Boden's Comments that appeared in the November 27, 1858
edition of the London Field concerning Staunton's November 15 Letter
(from the November 20 issue of the Illustrated London News).
After perusing the above letter, we had intended observing, among other things,
that, although we accord to Mr. Staunton all the good-will and sympathy which he
is entitled to, as a retiring chess-player and author of great eminence, yet he
does not touch upon the two chief points at issue. The two are, the contents
of the omitted paragraphs of Mr. Morphy's letter, and the reasons why the
public and Mr. Morphy were kept in suspense and delusion for more than two
months. We wish that Mr. Staunton had said he regretted his mistake in saying
Mr. Morphy had come over unprovided with seconds &c., and that during the two
months which elapsed between his accepting and declining Mr. Morphy's challenge
he was endeavoring strenuously, though unsuccessfully to gain time enough to
play. Such, we trust, is the case, though not expressed in Staunton's letter.
Any further comments of our own, however, are prevented by our having just
received the following notice from Mr. Morphy anent Mr. Staunton's letter above.
MR. MORPHY'S STATEMENT
Mr. Morphy begs to state, in reply to MR. Staunton's
late letter to the editor of the Illustrated London News, that it was not merely
because Mr. Staunton had published many of his (Mr. Morphy's) games in that
paper, but also form the eminent services rendered by that gentleman to the
interests of chess, that he worded the suppressed paragraph so as to provide the
amplest opportunity for a satisfactory explanation. Mr. Staunton's private
reply was published verbatim in a subsequent number of the Illustrated
News, and did not contain the slightest reference to the statement
complained of.
To the other assertion in Mr. Staunton's letter Mr.
Morphy desires to give the most emphatic denial. He had no introduction whatever
from Mr. Staunton to any friend of his in Paris or France. He is totally
ignorant that Mr. Staunton ever made any explanation, directly or indirectly,
and he certainly never led anyone to suppose that he was intending further
correspondence with Mr. Staunton on the subject, being at length satisfied that
he could not obtain justice from him. Mr. Morphy hopes that that gentleman will
now correct the mis-statement to which the suppressed paragraph refers.
As regards the friend commissioned by Mr. Staunton to
explain away the difficulty relating to backers, &c., Mr. Morphy is desirous
that it should be understood this is the first he has heard of him.
