Year: 1876

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY NOT TO BE FULLY BEP
REsEHTED-coLLEoE CREWS URGED TO COME
OVER.


The following communications from William B. Close,
the President OF the Cambridge University Boat Club,
were received last evening II will be remembered
that the Rowing Association OF American Colleges sent
the three prominent universities OF Great Britain
cordial invitation to row three milo straightaway
race on Saratoga Lake at short time after the Unver
sity race OF July 19 Cambridge is the FIRST orespond
and there Is but little doubt OF that university beng
represented next summer, for the Cambridge men
show their willingness and determination to come, II
possible very plainly. The regatta committee will SEQ
that the rest is accomplished. Every difficulty win
be met and the American college boys disposed to
conccde everything except what is absolutely necessary
to be held The regatta committee has made arrange
ments for treating them In purely American style
while here, and need not cost tho English lions cent
for their legitimate expenses II very probable now
that all three Of the British universities will bo repre-
sented in American waters. and there will then be little
doubt OF their meeting crews that will do no dshonor
to their country.


The following is the Official letter from Cambridge


CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY Boar CLuB,l


Feb. II, 1876. I
New York.


DEAR srR-At meeting OF the Cambridge University
Boat Club held on February g. brought forward the
most cordial invitation, sent us by the Rowing Asso-
citation of American Colleges TO compete their annual
intercollegiate regatta in July and 1t decided
account OF the various difficulties there would be get
good representative respectfully to decline on
the part of the University Boat Club that honor but at
the same time IL also decided that every encour-
agemcnt should be gvon by the University Boat Club
10 any college that would go over the water and
compete with your colleges | remain sir, yours
truly WILLIAM b. CLOSE


President Of the University Boat Club.
The following interesting letter accompanied the
above from Mr.. Close to Mr Rces:-


CAMBRIDGE, Feb H. 1875
DEAR sIR-It is with great regret that have TO an
nounco that we cannot manage 10 accept your very
kind and invitation for the University Boat Club
to compete in your regatta


The date OF the OF the difficulties for Il
coming after the Henley regatta would leave us
but days practice after arrival In America and
never having rowed in coxwaness sixes would 0nd IL
somewhat hard TO get together in that short space of
time.


The distinction between graduate and undergraduate,
which SEQ in the papers is TO be enforced ut your
gatta, is also another dhculty-we in England making
distinction in rowing between them myself have
just taken my Il A. degree, and before June three
other at present practising In eight will also
have proceeded to their degrees thus could not
send really representative crew picked from
eight


There was, however a strong feeling at the meet
Ing that should be sent from here try
mette OF our American cousins at their annual Inter-
collegiate regatta and have great hopes may per-
suade Jesus College, at present head of the river go
over and represent us, and, failing them, Trinity
crew; but both wish to wait and what they arc
capable of in the May up here before promising
Failing to get either OF these colleges to represent
themselves sngly think good amalgamatcd crew
might be made out OF them.


am quite certain that II any OF us do put In ap-
pearance welcome will be you describe.
American amateur oarsmcn have twice pluckily come
TO Englishmen in our own waters IL is
ta'nly now turn to return the compliment, and
shall spare effort 10 bring this about have de-
layed this somewhat hoping to have been able have
given you definite promise on the part of some OF US
to come over, and as get IL shall let you
know at once.


/ hope next year that shall American
college Henley, when the Lady's Plate and tho
Visitors Cup. open only to resident members OF
colleges and schools and the best college eights and
fours from Oxford Cambridge, Dublin and Eton
usually meet remain, yours truly,


WILLIAM B. CLOSE.