L 



58 ] 



to 



gallantry, adopted a Queen on their board *. That the river 

 between the parties is expreflive of the general face of this 

 country, where a battle could hardly be fought without en- 

 countering an interruption of this kind, which the foldier was 

 here tauglit to overcome ; but that, on the introdudion of the 

 game into Perfia, the board changed v/ith the dry nature of 

 the region, and the contefl was decided on terra firma. And 

 laftly, that in no account of the origin of Chefs, that I have 

 read, has the tale been fo characleriftic or confiftent as that 

 which I have the honour to offer to the Irifh Academy. 

 With the Indians, it was defigned by a Bramin to cure the 

 melancholy of the daughter of a Rajah. With the Perfians, 

 my memory does not alTift me to trace the fable ; though, if 

 it were more to the purpofe, I think I fliould have retained 

 it. But, with the Chinefe, it was invented by an experienced 

 foldier, on the principles of war. Not to difpel love-fick va- 

 pours, or inftru6l a female in a fcience that could neither 

 benefit nor inform her ; but to quiet the murmurs of a 

 difcontented foldiery ; to employ their vacant hours in leflbns 

 on the military art, and to cherifli the fpirit of conqueft in 

 the bofom of winter quarters. Its age is traced by them on 



record 



• That on the acquifition of fo ftrong a piece as the Vizier, the Pab were 

 fupprefled, this as poflefling powers unintelligible, at that time, to other nations ; 

 and three pawns added, in confequence, to make up the number of men ; and that 

 as difcipline improved, the lines, which are ftraggling on the Chinefe board, might 

 have been clofed on ours. 



