The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-06 00:00:00

SHORT WHIST.

In cutting, the acc! is lowest. In cutting out, the
highest goes out, the stranger comes in. In cutting
for partners, the two lowest play with the two highest
and the lowest deals. If two persons cut the same
(Ards (two deuces or two queens, e B'.), they cut
again.
_ .

2. The dealer's partner makes the cards, and gives
them to his right hand ; the dealer shuffles them
again (supposing two packs).
3. If we win before the adversaries have scored a
point, it is a treble game, if they have one or two, a
double, if three or four a single. The game is five.
4. If we are at four we cannot count honours.

5. The rubber is the best of three games. The
games are marked by fish put up, one for a sinkzle,
two for a double, &c., and two added for the rubber.
Thus two singles and a treble is a rubber of one, a
double and two trebles a rubber of six, &c.
6. Finessing is chiefly practised third hand. If I
have first and third best, I finesse the third best, (i. e.
play the third best) for the chance of left hand not
having the second best. Finesses are best in trumps,
and when stroLg in trumps.
7. Tenace, the advantage of position, chiefly ob-
tained, fourth hand. When I am fourth hand, if I
have first and third (e. g., ace, queen,) I make both.
8. To trump out is to lead trumps. To ruff, i. e. to
trump.
9. Mark well the trump card; attend to the board,
attend also to the score ; and when playing for the
odd trick seldom finesse, play single cards, in short
play a forward game.
10. When I have many trumps of course it is pro-
bable my adversaries have few, consequently in this
case I play a backward game in other suits as if they
were trumps, for they are not likely to be ruffed.
11. Return partner's lead immediately ; first, when
you win with ace and can return an honour (49) ;
secondly, when he has trumped out. Obs. 9or 10
is an equivocal lead not absolutely to be returned ;
in general your partner's lead may be returned at a
future time.

12. Never play a 6 for a 5, or 7 for 6, &c.
_ -

13. Partner wins my winning card with best ; he
commands the suit : with second best; he has no more.
14. Endeavogr at least to remember trumps, and
commanding cards.

15. When winning cards are between me and my
adversaries, I play an obscure game : the contrary
where partner has a good hand.
16. If partner refuses to trump a winning card
against him, I play my best trump.
17. When I am, or when my partner is, weak in
trumps, I discard from my numerous suit and keep
guard on adversaries' suit. When lor partner strong
in trumps, preserve the numerous or strong suits ;
in general discard from partner's suit, but keep a small
one to lead when trumps are out.
18. If you are in doubt about a trick win it.
19. If you have a moderate hand sacrifice it to
your partner.
20. When a partner discards to his partner's lead,
it is to show his strong suit.

21. I remain with Ist, 3d, and 4th trumps, I play
the latter.

22. How to establish a long .suit.—Ace, three
trumps, and a long suit ; I pass two rounds, but
always win the 3d round ; ace, king, and two, with
a long suit; pass one round, or lead a small, but win
the 3d round. Then your long suit forces out the
best trump, if you have it not, and your 13th trump
brings the long suit in again, and establishes it.
With ace, king, 4, the ace and king : with king,
queen, 4, the king : (supposing still a long
ensure three rounds of trumps. This is difficult when
left hand is very strong in trumps. When partner
is strong in trumps he protects your long suit. When
trumps are out, a commanding card will bring in
your long suit, and therefore preserve one.
23. The 13th trump is very material. With ace,
4, and the 13th trump ; pass the king and queen.
24. Lead through the strong suit and up to the
weak.

25. Small card turned up, keep it till last, unless
adversary leads trumps, and throw it away even be-
fore a smaller.

26. Be cautious about ruffing or over-ruffing when
strong in trumps, unless your partner (a good player)
visibly forces you ; this caution is less necessary
when you have no long suit. Ruff even uncertain
cards when weak in trumps.

27. Ruff your adversary's strong suit immediately.
28. Force your partner if he plays ill. Force your
partner to obtain a saw, which is always desirable,
and for this purpose lead the single card before
forcing.
29. Force your partner when you suppose him
weak in trumps on these grounds-Ist, that you or
the adversaries are strong in them ; 2dly, that he
leads a single card (vide 40) ; 3rdly, that he ruffs and
wins, and does not trump out.
30. Strong in trumps, i. e. honours and three, or
one honour and four : but less than this allows you to
force your partner. _ _

31. Never force adversary but when he is strong in
:rumps.

32: If a good player refuses (to trump) he is pro-
bably strong in trumps, with one strong and another
weaker suit, from which he throws away (vide 26).
33. Under-play. I have best and second best of left
hand lead ; I make one of them, and play a small in
order-Ist, that partner may make the third best ;
2dly, that I may command left hand's suit.
34. If your king makes it does not follow that
partner has ace.
35. Keep the commanding card of adversary's lead,
never of partner's. _

36. Odds 2 to 1 against another player having a
card named. Odds sto 4 that he has one of two
cards named (not in your own hand of course).
37. When strong in trumps inform your partner o
it scon (vide 30).
_ _

38. Rules fora child.—Follow suit. Return part-
ner's lead. Play lowest second hand, and highest
third hand.

THE LEAD.

39. Best lead from sequences of three or more, the
highest : second best from the most numerous suit.
40. With a few small trumps, a single card.
41. Better lead from a suit headed by king or
queen, than ace, and let your adversary lead the
latter, in which case the ace will do them most harm.
42. I have six trumps, I remain with four, the best
in adversary's hand ; I lead a small trump.
43. Trump out, i. e. lead trumps—first, with six
trumps ; secondly, when partner has a strong suit;
thirdly, if adversaries play from weak suits ; fourthly,

if strong in otter suit; though weak in trumps.
44. When partner has no more trumps lead trumps
in order to take two for one. Lead through en
honour when strong in trumps or the game had.
Partner turns up an honour, lead a small, if strong ;
if weak, your best. Queen turned up on right, lead
king; knave turned up, lead queen.
45. I have last trumps (or I and my partner)
winning cards and a losing on' e—l lead the latter ;if
no winning cards, a trump.
46. Show your strong suits before you lead
trumps.
47. Generally speaking, ace and honours in trumps
(or in other suits if strong in trumps), lead a small,
(vide 10). If weak in trumps, the ace.
48. Ace, king, and knave : the king, and stop.
Your partner returns, and you finesse the knave.
(This is reckoned old fashioned, and in a numerous
suit will not do).
49. Ace queen, or ace knave, a small, except it is
a numerous suit. But avoid this lead, for these cards
give you tenace, fourth hand. Ace ten is more
likely to give tenace than ace nine ; therefore prefer
leading from the latter.
50. Ace, king, and three trumps, a small, that
partner may make a trick. _

51. Ring, queen, &c., in trumps (or if strong in
trumps) a small; otherwise the king. In a numerous
suit not trumps, the king.
52. Lead 9 or 10 only when best of a weak suit
of 3 or less : or from sequence to king: or 9, 10,
knave, king.

RIGHT HAND LEADS : I AM SECOND HAND.

53. Ace and king. I win, and if strong in trumps
continue.

54. Right hand wins and returns. I have best and
4 small: supposing he is player enough to have
finessed, I pass it if strong in trumps.
55. Ace, knave, and one ; the knave.
56. Ace, queen ; pass it unless he lead knave, then
play ace.
57. Ace, king, 10 ; the 10.
58. Having led from king, &c., right hand has
won with knave or 10, and returns ; put on king, the
only chance of making it.
59. Never put on queen, knave, or 10, second
hand.
60. King, queen, &n,: one of them if weak in trumps,
not if strong (vide 59).

PARTNER LEADS; I AM THIRD HAND.

61. If I win partner's lead with queen I don't
return, except in trumps.
62. Partner leads ace and queen. I have king and
two ; I must win his queen.
63. Ace, knave, and one ; the knave.
64. Partner leads 9 or 10 ; if I have ace I win it ;
if an honour and one, win it ; if an honour and two
or three, pass it (vide 52).
65. Partner leads a 13th card; it is to force the
adversary (to trump), therefore I put on a high
trump. [Keep a place in your hand for 13th cards.]
66. Sequence of 3 or more ; the lowest.
LEFT HAND LEADS • I AM FOURTH BAND.
67. I win adversary's lead ; I return unless I have
a very strong suit.
68. Left hand leads king, I have ace, knave ;
pass it.
69. Ace, queen, and two trumps; left hand leads
knave • I pass it.
70. I have best and second best of left hand lead
I make one, and play a small, in order, first, that
partner may make third best ; secondly, to command
Ileft band's lead. This is called under-play (vide 10)
as to the backward same.

THE QUARTERLIES.
r THE Q (LA I: tOE VIEW. i3O. CL XX V.
A harem scarem artiote opens the current nurnb.-i
of the Quarterly, being a criticism on Runaleyn
dm, Curniniog'e " Hunter's Life in South Africa." '1 .e
reviewer hos evidently adventured upon the exatnitin
t:en of those entertaining and TEmark:.lble volumes m
a mood singularly congenial. The result of his
iequiry into iteir contents is this hilarious contribu-
tion to the Quarterly, a paper to which we heartily
commend all sportsmen without distinction, satisfied
that the result of its perusal in their instance must
prove in the very highest degree satisfactory. For
the zoologist, likewise, the article will be found to pos-
sess attractions, a variety of novel descriptions of
strange members of the animal kingdom, diversifying
its agreeable particulars. After the delineation of the
African Nimrod comes a masterly essay upon " So-
crates," being a portraiture of his character. This por-
traiture, we may observe, has been suggested by certain
portions of George Grote's " History of Greece," re-
lating to the husband of Xantippe and the son of
Sophroniseus. Whoever the writer may be, he ma-
nifestly possesses a profound and loving appreciation
of the many sublime qualities united in the genius of
the great philosopher. Prior to the consideration of
his enthralling topic, the reviewer draws attention
incidentally to the astonishing difference existing be-
tween the stirring age of Isocrates and Demosthenes,
which witnessed the career of Plato, and the chilling
though tranquillizing effect of the Macedonian empire,
which sheltered the rise of Aristotle. This he does
with a view to explain the amenity of the latter and
the girding antagonism which characterise the latter
in all his relations with his fellow-citizens. Remind-
ing his reoder of the endurance shown by Socrates
when serving as a common soldier in the winter cam-
paign in Potidcea, the critic calls to our re-
collection the fact of the young philosopher
bearing away on his broad shoulders, from
the field of Delium, the form of the youthful
Xenophon. In its impassioned earnestness the close
of this admirable contribution calls to mind the pero-
ration of the famous essay on Milton, contributed by
Mr. Macaulay to the pages of the Edinburgh, and
though the last-mentioned immeasurably surpasses
the former in the splendour of its rhetoric, the fol-
lowing passage will be found to possess many of the
most bewitching among the charms of eloquence :
"He no longer stands amongst us. Yet we can fancy
what would result were he now to visit us—were he
once more to appear with that Silenic physiognomy,
with that eccentric manner, with that indomitable reso-
lution, with that captivating voice, with that homely
humour, with that solemn earnestness, with that siege of
questions—among the crowded parties of our metro-
polis, under the groves and cloisters of our universities,
in the midst of our political, our ecclesiastical, our reli-
gious meetings, on the floor of our legislative assem-
blies, at the foot of the pulpits of our well-filled
churches. How often, in a conversation, in a book, in a
debate, in a speech, in a sermon, have we longed for the
doors to open, and for the son-of Sophroniseus to enter—
how often, in the midst of pamphlets, in the heat of
angry accusations, in the discourses that have darkened
counsel by words without knowledge, during the theo-
logical controversies of the past year, have we been
templed to exclaim, 0 for one hour of Socrates!' 0
for one hour of that voice which should by its searching
cioss•examination make men see what they knew, and
what they did not know—what they meant, and what
they only thought they meant—what they believed in
truth, and what they only believed in name—wherein
they agreed, and wherein they differed. Differences,
doubtless, would still remain, but they would be the dif-
ferences of serious and thinking men, not the watch-
words of angry disputants. The voice of the great
Cross-examiner himself is indeed silent, but there is a
voice in each man's heart and conscience which, if we
will, Socrates has taught us to use rightly. That voice,
more sacred than the divine monitor of Socrates him-
self, can still make itself heard; that voice still enjoins
us to give to ourselves a reason for the hope that is in
us—' both hearing and asking questions.' It tells us that
with all those imaginary troubles wherewith we vex our-
selves without inquiry, ' it shall be like as a dream when
one awaketh, so shall there image be made to vanish out
of the city.' It tells us also that for that fancied re•
pose, which sell-inquiry disturbs, we shall be more than
compensated by the real repose which it rives instead.
A wise questioning' is indeed the half of knowledge.'
A life without cross- examination is no life at all.'"

Au erudite commentary on the various editions
printed of the " Ignatian Epistles" follows the bio-
graphical sketch of Socrates—the genius of the
Christian sage agreeably absorbing the notice of the
Quarterly after that of the Pagan philosopher. A
slashing paper on the administration of Lord Tor-
rington as Governor over the Cingalese, gives a digest
of the Blue Books and other official documents
relating to the unfortunate transactions which in
that quarter- of the world have cast such
odium upon the British Government. A small por-
tion of the Quarterly is devoted to a most eulogistic
notice of the Hon. E. Stanley's pamphlet on the
" Claims and Resources of the West Indian Colo-
nies." The criticism is headed, somewhat significantly,
" Cheap Sugar and Slave Trade." A laboriously
considered, and lucidly compiled, paper on the " Bri-
tish Museum," presents to the attention of the curi-
ous, but indolent, the very marrow of the voluminous
reports published by order of the Legislature, on the
mechanism of this great national establishment. As-
silted by this article in the Quarterly, the reader may
spare himself the trouble of wading through a heap
of dry and cumbrous folios ; and, at the same time,
exult in the acquisition of a great mass of information.
" Germany and the King of Prussia, by General Ha-
' dowitz," is the comprehensive heading of an admirably
sedate and reflective chapter on the political difficulties
of the Confederation. Then comes a copious criti-
cism on the " Life and Letters of Southey," fol-
lowed by contributions relating to " The Ministers
and the Pope," and to " Sir Francis Head on the
Defenceless State of Great Britain." From these
miscellaneous and suggestive themes it may be ima-
gined that much interest must be imparted to the
number of the Quarterly recently given to the public
with the commencement of this second half of the
nineteenth century. The conjecture will prove to
be verified by an examination of the principal among
these ten contributions.