32 

 A LECTURE ON CHESS. 



BY H. R. FEANCIS, ESQ. 



lieing an outline of ihat delivered before the Members of the 

 Philosophical Society , on Tuesday, February 7th, 1843. 



A Lecture on " Chess," before such a society as I have the 

 pleasure of addressing, may be objected to by some as wanting in 

 dignity ; by others as deficient in interest. To the former class I 

 would reply, that the game of Chess is raised far above all other 

 recreations by its high antiquity — by the gieat names which have 

 been connected with its history — and still more by its highly philso- 

 phical character. In answer to the latter, I would merely refer to a 

 small collection of Chess anecdotes which I hold in my hand, pub- 

 lished early in this century. In one of its chapters, a catalogue is 

 given of 50 works on Chess theit extant. This number is now in- 

 creased fully threefold, by treatises of every kind, from the simplest 

 elementary lessons on Chess to Mons. Alexandre's elaborate and 

 scientific compilation, " L' Encyclopedic des Echecs." Paris, more- 

 over, and London, respectively maintain periodicals which enjoy an 

 extensive circulation, though devoted entirely to Chess. T refer to 

 the " Palamede," edited by the first of French Chess players, Mons. 

 St. Amant, and the " Chess Players' Chronicle," conducted by Mr. 

 Staunton, the first of English professors, excepting the veteran Lewis. 

 These may, I think, be considered decisive proofs that there is a large 

 and growing class to whom the subject which I have chosen is highly 

 interesting. And if that class have but few representatives in Hull, 

 I have only to hope that my present Essay may recommend the game 

 to some who have neglected it, not from dislike, but from ignorance 

 of its real character. 



The subject naturally arranges itself under three heads — its history, 

 its social value as a recreation, and its tactics. Under the first of 

 these heads, I may naturally be expected to state the country where 

 Chess originated, the name of its author, and the date of its invention. 

 I regret, however, to say, that to none of these questions can a satis- 

 factory answer be rendered. With regard to the first, however, the 

 evidence appears to me to be strongly in favour of India. Europe 



