The New York herald., 1872-03-24

other day. 1t sort OF match
against time, the royal rowers having to
pull the monarch from his palace at West
chester to the Church of St. John before the ben had
struck its last stroke for mass. All the rank,
fashion and commonalty OF the surrounding district
thronged to the rivers bank to see the SHOW which
was looked upon as q royal froc. After the Nor
man conquest favorite aquatic sport upon the
Thames the water tournament, in which TWO
champions in the opposite bows OF TWO boats,
pressed against each other, vita lances having
broad and Nat ends. With these each tried to un-
snip the other and it was the duty of the rowers 50
to ply the that they aided their champion in his
object prevented his being toppled into the
river instead OF bringing his adversary to grief, and
thus quite as much depended on The skill OF the
rowers as on that OF the filters. These matches,
however like the boat races OF the present
day, over In few minutes, Dut lasted for the day
as such the pluck Of the contestants that they
never consented to treat OF peace even after defeat
WATER PAGEANTs
OF this kind were Tor time very common, Dut sub.
sequentiy died out to be again, however, revived In
the days or "good' Queen Bess. Upon that queen
visiting Sandwich she was treated with a tourna
ment III which the actors were Waoons, who hap
pened TO be staying there and who were great
adopts In tlltlng and man9uvring boats for or
against the filters. The Queen mad never seen the
sport before, but became Interested IN 1t that 1t
once more came into fashion. We have sad that
the Thames was the great artery OF communication
between London and Westminster previous TO the
time OF their being linked together by continuous
line OF streets. The river seems then to nave been
as gay with its Hitting population the Grand
Canal at Venice, for thousands OF watermen con-
veyed passengers from city 10 city and from shore
10 shore IN "thelr trim-Dut wherres," while the
rich civic companies and the nobics spOrted their
gayly decorated barges, for II was much matter
OF custom for nobleman then 10 keep his state
boat IL Is now Tor hm To Keep his state carriage.
Taylor, the water poet, VINO 1ourished IN the days
OF tie early Stuarts, stated that there were in MS
time 10000 Watermcn plying AT various points on
the river between Windsor and London, and that
one hall OF these were engaged in summer ferry
ing playgoers from the city Of London to the Globe
theaIre-ShaKspeare' celebrated playhouse-on the
opposite bank. There can be but little doubt that
Taylcr look the poets license with hls figures. and
added 4 cypher TO them. These Watermen were to
ancient London an institution much resembling the
caDmen OF today, and appear to have been quite
rough and rapacious In the time OF the Planta-
genets, wnen 1t illegal for the ''cs" and pren-
tices OF the great metropolis TO visit after dark the
places OF dissipation that were on the opposite
Shore and the only bridge across was closed To their
passage, the watermen were ready TO convey
them Inither, and doubtless they made their 'lares,
pecd heavily for the privilege. The thriving trade
done 10y tnese bOatmen naturally led to the increase
III their numbers, so that IN James the Firsts time
tnere was such an addition made by amateur oars
men that a law was passed 10 prevent inexperienced
rowers from perng otner peoples lives by carry
granted TO properly trained men; but even thfs dld
not prevent young London from getting anoat and
pulling IN sport against the watermep, and as re-
suit
ROWING MATCHES GREW OUT OF THE RIVALRY.
After this the law students and practitioners OF
the temple appeared upon the scene, and IL soon
became evident TO the prentices and watermen
that gentlemen could he as exnerC at the oar
as any member Of the craft Then the lively
lads OF tue pubic school at Westminster made
tneIr appearance the river as active anu as
pucKy any OF their predecessors.
oarsmen OF the river and rowing matcnes and
rowing 'promenades' became OF constant occur
renee and made the 'sllent highway belle Its
name and become quite gay AMI noisy thorough.
are. On these occasions and long after so much
license was indulged in that tne water frollcs"
paFtOok mucn OF the character Of the French
nival, that modest LADIES' avoided appearing In a
pleasure boat as much as at the play, OWING TO the
freedom OF language then INDUCED In Dotn In the
tneatre and on the river.
THE wATERMEN's ANNUAL CONTEST.
But IN course OF time the stage and the stream
became connected IN peasan.er manner tnan IN
their being equally the arenas Tor the utterance OF
loose talk. One Doggett, an actor VINO removed from
William ILL.,, ana who retired from the
stage couple OF years before close OF Queen
Anne's reign, was as iervent In his loyalty as he
was prominent In MS professions. His attachment
to the new Order OF soveregns, coupled, perhaps,
vita a love Tor aquatic sports. led nlm TO oner u
prZe Tor competition on the Thames on the 6rsf an
nivcsary OF the accession OF the First George to be
rowed for by six watermen whose apprenticeship mad
expired during the previous year. the prize consisted
OF a coat ol the old EllzaUethan waterman fireman
cut which the actors loyalty dictated TO OF orange
coOrs, and bearing on the right sleeve a SILVER
badge carrying u figure OF the Wnite Horse OF
Hanover. lhe bill OF the Dury Lane iheatre, in an
nouncing the prize, stated that IL was given in
honor o the Kings 'happy accession anu tnat IL
was 10 be rowed for annually on the lst or August
'for ever" and Dogget5 lett the means for supply
ing the annual prize Tor tnat rather period
But money Is now given IN lieu or a costume which
Is at present rarely ever seen. the first race Tor
"D0ggetrs Coat and Badger was rowed In l7lB, the
course being from the swan at London Bridge 10