The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-23 00:00:00

DINNER OF THE LIVERPOOL CHESS CLUB

On Friday evening the members and friends of the Li-
verpool Chess Club held their annual festive meeting at
the Adfdphi lintel, %Ili re, to the number of about
sixty, they sat down to a sumptuous dinner, in the large
banquetting room. Mr. A. Mongredien ably occupied
the chair, and Mr. Schwabe the vice•chair. Amongst
those who supported them were, Mr. G. Perigal, se .re-
tary of the London Chess Club, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Wm.
Lockerby, sen., Mr. J. Smith, Mr. Baines. of the Liver-
pool Times, Mr. Swale, Dr. Carson, Mr. Potter, and
other chess players of the town, and strangers. The viands
were of the choicest kind, and admirably prepared, the
dessert and fruits varied and excellent, and the wines of
the finest flavour.
At the conclusion of the repast, the CHAIRMAN gave
" The Queen," which was drunk with enthusiastic ap-
plause. In proposing the next toast, he expressed his
delight at the continued prosperity and increase of the
society. He alluded to the interest excited by the late
contest in chess at Paris, between the French and English
players, and its triumphant result to the latter. They
still, however, numbered only sixty members, and he
would not be satisfied until that number was more than
doubled. There were good players amongst their towns-
men who did not belong to their club, and they would do
well to test their powers by joining it. Some persons said
that the study of chess was a waste of time, which would
be better devoted to mathematics; but the chances were,
that those who kept aloof from them would do neither.
Then there were " modest players," who shrunk from
joining them, as they were but young in the art ; but they
would be glad to receive the most infantine essayists in the
game, had players of all grades to practice with
thaemme: asthey
After relating an amusing anecdote of his own
early attempts, and his astonishment at finding players so
superior to those whom he had deemed the best, he re-
marked that the greater the player the greater number of
moves he could analyze, and complimented the great Mr.
M•Donnell, who had analyzed eight moves, the greatest
yet known to have been accomplished. He concluded by
proposing " Prosperity and permanence to the Liverpool
Chess Club," which was drunk with great applause.
Mr. SPENCE being called upon for the next toast, in a
very feeling and eloquent address, proposed the immortal
memory of the two great departed players of two rival
nations, " M. Labourdcinnais and Mr. M'Donnell," the
second great player who had brought chess to rank as a
science. He eulogised the noble game of chess, which
was calculated to beguile the cares that would otherwise
beset us, and thus to add to the sum of human happiness.
He facetiously adverted to the recent mimic warfare be-
tween the two countries, in which castles were overthrown,
knights knocked down, and even queens placed in equi-
vocal positions; and apprehended they must prepare for
a terrible invasion by the French players. The toast was
drunk in solemn silence.
The VICE-CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast,
Said it was the health of one to whom they were indebted
for the honours the society had achieved ; whose hospi-
table domicile was open to every chess-player who came
to the town, and who ever found in him a ready and ge-
nerous competitor in the noble game ; and whose varied
acquirements in other departments had also commanded
for him the respect and esteem of all who knew him :
Mr. Mongredien, the president. The toast was drunk
with loud cheers.
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said he was well
repaid if his services had been of any advantage to the
club. He had been connected with it ever since he came
to the town, and would, he hoped, so continue while he
remained amongst them. He begged to propose the health
of Mr. Staunton (whose excellent work on chess should
be in the hands of every player). This was heartily drunk,
and was followed by the song by the Chairman of " The
brave old Oak."

Mr. SWALE (we believe) adverted to the indefatigable
exertions of their honorary secretary, whose regularity
of attendance at their weekly meetings, and his devotion
to the interests of the club entitled him to their warmest
gratitude. He proposed the health of that gentleman—
Mr. Spreckley. The toast was drank with much applause.
Mr. Porter sung, with much spirit, " A Life in the
Woods for me."
Mr. CRUTTENDEN paid a high compliment to the trea-
surer, Mr. Schwabe, and proposed his health.
Mr. SCHWABE, in returning thanks, modestly dis-
claimed the merit ascribed to him, stating that all was due
to the secretary, who did almost every thing himself, and
did all for the best. He proposed the health of a most
ingenious player, who had honoured them with his com-
pany that evening, Mr. Perigal, of the London Chess
Club, who would ever be found a worthy opponent by any
one who played with him.
Mr. PERIGAL ably returned thanks. He could assure
them that if any of them went to the metropolis they
would find a sincere and hearty welcome, not only from
the Chess Club there, but from the Polytechnic Society,
which was more numerous. He proposed the health o f
Mons. St. Amant, in connection with the only French
publication on chess—the Palamede. (Cheers.)
Mr. WOOD, in proposing the health of the Parisian
chess players, remarked on the great kindness and assist-
ance which they had given to our players when they were
in France, and gave " General Guingret" and the " Cercle
des Echecs." (Much applause.)
Mr. STEWART, after stating that they were greatly in-
debted to the press, said there was one amongst them who
belonged to that engine of instruction and information,
who, whether in his public or private capacity was a straight-
forward, manly English gentleman, whom everybody must
esteem. lie proposed the press of Liverpool, coupled
with the name of Mr. Baines. (Cheers.)
Mr. BAINES ably replied to the toast.
Mr. LOCKERBY proposed the health of the new mem-
bers. The club now numbered about sixty, but, he
yet to see them as high as 300.
Mr. SWALE recited a comic piece on " Law," from
Stephens, which excited much merriment.
Tire VICE-CHAIRMAN proposed the health of Mr. John
Gregory Jones, to whom the club was much indebted when
in its infancy, and whom, after an absence of some years,
they were glad to see amongst them again. (Cheers.)
Mr. JONES responded.
A number of other toasts were drank, which were fol-
lowed by speeches, and songs; but the occupation of much
of our space by the state trials in Ireland, tkc., constrains
us to this brief sketch. Suffice it to say, that the evening
was passed in an harmonious and delightful manner; and
that the party did not retire from the festive board until a
late hour, all highly gratified with the proceedings of the
evening.

COMMITMENTS.—On Wednesday last,:a boy named
William Wood was committed for trial by Mr. Rushton,
for stealing and absconding with £lO 10s. in gold, and a
gold watch chain, from the shop of Mr. Pearson, news-
agent, Lord-street. He had lived near Orrnskirk, and
was apprehended in that quarter. The chain and £6 6s.
of the money were recovered.—Same day, John Gibbons,
(one of six youths who had been seen going from shop to
shop with evil intent) was committed for trial-for stealing,
on Tuesday. a piece of black silk handkerchiefs, from the
shop of Mr. Barwise, in Byrom. street. The article, worth
225., was traced to his lodgings.
THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—The effors of the
spirited manager of this popular place of amusement were
last week again rewarded by the attendance of crowded
and respectable audiences,—the American giant, Ilr. C.
Freeman, being a great attraction, in addition to stage
pieces and the lively and interesting equestrian perform-
ances. The Greek Renegade has been highly successful
as an afterpiece. Last night, in addition to other perform-
ances of a novel description, was produced the grand
military spectacle entitled " Napoleon Buonaparte, or the
Empire, the Republic, and the Hundred days," in which
the character of the Emperor was represented by Mons.
Tournaire, whose conception and performance of the
character stands unrivalled. His strong personal and
facial appearance to the great captain of France gives him
a facility of vraisemblance to the original which no actor
we have yet seen possesses. The performances went off
with great edit, and will, we doubt not, have a consider-
able run.

PAUPERS IN DARKNESS—IMPUDENCE OF THE MER-
CURY.—A few weeks ago, the Mercury, in a note to cor-
respondents, in reply to a question whether the authori-
ties had power to prevent paupers in the Workhouse from
reading the Liverpool newspapers, stated that " h 3 was
unable to say what they cannot do in these days, but,tbat
it would be tyrannical to use such power." After this
apparently candid avowal of a dislike to such tyranny, a
letter was sent to the Mercury by an unfortunate but evi-
dently intelligent " pauper," stating that an old man in
the house had until recently been in the habit for years of
regularly taking the Mercury together with the STAN-
DARD, for the use of himself and others who contributed
their mite to the purchase; but that they were now de-
nied, in their seclusion from the world, the privilege of
teeing any paper whatever ; and, after stating that he was
informed, that the 26th article of the Instructions of the
Poor-Law Commiss'aaers prohibited " papers of an
im-

tion among" the people, the writer requests the Mercury,
" the friend of civil "and religious liberty," and the pro-
fessed opponent of such tyrannical use of power, to take
up the cause of the pauper in this particular. But no !
the Mercury's denunciation of such oppression was all
moonshine; and in place of taking up the' poor man's
cause, as he was in decency and consistency bound to do,
or to eat up his previous profession, be indulges in a piti-
ful retort upon us, which only conveys an unfeeling insult
to his unfortunate correspondent. He merely states, in
his last Friday's Paper, that the " Instructions " prohibit
only " papers of an improper tendency" ; and adds, with
the most consummate assurance, " the prohibition may
apply to our contemporary, but certainly not to ours"!
In other words, he arrogantly assumes that our paper is
of " improper tendency," and that his own is so pure
and immaculate that its admission cannot be doubted.
Had he made inquiry, however, or attentively perused
hisaoi quiteohr vsep
so foundndhei
high
well-penned communications, he
the Commissioners do not enter-
opinion of his journal as be does
would
cdraeoit:s an
that w
himself, and he has the honour of companionship with us
in the same ban of prohibition ! The truth is, the New
Poor Law, with all its oppressive and unconstitutional
his friends the whig-radicals, in his support of whom he
rigours,, was the Lona fide and aboriginal production of
would cast the rights of the suffering poor to the winds
and well may the poor man who has handed us the corre-
spondence in question, exclaim—" This furnishes another
proof that the editor of the Mercury contends more for
partyt-
lian for principles, or for justice,"—a rebuke not
the less unenviable in that it conies from a poor inmate
of the Workhouse. With respect to the prohibition in
question, we consider it as further evidence of the uncon-
stitutional principle, too conspicuous in several portions
of the Act, which goes to consider poverty as a crime,
and not us a misfortune. Even persons confined for mis-
demeanours are allowed to read newspapers if they can
procure them. We can but add, that though we are no
friend s to many of the clauses of the Poor Law, we never
have inculcated, and never shall inculcate, insubordina-
tion to that or any other statute of the ;and.