Westminster Papers, 1879 (2nd Löwenthal Tourney)

single set of 3x2–4# (3 pr.)

single #3 (1 pr.)

Competitors could enter in either section, but not both. The #3 problems in the sets section would, however, also enter for the single problem prize.

Open to all. The decision of the judges or the umpire would be final.

P. T. Duffy, J. W. Abbott, umpire: F. H. Lewis

Duals following the key move would be considered a defect, unless unavoidable.

1879-03-20 (UK), 1879-04-20 (Europe, Canada, USA), 1879-08-20 (elsewhere)

a	1 pr.	S. H. Thomas (Motto: Peep beneath)
	2 pr.	J. H. Finlinson (Too many cooks spoil the mate)
	3 pr.	J. A. Carlborg (Victoria)

b	1 pr.	S. H. Thomas (Motto: Peep beneath)

Westminster Papers

v. 11, p.200-201 (Jan., 1879): announcement

v. 11, p.265 (Apr., 1879): problems (18) from the UK.

v. 11, p.272 (Apr., 1879): further announcements will be through Land and Water.

Huddersfield College Magazine

v. 7, p. 211 (May, 1879): probable disposition of problems.

Chess-Monthly

v. 3, p. 167 (Feb., 1882): question about the state of the tourney.

British Chess Magazine

v. 2, p. 109 (Mar., 1882): brief tourney awards.

There is some doubt that this tournament was concluded according to the requirements (see below). The main reason appears to be the sudden and unexpected end of Westminster Papers in April, 1879.

The funds for the main prizes were provided from the Löwenthal fund. The publisher provided the prize for best #3.

The publication of Westminster Papers ceased with the issue of April, 1879, which contained five sets of the 18 received so far: The Rose, Thistle and Shamrock, To be well shaken before taken, Maida, Peep beneath and Limæ labor ac mora. Readers were referred to Land and Water for further announcements.

Land and Water was unfortunately not available for reference, so it is not known if they identified where remaining problems would be published, or even published some of the sets. At present, additional known sources are Huddersfield College Magazine, v. 7 (Too many cooks spoil the mate, It's your move, and Kerderf), Croydon Guardian and Surry County Gazette (Qui viva), and Chess Player's Chronicle (new series) for 1879 and 1880 (Avizandum, Good Speed, Victoria, Quidam, and Wintonians). At least 15 mottos (some from the UK, some not) have been published as planned.

However, the award report does not say how many the competitors were, and no list of competitors or competing mottos is known, except for UK competitors. The correspondent who, in December 1881 in Chess-Monthly, asks about the state of the tourney, mentions that Mr. Mossop (the previous editor of Westminster Papers) had said in December 1879 that the judges decision had been made, and would be published within a month or so. (This may raise a question about the later publication of the #3 pr set, which happened in February, 1880, together with two other sets from the same tourney.)

The original requirements stated that all problems should be published before prizes were awarded. Thus, at least the following sets/problems could be expected to have been published somewhere: Gang Warily, Humility and Modesty, Ubique, Wheel of Fortune, For Trial, Pus monin, Bheizrear, Breith Oirbh, Pax in bello, Knights of the chequered table, and Unde i lupta sun si eu. The rule may have been modified, although no mention of this has been found.

The very brief awards report does say that the judges are unable to state positively that all problems have been published, and so the tourney does not seem to have been brought to an end, according to its own published requirements.