The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-24 00:00:00

THE , SUN,, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 24, 1866.

The Great Oxford and Cambridge Eight-

Oared Match.

The rough state of the weather last (Friday)
night was calculated to increase the odds on Oxford,
who were generally considered the stronger crew.
The Cantabs' work on Thursday had inspired their
partisans with strong hopes, and s's to 4's were
taken, but the feeling in favour of the Oxonians,
consequent upon their marked superiority for the
past few years, was too strong to be diverted for
long, and 6 to 4 became the average investment.
A wet night, with half a gale of wind from the
westward, was succeeded by a very fine morning.
At break of day every one who wished to be pre-
sent at the race was on the qui vine, and the ap-
proaches to the various steamboat piers were
thronged with/persons looking for their boats—a
work involving to the uninitiated a considerable
amount of perplexity. The paddles were in motion
at as early an hour as six o'clock from London
Bridge ; and the circumstance of the race having
started half an hour sooner than had been originally
anticipated was the cause of the steamers leaving
their moorings much sooner than had been an-
nounced, and consequently of many who had taken
tickets being disappointed.
The wind was W.S.W., and there was quite
enough of it for a boat race. The tides are now
neaping, and it was a question whether it would
flow at 8 o'clock at Putney, so that there was even
a chance of the race being started even before half-
past seven.

There were no less than 17 steamers all in a line,
just above Putney bridge, at half-past 7, besides
which one or two had cheated the Thames Conser-
vancy and had gone up the Reach, their captains
well knowing their inadequacy to keep pace. The
umpire, Mr. Chetty, was in attendance, as was also
Mr. Searle, the starter, both of whom were waiting
for the crews, who were behind time.

Cambridge first came out, and was received with
an ovation worthy of the occasicn. It was then
known that Oxford had won the station, which
they always do. Directly after this Oxford came
out, and were alike much greeted with their com-
petitors. The Oxonians immediately took Middle-
sex side, there being a wide gap between them.
Betting was 7 to 4 and 2 to 1 on Oxford, and when
both crews took their places it would be impossible
to picture to oneself a finer set of men. They bent
forward to get ready, and Mr. Searle see-
ing a good opportunity when the boats were
straight and the course clear, gave the word "Off,"
and botk crews were away at the same instant,
without either possessing the slightest advantage.
The start was effected at 7.49 k, and for 20 strokes
there was no perceptible difference, after which the
nose of the Cambridge boat began to show in front.
Neither were rowing with any signs of hurry or
confusion, and the number of strokes was nearly
the same on one boat as the other, said to average
for the first five minutes 38 strokes per minute.
In the first two minutes after the start the Cantabs

were half their length in advance, and in this posi-
tion
they remained for nearly four or five minutes
more, the Oxonians widening prodigiously. Oxford
then increasing their number of strokes went up
nearly level with the others, when the Cambridge,
making a corresponding effort, again became half
their length a head—the pace in either boat being un-
abated. At Hammersmith-bridge the Cambridge
were still the half length ahead, the time being 8
minutes 15 seconds; and directly after the Oxonians
again went up to them, and again the Cantabs drew
slightly in front. Now, on entering Cheswick, the
labour became excessive and the water rough. Here
Oxford gradually came up, and just as the two
crews were nearing, the most magnificent race ever
seen before put the Cantabs hors de combat. A sail-
ing barge came dead on their course, and, in endea-
vouring to prevent an accident, they had to steer
slowly out of their way and make a strong curve,
while the Oxonians kept their course. The Oxonians
by this got nearly three-quarters clear, and after
that continued to lead gradually to the end, although
the Cantabs rowed admirably.
Oxford won by three lengths.

TIME BY BENSON'S CHRONOGRAPH.
Hour. Mins.. Sees.
Started 7 49 49 140
Arrived
Time occupied 2O 22 9-10

RECENT WILLS AND BEQUESTS•

(From the Illustrated London News.)

The will of Sir Francis Sykes, Bart., of Isenhurst,
Sussex, was proved in London, on the 21st ult., by
the executors, viz., James Lamont, Esq., of Knock-
dow, Argyll ; Henry Peters, Esq., of Ashford,
Sussex ; George M. Gowan, Esq., of Park-crescent,
Regent's-park ; and Colonel Fowler Burton, to each
of whom he has left a legacy of £lOO. The per-
sonalty was sworn under £20,000. The will is
dated Jan. 1, 1865 ; and Sir Francis died on that
day twelve months, Jan. 1, 1866, aged forty-four.
Sir Francis has bequeathed to his brother Henry
Sykes and to his sister Eva Sykes each a legacy of
£3,000 ; to his uncle, the Rev. T. Sykes, and to
his relative, Lord Heniker, legacies as a small token
of regard and respect. To his late man-servant,
who had also been servant to his late father, F. W.
Sykes, Bart., he has secured an annuity, of £4O for
his life. The residue of his property, real and
personal, he leaves to his brother, now Sir Frederick
Sykes, Bart.

The will of Oliver Farrer, Esq., of 66, Lincoln's-
inn-fields, was proved in the London Court, on the
20th ult., and the personalty sworn under £120,000.
The executors appointed are his nephews, James
Farrer, the Rev. Matthew T. Farrer, Oliver IV.
Farrer, and Henry R. Farrer. The will is dated
Nov. 19, 1863 ; and a codicil, March 18, 1865.
The testator bequeaths to each of his three nephews
—namely, Matthew, Oliver, and Henry—a legacy
of £lO,OOO, together with contingent interests ; and
appoints his nephew James Farrer residuary-loggeo
of both his real and personal estates. There
are legacies to his other nephews and to his
nieces. To his nephew James he leaves the watch
he usually wore and two gold snuffboxes. He
requests his sister Cecilia to accept £lOO to
purchase a ring or any other trifle in
remembrance of a brother who sincerely loved her.
His furniture in Lincoln's-inn-fields he leaves to his
brother, William Loxham Farrer, and the use of all
the plate, books, and furniture that maybe in Lon-
don, for his life, and afterwards to his nephew Oliver
W. Farrer. His chambers in Lincoln's-inn and a
moiety of the house in Bedford-square arc to be
sold, and treated as personal property ; and he leaves
to his nephew James Farrer all his plate, books,
pictures, &c., not otherwise disposed of, together
with all jewellery, and his horses, carriages, &c. To
his own man-servant he has left his wardrobe and
a legacy of £5OO, and to his coachman £5O, free of li
legacy duty.
The will of MiSs Maria Renton Tufnell, of 14,
Raby-place, Bath, was proved in London, on the
Ist inst., by the executors and trustees, Thomas
Staunton, Esq., of F orchester-square ; and John
Tgomas Ambrose, Esq., of Mistley, Essex. The
personalty was sworn under £12,000. The will is
dated Feb. 19, 1851, and there are five codicils.
The testatrix was the daughter of Lieutenant-
Colonel Charles Tufnell, Royal Horse Guards. She
has left legacies to each of her godchildren, of
whom there are not a few, and many of her friends.
To each of her executors £lOO. Liberal legacies
are also left to her servants, and she has bequeathed
the whole of her wearing apparel to her maid. Her
furniture, linen, plate, china, glass, and
other effects, except jewellery, books, and
pictures, are to be sold, and the proceeds given to
the Bath United Hospital, to which institution she
also leaves a legacy of £3OO ; to the Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge, £lOO ; a like be-
quest to the Bathwick branch society for the Propa-
gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts ; to the Deaf
and Dumb and Blind Asylum, Walcot-parade, and
the Bath Orphan School and House of Protection,
legacies of £lOO ; to the Bathwick National Schools,
£2OO ; to the poor of Old Windsor, £lOO, all lega-
cies to be paid free of duty. To her goddaughter
Elizabeth Hayne, £l,OOO, and she appoints her,
together with her brother and two sisters—namely,
Watson Hayne, and Catherine, wife of John Par-
son, and Emiline, wife of J. Burchell—residuary
legatees.