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

ME S , LONIDON,_ THUBSDA V EVENING, JUNE 7, 1866,

Testimonial to

of the Thames

Fteedoin of

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. The 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-wor4
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 a• vie wof
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 welt call the busi-
ness of the evening. He owed some apology to the com-
pany for taking the chair on that occasion, because be
thought come other gentlemen better fitted to discharge
the duty, and ono 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 ho would proceed with his task.
When he looked at the splendid testimonial then before
him he felt that it was one of which Mr. Kelley might
well be 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 ho would never
lose, and every gentleman present, he was sure, partici-
pated in that feeling. Ho 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
oextent
knewan
ofh indomitable
tn
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 ho entered that room he honestly con-
fessed he e
h wase t o
however, some
be tv the
pi,
ihete performances
cl
courage,hi fae .
m pandHe
ne
f Kelly
oscnuellheirgohflythreesTpehcatmedesi,n both public
a m
had been well informer} 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
he followed up by defeating Buttle at Norwich. His
next essay was the contest with MeSsenger, the then
champion, which he won. The contest with Chambers was
a circumstance over which Kelley had no control ; he
was not successful; but a run of good for tune he could not
exOct 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; he maintained his courage,
set steadily to work again, and in a comparatively short
time he challenged Chambers, ?Ma won
_back the Treat
'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 better man than himself. (Cheers.) All must hail
with delight the approaching contest between Kelley and
the American. No doubt it would be a great trial, because
our cousins on the other side of the Atlantic would be sure
to send their best •man to contend with so renowned a
sculler as Kelley ; ,but the honour of the Old Country was
safe
(e
Ivee ar 8 )—and that being so, they would be
buthearty welcome to one who came
to try h with K
of our English 'watermen. Two matches
se
too
tpleased
l prowess.e
sl Kelley—(cheers)—and
to
o g
and the other 21 miles out and home. The contest was fora
were to be rowed on the Tyne, ono was five miles straight,
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-
timonial which he now had the pleasure of presenting to
their guest had been purchased by public subscription to
mark the high estimation in which Kelley was held—(hear,
hear)—and as long as he 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-
ture 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. cCheers.) With honour
Kelley was sure of friends, without it ho would fall into
utter insignificance. (Hear, hoar.) He would not trespass
on their timo further, but in the name of tho 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 tho health of the Champion of the
Thames in a bumper. (Loud cheers.)
The toast was drank with great enthusiasm.
Mr. H. 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. (" No, no.") He lost
the championship, it was true, but he hid 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 mon 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 theymight 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.) Ho begged again
most heartily to thank,them for their great kindness.
The CHAIRMAN said he 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.
The toast was drunk with the utmost cordiality.
Mr. C. Bum 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 men 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 be most happy to second their
endeavours. There was one great factlwhich stood out with
honour in the aquatic world. No ono ever heard of a rob-
bery being perpetrated by a boat race. (A cry of "no
maceing.") He couid: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. 0. MORTON briefly, but very neatly acknowledged
the compliment. He said what he had done was a labour
of love, and therefore his whole energy had been devoted
to

beenl2 o'clock.
proposed and
respondedTh The
hea
health
the
t partythe Chairmanb broke
e hupasvhi nogrt
shortly before

THE SICK IN THE STRAND UNION WORKHOUSE.
-THE IMPORTANT POOR-LAW BOARD INQUIRY.-
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 iu 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
ki. Dr. Joseph
work-
houses. The case was watched on behalf of the
committee of the Association for the Improvement of
RDLoor.gnedAros was innstleV'oersakilahmdoiuti3sleeld. atlj great
n.firmoarie
C.
Parkinson. by Mr. Ernest Hart,
leegth. He repeated and
confirmed the statements made by the nurse at the last in-
quiry, and spoke to the obstacles which he had to encoun-
ter at the hands of some of the former guardians. A
document, signed by Mr. Stott. and Mr. Hedgcock, 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 which had lasted
for cnoenacrluyrreeidg,hctohnoculurds.ed the proceedings,

A VALUABLE CARGO.—The British ship Golden
Light was cleared at the Custom-house in this city yester-
day for Liverpool, by Mr. A. Soullard, with a cargo con-
sisting of 2,071 bales upland cotton ; 479 do. Sea Island
is, we believe, one of the
do., and 158,826 feet lumber. The cotton weighed
from this port this season.
1,094,0651b5., and the total cargo Was valued at 480,986
md_oosissi:Tlt:hiaahisb,if:inariost:,temhseasylhairfgore.esdt,