The New York herald., 1868-07-12
ROWING.
FROM our LONDON CORRESPONDENT.
The season in Ensland-The Henley Regatta
The Course, the scene and the Contest-A
Boat on the "American Principle"

LONDON, June u, lSr.
Among the numberless picturesque hooks and fair
stretches OF landscape past which Father Thanes'
wanders In the course OF his devious pilgrimages
from his quiet birthplace amid the Worcestershire
valleys down " the busy More there is, perhaps,
more lovely bit OF natural scenery combining such
a varied charm Of undulating woodland, sunny
slopes and silver river. than Is TO be found
in the neghborhood OF Henley-on.Thames.
The view from the fine old bridge which
connects the two counties OF ONiordshire and
Berkshire presents perfect panorama Of natural
beauty. 10 the LETT nesting in the hollow,
lies the quaint s'r1pging little town OF
Henley with it, massive church tower which carries
us back IN memory To tAe days OF The Plantagenets,
struggling Tor pre.cmucuce among the cluster OF old
iasnonc4 hosteues mat reNe IA impossible gables
and impmcurgh.e passages, ANA are now the sole
relic, ol tno n,gonc siarecoich period when Hen
ley Wa a busting little country centre half way on
the hgh road between oxford ana London. A little
lower down Is tnc point OI iuterse ton between the
two counties of rlcknrhImshre and Oxiordshire.
and through the rich mds-e, of OAK, elm ana lime
that belt the river the eye catches mere aud there
FAM glimpses Of dne Old family mansions. The an.
cestrai homes Of England, faced 10y trim lawns anu
long drawn terraces, suggestive of delicious
summer promenades by the waters edge. ON The
opposite bank 10 the right lie the Berkshire hills.
crowned with massive woodland and siopinQ IN
picturesque sweeps down to the meadows thai line
the river while IN the far distance, beyond the little
island from when peeps out a Grecian temple. a
green background of undulatng downs iptercepts
the view and gives to the "iieney reach the ap.
pearance of miniature lake.
Between the bridge aud the island. a distance OF
about mNe and half. the river runs straight as
an arrow for a mile and then incnes almost imper.
ceptibly to the left. This is the famous - Henley
course over which The two English Universities
rowed the first OF their memorable series OF
thirty years have been the scene OF the
grcatest-iRcomparably the greatest--afnateur re
gattas held within the four quarters Of the
globe. Hither once year, generally in the sunny
month Of June congregate all the most puisssn'
amateur oarsmen Of England, the slower OF the two
ancient universities OF oxford and Cambridge. The
chosen representatives OF the great Thames rowins
clubs oarsmen and scuers from all quarters OF tht
compass all burning with friendly rivalry and pre-
pared 10 do battle potrdnce for the honor OF the
respective universities colleges aud clubs. To form
one Of the victorious that succeeds In carrying
of the grand challenge cup, the Stewards Chaleng,
eat object OF an oarsmans ambition, and Justly So FOL
the Henley meeting always brings together th'
most accomplished oarsnen Of the day and the victor
have the proud satisfaction OF feeling that they have
met and defeated foemen worthy Of their oars
perhaps on no previous occasion have these trophies
produced keener competitor than on The recent aunt
ysrsary OF this great regatta, which commencea on