The Sun.
London, England, 1869-10-16 00:00:00

THE THAMES AGAINST THE TYNE.

The sth of next month will—barring accidontz—witness
the first of two races which are likely to excite great
interest in aquatic circles. Two fours—ono from fat,
Thames and the other from the Tyne—are in active prepa-
ration for a contest over the champion course from Putney
to Mortlake on the day named above; and for a second
encounter, from the 'High Level Bridge to Scotswood, on
the Tyne, on the 18th of November. The rivalry
existing between the oarsmen of the Northern and
Southern•rivers has been of long standing, and increases
rather than diminishes in the lapse of years. An additional
impetus has been given to that rivalry by the fact that,
though Renforth has won for the North the championship
of the Thames, and thus secured supremacy as a sculler,
the London river, at the late Thames regatta,
administered a thrashing to the four represen-
tatives sent up from Newcastle. The conclusion
therefore to be settled by the double event in question is
the superiority of a Thames or a Tyne four. The South
will be represented by Henry Kelly, J. Sadler, George
Hammerton, and either Pedgrift, Wiseror Randolph Cook,
the honour of the Tyne being maintained by James
Taylor, John Martin, Thomas Winship, and James Renforth.
Though, so far, little can be noted about the actual condi-
tion of the crews, who may be stated to be only on the
threshold of active training for the two events, and though
their relative chances of success are things of which the
most sagacious can say nothing that is authoritative, a
considerable sum of money has been already booked.
The races, when they are pulled off, will probably
bring betting to the fore with a vigour greater
than has been displayed at any aquatic contest for some
years past. The Tynesiders have a habit of backing their
opinions with great persistency, and those whose interests
centre in the Thames are not likely to be found at all
behind them. The issue of the race at the Thames Regatta
must not be taken as weighing much in securing
the chances of victory and defeat in the forthcoming
contests. On that occasion the course rowed was a short
one, extending only from Chiswick to Putney. On the
sth and the Bth of next month both courses will be long
ones, and staying power will quite as much, if not more
than speed, be an essential element in success.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

am. sprotrAxz's EVIDENCE.

Mr. Kinglake, the historian of the Crimean war,
has at last turned up at Bridgwater, and has told his
story before the Commissioners. In 1852 and 1857
his contests did not involve much expense. On the
former occasion he was defeated, but spent only £300;
on the second occasion he was victorious, and laid out
£4sB—being under the impression that the election
was pure. Things altered in 1859. Then Mr. King-
lake's published expenses were about £245 ; but
his brother, who became the medium, met with
further demands, which were paid, and the whole
sum was brought up to £1,444—rather a large excess
over the 11 published expenses." There was a petition,
but it was withdrawn. Mr. Kinglake has no doubt
whatever that much of this money must have been
spent illegally. Before and after this he found him-
self called upon to adopt the course which candidates
and members from time immemorial have indulged
in—to subscribe to the local charities ; and he com-
plied to the extent of about £OO a year.
• Then came a long and very melancholy story
respecting the election of 1868—how Mr. Kinglake
determined to pay none but legitimate expenses, how
joined with Mr. Vanderbyl he was involved in bribery,
of which he declared that he knew nothing, how the
election went against the Liberals in the early part
of the day, how Mr. Kinglake left the town, and how
there was—after he had gone—a sudden and marvel-
lous change which carried the day :
The polling was very adverse up to the middle of the
day—twelve o'clock. I left the town by the 1.32 train. I
was not aware that the majority had decreased 100 in an
hour. Before that, when the numbers were rapidly
going against us, Vanderbyl said, "Don't you
think we ought to shew 'ourselves ?" I thought
not, as I expected a great change. About half-past
eleven my brother came in, very pale, and told me that
Lovibond said the election was lost. I was very
much shocked, and I could hardly accept it. Lovi-
bond said any intention to retrieve it by corruption would
be madness. I said "Are both seats gone ?" He
said they were, and I said, "Then I have nothing to do
but to make my bow." I said, "Do you think it would be
becoming in me to stay to the end?" He said people
were all very angry and indignant, and it seemed to me
that I should be made the medium of crimination, and I
asked about the train, and I proposed to go by the 1.32
train, and I now declare that I firmly believed that the
election was lost, and I should have prevented any fev,
voters coming. I believed that from that moment I had
ceased to be a candidate.

How the great change was brought about it is need-
less to say. Mr. Kinglake thought that voters might
have made a rush "in despair of getting anything."
They really made a rush because they were heavily
paid. Mr. Kinglake's brother and the agent.,
managing the money matters.