The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-12 00:00:00

DEFEAT OF MESSENGER.

The winner rowed in a beautiful new boat built
for him by Mr. Taylor of Newcastle, and Messenger
in one of his own.

Mr. J. Salter, of Wandsworth, was umpire for
Kelly.

Mr. W. Biffen, of Hammersmith, was umpire
for Messenger.
T. Egan, Eig., was referee.

We never recollect seeing so great a number
of spectators on any previous occasion. Twelve
steam-boats accompanied the race, among3t which
were one chartered by the Messrs. Searle,
the eminent boat-builders, and one by Mr. R.
Ba;n, the well-known oar and scu!l maker, of
Lambeth.

The conduct of the captains of the various steam
boats was deserving of great praise for the manner
in which they steered their boats through the im-
mense number of small craft of all descriptions
which crowded the river.

SHREWSBURY RACES.—(This Day.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

STEWARDS' CUP.

Oakball
Strawberry

Nine ran.
GREAT CLEVELAND HANDICAP.

Companion

1

Seven ran.

Polestar was scratched at 11.30 a.m.
BIENNIAL STAKES.

The Dupe
tAudarnia,
Vaulter

Three ran.
LONGNER HALL STAKES.
Colt by Temhill
..............
Matnelon -

live ran.

3

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(This Evening.)
The LORD CHA.NCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
TESTAMENTARY AND DIVORCE BILL.
In reply to a quest,on from Lord LYNDHURST,
The Lord CHANCELLOR said if it was the wish of
their lordships that the discussion on these two bills
should be taken separately, instead of proceeding
with the two bills on Monday next, he should offer
no objection to such a course. He would therefore fix
this day week for the seco❑d reading of the Divorce
Bill. The arrangements for discussing the bills together
had been made to meet the convenience of Lord St.
Leonard's.

ST. JAMES'S PARK.
The Earl of M..A.LNIESBURY gave notice that on
Friday he should call the attention of their lordships to
the works now going on in St. James's pack.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH presented a
petition from the civil servants of the Crown at
Glqucester, complaining of the present system of
granting superannuation allowances, and praying
that they should receive much more pay.
The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from
the civil servants of the Crown employed at Sterling to
the same effect.

LAW OF LIBEL.
Lord CAMPBELL moved that thepetitiongpresented
last session in favour of an alteration in the law of libel,
be referred to the select committee appointed in the pre-
sent session to consider the subject.
LAW OF DIVORCE.
The Bishop of OXFORD trusted the noble and learned
lord would fix a later day then Tuesday next for the
second reeding of this bdl. The 'oill eves not yet pre-
Rented, and would not be in the hands of their lord-
ships till Wednesday next. It was a subject in
which several reverend prelat ea took a deep interest,
an I under these circumstances he hoped his suggestion
would he aiFented to.
The LORD CLIA.NCFILort said that, considering
the discussion that bad sirealy taken place on the grin -
cip?e of the bill on a f ormer occasion, he thought it was
unreasonable toaa'Ahim to delay proceeding with the
bill. The measifr e, with very ;light, but he mutt say
important, alter 4eiene, was the same as the one of the
last session.
After a doors, discussion,
in which Lord Campbell and
Lord Lynd
:nrArst took part, the subject dropped.
The
.TllB POISONINGS IN CHINA.
trutti r.e.: ell of CARNARVON rose to inquire into the
'ot certain statements contained in the
-China Mail
the sth February last, respecting the confinement
%it Chins?e prisoners a: Hong Kong, and to
raeve for any papers connected with the subject,
-and also with the trial of a baker and others on the
chargecrge of
poisoning. The noble lord proceeded to detail
gth the cruelties that bad been inflicted on the
42 Chinese prisohers, wh ha becn confined in a
place of the most horrible scr ded iption, being only 16
food
feet in ader,tion to which they were kept without
mode of treat until they were nearly starved to death. Such a
treatment he thought at variance with every
principle of la-amenity, and one calculated to increase
the feelings ot bitterness which at present existed. The
speech of dr, Attorney-General et the time: ct the
soner3 he also characterired
most harsh and unfair.
The Earl of HARIZOBY said he was not prepared to
eotp
def
hend
he tel nle speech of th
ene Attorrey Generalat Hong Kong
as e even se it. It Scould be ree, fleeted that
the circumstances connected with -these prisoners were
excitement. The English law
those grreal; • e eit'u eal •
was generalev autrenistere mneee again st
had always called forth admiration
peeseetiere, ee ,
froen foreigners. He denied the truth of the informs-
tir,n on which the noble lord had founded his motion, 1f
the prisoners Lad been confines: inrvaaso
placejposeibi of the
they
. ..
mentioned by the noble earl, le,
,
c,-;uld have survived throuehlut the "gh Instructions
had been cent out to the British authorities on the o
subr:
ti
ject, and an inquiry into the SUicjered. (Hear, hear.) The Earl of I‘i,jo
rneshury
said his noble friend had carefully abstained from
attacking
any Party in relative to these transactions
He mere'', confined himself to akin':; the Government
question,. His noble friend had his right as
a peer of the realm to Foote for those papers,
and he was painfully justified in making the statement,
he had clone in doing to. He trusted the inquiry Ow

The Great Sculling Race for 200 sovs. aside, and
the championship of the Thames, between Henry
Kelly, of Fulham, and James Messenger, of
Teddington, which for nearly twelve months
has been the subject of speculation amongst
all parties connect( d with aqu stic sports,
took place this afternoon in the presence of au im-
mense numbers of spectators, no race for the
championship ever having created a greater in-
terest. It will be in the recollection of most of
our readers that Messenger obtained the cham-
pionship about three years back by defeat-
ing the renowned Tom Cole, who had twice
defeated the celebrated Robert Coombs ;
since which time he has bad no other challenge
until last spring Kelly, having won the Scullers'
Race at the Thames Regatta, and twice defeated
J. Mackenny, immediately challenged the cham-
pion, which challenge was duly accepted by Mes-
senger, but, in consequence of pressure of
business, was postponed until the present time.
Kelly, in the meantime, not wishing to re-
main idle, having again won the Scullers' Race
at the Great Thames Regatta, accepted the chat:,
lenge of Richard Buttle, of Norwich, to row two
races, home and home, for 501. a-side each, both of
which he won easily. It is, therefore, not sur-
prising that his friends should be sanguine on this
race, making him the favourite at 5 and 6 to four.
The start took place at 'even minutes past four,
Kelly having won the to for choice of stations,
choosing the north or Middle ex side. After a fair
start Kelly immediately took the lea I, and off
Searle's was a clear boats' length a-head. On
nearing Craven cottage ho had increased the lead
to two boats' length, and at the Crab-tree to about
three, retainink about that lead to Hammersmith
Bridge, which distance he performed in 9 minutes,
from this time he gradually increased his lead,
reaching Barnes-bridge in 20 minutes, and doing
the whole distance, though not all pressed, in 23
minutes and a quarter, beating Messenger by a
minute.