 16, 2 , 5 , 35 , 32 , 19 , 35 , 49 and 32 . If five Black were on 16, 44 , 30 , 18 and 8, a White Queen would seize all ; placing herself on the squares 6, 50 , 20, 17 and 3. So that if a Black Queen be placed on 41 , and three of her Men on 13 , 22 , 38 ; and a White Queen on 37, with three Pawns .19, 23 , 28, none of these can take each other, because there is no vacant square between them . Queen at all times may move takes, from 46 to 6, or to three intermediate from 46 to 50, squares. The as she any of the The or from 46 to 5 , any of the Eight on that line, &c . same or to These
175 situations are merely to exemplify the moves. The other game (of which I know not the name, ) is with five Queens on the back line 46 against the to 50, and ten adversary's Pawns, similar forces . The rules are the same as in the Polish game, with the addition that all the ori ginal Queens who enter the line where the Pawns become Queens, have each another Pawn placed on their heads, and are immediately additionally empowered to move and take like the Chess-rook. And the same those privilege Queens who being Pawns, as soon course of playing, is granted become so, to from as they, in the rest a second time on that line. There are Draught-boards to be met with in the London shops with twelve squares on a side, twelve dozen in all, or 72 , on which the Pawns are placed :
176 thirty for each player. All the before mentioned games may be played on this board ; and if the Men were allowed to march like the Chess - Knight, in addition to their other methods of marching, it would include the moves of all the Chess-men, and make a fine Partie Em brouillée. Here follows a Rafle, or sweepstakes of twenty-eight, being the maximum of the Pawns which a Queen can take on such a board. The Pawns are to be placed on 9, 10, 11 , 12, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25 , 26, 34 , 35 , 36, 37, 38, 39, 47, 48, 49 , 50, 51 , 52, 60, 61 , 62, 63 , 64, 65. Any idle Person may amuse himself innocently in searching where the Queen is to be placed and in what order the pieces are to be taken . Maximum " of the number of Pawns
177 which may be taken by a Queen on the Polish board . A Pawn can take no more than Eight, but a Queen sixteen . The Pawns are placed 8, 9, 10, 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22, * 29 , 30, 31 , 32 , 33 , 41 , 42, 43 . The Solution of the first is, -Place the Queen on 66, and take on 53, 40, 27, 14, 3, 16, 5, 18 , 29 , 42 , 59, 46, 29, 16, 33, 44, 57, 46, 33 , 20, 31 , 44 , 55, 68, 57, 70, 59, 72. Ofthe second. -The Queen on 46 takes on 37, 26, 17, 28, 39, 48, 37, 28. 14, 25, 34, 23, 12, 3, 14, 5. The next French pamphlet is entitled, " Brilliant Strokes and Ends of Games, extracted from a Manuscript, entitled Analysis of the Game of Polish Draughts, by Blonde, Naturalist, commonly called N VOL. II
178 the Tooth-pick Merchant." Forty pages in 8vo, Paris, 1789 . being 34 ends of Games. In the preface he announces his inten tion of publishing the abovementioned Analysis, " with entire Games begun and ended by first- rate Players ; and a great number of Ends of Games . The whole intended as a Supplement to Manoury's book. " " The Polish, Four Games Egyptian, of Draughts ; and Chess- draughts, for three Players ; with a general method of infinitely varying J. G. the Metz, Lallement. games. ” —By 1802 ; three volumes in 8vo. 4. The first volume contains 210 pages , with the Elements ; the Rules ; and the Execution of above 400 ends of games. The second consists of 408 Draught 1
1 179 boards, two on every page, with the situation of the Pawns or men, at the time the execution , which is explained in the first volume, begins. The Squares are all numbered from 1 to 50 , beginning with the first white square on the left hand, at the top of the board. The white men are distinguished by a plain circle, the white Queen by a white ring ; the black men, by a thick black circle or ring ; and the black Queen, a circle of one thin and one inner thick line . The third volume of near 400 pages contains the three new Games, invented by Citizen Lallement, with triangular houses, [ cases ] of which the names have just been given ; and whole- sheet prints of the boards, from wooden cuts. That for three Players ' is played on a board which forms an equilateral triangle : each side is divided into twelve N 2 equal
180 parts ; on every point of division lines are drawn parallel to the sides , which form 144 small triangles , 78 white and 66 black. Beginning at the bottom point the numbers are, on one side, 1, 2, 4 , 7 , 11 , 16, 22, 29, 37, 46, 56, 67 ; on the other, • 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21 , 28, 36, 45, 55, 66, 78 ; and on the top line player has a 67 triangle White 1 , 16, 21 ; to triangle 78.- Each himself : the the Black 67, 22, 72 ; and the Red 78 , 28 , 73 : fourth to in the void, leaving fifteen of course the middle remains small triangles or houses empty to begin the moves on : the 1 other three triangles being each filled with twenty-one Pawns of the different colours mentioned . In the book, two games are described as played out, to which I refer. The other two sorts of games are like wise on triangles, and as it is not likely
181 any of them will ever be played , I shall 1 say nothing about them. The Author enumerates forty rules which may be combined so as to form, as he says, one trillion , 785 billions, 812 millions , &c . &c. of different games at Draughts . Although this number be not infinite, he observes it is sufficiently large to authorise him to say he has performed his promise of announcing a general method of varying these games . " Having straggled about the vast plains of infinite possibilities, let us return to ideas more simple and concordant with. the feebleness of our organs and the little time we have to allot to our pleasures." After this exordium he analyzes the Polish board, by leaving out the 50 black squares, and calls it Damier Unicolor, coloured Draught - board. single It is formed by drawing eleven parallel lines crossed by ten others . The squares will then stand N 3
182 2, 1, 6, 7, 3, 8, 5, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, &c. The middle line will thus be 5 to 46, or ten squares, and on each side a line of eight, one another with of six , one of four, and only two squares . The transverse lines are two of nine squares each, 1 to 45 , and 6 to 50 : and laterally one of seven, one of five , one of three, and the single one, 5 to 46 . These volumes are very deficient in perspicuity, and many errors are in the numerals . The Author appears to possess some talents , but not the art of expressing his meaning clearly. At the end of the work are notices of more of his inventions, such as, 1st. An unlimited Pentagraph, to en grave, copy, or reduce infinitely drawings and sculptures, concave and convex, or in relievo, (en creux et en relief.) — 2d . A
183 Polygraph or instrument to take at once, with or without reduction , several copies of a drawing or writing, at the same time the drawing or writing is made.- 3d . An Automaton Writer.- 4th . A machine to write at once four copies of a letter on as many sheets of paper in folio. [A machine for writing two copies at once is now sold in London. ] - 5th. Two new species of engraving, imitate hand -writing which perfectly. - 6th . A new Hydraulick Ma chine to raise water. - 7th . A Vertical Barometer, in which the Mercury rises from ten to twenty feet, &c. These inventions are not however ad vertised as having been put in practice : perhaps they may be classed with those of the Marquis of Worcester. I cannot find any thing relative to the N4
184 Etymology of the English name of the Game except in Minsheu's Dictionary, ( 1617 ) as follows ; 66 Alquerque, from the Arabick article al, (the) prefixed to the Arabick hereque, (to move ,) Draughts, to drawe, because the men at this play are drawn from place to place," [which is tolerably unsa tisfactory . ] " The French, Italians, Spaniards, Portuguese, Germans, and Dutch call this game the Game of Ladies, either because it is a game whereat Ladies and Gentle women use to play, as being not so hard and difficult as Chesse, or because the Ladie or Queene, as they call it, or as we term it, the King, hath in this game the greatest authoritie, rule and power, going either backward or forward as occasion serves. ". And in a Paper on Chess, by Mr. D.
185 Barrington, published in vol. Ix. of the Archæologia, he says, " I do not know from what nation we have borrowed this term of Drafts . intelligible, That of Dames is more as the common pieces, by reaching the top square of the antagonist, become Queens .' Before Queen Elizabeth's time, it was called the game of Tables. The note upon the application of the word manie to M. Condamine (p. 151) made me search for other examples of its being used in the same sense, especially in the national Dictionaries, de l'Acade mie, de Trevoux, della Crusca, la lengua Castellana . found precisely similar, and de None were to be so that, not to make a Mountain of a mole-hill, I shall refer to the three abovementioned Dicti onaries, only saying that the Italian has
186 and subject, nothing on the that the definitions which approximate the nearest to Manoury's idea of the word, appear to be " une fantaisie, une passion exces Ardor, sive qu'on a pour quelque chose. Furor, Libido . " -D. de Trevoux. " En ce monde chacun a sa manie .” " Mania. Exotica voluntas . Enfermedad de la phantasia que la altéra y desordena, fijandola en una especie, sin razon ni fun damento. Significa tambien extravagan cia, capricho, tema, y ridiculéz de génio." D. de la R. Ac. Española . The reader may now make his own conclusions. Here follow the Stanzas of the Epistle Jean- Baptiste Rousseau to Clement Marot, from which the mottoes to Chess and Draughts were taken . Marot was the best French Poet of his Age . He died in 1544 , the aged 50. Rousseau,
187 most excellent of the French Lyrick Poets, died in 1741 , aged 72. Minerve à tous ne départ ses largesses, Tous sçavent l'art peu sçavent ses finesses . Et croïez moi, jé n' en parle à travers, Le jeu d' Echets ressemble au jeu des vers. Sçavoir la marche est chose très unie Jouer le Jeu, c'est le fruit du genie Je dis le fruit du genie achevé Par longue étude et travail cultivé Donc si Phebus ses Echets vous adjuge Pour bien juger, consultez tout bon juge Pour bien jouer, hantez les bons joueurs Sur tout craignez le poison des loueurs. Translation of the seven lines which have not been quoted before. And believe me, I do not speak at random The game of Chess resembles the game of Verses. I say (the fruit of ) genius finished by long study and cultivated labour Therefore if Phoebus adjudges his Chess (Verses) to you To judge well consult every good judge Above all dread the poison of praisers .
188 Five different positions at the end ofgames which are drawn, or won, according to the skill of the Players. 1st. Three Pawns against one. Situation. W. 9 , 35 , 40. B. 33 EXECUTION. W. B. can only go to 38 , or would be taken one for one to 43 Q. to 20 35 to 30 48 or 49Q. say 48 40 to 34. on any square of the line 48 to 26 takes her, and goes to 48 Q. to 42 takes 34 on 30 30 to 25 25 takes her takes her by 25 on 34 9 to 3Q If B. had gone to Queen on 49. W. Q. would have played 20 to 24 : the rest is seen. Thus there are seven moves for each Player and it was necessary to foresee them all, for if the White had made a single mistake, the game would have
189. been drawn. All the moves of the Black were forced, and however simple it may appear when played, it is a very ingenious stroke . 2d. Two against two. Situation. W. 7, 50. B. 34 , 45 . EXECUTION. W. 7 to Q. on 1 50 to 44 1 to 6 B. 34 to 39 34 takes to 50, and is Queen Shut up, for if 50 be offered to be taken 6 on 50 Thus it was necessary for the W. to Q. on 1 and not on 2 . " 3d. Situation. W. 1Q. 40 , 49Q. EXECUTION.S W. 40 to 34 to 49 to 35 to 1 to 34 29 35 44 6 ! First manner. B. 2 to 16 16 to 2 2 to 11 takes to 50 +t the end is seen B. 2Q.
190 Second manner. W. Fourth move 1 to 7 29 to 24 B. at the third move goes to 16 takes and goes to 2 takes and goes to 30 Third manner, beginning. W. 40 to 34 1 to 23 34 to 30 23 to 40 retakes B. 2 to 35 any where on the line 35 to 2 takes to 35 takes to 44 The game is sure to be won by any of these three combinations . 4th. Situation. W. 20 , 29 , 36 Q. B. The execution of 5, 10 Q. this stroke is so subtle, that many first rate Players have been unable to discover it, they were assured the game be won . It is as follows. W. 36 to 4 29 to 24 4 to 9 9 to 36 36 to 47 even after might be B. 10 to 15 5 to 10 10 to 14 14 to 25 t. takes and is retaken
191. Position. 5th . W. 8, 42 , 45 . B. 28, 32. A singular stroke, by which only the game can be won : a single wrong move makes it drawn. EXECUTION. W. 8 to 2 to 42 to 30 to 34 to 23 to 2Q 30 33 takes 34 23 5 B. 28 to 33 33 to 38 32 to 37 37 to 41 41 to 46Q must be taken then 34 to 48 48 to 34 If at the fourth move 37 to 42 42 to 47 loses then 23 to 34 If for the fifth move 41 to 47 loses No. 6. Three Queens and a Pawn against "two Queens and a Pawn . 1 W. 11 , 17Q. 42Q. 50Q. B. 2Q . 6Q . 35 .
192 EXECUTION. W. 42 24 t. 50 t. 2 11 6 to to to to to to B. Takes 2 to 16 t. 6 to 33 t. 16 to 7 35 to 40 40 to 45 cannot move 24 2 11 11 6 50 Second method. 42 17 t. two, 50 25 39 to to to to to No. 7. t. t. two, 24 39 25 39 50 2 to 30 6 to 44 35 to 40 40 to 45 shut up Position. W. 1Q. 24, 29, B. 5Q . 25 , 45Q. 33 , 34. This is a beautiful and learned stroke. The Black, having two Queens, of which one is in the middle line, might hope to win, or at least be sure of a drawn game ; notwithstanding, the White win a forced game in four moves.
193 EXECUTION . W. 33 '24 29 t. two 1 B. t. to 28 to 20 to 23 to 5 5 to 46 25 to 14 45 to 18 must be taken Position. No. 8. W. 22 , 31. 32 , 50Q . B. 19Q. 21 , 43 . This stroke appears simple because it is done in only two moves, however none but a first rate Player will find it out. EXECUTION. W. 50 to 39 39 to 48 t. No. 9. B. t. 19 to 26 cannot play without losing Situation. 1 W. 18 Q. 23 , 24 . B. 1 Q. 3, 15 . EXECUTION . W. 18 to 9 -9 to 25 VOL. II . B. 1 to 20 t. two loses
194 This appears sufficiently evident, but as it may serve as a lesson to show how a Queen can stop two distant Pawns, here follow the moves. 9 to 25 to 30 to 34 to 39 to 43 to 48 to 42 to t. 48 to 25 to W. No. 10. 25 30 34 39 43 48 42 48 25 14 B. 3 to 8 to 12 to 17 to 21 to 15 to 20 to 25 to .26 to loses 8 12 17 21 26 20 25 30 31 A game won merely by gaining the move. Situation . Five Pawns against four . W. 23, 33 , 42, 47, 49 . B. 4, 12 , 36, 41 . Here the Black are to play first, follows : B. 41 to 46Q 12 to 23 t. 23 to 32 t. 32 to 41 t. 4 to 9 9 to 14 14 to 20 20 to 25 loses W. 23 to 18 33 to 28 42 to 37 49 to 43 43 to 38 38 to 33 33 to 29 29 to 24 as
195 The combination of the White is ad mirable ; for the Player calculated his three first moves, so as to be certain of his Pawn 49 , having the move against the Black Pawn 4, without which, not withstanding his artfully confining the Black Queen and her two Pawns, he would himself have lost the game. No. 11 . Situation . W. 20, 24, 49Q. B. 15 , 41 . EXECUTION . W. 49 32 20 t. 15 24 20 to to to to to to B. 41 to 47Q t. 15 to 4 t. 47 to 20 4 to 10 10 to 15 loses. 32 10 15 24 20 14 Here it may be seen that there are three open squares from the White Pawn 24 at the fourth move to the Black one 0 2
196 on 4, which plays first, so that as it is an odd number the White has the move. But how get the move ? that cannot be taught, that is the true science of the game. Sometimes a single one for one obtains it, and at others a tant pour tant or so much for as much, which means two three or more Pawns sacrificed for an equal number of the adversary's. Situation . No. 12. W. 6Q. 34, 35, 39Q . B. 32Q . 15 , 24 . EXECUTION . W. 39 to 34 to 6 to 35 to 44 to 39 to 43 29 44 t. 44 t. 39 34 At the fourth B. 32 to 49 t. 24 to 33 t. 49 to 40 t. 15 to 20 20 to 25 loses. move of the White
1 197 Pawn on 44, are there five vacant squares between it and the Black Pawn on 15 , and as the number is odd, and the # Black is to play, the White gains the move and the game . No. 13 . Position. W. 8, 19, 38. B. 20 , 37. EXECUTION. W. 19 38 8 3 20 15 4 15 No. 14. to to to to to to to to 14 32 3Q 20 15 4 15 42 B. 20 to 9 t. 37 to 28 t. 9 to 13 13 to 18 28 to 32 18 to 23 23 to 28 loses. Position. W. 29, 38 , 49Q. B. 12, 28, 37. 0 3 i
198 EXECUTION . W. 29 38 49 21 27 38 20 15 42 26 21 to to to to to to to to to to to 23 32 21 27 38 20 t. 15 42 26 t. 21 49 No. 15. B. 28 37 12 18 19 28 23 32 28 33 to to to to to to to to to to 19 t. 28 18 23 24 32 28 37 33 39 Position . W. 29, 33, 47 , 49 , 50 . B. 2, 10, 19 , 26, 35 . EXECUTION . W. 49 to 44 44 to 40 50 to 39 t. 29 to 23 33 to 22 t. 39 to 34 34 to 29 47 to 41 29 to 24 41 to 37 B. 10 to 15 35 to 44 t. 2.to 8 19 to 28 t. 8 to 12 15 to 20 26 to 31 20 to 25 31 to 36 Thus ends the game. 3
199 No. 16. Position. W. 1 18 , 27, 28 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 37, 49 . B. 4, 8, 9, 14, 16, 19 , 21 , 26. EXECUTION . W. 28 to 18 to 22 to 34 to 32 to 27 to 7 to No. 17. W. B. 22 1 13 17 29 28 7 t. two 2Q B. 19 to 24 8 to 19 t. 21 to 12 t. 24 to 33 t. 33 to 22 t. 19 to 23 evidently must lose Position. 17 , 18 , 22, 24, 25 , 34, 37 , 44, 47 . 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 13, 15 , 16, 36. EXECUTION . W. 47 to 41 17 to 12 25 to 14 t. 18 to 9 t. 9 to 4Q B. 36 to 47 t. and Q. 47 to 20 t. 9 to 20 t. 7 to 27 t. two must lose. 04
200 Two curious examples of the consequence of entering into Lunettes or Spectacles . No. 18 . Position. W. 12 , 18 , 27, 34 , 35 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 48 , B. 1, 3, 11 , 14 , 16 , 24 , 25 , 32Q. EXECUTION. B. 1 to 23 t. two W. 12 to 7 24 to 42 t. four 35 to 30 48 to 10 takes four 11 to 17 10 to 5Q lose, because their Q. was placed on 32 instead of on 26. No. 19 . Position. W. 28, 34, 37 , 39 , 40, 48 . B. 12 , 13 , 14 , 16, 24 , 25 , 27 . The Black are to play, and they enter into the Lunette. 34 to 30. The White play from The Black are obliged to take four with their Pawn 24 , on 22 , and the White take five with the Pawn which goes to Queen and wins the game.
201 Short Lunette. No. 20 . Position. W. 20Q. 29, 36, 43 . B. 19Q . EXECUTION. The Black plays first, and enters into the spectacles, or seat, 24. W. 43 to 38 B. t. two. 24 to 47 shut up 20 to 15 Two examples of Coups de Repos. Y No. 21 . Position . W. 23, 29 , 30 , 31 , 34, 35 , 36, 48 . B. 5 , 7 , 8, 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 18,22 , 25 , 26. EXECUTION . W. 30 48 23 29 t. three 35 t. five 4 to to to to to to 24 42 19 23 4Q · 15 B. t. t. t. t. two t. 26 to 37 37 to 48Q 48 to 30 18 to 20 13 to 24 the rest is evident.
202 No. 22. Twelve against twelve. -Position . W. 26 , 27 , 33, 36, 37 , 38 , 39 , 42 , 43 , 46, 47,49 . B. 2 , 4 , 6, 7 , 8 , 9 , 16, 17 , 18 , 19 , 23 , 30 . EXECUTION . W. 27 to 36 to 37 to 33 to 39 to 47 to t. eight 41 to 21 31 31 28 34 41 1Q Here young B. t. t. t. t. t. three t. beginners 16 to 27 27 to 36 36 to 27 23 to 32 30 to 37 32 to 43 43 to 48Q may suppose this to be a drawn game, but four moves will decide it otherwise. 46 49 41 t. 26 to to to to 48 to 25 t. 25 to 48 t. 48 to 31 must lose. 41 43 37 37 This is one of the most learned strokes on the board ; very few even of the first rate Players will find out its execution without having recourse to that which has been given . ་
203 The following stroke, been that in composed is all such a wonderful probability leisurely by a it has capital Player, versed in the most abstruse com binations, as well as the precise calcula tions necessary for putting it in practice. If the reader delights in the game, he is requested to search patiently for the solution, without attending to the ex planation, by which means he will exer cise himself in, and accustom himself to calculation . Eleven Pawns, against four Pawns and four Queens . No. 23 . Position. W. 19, 25 , 26, 35 , 36 , 39 , 42 , 44 , 45 , 47 , 50. B. 3Q. 4 , 5 , 10 , 12Q. 15 , 22Q. 27Q. EXECUTION. W. 19 to 13 39 to 34 35 to 31 B. t. 22 to 9 t. two 12 to 49 t. 27 to 36
204 26 to 47 to 50 to t. 45 to t. 35 to t. two 25 to t. two t. t. t. t. 21 41 44 34 24 3Q 3 to 36 to 49 to 48 to 47 to lost 48 47 40 30 20 Six Pawns against three Queens and a Pawn. No. 24. Position. W. 28, 29, 32 , 33 , 37 , 43 . B. 9Q. 10Q. 30 , 46Q. EXECUTION . W. 29 to 24 28 to 22 t. three 32 to 5Q B. t. 30 to 19 t. four 9 to 28 whereshe must remain, being stopt by the Pawn 32, as 37 has not been taken off. cannot play. Ends of Games. No. 25. W. Position . 14, 32, 47 . B. 30 .
205 EXECUTION . W. 14 to 9 to 3 to 25 to 32 to 47 to 42 to No. 26. 9 3Q 25 39 28 42 38 to 34 to 39 to 44 to 33 t. to 22 t. to 28 lost B. Position . W. 9, 24, 30. B. 6, 15 , 36. EXECUTION . B. 9 to 3Q. 24 to 15 t. 3 to 14 14 to 5 5 to 41 t. 30 to 24 t. 15 to 24 has the move and must win. W. No. 27. 15 36 41 47 36 47 6 to to to to to to to 20 41 47Q: 36 47 20 11 Position.- Singular Stroke. W. 24Q. 26Q. 42, 45, 50. B. 34. 41 , 46Q.
206 EXECUTION . W. 45 42 26 24 to to to to No. 28 . 40 37 37 47 B. 34 to 45 41 to 32 32 to 41 Fast Position . Four White Queens on 19 , 23 , 25 , 28 , against two Black Queens. 26 , 48 , It is very difficult to win this. game. If the White makes the first move im properly, it becomes a forced drawn Many great Players have labour game. ed in vain to find the proper move, which is from 19 28 30 23 25 to to to to to 30 then the B. 48 to 42 37 42 to 31 t. 8 26 to 3 t. 14 3 to 20 36 takes both. Second Way. W. 19 30 19 25 B. 48 to 31 to 30 to 8 t. 26 to 3 t. 3 to 20 to 14 to 36 takes both.
207 Third Way. 26 to 21 19 to 30 30 to 34 t. 48 to 30 25 to 16 t. both. Fourth Way. 19 23 t. 25 28 t. 3 to to to to to 26 to 3 30 14 t. 3 to 20 t. 48 to 25 3 14 t. 25 to 9 14 and wins. The following is one of the most skilful strokes on the board. No. 29. Position. W. 9, 22, 27 , 32 , 35 , 38 . B. 12 , 15 , 26, 50Q. EXECUTION . W. 9 38 27 32 t. 4 to to to to to 4Q 33 21 28 36 B. t. 50 to 6 t. 6 to 50 t. 26 to 17 t. 50 to 22 lost.
1 208 Ends of Games . No. 30 . Situation . W. 8, 10Q. 33 . B. 40 . EXECUTION. 8 to 2Q 2 to 16 16 to 32 W. 5 10 to B. 40 to 44 44 to 50Q takes two any wise if on 46 then if on 5 32 to 46 if B. Queens on 49 10 to 32 Eight Pawns to Eight. No. 31 . Situation. W. 24, 26, 36, 38 , 39 , 40 , 42 , 47. B. 5, 7, 8, 9, 13 , 15 , 27 , 28. EXECUTION . W. 36 47 38 t. five 32 to 31 to 41 to 32 to 1Q B. t. 27 to 36 t. 36 to 47Q t. four. 47 to 19 lost.
209 Surprising stroke of Eight White against Eight Black, each having a Queen . No. 32 . Situation . W. 15 , 25 , 28, 31 , 32 , 38 , 41 , 48Q. B. 4Q. 7, 13 , 14 , 17 , 18 , 21 , 24 . EXECUTION . W. 25 to 20 28 to 23 32 to 27 t. five 48 to 33 t. 33 to 24 t. 15 to 24 B. t. t. t. two t. two t. 14 to 18 to 21 to 4 to 47 to lost 25 29 43 47 20 The beauty of this stroke consists in the manner of taking, in attending to the precise time of the moves requisite to win, and in placing the White Queen on 33 , to make the Black Queen take two on 47. A very uncommon situation .-Six Blacks , of which one is a Queen, against nine White Pawns. VOL. II
210 Position. No. 33. W. 26, 32 , 38 , 39 , 43 , 44 , 46, 48 , 49. B. 2, 11 , 29, 35 , 36, 45Q: EXECUTION . 3 W. 39 46 26 21 32 43 48 43 38 32 Here , to to to to to to to to to to 34 41 21 17 28 39 43 38 32 27 three B. t. t. to Q. t. two t. t. t. 29 to 40 36 to 47 47 to 50 11 to 22 22 to 33 33 to 44 2 to 7 7 to 12 12 to 17 lost Pawns and two Queens are kept " in durance vile," by a single Pawn . A Battle between nine Blacks against six Whites, of which two are Queens, who conquer, forming the Blacks into a Battalion. In this battle two Queens subdue nine Knights : which Blonde expresses ,
211 " Ce qu'il y a de plaisant, c' est de voir deux Dames soumettre neuf Cavaliers, ce qui n'est pas sans exemple." No. 34. Situation . W. 16 , 32 , 38 , 39 , 47Q. 49Q. B. 6, 8 , 12 , 13 , 18 , 19, 23 , 30 , 31 . EXECUTION. W. 16 32 39 38 47 to to to to to il 27 34 33 20 B. t . 6 to 17 t. 31 to 22 t. 30 to 39 t. 39 to 28 forcedly lose The Whites need only keep in the line 47 to 15 , or in that of 49 to 16. Ten White against ten Black. No. 35. Position of of " “ a double concate 9.9 " nation.' W. 27 , 28 , 31 , 33 , 35 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 48 , 49 . B. 2 , 7 , 12, 17 , 18 , 19 , 22 , 24 , 29 , 36, P 2 "
212 EXECUTION. W. 28 to 23 38 to 32 t. 32 to 23 t. 27 to 18 48 to 43 t. four 43 to 1Q B. t. t. t. t. t. 19 to 29 to 18 to 12 to 36 to lose 28 38 29 23 27 Ten Blacks against eleven Whites , each having a Queen. "" Superb" position. No. 36. W. 24, 28, 30, 34 , 37 , 38 , 39, 44 , 46Q. 47 , 49 . B. 2, 5 , 7 , 8Q. 10 , 11 , 13 , 16, 27, 36. EXECUTION . W. 28 to 37 to 46 to 30 to 38 to 49 to t. four 25 to " Brilliant" White 22 31 14 25 32 43 3Q B. t. t. t. t. t. t. three Stroke, Pawns, 27 to 36 to 10 to 19 to 27 to 38 to lose 18 27 19 30 38 29 composed against one of which is a Queen. nine of ten Blacks,
213 No. 37. Position. W. 17, 20 , 21 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 40 . B. 3, 5, 6, 8Q. 13 , 18 , 19 , 23 , 29. EXECUTION . W. 30 to t. 28 to 17 to 40 to t. five 35 to 24 19 11 34 2Q B. t. two 19 to 39 t. two 13 to 15 t. four 6 to 28 t. 39 to 30 or 29to 40 lost Eleven against Eleven. No. 38. Situated. W. 25, 27, 28 , 30 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 39 , 40 . 47, 49. B. 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 10 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 19 , 20, 24. EXECUTION. W. 28 to 23 t. 30 to 19 t. 25 to 14 39 to 33 t. three 35 to 2Q B. t. t, t. t. two P 3 19 to 14 to 10 to 28 to loses 28 23 19 30
214 Twelve against twelve . Situation . No. 39 . W. 17, 22 , 23 , 27 , 31 , 33 , 36, 37 , 38 , 40 , 44 , 50. B. 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 13 , 20, 25 , 26, 30. EXECUTION . W. 23 33 t. 37 17 36 27 40 t. eight 44 to to to to to to to to 19 29 48 11 31 21 34 24 B. 13 to 24 24 to 42 26 to 37 6 to 28 37 to 26 26 to 17 30 to 39 must lose t. t. two t. t. two t. t. t. Nine to fourteen . No. 40 . Situated . W. 27, 28, 32 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 43 , 49 , 50 . B. 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 11 , 14 , 16, 17 , 21 , 24, 26, 29, 40.
215 EXECUTION . W. 28 to 39 to 38 to 37 to t. four 43 to t. four 3 to 23 34 33 31 3Q 3 B. t. 29 to 18, t. 40 to 29 t. 29 to 38 t. two 26 to 28 t. 21 to 32 none of the six Pawns can stir without being taken. Fifteen against fifteen. - A fine stroke, and very complicated . No. 41 . Position . W. 25, 26, 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 36, 37 , 40 , 41 , 45 , 48 . B. 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16, 17, 18 , 19 , 21 , 23 , 24. EXECUTION . W. 25 to 20 t. two 40 to 20 . 35 to 30 45 to 40 33 to 29 28 to 22 t. five 32 to 1Q t. four 1 to 27 B. t. two 14 to 34 t. 15 to 24 t. 24 to 35 t. 35 to 44 t. 23 to 34 t. 17 to 28 t. 21 to 32 must lose P 4
216 No. 42. An extremely complicated stroke of Fifteen against the same number. The position as follows. W. 14, 24 , 25 , 30 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 37 , 38 , 41 , 42 , 46, 47 , 48 , 49 . B. 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 11 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 21 , 23 , 26, 27. EXECUTION . W. 14 to 10 24 to 20 t. two 30 to 10 33 to 29 37 to 31 38 to 32 t. four 42 to 2Q Thirteen Black which is won B. t. t. t. t. t. two t. against 5 to 14 15 to 24 4 to 15 23 to 34 26 to 28 27 to 38 lose twelve White, the latter, by the admirable stroke by an with regard to the design and the times of action. No. 43 . The Situation is W. 25, 29, 31 , 33 , 34 , 36, 37 , 38 , 42, 44, 47, 48.
217 B. 10, 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16, 18 , 20 , 21 , 22, 26, 27 , 35 . EXECUTION . W. 34 to 38 to 31 to 42 to t. 33 to 42 to t. five 48 to t. two 25 to 30 32 27 37 42 38 19 5Q B. t. t. .t. two t. t. t. t. 35 to 27 to 21 to 41 to 24 to 32 to 14 to lost 24 38 41 32 33 43 23 Eight against Eight. No. 44 . Situation. W. 24, 25 , 30 , 33 , 36, 43 , 48 , 50 . B. 7, 13 , 14 , 17 , 19 , 26 , 29 , 37 . The last move of the Black was from 23 to 29 into the Lunette. A single move of the White decides the game, 48, to 42 , the Black takes three on 28 , and #j the White 24 , takes four and goes to Queen on 2. This is a most ingenious as well as instructive ending. (
218 Manoury's first book contains 15 ends of games ; his second, 104 ; and Blonde's 34. All these I have played , and have selected the foregoing games from them. From Lallement's four hundred exam ples, I have only taken the two Rafles, p . 176 and 7 . As this is not intended to be a perfect book of instructions for Players at Polish Draughts, insert I shall one more conclude, Game from and only Blonde, situated as follows , No. 45 Twelve White against the same number of Black. W. 16, 24 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 38 , 39 , 42 , 45 , 47, 48, 50. B. 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 13 , 14 , 17 , 18, 22 , 23 , 25.
219 EXECUTION . W. 24 35 45 33 16 t. two 48 t. three 11 to to to to to to to 19 30 40 28 11 28 2Q B. t. t. t. t. two t. t. 13 24 35 23 44 22 to 24 to 35 to 44 to 43 to 33 to 33 lose Since the foregoing sheets were printed I have found several other matters to notice . A pamphlet of 20 pages, entitled , " A companion for the Draught- Player, con taining Thirty select Games of Draughts, shewing the Manner of moving the Pieces to the best Advantage ; together with se veral critical Situations to win Games, and fine Strokes, never before published ; being the Result of the Practice and Observations of some of the first Players.” -By W. Painter, 1787 . To this title I can add no more than
220 that the " critical situations" are Eight in number, and the " fine strokes, " twen ty-four . The whole relates only to the common game on 32 squares , about which I have nothing more to say than to state, that having turned over the leaves of the three English treatises on common Draughts, I find that out of 50 Games of Payne, 38 are drawn ; 30 Ditto of Painter, 20 ditto ; 500 Ditto of Sturges, 265 ditto, or more ; and I did not care to search a second time into a wilderness of nume rals . These may well be termed “ ever lasting games" as they are played “ to no end ." This last remark serves to exemplify the meaning of the French word Calem bourg which occurs in the Poem at the end of this Essay ; it is, mauvaise plaisan terie, bad joke, pun. Another pun in the Poem, which men
221 tions les bords Syriens, is the foolish expression the Pawn is gone à Damás, 1 capitale de la Syrie : and again Sans peine de Damas, &c . p. 172. As vile a one is in Babylonian sounding nearly like Babelonian. In addition to what is said about the Draughts or Pawns in p . 161 , their bot tom ought to be flat and smooth, so as to be easily distinguished from the top, as with young Players it may be frequently necessary when a number of Pawns are to be taken at one stroke, to turn them over previously to taking them off the board, to prevent mistakes ; but with great Players this is not allowed to be done . Manoury mentions that about the years 1751 or 1752 a Gentleman who frequent ed his coffeehouse had composed à Poem on Draughts . When he was about pub lishing his new book in 1786, he wrote
222 to the Author for his verses, who it seems , during a lapse of so many years , had lost half the Poem. The first and second Canto , and a few lines of the third are printed in eighteen pages at the end of the book, the remainder of this , and the whole of the fourth Canto are wanting. As these Draughts I are have the met only verses with, I on shall insert half the fragments ; the rest is not worth inserting, being not at all to the purpose. Towards the end is a reference to Virgil. The Lines are the well known Timeo Danaos, &c. which Dryden renders Trust not their presents . The Spanish lines in p. 186, are " Infirmity of the fancy, which troubles and disorders it, fixing it on one object, without reason or foundation . It also signifies extravagance, caprice, infatuation, and ridiculousness of the mind . ”
223 L'ART POLONOIS , Fragments de Poëme Didactique. EN vain sur un Damierjour et nuit appliqué, On cherche des grands coups le dessein compliqué, En vain du Jeu des Forts, contemplateur fidèle, On choisit chez Bertaut, Manoury pour modèle : Si le goût, le génie, et l'ordre et la raison Ne se trouvent unis à la combinaison, Si l'on ne sent du ciel l' influence secrete, On reste loin du but, et l'on rampe en Mazette. L'habitude, le temps, et l'ardeur n'y font rien : Combienj'en nommerois (d'ailleurs tous gens de bien) A qui, depuis vingt ans, de leur vaine entreprise, Le plus foible Joueur donne encore la rémise. Ils ont beau sur leur Jeu porter des yeux actifs, Dans leur propre terrein tous leurs Pions captifs Malgré les Calembourgs, et les burlesques phrases Loin des bords Syriens expirent dans leurs cases. ..... Les Dames que je chante, en Polognė ignorées, Ainsi d ' un titre vain se trouvent decorées ;
224 Mais Londres dès long- temps a donné dans ses murs, De leur pouvoir sur lui des témoignages surs. Non loin de l'Océan est une République Où leur regne brillant fait la gloire publique ; C'est de là qu'on soutient par les plus forts paris, Qu'elles ont pris enfin leur course vers Paris. Pour enfixer l'époque et les progrès illustres, A peine maintenant on peut compter six lustres ; Leurs charmes, du François échauffant les desirs, Il brúla de voler à de nouveaux plaisirs . Insensible aux bienfaits de sa triste patrie, Faisant gloire à ses yeux de son idolátrie, On le vit abjurer au milieu de Paris Pour des Jeux étrangers les Jeux de son pays, Des temples consacrés chasser le culte antique Introduire dans leur sein la moderne rubrique De ses premiers autels briser les fondemens Et sur d'autres autels prodiguer son encens. …………….. ...... Notre art simple en lui- même, a de plus simples loix, Chaque Pion nefait qu'un seul pas à la fois, Pas en avant. S'il prend, jamais il ne s'arrête, Sa marche ne finit qu'où finit sa conquête, Et s'étend en tous sens ; mais il n'a pas le droit De revenir deux fois passer au même endroit Si l'un de ses captifs qui demeure en otage Avant d'être enlevé lui ferme le passage ; Car la loi lui défend de saisir en chemin Les Pions ennemis qui tombent sous sa main.
225 La Dame, par faveur, dont le beau sexe est digne Peut aller d'un seul pas, jusqu'au bout de la ligne ; Image du tribut qu'on paye à la beauté Où regne son nom seul, regne la liberté. Devant un Pion blanc quand un noir se presente, C Et qu ' il laisse à sa suite une case vacante, Le Blanc doit faire alors le Noir son prisonnier, Et sur les compagnons qui suivent ce dernier, Porter sans s'arrêter une main homicide, Si leur désunion entr' eux eux laisse du vuide. Malheur à la bonté du soldat indulgent , Qui dédaigne de prendre, ou qui trop négligent, Ne prend pas ce qu'il faut : une loi très précise, Sans qu'il puisse échapper, le met lui- même en prise Et le livre au pouvoir d' un souffle destructeur. De cette sage loi méprisant la rigueur, Mazettes, vainement vous la voulez proscrire, Vous, dont l'esprit borné pour tout ne peut suffire, Occupés d'un objet, un autre objet vous fuit, A peine du soleil un seul rayon vous luit. Le souffle createur qui nous rend le courage. Et du rang et du coup conserve l'avantage Il n'est compté pour rien, soufflé n'est pas joué ; Ce fameux axiome est partout avoué. VOL. II.
} 226 Qu'ai-je dit ? tes défauts ! un seul ternit ta gloire, Un seul servira d'ombre aux traits de ton histoire. Une Dame par trois ne peut être soumise, Oui, seule contre trois la partie est remise, Sur-tout si profitant des momens et du lieu Pour asyle ellè a pris la ligne du milieu . De ce fort redoutable, une fois la Maîtresse, Tranquille, elle ne craint la force ni l' addresse En passant à propos de l'un à l'autre bout. Mais tel lieu qu'elle occupe, elle est libre partout, Si par une main sûre elle se voit guidée. En vain par l'ennemi sa perte est decidée, Les piéges sont connus: Son sort est different Quand le malheur la livre aux mains d'un ignorant. Pour la dompter alors, il est plus d'une rusë, Mais comme à réussir trop longtems on s'amuse De ce combat douteux, tous les coups limités, Par vingt seulement doivent être comptés. ... ..... Il nefaut que des doigts pour pousser un Pion 1 }} Mais ilfaut du talent pour sa position. Vous donc qui connoissant et la marche et l'usage, Brûlez du noble feu d'en savoir d' avantage, Des Maîtres reconnus, allez voir les combats, Etudiez leur jeu, suivez-les pas à pas. Au rang de Philidor plus d'un a su monter, Il en est jusqu'à trois que je pourrois citer. 1425
227 Après eux, je me tais, tant le merite est rare ! De créer des Savants tant le ciel est avare ! Que par de prompts succès vous vous fassiez connoître, Et que vos coups d'essai sentent les coups de Maitre. Qui dès les premiers pas ne sait pas les saisir, Espére en vain du temps l'honneur de réussir, Triste et frivole espoir, dans les ames bien nées Le talent n' attend pas le nombre des années . ..... Qu'une sage conduite, une marche assurée Sans peine de Damas vous obtienne l'entrée, Vers cet heureux climat, en dirigeant vos coups, Au poids de la raison, s'ils ne sont pesés tous, C'est fait de votre jeu. La perte est le salaire De qui porte en ces lieux un Pion temeraire. Au prix de tout son bien qu'il a sacrifié, Le sot par un grand coup se croit déifié ; Mais tandis qu ' enivré d' une vaine manie Et payant chèrement les traits de son génie Il a des autres sots les applaudissemens Son rival est vainqueur et rit à ses dépens. Soyez donc reservés et que l'amour des Dames · N'allume dans vos Coeurs que de prudentes flammes, De leur possession connoissez tout le prix, · Mais sage en vos désirs, n' alles pas trop épris Q 2
228 Contentant brusquement votre ardeur indiscrete Vous livrer au remords d' une joie imparfaite. Ces charmes séducteurs objet de votre encens Par un pouvoir magique usurpé sur vos sens, Si Minerve sur vous n' etend pas son Egide Vous offriront bientôt un écueil homicide. C'est par un autre excès prouver son ignorance Que d'être trop timide et craindre la depense; Une Dame toujours exige quelques frais ; Et qui veut enjouir doit payer ses attraits ; Avec un peu d' usage on sait ce qu'elle coute. Nos grands Mattres, d'ailleurs ont prevenu le doute ; Dans le code sacré de leurs décisions Ils l'ont en termes clairs taxée à trois Pions. Quelque fois cependant loin de payer le gîte, Le coup qui le procure est un coup qui profite ; Mais ainsi que l'Amour a des enfans chéris, • La Fortune à son char a d'heureuxfavoris; On compteroit en vain sur l'aveugle Déesse, Il ne faut se fier que sur sa propre adresse Se conduire sans crainte et sans témerité Et donner à propos sans prodigalité. A sajuste valeur une Dame réduite Saura vous rendre alors plus sûr de sa conduite ; Dans son cours vagabond vous ne la verrez pas Aux coups d'un fier rival exposer ses appas,
229 Ni de vos bras enfin, avec force arrachée Obscurcir votre gloire à la sienne attachée. Soigneux de vous placer dans un poste important Enjettant vos filets, voyez ceux qu'on vous tend ; Que vos yeux soient perçants, que rien ne leur échappe, Séduitpar la beauté d'un dessin qui vous frappe, Gardez vous d'en rester uniquement rempli, Mais soyez tout à tout, politique accompli ; En contemplant des Cieux le physique mystère N'oubliez pas vos pieds et regardez à terre ; Le puits de l' Astrologue est pour vous un avis Et vous l'éviterez si les miens sont suivis. 1 Faitez-vous d'un projet, l'heureuse découverte ? Combinez-en la suite, et le gain et la perte. De ces coups surchargés, l'appareil éclatant, Ne vaut pas quelquefois un simple tant pour tant. Il est beau de les voir, dangereux de les faire, De nos demi-savants, c'est l'ecueil ordinaire. Des lunettes sur- tout, évitez les appas, Quand on a de bons yeux, on n ' en fait point de cas, Leur aspect est riant, la suite en est terrible. Ces Pions dont le gain vous paroit infaillible Sont des traits malheureux qui vous percent le sein, Un ennemi rusé les offre à ce dessein. Q 3
I 230 Ah ! si des vieux Troyens vous connoissez l'histoire, Si leur triste cité vit dans votre mémoire, Craignez, craignez d'un Grec le perfide présent, Les Polonois ne sont que trop Grecs à présent, Et c'est avec raison qu'on leur cite Virgile Quand ils veulent tenter une vertu fragile. Que vos Pions serrés, avec ordre conduits, L'un par l'autre au besoin se voient reproduits, Que celui qui se trouve en un pas difficile, Eprouve sur le champ une assistance utile, Et que toujours liés par un concours égal, Ils soient pour s' entr' aider prêts au moindre signal. De ces Chefs mal- adroits évitez l'ignorance, Leurs soldats dispersés à trop grande distance, Inutiles sujets de leur Maitre oubliés Dans des malheureux coins meurent expatriés. Je n'entends pas des coins interdire l'entrée, Maisje veux pour remplir cette enceinte sacrée, Zamanetz Un grand art, de grands soins, et des motifs puissants, La seule occasion les rend intéressants . Je ne veux pas non plus que vos lignes pressés, Par leur propre fardeau se trouvent oppressées : Des troupes quelquefois le cortège nombreux, Gène les mouvements et devient dangereux,. Dans ces positions la ressource commune, Est suivant nos décrets, de faire une pour une, 1
231 Souvent même enchaîné par un fatal lien, Ilfaut pour en sortir perdre un Pion pour rien . L'art seul connoît le prix d' un pareil sacrifice, On distingue par- là le Mattre du Novice ; Celui-ci foible encore séduit par unfaux goût, Croit pour être vainqueur que le nombre fait tout ; Mais des gros bataillons méprisant l'étalage, L'autre, d'un terrein súr, préfère l'avantage, Et pous le conserver, sachant perdre à propos, Marche, attaque et défend libre dans ses travaux. Il est bien d'autres cas où par un don prudent, Le joueur éclairé pare à tout accident. Je n'en citerai qu' un, celui de la remise. La Dame qui lui reste, à ses desirs soumise, Se prive sans regret des Pions concurrents, Qui pourrent du Damier embarrasser les rangs ; Ils sont tous immolés au salut de la Dame, Car c'est par eux toujours que sa perte se trame. ......... …………… . Ainsi un grand Joueur formé par Uranie, Doit de mille agréments décorer son genie, A la force du Jeujoindre l'honnêteté La douceur, le maintien, sur- tout la probité. Je veux trouver en lui pour prix de mon hommage, D'un ensemble fini, la gracieuse image. Un savant tout savant ne me satisfait point. Je ne veux pas sur - tout, j' insiste sur ce point, Q 4
232 Que le gain sur son cœur l'emporte sur la gloire, Ni que l'intérêt seul le mêne à la victoire. Je vois avec mépris ces Joueurs ambulants, De Cafés en Cafés colportant leurs talents N'aspirer qu'à l'argent pour unique avantage, Et des profits du Jeu se faire un héritage , Mercenaires, dont l'art n'est plus qu' un vil métier, Et qui vendent leur temps à qui veut le payer ! " Le mal n'est pas de jouer de l'argent, et de chercher à gagner, parce que cela est tout naturel mais comme dit la chanson : " Tout consiste dans la manière " Et dans le goût, " Et c'est la façon de le faire 66 Quifait tout." The same reasons as are given in p. 133, for not translating the poem on Chess, are here valid. The last lines are, The evil is not in playing for money, and seeking to gain, all which is very natural ; but, as the song says, In manner, taste, consists the whole 'Tis method forms the very soul .
233 IN order to render the article of CHESS as complete as possible, I shall give the titles of two more pamphlets on the subject, and a quotation from a dialogue which has just appeared . The Game ofWar ; or improved Game of Chess, translated from the German, and rectified by a (Dutch) Notary Publick. -London , 1798 , 16 pages . Nouveau jeu des Echecs, ou le jeu de la guerre, invention du citoyen Fr. Giaco metti.- Paris, 1803 . By the name, this probably an Italian, last inventor is so that it appears Natives of four other nations besides the English, have employed themselves altering the names, &c. in of the Chess pieces, as has been mentioned in p . 91 , of this book.
234 • A German pamphlet entitled, Das Schach spiel. in 110 pages , Ein Bild des menschlichen Lebens, in dreyssig Philoso phischen Skizzen, mit zehn neuer 1 Skizzen von Sardenheim . - Dessau 1784 . Chess -play. An image of Human Life, in thirty philosophical sketches, with ten new sketches by Sardenheim . In the European Magazine for April, 1788 , is a poem of about a hundred lines, entitled The Morals ofChess, which might serve as a supplement to this German pamphlet . In the Monthly Magazine for Septem ber, 1804, was first published a Dialogue between Dr. Franklin and the Gout. This ingenious Paper was undoubtedly written by the Doctor, and from it I shall trans cribe what the Gout says about Chess, with Dr. F's reply, and venture to re KUAT AAT
235 commend the perusal of the whole Dia logue, (which is contained in three or four pages) to the intelligent Reader. The Gout. " What is your practice after dinner ? Walking in the gardens of those friends with whom you have dined, would be the choice of men of sense : yours is to be fixed down to a game of Chess, where they find you thus engaged for two or three hours ! This is your per petual recreation , and the least eligible of any for a sedentary man, because , instead of accelerating the motion of the fluids, the rigid attention it requires , helps to retard the circulation , and obstruct internal se cretions. Wrapt in the speculations of this wretched game, you destroy your constitution - If it was in some nook or alley in Paris, deprived of walks that you played a while at Chess, who would not excuse you ? but, the same taste prevails with you in Passy, Auteuil, or Montmar tre : places furnished with fine gardens ,
236 which are all rejected for this abominable game of Chess. - In the evening you call for tea, and the Chess-board ; and lo ! you are occupied in your seat till nine o'Clock ; and that beside two hours play after dinner.— You philosophers are sages in your maxims and fools in your conduct -but to our business-There— ” Dr. F.-" Oh ! Oh ! quit ; and I promise For heavens' sake faithfully never more to play at Chess, but to exercise daily, and live temperately."
237 } INDEX TO CHESS . Advice not to chafe page Apothecary and Chess -board 27 Bacon, Lord Verulam Banes of a Sick Man Barbeyrac on gaming Bishop a, and a Lord 36 39 · 23 · 48 84 104 Backgammon , Dr. Stillingfleet's opinion of - Books on Chess · 23 - 19 by G. B. a compilation Koch 87 Philidor 87 Stein 87 74 Stratagems Canute Cards- Tarots · 33 21 , 129 Cardinal Wolsey 14 Chaucer Check, cried by the French 9 86 Check-mate 29 18 Chess -players, picture of
238 Chess -playing by 44, · 45 · Arabs Bramins 40 Calmucks 1 Chinese Danes Hindoos Icelanders 73 57 32 42, - 65 18 a Miss - Russians - 64 Students - 35 Turks a touchy man Utopians Chess-boards burnt crystal round 83 44, 47, 84, 113 - 18 · 35 36 -- 44 73 France like one 85 Chess , a Science - compared to Draughts Chess - image 68 → 114 · 17 Chess -men, small of Charlemagne, gone tumbled into the bag valuation of Clergymen's amusements Court Life Double Marriage, play of Drawn games 82 - 134 63, - 64 88 95 30, · 31 · 94 26
239 20 Duke of Saxony Elizabeth, Queen Epitaph by Marot Ends of games Fielding Gout, the, on Chess 16, ❤ 17 28 93, 117 - 64 235 Guileville's Pilgrim - 14 Holme, Randle · 37 Huon and a Princess 12 Hus the Martyr 11 5 Judas and a Prince King Louis 38 Kings can exalt and abase 36 Knight's move Literary Society Looker-on Lying traveller Marini 72, 117 · 63 → · 82 23 28, 118 Montagne 29 Morality, old 22 Philip II. dissatisfied Philidor blindfold with a Turk his last move 1 34 · 105 - 113 - 110 · 75 Pulci ❤ 27 Renard and Isangrin · Poem, French, by Cerutti of Caissa, by Sir Wm. Jones Prince Tristan and his mistress 69 3 5.
240 5 Richard Longsword Rodes's Nurture Rochambeau 86 Scotch Poet 19 9 I Skelton the Poet laureate 15 Smith, Dr. Adam Unteachable 62 Verses, Poor Robin's Vida Voltaire Welsh judge 84 - 39 25 , 119 · 42 32 2
241 INDEX TO DRAUGHTS. Books on common Draughts Mallet Pallas, Shield of Painter page 137 - 139 - 219 Payne - 139 Spanish 138 - 144 Sturges Ditto on Polish Draughts Blonde - 177 Lallement - 178 - 148 Manoury Conceited Christian - 160 · 149 Condamine, M. de la Draught - boards of amber common one-coloured Polish with 144 squares triangular VOL. II. 138 - 154 ·- 181 154, 160 - 175 - 181 R
242 164 , 188 to 219 · 175 Games anonymous Babylonian combined - 172 Diagonal - 173 171 - 171 Losing - 173 Malayan new, three - 179 sweepstakes, two - 176 Johnson, Dr. Preface by Dedication - 140 - 142 - 223 Poem -172, 220, 224 Puns , three · 186 Rousseau, J. B. verses by - 157 Rousseau, J. J. 271 211 Page 79, 014 137 , 233 , 237, 201-225, 226, line ... ... ... ... ... 17, 5, 21 , 9, 10, 6, ERRATA : affrontet, should be affrontent. ... and. amd, ... pressés. ... ... ... pressées. ... ... 91. ... 19 erase one eux accent. ellè, erase the MEND 444 021 + ZEO A *I A ༢༦ རྗེ་ཧི མྡོ་ཎ
ENTERTAINING CHEMICAL EXPERIMENTS. COMMUNICATED BY Mr. FREDRICK ACCUM. To produce chemical changes it is ab solutely necessary that bodies should be in contact with each other ; as will be obvious from the first two of the follow ing Experiments, which may at the same time show the amazing divisibility of matter, as well as the powerful energy of chemical action.. R 2
244 EXPERIMENT I. Dissolve one part of common salt in 42250 of water and let fall into this solution a few drops of nitrate of silver : white streaks will be formed and a tur bidness take place, owing to the muriatic acid, (which is one of the principles of common salt) uniting with the silver of the nitric acid. One part of this salt contains only 0.39 parts of real muriatic acid, therefore by these means in 42250 parts or about five pints and a half of water, so extreme minute a proportion as the twenty- fifth part of a grain of com bined muriatic acid may be detected . EXPERIMENT II. Let fall into a Quart ofwater, ( of which the weight is equal to about 15360 grains, ) one drop of sulphuric acid : add a few
( 245 drops of muriate of Barytes , a cloudiness will instantly be formed, by reason of the Sulphuric acid joining to the Barytes and making an insoluble salt, which appears in the form of a white powder diffused through the fluid . means This proves that by of muriate of Barytes, a single grain, one 15360th part of the water, or ,000065 of sulphuric acid may be chemi cally rendered visible . EXPERIMENT III . Ebullition of Water on Ice. Take a strait glass tube two feet in length, and a quarter of an inch in diameter, fill an eighth part of it with ice , and the remainder with water. Hold the tube obliquely, and apply a burning candle to its upper extremity, the water will boil during a considerable time with out melting the Ice. R 3
246 EXPERIMENT IV. Evolution of heat by the sole mixture of two cold bodies, Put four parts of concentrated sulphu ric acid into a bason , and add one part of ice at o, broken in small pieces ; on stir ing these two substances with a glass rod, a sudden increase of temperature will take place, and a thermometer immersed in the mixture will rise up to 212° Fahr. If water be substituted for ice, the heat will be almost doubly intense. 1 Great caution is necessary in making this experiment , lest the bason should crack from the sudden heat, and eject the mixture , to the manifest danger of the operator. It is therefore prudent not to make use of more of the articles than about three or four ounces of each .
247 EXPERIMENT V. Production of cold by merely mixing the : very same substances. 1 By inverting the proportions of the substances mentioned in the last experi ment, and adding to four parts of ice at o , one of sulphuric a thermometer acid, plunged into the mixture will sink to about 4° below 0. EXPERIMENT VI. Conversion of two aeriform fluids into a solid substance. This is one of the most striking exam ples of two gazeous instantly solid. bodies becoming It is performed by intro ducing into a vessel two parts of ammo niacal gas, and gradually adding to it a like quantity of muriatic acid gas. R 4 1
248 This experiment is best performed in what Chemists call the mercurial pneu matic apparatus . EXPERIMENT VII . Unequal propagation of heat. It is well known that any number of bodies heated in different degrees, when placed in contact with each other, acquire after some time a certain temperature which is the mean of the whole ; but it is not commonly known that this distri bution of heat from one body to another takes place with different gradations of celerity, as may be thus proved . Take a number of strait cylinders of equal length and diameter, but of different substances, metal, glass, wood , charcoal, &c. cover their upper extremity with
249 tallow or wax, and place the lower into melted lead, or water kept boiling . After they have remained thus a short time, it will be seen that the wax melts sooner on the metal, than on the glass , and on this latter earlier than on the wood , & c. which shows the unequal propagation of heat . For this reason a glass rod may be made red- hot, or even melted when held in the naked hand, without inconvenience, but a similar rod of metal so heated cannot be borne in the same manner. EXPERIMENT VIII . Sudden conversion of a fluid into a solid, by the admission of air. Make a concentrated solution of Glau ber's salt by adding it gradually to boiling water, till the latter during its ebullition any more more :: will not dissolve any pour this
250 boiling solution into narrow-necked vials, tie slips of wetted bladder over the orifice, or cork them tightly ; this solution when cold will remain fluid, but the moment the bladder is pierced or the cork taken out, the solution crystallizes rapidly, and becomes solid, at the same time produ cing a considerable degree of heat. The cause of this Phenomenon has not hither to been sufficiently discovered . EXPERIMENT IX. To gild a ribbon chemically. Take a silk ribbon, wet it thoroughly with phosphorized Ether (prepared by letting Ether stand over Phosphorus for some weeks ) and dip it into a solution of muriate of gold, which will gild it ; and the gilding is so permanent that it will bear washing .
251 Mrs. Fulhame, to whom we are indebted for this experiment, has availed herself of this property, by gilding a whole garment, & c. EXPERIMENT X Fire under the surface of afluid. Half-fill a wine-glass with nitrous acid, put a piece of Phosphorus of the size of a pea into it, and add a like quantity of ox igenized muriate of Potash ; as soon as these substances are acted on by the acid, a violent effervescence takes place, fire will be produced under the surface of the fluid and dart forth vehemently. When the action subsides it may be renewed by a fresh addition of Phosphorus and oxige nized muriate of Potash.
252 EXPERIMENT XI . Yellow sympathetic Ink. This ink, which is but little known , is 1 made by dissolving an ounce of sulphate of Copper and another of muriate of Ammonia, in six of water, diluting the solution gradually with more water, till it ceases to leave a visible trace on paper, after having been suffered to dry . Writings with this when dry, are invisible ink but appear of a beautiful yellow colour by heating the paper, and disappear when it cools, in the same manner 1 as the well-known green blue sympathetick Inks. Chemistry, vol. 11. p . 36. See and Accum's
253 EXPERIMENT XII . Method of soldering Glass. This discovery, for which we are indebted to a French Chemist, consists in mixing intimately one part of finely levigated flint- glass with one fourth or one sixth of glass of Borax, ( or Borax deprived of all its water of crystallization by fusion) . This mixture must be applied as a solder to the broken glass , and then the whole exposed to a heat sufficient to melt the interposed solder, which by its easy fusibility will agglutinate the pieces together so that the glass will be as strong as before it was broken. EXPERIMENT XIII . A Shower of Fire. Fill a tall cylindrical glass with oxige
254 nized muriatic acid gas, and drop into it small quantities of finely powdered An timony, or Arsenic. The metal introduced will instantly inflame, and appear like a shower of fire. EXPERIMENT XIV . Accension of oil on the surface of water by the simple addition of another fluid. 12 ) }} Put into a tall ale- glass ° one part of super-oxigenized muriate of Potash, and three or four of water, 匪 then add half a ! part .. of Olive or Linseed Oil. If four or five parts of concentrated sulphuric acid be now added, a multitude of ignited sparks will pass through the fluid , exhi biting a beautiful Phenomenon ; and by means of an additional quantity of super oxigenized muriate of Potash the whole mass will take fire, and burn vividly.
255 EXPERIMENT XV. Fire and flame from the mixture of two gases. Fill a tumbler with oxigenized muria tic acid gas, and add gradually to it am moniacal gas. The moment these two gases come in contact, a brisk detonation ensues, accompanied with a flash of fire. This experiment requires caution : care should be taken to mingle the gases in small quantities only, lest the glasses should burst. EXPERIMENT XVI . Production of intense cold by the solution of salts in water. Blend intimately together an ounce and a half of muriate of Ammonia, with 5
256 the same quantity of nitrate of Potash in powder, and mix them gradually in a bason with four ounces of water. the salts As melt, the cold produced will sink a thermometer immersed in them to about 36° of Fahr. A fresh addition of a like quantity of Salts will sink it to 14° which will freeze water in a glass tube immersed in the solution. ** EXPERIMENT XVII . Accension of spirit of wine by the mixture of two cold fluids. Put an ounce of highly rectified spirit of wine into a cup ; add a like quantity of nitrous acid : a violent action takes place, and the whole bursts into flame by the affusion of an ounce of concentrated sul phuric acid . This experiment is dangerous. The
257 cup is frequently dashed in pieces the moment the sulphuric acid is added to the mixture . EXPERIMENT XVIII. Total disappearance of two gases, by mixture. Put into a vial one part by measure of hidrogen gas, and add to it two parts of oxigenized muriatic acid gas , vial closely and 1 let it twenty hours. cork the stand four and If the vial be then inver ted under water, and opened, it will be found that the two gases are vanished, and the bottle fills with water. For the success of this experiment it is absolutely necessary that both the gases should be fresh prepared, and in a state of great purity. VOL. II.
258 EXPERIMENT XIX. A Powder which takes fire by friction. To five grains of hyper- oxigenized mu riate of Potash finely powdered, add half its weight of charcoal reduced to an im palpable powder, and mingle them toge ther. If two grains of sulphur be now added to this mixture, and the whole be strongly triturated in a mortar, it will inflame and burn rapidly. EXPERIMENT XX. Spontaneous accension of Sulphur. Put a piece of Brimstone into a ladle, • and melt it gradually so as to be completely fused. If this ladle be introduced into a bottle filled with oxigenized muriatic acid
1 8 259 gas, the sulphur will inflame, and burn If Phosphorus be substituted for vividly. Sulphur, the phosphorus will take fire spontaneously and burn with great splen dour. EXPERIMENT XXI . Two fluids which on being mingled pro duce a solid mass ofgold. Gently pour a solution of muriate of gold into a strong sulphureous acid, con tained in a saucer. The moment the two fluids come in contact, the colour of the solution of gold becomes changed ; and after the mixture has remained some hours undisturbed , a fine pellicle of gold will be found on its surface.. $ 2 10
260 EXPERIMENT XXII. A Rose- coloured flame.. Put into a silver table- spoon, one part of nitrate or muriate of Strontia, freed from its water of crystallization, and add three or four parts of highly rectified Alcohol, stir the mixture and set fire to it it will burn with a beautiful rose colured flame, especially if the spoon be held over the flame of a candle, or lamp. In the same manner boracic acid will produce a green, and nitrate of copper a blue flame. EXPERIMENT XXIII . Writings performed with a limpid fluid, appear in brilliant silver Letters. Write with a concentrated solution of acetite of Lead, and put the writing while
261 wet into a bottle, filled with sulphuretted hidrogen gas, or hold it over the vapours arising from a mixture of sulphuret of · Potash moistened gradually with muriatic acid, in a shallow vessel . will by that The writing means acquire a metallic brilliancy. EXPERIMENT XXIV . Spontaneous accension of a liquid by ex posure to an aeriform fluid. Fill a three or four pint bottle with oxigenized muriatic acid gas, taking care to expel the water as completely as possi ble, pour into it from half a dram to a dram of sulphuric Ether, and immediate ly cover the mouth of the bottle with a slight piece of wood or paper. In a few seconds white vapours will be perceived moving circularly in the bottle, which will soon be followed by an explosion attended with flame. $ 3 .
262 EXPERIMENT XXV. Thermo-phosphoric writings. Take phosphate of Lime, or fluate of Lime, reduce it to a fine powder and mix it with mucilage of gum arabic or gum tragacanth. If writings, performed with this mixture on an iron or copper plate, be left to dry and then heated over a fire, they will shine with a beautiful phospho ric light. Phosphate, or fluate of Lime, or a mixture of both reduced to powder and let fall on a hot fireshovel will in like manner appear luminous, The Siberian Fluor Spar, known by the name of Clorophane, shining, is remarkable for when heated, with a beautiful emerald-green light, which vanishes as the stone cools . It entirely loses property on being heated to redness . this
263 EXPERIMENT XXVI . A limpid colourless fluid variously coloured by the addition of other colourless fluids. Half-fill five wine-glasses with a dilute solution of nitrate of Mercury. 1. A solution of common salt dropt into the first, renders it milk-white. 2. Sulphuric acid changes the second to yellow. 2. Lime-water makes the third of a reddish brown. 4. Hydro-sulphuret of ammonia gra dually produces a red in the fourth . 5. And lastly, sulphuret ofPotash causes the fifth to appear of a black colour . S 4
264 1 EXPERIMENT XXVII . To change a blue fluid into red or green, and a green one into crimson or purple. Put a table- spoonful of tincture of cabbage into a wine -glass of water, mix it well, and put half this mixture into another glass . Add a few drops of sul phuric acid to one of these, and it will turn crimson. A like quantity of a solu tion of potash will make the other mixture green. Sulphuric acid added to this will convert it into crimson, and if a solution of Potash be added a purple colour will be obtained. This last operation requires some nicety, for a drop too much of the colour revert to Potash will make the green. 1
265 EXPERIMENT XXVIII. Yellow paper changed to brown, and blue to green, by an invisible fluid. If paper coloured yellow with tincture ter : Y 6 dir ‫سا‬ 2204 of Turmeric, be held close over a plate containing concentrated liquid ammonia, it will become brown . And paper co loured by cabbage juice, will by the same means turn green. EXPERIMENT XXIX. Production of various colours by the mere mixture of colourless fluids. For this purpose the following articles are to be prepared :
266 No. 1. A solution of acetite of Lead , pre pared by dissolving two drams of acetite of Lead, in twelve ounces of distilled water, and afterwards filtering the solution . 2. A solution of carbonate of Potash, obtained by dissolving three ounces of carbonate of Potash in twelve of water, and proceeding as before. 3. A solution of corrosive muriate of Mercury, consisting of 20 grains of corrosive muriate dissolved in twelve ounces of water . 4. A solution of Sulphate of Iron, produced by dissolving two ounces of sulphate of Iron, in twelve of water. 5. Acidulous solution of sulphate of Iron, composed of an ounce of sulphate of Iron and 1 twelve of
1 267 water, mixed with an ounce of the next solution, No. 6. 6. One ounce of sulphuric acid, min gled with twelve of water. & 7. One dram of crystallized acetite of copper dissolved in twelve ounces of water, with the addition of one dram of nitric acid. 8. Concentrated liquid ammonia. 9. Sulphureous acid. 10. Tincture of Roses, prepared by infusing red rose leaves in sulphu reous acid. 11. Tincture of red- cabbage leaves, prepared in the same manner. 12. Tincture of Galls " , obtained by digesting half an ounce of Gall
268 nuts in twelve ounces of water, and adding one dram of nitric acid to the filtered solution. 13. Diluted solution of prussiate of Potash. 14. A solution of nitrate of Mercury, obtained by dissolving one dram · of mercury in half an moderately mingling strong the ounce of nitric solution acid, with an ounce of water. By merely mixing these colourless fluids the following tints are produced. MILK- WHITE. Mix three parts of No. 1 , with one of No. 2. YELLOW . Four parts of No. 14 , and one of No. 2 .
269 ORANGE . Four parts of No. 3 , with one of No. 2 . If No. 6, be added the orange colour disappears and the whole returns to its limpid state . CARMINE. A few drops of No. 6 with No. 10. This colour disappears on adding No. 9. BLOOD- RED. A few drops of No. 6 with No. 11. This liquid becomes again colourless on adding No. 9. GRASS- GREEN . Three parts of No. No. 1. turns to 10 , with one of On adding No. 6, the mixture Red ; a few drops of No. 9, destroy this colour, and the fluid returns to its former limpid state. LIGHT- GREEN . Three parts of No. No. 1. 11 , with one of
270 ULTRAMARINé- blue . 1 Three parts No. 8. of No. 7 , with one of It becomes again colourless by adding No. 6. DARK - BLUE . Three parts of No. 11 , with one of No. 2 ; the addition of No. 6 changes it to Ruby-red. PRUSSIAN - Blue . By mixing equal quantities of No. 5, and No. 13 . VIOLET. Equal quantities of No. 7 , and No 11 . PITCH - BLACK . Three parts of No. No. 4. 11 , with one of E INK- BLACK . Three parts of No. No. 4. t 12 , with one of It is again rendered limpid by No. 6 ; and No. 13 turns it blue. For these amusing experiments we are indebted to Mr. Tielebein.
271 EXPERIMENT XXX. Two solid metallic substances which, on being rubbed together, become fluid. J Melt in a ladle two ounces of Bismuth, and add to it one of Mercury ; stir the mixture together, and suffer it to cool. Having done this, prepare in a similar manner another metallic compound, com posed of two parts of Lead and one of Mercury. These two alloys, on being rubbed together in a mortar, instantly become fluid . O EXPERIMENT XXXI. To extinguish a candle by the affusion of an invisible fluid. If a tumbler be filled with carbonic acid gas, and the invisible contents of it
272 be poured (in the same manner as other fluids are poured ) into another tumbler, in which a burning taper has been pre viously placed, the flame will be instantly extinguished , though the eye is incapable of perceiving any thing affused upon it, whereby this effect may be produced . If a small animal be confined in the glass, and the gas poured upon it, the animal will die instantly . GALVANISM . GALVANISM is a peculiar method lately discovered of exciting Electricity. It is so called from Galvani, an Italian , who first discovered it. The phenomena pro duced by the Torpedo and electric Eel are analogous to Galvanism . Galvanism has excited great attention in the scientific world , and its progress
273 has been very rapid, yet it may still be said to be only in its infancy. Its effects being of the most extraordinary kind, it may not be deemed frivolous to devote a few pages to'a subject which has attracted the attention of those who are of an in quisitive turn of mind, and which pro mises to lead to important truths. The phenomena of Galvanism with which we are hitherto acquainted have explained a variety of facts frequently asserted, and often disbelieved ; for in stance, it has been observed, that when porter is drunk out of a pewter pot it has a different or better taste than when drank out of glass or earthen- ware. It has been long known that when the copper sheeting of ships is fastened on by means of iron nails, those nails , but par ticularly the copper, are soon corroded about the place of contact. VOL. II. T
274 The Etruscan upon lead are inscriptions preserved to engraven this day ; whereas some medals of lead and tin, or other alloys, of not very ancient date, are much corroded . Works of metal, whose parts are sol dered together by means of other metals, soon tarnish about the places where the different metals are joined . All these observations are now con firmed , and their explanation referred to Galvanism . To enter into the theory of a Science so complicated and so little understood would not accord with the plan of this work ; we shall therefore content our selves with experiments, offering and a few interesting refer the reader to works professedly written on that sub ject.
275 Galvanizing a Frog. Place a living Frog upon a plate of Zinc, and paste a slip of Tin-foil or a shilling upon its back . communication between On forming the Zinc a and the Tin-foil, by means of a wire, or other piece of metal, the Frog will be violently convulsed, and jump off the plate . Galvanizing a Flounder. Take a live Flounder, dry.it with a cloth, and put it on a pewter plate, or upon a large piece of tin-foil, and place a silver coin upon its back ; then touch the pewter plate with a wire, and apply its other extremity to the piece of silver, and immediately violent contractions will be excited in the fish, which may be renewed at pleasure , by forming a con nexion between the two metals . T 2 }
276 In a similar manner, all animals, whe ther large or small, may be affected by Galvanism , but in different degrees. The amputated members of the human body, such as the head, the legs , arms , &c . have likewise been violently convulsed . Galvanism evident to the Sense of Taste. The Taste may be affected by Galva nism in the following manner : Let a man place a piece of silver coin upon, and some other metal under, his tongue ; on forming a connexion between those two metals , either by bringing their outer edges in contact, or by the interposition of some other piece of metal, he will perceive a peculiar sensation, a kind of pungent irritation , accompanied with a cool acid taste .
277 Galvanism evident to the Sense of Sight. In order to affect the Sight by means of Galvanism , let a person put a piece of Zinc or Tin between the upper lip and the gums, as high as possible, and a piece of silver upon the tongue . When ever the two metals are made to commu nicate, either by touching, or by the in terposition of another piece of metal, a vivid flash of light will be distinctly per ceived. The energy of Galvanism as a medical agent remains yet to be investigated : but when we consider the effects produced by it upon the muscles of animals, even after death, it is not improbable that the Gal vanic influence, time through sent for a considerable a diseased part, productive of salutary effects, T3 may be
NATURAL COURTSHIP. " Behold, the rudest heart, " Touch'd by the animating torch of Love, " Forgets its savage nature soars sublime " And shakes the Dross away . " ANONYM. IN my earliest youth I experienced in myself as well as in my * companions, during that blossom of life, that those who had their share of wit were so wonderfully vain of it, as to suppose it to be the turns, and pivot that on which all nothing executed without it. can society be well
$ 279 Full of these thoughts I often consi dered how peasants, labourers, handicraft men, in short stupid and ignorant fellows, when they were in love, could manage IP. so as to acquaint the object of their love with their inclinations ; and to make such communication agreeable. of Love, of which A declaration I had read many adorned and pleasant specimens in Novels Ove and tales of gallantry, appeared to me as a masterpiece of human understanding, ANOFTS and I imagined that a Lover who in this respect acquitted himself uncouthly and clownishly would immediately be dismis sed and forbidden ever to return to the charge. pat I obtained some knowledge of artless courtship whilst on a visit to a Nobleman, ‫אס‬ at his country house : during my stay, a a wer fair was held at the village, which was be resorted to by a great number of young countrymen and women, who were af Ꭲ 4
280 terwards entertained at the seat. tened to several although, (gaining somewhat more ex perience, ) I loving I lis clearly couples, saw that and amongst those unmannerly clowns Love was no less tender and vehement than amongst the best educated, still their manner of expressing it appeared to me ungentle and even loathsome, and I was willing to believe that if it made any impression on the minds of the women, it should be wholly ascribed to their being equally void of sense and delicacy . My seeing these matters in this light, was because I did not compare their courtship to Nature, but to the aforesaid politeness of fashionable gallants. How ever I soon corrected my mistake, and learnt that Love which so often makes the most shrewd, dull ; as often renders the most innocent, subtle ; and causes talents to appear which had till then lain dormant, and unknown even to them
281 selves . As soon as that all- conquering passion has taken possession of the heart, it immediately banishes from thence all rusticity, object. at least towards the beloved Never is it more eloquent, nor better able to represent itself in the most forcible and lively manner, than when left entirely to itself, uncontrolled by the understanding. It then by the expres sions which its energy creates , appears in its native truth and sincerity, and can hardly fail to make itself understood and felt. The Heart is interested, and infal libly causes the beloved object to attend to it. Of this truth found an agreeable I not long since specimen, which I shall endeavour to paint in its true co lours. Sitting one evening in a parlour next the street, at a window, in order to enjoy a beautiful moonlight night, I saw from behind the blind, without being seen myself, my next- door neighbour's Daugh
282 ter, a sweet, modest, and orderly young girl, eighteen or nineteen years of age, stand on the steps before her door, with a Stove under her apron, [ A Stove is a * small wooden box (a hollow cube of ten inches) with holes in the top, containing an earthen pan with lighted turf, which the women in Holland place under their feet in Winter.] probably waiting for her mother, a worthy decent widow, who, assisted by this her only child , creditably gained her living by needlework. she was standing there, a While Carpenter's apprentice, a well made young lad, appa rently not much older than the girl, but somewhat clumsy, approached her, with his hat in his hand, and with every symptom of bashfulness . She immediately retreated towards the door, a little sur prised, when the young man accosted her thus :-Oh ! neighbour , I beg you will not be afraid of me ; I would not hurt a child, much less you ; I only request, my dear girl, that you will permit me to light
1 283 my pipe at your Stove. These words , spoken with a trembling voice, and which rather appeared to proceed from one who was himself afraid, than who wished to make others so, made Agnes easy. O yes, friend, answered she , ' tis much at your service, but what ails you, you appear to be disordered . ( She then handed him the Stove. ) That I am , my dear child , replied he, and if you will allow me a few minutes, I will tell you the reason . In the mean time he was busy in attempting to light his pipe as slowly as possible, and every puff ended with a sigh . being a little recovered, Do At last not you know me then, neighbour ? said the poor lad . Well, I own I have some slight knowledge of your person, says she, as I have seen you pass this way more than once. No wonder, surely, replied the young man , I have passed by this door above a hundred times, but I never dared to speak to you : ' twas as if I had an ague fit, when I only attempted to move a foot
284 towards courage. you. But now I have taken Listen, I must break the ice , without which I cannot rest night or day, for your sake, and I hope, my dear girl, you will take it in good part, and not be angry with me, because I love you, which cannot possibly do you any harm . Ah ! do but hear this mad boy, inter rupted Agnes, how nicely he wheedles ; one might think him in earnest . come my Lad, too long, you Come , that pipe-lighting lasts have not met with the proper person I assure you ; had I known you came here to make a fool of me, you should not have had the use of my fire, come quickly friend, return the Stove, and march off to other girls who may believe such stories. -I make a fool of you ! I make a fool of you ! see , when I hear such words from you, knife was piercing my heart. 'tis as if a Oh ! my Angel, my dear Soul, do not believe that
285 of me, there is not a bit of falsehood in my whole heart from top every one who knows to bottom : me will witness to that, my dearest girl. come, said she, don't dally, bear Come, give me my Stove directly, I must go in doors, and moreover I am not called dearest nor angel, and I do not permit you to call me by those names any more. Agnes was I christened and so must you call me, if you have any thing to say to me. Well, now then, my dear Agnes, resumed the Lad, apparently hurt by the spitefulness of the girl, I did not know I thereby offended you : those words issued from my mouth of their own accord, I never sought for them, they were at my tongue's end. I am quite inexperienced in the world, and you are, as true as I live, the first young woman I ever spoke to . I shall take better care in future, my dear Agnes ; here is your Stove, but I beg you will grant me leave to say a few more words : what would you gain by my
286 becoming sick through sorrow ? you need not believe what I tell you of myself, but only hear me. My Parents live just by, in the next street, and are esteemed as worthy honest people. I am their only son and have one sister. They are in easy circumstances , and I am of a good . profession, which I diligently follow : moreover I have an old Aunt, who lives warmly on her income, she loves me as if I were her own child, and my sister and I are her heirs : So that in time I may be Master- Carpenter, and make you a happy wife, my dearest Agnes . Nobo dy ever sees me in taverns or alehouses. I go to church every Sunday, and at Eas ter I hope to make my confession. You will on enquiry find all this to be exactly as I have stated, and if I have told you the smallest fib, I am content never more to see your pretty face, and that is all I can say . The young woman had listened with
287 too much attention to all this, to have heard it with indifference. Neighbour, says she, in a more friend ly tone, all that you have now told me, may be true, I have not such a bad opinion of you, even to doubt it . But there is no occasion for me to enquire about the matter, I have nothing to do with it, it is none of my business . You have Parents, and a rich Aunt ; so much the better for you ; I wish you a good night, I must retire. I expect my Mother every minute, and if she found me here so late in the evening talking with a man, she would make a fine uproar, which she would certainly and in not be to blame. Upon this the young man took Agnes by the hand with a friendly force, and entreated her, sobbing, (and I really believe the poor fellow shed tears) not to send him away so comfortless . I beg of
288 you, dearly as I love you, sweet Agnes, to remain here a little longer ; how can you have the heart to part with me in this manner, goodnatured as you are ...· Do but see now, said Agnes laughing, this is too foolish to mind , how can you know whether I am goodnatured or not, when this is the first time you ever spoke to me, or have you been enquiring about me, as you want me to do about you ? Enquire about you, my dear Agnes ! life . about you ! I had rather lose my life. I want no information ; I am certain that you are goodnatured , that you are virtu ous, and that you are as deserving a young woman as any living. Do not ask me how I know it , I see it in your dear face, and I feel it in my heart : that cannot deceive me, and I would stake my life for its truth . But hearken , Agnes, I should be sorry your mother should scold you upon my account, and I also feel your little hands grow as cold as ice ; only let me
289 ask you one question : Is there another Lover who may have spoken to you first ? if so, I would drop the affair, notwith standing the hardship it would be to me, because I am too honest to endeavour to be another man's hinderance. As to this, says Agnes, I will give you a direct answer. No, I have never had any Lover, neither do I want any, be he whom he will, I can easily wait eight or ten years for that, and I love my Mother too much to leave her so soon. There fore, neighbour, do not give yourself any fruitless trouble about me . In the situa tion you have represented yourself, you will soon find a handsomer girl than I am , and perhaps a pretty penny into the bargain, which you will not get with me, for my Mother and I have enough to do , with economy, to get through the world creditably. VOL. II U
290 So much the better, my dear Agnes, said the young man ; so much the 1 more pleasure I shall have, happy as to enable comfortably . Oh ! if I may be so you to live if I might more obtain from you, my dear Agnes, leave to visit you now and then : if you would only grant me this favour I would not wish to change with the richest Burgermaster's son in the whole city. At any rate, said Agnes, you cannot ask that of me, but of my Mother. But you need not trouble yourself about that, because she would not < listen to it, and if she did, I should not allow it. Once is as good as a thousand times, and I tell you I will have nothing to do with Lovers. - But, my dear Agnes, may not I now and then pass by your door ? Well, silly boy, says she, laughing, can I hinder that ? is not the street as free for you as for another ? -Yes, but you know, cunning Agnes, what I want, which
291 is to see you at the door. That might possibly happen, said she, but if it did, you are not to speak to me, or I should take it very ill. No, you won't, my dearest Agnes. - You shall find it so, only venture. This she said with a kind of peevishness which appeared to me affected ; and with this, after the good- tempered youth had in vain begged for a kiss, which however he did not dare to press much for, from the respect peculiar to honest and heart felt tenderness , the courtship of the even ing ended. But what I thought a good omen in favour of the young man, was, that Agnes, having shut the door after her, opened it again as softly as possible in order to have a peep at him , and after wards as softly shut it. U 2
292 1 Da veniam fasso, vix patienter amo. - OVID. 7 Ah! sweetest Maid, my flame approve, And pardon an impatient Love. AFTER this first attack of our apprentice on the heart of the good Agnes, I thought he would not fail to take his chance of renewing it on the following Sunday. In this I did not mistake, and in the after noon as soon as service was ended, I be held him 霄 slowly dressed and his approaching, neatly hair powdered , which greatly mended his appearance. But the poor lad's trouble was fruitless . Agnes's door and windows still remained shut, which, when he strolled past the house for the third time, made him dejectedly . cast his eyes up to heaven, as if in reproach for Agnes's cruelty and want of feeling. I am sure if the Lass had seen him in that condition , pitied him. she would have However it was not her fault, as she was just gone out with her
293 Mother, a prayer-book under her arm , probably to attend evening- service . My compassion was excited for the poor hope less youngster, who , as all real and tender Lovers always fear the worst, fancied that Agnes disliked , certainly and would never have a favourable opinion of him . During the rest of the week I was either from home, or engaged , so that I learnt no more of the Sunday following ; matter till the when, on returning 1 from Church, I saw the young man walk before me towards our street ; but was surprised to find he accompanied a young woman, with whom he was earnestly " discoursing. She appeared to be about the age of Agnes, and as pretty, but altho' not more fashionably, she was more ex pensively drest, and wore various golden trinkets . I doubted not but his view was to outbrave Agnes, and to revenge himself for her crossness, by showing her that U 3
294 he needed not be so much concerned for her, and although she slighted him, he could be well received by other girls , her K equals at least, I followed them gently, and to my great astonishment saw this young couple knock at Agnes's door : this astonishment however subsided, when I heard him call the young woman Sister. I then immediately understood the matter, and perceived that James must have ac quainted his sister with his distress, and that Love had inspired him with sense enough to discover that there could be no means more certain of obtaining access to his sweetheart, than by making the two girls acquainted with each other, Whether this visit was under pretence of bespeaking some Linen, or that the coast was already clear, I know not ; but I per ceived that the door was opened by the Mother herself, entered, * and brother and sister the latter a little startled, the former as pale as death, with a palpitating heart. and doubtless After they had
295 staid about an$ hour, I could hear that they rose to depart, and I went imme window. diately to my window. opened When the door I heard the Mother say : well then, Agnes, ' tis charming weather, I have no objection, child ; but do not stay out long. No, Mother, was the answer, as Kitty desires me, we shall only take a turn, and be " back in half an hour. On this they marched off, and really returned within the time. Agnes was going to knock, but was prevented by her gallant, who in the most moving tone begged to take leave with a single kiss. Notwithstanding he appear ed to have greatly forwarded his suit, I doubt whether he would have succeeded, if sister Kitty had not interfered. Well, my dear Agnes, said the friendly girl, that is no such great matter, any young Lass will readily grant so slight a favour, even to a stranger who has seen her safe home: besides a kiss is nothing, if you don't like U4 ;
296 it, wipe it off. Upon this Agnes submitted, and I counted distinctly by the smacking, that it cost her three kisses , the first, as I firmly believe, she had ever granted to a Man, and which I do not think the enraptured James would have missed for three thousand florins . Since that day Kitty visits her new friend at least three times a week ; her brother never fails coming to fetch her home, and when the weather permits, takes a walk with his sweetheart : pleading the cause of his honest Love, even in presence of his sis ter. Not only my maid- servants , but also all the women in the neighbourhood have discovered the whole affair, and knowing James to be a sober young man , and in circumstances that the girls would be glad of him for themselves , as well as the mothers for their daughters , speak spite fully of the imprudence of my neighbour who suffers such an intercourse . One of my maids even told me that some ofthem, GOU under pretence of friendship, had been try
297 ing to persuade Agnes's mother that James could not mean honourably, and that, if he did, his Father, who is proprietor of several houses, and master of a lucrative profession, would never permit his only son to marry a girl without any fortune : but our Dame , who does not want sense, coolly thanked them begging that for their advice, they would not trouble themselves about her affairs , which she was very able to manage without their interference. It is hardly to be imagined how much our young man is altered , since his * suit goes on so swimmingly . He is as close as a rose- bud, and tho ' he was formerly a mere milk - sop , with his head hanging, his arms and legs used for no other pur pose than to work, and change his place, he now marches as erect, and with as easy an air as most young men : his hair is neatly and fashionably cut, his hat cocked, and although he wears the same clothes,
298 they appear to fit him very differently. His method 腰 of speaking is no longer the same, and his tongue is loosened and voluble. It is exactly the same with Agnes : all her features, however beautiful, were dull and unmeaning, from her innocence and insensibility ; at present they are animated and expressive, and her bright eyes begin to learn their proper language, and at times shoot forth glances, unex pected, and heretofore unknown to them. Perhaps I may be asked how I became acquainted with this total change in the manners of these young people, which I shall shortly answer. I soon learnt that James's father was a man with whom I was well acquainted, having served him in my character of Counsellor many times with success , which caused him frequent ly to solicit my advice and assistance in other affairs not relative to my profession .
299 One day I received an unexpected visit from the good old man, purposely to know my opinion about his Son's court ship. You have so frequently success fully assisted me, Mr. Counsellor, said he, that I trust you will not refuse hearing me now, about a matter of importance to me. You certainly know, as the whole neighbourhood talks of it, that my son courts your neighbour Agnes. He is crazy after her, which is no wonder ; we have been in the same situation , and I must say, that he is so careful , so orderly, and pleases me and his mother so well, that we should be sorry to cross his in clinations, which would certainly render him miserable, and perhaps lead him to the grave, You probably are acquainted with your neighbours, and may be able to inform me what they are. - I now thought the good man wished to know if the girl had any money, so that I answered him that
300 I did not think they possessed that, as far as I could see, much ; the young woman had plenty of clothes, but that I did not suppose that the mother could give her daughter any marriage- portion . I do not ask you that, replied my honest client ; the daughter herself told the very same thing to James at the first outset, and that is a matter of indifference to us, the sweetest money is what one earns one's self. My son understands his pro fession and is industrious : I shall shortly let him exhibit his masterpiece , and un dergo his examination ; and between you and me, I have with care and œconomy accumulated think for ; whether much more than people I only want you to tell me Agnes conducts herself with propriety, and especially if she is good tempered, for my James is a sheepish boy, and if he married a vixen it would break his heart. This, however, I cannot be lieve of the girl, pleasing as she is : our Kitty is almost as much in love with her,
301 as her brother is, and my Dame is already as fond of her, as if she were her own daughter. I answered him, that his and his family's friendship could not be better bestowed than on Agnes ; that I durst venture to be answerable for her good temper, that she was well - educated , and that, although I could in my house hear. almost every thing that was going for ward next door, I had not, during six . years, heard the least noisy word between mother and daughter ; that she was as dutiful as possible to the old lady, and as to neatness and œconomy, my neighbour. was well grounded in both, and that her daughter, sensible as she was, must have learnt the same from her. In a word that I did not doubt but James had made an excellent choice, and would with Agnes be a happy man. Well, I am heartily glad you give the girl such a good character, said the wor
1 * 302 thy man, but do not you think it better the young folks should wait a year or $ at present I fear two before they marry it would only be children's play. No, my dear neighbour, said I, that is $ These not by any means my opinion . matters must not be kept drawling, or we risk their non-completion through Envy and Slander. I would immediately bring every thing to a sooner the better. conclusion , and the Your Son, who has hitherto, lived so temperately , will now, as I firmly believe, approach the nuptial chamber with a purity equal to that of Agnes. You understand will perhaps me, but you hardly believe how much this reciprocally contributes to a steadfast wedded love. Well, then, Mr. Counsellor, it will be best to conclude the wedding directly : but I have one request to make you, which
303 I hope you will not refuse : I have invited Agnes and her mother to dine with us to-morrow . Our Aunt will likewise be of the party ; one of these days, the children will inherit a pretty sum from her, but it is better to wait than to fast for it, for she may, as you know, bequeath it from them. So much for this. My request is, therefore, that you partake of our meal, and then we may come to some resolution on the subject. You will not be sumptuously entertained , we know nothing of such things ; we shall send $ some ribs of beef to the oven, and my dame will prepare a dish of gray pease, and some other trifles ; at any rate there will be enough . I was much pleased with this invitation, and promised that I should certainly at tend at the hour appointed .
304 Ante omnia vultus Accessere boni, nec iners pauperque voluntas. OVID. We found, to make a happy party, 4 A cheerful face, and welcome hearty. As I endeavour to avoid the repetition of unnecessary compliments , when I visit my friends, I never am the first comer of the guests, so that I suited myself to the precise dinner-hour of my worthy client, and made my appearance with the first dishes . I was the only person waited for, and I do not remember to have been re ceived any where with more natural tokens of unfeigned regard. The company con sisted of Agnes and her mother, and the family, which, with myself and the old Aunt, (whose presence I thought a good sign, ) made the number Eight. man took The old my hand, which, from mere frank- heartedness he squeezed roughly. 1 His Dame came and offered me her Lips,
305 which I kissed with a loud smack , as well as those of our Aunt, who mumbled ten times that I was heartily welcome . For this slightly disagreeable job , I was amply made amends, by three kisses with out guile, which each of the young girls exchanged for which I as enjoyed many of mine, with less noise more leisure than the former. and and Agnes, who doubtless knew I had used my best endeavours to forward the match, seeing me approach her, turned as red as scarlet, although her beautiful brown eyes ' ap peared very friendly. press the But I cannot ex hearty kindness with which James received me, for the same reason : I could hardly loosen my hands from his. Had he not bethought himself, I really believe he would have kissed them, and his gratitude was plainly legible in every feature. VOL. II. X
306 The Father and Mother in their Sunday clothes , looked neat, common tradespeople . though only as The Aunt wore brownish tresses under her cap, which, like the rest of her dress, appeared to be at least half as old as herself. Agnes, sister Kitty, and the young suitor, were in new clothes , a degree smarter than they had ever before worn ; and the mother was dressed like a respectable citizen's widow , without any ornaments, but perfectly nice. As she appeared to have been brought up rather better than the people of the house, I dare say she had given them both her advice and assistance towards arrang ing the table. order. The Every thing was in exact table- cloth was fine and large, and the napkins curiously folded, with a roll of bread in each . • On the side of every pewter plate lay a new- fashioned knife, with a silver fork and spoon, which looked as if just come from the shop.
307 Whilst I was making these observations , the first course was brought in, which consisted merely of a very large bason of broth, containing a knuckle of veal , with a dish of forced- meat- balls, and sausages . Come, friends, says the old man , don't let the victuals cool , but take your places, if you please. Let me manage this, says the mother, I shall soon settle the matter as it should be : Mr. Counsellor is a bachelor, he shall sit between the girls ; James next to Agnes, then the Widow, and Aunt, and we shall find our places . So said, so done ; and in a minute this skain was unravelled and wound up. Agnes, her mother, and I, immediately took something on our plates , in which James, who , like the others , had begun to sup the broth from the bason, imitated us, instigated by Agnes, softly said to him , " fye, James !" X 2 who
308 After the soup was removed, a large Sirloin of beef was set on the table, be tween two dishes of gray pease , a sallad , and stewed apples . There, my friends , you see the whole, said the father, there is a venison-pasty in the middle, and the more you eat, the more pleasure you will give me. After this hearty compliment , as I found nobody ventured to attack the beef, I, although an indifferent carver, undertook to help the company, which I did to their satisfaction . saw his beloved, her James, who mother, and me, eat with a fork, being upon his guard , after his mistake with the spoon, likewise tried to do so, and, considering it was his first essay, succeeded tolerably ; indeed what cannot love teach ! The father took notice of his son's dexterity, well my lad says he, where have you learnt to eat with a fork ? and you do it well too ! well, keep to that new fashion, I would do so likewise, were I not too old to alter my habit ; I have not been accustomed
309 to it. Your mother and I, my boy, (never forget it, in whatever station you " may hereafter be, ) were brought up here in the orphan's hospital , and we have raised ourselves from the ground , without ever having, thank God ! wronged our consciences , or any person ; and, as we ny for ou tty pen penny pretty have saved a pre our chil dren, we are very willing they should fare better than we did : * "Tell me what I am, and not what I was," says the old Dutch proverb, what say you, Mother ? Honour be to your heart, Father, said the good woman, we will not give our selves out for what we are not, as many do who come floating on a straw : nobo dy has any claims on us, not even for a farthing. In the mean time James hardly eat or drank any thing, he satiated and intoxi cated himself with gazing at his beloved . He eyed her incessantly, as if he beheld X 3
310 her for the first time in his life, or rather One as if he should never see her again . would have sworn he was deaf and dumb, except towards what related to Agnes . Although he certainly did not grudge her her dinner, he continually took hold of her hand , and looked at it as if he were going to eat it, but let go his hold ten times in a quarter of an hour, after one or other of the following reprimands : Are not you ashamed, James ? ' be quiet, let me loose, what will people think ? upon which James immediately begged pardon and the next minute was at it again. When the dishes, which were all good of the kind, were removed, the whole family, except Agnes and James, retired into the next minutes ; room for a few and, as I only remained with the Lovers, James, who had, instead of one, drank five or six glasses of wine to Agnes's health, transported with love, and overpowered with wine , took hold of his angel's arm and attempted to
311 ravish a few kisses. But the sweet girl was much displeased , and pushed gently aside. him Is that well done, my dear Mr. Counsellor , now we have got so far ? said James with a distressed look . James, answered I, the lass is Well, not so much in the wrong, remember the old saying, " Wise before people , and mad in a corner. " -In a corner, interrupted he, that is worse, but, Sir, you are such a worthy man that I appeal to you, whe ther, as the bargain is now almost con . cluded, there can be any harm in her granting me a trifling favour now and then by way of earnest. Hark, James, was my answer , Agnes behaves extreme ly well, for in general in these kind of bargains, the more earnest is given, the less they are stood to . I had no sooner said this, to the great surprise of James, who thought it impossible for his patron to give it against him in a thing which appeared to him so very reasonable, than X. 4
312 the company returned, and I , after having privately exchanged a few words with the father and mother, took my leave, as I had some pressing business to transact, but on condition of supping with them. When I returned, I found my friends in another apartment, playing a round game at cards, and was told that James had been continually making mistakes, as his thoughts were otherwise engaged. Soon after, we returned to the dining room , where we found the table covered . with the cold beef, a small ham , a sallad, pickled herrings , smoked beef, butter and cheese, almonds and raisins , neatly placed. We seated ourselves as at dinner : Aunt, who seemed to our relish the wine much, after declaring that the sight of the young people's Courtship her youth, began to sing : renewed I took the opportunity, as much for my own sake as that of James, of asking the good old soul, if she did not remember any song
313 of old times where kissing was men tioned . She was immediately ready, and chaun ted one in her best manner, wherein kisses were stuck as thick as hailstones . The girls , especially Agnes, were at first extremely shy, but I had no sooner assu red them that such was the usual custom among the most virtuous girls , when the men did not behave too grossly, James added, see than now, my dear Agnes, the gentleman himself says so, and every thing went on as smoothly as rain slides from a slated pent-house . This game pleased me wonderfully well , but no tongue can tell how James fed in clover ; his happiness was so great that it might be said he was hardly able to bear it, When this had continued a little while the Father knocked on the table with the haft of a knife ; Hark, my friends , said he, there is a time for all things..
314 Here the Mother interrupted him, come husband, let Counsellor, me speak. young the You see , Mr. people are not averse to each other, my Master and I do not object to their marriage, neither does Agnes's mother. Moreover our aunt is very fond of Agnes, and loves James so much that she thinks, and so do we, mat ters should be concluded , the sooner the better : but mention is made of marriage conditions ; with these we are unacquaint ed , and beg, as you have always been our 1 friend, you will lend us your assistance. Hearken Mother, said I , I shall give you my sentiments candidly : what need we trouble ourselves about marriage - set tlements ? the young people love each other, and where heart and body are in common, money ought likewise to be so. You express yourself well, said the Fa ther ; an Angel speaks out of your mouth, echoed James ; but requesting their at tention a little longer, I thus continued .
315 Although I do not certainly know, yet I have reason to suspect that Agnes's mo ther is not in such affluent circumstances as my client, and that probably the young woman besides her œconomy and know ledge of house- keeping possesses little or nothing, but. . . . . . The aunt here burst out, How, little or nothing ? no, no, that shall not go thus : I do not understand it so, and shall never permit it if it was ever so : not at all. Not a little astonished at such an un expected interruption, and thinking no otherwise than that she wanted to put a clog to the wheel ; how, said I , what do you mean by this ? I always thought the match was to your liking, from whence then arises this sudden and unaccountable change ? Who says I have altered my mind ? says Aunt, but I again repeat that I will not suffer the girl to bring nothing for
316 her portion if her mother cannot give her any thing, I shall. I know James is to have a thousand Rixdollars, and she shall have the like, and this will be no hinderance to you, niece Kitty, for if you meet with a worthy young man , although he has not a doit in the world , you shall have the same . Upon this , the whole company recovered their spirits, especially James, who on hearing his aunt's words grew as pale as first a criminal, who had just heard his sentence of death pro nounced . f A general silence still continuing, she resumed, well , what do you stare at me for ? I hope you do not think I am become so suddenly generous because I have drank a glass too much : what I say, I mean, send for a Notary to write it now doing I always down : what I am intended , for I am old and not accustomed to live expensively, so that I cannot spend all my money, and ' tis all the same to !
317 me whether ye have it now, or after my death . No sooner had she said this, than James , overjoyed with such unexpected good-fortune , flung himself, crying, about his aunt's neck ; I made a sign to Agnes to do the same, and notwithstanding she was disordered , she acquitted herself of that duty with tokens of unaffected and tender gratitude , in which we all followed her. I could not help shedding tears as the others did . Aunt cried too, through joy that she had good deed. accomplished such a She persisted in her desire of having a Notary sent for, and although I thought it might appear dishonourable , as if mistrusting her word, we were obliged to comply , especially as she added that having no other near friends than those present , the wedding might as well be concluded that same evening . thing she wished was done Every in a very short time , which raised James's rapture to the highest pitch . He caught Agnes in his arms, crying , now however you
318 are mine. She fell into his, so agitated as hardly to know what she did , and she appeared to be just on the point of faint ing, had not her Lover restored her spi rits with a thousand loving kisses. It may easily be imagined, that the rest of the evening, and part of the night passed with redoubled pleasure . E. 1
POETRY. Sit mihi poetarum veniat manus, auxilio quæ HOR. A Band of Poets to my aid I'll call.-CREECH . SIX SPANISH SONNETS, WITH TRANSLATIONS . SONNET I. By Christoval Suarez de Figueroa. O Bien feliz el que la vida pasa Sin vèr del que gobierna el aposento, Y mas quien deja el cortesano asiento Por la humildad de la pajiza casa !
320 Que nunca teme una fortuna escasa De agena envidia el ponzoñoso aliento : A la planta mayor persigue el viento ; A ' la torre mas alta el rayo abrasa. Contento estoy de mi mediana suerte : El poderoso en su deidad resida : Mayor felicidad yo no procuro : Pues la quietud sagrada al hombre advierto Ser para el corto espacio de la vida El mas humildo estado, mas segura . THRICE happy he, whose lowly lot Is bound to his paternal cot, Remote from regal state ! Content he courts the cooling glade, Inhales the breeze, enjoys the shade, And loves his humble fate. His eyes no anxious vigils keep ; No dreams of gold distract his sleep, Nor lead his heart astray ; Nor blasting Envy's tainted gale Pollutes the pleasures of the vale, To vex his harmless day.
321 The Tower, which rears its front on high, And bids defiance to the sky, Provokes the angry winds : The branching oak, extending wide, Invites destruction by its pride, And courts the fall it finds. Nor lightning blasts, nor wind destroys The safer bliss , the humbler joys That crown my peaceful cot : There mild Tranquillity resorts , And wonders men can covet courts, And bids me bless my lot. Ah! sacred Quiet ! guest divine ! Thy meek delights be ever mine, Fair, permanent, and pure : Chaste nymph ! by thee my erring youth Was taught this most important truth, " Be humble and secure." BLESS'D Man ! who finds a calm retreat, Remote from grandeur's pompous seat, Beneath some neat, some rural cot, Forgetting courts, by courts forgot ; Where, soft and gentle, ev'ry day, His fleeting moments wing their way. VOL. II. Y
322 No soul-imbitt'ring pangs he knows ; No fears of want awake his woes ; Nor rankling Envy e'er invades The pleasure of his peaceful shades . How oft do furious whirlwinds tear The trees that rise sublime in air! The cloud- capp'd Towers how often broke, And shatter'd by the lightning's stroke ! Contented with this humble state, I envy not the rich or great ; Nor wish, seduc'd by Folly's lore, Above my present sphere to soar. Small is our circle's amplest bound ; And here, by Quiet taught, I've found Security and Peace are known In Life's sequester'd vale alone. SONNET II. By D. Manuel de Velasco . 1: QUIERES ser gran Señor ? ponte severo : Gusta de sabandijas : tèn endno : Con los picaros sé muy cortesano, Y con la gente honrada muy grosero :
323 Monta de quando en quando por cochero : Lleva à pasear tus mulas en verano : Haz desear lo que penda de tu mano ; Yolvidate de que eres caballero. Si te pide el rendido, tuerce el gesto ; De agena bolsa no escasees gasto : Para las vanidades echa el resto. Solo con tu muger seràs muy casto : Pide, debe, no pagues ; que con esto, Si no eres gran Señor, seras gran trasto. IF thou desir'st, aspiring Elf, To be a noble Lord, With rascals idle as thyself Thy hall must first be stor'd. In Butterflies obtain be sure A taste that's just and true ; A Cleopatra's head procure, And prate about Virtù. Ascend the chariot-box, my son ; Instruct thy steeds to move ; And like the coachman Phaeton Thy god-like lineage prove. Y2
324 Ifwanton beauty court thine arms, Affect delight to find, And doat upon her venal charms, Who doats on all mankind. But if a wife thy fate bestows, Tho' cast in beauty's mould, To her be chaste as Thracian snows As Parian marble, cold. If, or thy pity, or thy purse, Wrong'd merit should implore, Refuse, or else, to plague thee worse, He may solicit more. Shouldst thou be weak enough to lend, Be paid before to -morrow ; But never render to thy friend What thou art forc'd to borrow. Game deep, sell acres, mortgage woods ; This is the vice of spirit ; This sole propensity includes Birth, genius, wit, and merit. These precepts in thy bosom stor❜d Will bring thee into vogue ; And if thou'rt not a noble Lord, Thou❜lt be a noble Rogue.
325 SONNET III. EL que tiene muge moza y hermosa r Qué busca en casa de muger agena ? La suya es menos blanca ? es mas morena ? Es fria, floja, flaca ? no hay tal cosa. Es desgraciada ? no, sino graciosa. Es mala ? no por cierto, sino buena : Es una Venus, una Sirena, Un fresco lirio, y una blanca rosa. Pues qué busca ? dò và ? de donde viene ? Mejor que la que tiene piensa hallarla ? Ha de ser su buscar en infinito ? No busca èl muger, que ya la tiene : Busca el trabajo dulce de buscarla, Que es el que enciende al hombre el appetito. HE who has a young beautiful mate for his Life, Why should he run after another Man's Wife ? Is his ownthan his neighbour's less fair or more brown ? Languid, idle, or weak, that he ransacks the town ? Y 3
326 Is she twisted, or hump -back'd ? -No, Reader, between us, She is virtuous, and straight, and as handsome as Venus . Without injuring truth we may say the world knows She's a Siren, a lily, a dainty white rose . What means he by ogling, intriguing, and chat ? Whence comes he ? where goes he ? what would he be at ? While regardless of all his past conjugal vows , Than his own can he find a more beautiful spouse ? Such a notion as this does his conduct betray ? Why then he may seek here and there till he's gray. To his Turtle domestick why cool and unsteady ? He seeks not a wife, sure ? —he has one already But he seeks because seeking's delightful, I ween 'Tis this alone renders Man's appetite keen. SONNET IV. By Quevedo. ESTA es la informacion, este el proceso Del hombre que ha de ser canonizado,
327 En quien, si es que viò el mundo algun pecado, Advirtiò penitencia con exceso : Doce años en su suegra estuvo preso, A ' muger y sin sueldo condenado : Viviò bajo el poder de su cuñado : Tuvo un hijo no mas, tonto y travieso : Nunca rico se viò con oro ò cobre : Viviò siempre contento, aunque desnudo : No hay incomodidad che no le sobre. Viviò entre un herrador y un tartamudo : Fue martir, porquefue casado y pobre : Hizo un milagro y fue no ser cornudo. You have here an account, which, tho ' faithful, is quaint, Of a man, who is soon to be dubb'd a good Saint. You may learn, if you list, from my narrative line, What perfections to constitute saintship combine. If e'er this good Christian by sin was defil'd, Penance wash'd him as clean as a new christen'd child ; As you'll own, when I've laid out in order before ye The wonders that make up his wonderful story. Y 4
328 To the time that he died from the day of his birth, He was perfectly purgatorized upon earth, For no less than twelve years of his juvenile life He was slave to his Step-dame, a crabbed old wife. When freed from her clutches , he married a shrew, Whom he serv'd without wages, or stocking, or shoe, While a cousin at home, such was fortune's odd whim, Led his wife by the nose, while she rib-roasted him. Let me tell ye withal, this delectable pair Had a Son, to their virtues and fortunes sole heir ; And this youth, tho' deriv'd from so clever a stock, Was a silly, disorderly, dull, stupid block. The father, by credible folks, as we're told, Possess'd neither copper, nor silver, nor gold ; Nor had he, so great was his poverty's curse, One cross to keep Beelzebub out of his purse. As a heathen Philosopher, ragged and thin, His garment did often discover his skin ; Yet, tho' his whole life so distress'd was, and blank full , 'Tis affirm'd he was always contented and thankful. His mansion, in which but few speeches he utter'd, Adjoined on the left to a Fellow's that stutter'd,
329 Whilst a Blacksmith, who shoulder'd him close on the right, Dinn'd his ears with his musick from morning till night. As 'tis fit that a saint should be either a Martyr, Or some miracle work to lay claim to his Charter, Our Hero, we think, of such excellent stuff, To support his pretensions had full quantum suff. A Martyr he was, a true martyr, I'm sure, Because he was married, and eke very poor ; One Miracle also his hist'ry adorns, For 'tis clear, beyond doubt, that he never wore horns. SONNET V. By King Charles II. of Spain. O rompa ya el silencio el dolor mio, Y salga de este pecho desatado ; Que sufrir los rigores de callado No cabe en este pecho, aunque porfio.
330 De obedecerte, Anarda, desconfio, Muero de confusion desesperado, Ni quieres que sea tuyo mi cuidado, Ni dejas que yo tengo mi alvedrio. Mas ya tanto la pena me maltrata Que vence al sufrimiento ; ya no espero Vivir alegre : el llanto se desata ; Yotra vez de la vida desespero ; Pues si me quejo tu rigor me mata, Y si callo mi mal dos veces muero. By Mrs. OPIE. O! let my sorrow silence break ; Let me unload my aching breast ; For know, the grief that dares not speak Can never let the sufferer rest . Yet fain would I obey thy will, And still in secret anguish pine, Since, cruel maid ! thou tell'st me still, Thou canst not make my sorrows thine. But, Anna, clouded is thy brow ; Like mine, thy heart has sorrow known ; And when I see thy grief, I vow I in thy pangs forget my own.
331 But thou, then only, causest mine, And thou to end them, hast the power : If I such influence had on thine, Thou wouldst not grieve one moment more. But hope for me, alas ! is vain Thy rigour kills me if I speak ; And if I still conceal my pain, My woe-worn, bursting heart will break. SONNET VI. T EL que de su quietud tanto se olvida, Que entrega à bravo marfràgil navìo ; El que en la guerra, por mostrar su brio, Pone contra mil balas una vida ; Quien todo su caudal de un lance envida ; Quien no esgrime, y se arriesga à un desafio; Quien se expone al capricho, ù al desvio De una muger hermosa y presumida ; El que sube à una càtedra sin ciencia, Y el que al pulpito saca sus sermones Fundando en su memoria su eloqüencia,
332 Todos ellos de ti tomen lecciones En materia de arrojo y de imprudencia ; Pues al Teatro das composiciones. HE, who, profuse of life as well as ease, In some weak vessel braves tempestuous seas ; He, who, to show his courage, dares oppose A shower of bullets where the battle glows ; The Man, who, while his capital's but small, Upon a single venture risks his all ; He, who, by rashness prompted, seeks to bear The coy caprice of some disdainful fair ; He, who, a sword unknowing how to wield, Dares challenge a good fencer to the field ; Th' unletter'd Priest, who, in his own account, Is learn'd and wise, the pulpit dares to mount, And there, unconscious of his little sense, His memory trusts for stores of eloquence ; Thy foolish copiers, he, and all the rest, Thou shin'st their great original confess'd. For lo ! to prove this truth, thy witless page Thou giv'st, vile Poetaster, to the Stage.
333 EPITAPH . By D. Joseph Vasquez. El que està aqui sepultado, Porque no logrò casarse, Muriò de pena acabado. Otros mueren de acordarse De que ya los han casado. HERE lies, whom grief depriv'd of life, Because he could not get a wife ; An instance truly scarce ! For both among the low and high, How many, many, many die For reason the reverse.
334 TWO PORTUGUESE SONNETS . SONNET I. EU vi huma pastora em certo dia Pelas praias do Tejo andar brincando, Os redondos seixinhos apanhando, Que no puro regaço recolhia . Eu vi nella tal graça, quefaria Inveja a quantas ha ; e o gesto brando, Com que o sereno rosto levantando , Parece namorava quanto via. Eu vi o passo airoso, a compostura, Com que depois me pareceo mais bella, Guiando os cordeirinhos na espessura . Eu o digo de todo ; vi a Estèlla : De graça, de candor, de formosura Sò poderei ver mais tornando a vella.
335 WHERE the Tagus rolls his tide, Lately as I chanc'd to stand, There a Shepherdess I spy'd Gath'ring pebbles on the sand. As into her lap she threw All she cull'd with nicest care, I, at once, enamour'd grew Of the Nymph divinely fair. In her form was ev'ry grace Female envy that could raise. Sure I ne'er have seen a face Where serener beauty plays. All her graces, void of art, I with raptures high survey'd : These, in my surrender'd heart, Fix'd the conquest she had made. Kindness in her eyes appear'd, Onward as she led her Lambs,. Whom, with tend'rest care, she'd rear'd, From the hour they left their Dams. Lustre such of charms divine ! Who of all her sex can boast ? So the rays of Venus shine Brightest of the starry host.
336 O ! what Candour ! Grace ! unfolding Beauties that can ne'er be told ; More, till her again beholding, More, I never can behold. SONNET II. POZ-SE o Sol ; como jà na sombra fea, Do dia pouco a pouco a luz desmaia : E a parda mão da noite, antes que caia, De grossas nuvens todo o ar semea. Apenas jà diviso a minha aldea ; Jà do cypreste não distingo a faia : Tudo em silencio està : so ià na praia Se ouvem quebrar as ondas pela aréa. • Co' a mão na face a vista ao ceo levanto, E cheio de mortal melancolia , Nos tristo olhos mal sustenho o pranto : E se ainda algum alivio ter podia, Era ver esta noite durar tanto Que nunca mais amanhecesse o dia.
337 NOW sinks beneath the main the orb of Light, And gradual shades proclaim approaching night, 'Till each gay image undistinguish'd lies, And thick'ning clouds obscure the painted Skies. My glimm❜ring sight now vainly seeks to rove From my own village, to yon Cypress grove. To Darkness silence closely seems allied : All nature sleeps except th ' unruly tide, Whose waves, succeeding waves, with endless roar, Resounding, dash against the neighb'ring shore. Pensive I sigh, to heav'n I lift mine eyes, Whilst on my hand, my head reclining lies . Sunk in the depths of more than mortal woe, In briny floods my gushing tears o'erflow.. Could aught be found a grief like mine ť' allay, I'd wish the night might ne'er give place to day. By Mrs. OPIE. THE Sun is set, and lingering day In crimson glory fades away ; While Night's grey hand, in thickest clouds, The Skies late-beaming beauty shrouds . No more I thro' the gloom descry The Cypress proudly waving high : VOL. II. Z
338 All, all is dark and silent, all, Save where the shrill -ton'd Curlews call ; Save where the waves, with softened roar, Break on the near and pebbly shore. O scene for me, and sorrow made ! Joy's frowning foe, but misery's aid, With thee I'll lonely vigils keep, Now all the world is wrapt in sleep ; And while sad visions haunt my mind, My head upon my hand reclin'd, To heaven I lift my tearful Eyes, To heaven my soul in musing flies, And " Hail ! congenial glooms, (I cry) Ye cure not, but ye sooth my sigh, For when Day's chearful lustre glows, Alas ! it seems to mock my woes ; But when Night's gathering clouds I see, Methinks kind Nature mourns with me ; Then friendly Night ! prolong thy power, And Day, glad Day, return no more."
339 THREE GERMAN FABLES , By GELLERT. AND THE SAME IN DUTCH ; WITH TRANSLATIONS , OR IMITATIONS . DIE GLUCKLICHE EHE. GEDANKT sey es dem Gott der Ehen ! Was ich gewünscht, hab ich gesehen ; Ich sah ein recht zufriednes Paar, Ein Paar, das ohne Gram und Reue, Bey gleicher Lieb und gleicher Treue, In kluger Ehe glücklich war. Ein wille lenkte hier zwo Seelen, Was sie gewählt, pflegt er zu wählen Was er verwarf, verwarf auch sie : Ein Fall, wo andre sich betrübten, Stört ihre Ruhe nie. Sie liebten, Und fühlten nicht des Lebens Müh. 2 2
340 } Da ihn kein Eigensinn verführte, Und sie kein eitler Stolz regierte : So herrschte weder sie, noch er. Sie herrschten ; aber bloss mit Bitten. Sie stritten ; aber wen sie stritten, Kam bloss ihr Streit aus Eintracht her. So wie wir, eh wir uns vermählen, Uns unsre Fehler klug verhelen Unsfalsch aus Liebe hintergehn So liessen sie auch in der Zeiten Der zärtlichsten Vertraulichkeiten Sich nie die kleinsten Fehler zehn. Der letzte Tag in ihrem Bunde, Der letzte kuss von ihrem Munde Nahm, wie der erste, sie noch ein. Sie starben. Wenn ? Wie kanst dufragen ? Acht Tage nach den Hochzeit tagen ; Sonst würden diess nur Fabeln seyn. HET GELUKKIG HUWELYK. DANK, Hymen ! God der trouverbonden ! 'k Heb, naar myn ' wensch, een Paar gevonden, Vernoegt tot in den hoogsten graad ; Een Paar, dat zonder leed en rouwe, Door wederzydsche liefde en trouwe Gelukkig was in d'echtenstaat . 2
341 Eén wil kon hier twee zielen neigen s Eén doel te kiezen was haar eigen. Wat hy verwierp, verwierp zy meê, Een ongeval dat andren griefde, Stoort hunne rust niet. Hunne liefde Verbant van hen al ' t hartewee. Daar eigenzinnigheid zyn zinnen, Nooit hovaardy haar kon verwinnen, Had heerschzucht nooit hun ziel bekoord, Zy heerschten beiden slechts door beden, Zo ze over' t een of ' t ander streeden, Kwam al hun stryd uit eendragt voort. Gelyk we, eer we onzen echt voltrekken. Zorgvuldig onze feilen dekken, De liefde geen bedrog ontziet ; Zoo toonde zy ook, in de tyden Van hun zielstreelend minverblyden Elkander 't kleinstefoutje niet. Het einde van hun huwlyksleven, Het laatste kusje elkaér gegeven, Beviel hen nog als d' eerstemaal, Zy stierven. Op wat tyd ? - Welk vragen ! Eén week slecht na de bruiloftsdagen : 't Waare anders een verdicht verhaal. z 3
342 THE HAPPY MARRIAGE . By Mrs. OPIE. THANKS Hymen, God of nuptial ties ! At length I've found, with glad surprize, A pair in thy strict bands united, Who, with each other still delighted, Declar'd with conscious joy elate, True blessings crown'd the marriage state. One will, two souls to action mov'd, Still each, the other's choice approv'd ; What she disdain'd , he too rejected, What he approv❜d, she too respected ; Those ills which others robb'd of rest, O'er them no evil power possest, Their hearts, grief's entrance could not fear, For Love, true love, was sentry there. Lovers we know, when they unite, Bound by the sacred marriage rite, Their faults from those they love conceal , For love will lie, as well as steal, But they, tho' fast by Hymen bound, No changes in each other found, No secret error came to light, Which love or art had veil'd from sight ; And when life's ebbing sand was spent, Uninjur'd still was their content, #
343 And the last kiss they gave and took, Joy, like their first caresses spoke, " Blest pair ! they died then, did they ?" " yes." " And when, I pray you ?" " can't you guess ??? Another world Death bade them seek When they'd been married just a week. Else I must own ' tis my conviction All I have said had been mere fiction . The same- As an EPITAPH.- Anon. HERE lies a constant Pair below, Who knew not matrimonial woe, And ne'er express'd a wish to part ; Love the sole Regent of each heart. Without a cloud their minutes roll'd , And Life's last sands were sands of Gold. What precious grains ! what charming weather ! You ask how long they liv'd together ? From good authority I speak— They liv'd together- one whole week ! DER STERBENDE VATER, EIN Vater hinterliess zween Erben, Christopher, der war klug, und Görgen, der wardumm. Z 4
344 Sein Ende kam , und Kurz vor seinem Sterben Sah er sich ganz betrübt nach seinem Christoph um. Sohn ! fieng er an, nich quält ein trauriger Gedanke ; Du hast Verstand, wie wird dirs künftig gehn ? Hör an, ich hab in meinem Schranke Ein Kästchen mit Juwelen stehn, Die sollen dein. Nimm sie, mein Sohn, Und gieb dem Bruder nichts davon . Der Sohn erschrack und stutzte lange, Ach Vater ! hub er an, wenn ich so viel empfange, Wie kömmt alsdann mein Bruder fort ? Er ? fiel der Vater ihm ins Wort, Für Görgen ist mir gar nicht bange, Der kömmt gewiss durch seine Dummheit fort. DE STERVENDE VADER. EEN Vader had twee Zoonen tot zyn' erven. Christoffel had verstand, Joost was een domme bloed. Wanneer nu d' oude man op ' t punt was van te sterven, Zag hy Christoffel aan met een beklemd gemoed, Hy sprak: Ik word gekweld door angstige gedachten, Myn Zoon ! gy hebt vernuft. wachten ? Hoor, hoor maar my. Wat lot staat u te ' k Heb in myn kabinet Een kistje met juweelen neergezet, Dat maak ik u om van te leeven ;
345 Ik Wil gy niets daarvan zult aan uw broeder geeven. De Zoon, verlegen op den voorslag dien hy hoort, Sprak: Vader, zo die schat door my wierd aangeno men, Hoe zou myn broeder dan toch door de waereld komen? Uw broeder, (vat straks de oude't woord) Die komt vast door zyn domheid voort. THE DYING FATHER. By HORACE TWIss. A Father for his death prepares, And sees two Sons, his hopeful heirs : No common scull, the scull of Dick ; But Tim's impenetrably thick ! Big terrors rising in his breast, To Dick these words the Sire addrest : " My Son, a weight of tort'ring cares " For thee my groaning bosom bears ; " Thou hast a mind ! What dreadful fate " Such parts as thine may not await ! " A precious casket's in the drawer " Come nearer-hist - of my scrutoire " Do thou employ the jewels there, " But let not Tim the treasure share."
346 The Son, inclining o'er the bed, And scarcely comprehending, said, " If I accept what you would give, " How may my brother hope to live ?" " How ! which ! what ! who ! thy brother Tim !" The dying Father cries, " for him, " My bosom feels no lab'ring fulness, " He'll make his way by dint of dulness. DAS JUNGE MADCHEN. EINjunger Mensch sprach einern wackern Mann Durch einen guten Freund um seine Tochter an. Der Alte, der sein kind noch nicht versprechen wollte, War dennoch ungemein erfreut. Und bat den Freund mit vieler Höflichkeit, Dass er bey ihm zu Tische bleiben sollte. Die Tochter, ob sich gleich der Vater sehr verstellt, Was ? fängt sie an zu Erräth die sache bald. schliessen, Ein fremder Herr, den man zu Tische gleich behält, Was bringt doch der ? Ich solls nicht wissen ;
347 Allein umsonst bückt er sich nicht so tief vor mir, Ist auch der gute Freund wohl meinetwegen hier ? Der Fremde hofft, es soll ihm noch gelingen, Und wagt es bey dem Glase Wein Das Wortfür seinen Freund noch einmal anzubringen, Mein Herr, fiel ihm der Vater ein, O! denken sie doch nicht, dass ich zu hart verfahre ? Mein kind kann wirklich noch nicht freyn, Sie ist zujung; sie is erst vierzehn jahre. Indem er diess noch sprach, trat Anchen selbst herein, Und trug ein Essen auf. schreyn, Was ? fieng sie an zu Was sagten Sie, Papa ? Sie haben sich versprochen. Ich sollt erst vierzehn jahre seyn ? Nein, vierzehn jahr und sieben Wochen. " Liess sie der Vater denn nicht freyn ?" Das weis ich nicht ; doch nein, ich wills nur sagen : Denn unter denen, die mich fragen, Da könnten wohl selbst junge Mädchen seyn ; Die zu beruhigen, will ichs aufrichtig sagen : Der Vater schämte sich und liess die Tochter freyn.
348 HET JONGE MEISJE. ERNESTUS , het belang eens jonglings toegedaan, Sprak, voor dien Vriend, een' Heer om zyne Dochter aan. De Vader, niet gezind zyn kind nog uit te trouwen, Vond echter door dien voorslag zich gevleid, En bad dien vriend, met alle minzaamheid, By hem het middagmaal te houên . De Dochter, schoon de Vader zich niet uit, Beseft wel haast de zaak en vormt straks dit besluit : " Een Heer, ons vreemd, dus denkt ze, blyft hier eeten ! " Wat voert hem hier ? Ik zou't niet weeten ? " Vergeefs groet hy my zo beleeft, zo vriendlyk niet. " Is't ook om my dat dit bezoek geschied ?" Ernest, die nog al hoopt in zynen last te slaagen, Vind goed, terwyl men nu den beker rond laat gaan, Nog eens een kans te waagen, Nog eens zyn Vriend den Vader vóór te slaan. De Gastheer zegt in ' t eind' : verklaaren, 'k Moet u ronduit " Mynheer ! ik kan hier toe onmogelyk verstaan ; " Myn Dochter is tejong; zy is pas veertienjaaren. '
349 De Dochter treed juist in en hoort dit onderhoud, Zy lacht, en zegt : Papa ! hoe kunt ge u zo verspree ken ? Ben ik pas veertien jaaren oud ? Neen, veertien jaar en zeven weeken. De Vader stemde toen haar' echt naar allen schyn ? Ik weet het niet. - Doch, dit nieuwsgierig vraagen, Hoe verder zich ' t geval heeft toegedraagen, Kon onder andren wel van jonge meisjes zyn : Tot haar gerustheid zal ik ' t ongeveinsd ontvouwen : De Vader schaamde zich, en liet zyn Dochter trouwen. MISS IN HER TEENS . GIRLS, think of Sweethearts not too soon : Too short is many a Honey-moon ; Nor practise in the glass your arts ; Ogling, and dimpling, teaching eyes To catch the Beaux, those gilded Flies, And to a cinder roast their hearts. A Lover is a dangerous thing : The Bee that honey yields, can sting. DOLLY was pretty, and was wild AS PRIOR says , as Colt untam'd, Whose charms Squire NIMROD's heart beguil'd, And much the gentle Youth inflam’d .
350 By day, she prov'd his happy theme ? By night, her beauty blest his dream > In short he lov'd her ev'n to folly, Such were the radiant eyes of DOLLY. Indeed I should have said before Her Father was good PARSON SNore. To gain the object of his sweet desire Forth goes the SQUIRE , TO DOCTOR SNORE, to beg his Daughter's hand, Then shakes him stoutly by the fist : Makes handome offers to the Priest, Of Pin-money and eke of Land. The DOCTOR urg'd remonstrance strong, Saying the Girl was much too young, She should not marry ev'n the King, He could not think of such a thing, And thus persisted in his song, Of " DOLL for wedlock is too young." All this while, DOLLY stood list'ning at the door ; Not with a smile, Nor overpleas'd with FATHER Snore. In rushes Miss, in seeming rage " Too young PAPA ! Lud ! what d'ye mean ? " Why, Sir you quite forget my age " Next April, I amfull thirteen.
351 By GELLERT. Du, der du denkst, dass alle von dir wissen, Von dir ietzt alle reden müssen, Und dich im Herzen stolz erhebst ; Von Tausenden, die dich nach deiner Meynungkennen, Und dich und deine Thaten nennen, Weis oft kaum Einer, dass du lebst. DUTCH. 0 gy, die denkt dat elk u kent, dat ge u zoo kwyt Dat gy ten onderwerp van elks gesprek moet strekken, En u daaróver in ' t hoogmoedig hart verblyd ! Van duizend, die gy waant dat uw verdienste roemen, En nooit u dan met achting noemen, Weet dikwils naauwlyks één dat gy in wezen zyt. THOU fondly fanciest that thy name Fills all the hundred trumps of Fame : A world, immortal crowns decreeing, Which knows not that thou hast a Being. .
352 PROVENÇAL SONNET. SUPERBES bastimens, vanitat des Mortels, Coucouluchos, tombeaux, que la fadeza puro, Crey d' ave miel bastit à grands cops de martels, Que mile raretas que ly a dins la naturo. Chef d'œuvre des Romains, Palais, Pons et Castels, Lou darnié des efforts de leur Architecturo, Arenos ont an fach milo combats cruels Fazen mouri las gens d' un' estranjo pousturo. Per l'injuro dau tems v'autres s'es aboulits, Ou per lou mens vous an la puspart demoulits, Lou simen lou pus dur à la fin cau que vouide ; Se lou marbre en lou temps à sentit lou debris, Faut-il trouva mauvais qu' un mechant perpon gris, Que m' a durat dex ans, sie traucat per lou couide ? SINCE TIME with hungry rage devours Huge Palaces, and lofty Tow'rs ; Why should I quarrel with his snags For tearing an old coat to rags ?
1 353 VERSES, Addressed to a Letter, sent by an ancient Provençal Poet to his Wife. PARTES gagis de ma tendresso, A Moulié vous mandi em allegresso ; Pouedi-ti miés vous emplegà ! Auricou, per la miés satisfaïre, De plu doux presens à li faïre, Mai lei li podi pas mandà. GO, seek, fond Scroll ! my wedded love ! Go, pledge of truth, heart-breathing letter ! While far from her I'm doom'd to rove, Could I, fair page, employ thee better ? True, there are gifts she might prefer, Gifts still more sweet, and still more tender ; But these, tho' dear to me and her, Too well she feels I cannot send her. A a VOL. II. x;} •
354 GO, happy PAPER, to my Wife, The only pleasure of my life ; And say, can I employ thee better ? But prithee tell my lovely friend, Far sweeter things I wish to send, But cannot send them in a Letter. PROVENÇAL. LOU cor que tu m ' abiés dounat Luy mai prestat ne maï trouquat Lay près, lay mesclat em lou miou Ne sabets pur qual es lou tiou. By Mrs. OPIE . THE heart you gave me t'other day, I've neither lent, nor chang'd away ; But now ' tis so well mix'd with mine, I really know not which is thine. 10
1 1 355 SYLVIA, I thank thee for thy heart ; And with it never mean to part ; For really I'm so partial grown, I do not know it from my own . FRENCH, 1460. SOIT un amant, frais et plaisant, Soit diligent, soit plus luisant qu'un diamant Joli et gent, qu'il soit prudent Parlant aussi bien qu' un romant S'il n'a de l'or et de l'argent On lui dit, à Dieu vous commant. By Mrs. OPIE. THO' a Lover be fresh as the blossoms in May, More brilliant besides than the diamond's bright ray, Assiduous and handsome, expressive in look, And tho' all he says be as good as a book, Still, unless he has wealth, if he dares to address you, Girls, you send him away with a chilling " God bless you." Aa 2
356 AN ANCIENT FRENCH LOVE SÒNG. FAIRE voudrois , belle MARIE, Comme faisoient beaux Troubadours Qui doucement couloient la vie A celebrer tendres amours. Dirois, pensant à mon Amie Dont les doux yeux causent tourmens , Tourment d'amour charme la vie Tourment d'amour plait aux amans . Comm , euxferois, belle MARIE Et chanterois minois fripon, Oeil petillant , bouche jolie, Ne seroit nul besoin de nom. Las ! n'ai reçu pour tout partage Que Don d'aimer sincèrement, Et mefaudroit si doux langage Pour peindre si doux sentiment . Mais, dussiez vous, tant belle MARIE M' accabler de plus de rigueur Serez mes Dieux, serez ma vie Serez plaisir, serez grandeur .
357 Serez pour mon Ame enflammée Tout ce que promet le bonheur Serez enfin de ma Pensée Reine, tout comme de mon Coeur. By HORACE TWISS . BEWITCHING MARY ! I would fain Be like the Troubadours of old, Whose little life of love-taught strain In silver current gently roll'd. And thus should speak, of eyes so bright, So fraught with pain, the votive measure : The pain of love is life's delight, The pain oflove is Lover's pleasure. Like them I'd sing the sparkling eyes, The roseate mouth, the roguish air, And all the world must recognise, ; Without a name, a Maid so fair. Yet, ah ! no Gift do I possess, Except a soul to love completely, And sweet must words be to express Sensations that I feel so sweetly. Aa 3 ཆ་
358 But though, by your unkindness tried, To greater woes I yet be driv❜n, You, you must ever be my pride, My life, my pleasure, and my heav'n . You, fixing in my soul yyour throne, Shall realise each blissful notion , And govern, not my heart alone, But ev'ry thought and every motion ,
KOLF-PLAY.. OF all the Travellers who have visited Holland, and published their observations on that Country , no one has mentioned the Kolf-baanen, or Kolf-grounds ; pro bably because they, being ignorant of the Dutch Language, never noticed this remarkable Game, not known in any other country, and of which I shall give a short account, but less perfect than may be wished, because I have not been in Holland since the year 1780 , The only publication on the subject is a Dutch pamphlet of 64 pages, printed at " Aa 4
360 Amsterdam , in 1792 , entitled, " Treatise on the origin of KOLVEN, with a list of the Kolf-grounds." The Author says that the first mention of any thing relative to this game is in Halma's Dutch and French Dictionary, 1708, wherein the French word Crosseur is interpreted , a Boy who plays with a Kolf; same and that Veneroni has given the explanation of the word in his Dictionary . In this he is, however, mistaking ; for in Kilian's Dutch, Latin, and French Dictionary augmented, printed in Black Letter at Amsterdam in Kolf, Kolve ; Clava ; 1642 , I find Croce, Masse ; a Kolf, or Club. - Kolven ; Ludere clava ; Crocher; to kolve. - Kolf-bal ; varia ; Esteuf; Pila cla Kolf-ball. I know not how to render Kolf-baan properly.
361 In Sewel's Dutch and tionary, 1727 , English Dic may be found the five following Baanen : Ys-Baan, a path on the ice, from which the snow is cleared, for the convenience of scaters and sliders Kauts-Baan, a Tennis-court Loop-Baan, a Race-ground Lyn-Baan, a Rope-walk Malie-Baan, a Mall . In the modern Dutch Dictionaries, Kolven is explained, a kind of bowling game. In Luiken's works is a print of Boys playing on the ice with balls and clubs. Richelet likewise mentions children play ing in the same manner. By degrees, grounds were appropriated to this amusement, which may not un aptly be termed a kind of ground Billiards, and of which the following is a descrip tion, in its present state :
362 A piece of ground is made perfectly horizontal ; the foundation is of bricks , covered with fine clay, and rendered as smooth and hard as Plaster of Paris. These grounds are of various sizes, the largest being 130 feet in length. The size usually chosen for the best is 70 feet, and 21 feet in breadth . -This Parallelo gram is enclosed in wooden bounds , exactly perpendicular, and with accurate right angles, three or four feet in height. At 10 feet from each end is a Post gene rally made of hard wood , sometimes of marble, or of metal , of 3 feet high, and 6 inches in diameter . The Balls are of worsted or silk, cover ed with fine glove- leather, inches in diameter, generally 4 sewed with brass wire ; the best cost about a Ducat each. Every Player brings his own Ball. The Sticks are of wood , 3 or 4 feet in length , with a brass club at bottom , 4 or 5 inches long, an inch and a half broad, and an
363 inch thick, forming a slightly obtuse an gle with the stick, and with these the balls are struck against the posts. It is not necessary here to give a mi nute description of the method of play ing, nor of the laws of the game, but I can only say it is as bewitching as Bil liards, requires as much skill and dexte rity to play well, and has the advantage of being at the same time a very pleasant salutary exercise, and not attended with the fatigue of Tennis. Most of the socie ty-grounds are covered, and surrounded with windows, and many with lamps, so that they may be frequented at all hours and in all seasons . The cost of one of these perfect grounds, with the necessary and appro priate buildings , including a room at one end, for the spectators, and those who are not playing, may be about £200.
364 Many grounds are in the open air ; these are chiefly publick, but can only be used in dry weather, neither are they so level and accurate as those which are roofed. I have seen two of these latter at Bourdeaux ; and one at Lisbon belonging to a Dutch Merchant ; and I know of no other out of the province of Holland . The book says there are some at the Dutch Settlements in the East and West Indies . There is one Baan at Gouda, with a wooden floor, which is perhaps the only one of the kind in being. Here follows a short list of the grounds in Holland, which amount to which 167 are covered . 394, of This list affords a striking instance of the carelessness and neglect of our modern tour-writers, in
365 not having attended to this very popular national Play. At Amsterdam and in the environs , 213, of which 53 are covered. At Rotterdam 53 covered or roofed . At Leyden 24 open and 22 covered . At the Hague 5 ditto and 20 ditto. And the rest in various other towns. Many more have probably been made since the book from whence this is taken was published . In a Tavern at Amsterdam is a small Kolf-baan, like a very large Billiard-table, the Posts are of Copper, and the Balls of Ivory. It is raised a few inches from the floor, and the Players walk round it. Perhaps this short account may be the means of something of the kind being erected in the environs of London . 10 The
366 posts, clubs, and balls, might easily be imported from Holland, and a proper person procured for laying the ground, and directing the edifice. THIS relation was to have ended here, but I have just been favoured with a book which has furnished the following additional matter . In the Catalogue raisonné of Rem brandt's Prints, (to the number of 341 ) Paris, 1751 , is an account of one called, Le jeu de Kolf; " it represents on the left fore - ground a man striking a ball with the instrument appropriated to that game. On the right is another man sit ting, with one leg extended on a bench, his hands crossed , and his elbow leaning on a table, on which is a pot . In the middle of the back- ground are two other figures . This piece although badly en
367 graven, and without much effect, is rare ly to be met with. Its height is three inches and a half, and its breadth five inches. Underneath is written , Rem brandt f. 1654." A long note, describing the Kolf- play, accompanies this account, which was pro bably written by M. tioneer, who Gersaint, an Auc compiled the Catalogue, about the year 1736, as may be gathered from the Preface. From this note the following particulars of the game in its earliest stage is taken . " The game of Kolf is very common in Holland . Private persons frequently have Grounds for the purpose, in their gardens ; and similar ones are constructed behind most of the houses of public En tertainment in the environs of the Dutch towns. Their length is from forty- eight to seventy-two feet, nine or ten. and their breadth These grounds are usually
368 sanded, and enclosed like our Malls. Four or five persons may play at a time ; or in Parties of four against four alternately ; two against two ; or two singly. Near each end of the ground in the middle of the breadth, is a round wooden Post of about two feet in diameter, and two feet and half in height. The balls, ( of the size of our Tennis- balls ) are struck with a stick of which the extremity is bent like a crook, and armed with lead ; they are placed on the floor at one end, and the Art of the game consists in hitting the two Posts in as few strokes as possible." The modern improvements are ; doub ling the breadth of the Floor ; making it perfectly hard and horizontal ; reducing the Posts to a quarter of their ancient di ameter ; using sticks armed with brass crooks ; and balls as hard and as round as can be made. The additions are the roofing, and placing windows all round the court or ground, preserving the floor,
369 which is always kept as neat and clean as the rooms in the houses. The best Players in the most perfect Courts, besides playing with their own ball, generally use the same stick, which is locked up, as some Queues (Cues) are in Billiard - rooms . They seldom fail hit ting both the Posts in four or five strokes, sometimes in two , and instances now and then happen, 1 wherein one stroke (possi bly the very first) hits one Post and re bounds on the other. THERE is another sport wherein Balls are struck with Clubs, chiefly practised in Scotland, called GOLF. I know not any thing of this game except that I have seen it played at, on the Links near Leith ; and on Black-heath. Strutt's Book of Games and Sports contains little or no informa VOL. II. Bb
370 tion on the subject, neither does the last edition Rules of and Hoyle's Laws. Games, except the It appears to be a violent exercise or Sport, requiring great strength, agility, and dexterity, in the Players, and is noticed here, by reason of the name which bears so great an affinity to that of the Dutch game. Sometimes it has been written Goff, but perhaps erro neously, as the proper term is probably the $ German and Dutch derived from names, which mean likewise the But- end of a Musket ; a Club with which balls are struck ; and even a Cricket-bat.. The word may have been pronounced in the manner of Calf, or half, instead of being spoken like Wolf, and thus originated the Error. 480 702 ) (16 1,045 Dodao ‫܂‬ fe wall to A {x: .1 ‫ܕ‬ t
BILLIARDS. Sure with his Mace and Cue at Billiards, As is a Butcher with his Steelyards . THE method of finding the point on the cushion of a Billiard- table, which must be struck with one ball, so as to cause it to rebound on another, in any situation, is very simple, although not commonly known. In Germany, whole games Holland, and France, are frequently played in this manner, which is called par Bricole Bb 2
372 c. d. is a side or cushion of the table ; a. and b. two balls . If it be required to strike a. with b. by rebound , the distance from a. to the cushion at e. must be measured off the table ; and although the point is imaginary, by practice the eye will be come accustomed to compute the distance with sufficient correctness. b. must then aim at that point f. and, touching the cushion at g. the ball will rebound on the other at a. the angle of Incidence being equal to the angle of Reflection . Supposing a table to be represented by a parallelogram and the two balls placed as above ; the young practitioner may entertain himself in searching on the cushion h. i. the point which must be struck by the ball b. to rebound first on the cushion c. h. and then on the ball a. And in the same manner, with three, or even in some situations, four rebounds, or one from each side of the table. "
1 GEOMETRICAL PROBLEM . A Wight he was of erudition, A wonderful Geometrician Who measured Earth and distant Seas As easily as hops of Fleas, b To make one Square equal to two others. SUPPOSE one square a. b . c. d. to be of four inches, and the other b. e. f. g. of an inch and a half ; place them close toge ther as in the figure : with the compasses Bb 3
374 take the side of the small square, b. e. and place it on the side of the large one . Draw a line from h. to g. and another from h. to c. Cut through these lines. Place the triangle h. a. c. . so that a. c. shall be under c. d. and the other triangle h. e. g. so that e. g, be under f. g. and the square will be completed, equal to both the others, or nearly 44 inches. I believe this has never been published ; but there are two problems something like it in Montucla's Mathematical Recreations, being a new French Edition of Ozanam, with large additions. They are transcribed in the English translation of this work, lately published by Dr. Hutton. 1 Our Diagram is at the same time the most simple, concise, clear, and " palpable Demonstration by the mere transposition of parts," of the 47th proposition of the first book of Euclid, that can be given ; The line h. g. being the Hypothenuse of
375 the rectangular Triangle h . e. g. The rest is evident, and requires not to be obscured by needless elucidation . • If the two Squares are of equal size, then the Square of the Diagonal of one of them is equal to both the Squares, as that Diagonal is the Hypothenuse of the right-angled Triangle . This is the famous Theorem which Pythagoras still enjoys the reputation of having invented, above three hundred years ago . Bb 4 two thousand
ARITHMETICK . “ “ da " Arithmetick is the easiest, and consequently the first sort of abstract Reasoning which the mind com monly bears, or accustoms itself to ; and is of such general use in all parts of Life and Business, that scarce any thing is to be done without it." LOCKE, on Education. IN Walkingame's Arithmetick is the me thod of " multiplying several figures by several, and the product to be produced in one line only." This has been copied in various other books on the subject. Perhaps the an nexed Diagrams may facilitate the per 1
377 formance. It is however of no other use than to exercise the memory, and to ren der other complicated calculations more easy . It is evident, that after having multi plied any number, the remainder must be added to the next multiplication. With Practice the scholar may attain the art of multiplying fifty or more figures, by fifty others, which may be written on a slip of paper of a foot in length, and one inch in breadth, which allows sufficient room for the multiplicand, multiplicator, and product ; so that a single line will give the product of fifty lines of multipli cation and one of addition . The proof of this may be obtained by changing the multiplier into the multiplicand . Two or three figures may be easily multiplied by as many others, by memory merely. .
378 a d с ƒ storie d ს 38455 e BUL A 110 11911! g red mig hlw Lensdro NO TO h (17 to ს fhorn at tron and one of sedition UG bloot? XX WX d a f ↓ '
379 axb bx c + dx a cxd ax b bx c + dx a bxe + cxd + fxq dxe +fxc fxe axb bxc + dxa bxe + cxd +fxa bxg + dxe +fxc + hxa dxg +fxe + hxc fxg + hxe gxh ax b bx c + d x a bxe + cxd +fxa bxg + dxe+fxc + hxa bxi + dxg+fxe + hxc + kxa dxi +fxg + hxe + k × c fxi+gxh + k xe hxi+ kxg ixk
380 Any figures may be put instead of the letters ; thus, supposing g 1 , h 2 , e 3 , ƒ4, c5, d6, a7 , and 68 ; the multiplicand will be 1357 and the multiplier 2468. It will be seen that four lines diverge from every point, indicating the multiplications , and forming a regular figure . The order of their construction is given by the let ters, which are easily translated into fi gures, and as easily made use of for per forming the multiplication , whichamounts to 3349076 . THE following Arithmetical Curiosity has never before been published . The Problem is, to multiply a certain number with a fraction, by any other number, and to give the product in a single line. example : 52631578947313 by 498152768432 26218566759578947368421010 For
381 At first sight the execution appears wonderful, but it is merely a trick, which is thus explained . The denominator of the fraction must be a Prime number, such as 7 , 13, 17, 19, 23 , 29, &c. and the multiplicand is ob tained by dividing 1 followed by as many ciphers (o) as may be required, by that denominator . The foregoing multiplicand is 1 and thirteen ciphers ( 0 ), divided by 19. The multiplicator may be chosen at pleasure. The whole process is thus ; 100 divided by 19 is 5 526 ; 1000 is 5213 ; 10000 is ; 100000 is 52633 ; and the other figures in the multiplicand are 11 , 515 , 717,818, 91 , 414, 77 , and 313, which may be infinitely continued . In the same manner a million divided by 7 gives 142857. The division by 13 produces 769233 ; by 17, 58823 , &c.
382 The Solution is obtained by simply di viding the Multiplier by the denominator of the fraction : ( in this case 19 ) but there must be added to the Multiplier as many ciphers (0 ) as there are figures in the Multiplicand, and one more. This addi tion is to be only mentally made, so that it may be requisite to dot under the figures, and beyond them to the left hand ; (to twenty-five places in this Sum ) and then begin the division at the first of these dots, likewise mentally ; setting down only the product ; so that the method of operating will be very rarely discovered , if the ope rator be expert , ،، Cases may occur when the additional (0 ) must be left out ; as for instance, 100 divided by 7, is : 14 should happen to be first figure is the if the multiplier 72 , of which the denominator of the fraction, two ciphers ( 0 ) only, must be # thus, added previous to the division :
383 sum of 10284. the same , and 12,0° 144X72 = 1028 This may suffice . Another short may not be example thought superfluous . 100000 divided by 17 , gives 58826 , which is the Multipli cand required . Any Multiplier may be taken ; suppose 3476, which multiplica tion produces 2044705814. And the Multiplier with five ciphers (0 ) at the end, divided by 17, gives the same sum. 347600000 = 204470581 . GENERAL ANALYSIS . 0 5213-100 5213xα =1000xα = " XT Proof. 521131 Xa=38 2000 1000 X = 2 2000
14 andre txik Aktor ene alr MUSICK . nod . so G D st .:: Non p'ha si sciocco Sonator' di Lira in sciocco non trovi chi l'ammira. There's not a Blockhead who attempts the Lyre That finds not greater Blockheads to admire. ail ** ( 0) THE pleasantest way of ending such a 箧 Miscellany as this, may perhaps be with 1 1 a Tune ; accordingly I have chosen an old Amatory Ballad, and set it. The motto is as applicable to Composers, as to Per formers . Boileau says in his Art of Poetry, Un Sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l'admire. No Fool so great, but finds a greater Fool To flatter and admire him : which is more comprehensive than the Italian verse, But we H and equally consolatory.

386 AN OLD BALLAD . Slowly O Mary while I fondly gaze On all the beauties h. of thy face Where shall I fix my eyes those little sparks of love By twinkling prove kiss Thine ev- ry spark- ling That there's the seat of bliss 77 m But soon to these a Rivals found In either cheek's bright h swelling round Where all the morning glows Who
367 # would not wish onthem to dwell Who would not wish to a F taste and smell The li -ly and the rose most thy pretty mouth invites The fullest vin-tage of delights And worthiest to be prest My lips soon know their destin'd sphere Andwhile theygather nectar there My eyes kiss all the rest D me m
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ADDITIONS . A Second volume of the German book on Chess, mentioned p. 87, is just come to hand . The Author is here styled Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Koch, Preacher at St. John's church, in Magdeburg, where the book was printed in 1803. It contains Tholden's Draught- playing pat terns or specimens, consisting of twenty one entire games ( of which only twelve are drawn) and thirty- eight ends , all relating to the common game on a board of 64 squares . Above a hundred ends of Chess -games from the New Theoretical and Practical Instructions for Chess, by Johann Allgair,
390 Vienna 1802 , and Newly discovered Chess secrets, Strasburg 1802 , with additions by a German Professor, a Swedish Burger master, and a Jewish Rabbi. Account of a Chess -board with three additional rows of squares on each side, 160 in all, to be played on by four players at once, with as many different coloured sets of Pieces. This is contained in only six pages ; but to crown all , and tire even German a patience Description and of the long noble suffering, game of Rythmomachia is added , in 28 pages, to be played on two Chess -boards placed together, with 48 Men, of which I have fortunately already given an account in the first volume of CHESS , 1787 . These two volumes of Koch contain near nine hundred pages, and conclude with Vida's Latin poem on Chess, and its translation in German blank-verse by the Reverend Johann David Müller,
391 Instead of concluding with an extract from this poem, it is thought preferable to insert the entire passage in Boileau's eighth Satire, from which the motto in vol. 1. p. 79, was taken. Quiconque est riche, est tout . Sans sagesse il est sage, Il a, sans rien savoir, la science en partage ; Il a l'esprit, le cœur, le mérite, le rang ; La vertu, la valeur, la dignité, le sang. Il est aimé des Grands, il est chéri des Belles. Jamais Sur-intendant ne trouva de cruelles . The Rich are all things ! without wisdom , wise ! And fill'd with science, which their Star denies. Good- nature, wit, the favours of a throne ; Birth, merit, valour, these are all their own : Lov'd bythe Great ; a gem in Ladies ' eyes ; What Nymph is cruel when a Cræsus sighs ? FINIS.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR. TRAVELS THROUGH PORTUGAL AND SPAIN, in 1772, and 1773, in 4to, London 1775 , 478 pages, with eight Plates, vix. A Map. Three Moorish castles. The Aqueduct of Segovia. A picture of Raphael ; (the drawing by Cipriani, and the engraving by Bartolozzi , cost eighty guineas). The musick of the Fandango. The Moorish Palace in Granada. A Bull-fight. The Arms of Spain. A TOUR IN IRELAND, in 1775, in 8vo, London , 1776, 208 p. with a Map, and the Salmon-leap at Ballyshannon . CHESS, in Svo, London, 1787, 198 p. with a plate of the Knight's move, on three boards. CHESS, second volume, in 8vo, London, 1789, 290 p. with a round Chess-board. A TRIP TO PARIS , in 1792, in 8vo, London , 1793, 1366 p. with the Guillotine, and the Rose of Jericho. The first was incorrectly printed in Dublin, in 1775, in two vols. 12mo. together 540 p. with two bad prints. REISEN DURCH PORTUGAL UND SPANIEN , published by C. D. Ebeling, in 8vo, Leipzig, 1776, 446 p . with the Map, Musick, and four other prints. VOYAGE EN PORTUGAL ET EN ESPAGNE, in 8vo, Berne, 1776, 446 p. with the Map, and a print, Several Editions of the second were printed in Dublin, in . 12mo, 1776, 230 p. with a print. REISE DURCH IRRLAND , in 8vo, Leipzig, 1777, 142 p. The Trip to Paris, was handsomely printed in Dublin, in 12mo, 1793 , 176 p. with a few additional paragraphs, furnished by the Author. Printed by G. Hayden, 4, Brydges Street, Covent Garden. 19.
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