New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-01
FOREIGN NEWS.
THE INTERNATIONAL BOAT RACE.
GRAND YETR TO THE OXFORD AND HARVARD
CREWS SPEECHES OF CHARLES DICKENS,
THOMAS HUGHES, AND OTHERS.

CREWS SPEECHES OF CHARLES DICKENS
THOMAS HUGHES, AND OTHERS.
LONDON Tuesday, Aug. 81, 1869
grand f6te was given at the Crystal Palace at
Sydenham, last evening, in honor of the Harvard
and Oxford boat crews, by the London Rowing Club.
Mr. Layton the President of the Club, occupied the
chair. All the members of the Harvard crew were
present except Mr.. LOring, but Mr.. william alone
represented the Oxford crew. There also pres
ent 40 invited guests, including Charles Dickens,
Thomas Hughes, Edmund Yates, Captain Anderson,
and many other notabies. Messrs. Motley and
Moran were rendered invitations, but were unable
10 attend. The rooms tastefully decorated with
the American and British flags as we'll as those of
the different boat clubs. After the dinner, toasts
were gwen to 1.-The Queen of England and &c The
President of the United States" which were drunk
with enthusiastic and prolonged cheers.
Charles Dickens was received with repeated rounds
of applause. 1t some minutes before he was
permitted to speak He playfuy alluded to the fact
of the Charmans 6eputing him to propose the toast
of the evening THE Oxford and Harvard crews"
He said remarkable and affecting volume was pub
shed at the time of his last visit to America. That
volume contained the biographies of IS of the Har
ward students who, at time or another bore arms
in the service of their country. Nothing was more
remarkable in these descendants of our forefathers
than the invinclble determination with which some
of them fought against odds In the late war; and the
dauntless spirit with which they sustained &C.
feat Who would say after the contest of
Friday that Harvard was less true to her
self in peace than in warf Who could fail to
recognize in the toas the eaven of her soldiers
and not feel that she has now greater right than
ever to be proud Of her sons and take them to her
breast when they return with resounded acclama-
ton The Duke of Wellington said that there was
only one thing worse than a great victory-e great
defeat but there another in the of the
term "A great defeat" Such was the defeat of q
handful of daring fellows whe made dash of
thousands of miles in order to meet conquerors in
their own domain; q defeat such as that which Har-
ward had sustained. lCheers.l He regretted the alb
sence Of the Oxford men. He would not say much
of them good or bad. If anything to be said to
their dsparagement it that they 80 often.
He thought they could afford to lose in the event of
another contest. He sure he expressed his own
feelings the feelings of Oxferd and the feelings of
Engishmen. when he babe the Harvards cordial |
welcome and wished them God-speed in their home
ward journey The victory might be Harvard's next |
time. Meanwhile he assured them of an enthusiastic
welcome at home which would find an echo in every |
corner of England. He concluded amid great APP |
plause, coupling the toast with the names of Sim
mons and William.
Mr. Simmons yeplied briefly. lie expressed his |
warmest thanks for the cordIality and hospitality |
extended the Harvard crew. While recognizing |
their defeat, he hoped the next crew, or the same
crew if they came again, would find in that de-
feat their They had been benefited by their
experience. Looking to the crew by which they
were defeated. he had no reason to be ashamed.
Mr. william, on the part of the Ozfords, regretted
the unavoidable absence of the remainder Of the
crew. With respect to the race, an old hand, he
said il had not been easily. 1t was the best race
he ever rowed,
Thomas Hughes then toasted the London Club.
He referred 20 his own experiences and the gOres of
the English universities. He asserted that Harvard
University, in producing James Russell Lowell, |
John Lathrop Motley, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and |
Louis Agassz had reason TO pride itself, Future |
generations would regard some of the Haryards with
che veneration given to our Hampdens and others in
past generations.
Mr.. Playford proposed the toast. " Our Visitors"
He regretted that the Harvards had not used a
coach. No could attain perfection without a
coach. He urged them to use one in their future
training. After the toast to the London Club Mr..
Rice proposed to the HarvaTIs only to give cheers
account of the courtesy and kindness shown by
the Club. They were given amid great applause.
At the conclusion there grand display Of fire.
works in honor of the occasion.
CRITICISMS OF THE PRESS.
The STANDARD has the following criticism on the
late boat-race: 1.-The rowing OF the Harvards was
rather injudicious it too fast to last The want
of Q good recovery left them tucked up over their
ears at the end of the stroke. They reached
sut well and rowed with straight backs and arms;
but there was no work in their stroke. Though the
Oxonians were heavier, it does not follow that
weight brought them in first it was rather their
style. In the long run, style is sure to win when
strength is equal"
THE RETURN OF THE HARvARDs.
Messrs Loring, Fay and Blake, of the Harvard
Club Mr.. Elliott their boat-buder, and Mr. Tick
nor return TO New-York on the steamer City of Ant
werp which sails tomorrow.
FRANCE.