countrymen, who have committed as great a fault as the Germans. They are less to be excused, there being many good players among them, nay, some of them the best in Europe. I presume they have been led away (like myself formerly) by a bad custom, established, in all probability, by the persons who first brought Chess into France; I am inclined to think it must have been some player at draughts, who knowing little more than the moves of the pieces, imagined one might make as many queens in the game at Chess as at draughts. I would only ask, what a fine sight it is to see upon the chess-board, two pawns on the same square, to distinguish a second queen; and if by chance a third should be made (as I have often seen at Paris), then it is still a finer sight, while the bottom of the pawn is almost sufficient to cover a square on the board! Is not, therefore, this method most ridiculous, especially as it is practised in no country where the game of Chess is known? However, if my countrymen will go on in this erroneous way, I would advise them, to prevent all disputes that may arise

about their multiplicity of queens, to make to each set of chess-men three or four queens, as many rooks, knights, &c.”

The writer above-mentioned forms a candid supposition, that perhaps Philidor, in yielding to the mode, contained in the 1Xth Law, was overborn by a majority, prepossessed in favour of a practice to which from their first acquaintance with the game they had been accustomed. A great difficulty still overpowers the question: I have now before me an edition containing the laws published in 1790, and the one from which the above extract from Philidor is cited was printed in 1791; both before Philidor's death, which took place in 1795.

The Indians, when their pawn has attained the line of the adversary's pieces, if it steps into the queen's, bishop's, knight's, or rook's houses, make it that officer whose station he has taken, provided such a one has previously been lost; otherwise the pawn must be endeavoured to be protected till the requisite vacancy happens.

CHECK.—As on the political board the

king never dies, so on the chess-board the king is never taken; and, therefore, whenever he is attacked, and in such a situation as were he an inferior piece he would be captured, notice is immediately given him of his danger by the word check.

DOUBLE CHECK—is when it is given by two pieces at once, and which is not uncommon; for example-a bishop may stand before a rook, so that neither gives check, when by moving, and checking with the bishop, the rook may give check by discovery also; and the same with the other pieces. There are There are three ways of getting out of check; first, by taking the piece attacking him, either by himself or one of his party : and this can only be done, in the case of double check, if one of the pieces does not guard the other. Secondly, by interposing a piece between him and the threatener; which also cannot be done in the case of double check, or against a knight. Thirdly, by removing to another square which no hostile piece commands.

CHECKMATE-is when neither of these is in his power; he is therefore checkmated, and the game is at an end.

It is almost needless to say, that one king cannot give check to the other, since, by it, he himself stands in a similar situation.

There are different ways of giving checkmate, as follow:

CHECKMATE by Discovery-which is when an adverse piece is opposed to the king, but is for the time incapable of injury, owing to a piece standing between him and the king the discovery takes place when this latter piece is removed, and in case the piece removed is a hostile one; so that the discovered check arises by the act of the enemy. It is considered a master-stroke, and frequently fatal.

BLIND MATE-is that which is given unwittingly, and not perceived till it has been done; which, of course, is productive of but little merit, and in France, when the game is played strictly, only half the stake (if there be any) is won.

G

SMOTHERED MATE-is when the king is so surrounded by his own friends that he cannot move out of check for them; and this mate is generally given by the knight.

FORCED MATE - is that which is clearly seen to be inevitable, though a few desperate sacrifices might for a while protract it.

STALE MATE-called le pat by the French, and lo stallo by the Italians, from stall, a dwelling place, because the king remains in his place, is when the king, not being in check, is so crowded up either by his own or his adversary's pieces that he cannot move without going into check, and at the same time has no other piece to move, In this case, he is allowed with us to win the game; in France, however, it is made a drawn game.

DRAWN GAME.-This must frequently happen between equal players; and most commonly is occasioned by one of the five