Year: 1895

page_text: I, CHARLES FREDERICK ENGLAND, 2 Canute Villas, Kingsholm Square,
Gloucester, 'Mercantile Clerk, do ibereby declare the nature of this invention <to
be as follows:-
:-
My.invention, consists of a new game which 'I call "The new 'House of Commons
Game."
It.is played upon an ordinary draught or chess board.
"The pieces are arranged in their respective places, the largest in the Prime
Minister's and Chief Opposition Leader's squares, the three smaller size in the
Cabinet Minister's, and Opposition Leader's squares and the remainder or Private
Members in the places so inarked.
The pieces,move in the same manner as in ordinary draughts but' backwards.or
forwards.
No piece cau be taken off the board but a 'Minister can check another Minister
or 'Private 'Member by moving into his place, thus compelling the piece so checked
to return to its original starting place as nearly as possible, the Private Member-to
the nearest Private Members place, and the Minister to the nearest Ministers
square, any difference as to the exact spot to be settled by the opponent.
A Private Member cannot check any other piece, nor can any other piece check
the Prime Minister or Chief Opposition Leader, these latter only being empowered
to check each other. The game is for the Government or Prime Minister's side
to attempt to pass measures,.and for the Opposition to 'frustrate the attempt.
A measure is passed by getting the duplicate squares occupied by one Minister
and one Private Member so that when the two squares of the same name. are
simultaneously occupied by a Minister and Private Member on the Government
side the 'Bill' has been passed and is registered on a slip of paper.
In similar manner a measure is successfully opposed or rejected by the Opposition,
and cannot be again brought forward being a gain to that side.
When a measure' has been passed or rejected the two pieces-bringing this about
must return as nearly as possible to their original places, and the squares of that
name are thenceforward regarded as blank squares.
66
To prevent a block 'Parliament may be dissolved which is effected by moving
either the Prime Minister or 'Chief Opposition Leader on to the nearest
Dissolution" square. When Parliament has been dissolved all the Members. and
Ministers return to their original starting places and the game proceeds as at first,
excepting that those measures already passed or rejected -are regarded as blank
squares. Parliament may also be dissolved by mutual consent.
The winning, side is of course that which scores the most measures passed or
measures rejected as the case may be.
Dated this 20th day of January 1895.

page_text: A New таше.
I, CHARLES FREDERICK ENGLAND, of 2 Canute Villas, Kingsholme Square,
Gloucester, Mercantile Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists of a new game called "The House of Commons Game"
comprising a board marked out into squares like an ordinary draught board upon
the light squares of which are marked the positions for the various pieces used in
the game hereinafter described. Holding the board corner-wise the corner light
square is the Prime Ministers place, the next white row, consisting of three, is
allotted to Cabinet Ministers, and the next light row, consisting of five, to Private
Members. The opposite side of the board is marked in a similar way saving that
the places are allotted to "Chief Opposition Leader," Opposition Leaders (3) and
Private Members (5).
Across the centre of the board many of the squares are marked with the names
of various Parliamentary measures which accord to the rules of the game which
the "Government" side will endeavour to pass and the Opposition to reject. The
names of the measures I do not bind myself to, but as far as possible they will be
such as may at the time be before the country. In addition to these squares
there are two squares marked "Dissolution" the uses of which are set forth in
the rules.
:
The pieces may be discs made of wood, cardboard, or any other suitable
material, with the respective names printed on, the two sides being distinguished
by different colours. Or the pieces may be carved or turned pieces of wood or
other material of a distinctive design, the shape or size indicating the relative
value of each piece.
The game is played as follows:-
There are nine men on each side, one side being the Government in power, and
the other the Opposition. One side cousists of a "Prime Minister," three
"Cabinet Ministers." and five "Private Members." The other side of a "Chief
Opposition Leader," three "Opposition Leaders," and five "Private Members."
All these are arranged in their respective places as marked on the board.
The game is for the Government side to attempt to pass measures, and for the
Opposition to prevent by having the Bills thrown out or rejected.
A measure is passed by getting a Minister on one square of a name, and a
Private Member on the corresponding square of the same name, so that the
two squares are occupied simultaneously by a Minister and Private Member
respectively. When this has been done the measure is passed and the pieces
bringing this about must return to the nearest square of their name, that is, the
Minister to the nearest Ministers square, and the Private Member to the nearest
Private Members square. In a similar manner a measure is thrown out by the
Opposition side and finally rejected, being a gain to that side.
In any case where a piece has to return to a place of its own name, if there
should happen to be no square of that name vacant (as sometimes happens) then it
must be placed on a square directly in front or behind its original row, the exact
spot being selected by the opposing side.
The pieces move cornerwise, one square at a time backwards or forwards. The
principal piece on either side has the additional power of moving the squares of
either colour.
"
A Minister or Leader can
66 convert a Private Member of the other side by
moving into the place the latter happens to occupy on the board at the time, where
the Minister remains while the Private Member so converted is turned upside

page_text: down (thus changing his colour) and put back to the nearest Private Member's
square on the side which has effected his capture.
A Minister or Leader can check another Minister or Leader by moving into his
place. In this case the piece so checked has to return to a square of his name but
on his own side.
The Prime Minister and Chief Opposition Leader can only be checked by one
another, but can check any other Minister or convert any Private Member.
Ministers and Opposition Leaders can be checked by each other or a greater piece,
and can convert any Private Member. A Private Member has no power of
checking or converting.
Parliament may be dissolved by either side by moving the Prime Minister or
Chief Opposition Leader on to either of the Dissolution squares. When Parliament
is dissolved all the pieces return to their original starting place and the game
proceeds as at first, excepting that those measures already passed or rejected are
regarded as blank squares. Any piece other than the Chief Opposition Leader or
Prime Minister moving on to either of the Dissolution squares must go off the
board and not appear again during the game.
Before the game starts the "order of the day" is decided upon, that is, the
measures are arranged mentally or on a slip of paper in that order in which they
are to be dealt with, and the first must be disposed of (that is either passed or
rejected) before the next is proceeded with.
The game
won by that side passing or rejecting most measures, or in the event
of these being equal, then the victory belongs to the side possessing most Private
Members at the conclusion.
For the purpose of example I have shewn upon the accompanying drawing a
board with men or pieces thereon, but of course it is be understood that I do not
bind myself to the use of the precise configuration of the different parts of the
apparatus which I employ.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
CLAIM.
The new or improved game which I denominate "The House of Commons Game,"
placed upon an ordinary draft or chess board, according to the directions and
rules formulated by me in this Specification, such new or improved game being
calculated to possess instructive and recreative features of novelty, and being
capable of modifications in detail without departing from the essential novelty of
my invention, as set forth in my Specification."
Dated this 18th day of July 1895.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23 Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.