RACKET.

PLATE XX.

THE Racket-ground presents, in the first place, a very high wall of about forty or more feet in width; and at the top of the wall is a net-work of about five feet in height to prevent those balls going over that happen to be struck above the coping of the wall. From the two extreme sides of the wall, two parallel lines of about sixty feet in length are marked with chalk, which are met by another line, at their extremities, drawn parallel to the wall. The court is then divided into two equal parts by a second line drawn parallel to the wall; and, when two are playing on each side, a line is also drawn from the centre of the wall to the end of the ground, to give each player his own ground.

The player who commences, or the server, stands in the centre of the ground, in a space marked out for that purpose. He must serve the first ball over a red line marked upon the

wall for that purpose; and, in its rebound, it must fall over, that is beyond, the line which crosses the middle of the ground parallel to the wall. If he fail to serve it above the red line, it is called a cut ball; and if it falls inside the line, it is called a short ball, and his opponent may accept it or not, as he chooses.

The in-player or server is out, if he serves three cut balls, if he strikes the wood which runs along the wall at about eighteen inches from the bottom, if he misses the ball twice with the racket in attempting to serve it, if the ball fall out of bounds, or if he wilfully obstruct his opponent's stroke.

The ball must be returned by the opponent before the second bound. It may be returned at the first hop, or before it reaches the ground. This last stroke is termed volleying; and, when well executed, is an excellent style of play: none but first-rate players succeed well in the execution of it.

The opponent loses one, if he fail to return the ball before the second bound, if he return it upon or below the wooden rail, if he strike it against the network at the top of the wall, if he return it properly and it fall out of bounds, or if he wilfully obstruct his adversary's stroke.

If a ball falls on the line, it is called a line ball, and is played again.

After the ball is once served, it may be played into any part of the ground.

A marker is always required at this game. His duty is to keep the balls well covered with chalk, so that they may leave a mark upon the wall, to watch carefully whether the ball falls in or out of bounds, to call the game as each stroke is made, and to be ready to be referred to, if necessary, by the players.

FIVES is similar to Rackets, excepting that it is played with the open hand in a smaller ground, and the ball is served after it has rebounded from a stone placed in the centre of the ground as the serving place.

TENNIS.

PLATE XXI.

[FOR this article I am chiefly indebted, with the publisher's liberal permission, to the excellent "Treatise on Tennis," by a Member of the Tennis Club; Rodwell, New Bond-street; 1822.]

THE COURT.

The size of a Tennis Court is generally about ninety-six or ninety-seven feet long, by thirtythree or thirty-four feet wide. Though many courts are smaller, this is the general proportion; and a foot more or less in length or width is not thought of any great consequence.

A line or net hangs exactly across the middle, and is precisely one yard in height at the centre; but it rises at each end a foot or more, so that it hangs in a slope or sweep. It is of a substance to resist any ball, with whatever force it may be struck. Over this net, the balls must be struck with a racket or bat, to make the stroke good.

*To this measurement, twenty feet must be added in length, and ten in breadth, for the galleries, &c.