The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-10-29 00:00:00

LEEDS CHESS CLUB.

This club commenced its session of 1839-40, on Monday
last, by dining together at Scarborough's hotel. Mr. Muff,
the president, ably discharged the duties of the chair ; Mr.
Robert Cadman, the treasurer was in the vice chair ; and
there was a good muster of members. Mr. Scarborough
placed upon the table a good dinner, to which ample justice
was done. The cloth withdrawn, the chairman gave " Our
Maiden Queen Victoria," and the " Queen Dowager," in
succession, and the lovers of chess, by manifestations not to
be mistaken, showed their respect and attachment for Queens.
The president then, in a very neat speech, introduced what
may be considered the professional business of the night. He
lamented that good chess players were not more numerous in
Leeds, or more gregarious, inasmuch as the noble science
united in one a high intellectual exercise and a rational re-
creation. The president then congratulated the members of
the club on the speedy and successful termination of the
match at present pending with the Liverpool club, so far, at
least, as respects one of the games, and that alone would de-
termine the match in favour of Leeds.* With reference to
the game spoken of, he might say that it had about it nothing
of the cool, calculating, and cautious play which almost uni-
formly characterised contests carried on by correspondence.
In that game there would be found not only some most inter-
esting positions, but many of the moves were of that brilli-
ant kind which would secure the approbation of the severest
critic, and would place that game in the first class of those
which had been carried on by written communication.
(Cheers.) Of the second game, which had considerably ad-
vanced, it did not become him to speak with particularity,
because the result was yet in doubt; but he thought he might
be allowed to say, that the Leeds club was in a position which
meant winning. (Loud cheers.) The president concluded
by proposing. " Prosperity to the Leeds Chess club." The
toast was drank with all the honours ; and Mr. Rhodes, the
Secretary, responded to it in a speech which, like his skill
in the Tame, was most admirable. He spoke of chess with
an enthusiasm which none but a first-rate player can feel or
appreciate. Chess, he said, expanded the mind, disciplined
it at the same time, and suggested important moral lessons.
It exemplified the advantages of vigourous action and com-
bined movement. It gave a just reward to foresight and
skill, and showed that negligence and want of industry were
the broad ways which led to discomfiture. It exhibited the
value of courage tempered with discretion, and the sure re-
ward of perseverance. In short, says Mr. Rhodes, chess,
properly understood and wisely practised is of great service
to both body and mind, exercising the one, and fitting it for
the loftiest duties of life, and recreating the other, when wea-
ried with labour, or blighted by disease. He then adverted
to the match with the Liverpool club, and expressed the ut-
most confidence that the Leeds Club would win the second
as well as the first game. Mr. Rhodes concluded his re-
marks by proposing " Mr. Perring, and thanks to him for
his kindness and readiness in inserting communications re-
specting the game of chess in the Leeds Intelligencer." Mr.
Perring, in acknowledgitig the honour of this toast, expressed
an opinion that the lovers of chess were more numerous than
was generally supposed, and that Leeds contained many good
players whom circumstances prevented from joining the club,
bat who, nevertheless, hailed with gratification all proper op-
portunities for practice. With regard to the little that he
had done in the way of publicity, he had simply acted upon
the sound newspaper maxim of printing that would give plea-
sure to a numerous and intelligent body of readers ; he should
be glad at all times to record the doings of the club ; and he
hoped that publication would bring a considerable accession
to its ranks. He gave as a toast " The Committee who have
the management of the match by correspondence now pend-
ing with Liverpool, Messrs. Muff, R. Cadman, Rhodes, Bos-
eovitz, R. Brown, J. Luccock, and may their efforts be
crowned with success." Mr. Luccock returned thanks and
said the merit of the victory likely to be achieved over the
Liverpool club, was owing to no exertion on his part, but to
the skill of Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Cadman, and Mr. Muff, and es-
pecially to the great attention paid to the game by Mr. Cadman.
He proposed the " Treasurer, and thanks to him for promo-
ting the interests of the club." (Four times four.) Mr. Cad-
man said he was deeply sensible of the compliment paid him.
He loved a sober game of chess, for he felt that, like deeper
studies, it strengthened the mind, and left no bodily sting
behind. He hoped the club would increase in number, and
flourish for years and years to come. With respect to what
bad been said of his contributions of skill and attention to
the contest with the Liverpool club, he could take no greater
credit to himself than that, as one of the committee appoint-
ed to conduct the game, he had endeavoured to do his duty ;
awl he should at all times be happy to advance the honour
and the interests of the club by personal effort or by purse.
(Cheers.) As had been stated, one game with Liverpool
was so decidedly won, that the Liverpool players ought
really to give it in ; and he entirely concurred in opinion
with the President and Mr. Rhodes, that the second game
was pretty nearly as good as won. Mr. Cadman concluded
by giving " The health of the President" ; drank with en-
thusiastic cheers. Mr. Muff expressed his gratitude for the
honour, and spoke with the animation of a good orator as
well as a good handler of the " men." He gave as a senti-
ment—" May our present campaign be commenced with
spirit, carried on with vigour, and end with glory." (Cheers.)
Mr. Boscovitz concluded an excellent speech, with the sen-
timent—" A more general diffusion of taste for chess, and
may every town in England have its Chess Club." Mr.
Cross gave " The Ladies, and especially those who patro-
nise the game of games." (Cheers.) Mr. Pyatt proposed
" The absent Members." Mr. Rhodes, with complimentary
observations, gave " Mr. Mongredien, and the Lis erpool
Club." Various other toasts, arising out of the proceedings
of the evening, were proposed and responded to with much
point and good humour, including " Success to the Zoolo-
Pcal and Botanical Gardens" ; and Mr. Hick and Mr.
ow ell enlivened the passing moment by several excellent
songs. The company sat down at half-past five, and sepa-
rated soon after midnight, much gratified with the auspicious
opening of the " campaign." The sessional meetings take
place at Scarborough's Hotel on Monday and Thursday
evenings, at seven o clock.
This game has since been given up by the Liverpool Club. -En.
—Leeds Intelligencer.