wickets with his slow under-hand, but was not famous as a bowler or as a field, where he generally stood point. He was a great supporter of the game, and used to frequent Lord's regularly up to the time of his death. About 1825, he purchased from Thomas Lord (who was then just retiring) the lease of 'Lord's' cricket ground, and is thus entitled to great praise from all cricketers in preventing the 'favoured spot', where so many great contests have taken place, from being built upon. He could only obtain the lease at a most exorbitant rate, and thus deserves more credit than had it been otherwise. In 1836, J. H. Dark purchased the remainder of the lease from him.
And of all who frequent the ground named after Lord,
On the list first and foremost should stand Mr. Ward.
No man will deny, I am sure, when I say
That he 's without rival first bat of the day,
And although he has grown a little too stout,
Even Mathews is bothered at bowling him out.
He's our life-blood and soul in this noblest of games,
And yet on our praises he's many more claims;
No pride, although rich, condescending and free,
And a well-informed man, and a city M. P.
Mr. Ward's name is always found in the Hampshire Eleven, having at one time (it is believed) some land in the Isle of Wight. Once he had a beautiful marble statue of a 'Cricketer in play' made by the sculptor Rossi. Two of Mr. Ward's sons played in the Winchester Eleven, one in 1830, and another in 1834. A third also formed one of the Cambridge Eleven in 1853. Latterly Mr. Ward resided at 14, Windham Place, Bryanston Square, where he died at the age of 6l. (Another account stated he died at 76, Connaught Terrace.) He is buried in Hammersmith churchyard, where a raised slab stone marks the spot where this great cricketer lies, being interred in the same grave
