The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-15 00:00:00

AQI7ATICS.

UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.
The advent of the Cambridge gentlemen on the water at
Putney, yesterday, bad been looked forward to with much
anxiety and interest by past and present University men ;
and the announcement that they were to take their first
turn over the course drew a large assemblage of spectators.
Hitherto the work of the Oxford gentlemen only had been
viewed, but now an opportunity was afforded the public of
contrasting by occular demonstration the respective merits
of the crews only five days beforo the race,

Oxford went out first, starting from the aqueduct at 20

minutes to five, rowing over the entire course to the Ship
at Mortlake. They started altogether, and much better
than they had done before, and rowed 36 strokes per minute
for the first mile, with a slight increase afterwards, although
the water was somewhat rough, and as they passed through
Hammersmith-bridge their boat was uneven, not being
fairly upon her keel. They exhibited an approach to that
proficiency of rowing and swing for which the Oxonians are
celebrated, and notwithstanding the unevenness of the boat
that we have described, went at a good pace. A number of
equestrians end pedestrians accompanied them up the tow-
ing .path, and a Kingston eight gave them a little spurt in
the course of their row up. Mr. Tottenham, their coxswain,
steered them admirably, and their time for the distance was
24 min. 15 sec., but there was very little tide under them.
Cambridge came out at a quarter-past five with a little
better tide, but with the disadvantage of the westerly wind
having slightly increased, and the Kingston eight also had
a slight pull with them, They stated well, but it was
generally remarked, especially in the early part of the course,
that they threw themselves too much back at the end of the
stroke, which created an unsteadiness in the boat, and which
necessarily impeded her way. The stroke oar is exceedingly
good. At the beginning of their work they took 35 strokes
per minute. They got their water very forward, and laid
hold of it well, but as they proceeded towards Hammer-
smith-bridge there was some amount of irregularity, which
practice will no doubt cure. It must, however, be borne in
mind that this was their first time out on the Thames ; and,
so marked an improvement was there manifested on their
return down to Putney, that those who had not entertained
a very favourable impression of their rowing up on the
flood were fain to admit that in all probability
it might turn out a first-rate crew before the day of the race.
They timed and swung well together upon the return. The
stroke is ft e and lively, not abort and snatchy, as was a
short time ago reported in the account of their doings at
Cambridge. Z hey row a longer stroke than their opponents,
but do not bring their oars so clearly through the water.
Their time fur the distance was 25 minutes 5 seconds; but
they were certainly not steered anything like the nearest
course, and went far into the Bight at the Crab Tree before
they shot the water.

The 6 and 7 to 4 offered on Oxford are being freely taken
and the favourable impression left upon the minds of the be-
holders on the Cantabs return will probably decrease the
odds. Messrs. Searle have chartered a fast boat, Citizen
H, to accompany the race with a limited number on board.