Editing Howard Staunton (section)

===1852–1860, final stages of playing career and Shakespeare publication===
Immediately after the London International tournament Staunton challenged [[Adolf Anderssen|Anderssen]] to a match of twenty-one games, for £100 (£14,874/US$18,355 in 2022 terms). Anderssen accepted the challenge but the match could not be arranged: Staunton was physically unfit for an immediate contest, and Anderssen had to return to work.<ref name="Murray1908Staunton"/>

[[Carl Jaenisch]] had arrived too late for the tournament; Staunton convincingly won a match with him soon after (seven wins, one draw, and two losses).<ref name="Matches1850To1864"/> Later in 1851 Staunton played a match against [[Elijah Williams (chess player)|Elijah Williams]], who had won their play-off for third place in the London International tournament. Staunton won more games (six wins, three draws, and four losses) but lost the match because he had given Williams a three-game start.<ref name="ScoresRomanticEra"/>

In 1853, while trying to arrange a match against Anderssen, Staunton met [[Tassilo von Heydebrand und der Lasa|von&nbsp;der Lasa]] in Brussels. The two began a match, but had to abandon it in the middle of the thirteenth game, with von&nbsp;der Lasa leading (five wins, four losses, and three draws). Staunton was unfit to continue because of heart [[palpitations]], which had affected him in the second match against [[Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-Amant|Saint-Amant]] in 1843. In von&nbsp;der Lasa's opinion there was no chance that Staunton's health would be good enough for a serious contest from 1853 onwards.<ref name="Murray1908Staunton"/>{{refn|name="vdLasa1874Staunton"|
{{cite magazine
 | author=von&nbsp;der Lasa, T.
 | author-link=Tassilo von Heydebrand und der Lasa
 | date=November 1874
 | title=[title unknown]
 | magazine=The City of London Chess Magazine
}}<br/>{{cite web
 | author=Harding, T.  | author-link=Tim Harding (chess)
 | title=A History of The City of London Chess Magazine (Part 2)
 | url=http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kibitz49.txt
 | access-date=19 June 2008
}}{{efn|Some writers say Staunton and von&nbsp;der Lasa played a match in Berlin in 1844; but Staunton wrote in the ''Chess Player's Chronicle'' that he had the pleasure of making the personal acquaintance of von&nbsp;der Lasa in their 1853 encounter.<ref>{{cite web
 | author=Spinrad, J.P.
 | year=2006
 | title=Baron von Heydebrand und der Lasa
 | url=http://www.chesscafe.com/text/spinrad07.pdf
 | access-date=19 June 2008
}}</ref>
}}
}}

In the mid-1850s Staunton obtained a contract with the publishers [[Routledge]] to edit the text of [[Shakespeare]]. This [[The Globe Illustrated Shakespeare: The Complete Works Annotated|edition]] appeared in parts from 1857 to 1860, and Staunton's work was praised by experts.<ref name="Murray1908Staunton"/>

[[Image:PaulmorphyHair.jpg|thumb|right|200px|{{center|[[Paul Morphy]]}}]]
While Staunton was busy with the Shakespeare edition, he received a courteous letter from the [[New Orleans]] Chess Club, inviting him to that city to play [[Paul Morphy]], who had won the recent [[American Chess Congress#First American Chess Congress|First American Chess Congress]]. Staunton replied, thanking the New Orleans Chess Club and Morphy "for the honor implied in your selection of me as the opponent of such a champion" and pointing out that he had not competed for several years and was working six days a week (on editing Shakespeare), and that he could not possibly travel across the Atlantic for a match.{{sfn|Lawson|2006|pp=92–93}}

Staunton also wrote in ''The Illustrated London News'' that he had "been compelled, by laborious literary occupation, to abandon the practice of chess, beyond the indulgence of an occasional game ...&nbsp;. If Mr. Morphy – for whose skill we entertain the liveliest admiration – be desirous to win his spurs among the chess chivalry of Europe, he must take advantage of his purposed visit next year; he will then meet in this country, in France, in Germany and in Russia, many champions ... ready to test and do honor to his prowess."{{efn|
The full text of Staunton's letter was: <br/>
:"Gentlemen:
:In reply to your very courteous proposal for me to visit New Orleans for the purpose of encountering Mr. Paul Morphy at Chess, permit me to mention that for many years professional duties have compelled me to abandon the practice of the game almost entirely except in the most desultory manner, and at the present time these duties are so exacting that it is with difficulty I am enabled to snatch one day out of seven for exercise and relaxation.
:Under the circumstances you will at once perceive that a long and arduous chess contest, even in this Metropolis, would be an enterprise too formidable for me to embark in without ample opportunity for the recovery of my old strength in play, together with such arrangements as would prevent the sacrifice of my professional engagements for the sake of a match at chess, and that the idea of undertaking one in a foreign country, many thousand miles from here, is admissible only in a dream.
:With friendly greetings to my proposed antagonist, whose talent and enthusiasm no one can more highly estimate, and with compliments to you for the honour implied in your selection of me as the opponent of such a champion, I beg to subscribe myself, with every consideration. <br/>Yours obediently,
:H. Staunton"<ref>{{cite web
 | editor=batgirl (edochess.ca)
 | title=The life and chess of Paul Morphy: The Staunton challenge
 | url=http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/morphybio5.html
 | access-date=27 June 2008
}}<br/> Evidently reprinted from {{cite book
 | author=Lawson, D.
 | year=1976
 | title=Paul Morphy: The pride and sorrow of chess
 | pages=92–93
 | publisher=David McKay
 | isbn=0-679-13044-6
}}
</ref>}}

Chess historian [[H. J. R. Murray]] wrote that Staunton's letter and article should have been interpreted as a courteous refusal of the offer, but that Morphy interpreted them differently, and one of the main reasons for his visit to Europe in 1858 was the hope of playing a match with Staunton.<ref name="Murray1908Staunton"/><ref>
{{cite book
 | author=Lawson, D.
 | year=1976
 | title=Paul Morphy: The pride and sorrow of chess
 | pages=92–93
 | publisher=David McKay
 | isbn=0-679-13044-6
}}
</ref> Some other chess historians disagree with Murray's interpretation of Staunton's response.<ref name=Konsala-1981/>{{rp|page=29}} Staunton did offer to play Morphy by [[electric telegraph]], a technology whose progress and uses for chess he reported enthusiastically. However this offer arrived after Morphy had left for Europe – which perhaps was fortunate, as the newly laid cable broke down after a month and was not replaced until 1866.<ref name="StauntonMorphyTelegraphOffer">
{{cite web
 |author=Hilbert, J.S. 
 |title=Howard Staunton and chess by "electric telegraph" 
 |url=http://www.correspondencechess.com/campbell/articles/a030127.htm 
 |access-date=20 July 2008 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000819062645/http://chess.about.com/games/chess/library/weekly/aa091499.htm 
 |archive-date=19 August 2000 }} This cites the entry for "telegraph chess," in {{cite book
 | author1=Hooper, D. | author1-link=David Vincent Hooper
 | author2=Whyld, K.  |author2-link=Kenneth Whyld 
 | year=1992
 | title=[[The Oxford Companion to Chess]]
 | edition=2nd 
 | publisher=Oxford University Press
 | isbn=0-19-866164-9
}}
</ref>

Upon arriving in England in June 1858, Morphy promptly challenged Staunton to a match. At first, Staunton declined Morphy's offer saying that the challenge came too late.<ref name=Konsala-1981/>{{rp|page=30}} Morphy did not give up negotiations and urging Staunton to play. In early July Staunton agreed provided he was given time to get back into practice on [[chess opening|openings]] and [[chess endgame|endgames]],<ref name=Konsala-1981/>{{rp|pages=31–32}} and provided that he could manage all this without breaking the publication contract for his Shakespearean work. In early August, Morphy wrote asking Staunton when the match could occur,<ref name="batgirlMorphyGoesToEngland">
{{cite web
| url=http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/morphybio6.html
| title=Paul Morphy Goes to England
 | access-date=20 July 2008
}}
</ref><ref name="Wall_Morphy">
{{cite web
 |author      = Wall, W.
 |title       = Paul Morphy
 |series      = Bill Wall's chess master profiles
 |url     = http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lab/7378/morphy.htm
 |access-date = 6 July 2008 |url-status = dead
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091026154924/http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lab/7378/morphy.htm
 |archive-date = 26 October 2009 |df = dmy-all
}}{{webarchive
 |format=addlarchives
 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028033945/http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lab/7378/morphy.htm
 |date=28 October 2009
}}
</ref> and Staunton asked again for a delay of some weeks.<ref name=Konsala-1981/>{{rp|page=33}}

Staunton did compete in a tournament in [[Birmingham]], that started on 22&nbsp;August, but it was a [[Single-elimination tournament|knock-out tournament]], and he was eliminated in the second round by [[Johann Löwenthal]] after playing a total of four games.<ref name="storiascacchiTorneiAl1879"/><ref name="Wall_Morphy"/> This was to be Staunton's last public chess competition. H.J.R. Murray wrote that Staunton had overexerted himself and damaged his health by trying both to get ahead of schedule on the Shakespeare project and to play some competitive chess.<ref name="Murray1908Staunton"/>

Just before Staunton left London for Birmingham, his old enemy [[George Walker (chess player)|George Walker]] had published an article accusing him of trying to delay the match indefinitely, and Staunton received another letter from Morphy pressing him to name a date for the match. Staunton and Morphy met socially in Birmingham and, after a tense discussion, Staunton agreed to play in early November.<ref name="batgirlBirminghamMeeting">
{{cite web
 | title=The Birmingham Meeting
 | url=http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/morphybio7.html
 | access-date=20 July 2008
}}
</ref><ref name=Konsala-1981/>{{rp|page=34}} Just after the tournament a letter signed by "Anti-book" appeared in Staunton's column in ''The Illustrated London News'', alleging that Morphy did not actually have the money for his share of the stakes. This letter is widely thought to have been written by Staunton himself; if so, he must have written it immediately after reading Walker's article and Morphy's letter and immediately before leaving for Birmingham.<ref name="Diggle1987ChessCharacters2">
{{cite book
 | author=Diggle, G.H.
 | year=1987
 | title=Chess Characters  | volume=2
 | location=Geneva
 | url=http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter34.html#4983._Reti_and_Tartakower
 | access-date=20 July 2008
}}
</ref>

Around this time Morphy wrote to friends in the U.S. asking them to obtain the stake money for the Staunton match. Morphy's family refused to contribute as they "should not allow him to play a money match either with his own money or anyone else's", but the New Orleans Chess Club sent £500.<ref name="batgirlPaulWaitsForAnderssen">
{{cite web
 | title=Paul waits for Anderssen
 | url=http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/morphybio9.html
 | access-date=20 July 2008
}}
</ref> Meanwhile, Morphy went to Paris to play against continental masters. In September ''The Illustrated London News'' printed both a complimentary full-page article about Morphy and a complimentary mention of him in its chess column.<ref>
{{cite news
 | title=Mr.&nbsp;Paul Morphy, the American chess phenomenon
 | date=18 September 1858
| newspaper=Illustrated London News 
 | page=255
 | url=http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/pics/cn3889_morphy4.jpg | access-date=28 July 2008
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news
 | title=Match between Messrs.&nbsp;Morphy and Lowenthal – game&nbsp;11
 | newspaper=Illustrated London News
 | date=18 September 1858
| page=255
 | url=http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/pics/cn3889_morphy5.jpg
 | access-date=28 July 2008
}}
</ref> On 6&nbsp;October 1858, while in Paris, Morphy wrote Staunton an [[open letter]] which was also circulated to several publications, in which Morphy complained about Staunton's conduct.<ref name="MorphyOpenLetterOct1858">
{{cite news
 | author=Morphy, Paul 
 | date = October 1858
 | title=Letter from Paul Morphy to Mr.&nbsp;Staunton, of England
 | newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
 | url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1858/11/01/78878758.pdf
 | access-date=11 July 2008
}} Copies were sent to ''[[The Illustrated London News]]'', ''[[Bell's Life in London]]'', the ''Era'', ''[[The Field (magazine)|The Field]]'' and ''[[The Sunday Times]]''.
</ref> Staunton replied on 9&nbsp;October, re-stating the difficulties he faced, but now giving them as reasons to cancel the match.<ref name="Murray1908Staunton"/><ref name="batgirlPaulWaitsForAnderssen" /><ref name=Konsala-1981/>{{rp|page=43}} On 23&nbsp;October, Staunton published his entire reply along with a partial copy of Morphy's open letter, omitting the reference to the "anti-book" letter.

Various chess columns then printed anonymous and acrimonious letters. Morphy took no part in any of this, but wrote to [[George Lyttelton, 4th&nbsp;Baron Lyttelton|Lord Lyttelton]], the president of the British Chess Association, explaining his own efforts to bring about the match, accusing Staunton of avoiding the match by all means short of admitting he did not wish to play, complaining about Staunton's representation of the facts in ''The Illustrated London News'', and demanding "that you shall declare to the world it is through no fault of mine that this match has not taken place."<ref name="batgirlPaulWaitsForAnderssen"/> Lyttelton replied that it was reasonable for Staunton to decline the match, but that in his opinion Staunton should have done so plainly in his first letter to America, but had instead often given the impression that he would soon be ready to start the match.<ref name="batgirlPaulWaitsForAnderssen"/><!--
Lyttleton quoted at Talk:Paul Morphy
The main criticism against Staunton was never his failure to play Morphy. As Lord Lyttleton put it:
{{Quote|In the general circumstances of the case, I conceive that Mr. Staunton was quite justified in declining the match.}}

His further statements explain Staunton's failings:
{{Quote|I cannot but think, that in all fairness and considerate-ness, Mr. Staunton might have told you of this long before he did. I know no reason why he might not have ascertained it, and informed you of it in answer to your first letter from America. Instead of this, it seems to me plain, both as to the interview at which I myself was present, and as to all the other communications which have passed, that Mr. Staunton gave you every reason to suppose that he would be ready to play the match within no long time ...&nbsp;.}}
-->