others." If these replies did not--as short telegraphic messages cannot--express Mr. M.'s meaning, it does not become those who profited by his chivalry to write in the style of "Fairplay;" and I am sure that the Birmingham local committee would be the first to gainsay the latter's statement. _He_ must be satisfied, at all events, as Löwenthal, just beaten by Morphy, met Mr. Staunton, whom he was anxious to see pitted against the young American, and won, thereby saving criticism as to "What was, might be, or could be." What "will be," we shall see. Mr. M. went to Birmingham simply to get Mr. S. to name, _in the presence of others_, a day for commencing the proposed match. Then and there Mr. S. named the 1st of November. A representative of Englishmen should give either a _bona fide_ acceptance or a refusal. Morphy's motto is "Play, not talk." He comes and goes to foreign countries to seek play. He is the "_Il Puttino_" of the New World. At the risk, then, sir, of being called a "frivolous noodle" by your very elegant correspondent "Fairplay," I shall take the liberty of believing what an honest man like Morphy says. I shall not hold Staunton to be the representative of English chess, but shall look to younger and more consistent players as far more likely to maintain what your correspondents call the national honor, and am, sir, your obedient servant, AN ENGLISH CHESS PLAYER. EAST SHEEN, _Oct. 21, 1858_. The next two letters, also to the editor of _Bell's Life in London_, do not profess to argue the question, but are merely _argumenta ad hominum_. They serve to show how warm a feeling in his favor Mr. Morphy had evoked amongst the fellow-countrymen of Mr. Staunton. _To the Editor of Bell's Life_: MR. EDITOR: The general opinion of English chess players is simply that Staunton is afraid of Morphy. If, as his friends say, he is out of condition, let him train, or give up the championship like a man. No one would blame him, at his age and with his avocation, for declining severe matches; but in that case he must resign the belt into fresher hands. The champion ceases to be the champion when he is no longer able or willing to take up whatever gauntlet is flung down. Let the chivalrous boy who has crossed the Atlantic to challenge the chess of the Old World have fair play at the hands of Englishmen. If we cannot beat him fairly, let us not seek to put him off with shabby dodges. Yours, &c. THE EX-PRESIDENT OF PROVINCIAL CHESS CLUB. _Oct. 20th_. This is sound, straightforward, English common sense. _To the Editor of Bell's Life_:--