Cricket, 27 



thing to be seen at the present day, and 

 which was in high estimation among the 

 members. Unluckily, after a club dinner, a 

 yonng member who had his grog on board, 

 jumped on the table, and ran off with the 

 j)recious relic, to have, as he said, " one hit ;" 

 the hit shattered it to atoms, when the culprit 

 had to make a speedy retreat, or unpleasant 

 consequences would certainly have resulted 

 from the outraged feelings of the spectators. 



The Hambledon men were all cricketers ; 

 but a few names must be specially mentioned. 

 Foremost among them was Mr. Hale, the 

 owner of Windmill Down ; and Mr. Bonham 

 of Petersfield, Colonel King, and Messrs. Ei- 

 chards and Butler were constant attendants 

 at the matches which Mr. Smith exerted him- 

 self to get up. He was an enthusiast about 

 the game ; and haying often played at Lord's 

 with the Marylebone Club, he was well ac- 

 quainted with Mr. "William Ward, and gene- 

 rally prevailed on him to attend the Ham- 



