MR. ANDREW ERNEST STODDART is a native of Durham. His cricket career, which is most brilliant, practically commenced when he joined the Hampstead Club in 1885. He made no fewer than five centuries for that club in July and August of that year. In the following year he hit up the highest individual innings (485) for Hampstead _v._ Stoics, and three days later made 207 for the same club. As a batsman he has great strength, and plays very hard. He is also a fair change bowler, and an excellent field anywhere. He has gained the highest honours on the football field, and made his first appearance in International football in the season of 1884-85. Mr. Stoddart went to Australia with Lord Sheffield's cricketers 1891-92, for whom he did brilliant work. Last year he became one of the holders of the rare record of two hundreds in a match. SIR JOHN ASTLEY. BORN 1823. [Illustration: AGE 6. _From a Water-Colour by Lady Astley._] [Illustration: AGE 10. _From a Water-Colour by Lady Astley._] [Illustration: AGE 30. _From a Miniature._] [Illustration: AGE 50. _From a Photo by Dickinson, New Bond Street._] [Illustration: PRESENT DAY. _From a Photo by Elliot & Fry._] SIR JOHN DUGDALE ASTLEY, BART., is the son of the late Sir Francis Dugdale. He was educated at Eton and Oxford. As a boy, he developed the first genius that in after years made him famous, and, as far as athletics are concerned, there is no better authority than "Jolly Sir John." He served through the Crimean Campaign, and was awarded the medal with two clasps--Alma and Sebastopol--and the Order of the Medjidieh. Even during the campaign Sir John encouraged athletics, not only in his regiment--the Scots Fusilier Guards--but in the whole English Army. His men adored him, and would go anywhere and do anything for him. On his retirement from the Army, he was elected member for North Lincolnshire in the Conservative interest, and sat in the House till 1880. On the Turf, of which Sir John was for a long time a well-known and generous supporter, his success was anything but encouraging, but he bore his losses like a gentleman and a sportsman. Sir John is issuing "Fifty Years of My Life," which is to be a record of the principal events in his interesting career. _Crimes and Criminals._ No. IV.--FORGERS AND BEGGING-LETTER WRITERS.