always made for 500l. a side, I now proceed with a slight record of the principal men who were usually pitted against us. My description of them must unavoidably be less minute, because I had not so frequent an intercourse with them as with the men whose every action I was constantly in the habit of watching: my report of them, therefore, may be more slight than their merits deserve, for there were really some fine players among them. For the same reason also my chronicle will be less relieved by personal anecdote.
My last account having closed with the four principal bowlers who were usually opposed to us Lumpy and Frame, Shock White and Wood—the next name that presents itself to me is that of Minshull, who was a gardener to the Duke of Dorset. He was a batter, and a very fine one—probably their best; a capital hitter, and a sure guard of his wicket. Minshull, however, was not an elegant player; his position and general style were both awkward and uncouth; yet he was as conceited as a wagtail, and from his constantly aping what he had no pretensions to, was, on that account only, not estimated according to the price at which he had rated his own merits. He was a thick-set man, standing about five feet nine, and not very active.
Miller (gamekeeper either to Lord Tankerville or the Duke of Dorset, I forget which) was as amiable a hearted man as ever cut a ball at the point of the bat. He and Minshull were the only two batters the Hambledon men were afraid of. Miller was indeed a beautiful player, and always to be depended on; there was no flash—no cock-a-whoop about him—but firm he was, and steady as the Pyramids. Although fully as stout a man as Minshull, he was considerably more active. I remember when upon
