The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-21 00:00:00

THE UNIVERSITY BOAT-RACE.

(From the Deity News).
Foe the mere lookers on the weather left
nothing to be desired, and consequently there
was as great a crowd assembled to see the race
as had probably ever been assembled on any similar
occasion. We ourselves started from a compara-
tively secluded pier at Nine Elms, but we found ou
reaching the "dummy" a very considerable DUO]
her of persons making for the George Peabody,
the boat which had been engaged for the day by
the Thames Subscription Club, but none of us hav-
ing the slightest idea of the honour which was in
More for that much-favoured steamer. The pier-
man was a stanch Cantab, and had nailed his
colours to his button-hole. He had always, he said,
stood by Cambridge, and he wasn't going to desert
her now, when every one said she wouldn't win.
He was, however, not entirely without hope, as the
water was gradually getting very " lumpy," and
lumpy water was what Cambridge took delight in.
He anathematised the steam tugs, which used
smoky coals, and the " bWyboys,', which he felt
convinced would go right in the way of the Cam-
bridge boat, and Le beguiled his apprehensions by
firing off a salute every five minutes, apropos of
nothing in particular, out of a tremendous Arm-
strong of about four inches in length, " just to
cheer 'eni up a bit," be said, when asked the rea-
son of this liberal expenditure of powder. The
George Peabody called at Nine Elms punctually to
her time, and having taken in the Vauxhall con-
tingent, ,tretched across to Pimlico Pier, where
was assembled a much greater crowd, having in its
midst his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, of
whose presence, however, every one in the barge
seemed to be utterly unconscious. His Royal High-
ness's
presence there was a happy accident. He bad,
like a true English Prince, expressed an anxious
wish to see the match, but unfortunately a drawing-
room was fixed for Saturday, at so early an hour
that it seemed impossible to get to Putney and be
back in time. In this dilemma, Mr. R. N. Phi-
lippa, of the Thames Subscription Club, took the
matter in hand and accelerated all the arrange-
ments, including the start, by half an hour, sat up
half the night writing letters to every one who bad
a right to be acquainted with the cbauge of ar-
rangements, and finally was enabled to pledge
himself that the Prince of Wales should be taken
up to Putney, should see the match, and finally be
landed at half-past twelve o'clock in Hammersmith,
whence his royal highness could drive to Buck-
ingham-palace in ample time for the drawing-room.
In the two points which depended on himself Mr.
Philippi was triumphantly successful ; the heir
apparent was taken to Putney in good time, and
with equal punctuality was subsequently landed on
liammersinith-bridge ; but his royal highness had
but a very imperfect view of the race, for the fuligi-
nous tugs which had so much excited the ire of
the piermau at the Elms, rushed right across
the bows of the George Peabody the moment the
boats started, and from that time until we got to
Mortlake we could see little a-heal except smoke,
and if we looked at the boat in which the umpire
bad taken his stand, we could perceive that he was
placed iu an admirable position to secure impar-
tiality of decision, as he was kept in perfect ignor-
ance of the doings on either side. But the voyage
up to Putney was pleasant enough. His royal
highness stood on the fore part of the vessel, not
however, separated from the rest of the passengers
by any harrier more stringent than their own sense
of propriety, and he soon relieved many an anxious
mind on board the little steamer by lighting up
his cigar, and thus establishing a precedent which
soon resulted iu a general illumination. His royal
highnesa was accouipasied by Prince John of
Glucksburg, General Knollys, Colonel Keppel, and
one or two other gentlemen, and chatted freely
with the surroundiug company. The committee
of the Thames Club were severally presented, at
the prince's desire, by the Hon. Mr.
the chairman, and Mr. Philippe was specially
thanked fur his exertions iu accelerating the
arrangements so as not to interfere with the
drawing-room. Then the royal standard was run
up amidships, and the surrounding steam squadron
now being aware that the George Peabody had
become a royal galley, the result was that
much care and order was observed during
the remaiuder of the voyage. The sun had
now come out decisively, and we could see
the banks of the river on either side crowded
with spectators. Men on horseback rode rapidly
along the eater's edge regardless of consequences
to the runners ; and we could see one of those
rash gentlemen tossed by his horse right into the
river, but without any result more disagreeable
than a good ducking, which he richly deserved.
Hammersmith Suspension-bridge was covered by
what might well be called an appalling crowd,
when we remember its peculiar structure and the
terrible accident of the Bridge of Angers
when similarly loaded. The roadway, the
footway, the chains and the buttresses, were
all black with people, and if anything bad given
way we should have ad a destruction of life quite
equal to the recent Sheffield catastrophe. The
crowd cheered lustily as the George Peabody
strained under, and we passed on to the narrower
stream anti more picturesque banks which lead up
to Mortlase. The bishop's grounds,on the Middlesex
side, were studded with select and privileged
groups, but on the opposite bank the crowd became
more and more dense as we approached the scene of
action.

It is needless to say that tranquil Putney exhi-
bited an Cie abnormal vivacity which might have
been expected from a village which only wakes up
once or twice a year, or that the " Star aud Gar-
ter " seemNi to be doing a famous stroke of business.
The Cambridge men had secured this famous
and con,picuous hostelry, whilst the Oxonians
were stowed away in another inn up a street
in Putney, where nothitg could be seen
of theni, until at last they rowed up
to the starting point. The scene at this point at
this time Wilk. exceedingly gay and animated, and
drew more than one expression of admiration
from the Prince of Wales. The balconies of the
Star and Garter were crowded with company of
the Cambridge party all decked in favours of
centleat. hiue ; and at the wharf was a perfect
swarm of boats—coatse boats, wateruien's boats,
punts, a. and even "Jingles" of low degree,
in many : w:,ich latter were single instrumentalists,
who ',laved up airs of anticipated triumph on
cracked corect,, wheezy clarinets, and in one case j
a terrific set of bagpipes. There was cheering,
some sl:4lit swearing, great tiring off of small
ordnance, volumes of smoke from the bated "tugs,"
and unp::::ing obstinacy in the navigation of the
obstructive " Billyboys." It was, in fact, liberty
ball on Cie water, and the presence of the their
Apparent on her fore deck did not secure
for the George Peabody any exemption from
the plea,sut miseries that beret her neighbours.
But we did not come to admire the &unmated
tableau, but to see the race, and accordingly every
eye peei-d arough the smoke to catch a glimpse of
the coh;c::ilin4 boats as they came out from their
mooring-. Cambridge was brat on the ground, and
preens*, to casting off guernseys and flinging away
caps the crew took a little paddle down stream,
and iu ci -:ng we regret to add, °tiered grounds
for au i::.farourable augury of the future contest.
There wa, a slight tendency to crab-catching, a
wahliiin of the boat iu the water, and au indirect-
ness tit motion which did not look exactly like the
perfection of drill. Amateurs looked grave, said
began to Inquire how it was that Cambridge could
not get up screw equal to Oxford. Some said the
men were too linsvy--others, that they were not
" trimir,d ;" some said that the day was too hue
for the Cambridge quality ; and one hardy specu-
lator affirmed that it was the mathematic*
that took the pluck and spirit out of the men.
Then Oxford won the toes Oxford always wins
the toss, at least Las done so for the last four years,
and in "electing the Middlesex aide bad a double
advantage; the boat had a clear passage before
it, and was immediately under the eye of the
Prince of Wales, who it was hoped would now
have a hue view of the race. The gun was fired,
the boats took their places, and the rowers took
edf their guernseys alai threw away their caps. '
Cambridge performed this preliminary operation
Wail immense energy, and each rower flung his cap