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proprietor of that lordly domain—if so, it is nothing more than what might have been expected from one bearing the name of Stevens—that is a name gentlemen, identified as long as I can recollect, with all honorable sports and manly pastimes in this State, and I congratulate you that the present representatives of the good name of Stevens, has inherited not only the wealth, but the noble spirit of a noble brother.
I knew the elder Mr. Stevens when he was upon the turf, and I respect his memory; but this is not the place for me to strew my cypress over his honored grave.
The excitement produced by the arrival of the English players, has not been confined to this section of our country—it is general throughout the land. As an evidence of it, I have traveled nearly a thousand miles to witness the international match here. I could not resist the temptation to do so. Long before any of the present players were born, I was accounted, in England, a good Cricketer. My first public performance was in 1818, as one of the Eleven of the Liverpool Club, who played the North Shore, Lancashire, and defeated them. I subsequently played frequently, as an under-graduate, at the University of Cambridge. In those days we did not play against Oxford and the Marylebone Club, as is now the case, but frequently College against College, and always an annual match—"Gown against the Town."
A very remarkable coincidence occurred on Tuesday last, whilst I was witnessing the progress of the game, which is worth relating—a gentleman approached me and observed "why Doctor, this must put you in mind of old times"—it proved to be one of the Eleven who played with me as a member of the Liverpool Club, in the match I have just alluded to, forty-two years ago; the name of my acquaintance of auld lang syne is Edward Menlove, now a prominent and opulent merchant, doing business in New Orleans. He happened to have arrived from England a few days before the Cricket Match came off at Hoboken, hence our unexpected and happy meeting.
I cannot express to you brother Cricketers, how gratifying it has been to me, to have been among you during the past week—I would not have missed it for a great deal—and yet, I cannot say, as I sound my own heart now, whether for weal or woe it will be that I have in the last few hours, lived over again years long flown—other days have come back to me.
"With recollected music, but the tone
Is chang'd and solemn."
