1112 
THE FIELD. 
and the fleet move rapidly towards it. Ilipplo still leads ; 
Sylph second. Another accident happens to the Hippie, and 
oue which loses her the race. In going about, so as to tack, 
and while in stays, her centre-board touches the mud and 
holds her aground several seconds. The end of the race is 
gained. The Ripple is out first ; beating the .Sylph one minute 
and forty-six seconds ; but losing the race to the .Sylph by 
four seconds on account of allowance of time for difference of 
measurement. The Mischief was twenty-three seconds be- 
hind the Sylph. Summary : 
FIRST STAKE BOAT. 
Sid. Story's Hipplo 1, and 10 seconds ahead of Sylph; 
John G. RobinaonjB Sylph 2, and 7 seconds ahead of Mis- 
chief ; Mischief Club's Miscliiof, 3. 
SECOND STAKE BOAT. 
Ripple 1, and 1 minute ahead of Mischief; Mischief 2, and 
15 seconds ahead of Sylph ; Sylph, 3. 
Home. — Hippie 1, and 1 minute and 46 seconds ahead of 
Sylph ; Sylph 2, and 23 seconds ahead of Miacliief , 
Mischief, 3. 
Result. — Sylph wins by 4 seconds ; Ripple loses by 4 
seconds; Mischief loses by 43 seconds. Whole distances, 
fifteen miles. Time, 2 hours and 10 minutes. — N. 0. 
Picayune. 
VENTURE AND VESPER. 
A match for $500 a side was made between the nbovo 
named yachts, which is thus described by “Skowball,” in a 
letter to tiro N. 0. Picayune, duted, Mobile, October 11, 
1854 : — 
" Doar 1 Tic.' — Tho match race between the Venture and 
Vesper did not oome off at Point Clear on Monday last ; 
there not being a ‘five-knot breeze/ it was postponed until 
yesterday, to take place at Hollywood. The day opened 
very unpropitious for a race ; it * mined cats and dogs,’ and 
blew at times a small hurricane ; but towards twelve o'clock 
the rain ceased and the boats prepared for the race, with a 
stiff breeze from tho bo u th-cost. On drawing for positions, 
the Vesper had choice. On firing tho gun for starting, tho 
Vesper took the lead, oud with free sheets off they went 
with railroad speed ; but before they reached the first stake 
boat, tho wind hauled more to tho south, and contrary to 
expectations, made tho course to tho first stake boat a beat 
to windward. The stake was reached first by the Vesper, 
and she rounded about 10 seconds ahead of the Venture. 
From this point to the next stake it was dead 
before the wind, and with gaffitopsails and flying- 
jibs set, they continued their course, and soon the 
Venture was seen to pass her competitor and con- 
tinued slowly to open the gup and reached the second slake 
boat 1 minute and 25 seconds ahead. On rounding this 
stake the wind was abeam, but was much lighter than at 
starling The Venture continued to gain on tho Vesper and 
reached the home stake 3 minutes and 50 seconds ahead, 
winning the race and money. 
“ The Vesper was sailed by John Pearce, and tho Venture 
by Charles Braisted, assisted by a crew that can’t be beaten 
in tho southern waters. 
" There was very little excitement. The Vesper being a 
new boat, built upon a new model, very little butting took 
place— she was an ‘ untried nag,’ although her owner had 
great expectations from Home private trials he had given her. 
►She is no doubt a good boat, but I think we have two other 
Second-class boats that can beat her. 
“A match for $1000 a side his been mado between the 
Vesper and Stingaree, ten miles dead to windward, to come 
off on the first day of July nest, one-half forfeit. It is a long 
way off, but it will give time to rebuild the old ‘ Scourge/ ” 
rotary motion to the yard during its desceut upon the mast, 
while the sail is so constructed as to admit of being wound 
upon the yard during its descent. Thus the sail is reefed in 
its upper part instead of the lower ns of old, and the reef is 
taken in with great rapidity, and with the utmost ease. The 
yard of tho vessel is not fitted immediately to tho mast, but 
is mounted so ns to turn freely in sling hoops and yard-arm 
irons, which are carried on a shorter and lighter yard — 
called a chafingspar — a little abaft. The yard is slung in a 
chain which passes round a notched wheel, in which notches 
the 1 inks of the chain act ; thus, by means of communication to 
the deck, full command is given to the motions of the yard. 
Amongst the other advantages of the invention is one that 
carries its own recommendation : there is a small additional 
expense in the fitting in some cases, but the wear and tear 
of tho sail is so much reduced, that twelve months more 
wear will bo got out of it. The invention has already been 
largely adopted, and few vessels will for the future undergo 
a refit without being provided with this most important 
contrivance. — Maidstone Journal. 
ungenerous enough to find some fault with Cole’s style but 
there was nothing to condemn in it ; and had he been vie 
torious, it would have been considered the perfection of art 
Messenger, who was trained by Mr. Styles, at the Rose an ,i' 
Crown, Putney, has been long admired for his artistic style 
but it was questioned by very many whether it was as offer* 
tive as Cole’s. 
ROWING AT OXFORD. 
Brasenose and Trinity Scratch Four-oared Races, 
These annual Scratch Four-oared Races, between the mem 
bars of Trinity and Broseuoso Colleges, commenced on Satur- 
day the 1 8th instant, and fiuishod on tho following Monday 
The prize was n Challenge Cup, given by a late membor of 
Trinity, and a late membor of Brasenose ; with presentation 
quart tankards lor each of the winners, and pints for the 
crew of the second boat. There were eight boats entered-, 
the heats were rowed in the following order :— 
first heat. 
Fin-nival, B. N. C. I Cdrlyon, frin. C.' 
Hopkins, Tr. <\ Wiggot, Trln. C. 
U artiurtnn, B. N. C. Elliott, Trln C. 
Lloyd, Triu. C. I Sorgisson, B.N. C., str. 
Smith, B. N. C., Cox. I Wyjlie, Trln. C., cox. , . 
This was a well contested heat, and was with diflkulty 
w’on by Mr. Lloyd, by about two feet. 
Chichester, Trln. C. 
Emerson, Trln. C. 
Mor*hcad, B. N. (X 
Wollaston, Trill C.. S fc 
Lee, B. N C., cox. 
1 I IV shall /eel obliged by the Secretaries of “flawing Clubs," and others, 
forwarding their Appointments of Matches or Notices of Meetings to 
come, at their early convenience. 
MATCHES APPOINTED. 
November 27 —John Hossoin and Sampson Beesloy, Punt Race from 
Oxford to Iflley and back, for £10 a side, 
November. Robert Newell and William Pocoek, to row from Putney 
Bridge to the Ship at Mortlako, for £25 a side. 
Dickenson, B. N. C. 
Tufuell, B N C. 
D.ivey, B. N. C. 
Pain, U. N. C , stroke. 
Butler, B. N. C., cox. 
SECOND HEAT. 
Biker, Trim C. 
Pritchard, B. N. C. 
Rogers, B N. C. 
Wyllie, Trin. C., str 
Jones, Trin. C., cox 
This heat was also well contested, 
nor, by about luilf-a-boat’s length. 
W Addington,. B. N. c 
Clarke, B. N. C. 
Payne, Trin. C. 
Williams, Trin. C,, ntr. 
i Elors, Trin. C., cox. 
Mr. Pain was tho wiu- 
Kidd, Br.iscnoso College. 
A Hint to Yachtsmen.— “ Wo will venture on another 
hint. Here are scores of wealthy noblemen and gentlemen 
whose comfortable yachts will probably lie in harbour all 
this winter. We presume that with such costly toys they 
have a taste for real enterprise and generous hospitality. No 
doubt, too, they could easily forego for one winter the 
familiar routine of st uffy dinners and stupid company. Let 
them take their good tilings with them to Balaklava, exhibit 
a genial hospitality, and enlighten their own minds with the 
choicest spirits— the best fellows to be found anywhere in 
the whole world— now fighting our battles in the Crimea.” 
Times, Nov. 24. 
Conjunoham’ 6 Patent Towails.— O ne of the greatest 
difficulties in successively manoeuvring a ship is the inability 
to secure promptitude in the oftentimes perilous and always 
difficult operation of taking in reefs in the topsails. The 
difficulty is also as greut, and the promptitude is also as 
uigent, in making sail. In cases of sudden lee-shores, failure 
of the wind, suddenly coming under high lands, in entering 
bar-harbours, and in various other situations in which ships 
are constantly placed, the failure in obtaining the necessary 
power over tho vessel in conseq uence of the inability properly 
to handle these Sails has involved tho ruin of many a noble 
ship, just when her captain had calculated his time to an 
hour to reach pork If a proof of a peculiarly melancholy nature 
wore required to show the importance of this operation, tho 
recent loss of the Tayleur, on the Irish coast, would furnish 
it, where as the breeze freshened at nine in the evening 
the necessity of reducing and close reefing topsails became 
apparent ; and yet, as the vessel was fitted with topsails on 
the old method, it was fouud impossible, although so much 
depended on the operation, to accomplish it successfully 
befere three or four o’clock in tho morning. All the time 
the ship had drifted so much to leeward that she was found 
to be so fur uuder the cliff that sho could not be again got 
out to sea. Tins catastrophe, as in many other instances 
was mainly brought about by tho inefficiency of the crew • 
aud now that •• recent legislation” lias opened the way for 
tie admission of such pretenders to the name of sailor— and 
emigration and other causes have operated to thin the 
number of our thorough bred tars -owners may well be 
f .-arful of trusting their vessels to such ill-assorted and 
licompetent crews. An excellent invention h„* been dis- 
covered to remove the chances of catastrophe from such 
causes as have been enumerated. Henry Cunningham, Esq- 
R.N Kb. A. lias perfected and patented an invention W 
w Inch topsails topgallant-sails, and others, can be safelv and 
Bpeedily reefod from the deck, and that with so little outlav 
of manual labour that, in the case of a 500-ton ship three 
hands have been found sufficient to reef a maiutopsail’in the 
Bhort space of two minutes ; and the reefs cau be shaken out 
from the deck with the same facility. The captain of a bark 
winch was fitted with these sails close reefed his mnintop- 
Bail with the aid of one of hi* passengers ; thus proving that 
there is no need that so many of the crew should bo thorough 
s ulora as heretofore, and that tho only seamanship now re- 
quired for this operation is the ability to pull a rope. The 
Bituple plan adopted by Mr. Cunningham Is to impart n 
GREAT RACE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE 
THAMES AND £400. 
The above great aquatic event, upon which thousands had 
been speculated; came off on Monday, and a more gallant or 
beautiful race was never witnessed. It was, from first to 
last, a masterly exhibition of skill and prowess, leaving the 
disinterested spectator nothing to desire, aud the backer of 
the loser nothing to repine at. The champion of 1853— the 
renowned Thomas Cole — the idol of the river Thames the 
I’ct of its best rowing men, and favourite of those deemed 
most competent judges— luis sustained a defeat, has been 
fairly vanquished upon his merits, aud has had his laurels 
while yet full green, plucked from his brow. Sic transit 
ffloria mundi. How long Iris successor may retain them is 
yet to be seen. 
The opponents in Monday’s race were ThomaS Cole of 
Chelsea, and James A. Messenger, of Toddiugton. Until the 
latter part of the year 1852 Robert Coombes had, fyr a very 
lengthened period, been the champion, but lost that 
houorary distinction to Cole, by the latter achieving two 
successive victories over him. James Messenger last year, for a 
second time, beat James Caudlisb, the champion of the Tyne ; 
aud his excellent style of rowing on those occasions induced 
his friends to consider that he had sufficient merit justly to 
entitle him to aspire to the championship of the Thames 
the ne plus ultra of perfection and celebrity in rowing. Al- 
though Messenger had beaten Cole for Mr. Evan Morns’s coat 
and badge while an apprentice, aud in the following year 0 r 
•so m a scullers’ nice, yet when other contests were taken 
into consideration in which they had been engaged, together 
with the improved condition of Cole, aud his triumph over 
the renowned veteran, Coombes, no hesitation was felt by 
his backers in accepting Messenger’s challenge. Having 
thus briefly adverted to the past, wo at once proceed to the 
race, which was for £200 a-side (a stake, in our opinion, too 
largeh from the Steam-boat pier at Putney, to the shin at 
Mortlako. ‘ 1 
Cole made his appearance in a very excellent boat, built 
by Salter. His weight was 9st. 81bs., and when lie un- 
covered, his symmetrical proportions and condition were the 
theme of general admiration. Messenger was afloat in a few 
minutes afterwards, in a very beautiful boat, built by him- 
self. His weight was lOst. 101b., and in the opinion of 
some it was considered that he had too much flesh upon him • 
but the result proved that he was the stronger man for it. They 
are both of the same age— twenty-seven years. So eager had 
been some of Messenger's friends to get money on the event 
that 5, and in some instances 6, to 4 had been laid upon 
him ; but the odds yesterday were so great in favour of Cole 
that takers were scarce at 5 aud 6 to 4. 
At two o’clock the Locomotive, chartered by the Messrs 
Searle— with the umpires and referee, Mr. E. Searle in her 
Low— the Sunbeam, and Citizen L steamers, moved to their 
respective positions to accompany the race, at which time 
there were thousands of persons congregated on the shore* 
and a great many small boats upon the river. Messenger 
won the choice of station, aud took the Middlesex side his 
opponent being but a few yards away towards the Surrey 
S ! ► Amidst the greatest excitement around, the men 
started at three minutes past two very evenly, but in half-a- 
dozeu puHs Cole had the nose of his boat slightly in front 
and off French's grounds was half his length in advance- 
and. stroke by stroke, he continued to mend his position 
and just above Craven Cottage, having fairly drawn himself 
clear, took bis opponents water, and for three minutes at 
le.ist was half a clear length in advance of Messenger, who was 
rowing with Ins stem in a line with the other’s stern So 
certain did tho event seem, that 10 to 1 was freely oflerad 
upon Cole -who was considered to have his man completely 
in Ills hands ; but a great change succeeded. Upon opening 
the Reach the heavy wind, which was a dead noser, mode the 
water rough and the labour greater, and hero the weii/ht 
power, and condition of Messenger, began to tell against his 
opponent. Messenger’s boat began gradually to overlap bis 
opponent s, aud, amidst the most deafening shouts the two 
men fiercely contended past the Crab Tree to Hammersmith- 
bridge. Gradually Messenger shot foot by foot a-hoad, his 
style nuaUered save that it was longer in the sweep, while 
lie locking of Coles boat indicated distress on the part of 
its occupant ; but he still rowed on, “gripping” the water 
with all the power he possessed, but his efforts were miavail- 
a'len'dh ™ through Hamme, -smith-bridge 
, L anc * a ’ ,m, f a-liead. Cole made repeated and must 
manly efforts to regain his lost position-never did a man 
'" a stern wager more determinedly right to the vei-v 
fiuiah; but ho could not mend his position '; and Messenger 
was greeted tho winner by a clear length and a-half^at 
21 mm. 40 after the st i rt . There a few 
Chuuiborlnyno. Brasenose College. 
Ellis, Trinity College. 
Maeroric, Brasenose College, stroke. 
Pott, Broseuoso College, coxswain 
THIRD HEAT. 
Yorke Brasenose College. 
Bennett, Trinity College. 
Kfflpe, Brasenose College. 
Codrington, Brasenose College, sir 
Fellows, Brasenose CidU-go, cox. 
This heat was won easily by Mr. Kidd. 
The final l.eat took placo'un Thursday, and caused con- 
siderable interest among the members of both colleges— the 
wniumg boats of Saturday contending, viz., Mr. Dickenson’s 
Mr. Ividd s, and Mr. Furnival’s. A splendid struggle ensued • 
neck-and-neck was the order of the race, aud so even was the 
rowing, that the spectators were not quite agreed as to which 
boat came in first, until the umpire- deoided in favour of Mr 
Dickenson, whose crew, it will be observed, were all Brase- 
nose men. 
ROWING AT CAMBRIDGE. 
University Four-oared Races. 
The deciding heat (the result of which we gave in our 
Becoud editinu last week), was rowed between Third Trinity 
and Trinity Hall, on Friday, 17th inst. The following were 
the crews : — 
3rd Trinity. 
1 Harden. 
2. Alderson. 
3. Johnson. 
4. Jones. 
Green— steorer. 
Trinity Hall. 
1. Salvin. 
2. Healy. 
3. Fairrle. 
4. Schrieber. 
Fitzroy — steorer. 
Trinity Hall winning the toss started first, and kept well 
out of their distance till the Long Reach. Here the Third 
Trinity put on a splendid spurt, and eventually passed their 
post a few seconds before Trinity Hall reached their’s. 
The Colquhoun Sculls. 
Tho races for these sculls Commenced or Tuesday the 21nL 
The very heavy rain made. the attendance of spectators very 
select, although great mterest is taken this year in the final 
result There were ten entries; but only nine started, in 
the following order, the brackets, denoting the bumps made. 
1. Blake, Corpus. 
2. lSrandrcth, 3rd Trinity. \ 
3. HiehanD, Cuius. ' } 
-I. Baker, Jesus. -» 
0. Smith, 1st Trinity. > 
C. Leatlies, St. John's, j I 
7 Kennedy, Onius. i r 
8. Salter, Trinity Hall, i 
3. Wright, St. John's. 
AH the bumps were made pretty easily, with the exception 
ot Daker. who having five distances sturt on Wright kept 
away to Ditton Corner. ° 1 r 
mi r Second Race, Wednesday, 22nd. 
Iho following was the order : — 
o wirw J I 4 - Richards. 
3. Blake! ' I 6 ' Lcathes - 
r m 1 ado 1 his buni P afc Dikton ! Blake, although he hmE 
distance^ 6 ° 1>l>0slte Griia8 y« beiu g * little within his. 
Thursday, 23ud. 
1. Richards a 
2. Leathcs ) | 
3. Blake \ ( 
1. Wright ) 
Loathes was bumped in the first Reach, and Richards over 
two places, at Ditton Corner. 
e- ? ARPE — A sc ""er's match, which created a 
giuit deal of interest amongst the “ Wise Men of the East." 
took place on Tuesday, between Thomas Cauuou of Her- 
lmtivge-stmrs Wappnig, and James Carpe, of Church-stairs, 
Rotherhithe, for £40 The distance was from Charlton Pier 
to tho iharnes Tunnel, and a great number of persons were 
congregated on board a steamer to view the race. The wind 
was, however, so strong, and tho water so rough, that no 
Idea could be formed of the merits of the men, both becom- 
ing water-logged. Carpe took the lead, but near Cuckold’s 
1 omt las opponent, passed him; aud, as it was useless to 
S£ ve up ’ an<l 1,ia antagonist finished 
tho distanoe to claim. Wo understand that another match 
win do the consequence. 
Docs.— The Commissioners of Inland Revenue have- 
determined in all cases where parties have been assessed for 
dX'.lhS?f h r neg,ecte ? t0 l )a - v the to cause the 
defaulters to be committed to prison, aud wo understand 
that numerous warrants for defaulters in this borough are in 
course of preparation.— Windsor Expresi. 
VVii,d Ducks.— A s tho cold weather approaches wild fowL 
become more numerous in our firth, and usually attract u. 
number of aquatic sportsmen to the town. For the last, 
ueek or two Mr. Wyndman has had some capital punt shoot- 
ing between Inverness and Muulochy, generally bagging 
PlnnL a f COIe a ‘" iy t0 , hl3 °' vn 6 un - TI »o poor villagers of 
C ^b iahai-ry ne^. wl.om Mr. Wyndman has been staying, 
haiu hugely benefitted by lus good sport nnd liberality 
Jnverncsf Conner. J 
