The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-18 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

TEA,— Tb e dealings have been very restricted, operations
having been deferred until the public sales, which com-
mence to-day. The Bahama, from China, has been an•
flounced off the coast, with the first shipment of the new
crop.

SUGAR.—There has been a fair demand for West Indian
at fully previous quotations, and in the refined market the
inquiries for hcme consumption have been more active, at
about former quotations.

COFFEE.—For the better dlscriptions of colonial there
has been a fair inquiry ; dealings, however, have been
limited, as a large quantity is announced for public compe-
tiiion during the next few days.
RlCE.—Business has been dull, and the few transactions
recorded have b, en at about former quotations.
TALLOW.—The market has been very dull, and quotations
for both present and forward delivery have given way*
P,Y.C., on the spot, is quoted 43s 9d, and for last three
months' delivery, 44s 9d per cwt.

The Wreck of the Steamer, Her Majesty.

seriousT
he
in
wavaaradbeuilt injuries sustained by this vessel are of a more
nature than were at first anticipated, for it
44
her 8 been ascertained that there is a very large hole
bottom.
the fastesty Her Majesty is an iron vessel, and
Scott Russell, of Millwall, and for up-
cif 20 years she has been considered one of
vessels on the Isle of Wight station,
'which was the reason she was selected for pleasure
trips-round the island. On one occasion we were
informed that she went twice round the Isle of
wWi it gh ht
riena
ta da y
speed, aanedd arlewg auyl
as
rpierformed her passages
y left twin, Captain Crask, had onl y.
Her original cap-
cleared the rocks Captain
ra ehre btooav
towards
aar
ds t month.he
h
n
r
TWalatee,n
wtihthe vgersesaetl
ihuaddg
er
shore, on a sand-bank, but, in consequence of the
great hole that was made in her bottom the water
soon made its way to the engine-room, and, rising
to the fires, caused such a generation of swteeamareastodrive the stokers from their places, and
in-
formed that she soon filled. Fortunately there
were not the usual number of passengers on board,
or the consequences might have been very Serious
indeed, and this was to be accounted for by the fact
that a strong breeze prevailed, and many persons
declined to go with her on that account. It was
also most fortunate that the pilot boats were near
to render such assistance as was required at the
time, and finally to bring the passengers to their
homes at Ride and Portsmouth. Yesterday two
Jumpers, from Portsmouth Dockyard were along-
side the vessel, for the purpose of attempting to
raise her by passing chains under the bottom, but
it was believed by some practi3al men that this
would be a work of considerable difficulty.

One of those exhibitions of skill in the useful art of
swimming, which its promoters in London are trying suc-
cessfully to popularise, came off last evening. The match
was between E. B. Mather, of Manchester, the present
holder of the champion's cup, and F. E. Beckwith, of
London, well known for the last ten years as a successful
swimmer and teacher of the art. The stake was for the
champion's cup and £2OO, the course from the Doves, just
above Hammersmith Suspension Bridge to the Aqueduct
Bridge at Putney, a distance of two miles. Theo steamers,
the Victoria and the River Queen, were chartered to accom-
pany the race, and both were crowded with the friends and
backers of the competitors. The event excited considerable
interest along the river—both banks, as well as the Ham-
mersmith and Pul ney Bridges, were covered with spectators,
and in spite of the unfavourable weather a very large num-
ber of well-filled small boats were out, some bearing what
appeared to be a rather dangerous number of passengers.
By the exertions of two Thames police galleys, and the boats
of the referees and committee of the London Swimming
Club, this numerous flotilla was marshalled into something
like order, and prevented from fouling the competitors, or
putting each other in peril. The start took place from a
plank lashed across the bows of the River Queen. Mather,
whose victory over Gardner for the champion's cup in June
last was recorded in our columns, is a fine well• built young
man of 22, who bids fair, when his
fully physical powers are
developed, to be even a finer swimmer than he is at
Present. His antagonist, Beckwith, is a man 16 years his
senior. Though much less in stature and size than his
youthful opponent, he had, with a fine muscular develop-
ment, a wiry, enduring look that justified the good opinion of
his backers. Betting was in his favour at sto 4 before start-
Clad ogurleya::rshodordt igetbehiratfyletriendo before the end of the race
swimming drawers, the men
took their stands on the plank, Mather on the Middlesex. and
Beckwith on the Surrey side, and soon after 6.30 p.m., on
the signal being given, dived together. Beckwith took the
water in rather the best style, coming up a few feet in ad-
vance. Both men swam rapidly but easily to the bridge,
which was passed with Beckwith retaining the slight lead
he had won at starting. They swam on their sides, facing
each other, in which position the leading hand makes a
stroke outward and downward, the other making the stroke
along the front of the body, the crown of the head acting as
a cutwater, in this position, which is founded on sound
philosophical principles, very little of the body is seen above
the surface, and the head is supported by being almost en-
tirely immersed. This style of movement has the negative
merit of being exceedingly
graceful, and the positive ad-
vantage of being much less fatiguing than the ordinary
mode, while enabling the swimmer to make much more
rapid pr gross. Soon after passing Hammersmith. Mather
lessened the gap, and at last swam up even with Beckwith.
In this position they remained some time, when Beckwith
again drew ahead; but Mather again closed the interval
between sheen, This occurred several times, but Ma-
ther never succeeded in drawing a head of his antagonist.
At the end of the first mile, which, with the ebb tide, had
been accomplished in a few seconds under a quarter of an
hour. Beckwith for the last time drew ahead, widening the
distance to a greater extent than he had ever done before.
He appeared also to swim more buoyantly than his youth-
ful antagonist, who struggled gallantly but unavailingly to
overtake him This relative position was maintained until
within a quarter of a mile of the goal, when Mather, who
was 15 or 20 yards in the rear, discontinued the contest, in
eenseanence of feeling unwell, and from being hampered by
his drawers being disarranged, and 'lves taken into his um-
pire's boat. Beckwith, amid the cheers of the spectators,
continued the race to the bridge. completing the distance in
31 min. 58 sec. On leaving the water he appeared as fresh
and lively as if he had done nothing unusual. Mather, on
the contrary, bore evident traces of indisposition, from
which, however, he soon recovered.

MELANCHOLY DEATH OF THE RECORDER OF
CHICHESTER.—Yesterday afternoon Dr. Lankester
held an inquest at the Middlesex Hospital on Mr. William
Melton Bridger, the Recorder of Chichester, and magistrate
of Bradford-on-Avon, who met hie death under melancholy
circumstances. The deceased, who was a member of the
United University Club, had come to town to be under the
professional care of Mr. Charles Hawkins, of Saville-row.
On Wednesday last he dined at his club, and was walking
up Regent street, and when near Argyle_place one of
Chaplin and Horne 's vans was turning into it; the unfor-
tunate gentleman, being deaf, could not hear the carman,
and was knocked down by the pole, and one of the wheels
passed over him, killing him on the spot. The driver, Wm.
Comte, had been taken before a magistrate and discharged
on his own recognisance until after the verdict. He now
attended and made a statement. Mr. Humphries appeared
for Chaplin and Home. He said Combo had been under
medical treatment since the occurrence from excitement.
Several witnesses were examined, and it appeared that the
accident had occurred from the deceased being deaf, and not
from any negligence on the part of the carman. The jury
gave a verdict of accidental death, and said there was no
blame attached to the caiman.

BOBBING AN ACTOR.—While the well-known
actor, Mr. Herman Vezin, was enjoying the
pleasures of a swimming bath, last Saturday, at the St.
George's Baths, Pimlico, some thief entered his dressing
box, and emptied his pockets of his purse, gold watch, and
chain. The thief got clear off with the booty.
GAyLE LICENSES.—It appears from a return just
printed that the game licenses last year realised in net
tiai.,s year 1802,