Page:The Hambledon Men (1907).djvu/30

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xxiv
INTRODUCTION

great additional trouble to him during the lengthened compilation. He also collected and arranged, entirely and gratuitously, for the late F. Lillywhite, the full scores of the matches played between Harrow and Winchester, Eton and Harrow, and Winchester and Eton, they being first published in 1857, and there were subsequently several editions of that small manual. He has also inserted in Bell's Life and other papers many dozens of letters and paragraphs and suggestions, which can be found under the signature of "An Old Harrovian", or "H. E. W." His cricket writings from the first have always been "a labour of love", which remark will apply to few other compilers. He rejoices that in his old age (69) he can affirm with truth that he has saved from oblivion an immense number of interesting facts connected with our national sport; and though he has received kindness from many cricketers, in the shape of materials asked for and contributed, he has also, from a far larger number, experienced much ingratitude, opposition and neglect. He intends, however, now (1894) being in his seventieth year, to follow the same plan, method, and arrangement as he did in 1842, when at the age of sixteen he commenced his arduous task of compilation; and he will continue to work on as long as he can hold a pen or see a line of writing. Vol. xiv is now, after a cruel delay of fifteen years, presented to the cricketing world, and it will be followed as soon as possible by others, if due support is accorded.

'Tis not in mortals to command success,
But we'll do more deserve it;

and his motto always has been "Facta non verba".'

The first volume of Lillywhite's Cricket Scores and Biographies came out in 1862; the last, xiv, in