213 MONTHLY MEMORABILIA. ROWING. THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE THAMES.-On Saturday the 7ult. the great match between the Leander Club, and the London Cambridge Subscription-room Club, came off over the course generally used for the great river oars' matches; namely, from Westminster Bridge to Putney. These clubs have long been rivals, every season, from 1837 inclusive, having witnessed their trials of skill and strength. In 1837 the Leanders, long the champions of old Father Thames, were challenged by the Cantabs, and beaten. In 1838 they came together again; had a "fouling" set-to, and the affair was decided to be " no match.' In June of the present year, they met at the Henley regatta, and then more "fouling" occurred, and certainly no friendly feeling, for the moment, was created. Out of those untoward events arose the match we have now to record, as stout and honest a passage in rowing as ever English cavaliers engaged in withal When the respective eight-oared cutters appeared at the starting point (5, p. m.) the wind was blowing a "noser" right down the river; odds in favour of the heavy crew. The Lean ders won the toss for naming the arches whence the start should take place, and the Cantabs that for choice of stations. The former took up their position at the pier of the fourth arch from the Surrey side, and the latter at the fifth. contending crews. LEANDER. 1. Layton, 10st. 3lb. 2. Wallace, 11st. 5lb. 3. Julius, 11st. 5lb. The subjoined are the names and weights of the 6. Ommanney, 11st. 11lb. 7. C. Pollock, 10st. CAMBRIDGE. 1. Shadwell, St. John's, 10st. 10lb. 2. Hon. L. Denman, Trinity, 10st. 11lb 3. Selwyn, Trinity, 12st. 2lb. 4. Anson, Jesus, 12st. 5lb. 5. Cobbold, Magdalen, 12st. 5lb. 6. Yatman, Caius, 10st. 12lb. 7. Abercrombie, Caius, 10st. 8lb. 8. Dalgleish (stroke), 10st. 11lb. Shepheard (coxswain), 9st. 11lb. The Leanders wore red for their emblematic colour, and the Cantabs blue. The moment the signal to "give way" was made (Mr. Edward Searl being deputed starter), the former went off, as a bystander observed "like a shot from a shovel," while the Cambridge men were slow in their first strokes. They had full way on in four sweeps of their oars, at once cleared the Cantabs, and were never caught. Abreast the Horse ferry, the heroes of the Cam made desperate play, and got somewhat nearer their adversaries, but could not hold their At the Red House the contest was decided, barring casualties. The Leander crew were four good boats' lengths ahead; improved the distance at Battersea; and, finally, won a struggle of extraordinary resolution and severity, by shooting the centre arch of Putney Bridge, ten boats' lengths before their antagonists. The style of rowing, on the part of each crew, was first-rate for amateurs-but that of the Leanders the most professional and uniform. The time occupied in the match was about thirty-two minutes, and marked a performance of great excellence, the character of the weather being had in remembrance. own. ANNUAL MATCH FOR THE LONDON SILVER SCULLS.-According to the conditions for this celebrated contest, as there was but one challenger, the trial took place on the 10th ult., the parties opposed being Mr. Chapman, and the holder of the sculls, Mr. T., L. Jenkins, who won them last year. The latter gentleman was again successful, after as fine a display of skill and determination as ever was witnessed on the river. NEWMARKET CRAVEN MEETING, 1845.-Six mares and stallions are named for the Riddlesworth, and eight for the Tuesday's Riddlesworth. In the early part of the past month, Bernard, the celebrated manufacturer of fishing-tackle in Church-passage, St. Martin's, caught, at Teddington Falls, with Ledger No. 8 hook, and single gut, a barbel weighing nine pounds, three ounces. CRICKET.-Marylebone Club and Ground v. Sussex.-The Return Match, six gentlemen and five players of Sussex, against six gentlemen of the Marylebone Club, and four of the Ground, with Wenman, commenced on Monday, the 2nd ult., at Harvey's grounds, Brighton. The weather was very unfavourable. The match, which occupied Monday till 5, p.m., was resumed on Wednesday, and terminated in favour of Marylebone by eleven runs, although the odds were, at one time, 12 to 1 on Sussex. The following was the score : KENT against ENGLAND. The Return Match for this, the crack game of the season, began at the Beverley ground, Canterbury, on Tuesday, the 10th ult., and terminated on Thursday. Nothing could exceed the spirit and éclat of the contest-except, perhaps, the feeling at its result. A great deal of money was won and lost on the event, which proved, if there was any need of such, the extreme uncertainty and interest that belong to the game of cricket. It will be seen that, in their second innings, Kent lost all their wickets for thirty-one runs; and the England won by seventy-four, a most unanticipated victory: score Marylebone Club and Ground against Cambridge, with Lilly white. This match was played on Parker's Piece, Cambridge, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 17th, 18th, and 19th ult., and drew together a very large assemblage. The play was very good; but Cambridge was eventually defeated by fifty-seven runs : score NOVEL RACE.-On Tuesday, the 17th ult., a novel race, for a gold medal, of the value of twenty guineas, given by the National Swimming Society, took place on the Serpentine. The hour fixed upon for the start was half-past six o'clock, but a full hour elapsed before everything was got ready, at which time there were between 2,000 and 3,000 persons present. Twelve men were at length placed, each distinguished by a different-coloured cap; and upon the start, given by Captain Marryat, R.N., the competitors went off. In a short time, the person who wore a light blue cap was ahead, which he maintained until he had nearly reached the opposite side, when he was passed by white (a footman in the service of Lady Craven), who first landed, and then reentered the water, for the purpose of returning to the starting-post, followed by blue, between whom a severe struggle ensued, followed by the others very closely. Just as they were nearing the starting-post, it was discovered that a Mr. Lewis, who, it was stated, belonged to the navy, was at least ten yards in advance of white, and he was declared to be the winner. The distance was about 500 yards, which was performed in six minutes. Several of the boats of the Royal Humane Society were on the spot, in case of accident, but only one person was taken into a boat, who appeared to be exhausted. LEICESTERSHIRE.-Should any of the readers of this work, for themselves or their friends, require accommodation, in the best hunting district of Leicestershire, for the approaching season, we have it in our power to assist them. The Editor will, on application, forward an address, where, close to the Melton and Lord Hastings' hounds, excellent apartments can be had, in a mansion four miles from Loughborough, formerly occupied by Lords Scarborough and Stair. The stables, offices, and everything desirable for a hunting establishment, are on a first-rate scale. THE MOORS.-The sport in the district of Ayr has confirmed the rumours relative to the scarcity of the birds, and the presence of some disease, supposed to be the tape-worm, which rendered them so lean and so weak as not to be worth spending shot upon. In the moors near Sarn, one gentleman bagged seven brace by twelve o'clock; and on an estate in Carrick, nineteen brace of strong, healthy birds were brought down by three crack guns, in the course of the 12th ult. These, however, so far as we have heard, were the only places where anything like sport was obtained. In a well-known moor in the district of Kyle, never known to fail in producing an abundant supply, although traversed by three excellent sportsmen, only seven brace were killed. On the borders of Dumfriesshire, the proverbial haunt of the grouse, the old birds were seen fluttering along the ground, unable to fly, and in such a miserable condition that the sportsmen considered them unworthy of being carried home. As a whole, this may be considered one of the worst seasons within recollection. The reports from other parts of Scotland, however, were much more favourable. In Perthshire, the sport was as good as ever it was known, and the supply of game first-rate. It is difficult to ac count for these remarkable differences in localities. 217 LITERATURE. THE SCIENCE OF GUNNERY, AS APPLIED TO THE USE AND CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS. By William Greener, A.I.C.E., author of "The Gun." London: Longman and Co., 1841. THE matter treated of in this excellent practical work comprises the following subjects:-Ancient arms. Gunpowder. Artillery. Iron in use for barrels. Gun-making. The proof of gun barrels. The science of gunnery. The rifle and musket. Shot, caps, and wadding; and whale shooting. It will be seen that the author has taken a tolerably wide range, and it is due to him to say that he has well executed that which he has undertaken. He is evidently conversant with all the detail of the science that the book before us is intended to expound for the information of the uninitiated. To the practical portion of it, as applied and applicable to sporting, we lead the reader; passing, however, in our progress, much curious and interesting discussion which will amply reward a careful perusal of the book whence it is extracted. It has been declared, upon high authority, that "where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." We dare to say that nine-tenths of our friends will have been unenlightened, up to the hour they meet the subjoined passages, on the true condition of their physical jeopardy on many a 12th of August and 1st of September. If they retain the complement of eyes and limbs usually regarded as the proper natural equipment of a gentlemen, their "bliss," we opine, will not the less induce them to be grateful for the wrinkles to which Mr. Greener has assisted them. "I have already sufficiently enlarged upon the inferiority of barrels made from charcoal iron. A great quantity of these guns are made, or got up, for the general factors, who take orders for everything, from a needle to an anchor,' yet manufacture nothing, but thus employ their money at a moderate return. The hardwareman is the principal seller of this description of guns; he generally pays between ten and twelve pounds each for them, and retails them at from fourteen to fifteen pounds, if he can find flats to believe him they are as good as they can get elsewhere for twenty pounds. Very curious it is so, but I have known a tradesman of this kind sell more in a season than the whole three gun-makers in the same town in the same time. A certain portion of his warranty was correct, that they were as good as could be got elsewhere for twenty pounds. For the articles, as far as barrels and locks are concerned, are identically the same-for so content are the generality of gunmakers to live like the snail, not caring how the world goes, so long as his house is whole above his head, that rather than try either to improve their productions, or to meet the exigencies of the times, they are content to allow the trade to be injured, and a footing given to the inroads of rubbishingly manufactured articles, both to their own loss and the discredit of the profession generally. The enormous prices gentlemen have been charged for provincialmade guns, of the most inferior quality, has driven them to obtain still worse at a less cost; an honourable and tradesman-like method of conducting business will always be appreciated, and if a gun is required at a low figure, an honestly-made article might be furnished at a price to suit the customer, and of equal and mutual benefit to buyer and seller. No, but this will not do-high prices or no orders. This would do very well if nothing but high |