Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-09-24
The Chess Championship of ENGLAND

On Tuesday, the 14h ult, the great annual congress
of this association commenced proceedings in the library
of the Queens College, Birmingham. In addition to
many local chess players, Mr. Howard Staunton M. ST.
Amant Herr Lowenthal and other celebrities pres
ent. Mr. Morphy the American player, however, did
not make his appearance, although expected, and some
disappointment was consequently experienced. The
meeting was altogether of formal and preliminary
character and was called chiefly to make the necessary
arrangements for the threeday tournament, to follow
Mr. Thomas Avery, President of the Brmingh ham Club
took the chair in the absence of Lord ytteon. Rcso
utions, appointing Lord Iyttleton President for the en-
suing year, and Lord Cremorne and Sir John Blundcn
Vice Presidents, were passed.
On Wednesday the result of the first series OF games
was declared The winners were StauntOn LoWenthal,
ST. Amant, Falkbeer Salmon and Owen, who had each
won their games. Bird counseed to leave, and so
Brien was winner The players were matched as fol-
lows: For the second series OF games StauntOn and
Lowenthal st. Amant and Fakbeer, Salmon and Owen,
Brien and Smith The last player resigned to Bricn,
and during the day ST. Aman Falkbcer and Owen each
won game. A match between the Worcester and
Birmingham Clubs terminated in favor of the latter
On Thursday the games in the great tournament were
proceeded with. All the games in the second round
decided with the exception of that between Staun
ton and LOWentha The first game in this match last
ed two days and not yet finished. The odds were,
however, strongly in favor of Lowentha who had gained
a decided advantage. The other winners were Owen,
who beat Salmon Fakbecr, who beat st. Amant and
Brien, to whom Smith resi- gned. The ballot was taken
for the third round and the players arc thus paired Br
ell and Falkbecr, and Owen with Staunton or IoWen-
thai Brien won one game from Falkbeer. On Thurs
day afternoon Mr. MOrphy, the great American player
arrived from London and it arranged that he should
Friday play bindod eight different games with eight
of the best players present This challenge excited great
attention, and looked forward to with great interest
In the meantime, the match between Morphy and
IOwenthal is nearly closed. The stakes G200 to
be claimed by the winner of the first nine games The
score at the last moment stood MOrphy, s LOyen-
thal drawn 2, should the first named player there
fore, win the game now in progress it will decide the
match. We understand says the London Sun, that ar.
rangements have been made for match between Mr.
Morphy and MIR. StaunOn, the celebrated English play
er for 500l.
In regard to the latter point the Critic says: il
appears that effort is being made to raise the funds
necessary for backing our English champion against the
American lad-for lad he is, and he looks much moro
Juvenile than he is. The match with Herr Lowcntha
offers however, very little encouragement to Mr. Saun
tons friends, and it is very confidently predicted that
, Mr. Morphy will have to return to America without
vanqushing the King of English chess players. Hav
ing enjoyed opportunity OF overlooking Mr. MOrphys
play we must say that in opinion he is certainly the
most astonishing player we have ever beheld He plays
with great courage, and makes what appears to be the
| most alarming sacrifices yet so profound and well
grounded his calculations that he is more dan
gerous than when he appears to the greatest risk
and as we heard veteran chesspayer remark it is in
possible to fOresec half his moves Another very won
deru popularity about him is the retentveness of h
memory. We told, upon good authority, that after
playing eleven or twelve games he will go home ant
play them again from the beginning to end playing
out the variations and showing how he would have me
any change of tactics the part of his adversary"
AS Fooe, in the early part of bis life, night
walking down street in the neighborhood OF OxforC
Road he was accosted with great cvility, by shabby
e fellow, who asked him the way to Tyburn. To which
Foote replied, My good fellow, you have only TO rot
y" The fellow very heartily thanked him for his ad
vice, and presenting pistol ordered him to deliver his
money pain OF having his brains bowed out. Will
ts injunction he obliged to comply, though to h
great notification he lost his money and his jest
and it punished him for his unkind reply when asket
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