Among the anecdotes related of the childhood of the Princess
Charlotte, the daughter of a rascally father, and of an
unfortunate mother, there is a story which we do not remember
to have seen in any periodical devoted to the game. It is
perfectly authentic, and runs thus:
"Being one evening present when a game of chess was playing. The
sudden and triumphant exclamation of checkmate was given. On her
inquiring its meaning, she was informed, it is when the King is
enprise by any particular piece, and cannot move without falling
into the hands of an enemy. `That is indeed a bad situation for
a King,' said the little patriotic stateswoman, but it can never
be the fate of the King of England, so long as he conforms to
the laws, for then he meet with protection from his subjects."
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We can find nothing in the form of evidence, as to whether
either of our four kings, the Georges, took any interest in chess,
or played at it. Some of our greatest men we hear, looked in
occasionally at the club in St. James St., to witness Philidor's
performances. Chatham, Fox, Pitt, Godolphin, Sunderland,
Rockingham, Wedderburn, St. John, Sir G. Elliott, and many
others, most distinguished and celebrated at the time, have been
specially mentioned as visitors or members. As only those who
know or care for the game subscribe to chess books, the three
hundred principal names on Philidor's edition of 1777, affords a
significant proof of the extraordinary appreciation and support of
the game, throughout the period of his ascendancy, viz., from
1746 to 1795.
Twenty-six ladies of title grace that list, which contains a large
proportion of the nobility, cabinet ministers, men distinguished in
science, and at the bar, and on the bench, and several eminent
divines.
Prince Leopold's support of chess, and encouraging remarks
concerning it at Oxford, in Scotland and at the Birkbeck, had
much to do with the taste for the game which sprung up among
the humbler working classes, and which happily has been
continuously though steadily progressing.
One of our most genial and reliable chess editors has recently
informed us, on very high authority, that even our Most Gracious
Majesty Queen Victoria, has at times shewn an appreciation of
chess.
Three years after the commencement of her reign the first
County Chess Association, was formed in Yorkshire. There were
at this time but twelve chess clubs in this country. The year
1849 signalised the first Chess Tournament found on record, it
took place at Simpson's, and Mr. H. T. Buckle writer and author,
the best amateur at this time, came forth first. This was two years
before the first world's International Chess Tournament of 1851,
was held in London, of which the Prince Consort was patron, since
then thirty-four National Tournaments and forty-eight country
meetings, and twenty University matches between Oxford and
Cambridge have taken place.
It is now reasonably estimated that there are quite five hundred
clubs, and institutions where chess is practiced and cultivated,
and near one hundred and fifty chess columns, and both press
notice and chess clubs are continually on the increase.
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