The Marylebone Club in 1880

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

President-- SIR WILLIAM HART-DYKE, Bart., M.P.

Treasurer--The Hon. SPENCER PONSORY-FANE.

Secretary-- H. PERKINS, Esq.

The Committee
• Trustees EARL DUDLEY, EARL SEPTON. Hon. F. PONSONBY, R. BROUGHTON, Esq., W. NICHOLSON, Esq.
• EARL WINTERTON, LORD LYTTELTON, Hon. ROBERT GRIMSTON, Lieut.-Col. KENYON-SLANEY, R. C. ANTROBUS, Esq., E. L. BATEMAN, Esq., S. BIRCHAM, Esq., J. M. HEATHCOTE, Esq., F. LEE, Esq., H. M. MARSHALL, Esq., T. RATLIFF, Esq., A. W. RIDLEY, Esq., ALGERNON RUTTER, Esq., G. F. VERNON, Esq., V. E. WALKER, Esq., and Rev. A. R. WARD.

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

Professional Bowlers engaged at in 1880-- 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, G. G. Hearne jun., M. Sherwin, John Wheeler, W. Price, W. Flowers, W. Hearn (Herts), W. Barnes, R. Pilling, F. Steele, E. O'Shanghnessy, W. Midwinter, and G. Ulyett (for such matches as he is able to play).

Ground Supt.--P. Pearce. Tennis Master--Geo. Lambert (Champion).

The following notice is taken from Bells life of May 8th:--

THE MEETING.

The 93rd Anniversary Meeting of the M. C. C. was held at the Pavilion at Lord's Cricket Ground, on Wednesday, May 5th, W. Nicholson, Esq., M.P., President, in the chair. There were bout 150 members present. The secretary read the annual report as follows:--

Your committee report that the total numbers of members, including those abroad, amounts to 2,514, being an increase of 106 over the number in the previous year. The number of matches played by the club was 84, of which 43 were won, 34 drawn, and 7 lost.

£2,379 was expended in matches, being £362 less than in the previous year.

The total receipts from gate money amounted to £3,256, being £938 less than in 1878; but this deficiency is accounted for by the unprecedented wetness of the weather, which, on many days, early in the season, prevented any play from taking place.

The committee have to regret the loss of the hon. treasurer, Mr. Thomas Burgoyne, who died suddenly in October last, and they feel sure that every member of the club will share in this regret, and acknowledge the great services gratuitously rendered by Mr. Burgoyne to the club.

The Hon. Spencer Ponsonby-Fane has kindly undertaken the duties of treasurer since Mr. Burgoyne's death, and is willing, should the general meeting approve, to undertake the office.

Viscount Lewisham, Mr. C. E. Boyle, Hon. C. E. Leigh, and Mr. G. H. Wood, retire by rotation from the committee; Mr. E. L. Bateman, Lieut.-colonel Kenyon-Slaney, Mr. G. F. Vernon, and Rev. A. R. Ward, have been duly proposed, seconded, and have expressed themselves willing to serve.

The ground staff for the ensuing season will consist of T. Hearne, A.Shaw, F. Wild, F.Morley, Rylott, Randon, Farrands, Flanagan, Clayton, West, Nixon, T. Mycroft, G.G.Hearne, Sherwin, Wheeler, W. Price, Flowers, W. Hearn, Barnes, Pilling, Steele, O'Shaughnessy, Midwinter, and G.Ulyett (for such matches as he is able to play.) W. Mycroft goes to Sussex for the purpose of improving county cricket there.

Mr. J. M. Heathcote holds the Champion Tennis Prize, and Mr. Courtenay Boyle holds the Silver Price.

Your committee have to report that they have purchased the leasehold of the Cedars, No. 18, Elm Tree Road, which has 36 years to run at a peppercorn rent, and request this meeting to confirm the purchase.

The rules, as revised by the committee, will be submitted to the special meeting for their approval. There is no great alteration in the spirit of the rules, except that subscriptions will in future become due on the 1st January instead of the 1st May.

Another alteration in the rules will be found in Rule IX. of the revised rules, which provides that half the candidates for admission at any ballot may be brought forward before their regular turn on account of their cricketing qualifications. The number of M.C.C. matches, which (as will be seen by the match list) increases every year, renders it difficult on many occasions to get the required number of gentlemen, and your committee feel sure that this power to elect members who are both able and willing to play for the Club, will tend to further the interests of cricket.

For the greater convenience and comfort of the members, and for the better protection of those in charge of the entrance gates and Pavilion, the committee have thought it advisable to supply a voucher of membership to each member, in accordance with the plan now almost universally adopted in clubs of a similar character. This voucher will have to be produced at the members' entrance gate, and also at the Pavilion. Should, however, the member not be provided with his voucher, he will be required to leave his card with the person in charge, or write his name in a book which will be handed to him for the purpose, in accordance with the present regulations.

After explanation of certain items in the accounts had been given by the Secretary, the report was unanimously adopted.

The Rev. J. Randolph proposed, and Sir Charles Oakeley, Bart., seconded, the Hon. Spencer Ponsonby-Fane as treasurer, in the room of the late Mr. Thomas Burgoyne, and this was carried unanimously.

The meeting was then made special to consider certain proposal alterations in the rules of the club.

THE DINNER.

The 93rd Annual Dinner took place at Lord's's Hotel, at 7.30 p.m., W. Nicholson, Esq., President, in the chair. The retiring President nominated Sir William Hart-Dyke, Bart., M.P., as his successor for the ensuing year.

THE GROUND.

The terribly wet summer of 1879 was followed by one of the most severe winters experienced for many years; but notwithstanding these drawbacks, the unremitting exertions of Pearce, the ground superintendent at Lord's, aided as they were by an early and favourable spring, resulted in the old ground being in as fine a condition for cricket as in any previous year.

THE MATCHES.

M. C. C. AND G. v. 20 COLTS OF MIDDLESEX, and a Captain

(Mr. P. M. Thornton).--Played at Lord's May 6, 7.-- Bright weather favoured this the opening match of the season at Lord's. On a good wicket the Colts began in promising form, the first nine batsmen, producing the respectable total of 126. This success was not maintained, however, by the remaining twelve who scored 30 only between them. M. C. C. started badly, but, assisted by Mr. Hornby with a lively 61, not out, and by G. G. Hearne and Mr. H. J. Hill with 24 and 19 respectively, the eleven were enabled to get on even terms with their opponents. The second innings of the Colts was very disappointing, not one of those who had succeeded in getting into double figures in the first innings being able to repeat the performance. Mr. Mainwaring, however, shewed good defence for a steadily played 20, not out. The 70 runs required by M. C. C. to win were obtained for the loss of two wickets. For the Colts, Mr. J. Stewart with 31 and 0; Mr. R. Arden Davis, 15 and 5; Almond, 24 and 5; Bates, 29 and 5; Mr. W. N. Mainwaring, 3 and 20, not out; and Dark, 14 and 3, were the principal scorers. Wilson bowled very successfully, taking 5 wickets, 4 bowled, for 38 runs. For M. C. C. Mr. Hornby scored 61, not out; Barnes, 12 and 30, not out, G. G. Hearne, 24 and 7; Mr. J. Robertson, 2 and 20; Mr. H. J. Hill, 19; and Mr. G. F. Vernon, 2 and 10, not out. Rylott took 8 wickets for 60 runs; Mr J. Robertson, 7 for 26; Barnes, 10 for 87; and Hon. W. N. Hood, 7 for 18 runs, with lobs. Totals:-- M. C. C. AND G., 160 and (2 wickets down) 70. COLTS OF MIDDLESEX, 160 and 69.