Thus amely on the pastime went,

Each thought his laurels reaping,
And many a wicket there was kept
For want of wicket-keeping!
The slips so slipt, that scarce a ball
Their feet could get the start of;
And leg long field receiv'd a blow

His leg long feeled the smart of!
At last a trimmer Dick sent down-
Bob view'd it with a scoff,
And turned to play it off his bail,

But found his leg bail off!

The match thus clos'd, the score was cast,
When Fate's propitious die

In Friendship's bonds to tie their hands,
Had made their hands a tie!

Bright Phoebus now his course had run,
The tent was borne away,

And Nor came down, to heal, by night,
The knocks they'd had by day!
The men shook hands, and swore to live
Thenceforth in kind communion,
And, on their common, formed our club,
In name and fact the Union!

Curious Match of Cricket betwen TWENTY-TWO GREENWICH PENSIONERS-eleven men with one leg,against the same number with one arm. From the novelty of the advertisement announcing a cricket-match to be played by eleven Greenwich Pensioners with one leg against eleven with one arm, for one thousand guineas, at the new cricket-ground, Montpelier Gardens, Walworth, in 1796, an immense concourse of people assembled. About nine o'clock the men arrived in three Greenwich stages; about ten the wickets were pitched, and the match commenced. Those with but one leg had the first innings, and got ninety-three runs. About three o'clock, while those with but one arm were having their innings, a scene of riot and confusion took place, owing to the pressure of the populace to gain admittance to the ground: the gates were forced open, and several parts of the fencing were broke down, and a great number of persons having got upon the roof of a stable, the roof broke in, and several persons falling among the horses were taken out much bruised. About six o'clock the game was renewed, and those with one arm got but forty-two runs during their innings. The one legs commenced their second innings, and six were bowled out after they got sixty runs, so that they left off one hundred and eleven more than those with one arm.

A match was played on the Wednesday following, and the men with one leg beat the one arms by one hundred and three runnings. After the match was finished, the eleven onelegged men ran one hundred yards for twenty guineas. The three first divided the money.

EXTRAORDINARY FEMALE CRICKET MATCH. -In a field belonging to Mr. Story, at the back of Newington Green, near Ball's Pond, Middlesex, on Wednesday, October 2, 1811, this singular performance, between the Hampshire and the Surrey Heroines (twenty-two females) commenced at eleven o'clock in the morning. It was made by two noblemen, for 500 guineas aside. The performers in this

contest were of all ages and sizes, from fourteen to sixty, the young had shawls, and the old long cloaks. The Hampshire were distinguished by the colour of true blue, which was pinned in their bonnets, in the shape of the Prince's plume. The Surrey were equally as smart, their colours were blue, surmounted with orange. The latter eleven consisted of Ann Baker (sixty years of age, the best runner and bowler on that side), Ann Taylor, Maria Barfatt, Hannah Higgs, Eliza. beth Gale, Hannah Collas, Hannah Bartlett, Maria Cooke, Charlotte Cooke, Elizabeth Stocke, and Mary Fry.

The Hampshire eleven were Sarah Luff, Charlotte Pulain, Hannah Parker, Elizabeth Smith, Martha Smith, Mary Woodrow, Nancy Porter, Ann Poulters, Mary Novell, Mary Hislock, and Mary Jougan.

Very excellent play took place on Wednesday; one of the Hampshire lasses made fortyone innings, before she was thrown out; and, at the conclusion of the day's sport, the Hampshire eleven were 81 a-head. The unfavorableness of the weather prevented any more sport that day, though the ground was filled with spectators. On the following day the Surrey lasses kept the field with great success; and on Monday, the 7th, being the last day to decide the contest, an unusual assemblage of elegant persons were on the ground. At three o'clock the match was won by the Hampshire lasses, who not being willing to leave the field at so early an hour, and having only won by two innings, they played a single game, in which they were also successful. Afterwards they marched in triumph to the Angel, at Islington, where a handsome entertainment had been provided for them by the Nobleman that made the

match.

Grand Cricket Match for 1000 Guineas, between the Bury and Mary-la-bonne Clubs.— The return match between these clubs commenced on Monday, August, 1829, at Bury St. Edmund's. At an early hour the town was all alive from the influx of gentry from the different parts adjacent. The ground exhibited all the beauty, wealth, and respectability of this great county, including the high sheriff. It was an excellent match, and the only drawback was the continued showers which fell during the three days the contest lasted. On Wednesday the match terminated as follows:

Bury winning by 19. Nothing could exceed the anxiety exhibited on Wednesday morning as to the issue of the match; the country folks backed the Lunnunners, as they thought they were knowing ones. The result caused many a long face among the pastoralites of Suffolk, and some were heard to exclaim, "It's all gammon-it's a made-up thing between Bury and themselves," which really did not appear, as several of the amateurs of this town are heavy losers. In one instance there have been £40 to £30 paid six times over, by a gentleman who is thought to be a real knowing one. So elated were the Bury Club at the victory, that they challenged the Mary-la-bonne for another match, permitting them to include all England in their club, with the exception of their own county (Suffolk.)

On Tuesday, in July, 1828, on Clapham Common, a match took place between eleven blacksmiths, of Clapham, and a similar number of Wandsworth Vulcans, for a supper. The parties wore white leather aprons, bran new for the occasion; and after a well-contested match the Clapham men won with three wickets to go down. Dr. Beech, one of the Clapham heroes, happened to get quite full of half-and-half, and, being upwards of twenty stone in weight, he was placed for a long stop, but, in pursuing the ball, he frequently tumbled, and rolled about like a sick elephant. The supper was placed on the table at Mr. O. N.'s, the Windmill, Clapham Common, and was well served up.

PILCH, the crack bowler, is a native of Brenton, near Holt, in the county of Norfolk ; and, when a youth, played with the Holt club. The first match he played in consequence, was that of Norfolk (with E. H. Budd, Esq., F. Leadbroke, Esq., and T. Vigne, Esq.), against the Mary-la-bonne club, at Lord's, on the 24th July, 1820. On that occasion he bowled out C. Barnard, Esq., who only scored three in the two innings; the second innings Pilch bowled him out

without a run. The match was also celebrated by W. Ward, Esq. scoring 278 runs with his own bat. Pilch's two brothers Nathaniel and William also played in that match.

During the month of September, in 1830, so great was the interest for the game of cricket, in Sheffield, after they had beaten the Notts, that nine double-wickets were pitched on the Hyde Park Ground, Sheffield, where upwards of TWO HUNDRED PLAYERS were at work at one time. The ground is about five and a-halt acres in extent; indeed, it is most delightfully situated altogether, and well calculated for the above sport.

We shall now conclude our article with the Rules of the Game of Cricket-and, by comparison with a copy which we have in our possession, published nearly forty years since, in 1793, the principal alterations are in the stumps, the bowling crease, and the popping

crease

THE LAWS OF Cricket,

As approved by the Mary-la-bonne Club.

1. The ball must not weigh less than five ounces and a half, nor more than five ounces and three quarters. At the beginning of each innings either party may call for a new ball.

2. The bat must not exceed four inches and one quarter in the widest part.

3. The stumps must be twenty-seven inches out of the ground; the bails eight inches in length; the stumps of sufficient thickness to prevent the ball from passing through.

4. The bowling-crease must be in a line with the stumps, six feet eight inches in length (the stumps in the centre), with a return-crease at each end, at right angles.

5. The popping-crease must be four feet from the wicket, and parallel to it.

6. The wickets must be pitched opposite to each other by the umpires, at the distance of twenty-two yards.

7. It shall not be lawful for either party during a match, without the consent of the other, to alter the ground, by rolling, watering, covering, mowing, or beating. This rule is not meant to prevent the striker from beating the ground with the bat near where he stands during the innings, nor to prevent the bowler from filling up holes, watering his ground, or using sawdust, &c., when the ground shall be wet.

8. After rain, the wickets may be changed with the consent of both parties.

9. The bowler shall deliver the ball with one foot behind the bowling-crease, and within the return crease; and shall bowl four balls before he change wickets, which he shall be permitted to do but once in the same innings.

10. The bail shalı be bowled. If it be thrown or jerked, or if any part of the hand or arm be above the elbow at the time of delivery, the umpire shall call "no ball."

11. He may order the striker at his wicket to stand on which side of it he pleases.

12. If the bowler toss the ball over the striker's head, or bowl it so wide that it shall be out of distance to be played at, the umpire (either with or without an appeal from the party receiving the innings) shall adjudge one run to the striker, even although he attempt to hit it, which shall be put down to the score of wide balls; and such ball shall not be reckoned as any of the four balls.

13. If the bowler bowl a "no ball," the striker may play at it, and be allowed all the runs he can get; and shall not be put out, except by running out.

14. In the event of a change of bowling, no more than two balls shall be allowed in practice.

15. The bowler who takes the two balls, shall be obliged to bowl four balls.

16. The striker is out if the ball be bowled off, or the stump bowled out of the ground.

17. Or if the ball, from a stroke over or under the bat, or upon his hands (but not wrists), be held before it touch the ground, although it be hugged to the body of the catcher.

18. Or, if in striking, or at any other time while the ball is in play, both his feet be over the popping-crease, and his wicket put down, except his bat be grounded within it.

19. Or, if in striking at the ball he hit down his wicket.

20. Or, if under pretence of running a notch or otherwise, either of the strikers prevent a ball from being caught, the striker of the ball is out.

21. Or, if the ball be struck, and he wilfully strike it again.

22. Or, if in running a notch, the wicket be struck down by a throw, or by the hand or arm (with ball in hand) before his foot, hand, or bat be grounded over the popping-crease. But if the ball be off, the stump must be struck out of the ground.

23. Or, if any part of the striker's dress knock down the wicket.

24. Or, if the striker touch, or take np the ball while in play, unless at the request of the other party.

25. Or, if with any part of his person he stop the ball, which in the opinion of the umpire at the bowler's wicket shall have been delivered in a straight line to the striker's wicket, and would have hit it.

26. If the players have crossed each other, he that runs for the wicket which is put down is out.

27. When a ball is caught, no notch shall be reckoned.

28. When a striker is run out, the notch which they were running for is not to be reckoned.

29. If a lost ball shall be called, the striker shall be allowed six; but if more than six shall have been run before "lost ball" shall bave been called, then the striker shall have ail which have been run.

30. When the ball has been in the bowler's

or wicket-keeper's hands, it is considered no longer in play; and the strikers need not keep within their ground till the umpire has called 'play;' but if the player go out of his ground with an intent to run before the ball be delivered, the bowler may put him out.

31. If the striker be hurt, he may retire from his wicket, and return to it at any time in that innings.

32. If a striker be hurt, some other person may be allowed to stand out for him, but not to go in.

33. No substitute in the field shall be allowed to bowl, keep wicket, stand at the point or middle wicket, or stop behind to a fast bowler, unless with the consent of the adverse party.

34. If any person stop the ball with his hat, the ball shall be considered as dead, and the opposite party shall add five notches to their score; if any be run, they are to have five in all.

35. If the ball be struck, the striker may guard his wicket either with his bat, or his body.

36. The wicket-keeper shall stand at a reasonable distance behind the wicket, and shall not move till the ball be out of the bowler's hand, and shall not by any noise incommode the striker, and if any part of his person be over or before the wicket, although the ball hit it, the striker shall not be out.

37. The umpires are sole judges of fair and unfair play, and all disputes shall be determined by them, each at his own wicket-but in case of a catch, which the umpire at the wicket bowled from cannot see sufficiently to decide upon, he may apply to the other umpire, whose opinion is conclusive.

38. The umpires in all matches shall pitch fair wickets, and the parties shall toss for the choice of innings.

39. They shall allow two minutes for each man to come in, and fifteen minutes between each innings, when the umpires shall call "play," the party refusing to play shall lose the match.

40. They are not to order a player out, unless appealed to by the adversaries.

41. But if the bowler's foot be not behind the bowling-crease, and within the returncrease, when he shall deliver the ball, they must, unasked, call “no ball.”

42. If the striker run a short notch, the umpire must call, "no notch."

43. The umpires are not to be changed during the match, but by the consent of both parties.

LAWS FOR SINGLE WICKET.

When there shall be less than five players on a side, bounds shall be placed twenty-two yards each in a line from the off and legstump.

The ball must be hit before the bounds to entitle the striker to a run, which run cannot be obtained unless he touch the bowling

When the striker shall hit the ball, one of his feet must be on the ground, and behind the popping-crease; otherwise the umpire shall call " no hit."

When there shall be less than five players on a side, no byes nor overthrows shall be allowed.

The field's-man must return the ball so that

it shall cross the play between the wicket and the bowling-stump-or between the wicket and the bounds; the striker may run till the ball shall be so returned.

After the striker shall have run one notch, if he start again, he must touch the bowlingstump, and turn before the ball shall cross the play to entitle him to another.

The striker shall be entitled to three notches for lost ball, and the same number for ball stopped with bat, with reference to the 29th and 34th laws at double wicket.

When there shall be more than four players on a side, there shall be no bounds. All hits, byes, and overthrows, shall then be allowed.

The bowler is subject to the same laws as at double wicket.

Not more than one minute shall be allowed between each ball.

Emulation of Nightingales.

in Persia, nightingales are said to abound. In the gardens of the Dilgushá, in Shiráz which not only sing during the night, but whose plaintive melody is not by day sus pended in the East as it is in our colder region; and it is said, that several of those birds have expired while contending with musicians in the loudness or variety of their notes. It has, indeed, been known, according to Pliny, that in vocal trials among nightingales, the vanquished bird terminated its song only with its life.

An intelligent Persian, who repeated his story again and again, and permitted me to William Ouseley), declared that he had more write it down from his lips (observes Sir than once been present when a celebrated lutanist, Mirza Mohammed, surnamed Baltab, was playing to a large company in a grove near Shiraz, where he distinctly saw the nightingales trying to vie with the musician; sometimes warbling on the trees, sometimes fluttering from branch to branch, as if they melody proceeded; and at length, dropping wished to approach the instrument whence the on the ground in a kind of ecstasy, from which he assured me they were soon raised by a change in the mode. And in one of Strada's Academical Prolusions, we find a most beautiful poem, which tends to confirm the Persian report for it supposes a spirit of emulation so powerful in the nightingale, that having strained her little throat, vainly endeavouring to excel the musician, she breathes out her life in one last effort, and drops upon the instrument which had contributed to her defeat.

THE BELT WHICH ONCE THE CHAMPION BRAC'D.

AIR-" The Harp that once in Tara's Halls."

The BELT which once the CHAMPION brac❜d,
When boxing honor reigned,

In modern times has been disgraced,
And all its glory stain'd;

For he, whose pugilistic fame

Each Fancy Bard should sing,

Now hides his head in conscious shame,

And banish'd from the Ring.

TOM CRIBB, thy manly form no more,

In fight we shall behold;
But matchless were thy deeds of yore,
As generous as bold:

Base acts your gallant spirit spurned,
And manfully you dealt,
And honestly, though hardly, earn'd
The English CHAMPION'S Belt.

Thy praise shall long resound afar,
The Champion long wert thou,
And honor was thy leading star,
And triumph deck'd thy brow
But glory now is on the wane,
The Fancy in despair-

When shall we see thy like again,
The Champion's Belt to wear!