Obituaries in 1900

HON. JOCELINE GEORGE HERBERT AMHERST ( Harrow) born at 66, Grosvenor Square, London, June 7, 1846; died February 1, 1900. Scores and Biographies (Vol. 8, p. 390) says of him:- Is a steady batsman, a good field near the wicket, and a slow, round-armed, straight bowler, with an easy delivery. At various times he held high offices in the political world. For Harrow v. Eton in 1864, he scored 3 and obtained eight wickets for 69 runs. For Harrow v. Eton in 1865, he scored 85, and obtained five wickets for 49 runs.

ALFRED BROWN of Malton, died November 1st aged 46. He was for a good many years a well-known cricketer at Malton, and on September 4th 1873, he won a single wicket match for £50 a side against John Hicks of York. He was born at Malton on the 10th of June, 1854.

LIEUT-COLONEL SIR FREDERICK THOMAS HERVEY-BATHURST, born in London, Mach 13, 1833, died in London, May 20, 1900, aged sixty-seven. Played for Eton v. Harrow and Winchester in 1849 and 1850. He was at one time M.P. for Wiltshire, and was also a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Grenadier Guards, and participated in the Crimean War with his regiment. He was a son of Sir Frederick Bathurst, the great bowler. One of his sons, Mr. F. R. Hervey-Bathurst, was in the Eton elevens of 1887 and 1888. Height 6ft. 1/8-in., weight 13 stone. Was a fine hard hitter, making capital on-drives. Bowled round-arm fast, and also slow under-hand lobs. In the field he was generally point, where he was very active. Scores and Biographies (Vol. 4, p. 69). In the great public school matches he scored:-17 and 16 for Eton v. Harrow, at Lord"s, August 3, 4, 1849; 12 for Eton v. Winchester, at Lord"s, August 4, 6, 1849; 0 for Eton v. Harrow, at Lord"s, August 2, 3, 1850; 0 and 1 for Eton v. Winchester, at Lord"s, August 5, 6, 1850.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL A. H. BIRCHAM died February 13, 1900. Colonel Bircham was for many years on the Committee of the Surrey Club, and was for a long time treasurer of the Incogniti Club. He was an enthusiastic lover of the game.

CAPTAIN CECIL WILLIAM BOYLE ( Clifton and Oxford University). Born in Chester Street, London, March 16, 1853, died at Boshof (whilst fighting for the British cause), April 6, 1900. Scores and Biographies (Vol. 12, page 222) said of him:- Is a good average bat, fielding generally at slip, and is a fine fast round-arm bowler. Height, 5ft. 11¾ ins.; weight, 12st. 3lbs. Captain Boyle played for Oxford v. Cambridge in 1873, but was not very successful. He bowled at that time at a tremendous pace. He was a cousin of Sir Courtenay Boyle, so well known as Mr. C. E. Boyle in the Oxford eleven in 1865-6-7.

MR. JOHN BURRUP, died July 29, 1900, being over eighty years of age. He was one of the 70 members of the old Montpelier Club, who joined the Surrey County Cricket Club on its formation in 1845. Was one of the real founders of the Club, his association with Surrey cricket extending over fifty-five years. Succeeding Mr. W. Denison, the first Hon. Sec. of the Surrey County C.C. in 1848, he held the post till 1855, to be followed by his twin brother William. It was in a very great measure owing to his exertions during the eight years he was secretary, that the Oval was prevented from falling into the hands of the builders.

MR. DAVID BUCHANAN, who died on the 31st of May, was one of the very best slow bowlers of the last generation. His career was in one respect almost unique. Though he played cricket all his life, he did not really become famous till he had reached the age of thirty-eight. Originally a fast bowler, he, some time in the sixties, changed his method, and thenceforward met with a degree of success that he had never before approached. He took hundreds of wickets in all sorts of matches, but his reputation will always rest on his really wonderful bowling for Gentlemen against Players. Beginning in 1868 and ending in 1874, he assisted the Gentlemen at Lord"s and the Oval in ten matches, and took in nineteen innings eighty-seven wickets at a cost of less than fifteen runs each. For these exact statistics we are indebted to the recently published book entitled Bat and Ball-a collection of individual cricket records from 1864 to 1900. Bowling left-handed. Mr. Buchanan set little store on what is known as a good length. He bowled to be hit, and depended for his wickets on pitched up balls with plenty of spin on them. Whether he would have been so uniformly successful against the great professional batsmen of the present day is a question that no one can answer, but it is certain that he caused far more trouble to Daft, Jupp, and the rest of the Players than any other amateur bowler of his time. As a cricketer he was a bowler pure and simple, his batting and fielding counting for nothing. Still, as he nearly always took four or five wickets in an innings, he was worth a place in any eleven. He was asked to go to Australia with Lord Harris"s team in 1878, but, though much pressed, he declined the invitation. He probably felt that at forty-eight he was hardly equal to the fatigues of a tour in the Colonies. At the time of his death Mr. Buchanan was in his seventy-first year. He was born on January 16, 1830.

BOLERO, REV. H. K. ( Harrow and Cambridge University), died February 18, 1900, aged 68. Played in the Public School matches of 1850, scoring for Harrow v. Winchester, 7; and v. Eton 14 and 12. He played three times in the University match for Cambridge, scoring in 1851, 9; in 1852, 50 and 9; and in 1853, 15 and 11.

PRINCE, CHRISTIAN VICTOR, who died of fever in Pretoria, in October, 1900, was a capable cricketer while at Wellington College, and would very likely have got into the eleven at Oxford if a new wicket keeper had been required while he was in residence. After going into the army he made lots of runs in Military cricket, and was one of the few men who ever played an innings of over two hundred in India, scoring 205 for the Kings"s Royal Rifles v. the Devonshire Regiment, at Rawul Pindee, in 1893.

JOHN GRAHAM CORDERY, died at Torquay early in April, 1900. Born 1834. Captain of Rugby in the fifties.

Richard Daft, died on July 18. His death, which took place at Radcliffe on-Trent, removed from amongst us one of the greatest cricketers of the last generation. As late as the summer of 1899 he seemed to have years of life before him, but some time afterwards his health completely broke down, and for several weeks before his deaths he was lying ill without any hope of recovery. He was born on November 2, 1835, and was thus in his sixty-fifth year. Coming out as an amateur, he made his first appearance at Lord"s, for North against South, in 1858, and quickly established a reputation as one of the best batsmen of his day. He took to cricket as a professional in 1859, but played again as an amateur when his career in public matches was nearly over. It is a noteworthy fact that he and the Warwickshire cricketer, Diver, are the only men who have played on both sides in the Gentlemen and Players" match. Beginning in 1858, he was a regular member of the Notts Eleven for over twenty years, succeeding George Parr as captain, and not retiring until the season of 1881. After he had done with first-class matches he still kept up his cricket, and in 1891 he made so many runs in local matches that for one special occasion he reappeared in the Notts Eleven-as a substitute for Shrewsbury-playing against Surrey in the August Bank-holiday match at the Oval. He was at his best as a batsman from perhaps 1861 to 1876. He came before the public at about the same time as Robert Carpenter and the late Thomas Hayward, and for three or four seasons it was a disputed point as to which of the three was the finest bat in England. George Parr was on the wane, and they had no rival until E. M. Grace appeared on the scene. Whether Daft was as good or better than Hayward or Carpenter is purely a matter of opinion, but there can be no question that in their day all three were very great indeed. It is a fair criticism to say that while Daft and Hayward were far ahead of Carpenter in point of style, Carpenter"s was, perhaps the hardest wicket to get. Daft batted in exceptionally fine form, utilising every inch of his height, and being very strong in back play. Like nearly all the batsmen of his time, he learnt most of his cricket against fast bowling, and was, perhaps, never seen to better advantage than when facing such bowlers as Willsher, Emmett, and George Freeman. The finest innings he ever played in his young days was 118 at Lord"s for North against South in 1862, and the highest of his whole career in first-class matches was 161 for Notts against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge in 1873. His best performance in Gentlemen and Players matches was at Lord"s, in 1872, when, against the bowling of Appleby, Powys, and David Buchanan, he scored 102. Scores were far smaller all round in his day than they are now, and grounds by no means so true, and, allowing for these facts, his records were wonderfully good. In the history of Notts. cricket his name as a batsman will stand with that of George Parr in the past, and those of Arthur Shrewsbury and William Gunn in our own time.

THE EARL OF DARNLEY, who died in November, never enjoyed anything like the reputation in the cricket world earned by his younger brother, the Hon. Ivo Bligh, but in his school days at Eton he was a fairly good fast bowler. Being then Lord Clifton, he played against Harrow at Lord"s in 1869 and 1870, and was on the victorious side both years, Eton winning by an innings and 19 runs in 1869, and by 21 runs after a capital struggle in 1870. He took three wickets in the 1869 match, and six wickets in the match in 1870. He was born at the family seat, Cobham Hall near Gravesend, on August 21st 851, and was thus in his fiftieth year at the time of his death.

CAPTAIN W. W. ECCLES, M. C. C., I. Zingari, and Hampshire. Hon. Sec. to Hampshire C.C. in 1867, 1868, 1869. Died April 18.

VEN. ARCHDEADON CHARLES WELLINGTON FURSE died in July. Played in the Eton eleven, 1839, his name then being Johnston. His scores that year for Eton were: 12 (not out) v. M. C. C. and Ground, at Eton, May 14; 11 and 0 v. Harrow, at Lord"s, August 1, 2; 3 and 1 v. Winchester, at Lord"s, August 3, 5.

MR. F. D. GADDUM born, 1860; died, as the result of a bicycling accident, October 14, 1900. Played for Cambridge University v. Oxford University in 1882. A good slow bowler. Educated at Rugby and St. John"s College, Cambridge. Assisted Lancashire v. Kent at Manchester, in 1884. Was at Cambridge in 1880-81-82, and played against Oxford University only in 1882.

MR. G. C. HARRISON, died March 16, 1900. In the Clifton eleven in 1878 and 1879 (being captain the latter year) and played for Oxford v. Cambridge in 1880 and 1881. In 1878 he was described as being a good slow bowler, twisting the ball both ways; he ought to be very successful when he gets more command of pitch he bats in nice style and fields his own bowling well. He afterwards developed an extraordinary twist from leg.

EDWARD HENRY (Kent) born at Hawkhurst, in Kent, August 11, 1842; died January 20, 1900. Scores and Biographies (Vol. 12, p. 156) says:- Is a very efficient wicket-keeper, and as a bat he is above the average, being very steady, perhaps indeed a trifle too much so. For United South v. 22 of Swansea, May 25, 1876, he stumped six and caught five in the match. Height 5ft. 8½ins., and weight at the start of his cricket career, 10st. 11lbs. A great match- England v. 13 of Kent, at Canterbury, in 1881-was played for his benefit.

JOHN HANSELL ( Norfolk) died at North Elmham, in Norfolk, January, 19 1900, aged 49. Bowled fast to medium (right hand), and batted left-handed, with good hitting powers, In the match at Lord"s in July, 1885, Hansell was one of the three batsmen (the brothers Jarvis being the two others) who scored a hundred in the Norfolk innings against the M. C. C. The total of 695 by the county remained a record for Lord"s ground for over ten years.

Thomas Hearne died at Ealing on May 13, in his 74th year. Born on September 4, 1826, he was late coming before the cricket public, little being known of him outside local circles till he was over thirty. His reputation, however, was firmly established in 1859, when for the United against the All England Eleven at Lord"s he and Carpenter scored 149 for the first wicket. Carpenter made 97 and Hearne 62. From that time till his retirement from the Middlesex eleven in the "70"s Tom Hearne played regularly in the best matches, proving himself a first-rate bat, and by no means a bad bowler. One of his best innings was 122 not out for Players against Gentlemen at Lord"s in 1866. He was in particularly good form that year, and largely helped to place Middlesex first among the Counties. Against Surrey he scored 146. His career as an active player terminated in 1876, in which year he had a very severe stroke of paralysis. He made a remarkable recovery, however, and for more than twenty years afterwards kept his post as chief of the ground staff at Lord"s, only resigning after the season of 1897. In personal character no professional cricketer stood higher, and all through his life he enjoyed the repect of everyone who knew him. Lovers of cricket who have reached middle-age will remember him particularly in connection with the Middlesex matches more than thirty years ago at the Cattle Market Ground. He went to Australia with the first English eleven in 1861, but could not do himself justice in the Colonies. He was perhaps the last batsman who played the old-fashioned draw. His eldest son, Thomas Hearne, junior, is now the Ground Superintendent at Lord"s, and his second son, George Hearne, has for years been Pavilion Clerk at Lord"s. Tom Hearne was very proud of the success gained in the Kent eleven by his three nephews-G. G., Frank and Alec Hearne .

WILLIAM HICKTON, who died at Lower Broughton, February 27, did good service for Lancashire thirty years ago. He was a good batsman and a fast round-armed bowler, being altogether a cricketer above the average, and fielding generally at slip. His first appearance at Lord"s was for Lancashire v. M. C. C. and Ground, June 3, 4, 5, 1867, and it was a curious fact that none of the Lancashire Eleven (except C. Coward, who appeared as a colt in 1862) had ever before played at Lord"s. The match was seriously interrupted by the weather, and mops and pails were used to clear the pools of water from the pitch, and by this means the match was finished. Hicton"s bowling proved very successful, accounting in the first innings for five wickets for 69 runs, and in the second for six for 22. Hicton will chiefly be remembered for obtaining all ten wickets for 46 runs in the second innings for Lancashire v. Hampshire, at Manchester, in July, 1870. He only represented the county from 1867 to 1871, and during that time obtained 144 wickets for 2,022 runs. On July 20, 1883, a match between Lancashire and Eighteen of the Manchester Broughton Club, was played for his benefit. He was born at Hardstaff, near Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, December 14th 1842. Assisted the Players on one occasion only-at the Oval, in 1867, when he bowled:-

CAPTAIN H. HOLDEN, secretary to the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club from 1874 to 1882. Died February 1, 1900, aged 77.

EARL OF LONDESBOROUGH (William Henry Forester Denison), born June 19, 1834, died April 19, 1900. The Scarborough Cricket week, which is always held towards the close of the cricket season, practically owed its origin to him, and he supported the festival in most liberal fashion. Was a great patron of the game in Yorkshire.

MR. JAMES MACLAREN died in March at Guernsey. He was for twenty years treasurer to the Lancashire County Cricket Club, and from 1882 to 1884 was president of the English Rugby Union. Father of Mr. A. C. MacLaren, the great Harrow, Lancashire and England batsman.

COL. SIR F. A. MARINDIN, C.M.G., K.C.M.G., born May 1, 1838; died April 21, 1900. Batted steadily, and in the field was generally point. Height, 6ft. lin,; weight, 12 stone. Frequently played for the Royal Engineers. In 1884 he was elected Vice-President of the Kent C.C.C. In 1889 he resigned the Presidency of the Football Association.

FRANCIS MOORE who died at Nottingham on January 14th played for Notts against Surrey at the Oval in 1862. He only made a few appearances for his county, however, being tried as wicket-keeper when he was between thirty and forty years of age. It is said of him in Scores and Biographies that he was not much of a batsman, and that no long score will be found to his name. He was born at Nottingham, July 18, 1827. Was a very short man, standing only 5 ft. 3½ inches. He came out for the Colts of Nottingham against the County eleven at Trent Bridge in August, 1861, among those who were on the same side with him being Charles Daft, Samuel Biddulph and Sir H. Bromley. Biddulph rose to fame so quickly as a wicket-keeper that a year later he played for England against Surrey at the Oval, in the famous match in which England scored 503, and Willsher was no-balled by John Lillywhite for bowling over the shoulder.

LIEUT-GENERAL SIR FREDERICK MARSHALL, K.C.M.G., born at Godalming, July 26, 1830, died at 9, Eaton Place, London, June 8, 1900, aged 69. Scores and Biographies (Vol. 5, p. 156), says of him:- Height 6ft. 3in., and weight 13 stone 4lb. Is a powerful hitter forward and to leg, and in the field is generally cover-point or long leg. Has not, however, participated in many quite first-rate contests, his performances being principally with I. Zingari and in regimental matches. In 1859 he became President of the United All England Eleven, which office, however he resigned at the end of the season of 1863, and was succeeded in May, 1864, by Mr. George Mason, of Bradford. In May, 1867, he became President of the Surrey County Cricket Club in room of his uncle, Mr. Henry Marshall, who had not in the eleven while there, and at Sandhurst. His brothers, Messrs. Alexander and Harry Marshall also excelled in the game. Was Lieut-Colonel in the Second Life Guards, but in March, 1873, he retired on half-pay, and was appointed aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cambridge.Scores and Biographies (Vol. 13, p. 22), adds:- In February, 1879, he assumed the command of the cavalry at the Cape of Good Hope in the Zulu War.Scores and Biographies (Vol. 14, p. 36), says:- On December 2, 1889, he was presented with a portrait of himself by the members of the Chiddingfold Hunt, of which he was (1889) master. In 1890 he was appointed Colonel appeared in Baily"s Magazine, of January, 1891. In 1854, Surrey played Nottinghamshire on Mr. Marshall"s ground at Godalming, the proprietor of the Surrey ground. For many years previous to his death he was Vice-President of the Surrey County Club.

EDMUND PEATE, the most famous slow bowler of his day, died on March 11, at Newlay, near Leeds. Though he had long since ceased to take part in first-class cricket-dropping out of the Yorkshire eleven at the beginning of the season of 1887-he was quite a young man. He was born at Holbeck on March 2, 1856. His career was exceptionally brilliant while it lasted, but very short. Earning a place in the Yorkshire team in 1879 he rose in the following season to the top of the tree, and there he remained till the end of 1884, succeeding Alfred Shaw as the representative slow-bowler of England. There ought to have been many more years of good work before him, but he put on weight to a great extent, and in the summer of 1886 it became evident that his day was over. Without using a harsh word, it may fairly be said that he would have lasted longer if he had ordered his life more carefully. He never entirely lost his skill, as a bowler, and even up to the last year or two he was successful in club cricket in and around Leeds. At his best he was a great bowler. As to that there cannot be two opinions, though it is true that he was fortunate at the outset of his career in playing in very wet seasons. He did not set store on a big break, but on most wickets he could make the ball do enough to beat the bat, and his pitch was a marvel of accuracy. He has had brilliant successors in the Yorkshire eleven in Peel and Rhodes, but many batsmen- W. L. Murdoch among the number-who met him in his prime are of opinion that as a left-handed slow bowler he has never been equalled. The immediate cause of his death was pneumonia, but his health had been in a bad state for some time.

PAINTER, JOHN, Gloucestershire. Born at Bourton-on-the-Water, November 11, 1858, died at Clifton, September 16th, 1900. At various times coach at Cheltenham, Sherborne and Clifton. A hard hitting batsman, and a fair change bowler. His bowling in a few matches in May, 1895, met with astonishing success, so much so, in fact, that for a short time he occupied first-place in the bowling averages of the whole country. Played his first match for Gloucestershire in 1881, and his last in 1897.

C. B. CHILDE-PEMBERTON, (Major Childe) of the Harrow eleven of 1872, went out to South Africa early in the War and died there. Against Eton at Lord"s in 1872 he scored 10 and 44.

MR. T. S. PIX ( Harrow) was in the Harrow XI of 1824, being a contemporary of Cardinal Manning and Charles Wordsworth. Against Eton in 1824 he scored 6 not out and 2. Died in January, 1900. In 1845 he was elected a member of the M. C. C., and only two members (it is believed) elected in that year survive him.

MR. ANDREW MARSHALL PORTER of the 45th Co. of the Imperial Yeomanry, died from wounds received in the fighting at Lindley, on June 1st 1900. Educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Dublin, and kept wicket against Eton at Lord"s, in 1892, in which match he scored 0 and 18.

REV. JAMES PORTER, D. D., died at Peterhouse Lodge, Cambridge, October, 2, 1900, aged 72. Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge. For many years treasurer of the Cambridge University Cricket Club, and did much towards acquiring Fenner"s Ground.

THE MAHARAJAH OF PATIALA, who died in November, was a great supporter of cricket in India, and had, during several winters, engaged W. Brockwell and J. T. Hearne to coach and play for his eleven.

REV. WILLIAM RIDDING, born at Winchester, November 23, 1830; died at Clapton, May 1, 1900, aged 69. Played for Winchester v. Harrow and Eton in 1847 and 1848, and for Oxford v. Cambridge in 1849, 1850, 1852 and 1853. He also represented the Gentlemen v. Players in 1849 and 1850, in the former match stumping Joe Guy off one of Mr. H. W. Fellow"s terrific deliveries. He was a very fine wicket-keeper, having been excelled but by few says Scores and Biographies (Vol. 3, p. 534). The same book adds, as a batsman he is a slashing hitter making tremendous drives, and his average altogether will be found high. He had to abandon playing in great matches owing to his profession (the Church). For many years he was vicar of Meriden, in Warwickshire. He was younger brother of Messrs. C. H. and A. Riddling, the former of whom is still alive. Chief Scores:-73, Oxford University v. Cowley, at Oxford, May 2, 3, 1850; 50, Gentlemen of England v. Gentlemen of Sussex, at Brighton, Sept. 15, 16, 17, 1851; 51, Oxford University v. M. C. C. and Ground, at Lord"s, July 1, 2, 1852; 53, Oxford University v. Cambridge University, at Lord"s, July 8, 9, 1852; 50, 14 of Oxford University v. United All England Eleven, at Oxford, June 26, 27, 28, 1854.

MR. CHARLES TWEMLOW ROYDS, The Rev. Charles Twemlow Royds, Rector of Heysham, near Lancaster, died suddenly on Friday, March 9, 1900, at the age of sixty-two, at Crookhey Hall, Cocker-mouth, Garstang. He was educated at Rugby and Christ"s College, Cambridge, and graduated in 1860. He was ordained in 1862 and took the curacy of Sprotborough, near Doncaster, which he held till 1865, when he was inducted to the Rectory of Heysham, near Lancaster, which he held till his death. Mr. Royds had for many years occupied a prominent place in the public life of North Lancashire, and was an M.A. and J.P. He formed one of the Rugby School Eleven, and played with success, in the fifties.

REV. J. C. RYLE, born at Macclesfield, May 10, 1816; died at Lowestoft, June 10, 1900, aged 84. For many years bishop of Liverpool. His religious works, pamphlets, could be numbered by the hundred. For two years, 1833 and 1834, he assisted Eton against Harrow and Winchester, scoring 7 and 3 and 21 and 1 against the former school, and 20 and 11 and 26 and 0 against the latter. He was contemporary at Eton with J. H. Kirwan and C. G. Taylor. He was in the Oxford elevens of 1836 and 1838. But little is known of his style of batting or mode of bowling, as no biography is given of him in Scores and Biographies, but from a perusal of old scores it is apparent that he was generally successful both with bat and ball.

MR. H. T. STANLEY, (Somersetshire), born August 20, 1873; died (whilst assisting the British cause in the South African War), at Hekpoort, September 16, 1900. A most useful batsman, his defence against all kinds of bowling and on all kinds of wickets being very good. He twice, in 1899, scored over 200 runs in an innings in minor matches, namely 212 not out for M. C. C. and Ground v. United Services, on June 5th, and 201 not out for E. A. V. Stanley"s XI. v. Bridgwater Amateurs, on August 3. He made 127 for Somerset v. Gloucestershire, at Gloucester in June, 1899, this being his only three figure innings in first-class matches.

MR. FRANK GREY SMITH, died at Melbourne in March, 1900. For over half-a-century he was prominently identified with the Melbourne Cricket Club. He became a member in 1849, and was elected vice-president in 1879, and president in 1886, holding the latter position until the day of his faith. He was the Manager of the National Bank of Australia.

R. VOSS died November 16th 1900. Played three times for Surrey in 1883, and once in 1886.

MR. T. WINTEFLOOD. Died February 20. He was on the committee of the Surrey County Cricket Club for about thirty years, and was in his young days a good player.

MR. WILLIAM WRIGHT. Died May 14, 1900. For some years Hon. Secretary to the Nottinghamshire County Club, and afterwards treasurer. He did a great deal of good for Nottinghamshire cricket, being one of the trustees of the Trent Bridge ground. He was a good player-an effective batsman and a good lob bowler. He never played in great matches, but in local cricket his bowling frequently proved very effective. Mr. Wright was largely instrumental in securing for the Notts County Club was largely instrumental in securing for the Notts County Club a permanent tenure of the Trent Bridge ground. He was the father of Mr. C. W. Wright, the Charterhouse, Cambridge University, and Notts Cricketer.

MR. WILLIAM YARDLEY, whose sudden death occurred at Kingston on October 28, will be remembered as one of the greatest cricketers of his day. After showing brilliant promise at Rugby he was in the Cambridge Eleven from 1869 to 1872, inclusive, and it is safe to say that Cambridge never possessed a more brilliant batsman. It was his distinction to make, in 1870, the first 100 ever hit in the University match. His score was exactly 100 and, as all lovers of cricket will remember, Cambridge in the end won the match by two runs, Mr. F. C. Cobden performing the hat trick after a victory for Oxford had appeared inevitable. In 1872 Mr. Yardley scored 130 against Oxford, and his feat of twice getting a 100 in the University match remains to this day unique. He played more or less regularly for Kent between 1868 and 1877, and for Gentlemen against Players at Lord"s in every year from 1869 to 1874. At the Oval he played for the Gentlemen twice and at Prince"s once. Altogether he scored in nine Gentlemen and Players matches 435 runs, with the fine average of 36. Few batsmen, either of his own day or any other time, have been better worth looking at than Mr. Yardley, his style being free and commanding and his hitting brilliant in the extreme. He thought himself that the finest innings he ever played was 73 for South against North at Prince"s on a very difficult wicket in may, 1872. It is no flattery to say that in 1870, 1871, and 1872, his only superior as a batsman was Mr. W. G. Grace. In those days when he and Mr. Grace played on the same side they always had a small wager on their scores and, long after he had retired from first class cricket, Mr. Yardley was fond of recalling the fact that in the Gentlemen and Players match at Lord"s, in 1871, he beat the great man in both innings. Mr. Yardley was in his young days, a good tennis and racquet player. His name was at one time associated with the theatre almost as prominently as it was with cricket. He was part author of Little Jack Shepherd, one of the famous Gaiety burlesques, and more recently he helped to write The Passport, an amusing farce which still has life in it. He produced other pieces for the stage both alone and in collaboration, and he was for some time a dramatic critic. He was born in Bombay on June 10, 1849.

The following deaths occurred in 1899, but did not appear in last year"s Wisden

JOHN THEWLIS ( Yorkshire), born at Kirkheaton, January 30, 1828, died at Manchester in December, 1899. Scores and Biographies (Vol. 7, p. 273) says:- A good and steady batsman, also an excellent long-stop. He broke his leg in his own house at Lascells Hall, May 17, 1869, and was unable to play that season, but resumed the game with success in 1870.

Yorkshire v. Gloucestershire at Sheffield, in July, 1875, was his benefit match. Height 5ft. 7ins., weight 10st. to 10st. 7lbs. He and Luke Greenwood in a match for Lascelles Hall v. Todmorden, at Todmorden once added over 200 runs for the last wicket. Possibly his greatest triumph was at the Oval in 1868 in the Surrey v. Yorkshire match when he scored 103, and his nephew, Ephraim Lockwood (whose first appearance it was for the county), 91, the two scoring 176 for the first wicket. Eleven Thewlis"s once played on a side in a match at Chickenley. John Thewlis only appeared once for the Players v. Gentlemen-at the Oval in 1868-when he scored 4 and 6, being 40 years of age at the time.

JOSEPH ROWBOTHAM ( Yorkshire) born in Little Sheffield, July 8, 1831, died December 22, 1899. Height 5ft. 6½ins., weight 10st. 7lbs., but (in 1874) 14½st. His runs were obtained (says Scores and Biographies) in a fine, free, manly style. (Vol. 5, p. 162) Also In the field he is very fine and can take any place, but excels especially at long stop, as wicket-keeper, or at point.In July, 1873, the match, Yorkshire v. Gloucestershire at Sheffield, was set apart as a benefit for him, and proved a bumper. Rowbotham was a fine, punishing player in front of the wicket, and was considered by the late James Southerton to be the best Yorkshire batsman of his day. His best scores in first-class matches were 101 for Yorkshire against Surrey at the Oval in 1869; 100 for Yorkshire v. Notts at Sheffield in the same year, and 113 for Yorkshire v. Surrey at the Oval in 1873.

REV. P. WILLIAMS, ( Winchester, Oxford University, and Nottinghamshire.) Died November 18, 1899. Played for Winchester, at Lord"s, in the Public School Matches of 1840, 1841 and 1842, his highest scores being 28 not out v. Harrow in 1842, and 22 v. Eton in 1841. Also assisted Oxford v. Cambridge in 1844, 1845, 1846 and 1847. Also played for Nottinghamshire.