Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-11-02
Letter from Panl Msrphy to MIR. Stauntsn,
Of England. ~. ........ =

u
Of England. --i E....-. =
q The following letter from the American Ches.
wonder TO the English champion, Howard Staun.
ton, will be read with interest :
Care DIX LA REGEscE, Paris, Oct. 1913.
SIR; On my arrival in England, three month.
since, renewed the challenge to You personally
which the New Orleans Chess Club had given
you some months previously. You Immediate
ly accepted, but demanded month, DELAY in
order to prepare yourself for the contest. Sub.
sequently you proposed that the time should
he postponed until after the Birmingham meet
ing, to which assented, On the approach Of
the perod you had fixed, addressed Won a
communication, requesting that the necessary
Prenminarles might be Immediately settled
Out you lett London without replying to it,
went to Birmingham for the express pur.
pose Of asking you to put a stop to further
delay by fixing date for the opening of our
match but before the opportunity presented
itself, you came to me, and in the presence of
Lord Lyttleton, Mr.. Avery and other gentle
men, you stated that your time was much oc-
cupied In editing new edition of Shakspesre.
ana that you were under heavy bonds TO your
publishers accordingly. But you reitersted
your intention to play me, and said that n T
would consent to n further postponemept until
the first week in November, you would. within
few days, communicate with me. and fix the
exact date. have not heard further from Won
either privately, by letter, or through the col.
umns OF the Illustrated London News.
A statement appeared in the Chess depart-
ment OF that Journal a few weeks since. that
" Mr. Morphy had come to Europe upprovided
with hackers or second" the inference being
obvious that my want of funds was the reason
OF our match not taking place As YOU are the
editor OF that department of the illustrated
London News, L felt hurt that gentleman who
nad always received me at his club and else:
where, with great kindness and courtesy. should
allow so preJudieial statement to be made in
In accordance with fact.
Permit me to repeat that have invariably
declared, In every chess community have had
the honor OF entering, that am not a profes.
sional player-that never wished to make anv
skill possess the means of pecuniary advance
ment, and that my earnest desire is never to
play Tor any stake but honor. My friends in
NeS % orleans, however, subscribed certain sum,
WIN put any countenance from mo, and that sum
mas been ready for you to meet a considerable
ume past. since my arrival in Paris have b.en
assured oy numerous gentlemen that the yalue
OIL those stakes can be Immediately increased
10 any amount; but, for myself personally, repu-
tatlon is the only incentive recognize.
"Ihe matter of seconds cannot certainly Of
Ter any difficulty. l had the pleasure of being
hrst received in London by the St. GEORGE
Chess Club, Of which you are so distinguished
a a member, and OF those gentlemen request
the honor of appointing my seconds to whom I
give full authority in settling all preliminaries
In conclusion beg leave to state that T
nave addressed a copy Of this letter to the ed
Itors OF the illustrated London News, Bells
Lille In London, The Era, The Field, and The
sunday Times, being most desirous that our
true position should no longer be mi.under.
STOOD by the community at large.
Again requesting you to fix the date for
commencing our match, have the honor IN
remain, sir, your very humble servant,
"PAUL MoRPHY."
"HOwARD STAUNroN, ESQ"