The Sun.
London, England, 1869-08-28 00:00:00

rim SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 28, 1869.

THEATRE-ROYAL DRURY-LANE.
Bole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton.
THIS EVENING, at 7, BELLES OF THE KITCHEN. At 8,
FORMOSA : Messrs. Barrett, H. Irving, David Fisher, Brittain,
Wright, John Rouse; Mrs Billington, Misses 31. Brennan, Mac-
donald. and Katharine Rodgers. Conclude with BORROWED
PLUMES.

7;r 4

one will deny that there is room for improvement
in the usual style of conducting public dinners, and
if the presence of ladies effects this improvement
they will confer lasting obligations upon the com-
munity by their attendance. But if, on the other
hand, the same latitude of confusion is allowed as
before, the evil will be greatly aggravated. No one
will be more thankful for a reformation than
the gentlemen who are responsible for the speeches.
This responsibility we will suppose to be divided
between the speaker and the reporter. Judging
from recent experience, the reporter's position must
be one of no small difficulty. The first hour's
eloquence is generally unexceptionable, but after
that time " verbatim" reporting is out of the
question. Nature has, . however, provided a com-
pensation—when the speakers cannnot speak the
bearers cannot listen, and in the general con-
fusion everybody takes it for granted that the right
thing has been said and done. But, unfortunately,
the reporter's work is manifested the next morning;
his doings are criticised after the confusion
has subsided, and the speaker is surprised to find that
the brilliant ideas which he intended to enunciate
are not to be found on the broad sheets where he
expected to be immortalised. By all menus let us
always have ladies at banquets to exercise a mode-
rating influence; but as it seems that their presence
is not altogether a sufficient remedy, we would sug-
gest that dinners might be substantially improved by
lessening the fish and increasing the supply of water.
It may be asked in what respect have the fish
offended ? We answer, in no wise ; but we
have offended the poor fish. If a full
and correct history of the present times
is ever written, it will be recorded how at the ban-
quets of the wise and great the most beautiful fish
that could be found were displayed alive on the
tables and tortured in such a manner that the live-
liness occasioned by their expiring agonies might
give pleasure to the noble ladies and gentlemen who
sat around. We should like to know to whose
inventive genius we are indebted for the introduction
of living fish into an inverted fountain, where
they have water, it is true, but from which all air is
excluded, so that in three hours they are suffocated,
and, after performing rapid gambols in their search
for life, they turn up on their backs and die, unless,
as it sometimes happens, they are rescued just
in time to be preserved for another ordeal on a
similar occasion. At Devonport last week,this delight-
ful tragedy of suffocating the fishes was performed
just in front of a Professor who has devoted himself
to the subject of ventilation. The lesson no doubt
might have been made useful, but if such experiments
are necessary, we would rather that they were not
made at dinner time. So far as the reporters are
concerned, who are now condemned to make some-
thing out of incoherent speeches, the absence of
water is the chief cause of the difficulty. Why is it
that at public dinners alcoholic liquors are the only
beverages which are pressed upon tre guests,
and for which no substitute can be ob-
tained without the greatest difficulty ? The quantity
of fluid requisite to replace the evaporation which
goes on during such hot weather as we now have
cannot be safely absorbed, even in claret ; and when
nothing but wine is provided for the thirsty souls,
how can coherency at the latter part of the evening
be expected of anybody. Surely the more harm-
less drinks might be obtainable. Water, clean and
cool, would be extensively used, if it could be
had, but as no one was ever paid, or praised, for
providing water, the blessing is one which we must
hardly expect. It is difficult to say whether the fish
suffer most for want of air or the guests for want
of water ; but in both cases the suffering is quite
unnecessary, and it is to be hoped that it will not be
continued.

THOUGH the great boat-race has taken place at the
dullest season of the year, when writers and readers
alike rejoice at the chance of relieving the tedium of
the recess by such an excitement, it is not at all
likely that the interest which this event has created
would have diminished if the contest had been
decided at any other time. A Ministerial crisis would

not have turned the thoughts of Englishmen

from the Oxford and Harvard crews. A successful
attempt to overturn the protective tariff could hardly
have lessened the importance of this struggle to the
people of the United States. The enthusiasm excited
by the international rowing match has been without
parallel ; but so was the occasion. Both nations, their
numerous quarrels notwithstanding, have frequently
testified their kinship and natural alliance by
international amenities, but there has never been

aught like this." It is a striking testimony to the

intimate connection, not to be dissolved by any
differences between the old and the young branches
race. Political antagonism
of the English speaking
between the British and American people there
must be ; but the community of race, of
language, and of interest, will not the less
fail to assert itself. Even the pitiful exhibition of
two prize-fighters battering each other at Farn-
borough gave rise to an enthusiasm which many
persons mistakenly thought indicated a reviving
vitality in the " noble art." Much more rational
was the intense interest felt all over the Anglo-
Saxon world in the result of yesterday's creditable
rivalry. That the representatives of English and
American culture, separated ordinarily by two
thousand miles of ocean, should meet to decide the
question of superiority in one branch of athletics
may seem surprising. But that the contest repre-
sented something more than this the immense
assembly which crowded the banks of the Thames,
greater than any multitude ever seen on Epsom
Downs, sufficiently testified.

The warm welcome accorded to the American
oarsmen in this country, and the endeavours of the
English authorities to secure a clear course and a
strictly fair race, have given much satisfaction
on the other side of the Atlantic. The
Harvard crew undoubtedly deserved all the
consideration we could bestow upon them.
Never was a more chivalrous enterprise undertaken.
The American representatives not only crossed the
ocean to meet the formidable Oxford crew on the
latter's own course, but they incurred material dis-
advantages in so doing. They had to modify their
system of rowing to suit a river which differed
from the water-way to which they were accustomed.
Their practice of rowing without a coxswain had to
be given up. They brought an unsuitable boat
and were compelled to make several changes
before a practical craft was secured. But
all these difficulties were overcome. The rapid
perception which is the peculiar attribute of the
American, enabled the Harvard four to meet all the
requirements of a contest in a style so different from
their own, and yet to present a formidable opposi-

tion to the adverse crew on the evening of the
race. It is an error to conclude, after
the popular supposition, that the Americans found
their own style hopeless, and copied the Oxford
mode of rowing as the only chance of averting
defeat. The essential peculiarities of the Harvard
style were retained to the last. The changes made
were only. such modification of form as
were needed by the altered circumstances. That
the disadvantages of these alterations were serious
is unquestionable ; indeed, the fact that the Ameri-
can crew fought the battle with such odds against
them was in itself sufficient to moderate the bitterness
of defeat or enhance the merit of victory.
The triumph of the Oxford four cannot but
be gratifying to Englishmen. The energy, the
stamina and endurance of the nation, still keep up
their ancient name. And , as a defeat wotild have filially
proved that the American style of rowing was better
than ours, so this victory must he accepted in great
measure as a testimony that our old supremacy on
the water will still be maintained. In this case at
least American ingenuity has not over-reached us.
The traditional style of British oarsmanship has
not proved inferior to the novel Transatlantic
method. But the same considerations which would
have increased the honour of a Harvard success must
be discounted from even the well-earned triumph
of Oxford' The race prove§ much. iu favour of

England, but not everything. It cannot
be confidently asserted that the result would have
been the same if the contest had been on American
waters, within a brief space after the English
representatives had landed from a lengthy sea
voyage. Still less sure would have been the issue
had Oxford made to Harvard concessions similar to
those granted to the victors yesterday. In order to
be quite confident of British superiority, the compli-
ment of the American visit must be returned—not
that there is any reason to dread that the laurels
of yesterday will be lost even then. Of
this memorable struggle the British people have just
cause to feel proud; but national feeling must not
take away aught from our respect for the losing side,
who fought so bravely and lost so hardly.

OM)
Cu i°,
.fr

HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL, August 25.
The Queen drove out in the morning with
Princess Christian.

ller Majesty, accompanied by Princess Louise,
Prince Leopold, and Princess Beatrice, drove out
in the afternoon.

LATEST INTELL LGENCE

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.

THE INTERNATIONAL BOAT RACE.
(Pr .it FRENCH ATLANTIC CABLE.)
NEW YORK, August 27.

The news of the victory of the Oxford crew
reached New York at about one o'clock this after-
noon (6 p.m. Greenwich time). Great interest
was manifested.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CLOSNIG PRICES.

Gold closed at 1331 ; the highest quotation dur
ing the day was 1341 ; the lowest, 1321
Sterling Exchange on London lo9f.
5-20 U. S. Bonds, 1882 123/.
It " 1885 1221.
6t " 1867 l2l.
10-40 gc
Illinois l3Bl.

Erie 34.
Cotton—Alid.:upland 34/c.
Petroleum—Standard White 32c.
Flour, extra state, $6.70c. to $7.30c. Corn, old
mixed, sl.loc.

According to Mr. Adam Moffatt's report the
week's receipts of cotton have been 1,800 bales, and
since the Ist September, and taken by American
spinners direct, 2,354,000 bales ; shipments to
England, 1,000 bales ; to France, 300 bales ;
to the Continent, none ; and since the Ist of
Sept., 1,446,000 bales. Stock, 14,000 bales.