The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-09-10

Ior granted. OlaSSeu as Il ulVlSloH Vi HdlH-
ematical study, it belongs to the arithmeti-
cal rather than the transcendental depart
ment of mathematics: it is no higher than
Formulation. All possible moves of
given number of pieces can be summed up
in an Ineligible line of figures less than
yard long. The objection, therefore, of
the great Scotch metaphysician to math-
ematics, as a means of mental development
that they lead to only positive results,
as in grooved track-applies with double
force to chess, which calls into exercise
one of the lower branches Of mathematics
only.
A great deal has been said about inven-
ton in relation to chess playing, and
London newspaper especially lauds the in
ventive genius of Mr.. Morphy. If our
view of his peculiar power be the correct
one, then there is no invention in his play
All the possible combinations of the moves
before him appear to his mind as clearly as
K. P to X. A to an ordinary player; and
from what he sees, he selects the best play.
1t is about as much invention as is exer-
cised by a natural arithmetician, in an
nouncing in minute, difficult result in
interest for days-no more. Besides, this
conference.-the very best of known living
chess-players-seems singularly deficient
in even the moderate degree of invention
which can be predicated of chess We
have the Evans Gambit, the Scotch Gam
bit, the Muzio Gambit, &c. &c, but we have
not yet the Morphy Gambit, nor is there
in print more than one very commonplace
problem by our modern chess king
But the problemsl DO not they require
invention If they do, it is invention of
no higher character, and requiring no great
er powers, than to construct certain figures
with Chinese puzzle; and frst-rate
problem-composer is seldom, if ever, first
class player.
These views of the status Of chess-play-
ing, receive confirmation from the fact that
first class chess-players have seldom, if
ever, distinguished themselves in the higher
departments of thought, or invention Mr.
Buckle, the author of "Civilization in Eng
land, j" may be adduced as an exception he
was, fifteen years ago, among the most
eminent chess-players in Europe; he sud
denly gave up chess-playing, betook him
self to study, and his admirable volume is
the first fruits of fifteen years of intense
application. Yet, while he betrays an ex-
tent of reading wider than that SO POM
pously announced by Gibbon, and while
strong common-sense and keen observation
are abundantly manifest in his work, there
is lacking the bold grasp and deep insight
which we find in Hume and Sir James
Macintosh, and even in Dumas. Mr..
Buckle lets us into the secret of his short
comings, moreover, in the following SEN
tence:-" Whoever will take the pains fair
ly to estimate the present condition of
mental philosophy, must admit that, not
withstanding the influence it has always
exercised over some of the most powerful
minds, and through them over society at
large, there is, nevertheless, no other study
which has been so zealously prosecuted, so
long continued, and yet remains so barren
Of reSuttS!!' Barren Of resultsl Shades
of Locke, Malebranche, Berkeley, Dugald,
Stewart, Reid, Brown, Cousin and Sir VIII
liam Hamilton! Of course, Mr.. Buckle is
an ardent admirer of Auguste Compte,
and fifteen years of purely literary labor
has not raised him above the intellectual
level of the chess-board.
Yet chess-playing is an amusement wor-
thy of cultivation, especially for the young,
1t is better indoor entertainment than
cards, or dice, or lager-bier; it has been
we'll said that it does not lead to gambling.
1t has the positive merit of improving the
tone of manners, and of cultivating the
power of attention In looking at Morphy
and Paulsen in 1857, we were struck with
the evident purity of both these young
men. Neither presented the bleared eyes,
shaking hands, nor nervous tremor, which a
four hours sitting would betray in nine
tenths of our young men of the city: they
were plainly in perfect physical condition,
and all their faculties were clear and in full
honest exercise. And so must the devo-
tees of chess keep themselves, or they will
inevitably loose rank as chess players.