The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-26 00:00:00

THE THAMES SUBSCRIPTION CLUB.

According to the usual custom the competing
crews were entertained at dinner in the rimming, at Wil
Rooms, as guests of the Thames Subscription Club, under
the presidency of the Hoe. G. Denman. M.P. The company
included Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Nicholson, Bart, Mr.
R. Young, M.P. ; the Oxford crew and nine friends, the
Cambridge crew and nine friends, Alderman and Sheriff
Gibbons ; Captain of Hadley boat, Second Captain of Eton
boa* ClaPtainof Westminster boats, Mr. Edwin Hood,
Colonel Beason, Mr. J. Bridge, Mr. Morgan J. O'Oonnel,
Mr. J. W. Nicholson. Mr. J. W. Chitty, Mr. Walter Bovill,
Mr. R. Phillips, Captain Cotton, Mr. J. Gow Stewart, Mr.
J. Draper, Mr. W. B. Woodgate, Mr. R. Marsha= After
the first loyal toasts had been given and duly honoured,
The CHAIRMAN proposed the " Prince and Princess of
Wales and the rest of the royal family," aid in doing so
referred to the presenceof the Prince of Wales at the Ox-
ford and Cambridge race • year or two ago, and the grati-
fication which his royal bigness received from the sight.
(Cheers.) At the noe of the present year the Thames
Subecriptioe Club had hoped to have had Prime Alfred
on board their steamer, but his royal highness bad bees
prevented by other duties from so far honourieg them.
This, however, was perhaps matter more for rejoidng than
regret, for if the prince had been on board the club steamer
he would not bays seen much of the race. (Laughter.)
The next toast was the " Army, navy, and volunteers,"
in proposing which
The Cuaraitan mentioned that Sir F. Nicholson, who
was a member of the Thames Conservancy Board, had
ten days ago voluntarily pot himself Into oommuoicatiosi
with him and their secretary (Mr. H. C. Smith), asking
whether be could be of aoy service is helpiog to give them
a better chance of a fair race, as far as the steamers were
oonoerned. (Cheers.) They discussed the matter with him,
and no doubt that discussiou led to what would be admitted
to have been • great improvement upon former years.
(Cheers.)
Sir F. NiciteLson, in responding to the toast, gave the
assurance that the cooserrators were ready to do everything
in their power to aid these races, or indeed anything that
might tend to promote so healthful • recreation as rowing.
Colonel Bassow replied for the army.
Mr. J. W. Curer!, the umpire, who is • captain in the
"Devil's Own," spoke for the volunteers, and alluding to
the sweat of the morning, mid, in all hie experience he had
never esse a finer race or so fair • start For the letter
they were indebted to the errangement of the Thames Coo-
-1 servant Board and the exertion@ of their officer, Mr. Lord.
The OnaisHAN, in preparing "The University Crews,"
said, while it was not a pleasing Wag in itself for any man
who had been • member of • university to have to lull
attention to the fact that his university had for the sixth
time been defeated in an object upon which it bad dearly
set its heart, he had to speak on thati occasion not
as • member of the University of Cambridge, but
Si President of the Thames Subscription Club. They
had met tecether that day to do honour to the Oxford
and Cambridge crews, who had had a gallant and a glorious
struggle. It was a struggle which had done as much honour
to the vanquished as to the victors—(cheers)—but that very
fact left the victors io pouession of the field to a more than
ordinary extent. He bed seen but very little of the two
crews. The first time he had set eyes upon them as crews
was on that day at Barnet-bridge, when the Oxford had
first established their lead, and, therefore, be was but
little competent to discuss their merits during the ten
days or nearly • fortnight's hard work that they had
been performing in London. But he bad men sufficient
of the race that day to be able to may that it was one of
the closest, one of the toughest, sod one of the most
gallant races that was ever rowed between those two noble
universities. (Cheers.) He could not help being a little
egotistical and cerr3iog his mind back to that race which,
within his recollection, moat resembled the one of that day.
in the year 1841 be 11;1 the honour of being a member of
the Cambridge crew. (Cheers.) Three ;melon' victories
in succession bad been snored to Cambridge-1836, 1839,
and 1840. In 1811 the Cambridge beat the Oxford by a
minute and five seconds. In 1842 be had again the
hearer of being a member of the Cambridge ere sr.
They had five miles and three-quarters to row in those
days, which was a greater &statics than the crews of the
protest day bad to row over. They started from West-
minster-bridge, and for a mile and a half or two
miles of the course they were neck and neck, and it was
not until a very considerable portion of that mune bad
been passed that the Oxford crew took the lead. The
Cambridge men always maid it was owing to a barge—fa
laugh)—aod he suppreed there would always be something
of that kind said amongst themselves. That, however, was
no excuse ; but, as a tact, a barge did shoot across the
Cambridge boat, the Oxford got the lead, end woo
most gallantly and nobly, beating the Cambridge, in
the five miles and three quarters, by two clear lengths.
That race, and the ram which had been run that
day resembled each other very much ; and it was a
pleasing duty to be enabled to congratulate one's old
(Cambridge friends upon haring rowed a thorough good
rsee—as good a race as that which was rowed when Os-
, ford for the first time beat Cambridge since 1829. The
race of that day Lad been rowed on the pai t of Cambridge
with as flue and as strong • set of oarsmen as be had ever
seen upon the Thames. (Cheers.) As • bootleg man, as •
Cambridge man, and as one loving rowing and desir ng is
should prosper to the utmost, he trusted they would give
equal honours to the president of the Oxford &eh, Mr.
Brown, and to the president of the Cambridge eub, Mr.
Kiaglake—(cheers)—giviog an extra cheer for the ein@ers.
The call having bees respooded to with enthusiasm,
Mr. Blown, in returning thanks for the Oxford crew,
expressed the gratification be felt at baring lied the luck to
row against one of the beat eights he had ever witnessed.
(Cheers.) No one could say anything about the long or
the short stroke, or make soy invidious comparisons about
the style. If be were asked how it was that Oxford won,
he should say that he entered upon his presidency at • very
happy time, and everyone be requested to row seceded at
once, whereas Mr. Kiogleke bad not had the same 'dean.
(Cheers.) Bo'h the university crews were deeply
tarstted to the Thames Conservancy, whose exertions had
seemed them a fair start
Mr. HINGLANNIS explanation of the successive failures of
Cambridge was want of style, which, however, within
the last two years, had improved. He bad rowed fur five
years. The first year he started level with Oxford ; but
after the start he new no more of them. (Laughter.) The
second year they got ahead for about 300 3 aids ; last year
they got ahead as far as Chiswick church ; and this year
they were first very nearly to Barnes-bridge. They led,
therefore, beer progressing ; and he hoped that text year
they might get to the end of the coune first.
The remaining toasts included " The Rousso( Commons,"
proposed by Mr. PHILI.IPS,, and responded to by the CHAIN.
Male • " The Chairman propose! by Mr. Alderman cad
Sheriff Gummi, " The
Umpues, and " The Visitors."

TOTAL WRECK OF A BANQUI Iles THI CHANNEL.
In the fearful gale at ten o'clock ea Friday eight the
barque Eastward, of Limnos, from the coast of Africa for I PLYMOUTH, SATURDAY. —The clipper ship Ida
Hamburg, struck on the ridge. Captain 'Mayen sod twelve Ziegler, hamming to Messrs. Wattesbach, Heilgers, and
mew WNW' to their boat* as the Twee was sisking, sad Co., arrived here this morning from Auckland, New ?m-
-atter pulling about in slam sea for two hours, were picked land, after • splendid passage of 77 days. Blie twinge about
up by the sm.& Cornet, of Dover, at which port they we 450 pamengers, coosisting principally of the headquarters
leaded at 5.30 ee Saturday monies, sad taken is • very and part of bar Mrity's 70th Regiment, under command
ezhaasted condition to the Sailors' Home. Some of the of Wood Muloah, C. 8.0
2002040 were asleep at the time ,the barque struck, . BAAL= AND SUING= DINIONMD BY DII BASIN'S
nettell destitute of clothing, cad meth* was saved by DILIMottS ILIVALMITA ALUMNA Axe whim cuss without tint-
the others but what they stood up is. They will be dtdse or Moonvenlesakc=kfindlawitton), musk maw%
&And oat of the stork at the Sailors' Hama and by the emu= eatilleY•
11.1h4wreokaa Mariner's Society. nowt, Ilia, tad manna erasplattazdanialt rwa .
aa4l 111 beet toed tar
The Agamemnon f roin Bombay, with a wing of Zoom* is °Um rea"._Ditatm &mg oh
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