The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-11 00:00:00

1849.

qualification remain during the lives of the present
voters, I would suggest that they should all remain
on the register during the remainder of their lives,
but that all new candidates for the elective franchise
should be examined by the rule-of-three test, and then
that they, like the old voters, when once on the
register, should remain there for life.
-The suffrage would thus be gradually and safely
ext andel as education became more widely diffused,
the greatest and best portion of the working classes
would be satisfied, and what is more important still, a
most powerful impetus would be given to the poor to
use every endeavour to get themselves and their chil-
dren educated by every means in their power, as it
would then soon be felt to be a disgrace to be excluded
from the franchise, the principa excluding causes
being ignorance and crime.
Prrafce is a sufficient warning to make us pause
before we adopt universal suffrage without universal
education ; anxi unlimited household suffrage would, I
think, be little better, as it would not only bring in
many uneducated men, but it would shut out num-
bers who are intelligent and well educated, but who
happen not to be householders.
If you can at any time spare room for this commu-
nication in your columns, as one of the working
classes I shall feel obliged, as I am anxious that their
condition should be improved, and I think that a
judicious extension of the franchise ought to be the
first important step in that direction.
I am, Sir, yours obediently,
WM. WItIGIITSON.
Thorne, Yorkshire, July 9, 1849.

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
METROPOLITAN REFORM ASSOCIATION.

Sir„--On Monday night the principal debate was on
the Scotch Marriages Bill. The ostensible object is to
take steps for assimilating the Scottish law of marriage
to the English. But the substantial object is to deprive
Englishmen and Irishmen of the liberty arising out of
the ancient Scottish institution of Gretna Green. It
may appear ridiculous, but this is all there id in it. It
is an attempt to draw closer the laws for what Addison
or Steele in their day called " the preservation of the
female, game."

Nobody doubts that game-preservers in general are a
hot-headed and incapable rec", exceedingly likely to be
fouud overshooting their own mirk, and cutting the
throat of their own interest. And there is no appearance
of the pr servers of the female game making any
exception to fle rule. Let the case be fairly examined,
and say) what it is that is contended for. A wealthy
Englishman, a squire of broad acres, sees danger in any
Loophole for relaxation of the laws by which he has se.•
cured certain powers over the marriage of his descend-
ants. Boys do not often insist on juvenile marriage;
they prefer their liberty. It is his girls for whom
he fears ' • and the idea which haunts him is, that they
will be led into marriage by some man whose acres or
whose position in society shall not be corr, spondent to
his own. There shall be no attempt to deny the
evil ; undeniably it is what a man may justifiably
endeavour to resist. But is he taking the way
to diminish the danger? Suppose the case of such
an untoward event disturbirg the drawing-room
tranquillity of a well-regulated family. A daughter,
unable to resist the attentions of " her heavy dragoon,"
has consented to marry Lieutenant Spanker who so
much distinguished himself in the last steeple-chase,
without waiting for legal age or parents' consent.
And the lieutenant of her choice shall neither
be a Sir Charles Grandison nor a reprobate, but what
is eomcaoner than either, a man who would not do
a wrong gratuitously, and yet not above the lia-
bility of yielding to temptation if forced upon him.
Ile carries off the daughter; and under the existing
state of things, the next post but one brings a penitent
letter from the two whom a Gretna Green marriage has
made one, hoping forgiveness, and the military leader in
particular coveting nothing so much as to be asked to
take wine by his new governor under the governor's own
mahogany.
But suppose the squire to have carried the alteration
in the law, the literary communications then take a
very different turn. Instead of the swift advertisement
that nothing is wanted but forgiveness, in a long week
comes a letter, transmitted through the porter of the
Junior United Service and suggesting an answer through
the same irreproachable functionary, stating the ear-
nest desire of the _
_military partisan to have

immediately marriE d Miss ,- but regretting that
he found it to be impossible. Without the smallest wish
of his own, he finds he must keep her for a fortnight,
which is the shortest time within which the law will
give his conscience ease; and in the meantime he ex-
presses an anxiety to know what the affectionate parent
will do towards encouraging him in the good resolutions
he is treasuring for the conclusion of that period. Ile
assures him his daughter is well; and thinks she finds
the country agreeable.
Is the condition of this respectable family mended, or
is it not?
The Bill was so near being thrown out (being saved
only by a majority of 73 against 68), that there is every
probability of its being given up. But nominally it
stands for discussion again on Thursday.
On Tuesday the motion for a Committee on the Irish
Church occupied the whole of the night. If something
is not done, what is to be the result when fifty thou-
sand Americans are threatening Windsor Castle? The
debate, with few exceptions, was conducted w ith great mo-
deration, an index of approaching action on the subject.
And this expectation was encouraged by a division of
103 in support of the Committee, to 170 against it.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN OLD REFORMER.
London, July 11, 1549.

ROYAL THAMES REGATTA.
FIRST DIY.
The great national aquatic meeting at Putney, which
has been the all engrusiing topic of conversation for

some time past, commenced. ytstertLy, and was more
than usually attractive. Although this event has for a
considerable period formed the chief feature of the season
there seems to be an opinion afloat that its existence is
near its close, the principal causes assigned for its discon-
tinuance being the gradual decline of the funds, and the
difficulty of finding persons willing to incur the trouble
and responsibility necessary to produce a regatta of this
" Leviathan " character, with anything like a proper

degree of sprit. As similar rumours have been previ-
ously rife with respect to the discontinuance of this aquatic
festival,many persons are sanguine enough to look forward
to our next year, bat others, well acquainted with river
sports, entertain an opinion that, under the direction of
the Leander Club, who were mainly instrumental in es •
tablishing this regattl, in 1843, and upon whom much of
the responsibility has fallen, a seder of periodical races
during the summer will be produced. Be
that as it may, we deeply regret that
there should be even a rum.tur of its discon-
tinuance—it is purely a British pastime, and ought to be
supported by all who value our rational sports, and it
cannot be said that the example of royalty is wanting,
as the name of Prince Albert is amongst the most liberal
of its support-rs. Shouid the present lion. Sec. (Mr.
Fells), one of the Leander Club, who has, for upwards
of three years, discharged the onerous duty most effi-
ciently, retire, the interests of the regatta, there can he
no doubt, will be most seriously affected, but it is to be
hoped that he may be induced to continue his valuable

(tea

services.
The weather was extremely fine, and the company by
far exceeded in numbers the assemblage of the last two
or three years; indeed, since the establishment of the
regatta, we may safely say that we never saw a greater
number of boats afloat, while Putney and Hammersmith
Bridges, and every other place, from which a view could
bsi obtained of the rowing, including the vast extent of
towing-path, was crowded with anxious spectators, and
the river and shores presented a coup dirii of the most
animated description.
There were eleven races upon the card, presenting the
variety of from fours down to sculls. Teo sports com-
menced at half-past three, and continued up to nearly
eight in the evening; the regulations throughout were
admirable, and reflect the utmost credit upon the Secre-
tary and Committee.
Champion Four Oared Race for 100 sous., open to all
the world.
St. Agnes, London and Newcastle .. (Green) 1
H. Coombes R. Clasp 'r
T. Coombes I 11. Cla per
J. Clasper, cwksvi.aie.
Watermen's Crew, Oxford ... ... (Purple) '2
M. Cook 1 Venables
A. Boyce W. Penn
W. West, cockswain.
The Perseveraue;, Chelsea (Stripe) 0
T. Chettle
1 T. Holmes
G. Hesler B. Herring
W. Godwin, cockswain.
This was the great event of the day. Li this race,
open to all the world, there had been a union between
the Thames and the Tyne, the St. Agnes's crew consist-
ing of the champions of the two rivers and their
brothers; and opposed to them were a crew of London
watermea, who had last year, owing to an unfortunate
circumstance, been deprived of the opportunity
of testing the claim of superiority, and who
now again stood forth, a crew inen Durham,
and two others. The Claspers and Coombeses are
known as opponents against each other in a pair-our
wager about two years ago, when the Coombeses were
victorious over their two coadjutors of yesterday. It is
said that circumstances, not inclination, exactly conduced
to the union on the part of Coombe& Tho celebrity the
Claspers had acquired in their former victories ate this
port,
ar,,
port, and the fair claim to superior excellence on
head
of
the
of the " national," placed this crew at the
found by their
the h
list as the favourites, and when it
awo-,
that the y rowed
with great regularity,
daily practice, for the lasts
ee
k oid
were not affected by
backed,ere at even against the
each other's style, they c
field.
The raco extended from Putney to Chiswick Ait. Tho
winners took the lead and kept it well, coming in first
by
two lengths.. The. Oxford and Chelsea crew made a
gallant race of it for some distance, when the Oxonians
went away, and although at Hammersmith-bridge they
fouled a barge, and broke a thaw!, they continued their
position.

Second Hut.
The " Never-rind it," London
M'Kinney 6 •••
Newel
Doubledee PoeGek
W. Cox, Cockswain.
The Feathers Crew, Wandsworth ... (Pink) 2
T. James 1 G. Cowper
J. Salter 1 G. Salter
, ... . . S. Salter, Cockswain.. ..
Mazeppa Crew, Durham ... (Yellow and Black) 0
W. Foster 1 W. Howson
W. G. Mann H. Eddy
W. Forster, Cockswain.