302 THE COUNTRY CLERGYMAN. 



as the standard. This was all very agreeable and 

 instructive ; but when hastily putting his pencil in 

 his pocket, he was called to the wicket, and when, 

 in spite of his diagrams and calculations, I often 

 saw his stumps lowered in a dozen balls, I began to 

 think that a quick eye and ready hand would make 

 a better cricketer than all the propositions of Euclid. 

 Having a real respect and regard for Collier, I ge- 

 nerally either walked away when such a misfortune 

 befell him, as I have related, or I pretended to be 

 engaged ; but he usually came up to me, and taking 

 out his pencil again, shewed me in what point, 

 owing perhaps to roughness in the turf, the angle 

 of reflexion was not such as it ought to have been, 

 and consequently that he played quite correctly, 

 though not with success. This satisfied him ; and 

 the very last words you heard him repeat, before 

 he left us, were * if you know the angle of the 

 4 ball, however good it is, it is impossible you can 

 * be bowled out.* 1 



* I must pass over several of the players, who 

 were only remarkable perhaps for one species of ex- 

 cellence. Neale the plumber and glazier, hit very 

 short and hard, and could get his runs quickly; 

 Bridger, who was a pastrycook and baker, was 

 exceeding fine as * cover-point,' while Daniels the 

 cooper, and Bright the watchmaker, were our long- 

 fields, to whose skill and unerring catches we could 

 trust. Bloomfield the keeper hit brilliantly to the 



