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Frederick Milns Edge's letter to Daniel Willard Fiske
December 30, 1858
Hotel Breteuil, Rue du Dauphin
Paris, December 30th, 1858
My dear Fiske,
The match with Herr Anderssen has become a thing of history. Eleven games
were played, extending over eight days; The score standing finally
as follows:-
Morphy 7. Anderssen 2 Drawn 2.
The match commenced in the above hotel on Monday the 20th. Inst (sic),
Morphy getting out of bed for the first time after an illness of nearly a
fortnight. M. had the move and played the Evans, which he lost on the 72nd
move. Next day, Anderson gave the Ruy Lopez, which eventuated in a draw.
The third game M. won in an hour and five minutes, on 21st move; it was
also a Ruy Lopez, as was the fourth, which M. also won. The Fifth, sixth
and seventh games he scored: The 8th was drawn: the ninth he carried off
by a coup de -main- in 17 moves, letting Anderssen capture a bishop, and
leaving his queen, two knights and a bishop en prise, during
several moves. The 10th A scored at the 77th move and the 11th fell to
Morphy at the 35th.
Anderssen is satisfied with the result. His opinion of Morphy is of the
most flattering kind: he told De Rivière and me yesterday, that if there
be any difference between Labourdonnais and him, it is at the favor of
Morphy, and that it is impossible for anybody to play the game better or
stronger then he. He has told these openly at the Régence, " No player can
hope to win more than a game or two from him, " il joue non
seulement le coup juste
mais le coup la plus juste." If his antagonist play this "coup
seulement approximativement
juste, il est perdu."
P.S. No. 2 As Morphy had to play the match at our hotel he bought [a]
board and set of men expressly for the occasion. I asked him to give me
the board, and I intend to present it to the American Chess Association.
C'est la champ de bataille ou Morphy a gagné le sceptre du
monde. F.E.
[the above PS was scrawled vertically on the margin of the first page
-sbc]
2 – Dec 30 1958
But you will shortly see Anderssen's opinion published in the
Schachzeitung . – Yesterday He and Morphy played six off–hand games, M.
winning 5 to 1.
A fortnight may some ago, Harrwitz took upon himself to play eight
blindfold games against eight mazettes, and has since put himself on a par
with Morphy. The amateurs at the Régence are disgusted with him, and have
got off squibs about him: such as the following:-
"Tu veux singer Morphy, joueur phénonoménal !
"Jeune présumptueux, tu forces ta nature
"En vain tu veux poser comme un
original.
"Tu n'est qu'une caricature."
______________
" Dans ce célèbre Tournai
" Au -cinq- fois, coup sur coup, tu vis tomber ton roi.
x x x
x x x x
x x x
x x x
x x x x
x x x
"Souviens toi, surtout, qu'en ce fameux] combat,
" Ta reputation reçut et chec et mat.[sic]"
____________
Harrwitz had got himself written up in " La Presse" as the French
champion, whereupon the following:-
Le Prussian vanté dans La Presse,
"Nous n'en voulons pas pour champion.
"Mettez donc son portrait sans? presse,
"Et l'on verra le champignon (sic)."
Having put up his portrait in the Café de la Régence said
portrait being highly flattered, lines were circulating commencing
"Pourquoi cher Harrwitz [reme? réussir?] ce portrait" and calling attention to the
suppression of his losses and serpent-like countenance. I can assure you
he has not very nice time of it, and I never saw any man more disliked
then he is in Paris.
I am happy to say that Morphy is now quite
[satisfied?], and is about to offer Harrwitz a match at Pawn and Move.
I remain, My dear Fiske
very truly yours
Fred Edge
P.S. I have enclosed you some games in the match and will send the
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th & 11th next week. I must get Morphy to dictate
them, not having them as yet.
[This PS was scrawled vertically on the margin of the second page]
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