The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-05 00:00:00

THE ETON REGATTA.

ETON, MONDAY NIGHT.—The 4th of June, the anni-
versary
of the birthday of the late King George lIL, by
a time-honoured custom, originating with that monarch,
is always celebrated as a festival by the scholars of Eton
College, who on that day make an aquatic pilgrimage to
Surley Hall, about two miles and a half above Windsor-
bridge, amid " great pomp and circumstance." The
anniversary this year falling on the eve of Ascot races,
Windsor and the neighbourhood were unusually full of
members of the aristocracy. A great many of the no-
bility had also arrived to witness the review of the 2d
Life Guards by the Marquis of Londonderry in Wind-
sor-park, at an early hour this morning. These facts,
with the extreme fineness of the weather, had the effect
of attracting a most brilliant assemblage to the Brocas
this evening; and when the crews mustered, at
half-past six o'clock, the banks of the river on both
shores were thronged with many thousand spec-
tators. The arrival of the Court at Windsor Castle
during the day led many to hope that the regatta would
be honoured with the presence of her Majesty and the
Prince Consort, accompanied by some of their distin-
guished guests; and a few were found who pus faith in
a report, very freely circulated, to the effect that his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales would " take the
water " for the first time on the occasion. The more
important fact proved to be well founded, for at a few
minutes before seven o'clock the loyal shouts of the
spectators assembled on the bridge proclaimed the ap-
proach of the royal party from the Castle, and in the
course of a very few minutes her Majesty entered the
Brocas in an open landau drawn by four white ponies,
and preceded by outriders in scarlet liveries. The Queen
was accompanied by the Prince Consort and his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, and attended by the
Viscountess Canning ; the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl
Spencer, and other noblemen of the household followed
in a second phaeton; and in a third we observed his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge, accompanied by Prince
George, and attended by Baron Knesebeck and another
i gentleman. The royal party on entering the Brocas were
most enthusiastically received. The carriages having
drawn up in line within an inclosure railed off by hurdles,
her Majesty and the Prince were afforded an opportunity
of viewing the various cutters with their respective crews
—all of whom were attired in gay aquatic uniforms, the
coxswains of the three leading boats wearing cocked-hats
and epaulettes, having all the appearance of juvenile
admirals. The Prince of Wales manifested the greatest
possible interest in the boats as they glided up and down
the river preparatory to the " start," and not even the
cheers of the spectators in the vicinity of the royal car-
riage, which every now and then burst forth with re-
newed vehemence, could divert for a moment the atten-
tion of his Royal Highness from the aquatic pageant.
At seven o'clock the procession started for Surley
Hall, preceded by the band of the Foot Guards in an
eight-oared cutter. The following is a list of the boats
in their respective order of precedence, with the names
of the crew of each:—

UPPER BOATS.

Monarch, 10•oar—Blundell, Ma., captain of the boats;
Hoskins, Blackett, Powys, West, Coltman, Davies, Pey-
ton, Ethelston, Gosling, Bateson (steerer).
Victory—Buller, Ma , second captain; Bobertson,
Blundell, Mi.; Cust, Nind, Coleridge, Cayley, Bathurst,
Slane (steerer).
Prince of Wales—Crossa, captain; Martyn,
Mi.; Lysley, King, Fiennes, Pemberton, Gore, Booth,
Welby (stecrer).