"A statement appeared in the chess department of that Journal, (_The Illustrated London News_) a few weeks since, that 'Mr. Morphy had come to Europe unprovided with backers or seconds'--the inference being obvious, that my want of funds was the reason of our match not taking place. As you are the editor of that department of the _Illustrated London News_, I felt much hurt that a gentleman who had always received me at his club and elsewhere, with great kindness and courtesy should allow so prejudicial a statement to be made in reference to me; one, too, which is not strictly consonant with fact." "In conclusion, I beg leave to state, that I have addressed a copy of this letter to the editors of the _Illustrated London News_, _Bell's Life in London_, _The Era_, _The Field_, and _The Sunday Times_; being most desirous that our true position should no longer be misunderstood by the community at large. I again request you to fix the date for our commencing the match." Mr. Morphy was not desirous of prolonging the discussion, after so full and entire an indorsement from Mr. Staunton's fellow-countrymen, or he could easily have driven that gentleman further into the mire. But Mr. S. made two statements in the above letter, which Paul Morphy could not allow to pass unrebuked, and he accordingly denied, publicly, that he had received any introduction whatever from that gentleman, or that he had even hinted his intention of writing Mr. Staunton, amicably or otherwise. The latter part of the letter is in questionable taste. As though Mr. S. had acquired any right to misrepresent facts, publish misstatements, and deny reparation, on account of "having set his (M.'s) blindfold and other chess-exploits before the public in the most advantageous light." By so doing, Mr. Staunton merely fulfilled his editorial duty; for the entire chess world was on the _qui vive_ after Morphy's exploits. _His games were being published throughout Europe, to the exclusion of nearly all others_, and surely Mr. S. could not allow his paper to be behind other journals. _But he knew full well that, after the first fortnight or three weeks, Mr. Morphy never gave him a single partie, being hurt at the ungenerous treatment evinced towards him in the notes._ Mr. Staunton was using the columns of an influential journal to crush a dangerous opponent, and, at the time he penned the above letter, he well knew that Paul Morphy resented from the first such unfairness, and had positively forbidden any of his games to be sent to him.