3 in 36 innings in first-class matches. In 1874 his most noteworthy achieve­ ments were his 150 for Gentlemen v. Players of South* his 104 for Gentle­ men of South r. Players of North, his 123 for Marylebone Club v. Kent, his two innings (91 and 121) at Canterbury for Kent and Gloucestershire u. requires tho testimony of the two last seasons to prove. In 1875 he was hardly so successful as in tho best of his previous years, hut it must he remembered that 1875 was a bowler's season, and that few batsmen came up to the best standard during that period. 11is best innings was his 152 for the Gentlemen against the Players; next in importance his 119 for Gloucestershire against Notts, 111 for Gloucestershire c. Yorkshire, and during that year for the United South of England, in matches against odds, he made as many as 909 runs in twenty-one innings, finishing up with two wonderful scores of 152 not-out against 18 of North Kent, and 210 against a strong 18 of Hastings. His exploits during the last season will be fresh in the memory of cricketers, and will consequently only require brief notice hen'. ‘‘ Pro­ digious,” to use the favourite exclamation of Dominie Sampson—prodigious is the best expression in respect of W. G. Grace’s doings as a cricketer. What shall be said of his greatest performance of *100 not-out, for the United South of England against 22 of Grimsby? What can be written in praise of an innings against such odds, in which no chance was given until he had scored 550 and in which he had to contend against bowling, if not of tho very best kind, still straight, and demanding for other batsmen careful play? Can one do aught but wonder at the masterly skill in placing the ball—the skill of the batsman*—but admire tho splendid physique that could alone accomplish such a feat ? No paint can add tu the beauty of the lily, nor will gilding improve refined gold. To extol \Y G. Grace’s merits as a cricketer would be superfluous. At the present time he is like Eclipse, first—the rest nowhere. WTiat were the giants of the past is known only to the men of their day, and what will be the cricketers of the future it is not in the present to know. For the last ten years W. G. Grace has stood alone as the most marvellous cricketer of his time. A table of his doings in 1876 will be found below, and it will be sufficient, in addition. to call attention to the fact that he twice out did tho previously unequalled score, in first-class matches, of 267 made by Mr. W. Ward, with 341 for Marylebone Club against Kent, and 318 not-out for Gloucestershire against Yorkshire, the latter certainly tho greatest achievement he has ever made, considering that he was opposed by such deadly bowlers ns Hill, Emrrv ul Clayton, Armitage, Lockwood, Eastwood, Ulyelt, and Myers. MAY. 1st Inn 3—Cambridge, All England v. Cambridge University 80c 18—Prince’s, Gentlemen of South v. Players of North 66 22—Lord’s, United South v. All England v ..................... Hr 29—Lord’s, M.C.C. v. Yorkshire .................................... 11 ,- JUNE. 1—Prince's, South v. North ............................................ 14 ,* o—Lord’s, South v. North ................................................ i ~’ 8—Oval, Gloucestershire v. Surrey................................. 12—Brighton, Gloucestershire v. Sussex ..................... 44 1U 19^-Lord’6, M.C.C. v. Cambridge University................. -2—Lord’s, M.C.C. v. Oxford University....................... 29—Oval, Gentlemen v. Flavor:-................................. 0 / . 2nd lmi. Tot*>1 r or i>* *>•) 72c 78 8c 19c 27 l ie Vie 28 14 ro 386 52 45 b 48 Ihw 93 1 c 14$ PHc 118 2S;> 1 5ct 43 67e 5 ' — ()/ 90*5 90 I