Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-06-03
From the N. Y. Times of May 25th.

From the N. Y. Times Of Nay 25th
Presentation to Paul MOrphy.
The presentation to Mr.. Morphy by the n. Y. Chess
cnb Of the pearl board the gold and silver men, and
M watch takes place this evening, in the University
on The presentation of the silver laurel wreath by
h Union Chess Club will be made tomorrow evening,
If the hotel, of Broadway and Eighth street.
The following is description OF the articles to be pre-
nted this evening =
Tbe Chess-men which the conspicuous objects of
ba q Morphy Testimonial are Of the purest gold and
Ior and-with the exception of their corneian pc
lsfas-Of those materials alone. In design and execu
Zion rs well as in intrinsic value the set is so far as we
rn informed unequaled-the celebrated establishment
IN the possession of Queen Victoria though of similar
design being of inferior proportions The connoisseur
will especially remark the exquisite details of the ar
ts conception. AS Chess is a royal game the pieces
in this superb set are appropriately modelled after study
Of one of the grandes historic epsodes-the contest be-
trpon Christianity and Barbarism. "The Reds" or
be gold pieces highly finished statuettes Indicating
bp compOnenS OF an imperial array in the days when
KINGS and Queens went forth with their armies and
bishops exchanging mitre and croser for battIeaxe
and sword, transferred the of proseytsm from the
sanctuary to the field The Whites,' or the silver
pces in happy contrast represent the Northern horde
which disputed the domination of Theodosius, Or at a
later period for while Withstood the march of Clovis
ard CIOthlde
In detail, the pieces are as follows The Gold King
is satuette four inches in height, and weighing three
royal rODcS railing over MS armOr the
Imperial globe upon his martally defended head, the
crown and Scepre at his feet, by his side an elegant
shield and in his right hand the sword of Empire The
Queen arrayed in character, is OF proportions slightly
inferior to those of her Lord The Bishops, in the full
panopy of warriors three and half inches in height
stand perceptiby inclined forward, grasping drawn
swords with blades advanced and spirited lustra
lions of the fierce Prelates who anticipated the Higher
Law conflicts of the pulpit and press by cut-andthrust
augmentation hand-tohand. The Knights on both
Sides admirably upured chargers pranc!ng near
" upright and ruby-eyed. In the Rocks or Castles
the artist has adopted the Chinese design, and thanked
the rear lines by stately Elephants, each bearing Eas
tern howdah, upon which an elegantly wrought Eagle
is spreading his pinons, if to pounce upon his prey
The eyes of both bird and beast brilliant rubies
The finish of this piece is especially admirable the artist
having achieved a manifest triumph in the contrast
which his fine chasing has effected between the coarse
hide of the elephant and the tiger-skn mantle of the
howdah This elaborate piece is three and three-quar
ter inches in height, and weighs eighty gold dollars,
more appreciaby-fve ounces.
The Silver King is happy counterpart to his Golden
adversary AS leader of the Barbarlans, his covering
is bulls hide, and only distinguished from that of his
followers by the finer dressing it has received. Dsput
ing the Empire with the leader of the opposing host be-
toO Imperial globe upon which rests those
beuac wings with which the Norsemen and the Cloths
adorn their helmets. The royal embems lie at his feet,
while his LETT depends shield inscribed with the
defiant moto-Labery-an in his right hand he grasps
a warlIke brand His Queen is arrayed in proper char
acer. The Bishops wear winged helmets, and draw
swords considerably longer than the Roman tachons of
their Christian adVerSaries their panOpy otherwise
c0ding with that Of their posts. In proportion and
weight these pieces correspond with those of the other
side
The Gold Pawns are statuetes, two and half inches
in height weighing two In this piece the ar
fist has elaborated the roman sOdier-tha hemet buck
r and straight edged sword being exact copies
Of those borne by manatarms of The Western Empire
The Silver Pawn is similar in proportion, and cores
ponding exact sculpture Of the old Nisigoh wearing
upon his body the hide and upon his head the horns
which he has torn from the wild bull of the Germanian
forest. His single weapon is a huge and knoty club
promising a rough encounter for the short blade OF his
adversary
The pedestal of each piece is polished COrneIlan-Or
the pawns circle Of inch in diameter-for the lead
ING pieces an oval one inch and half in diameter
The value of material worked up amounts to nearly
$780, and the entire cost of material and labor is but
little less than 81 SEQ In the elaborate finish Of the
historic study, the statuesque proportion and the
quste mechanical execution of each piece the
of art have contributed most literally for the honor Of
genius.
The Board upon which the g odd and Silver Chessmen
are to stand. likewise manufactured by Tiffany Co., IS
a square of tWenty-sX inches. The body OF the board
is Of Rosewood the squares being of Ebony and choice
Mother Of Pearl. A slightly raised edge, ornamented
by single delicate line of nlad Silver, surrounds the
Board just within this edge another smlar fine line,
and third heavy from agreeable contrast with
the rich color Of the wood Three inches from the edge
four tournament lances in silver ncose the chequered
ed-a square of twenty inches In each exterior an
gle formed by the overlapping Of the ances, encrcled
by laurel wreath of Gold, eXquisitely nlaid are the
letters P. NJ. in decorated cypher. Midway Of the
Board from which Mr. Morphy is supposed to play, an
naId oval plate of Silver surrounded by trophy COM
posed of the standards of those nations whose subjects
have been obliged to recognize the sovereignty of Re
publican Champion, bears the subOined inscription
TO
PAUL MORPHY,
A RECOGNITION OF HIS GENIUS AND A TOKEN OF REGARD
FROM HIS FRIENDS AND ADMIRERS
IN NEW YORK AND BROOKLYN,
New York, 1859
SurmOuntng this plate is a laurel crown in silver, and
beneath it rband of the same metal is inscribed with
"PrGliis &c SanguinatiS tdciie prlnCeps."
In the opposite border another plate, oval in inlald
silver, and edged by trophy of lances batte-axes
spears and pieces oarmor ncloses engraved SphynX
around which are grouped the names of the Committee
Of Presentation.
SimiIary situated in the left hand border, third sill
YER plate circular supported by Sphynxes ornamenteC
with the armoria bearings Of the City Of New York
In the opposite border fourth plate, of the metal
automatically delineates the Pyramids three in mum
ber likewise supported by Sphynxes. The centre pyra
mid in sections commentaries the Chess Champions
all ages that Of the last and greatest filing the apex, a.
follows
MORPHY.
LABoURDoNNAIs. MDoNNELL.
LOPEZ. PHILIIDOR. sALyIo.
Won DERL.AsI. HANsTEIN. ANDERSEN. BILGUER.
LowENTHAL. szEN. PTEoFF KIEsERITsKY. LANCE