long after he had abandoned the game. There is (1860) in the Waterloo Inn, Barn Green, near Hambledon, a picture of him dancing with a jug of ale in his hand; for he was a curious and eccentric character, full of fun and humour. He is buried in Walton-on-Thames churchyard, and his tombstone (which was erected by his patron, the Earl of Tankerville) bears the following inscription:—
To the Memory of
MR. EDWARD STEVENS,
Who departed this Life
The 7th day of September, 1819,
Aged 84.
Sir horace Mann's last recorded match was in 1782, for six of Kent against six of the Hambledon Club. His name is not to be found in these pages since 1773, and why he did not play between these periods is now unknown. Most of his matches, however, probably took place before this book commences in 1772. In the old song he is mentioned as,
A batter of great might.
He was one of the greatest patrons and admirers of cricket there ever has been; and at one of his country seats, Bourne House, Bishopsbourne, near Canterbury, several great county matches came off. He had another fine place at Linton, near Maidstone; also at Sissinghurst; and nearly one half of the parish of Frittenden, being an extensive landowner in Kent. He was 'agreeable, gay, and affable'. When anxious about a match (says John Nyren in his book), he would walk about outside the ground, cutting down the daisies with his stick. He had several famous cricketers in his employ, including John and George Ring; who were his huntsman and whipper-in. The Gentleman's Magazine of 1814 has the following: 'He was a member of the House of Commons for five successive Parliaments, for Sandwich, from
