The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-09-01
GreatlBritain.

T,oNDoN. Aug 31.-A grand fete was oiven
at the Crystal Palace, at Sydenham last even
ing, in honor of the Harvard and Oxford clubs
Mr. Layton, the President of the Club occn-
pied the chair All the members of the Har.
ward crew were present, except Mr. Loripg. Int
Mr.. william alone represented the Oxford Grew
There were also one hundred and twenty iny
ted guests, including Charles Dickens, Thomas
and many other notaples. Messrs Motley and
moran We're rendered invitations but were I'M
aoie 10 attend. The rooms were tasteully dec
oraEed with the American and British flags, as
well as those of the different boat clubs.
. Alter the dinner toasts were given to the
Queen of England, and the President of the
Chited States, which were drunk with enthu-
siasm and prolonged cheers
Charles Dickens was received with repeated
rounds OF applause. 1t was some minutes be-
lore he could speak. He playfully alluded to
the TACT OF the chairman's deputing to him to
propose the toast of the evening, "The Oxford
and Harvard crews (Cheersl He said: A
remarkable and affecting volume was published
volume contained the biographies of ninety
five of the Harvard students who at one time
or another bore arms in the service of their
country Nothing was more remarkable in
these descendants of our forefathers than the
invincible determination with which some of
them fought against odds in the late war, and
the dauntless spirit with which they sustained
defeat Who would say after the CON
test Of Friday Friday that Harvard was less
Who could fail to recognize in the boats
crew the spirit of hersoldiers, 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 resounding acclama-
ton The Duke of Wellington said there was
only one thing more honorable than great
victory, great defeat; but there was another
sense in the use of the term, great defeat
Such was the defeat of a handful of daring fell
nxuS WI n 1a,ndA 1a.l. III IL l.
in order to meet the cOnquerors on their own
domain (cheers). A defeat such as that which
Harvard had sustained (cheers). He regretted
the absence of the Oxford men, He would
not say much of them good or bad. If any,
thing was to be said to their disparagement it
was that they won often. He thought that
thay could afford to lose in the event of anoth-
er contest. He was sure he expressed his own
feeling, the feelings of Oxford and the feelings
OF Engllshmen, when he bid the Harvards a
cordial welcome, and wished them God speed
in the homeward journey. The victory might
be Harvard's next time. Meanwhile he assur-
ed them of an enthusiastic welcome at home,
which would find an echo in every corner of
England.
He concluded amid great applause, coupling
the toast with the names of Simmons and
william.
Mr.. Simmons replied briefly. He expressed
his warmest thanks for the cordiality and hos
pitality extended the Harvard crew. While
recognizing their defeat, he hoped the next
crew, or the same ctew, if they came over
again, would find in that defeat their success.
They had been benefited by their experience
Considering the crew by which they had been
defeated, he had no reason to be ashamed.
Mr.. william, on the part of the Oxfords, re.
GREETED the unavoidable absence of the remain
der of the crew. With respect to the race, as
an old hand he said it had not been won easily,
1t was the best race he had ever rowed.
Thomas Hughes then toasted the London
clubs. He then referred to his own experience
es and the glories of the English Universities
He asserted that Harvard University in pro-
Motley, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Louis
Agassiz, had reason to pride itself. Future
generations would regard some of the Harv-
ards with the generation given to our Hamp-
dens and others in past generations.
Mr.. Blasord proposed the toast Our Visit
ors. He regretted that the Harvards had not
used '1coach." No crew could attain perfec-
ton 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 Harvards only to give cheers
on account OF the courtesy and kindness shown
by the club. They were given amid great APP
plause. At the conclusion there was grand
display of fireworks in honor of the occasion.
COMING HOME,
Messrs. Loring, Fay and Blake, of the Har-
yord crew, Mr.. Elliott, their boat builder, and
Mr.. TicknOr, return to New York ON the
steamer City of Antwerp which sails to-mor-
row.
THE CROPS.
The brilliancy and power of the sun for the
past week has been hiphly favorable to the
crops in the British Isles, but a Target harvest
is not certain.
FINANCIAL.
Nowhere in Europe has there been such a
falling off in the price of consols as in Eng
land, and unless greater encouragement is
given it will be found that foreign imports will
be on much smaller scale after the subsistence
of the effects of the late rise.
Spain.
DON CARLOS AND SPAIN.
PARIS, Aug. 3L-Don Carlos has embarked
at Guipuscoa for England. He has abandoned
for the present the attempt to provoke rising
in Spain, and will wait for more favorable
opportunity.
France.
SENSATION STORY CoNTRADICTED.
LONDON, Aug 31.-The story of conspiracy
followed by execution on board the frigate Sa-
bine at Cherbourg telegraph ed from Paris some
days since, is absolutely contradicted.