James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1879

54- I shallnot attempt to give a table of precedence, but I? thinkjvinchesler must be conwmtulated upon its cas)’ victory over Eton, which in its turn was onlyjnst deleated by Harr0\v. Doubtless, Etoil had improved by the time they played at Lord’s, but is it not fair to assume that \V1nchester had ad- vanced/iariparnz ? Again Rugby had a hollow VlCtOl‘y ever Marlborough, which easily defeated Cheltcnham. In conclusion I don’t consider the School Elevens of 1878 were up to the usual standard, and I trust we may see better- in I879. If I have said anything uncom1)limentai'y to any school it has bee-i said with the hope of doing good aml not from any spirit of unkindness, and I trust it will he received in the same spirit in which it is said. PART II. CHAPTER I. THE MARYLEBONE CLUB IN 1878. OFFICERS FOR 1873.—-I’1-rshlrnl, Lord Fitzhardinge. Treasurer, T. Burgoyne. Secretary, H. Perkins. Trustees, Earl of Dudley, Earl of Scfton, Hon. F. Ponsonhy, R. Bronghtoii, W. Nichuison. Committee, Lord Harris, Hon. Pousonhy Fana, Col. Taswell, Capt. Kenyon Slaney, C. E. Boyle, Hon. . Chandos Leigh, Viscount Lewisham, G. H. Wood, Lord Lytteltun, R. C. Antrobus, J. M. Heathcete, V. E. ‘Valkcr. S. Bircham, F. Lee, T. Ratliff, A. W. Ridley. Auditors, J. Ward, Rev. J. Randolplr, E. S. E. Hartoppi The members of the 31.0.0. couhl have turd no possible cause for complaiiit either with regarrl to the quantity or quality of the entertainment provided for' their umusemerrt in ”578, the ninety-first season of the Club. Tire migratioii of Middlesex to Lord's from Prince's had supplied an ubviolis want in the numhcr of first class matches, and last scasnii the triple appearance of the Aus— tralians made the programme still more attractive. That an exhaustive list of seventy-seven matches should have been duly carried out without nny noticeable hitch speaks volumes for Mn H. Perkins“ management as Secretary, and the Committee are certainly to be congratulated on the manner in which they have utilised a portion of their vast funds to make Lord’s the best appointed grcmxld in London for the general public, as well as for the members. The rumour that the Eton and Harrow mate]: would be deferred until ifter the close of the London season was justified by the action of the authorities of the two Schools, but after careful deliberation it was decided not to alter the usual fixture. and 50 the revenues of the Club did not sulfer, as it was feared they would by any refurms in this matter. The Elevens that representedsthe Clubin the more important nintches reflected little credit on a body numbering 2,304 members as MALC. did in ISTZ, and on more than one occasion they were hardly above the average ot in] ordinary London Club. An importairt change was made at the general meetiiig in May lust with regard to the election) of new members of the Committee, and a step .‘" the right direction was takeii late in the season in the rcsnlunon passed defining the h.“ of demarcatiuxi between amatclrrs and profes- sionals. The grouxid bowlers in 1878 consisted of T. Hearne, A. Shaw Wild. Morle)’, Mycruft, Itylott, Randon, Fnrruuds, Man an, Clayton, West, JNixou; G. G. Hermie, l‘. Mycrolft, alierwm, Wheeler, W. P1100, G. M'Canlis W. Flou’crs, and W. Hearn (I-Iertfordslnre). ’