The Express.
London, England, 1865-04-10 00:00:00

:RSIVI BOAT RACE.
-8-

The start on Saturday was & splendid sight,. and
the manner in which Cambridge went off positively '
astonished the spestators. Never before was an
eight-oared boat driven through the water at such
a rate, never did eight pairs of human arms develop
such muscular power. We thought it could not
last beyond a half doeen strokes or so, tali
it was actually kept up without the slightest bate-
ment to Hammersmith-bridge, at which point
Cambridge was several lengths ahead. The wildest
confusion and excitement now took place amongst
the betters on board the steamboats. Those who
had basked Oxford ran about everywhere endea-
vouring to hedge ; the fewer friends of Cambridge
began to crow ; and one of the latter actually
started a pigeon express to Cambridge with the
news that the race was won. One bet of a hundred
to twenty was made, another of seventy to ten, and
all doubt as to the result of the race had disap-
RaatCambrildsce had never been ahead at
rs emith-bri before, and no boat that had
the lead there ever been beaten. But alas
the performance of impossibilities is now the
everyday business of our lives. From this point
the fortune of the day began to turn ; Oxford
gained momentarily on its hitherto triumphant op-
ponents, and when we next caught a glimpse of the
contending boats there relative positions had been
reversed. Cambridge had, it would appear, used
up its whole strength in gaining Hammersmith-
bridge, while Oxford had skilfully kept its fames in
reserve for the subsequent struggle. Towards the end
they increased their distance rapidly, and finally
won by as great a distance as on former
occasions. When we came up with them we could
see that the Cambridge men were quite exhausted,
whilst their antagonists looked quite fresh, and as
if ready for another race. As usual a great many
excellent mesons were given for defeat, and acci-
dents and incidents were described but for the re-
currence of which the fortune of the day would
have been different ; but the broad fact remains that
Oxford has now defeated Cambridge five times in
succession, and as it is impossible to suppose that
there is any intrinsic difference in the strength, or
pluck, or bottom of the men, it is quite time that
80111111 rational means should be adopted to find the
blot and hit it. Nobody would tell Cambridge to
give up the strife, but rather to find wherein the
deficiency lies, and to remedy it. Some say it is
the bad river, others the short stroke, and others,
again, the inferior training. We incline to think
ourselves that the short stroke has something to do
with it, and in the home of the mathematics this could
easily be accounted for. Next it is urged, admitting
the short stroketo be the cause, that it would be im-
possible to practise any other in the Cam ; end if so
the remedy is to go somewhere else for practice.
The Oxford men have, during the year, many a
"spurt" on the Thames, and are all as well known
to the Thames wateemen as if they were free of the
river. They came up for the final training a week
before their antagonists, in fact, took every human
precaution to secure victory. They have secured
it, and if the Cantabs do not mean them to keep the
belt of the river in perpetuity, they must go and
do likewise. The public will hardly crowd to the
waterside again to see a race of which they may so
safely calculate the result beforehand.

The following list of the rases and their results
(roan the year 1819 to 1884 will be interesting :

Year. , Date. Winner. Place. Won by
1829 June 10.... Oxford Redly
1836 June 17 Csabrldge.. Weitz. to hem* • • 1 minute.
lege Apetl 8 .... Cambridge.. Weitz to Petry lngn.assee
DM Apra 16.... Cambridge.. Weer. to Putney fot • length
lett April 14.... Omibrbige . Wear. to Patel tmln 4 sec.
1882 June 11 .... Oxford WINO. to Putney.. 13 sec.
1646 March 16 .. Cambridge Putney to Mortlake 30 sec.
1866 April 3 .... Cambridge Mortlake to Putney t length'.
1819 %arch YD .. Cambridge Putney to Mortlake lastly.
1849 Dec. 16 .... Oxford Putney to Mortlake Foul.
1862 April .... Oxford Putney to Mortlake 27 see.
UM April 8 .... Oxford Palmy to Mortlake 11 strokes.
1466 Merck 16 . Ounbridp Mortlake to Putney i • Leith.
1867 April 4 .... Oztord Putney to Mortlake 36 sec
1868 March 27 . Cambridge Putney to Mortlake 22 sec.
1869 April 16.... fiord Putney to Mortlake Cam. sank.
MOD 'Groh el Cambridge Putney to Mortlake 1 length.
1861 hatch
1682 April 11.... Weed Putney to Mortlake 30 see.
1863 'di• 28 .. Oxford Mortlake to Putney Pauly.
1866 March 19 .. Oxford Putney to MortMkel