The Marylebone Club in 1881

Patron-- H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES.

President-- LORD GEORGE HAMILTON.

Treasurer-- THE HON. SPENCER PONSONBY-FANE.

Secretary-- H. PERKINS, Esq.

The Committee.
• Trustees EARL DUDLEY, EARL SEFTON, HON. F. PONSONBY, R. BROUGHTON, Esq., W. NICHOLSON, Esq.
• EARL WINTERTON, HON. ROBERT GRIMSTON, LIEUT.-COL. KENYON-SLANEY, SIR. W. HART-DYKE, C. E. BOYLE, Esq., HON. ALFRED LYTTELTON, E. HUME, Esq., E. L. BATEMAN, Esq., S. BIRCHAM, Esq., F. LEE, Esq., H. M. MARSHALL, Esq., T. RATLIFF, Esq., A. W. RIDLEY, Esq., ALGERNON RUTTER, Esq., G. F. VERNON, Esq., and REV. A. R. WARD.

Assistant Secretary and Clerk to the Committee--Mr. J. A. MURDOCH.

Pavilion Clerk-- G. F. HEARNE.

Professional Bowlers engaged at Lord's Ground in 1881-- Thomas Hearne, sen. (Captain), Alfred Shaw, F. Wyld, F. Morley, A. Rylott, F. Randon, F. H. Farrands, M. Flanagan, R. Clayton, John West, Nixon (of Cambs), T. Mycroft, G. G. Hearne, jun., M. Sherwin, John Wheeler, W. Price, W. Flowers, W. Hearn (Herts), W. Barnes, R. Pilling, E. O'Shaughnessy, W. Midwinter, W. Mycroft, W. Gunn, and W. Scotton.

Ground Supt.--P. Pearce.

Tennis Master--George Lambert (Champion).

The following notices of the Annual Meeting and Dinner are taken from Bell's Life of May 7th:--

THE MEETING.

The 94th Anniversary Meeting of the M.C.C. was held at the Pavilion at Lord's Cricket Ground, on Wednesday, May 4th, Sir William Hart-Dyke, Bart., president, in the chair. The secretary read the report, as follows:--

Your committee report that the number of members last year, including those abroad, amounted to 2,579, against 2,514 in 1879, being an increase of 65.

The club were engaged in 95 matches, of which 42 were won, 36 drawn, and 17 lost. The cost of the matches amounted to £2,735, as against £2,379 expended under the same head in 1879.

Your committee report that they have purchased the freehold of No. 20, Elm Tree Road; they have also purchased the leasehold of Mr. Dark's house, and the Armoury (of which the club are already freeholders); the latter will be converted into dining rooms for the use of members.

Two rooms have been added to the Pavilion. The roof of the Pavilion has been extended, and additional accommodation will thereby be provided for about 300 members.

The drainage of the ground has been thoroughly examined, and a new and efficient drain made from the north end of the Pavilion, connecting with the main sewer in the St. John's Wood-road.

With regard to the important question of the supply of refreshments on the ground, your committee have to report that, after careful investigation of the books and accounts of the present contractors, they have ascertained that there has been a considerable loss to them. The contractors assert that this loss has mainly arisen from the large increase in the number of luncheons provided from private resources on the occasions of the Universities and Public Schools' matches, and the consequent large diminution in their receipts, which formerly represented the chief profits of the contractors. It has been determined, on this account, to promise a considerable subsidy to the present contractors for this season.

Your committee wish to call the attention of the club to the fact, that of those members who were elected out of their order last year, under the 9th rule, more than one-half have failed to take part in any match on behalf of the club, thus defeating the object for which the rule was passed; and they have decided that in future no one will be brought forward out of his order unless he shall have given a distinct pledge to play in a reasonable number of matches.

Lord Lyttelton, Messrs. R. C. Antrobus, J. M. Heathcote, and V. E. Walker, retire by rotation from the committee. Sir W. Hart-Dyke, Hon. a. Lyttelton, Messrs C. E. Boyle, and E. Hume, have been duly proposed and seconded, and have expressed their willingness to serve in the place of those gentlemen who retire.

Mr. R. J. Ward having placed his resignation as auditor in the hands of the committee, it will devolve upon the general meeting to appoint his successor. The committee desire to express their sincere regret at Mr. Ward's retirement, and their acknowledgments of the great service which that gentlemen has for many years rendered to the club. Mr. Antrobus has expressed his willingness to accept the vacant office, and the committee have much pleasure in recommending him to the general meeting.

In the Match List for 1881 Over and Under Thirty has been substituted for the time-worn North and South Match, and the proceeds will be given to F. Farrands, who has been engaged on the Ground for thirteen years, and in the opinion of your committee has well earned a benefit.

The ground staff for the season will consist of T. Hearne, A. Shaw, F. Wild, F. Morley, Rylott, Randon F. Farrands, Clayton, West, Nixon, Flanagan, W. Mycroft, T. Mycroft, G. G. Hearne, Sherwin, Wheeler, W. Price, Flowers, W. Hearn, Barnes, Pilling, Midwinter, O'Shaughnessy, W. Gunn, and W. Scotton.

Mr. J. M. Heathcote once more maintained his right to hold the Champion Tennis Prize, and the Hon. A. Lyttelton gained the Silver Tennis Prize.

After some discussion the report was adopted.

THE DINNER.

The 94th Annual Dinner took place at Lord's Hotel on Wednesday evening, May 4th. There were present Sir William Hart-dyke, Bart, president, in the chair; Lord George Hamilton, M.P., Lord Harris, Messrs A. W. Ridley, R. C. Antrobus, A. Rutta, G. F. Vernon, Harvey Fellows, R. P. Broughton, J. M. Heathcote, H. Perkins, Dr. Waddilove, &c.

After the usual loyal toast had been duly honoured, Sir WILLIAM HART-DYKE proposed success to Cricket, and, in doing so, said that his year of office had been a pleasant one, and that he much regretted that it had come to an end. He had much pleasure in nominating Lord George Hamilton as his successor.

Lord GEORGE HAMILTON then took the chair, and said that as far as lay in his power he should promote the interests of the M.C.C.

Mr. HARVEY FELLOWS proposed The Committee, which was responded to by Mr. BROUGHTON.

Lord GEORGE HAMILTON proposed The Health of the Secretary in very complimentary terms, to which Mr. PERKINS appropriately responded.

Mr. ANTROBUS proposed The Tennis Prize Winners, for whom Mr. HEATHCOTE returned thanks.

THE GROUND

Pearce spared no pains to render the old ground as true, firm, and green as ever, and on the opening day of the season the wickets left nothing to be desired. The burning sun and drying winds in May, however, materially discounted the care and labour he had bestowed, destroying the beautifully fresh appearance of the turf and rendering it in places scant of herbage.

THE MATCHES

M. C. C. AND G. v. 21 COLTS OF MIDDLESEX, and a Captain

(Mr. P. M. Thornton).--Played at Lord's, May 5, 6.--A lovely day and a faultless wicket. The eleven went to wicket first, and succeeded in putting together the respectable total of 149, Wyld playing a capital not out innings of 40; Mr. F. Tootel (fast left), Mr. R. M. Flynn and Roy (both medium right) shewing the best form with the ball for the Colts. About 5 o'clock the youngsters commenced batting, and before stumps