Served up in a mass of foul language, the letter signed "Fair Play," contains an obviously untrue assertion, namely, "Mr. Morphy started for Europe, not to play a match with Mr. Staunton." This is rather outrageous in the face of the challenge from the New Orleans Chess Club, and with Mr. S.'s reply in the _Illustrated London News_ of April 3d. So much was it Mr. Morphy's desire to play him, and so little his intention to engage in the Birmingham Tournament, that he informed the secretary he did not regard such a contest as any true test of skill. To sum up the whole matter, I will state the naked facts. 1. Mr. Morphy came to Europe to play Mr. Staunton. 2. Mr. Staunton made everybody believe he had accepted the challenge from Mr. Morphy. 3. Mr. Staunton allowed the St. George's Chess Club to raise the money to back him. 4. Mr. Staunton asked for a delay of one month, in order to brush up his openings and endings. 5. Mr. Staunton requested a postponement until after the Birmingham meeting. 6. Mr. Staunton fixed the beginning of November for the commencement of the match. If all this do not mean "I will play," then is there no meaning in language. I beg to subscribe myself, Mr. Editor, most respectfully yours, FREDERICK MILNS EDGE. HOTEL BRETEUIL, PARIS, _Oct. 20, 1858_. The next epistle is from the pen of a former colleague of Mr. Staunton,--a gentleman whose literary articles in the _Chess Players' Chronicle_ have earned world-wide notoriety. In the case under examination, he dissects Mr. Staunton's procedures with the skill of an able anatomist. LETTER FROM A COADJUTOR OF MR. STAUNTON. _To the Editor of Bell's Life_:--