THE VILLAGE CRICKET CLUB. 299 



' The next person I recollect, was a gentle- 

 man of the name of Browne : he possessed the 

 property of a great part of the neighbouring 

 parish, and lived during the summer months 

 in a farm-house of his own, to which he had 

 added a couple of rooms for his temporary ac- 

 commodation. He was a singular person, quick, 

 lively, and alert in body, though very fat ; but un- 

 fortunately still quicker in temper and disposition. 

 He prided himself on his bowling more particu- 

 larly, which indeed was not bad, but fell far short 

 of his notions of its excellence : now it often hap- 

 pened, that if a steady batter was opposed to him, 

 his bowling was of no more effect than small shot 

 against a battery. Then began a scene of inde- 

 scribable fun : he totally lost not only his temper, 

 but his good sense. ' There,' he said, (when per- 

 haps he had pitched a good ball, which had been 

 as well met) ' there, you ought to have been out> 

 ' why don't you lay your bat ? its of no use bowl- 

 ' ing so. That ball ought to have had you out.' 

 This was something in the stile of Bonaparte, who 

 is reported to have said, ' That by all the science of 

 ' war, the English were beaten at Waterloo f so 

 our friend Mr. Browne argued : and often to 



would not suit the parishioners of Sloane Street or St. Pancras. 

 (But if the bishops were more familiar with the clergy, and the 

 clergy with their flocks, the church would be more popular than 



ltls * 



