a play at which a ball is driven by a racket.

As many persons would become players at tennis, provided they could easily understand the rudiments of the game, so as to form some judgment of the players, or at least to know who wins and who loses, we have here attempted to give so plain a description of it, that no one can be at a loss, if ever he should bett or play. As to the executive part, it requires great practice to make a good player, so that nothing can be done without it; all we presume to do is to give an insight into the game, whereby a person may not seem a total stranger to it when he happens to be in a tennis court.

The game of tennis is played in most capital cities in Europe, particularly in France, from whence we may venture to derive its origin. It is esteemed with many to be one of the most ancient games in Christendom, and long before King Charles I.'s time it was played in England.

This game is as intricate as any game whatever; a person who is totally ignorant of it may look on for a month together, without being able to make out how the game is decided. Therefore we shall begin by describing the court in which it is played.

The size of a tennis court is generally about 96 or 97 feet by 33 or 34, there being no exact dimension ascribed to its proportion, a foot more or less in length or width being of no consequence. A line or net hangs exactly across the middle, over which the ball must be struck, either with a racket or board to make the stroke good. Upon the entrance of a tennis-court, there is a long gallery which goes to the dedans, that is, a kind of front gallery, where spectators usually stand, into which, whenever a ball is struck, it tells for a certain stroke. This long gallery is divided into different compartments or galleries, each of which has its particular name, as follows; from the line towards the dedans are the first gallery, door, second gallery, and the left gallery, which is called the service fide. From the dedans to the last gallery are the figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, at a yard distance each, by which the chaces are marked, and is one of the most essential parts of the game, as will appear in the following description. On the other side of the line are also the first gallery, door, second gallery, and last gallery; which is called the hazard-fide. Every ball struck into the last gallery on this side reckons for a certain stroke the same as the dedans. Between the second and this last gallery are the figures 1, 2, to mark the chaces on the hazard-fide. Over this long gallery, or these compartments, is a covering, called the pent-houfe, on which they play the ball from the service-fide, in order to begin a set of tennis, from which it is called a service. When they miss putting the ball (so as to rebound from the pent-houfe) over a certain line on the service-fide, it is deemed a fault, two of which are reckoned for a stroke. If the ball rolls round the pent-houfe, on the opposite side of the court, so as to fall beyond a certain line described for that purpose, it is called paffe, reckons for nothing on either fide, and the player must serve again.

On the right-hand fide of the court from the dedans is what they call the tambour, a part of the wall which projects, and is so contrived in order to make a variety in the stroke, and render it more difficult to be returned by the adversary; for when a ball strikes the tambour, it varies its direction, and requires some extraordinary judgment to return it over the line. The last thing on the right hand fide is called the grill, wherein if the ball is struck, it is also 15, or a certain stroke.

The game of tennis is played by what they call sets; a set of tennis consists of fix games: but if they play what is called an advantage-set, two above five games must be won on one fide or the other successively, in order to decide; or, if it comes to fix games all, two games must still be won on one fide to conclude the set, so that an advantage-set may last a considerable time; for which kind of sets the court is paid more than for any other.

We must now describe the use of the chaces, and by what means these chaces decide or interfere so much in the game. When the player gives his service at the beginning of a set, his adversary is supposed to return the ball; and wherever it falls after the first rebound untouched, the chase is called accordingly; for example, if the ball falls at the figure 1, the chase is called at a yard, that is to say, at a yard from the dedans: this chase remains till a second service is given; and if the player on the service fide lets the ball go after his adversary returns it, and if the ball falls on or between any of these figures or chaces, they must change fides, there being two chaces; and he who then will be on the hazard fide, must play to win the first chase; which if he wins by striking the ball so as to fall, after its first rebound, nearer to the dedans than the figure 1, without his adversary's being able to return it from its first hop, he wins a stroke, and then proceeds in like manner to win the second chase, wherever it should happen to be. If a ball falls on the line with the first gallery door, second gallery, or last gallery, the chase is likewise called at such or such a place, naming the gallery, door, &c. When it is just put over the line, it is called a chase at the line. If the player on the service-fide returns a ball with such force as to strike the wall on the hazard-fide so as to rebound, after the first hop over the line, it is also called a chase at the line.

The chaces on the hazard-fide proceed from the ball being returned either too hard or not quite hard enough; so that the ball after its first rebound falls on this fide of the blue line, or line which describes the hazard-fide chaces; in which case it is a chase at 1, 2, &c. provided there is no chase depending. When they change fides, the player, in order to win this chase, must put the ball over the line anywhere, so that his adversary does not return it. When there is no chase on the hazard-fide, all balls put over the line from the service-fide, without being returned, reckon for a stroke.

As the game depends chiefly upon the marking, it will be necessary to explain it, and to recommend those who play at tennis to have a good and unbiassed marker, for on him the whole set may depend: he can mark in favour of the one and against the other in such a manner, as will render it two to one at starting, though even players. Instead of which the marker should be very attentive to the chaces, and not be anyway partial to either of the players.

This game is marked in a very singular manner, which makes it at first somewhat difficult to understand. The first stroke is called 15, the second 30, the third 40, and the fourth game, unless the players get four strokes each; in that case, instead of calling it 40 all, is is called deuce; after which, as soon as any stroke is got, it is called advantage; and in case the strokes become equal again, deuce again, till one or the other gets two strokes following, which win the game; and as the games are won, so they are marked and called; as one game love, two games to one, &c. towards the set, of which so many of these games it consists.

Although but one ball at a time is played with, a number of balls are made use of at this game to avoid trouble, and are handed to the players in baskets for that purpose; by which means they can play as long as they please, without ever having occasion to stoop for a ball.

As to the odds at tennis, they are by no means fixed, but are generally laid as follow:

Upon the first stroke being won between even players, that is, fifteen love, the odds are of the

<table> <tr> <th>Single game</th> <th></th> <th>7 to 4</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Thirty love</td> <td></td> <td>4 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Forty love</td> <td></td> <td>8 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Thirty fifteen</td> <td></td> <td>2 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Forty fifteen</td> <td></td> <td>5 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Forty thirty</td> <td></td> <td>3 1</td> </tr> </table>

The odds of a four game set when the first game is won, are

<table> <tr> <th>When two games love</th> <th></th> <th>7 4</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Three games love</td> <td></td> <td>4 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>When two games to one</td> <td></td> <td>2 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Three games to one</td> <td></td> <td>5 1</td> </tr> </table>

The odds of a fix game set when the first game is won, are

<table> <tr> <th>When two games love</th> <th></th> <th>3 2</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Three games love</td> <td></td> <td>2 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Four games love</td> <td></td> <td>4 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Five games love</td> <td></td> <td>10 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>When two games to one</td> <td></td> <td>8 5</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Three games to one</td> <td></td> <td>5 2</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Four games to one</td> <td></td> <td>5 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Five games to one</td> <td></td> <td>15 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>When three games to two</td> <td></td> <td>7 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Four games to two</td> <td></td> <td>4 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Five games to two</td> <td></td> <td>10 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>When four games to three</td> <td></td> <td>2 1</td> </tr> </table> Five games to three - - 5 The odds of an advantage set when the first game is won, are - 5 4 When two games love - - 7 4 Three games love - - 3 1 Four games love - - 5 1 Five games love - - 15 1 When two games to one - - 4 3 Three games to one - - 2 1 Four games to one - - 7 2 Five games to one - - 10 1 When three games to two - - 3 2 Four games to two - - 3 1 Five games to two - - 8 1 When four games to three - - 8 5 Five games to three - - 3 1 When five games to four - - 2 1 When six games to five - - 5 2

The foregoing odds, as beforesaid, are generally laid, but the chaces interfering makes the odds very precarious; for example, when there is a chace at half a yard, and a set is five games all, and in every other respect equal, the odds are a good five to four; and if it were fix games to five, and forty thirty with the same chace, the odds then would be a guinea to a shilling; so that it is plain that the odds at this game differ from those of any other: for one stroke will reduce a set, supposing the players to be five games all, from an even wager to three to two, and so on in proportion to the stage of the set.

There are various methods of giving odds at tennis, in order to make a match equal; and that they may be understood, we shall give the following list of them, with their meanings, so that any person may form a judgement of the advantage received or given.

The lowest odds that can be given, excepting the choice of the sides, is what they call a bique, that is, a stroke to be taken or scored whenever the player, who receives the advantage, thinks proper: for instance, suppose a critical game of the set to be forty thirty, by taking the bique, he who is forty becomes game, and so in respect of two biques, &c.

The next greater odds are fifteen, that is, a certain stroke given at the beginning of each game.

After these, half thirty, that is, fifteen one game, and thirty the next. Then follow the whole thirty, forty, &c.

There are also the following kind of odds which are given, viz.

Round services; those are services given round the pent-house, so as to render it easy for the striker-out (the player who is on the hazard side) to return the ball.

Half-court, that is, being obliged or confined to play into the adversary's half-court; sometimes it is played straightwife, and at other times across; both which are great advantages given by him so confined, but the strict half-court is the greatest.

Touch no-wall, that is, being obliged to play within the compass of the walls, or sides of the court. This is a considerable advantage to him who receives it; as all the balls must be played gently, and consequently they are much easier to take than those which are played hard, or according to the usual method of play.

Barring the hazards, that is, barring the dedans, tambour, grill, or the last gallery on the hazard-fide, or any particular one or more of them.

These are the common kind of odds or advantages given; but there are many others, which are according to what is agreed by the players: such as playing with board against racket, cricket-bat against racket, &c.

The game of tennis is also played by four persons, two partners on each side. In this case, they are generally confined to their particular quarters, and one of each side appointed to serve and strike out; in every other respect, the game is played in the same manner as when two only play.

Any thing more to be said upon this subject would be needless, as nothing can be recommended after reading this short account of tennis, but practice and attention, without which no one can become a proficient at the game.