THE SPIRIT OF EARLY CRICKET.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.")
Sin,—The verses sent to you by Mr. Hearnshaw—who, having mad the review, ought, I think, to have gone on to read my book [Henry Frowde, 2s. 6d. net, postage (may I add ?) 3d.]—are printed, with slight differences, on pp. 50-53 of "The Hambledon Men." Nyren attributes them to the Rev. Mr. Cotton of Winchester ; but it is probable that that gentleman only adapted them, in 1776, to serve Hambledon ends, for an earlier copy, in 1772, exists, where the credit is given to Kent for defeating Hampshire. T‘vo of the original lines run (after the enumeration of Kentish players) :— "With heroes like these even Hampshire we'll drub, And bring down the pride of the Hambledon Club." This shows how necessary it was for the Rev. Mr. Cotton of Winchester to take the work of revision in hand. Lillywhite, I may say, prints both versions.—I am, Sir, &c., E. V. LUCAS.
Froghole, Edenbridge, Kent.
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