Hambledon Club, which used to hold its meetings on Broad-Halfpenny, and afterwards on Windmill-down, near to Hambledon, in Hampshire. While old Nyren directed their movements, the Club remained unrivalled, and frequently challenged all England. The most polished players that this country ever produced were members of the Hambledon Club—if John Nyren, the son of the good old patriarch, and father of this little manual, be worthy of credit; and many eminent members of the Mary-le-bone Club, both 'gentle and simple', can attest his solid judgement, as well as his regard to truth and plain dealing. Of the former class in society, the names of Lord Frederick Beauclerc, with Mr. Ward, and Mr. Ladbroke, will alone form ample testimony to his fitness to speak upon such points; while his first-rate instruction, long practice, and superior accomplishment, will qualify him to impart his half a century's experience to the young practitioner.
The papers entitled 'The Cricketers of My Time', which conclude the work, have already appeared in a weekly periodical. They have been collected at the desire of a few friends, and published here. If they afford any amusement to the young reader, it is to be wished that he may at the same time be led to emulate the skill of the most eminent men recorded in the different papers, and not wholly to disregard the sterling qualities of integrity, plain dealing, and good old English independence—the independence of native worth and moral rectitude, not of insolence and effrontery, which signalized many of their characters,
