THE LAWS OF CRICKET.

'THE ball should weigh not less than five ounces and a half, nor more than five ounces and three quarters. The bail cannot be changed during the game, without the consent of both parties.

The bat must not exceed four inches and one quarter in the widest part.

The stumps must be twenty-two inches high, and the ball six inches long.

The bowling crease must be in a line with the stumps, three feet in length, with a return crease.

The popping crease must be three feet ten inches from the wickets; and the wickets must be opposite to each other, at twenty two yards distance.

The party which goes from home shall have the choice of the innings and pitchings of the wickets, which shall be pitched within thirty yards of a centre fixed by the adversaries.

When the parties meet at a third place, the bowlers shall toss up for the pitching of the first wicket, and the choice of going in.

Neither party can alter the ground during the match without consent of the other, either by moving, covering, rolling, or beating it.

The ball must be delivered by the bowler with one foot behind the bowling-crease, and within the returncrease; and he must bowl four balls before he changes wickets, which he shall do but once in the same innings.

He may order the striker at his wicket to stand on which side of it he pleases.

The striker is out if the bail is bowled off, or the stump bowled out of the ground.

Or when the ball, from a stroke over or under his bat, or upon his hands (but not wrists) is held before it touches the ground, though it be hugged to the body of the catcher.

Or if, in striking, both his feet are over the poppingcrease, and his wicket is put down, except his bat is grounded within it.

Or if, in striking at the ball, he hits down his wicket. Or if he runs out of his ground to hinder a catch. Or if a ball is struck up, and he wilfully strikes it again.

Or if, in running a notch, the wicket is struck down by a throw, or with the ball in hand, before his foot, hand, or bat, is grounded over the popping crease; but if the bail is off, a stump must be struck out of the ground by the ball.

Or when the striker touches or takes up the ball before it has lain still, unless done at the request of the opposite party.

Or if the striker puts his leg before the wicket with a design to stop the ball, and actually prevents the ball from hitting his wicket by it.

If the players have crossed each other, he that runs for the wicket that is put down is out; but if they are not crossed, he that has left the wicket that is put down is out.

When the ball has been in the bowler's or wicketkeeper's hands, the strikers need not keep within their ground till the umpire has called play; but if the player goes out of his ground with a design to run, before the ball is delivered, the bowler then may put him out.

When the ball is struck up in the running ground between the wickets, the strikers may lawfully hinder its being catched; but they must neither strike at, nor touch the ball with their hands.

When the ball is struck up, the striker may guard his wicket either with his bat or his body.

In single wicket matches, should the striker move out of his ground to strike at the ball, he shall not be allowed a notch for such stroke.

The wicket keeper shall stand at a moderate distance behind the wicket, and shall not move till the ball is out of the bowler's hand, and shall not by any noise incommode the striker; and if his hands, knees, foot, or head, be over or before the wicket, though the ball hit it, it shall not be out.

The umpires shall allow ten minutes for each man to come in, and fifteen minutes between each innings.

When the umpires shall call Play, the party then refusing to play, loses the match.

They are the sole judges of fair and unfair play, and all disputes shall determined by them.

When a striker is hurt, they are to allow another to come in, and the person hurt shall have his hands in any part of that innings.

They are not to order a player out, unless when appealed to by the adversaries.

But if the bowler's foot is not behind the bowlingcrease, and within the returning crease, when he delivers the ball, the umpire, unasked, must call No ball.

If the strikers run a short notch, the umpire must call No notch.

When a ball is caught, no notch to be reckoned. When a striker is run out, the notch running for is not to be reckoned.

BETTING.

If the notches of one player are laid against another, the bet depends on both the innings, unless otherwise specified.

If one party beats the other in one innings, the notches in the first innings shall decide the bet.

But if the other party goes in a second time, then the bet must be determined by the numbers on the score.

THE GAME OF BILLIARDS.

To play this game correctly, attention must be given to the method of holding the mace or cue, and the manner of delivering the ball from the mace, or of striking it with the cue: but these things are much more easily acquired by observation, or by the direction of a profi cient in the game, than by any possible written rules.

A person who plays with his right hand, must stand with his left foot foremost; and he who is left handed, with his right foot; by which he will stand more firm and steady.

The votaries of this game should be particularly cau tious not to suffer their temper to be irritated by any occurrences or disappointments whatever, during the game: a steady hand and a serenity of temper, being indispensable requisites to the well playing of it.

We shall forbear noticing those games formerly in vogue, they being now very little played, if at all, and bear besides so great an affinity to their substitutes, that we deem treating of them superfluous.

The games now principally played are,
The English game.

The French following game.
The winning and losing game.
The revolution, or four ball game.
The game of Pool.

n order to avoid a repetition of the subject, in each game separately, we shall previously take notice of those rules and regulations which are applicable to all, with some exceptions for the game of Pool.

Rules and Regulations relating to the different Games.

1. The commencement is, to string for the lead, and the choice of balls; and he who brings his ball nearest to the upper cushion, wins the lead, and has the privi lege of commencing first or not.

That part of the table where the striker commences from, is called the upper end; and consequently the other part is called the lower end.

2. He who, in leading, holes his own, or touches his opponent's ball, loses the lead.

3. During a rubber, the person who lost the preceding game, has the privilege of commencing the next.

4. If the striker, without an intention of striking, touches his own ball, it is deemed an accident; and his opponent may replace it: but if, by the same accident, he holes his own or moves another, it is a stroke, though not intended as such.

5. The striker should take particular notice, before he strikes, that nothing lays on the table that can injure the winning of the balls: he not being entitled to gain, but liable to lose every thing made in consequence.

6. A ball standing on the edge of a hole falling into it, after adjudged to stand still, must be replaced in the same position.

7. If a ball, standing on the edge of a hole, should fall into it before the striker's ball has reached it, the stroke is void, and the balls must be replaced in the same positions.

8. If the balls are changed, and is not known by which party, the game must be played out so.

9. A person playing with the wrong ball, if not discovered by his opponent before the next stroke, gains as many points as in playing with his own; and the different parties must continue with them during the

game.

10. Any person playing with the wrong ball cannot count, if discovered by his opponent before the next stroke, and each party must resume the ball he commenced with.

We think it proper to observe here, that the above rule is sufficiently strict, as every person has the privilege of rectifying his opponent before he strikes, if he thinks proper.

11. Striking both balls together, with cue or mace, constitutes a foul stroke: and no person is entitled to gain any thing so made, if discovered by his opponent before the next stroke: but liable to lose as many points as in striking fair; and withal forfeits the next stroke.