2 2 underwent, a Bte&dy series of transitions, nutil it became, 113 it is now, not mily the most admirably conducted ground in England, but also tlie most complete in point of its whole arrangements. During bis term of office the roll of tho Marylebono Club grew and grow, and the best monument to bis memory is in tiio bucccss that attended the first of all cricket club’s du r ing bis management. With him cricket never suffered, and the highest tribute that can bo accorded to him can be given in the words that in him cricket was honoured. CHAPTER V. COUNTY CRICKET IN 187G. B y P. M. T hornton , H on . S ec . M iddlesex C ounty C lus . T he history of County Crickot in 1876 is, on the whole, a remarkable record of the batting superiority which amateurs now havo over professionals. After some weeks of doubtful weather summer set in with such strength that cricket grounds became fast and easy, and continued so until bats were finally oiled and put away for the season. Nottingham and Yorkshire found, when in tho thick of the struggle for supremacy, that their right hands had become feebler, inasmuch as gentle­ men could play their fine bowling, and at the same timo they, alas, did not improvo iii proportion when opposing their batsmen to tho moderate stuff which has to do duty on behalf of amateur elevens. Nottingham has undoubtedly yielded pride of place to Gloucestershire, aud done so in a season which was marked by signal success against their Yorkshire rivals. But the crushing weight of batting which Gloucestershire brought into the field had full play, both at Trout Bridge and Clifton, and for the first time Nottingham lowered her colours, and did so on two occasions. Nottingham batting may, however, bo said fully to have sustained the strength which has placed tho county so high during the last two seasons, and moreover to have rather improved in that department. Daft has never handled a bat to better effect since the times when, with Hayward and Carpenter, he struggled for tho supremacy which has now passed beyond the possibility of professional attainment. Of late years given to play what most spectators must declare to have been a tedious game, during the last season he showed a freedom of all-round hitting, combined with stolid de­ fence, which goes far to make tho perfect batsman; and as usual his prowess was most marked when contending for tho honour of Nottingham. W. Oscroft, on tho other hand, has not an average worthy of his powers. A. Shrew Vbury has, how'ever, proved himself a most improving pla}'er, and ought, in these clays of weakness, to represent, professional crickot in the match with the gentlemen. The tiro bowlers were still to the fore, viz. Alfred Shaw and Morley. No words could speak in their favour with effect, because their names are as hou ( hold words wherever cricket is read of, watched, or played. Notting­ ham has, kowever, found a fast bowler in the person of Tyeyworihy to take tho place of Martin McIntyre ; and fast ho certainly is, as well as fairly straight, doing execution from time to time. The county bad bad luck in being unable to gra~sp tho victory which bowling superiority on difficult wickets had given them over Middlesex at Princes, when the death of poor old Box put an end to the game, an insig­ nificant iota! being then in process of rubbing off. On the other hq,nd, time