The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-24 00:00:00

A UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.

These fair novices then looked all down the river,
and could just discern two whitish streaks on the
water, one on each side the little fairy isle ; and a
great black patch on the Berkshire bank. The
threatening streaks were the two racing boats : the
black patch was about a hundred Cambridge and
Oxford men, ready to run and hallo with the boats
all the way, or at least till the last puff of wind
should be rue plus halloed out of their young bodies.
Others less fleet and enduring, but equally cla-
morous, stood in knots at various distances, ripe
for a shorter yell and run when the boats should
come up to them. Of the natives and country,
visitors, those who were not nailed down by boun-
teous Fate, ebbed and flowed up and down the
bank with no settled idea, but of getting in the
way as much as possible, and of getting knocked into
the Thames as little as might be. There was a
long uneasy suspense. At last a puff of smoke issued
from a pistol down at the island; two oars seemed
to splash in the water from each white streak; and
the black was moving; so were the threatening
streaks. Presently was heard a faint, continuous,
distant murmur, and the streaks began to get larger
and larger, and the eight splashing oars looked four
instead of two. Every head was now turned down
the river. Groups hung craning over it like nod-
ding bulrushes. Next the runners were swelled by
the stragglers they picked up, so were their
voices, and on came the plashing oars and roar-
ing lungs. Now the colours of the racing
Jerseys peeped distinct. The oarsmen's heeds
and bodies came swinging back like one, and the
oars seemed to lash the water savagely, like a con-
nected row of swords, and the spray squirted at each
vicious stroke. The boats leaped and darted aide by
side, and looking at them in front, nobody could say
which was ahead. On they came nearer and nearer,
with hundreds of voices vociferating. "Go it
Cambridge !" " Well pulled Oxford !" " You are
gaining, hurrah !" " Well pulled Trinity !" " Hur-
rah !" " Oxford !" " Cambridge!" "Now is your
time Hardie, pick her up!" " Oh, well pulled, six !"
Well pulled, stroke !" " Up, up, lift her a bit !"
d, Cambridge I" " Oxford !" " Hurrah !" At this
Julia turned red and pale by turns. " Oh, mamma !"
said she, clasping her hands and colouring high,
would it be very wrong if I was to pray for Ox-
ford to win ?"—Reade's " Very Hard Cash," in
Diehen'e " All the Year Roancl." This day.

Bf
eesni
is; sae;
published March l S
in
The official account of yesterday's
last night's Gazette, contains little of general interest to add
to the sketch my last letter took to you, and most of this
morning's papers content themselves with reprinting or ex-
tracting from that account, with little or no comment of
their own. The success of the day's proceedings was quite
sufficient to satisfy the Court party, but the general opi-
nion is that the crowd would have been much greater had
the spectacle been of a less exclusively military character,
and also but for the present political disunion prevail.
ing in the country. It is certainly significant that the
guilds, corporations of artisans and factorymen, &c.,
refused to attend. They declined, says the Yolks
Zeitung (which speaks for and to those classes and
has an immense circulation among them), to serve as a
background to the military show. The same journal heads
its columns with an article addressed to the veterans yester-
day paraded, assuring them that the people's silence and
coldness were not meant for them, whose deeds and lives all
men bless and prize. "Were things otherwise than as they
are," the writer continues, referring to the situation of poli-
tical affairs,—
" A very different welcome would have been afforded in
Berlin to these heroic remnants of Prussia's great war. No
house would have been without its banner, no window with-
out lights, no heart without joy, no mouth without praise,
no table without a place, no glass without a health, forthose
who fought so stoutly for their country's liberation,"
The conflict, still in suspense, between King and
Nation has changed everything from what it might
and would have been. You were already told of the small
alacrity shown by the Berliners to comply with the official
invitation, and provide quarters for the veterans, of whom
notwithstanding the exertions of the authorities, and the
rooms taken at the hotels by the King and the Dowager
Queen, we hear that 700 had to be put up in barracks. This
seeming inhospitality was explained in yesterday's .National
Zeitung, especially by the peculiar composition of the com-
mittee appointed by Government to provide for the quar-
tering of the guests. It consisted exclusively of men noto-
rious for their retrograde politics —persons connected with
the Ifreuz Zeitung, and others of the same stamp. The
decided party colouring thus most injudiciously given had
the very natural effect of making people close their houses
and their purses, and stop at home themselves, instead of
going out to swell the throng or doing anything to testify
their sympathy with what was passing. Instead of trying
to put aside politics for the moment, and to give to the cele-
bration as far as possible a purely national and patriotic
character, the Government did all it could, by the manner
in which the committees were composed, to impart to it
the appearance of a party monopoly and glorification.
Doubtless this contributed also to keep away the veterans.
Those who attended were chiefly men of the lowest classes,
or else others more or less dependent on Government as
pensioners, placeholders, &e. Must of the more indepen-
dent would have nothing to do with the affair, From the
out-of-door public yesterday the proces'ion of the Iron
Cross Knights and war medallists certainly had no reason to
complain of a cold reception. Towards them was testi-
fied the only enthusiasm observable during the whole day_
As the head of the column, coming from the Linden, across
the spacious Opera-square, appeared on the Palace-bridge,
the burst of cheering from the crowd on both banks of the
Spree was exceedingly loud tied hearty, and from all the
surrounding windows handkerchiefs waved a welcome. The
medallists were nearly equal in number t o the knights, and
the total is stated at about 4,000, One of last night's
papers said that the King marched at the head of the
column, but this was not the ease, although one of the
generals who preceded it might at a distance have been
mistaken for him. The Dowager Queen was believed
by most of the spectators to have been present, but she
was not well enough to risk exposure to the damp,
and preferred looking on from a window of the Palace. The
lady who accompanied Queen Augusta was the widowed
Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Miss Ferdinand a
von Schmettau, the lady who sold her hair to contribute to
the expenses of the war, was in the pavilion. The King
has conferred on her the dignity of a canoness, and has
assigned her a pension. Among the articles enclosed in
the silver case which was deposited in the foundation stone
were copies of Frederick William lll.'s summons, " To my
People," of his proclamation to the army, and of the regu-
lations for the organisation of the Landwehr ; agrand cross,
and crosses of the first and second class of the Order of the
Iron Cross; war medals of the years 1813-15; two eagles,
of those now worn on the helmets of the Prussian army
(Guards and Line) ; medals of the marriage, acces-
sion, Huldigund, and death of Frederick William IV. ; a
coronation medal of William I. ; the text of the King's pro-
clamation of yesterday's date, &c. The dinner in the Palace
was at a quarter past 3. In the White-hall dined the King,
Queen, and Royal family, Grand Duke and Dowager Grand
Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Prince and Princess
Frederick of the Netherlands, Prince Hohenzollern, who
came up from Cologne with the Crown Prince. and some
../ "—seedy houses, as well as Generals, the
grand officers of the court, the ministers, &o. M. von Bis
mark, who was a cavalry officer in youth, came out in a cuiras-
sier uniform. A countryman, in his long Sunday coat, also
dined at the table in the White.hall. The remainder of the
2,400 gues' s were distributed through the various apartments.
The King drank to the memory of his deceased father and
brother and of those who fought in the war and perished
there, or had since died ; ale* to the "Knights of the Iron
Cross, the welfare of the Fatherland, and the victorious
Prussian army." Three cheers, given in the White-hall,
were repeated and re-echoed in the numerous banquetting
rooms. Marshal Wrangel then proposed the health of the
King, Queen, and Royal family in a highly complimentary
speech, in which he called to mind the action of Bar-sur-
Aube, on the 27th of February, 1814, in which the King,
by the side of his father and brother, took share in the tur-
moil of battle, and won the Iron Cross and St, George's
Cross that now adorn his breast. The toast was drunk, of
course, with enthusiastic cheers. The banquet was over
soon after five o'clock,
The regimental colours and standards yesterday paraded
on the Lust-Garten (or, as it seems now more generally
and appropriately called, seeing that it has very little of the
garden about it, the Museum-Platz), were not, as at the
coronation at Konigsberg, those of the whole army, but
only those of a certain number of corps which sent deputa-
tions to the ceremony. There were 22 stands of colours,
and ten standards. A large amount of promotion has
been given to the army on account of this festival.
The Crown Prince is named Inspector of the First
Division of the army for the year 1863, and Prince
Albert of Prussia Inspector of the Second Division.
Prince Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Military Gover-
nor of Westphalia, is named also to the same command in
the Rhine provinces. The Liberals would fain build some
hopes on the Prince's arrival in Berlin,and on the influence
he may be able to exercise over the King, but it is doubtful
whether any representations he may venture to make will
have much effect. The King, so far as can be ascertained,
is more than ever obstinate in his resolve, and it is not
likely to be weakened by yesterday's solemnity and festival,
the military character of which will have had an exciting
effect upon him,and will have furnished his evil counsellors
with fresh arguments and illustrations in support of the

policy they advocate. There is no longer any expectation of a
change of Ministry, although just after the Polish debate
there were many who believed it would take place within a
short time—perhaps during the Easter recess. The prevail.
ing opinion unquestionably now is that M. von Bismark is
firm in the saddle.

Mr. Bernuth, the President of Police, has published a
short proclamation, thanking the Berlin public for its "dig-
nified and tranquil bearing" during yesterday's festival,
and for the support it gave to the authorities. Tranquil
enough it certainly was, for, with the exception of the cordial
reception given to the veterans along the whole line of their
progress, nothing could have been more apathetic and in-
different than the demeanour of the Berliners, who, as far

•
as my observation went, cheered nobody except Marshal
Wrangel, who enjoys a sort of laughing-stock popularity
with the mob, although generally considered a mischievous
old gentleman in the advice he gives to the Ring. The
Queen and Crown Princess were also cheered, but then
her Majesty and her Royal Highness are suspected
(whether deservedly or not I am unable to say) of Liberal
tendencies.

As a curiosity of the day may be mentioned the repu-
blication yesterday, in the same form and arrangement as
60 years ago, of the number of theßerlinische Nachrichten,
hotter known as Spener's Journal, of the 23d March, 1813,
the first announcement in which is that "His Majesty
the King has concluded an offensive and defensive alliance
with his Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias." We
make treaties with Russia in 1863 as well as in 1813, but
the object is rather different. The summons "An Mein
Yolk" follows immediately afterwards, dated Breslau,
March 17.

THE LATE PRESENTATION AT ST. JAMES'S.—The
Duke of Wellington, in a letter to a contemporary, says
that the presentation of the person in question was made by
him in entire ignorance of his character, and of the fact of
his having been convicted of felony.
_ _

A MODEST PROPOSAL.—The Rev. Dr. Miller, of
Birmingham, has received the following curious
epistle :—" Glossop Derby shire March 16th 1863 From
B— H— at A— B—, Printer, Arundel Street To the Rev
Vicar Birmingham Parish Church Matrimony A Gentle-
man Bachelor 40 years of age A Member of The Church of
England desires to Correspond with A Amiable disposed
Lady Spinster Or Widow free from Encumbrance A Mem-
ber of the Church of England in Bank of England Or in
Post Office saving Bank Or in Landed freehold £2OO per
annum At her own uncontrowled disposal Of from 25 to
35 years of age of from Five feet 4 in to 5 feet 8 in slender
Handaome and according to Physiognomy in features and
Countinance good Tempered Rev. Incumbent Parish
Church is my Paster Rev Sir if you know of 1 in
the state I have pend in this letter to you please To intro-
duce this my letter to her and you Will much oblige Or
when this letter Comes to band pen me the Name and Ad-
dress of 1 in the Character I have Pend I will keep your
opening secret If you wish and I will introduce my Self fail
not to Pen A reply when this Come to hand I am yours in
(signed) SINCERITY,"

Yesterday, in Lord Stanley's Committee, the bill
for the amalgamation of the Great Western and West
Midland Railways was passed by the Committee,
atter hearing Mr. Denison, Q.C., and Mr. Phimi
in opposition. The case for the opposition on the
part of some dozen other lines thus summarily
disposed of was expected, under other circum-
stances, to last a fortnight. The hearing or
the next bill, for the amalgamation of the
Great Western, West Midland, and South Wales
Railways so as to form an integral portion of the
proposed new system, was postponed until to-day to
give the opponents opportunity to consider the ex-
pediency of further opposition, and for the purpose
of settling the clauses. The bill for the Guildford
and Leatherhead Railwly, with powers to the Lon-
don and South-Western and Brighton Companies
in connexion therewith, was passed; and that of
the proposed extension of the Landon and Brighton
between Dorking and Leatherhead, being virtually
unopposed, referred to the Chairman of Ways and
Means. The clauses of the West Hartlepool having
been settled, the case of the Whitehaven, Cleator,
and Egremont, for an extension from Lamplugh tcs
the Coekermouth and Workington Railway, to raise
£75,000 and borrow £25,000, was opened by Mr.
Hope Scott, and witnesses examined by Mr. Phinn
and Mr. Atkinson. The Bill of the Charing-cross
Railway Company, for regulating its capital and
debenture debt and for authorising an amalgamation
with the South-EasternCompany, being unopposed,
was referred to Mr. Massey's Committee. In the
Lords, the Bill of the Fechabers and Garmouth, for
a railway between those places and for the Inver-
ness and Perth and Aberdeen Companies to work
ar.d contribute, and the Bill for the Sligo and Bal.
ligbardarreeu R.ilway,wer passed.
PRIVATE BILL LEGISLATION.—This Committee
met again yesterday, and have requested that Earl
Grey end Lord Redesdale may be examined on the
subject.

The Confession of the Convict Austin.

On Wednesday last Noah Austin, the criminal
in the condemned cell at Oxford Castle, made a vo-
luntary confession in presence of the Rev. Philip
Wynter, D.D., the visiting justice. He said,—" I
did not buy the pistol with the intention of shooting
Mr. Allen. On Wednesday, the 11th of February,
Mr. Allen had behaved ill to his daughter, by turn-
ing her out of doors. She sent for me on the fol-
lowing morning, and after telling me of his treat-
ment, said she wished some accident would happen
to him. I said, I will see, but we shall be found
out.' She said, ' Oh, no, we shall not ; be sure you
some down in the evening, and we will arrange it.'
My impression was that she wished her father to
be got rid of. I went to the mill again on the
Thursday evening and saw Miss Allen ; she again
said she wished that something would happen to her
father. Mere words passed between us, but I do not
remember exactly what they were. Her father then
came in tipsy, and I felt anxious to avoid a quarrel,
as when he was in that state he could not say any-
thing against me bad enough. I felt sure that Miss
Allen wished me to get rid of her father, and I left
the mill with the intention of carrying out what
I believed to be her wish ; but I do not think
she knew that I should do so the next day,
though I am sure she thought I should do so at
some time. I then determined to go to Bicester
next day with my father for the purpose. I carried
the pistol in my pocket. I could not have done it
unless I had had some drink. I went to a strange
place in Bicester that I might not be known, either
the Nag's Head or the King's Head, and had about
two glasses of strong beer. I then returned with
Nlr. Allen, as stated iu the evidence, and when sit-
ting by his side raised the pistol to his cheek and
fired the first shot, which caused him at once to fall
over the off side of the cart. While he was falling
I fired the other shot, and when he was lying on the
ground I took the purse ont of his pocket. Thero
were only a few shillings in it. I knew he had the
£5-note in his breast pocket and the cheque, but I
did not want his money. I took the purse to make
it appear that he had been robbed as well as mur-
dered. I tied the horse to the gig, as stated in the
evidence, and on the way to the mill I placed the
pistol in my father's gig, and then went to my
sister's room and put the purse in the desk where it
was found by the police. I make this statement
to ease the mind of my poor afflicted father, to
whom I have caused so much sorrow, and believing
there was no hope of forgiveness From God without
confessing to man that I so grievously injured.',
Since this confession was signed, in the presence of
Dr. Wynter, the prisoner has appealed more com-
posed. He attends with apparent interest to the
ministrations of the chaplain, and the exhortations
of a Wesleyan minister. The execution was fixed
for eight o'clock this morning.