The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-07 00:00:00

TIJE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 7, 1866.

Testimonial to the Champion of the Thames.

Last night, the presentation of a splendid testimonial to
Mr. Henry Kelley, the champion sculler of the river
Thames, took place at the Canterbury Hall. Tho pro-
ceedings were inaugurated by an elegant supper, at which
over 200 gentlemen were seated at the tables. Mr.
Thomas Beard presided; the vice-chair being occupied by
Mr. Charles Bush, the well-known and liberal supporter
of all aquatic sports.
The testimonial, which was placed on the cross table in
front of the chairman is a massive silver vase-shaped cup,
34-inches in height, standing on a plateau of rock-work
and water, with water-lilies growing, and swans grace-
fully floating. It is surmounted by a figure of Britannia
presenting a laurel wreath, and on its sides ft-..e a view of
Putney and a representation of a boat race, and it is in-
scribed—" Presented by subscription, to Henry Kelley, in
recognition of his skill and prowess as a sculler, and in
commemoration of his having on August Bth, 1865, re-
stored to the banks of the Thames, the possession of the
Championship of England." Its handles are formed of
figures of Father Thames, with bulrushes and water-lilies
entwined.
The loyal toasts of the Queen, their Royal Highnesses
the Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal
family, having been warmly responded to,
The CHAIRMAN said he now came to that part of the
interesting proceedings which he might well call the busi-
ness of the evening. He owed some apology to the com-
pany for taking the chair on that occasion, because he
thought some other gentlemen better fitted to discharge
the duty, and one more intimately associated with aquatic
sports, could easily have been found to perform so pleasant
a duty. (No, no.) He thanked them for their cheering
assurance, and therefore he would proceed with his task.
When he looked at the splendid testimonial then before
him he felt that it was ono of which Mr. Kelley might
well bo proud, and that he was worthy of it they
might all rest assured, or he would not have been at
that table. (Hear, hear.) In the trial of life Kelley had
earned a reputation which he felt assured he would never
lose, and every gentleman present, he was sure, partici-
pated in that feeling. He might dilate upon the qualities
of Kelley until he quite wearied,his hearers, because he felt
satisfied that whatever he might say it was no more than
their friend Kelley was entitled to. (Cheers.) Their guest
had started young in life, and, like all other persons, he
had had his ups and downs, but he had well preserved his
balance by the pluck and courage which they all knew him
to possess. When he entered that room he honestly con-
fessed he was to some extent ignorant of the performances
of Kelly ; he, however, knew him to be the champion
sculler of the Thames, a man of indomitable courage, and
one highly respected in both public and private life. He
had been well informed since then by Mr. Stanley, and
now he was enabled to tell them that Kelley's first public
success was the winning of the Leander Coat and Badge,
and after that fortune smiled upon him, for at the Thames
National Regatta he three times won the champion
sculls. (Cheers.) Ambition seized him, he challenged
MacKenney, was again successful, and this success
lie followed up by defeating Buttlo at Norwich. His
next essay was the contest with Messenger, the then
champion, which he won. Tho contest with Chambers was
a circumstance over which Kelley had no control; he,
was not successful ; but a run of good fortune he could not
expect to last for ever. The loss of the great object of his
ambition to many a man would have been the break down
of life ; but not so with Kelley; lie maintained his courage,
set steadily to work again, and in a comparatively short
time to challenged Chambers, and won back the great
and glorious reputation of being the champion rower on
the Thames. As champion he was compelled to
accept the challenge of any man ; but of this they
might rest assured, Kelley would never add disgrace
to defeat, and if he was ever again vanquished it would be
by a bettor man than himself. (Cheers.) All must hail
with approaching
itd
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the other side of the Atlantic would be sure
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the
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iwd as
be
but too pleased to give a hearty welcome to one who came
to try the prowess of our English watermen. Two matches
were to be rowed on the Tyne, one was five miles straight,
and the other 21 miles out and home. The contest was fora
large sum—Xl,ooo ; but it was not that which would ani-
mate their friend, it was the honour of England that
would be his strength and his support. The splendid tes-
thnonial which he now had the pleasure of presenting to

their guest had been purchased by public sulscription to
mark the high estimation in which Kelley was held—(hear,
hear)—and as long as ho pursued the straight course his
friends would be but too happy to give him every support.
(Hear, hear.) He (the chairman) had no fear of a depar-

Lure from the honest course by Kelley, and, therefore, he
need not point out to him the position of one who took

liberties with his friends, and was now looked upon
with contempt and scorn. (Cheers.)- With honour
Kelley was sure of friends, without it ho would fall into
utter insignificance. (Hear, hear.) Ho would not trespass
on their time further, but in the name of the subscribers,
he had the honour to present to Mr. Kelley the splendid
testimonial now before him for his acceptance, and to in-
vite the party to pledge the health of the Champion of the
Thames in a bumper. (Loud cheers.)
The toast was drank with great enthusiasm.
Mr. If. KELLEY, who seemed quite overpowered, rose to
return thanks for the elegant present. He said he never
felt greater happiness than he experienced at that moment
—it was of such a nature that it precluded him from
giving utterance to his feelings. He thought the testi-
monial was more than he deserved. (" ico, no.") He lost
the championship, it was true, but ho had regained it, and

in doing so he had only done that which there were
many other men desirous of doing if they had the
opportunity viz., retrieving their laurels. (Loud
cheers.) There was no fear for aquatic sports with
such patrons as it possessed, and with such gentle.
men as Mr. Bush, and the Morton family—(cheers)—there
was no cause for men going wrong—(cheers)—all they had
to do was to keep honest, and success was certain. In the next
race he should try to win, and they might depend upon it that
if he defeated the American he would never loose the
championship of the Thames, because he never intended
to take another turn. (Cheers and laughter.) He trusted
they would excuse him saying more ; he could not give
proper expression to his feelings, but ho was certain that
with such staunch support as aquatic sport had there was
no fear of it ever going down. (Cheers.) He begged again
most heartily to thank them for their great kindness.
The CHAIRMAN said ho had now another toast to give
them, and it was one they would drink with the greatest
pleasure—it was the health of their genial and generous
vice-chairman—their mutual friend, Mr. Charles Bush.
Tho toast was drunk with the utmost cordiality.
Mr. C. BUSH returned thanks. He said it afforded him

the greatest pleasure to take part in the interesting pro-
ceedings that evening, because he was very deeply at-
tached to aquatic sport. It was indeed his hobby. (Cheers.)
The success of Kelley was spoken of in all countries, and
he rejoiced at it, because it showed the value of upright-
ness and integrity. Where all was fair and honest the
respect of all mon was to be obtained, but a de-
parture from that led to consequences quite the reverse
He hoped he should be long spared to participate in
aquatic sport, and to continue that support which had been
so kindly acknowledged by the chairman. If it was left
to himself he would never leave it. (Loud laughter.)
With respect to what our guest had said about there being
plenty of good men ready to come out, all he could say in
reply was that he should lee most happy to second their
endeavours. There was one great factjwhich stood out with
honour in the aquatic world. Igo one ever heard of a rob-

bery being perpetrated by a boat race. (A cry of
maceing.") He could:only thank them most heartily for their
kind recognition of his efforts. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said the next toast was one that would
give the greatest pleasure. It was the health of the prime
mover in raising the testimonial, and the gentleman who
had catered for them so successfully that evening, viz.,
Mr. Charles Morton, who had the gratification of having
troops of friends, all true to the heart's core. (Cheers.)
Mr. C. MORTON briefly, but very neatly aeknowledged
the compliment. He said what he had done was a labour
of love, and therefore his whole energy had been devoted
to it. •

The health of tho Chairman having been proposed and
responded to, the party broke up shortly before 12 o'clock.

TILE SICK IN THE STRAND UNION WORKHOUSE.
—TIIE IMPORTANT POOR-LAW BOAnD
Yesterday Mr. R. Basil Cane, the special commissioner of
the Poor-law Board, resumed and concluded the inquiry
as to the management of the sick and infirm poor in the
Strand Union Workhouse, Cleveland-street, Tottenham-
court-road, on charges brought before the Poor-law
Board by the late head nurse of this and other work-
houses. Thou case was watched on behalf of the
committee of the Association for
strhelllmpErronveesntieilitaio.tf,
RDLoorg.nedArosnnwstaiWes,oexraknahmdoiunits.reeid..
altjn.figrrmecaa.triiepeesagrtkbbi.nsl
confirmed the statements made by the nurse at the last in-
quiry, and spoke to the obstacles which he had to encoun-
tere reppeatejdos andh
at the hands of some of tho former guardians. A
document, signed by Mr. Stoic and Mr. lledgcock, as
guardians of the Strand Union, was handed to Mr. Cane,
with a request that it be laid before the Poor-law Board.
It expressed concurrence in all the chief grounds of com-
plaint against the condition and management of the Strand
Union. A vote of thanks to the commissioner, in which
all concurred, concluded the proceedings, which had lasted
for nearly eight hours.

A VALUABLE CARGO.—The British ship Golden
Light was cleared at the Custom-house in this city yester-
-071 bales upland cotton; 479 do. Sea Island
day for Liverpool, by Me. A. Soullard, with a cargo con-
dsios.t, and 158,826 21'58,826 feet lumber. The cotton weighed
1,094,0651b5., and the total cargo was valued at 480,986
dais. This, if not the largest, is, we believe, one of the
most valuable cargoes shipped from this port this season.
—Savannah Herald, May 10.

Freedom of the City to P

THIS DAY.

prince Alfred.

The ceremony of conferring the freedom of the City of
London upon his Royal Highness Prince Alfred, took
place to-day, at Guildhall, the civic functionaries having
taken the greatest pains to give eclat to the proceedings.
The Guildhall yard was covered in, and tiers of
reserved seats were placed on each side, all of which
were occupied by the friends of the executive com-
mittee, or else by those who had the influence of prccuring
a ticket from those appointed to manage the affair. The
Prince, on his arrival, was conducted to a raised dais in the
Guildhall, and there, iu the presence of a very large com-
pany, his Royal Highness wentthrough his part of the per-
formance with the greatest patience.

After the formal business was transacted, his Royal High-
ness partook of luncheon ; and having delighted the citi-
zens with his condescension, his Royal Highness quitted
the city. The guests, however, were not in such a hurry
to leave the entertainment provided for them by the
" executive committee."