they were about to rob me, that the struggle on their part was undertaken purely in self-defence.

The man is now turning a wheel of a different kind to that of roulette, and one in which the feet are actively employed to give it a rotundary motion; his wife, or consort for the time being, as was elicited at the trial, has oakum substituted for pockets, to wile away her hours of captivity; and I have but little doubt that one or both would have been hanged, but for my having attracted the attention of a policeman who happened to be passing at the time I broke the window, and who fortunately heard my cry for help.

A. H. T.

HARRY KELLEY.

WHEN we witnessed the race for the Scullers' Prize at the Thames National Regatta in 1854, we had very little doubt that we had seen in the winner the then future Champion of the Thames. Events have since proved that our judgment was correct, and since that time, in the aquatic world at least, probably no name was ever more of a household word' than that of Harry Kelley. It is impossible for us, in the space at our command, even to recapitulate the struggles he has been engaged in, and the prizes he has won. In the annals of the Championship of the Thames, from its first institution, we do not hesitate to say that no one ever had to contend against such men as Kelley has been called upon to meet. It is true that Bob Coombes held the distinction of Champion for years almost without a challenge. He defeated, with comparative ease, all who ventured to try conclusions with him; but the quality of his opponents was anything but first class; and at last, although time had told upon him, and he was very inferior undoubtedly to what he once was, he was beaten by the first man he met with any pretensions to be considered a first-class performer. Bob Coombes, however, was like Kelley in this, that he could not sit down quietly under a defeat while there was a possibility of retrieving it; and in this they may both claim to contrast favourably with some others who quietly submitted to the first reverse, and preferred the more solid profits of business to the glories of true sport and the honour and fame of their native river. After Messenger's easy defeat by Kelley there was for some time no one to give him any more trouble. The matches with Buttle were a wretched fiasco, the latter having no chance whatever, although we doubt to any but a good general the sinuous course of the race would have been a difficulty. Mackinney was also nothing but an easy prey for Kelley. But soon there was to arise a man with whose name Kelley's will ever be associated. The great rivalry between North and South fairly culminated in the struggles between Kelley and Chambers. Never had North and South had two such champions. In the first race, as all the world knows,

L

Chambers was victorious, and that with ease. Kelley for the first time lost the lead at starting, got flurried, and was never able fairly to get into his swing. There was one thing, however, which he did not lose either then or since-his pluck; neither did he forfeit the confidence of his friends. Notwithstanding the result of the final contest, Mr. Charles Bush still stuck to his protégé, and it is greatly due to his generous and high-spirited support that the title of Champion was brought back once more to the banks of the Thames. Time went on-the title of Champion was held by a Tynesider, and not by a Son of the Thames; and this was a state of things not to be endured while Kelley had a pair of strong arms and a stout heart. Ever since his defeat he had taken great care of himself, and by constant practice had convinced his backers and himself that it was time to try conclusions once more with the Tynesider, and with a greater chance of success. They did meet again, and Kelley retrieved his laurels, beating Chambers as easily as Chambers had beaten him. That Chambers was not then the man he had once been, may be at once conceded; but neither had Kelley ever shown such a fine and matured style of rowing. And although Chambers had gone off, he was still good enough to beat a man like Cooper, as was shown immediately afterwards; so that at that time he was certainly second to no one but Kelley. With regard to Kelley's subsequent matches with Sadler, there is nothing very satisfactory, in one sense, to be said they were not carried out in a sportsmanlike spirit, and Kelley was not the one to blame. Sadler never had the smallest chance with him over the Championship course, as was abundantly proved. It then became a mere question how the money was to be saved; and accordingly the most unsportsmanlike proceedings were taken, and are now pending, to disturb the verdict of the Referee. Whether the Court of Appeal will decide according to law and justice has yet to be seen. If the verdict of the Queen's Bench is upheld, there is not a race which might not be fought in like manner. The only safe ground, and the ground supported by law, is this; that a referee's decision is final, as regards both law and fact, but even more emphatically so, if possible, with regard to the facts of a case, and the manner of exercising his discretion upon those facts. Might the Derby be indefinitely postponed because a horse refused to face the flag? It would have been well if Kelley had retired at this time without risking a defeat from a younger man. By all true sportsmen it was desired that he should meet Sadler again, to confirm the running; but as we have said, Kelley had done enough, and more than enough, to entitle him to rest upon his wellearned reputation, without entering the lists against a new man. Probably, however, for certain good reasons-and partly, too, because his pluck would not allow him to resign without a struggle, Kelley was induced to enter against the coming Champion, James Renforth, of the Tyne. We are glad this was not Kelley's last race. As everybody knows, his last contest was with Joseph Sadler; and although Kelley had but just been beaten, his pluck and form showed

that, if he must fail at last, it was not in the power of any one of such calibre as Sadler to effect such a result. In our opinion, Renforth is the finest sculler that England has ever produced, and that he could have given Kelley or Chambers, in their best day, a hundred yards start and a beating. No one before has ever put a boat along at such a pace as he can, and yet be able to stay. If he is ever beaten, it will be by time, or by some unfortunate fluke. England may well be proud of her present Champion. As to the relative merits of Kelley and Chambers, it is very difficult to speak with confidence. The men met when each was at his very best-Kelley, it is true, won the rubber; but we think, upon the whole, that the question, Which was the better man?' will never be conclusively decided. But however much North and South may dispute the matter, there is, in our opinion, no doubt whatever of this—that, take him for all in all, Harry Kelley is the best man the Thames ever produced.

YACHTING AND ROWING.

THE yachting season on the Thames has hitherto been somewhat monotonous, and doubtless agreeably so to Mr. Earle, who won the first three matches of the season, the Royal London, New Thames, and Royal Thames, with the Sphinx, which Mr. Maudslay must now regret parting with. The Royal London opened proceedings with a match for any rig over 30 tons, from Erith round the Nore and back. The entries consisted of the Cambria (Mr. Ashbury), Fiona (Mr. Boutcher), Muriel, a new cutter by Hatcher (Mr. Bridson), Sphinx (Mr. Earle), Volante (Mr. Maudslay), and Julia (Mr. Moss), but the latter, which has recently been altered from a yawl to a cutter, was not ready in time, and the Cambria might as well have been at anchor, as, owing to the absence of wind, she had no chance of showing herself to advantage. What there was came N.W., though it was very slow work down to Purfleet, where they caught a breeze which Muriel made the most of, but off Greenhithe, Sphinx weathered her and held the lead past Gravesend, followed by the Volante. Rounding off Southend, Fiona led Volante and Sphinx, Cambria last, but Mr. Boutcher gave up at Gravesend, owing to a mishap, and Volante got home first, Sphinx taking the chief prize, well within her time allowance. The New Thames had six entries for first-class cutters, and all started, the Fiona (Mr. E. Boutcher), Muriel (Mr. Bridson), Rosebud (Mr. Chamberlayne), and the course fixed upon was a new one, from Gravesend round the West Oaze Bucy and back; but owing to want of wind it was materially shortened, the small craft rounding above the Nore and the others just below Southend. What breeze there was came from N.W., and the small fry having been got away, the gun fired for the large class to start, with a mere puff to help them. It was little but a drifting match to Mucking, where the little Muriel was doing well, but in Sea Reach the Rosebud showed the way, though the breeze was so poor that each puff altered their positions, and the Sphinx rounded first, followed by Volante, Rosebud, Fiona, and Muriel. On the return voyage, Mr. Earle's clipper retained the lead, Volante next, but Muriel gained second honours by time allowance. In the second class Thought and Oberon were first home, but a protest was entered by the latter, and the affair was referred

to the committee. The harmony of the steamer was interrupted by collision with a screw bound outwards. It was a severe shock to the passengers, but fortunately nothing serious occurred from the contretemps.

The Royal Thames last-though not least of the trio-secured a capital entry for their cutter match-Erith to the Nore and back-Muriel, Fiona, Rosebud, Sphinx, Condor (Major Irving), Volante, and Menai. The wind was again very light, from N.E., and as the craft lay head to wind they started with mainsails set. Sphinx got her topsail up first, and balloon canvas was the order of the day, Fiona and Sphinx having apparently the best of it to Purfleet, where Muriel showed in front for a little; but at Grays the Sphinx led again until, off Tilburyness, Mr. Boutcher's vessel weathered her and had a short-lived advantage. Change upon change occurred until they rounded (a mile above the Nore) as follows: Fiona, Condor, Volante, Muriel, Sphinx, All set and Menai, with a bare twelve minutes between the first five. spinacres, and a very slow match resulted in Mr. Earle again taking first prize, Mr. Bridson getting second by time allowance.

Professional rowing is still at a discount, and there seems little chance of a revival of the halcyon days of a few years back, when Harry Kelley, whose likeness ornaments our title-page, contested with the Lion of the North for the proud title of primus ante omnes. The Northerner is dead after many victories, and of the Southerner we may say, with little hope of contradiction,

'We shall not look upon his like again.'

Amateur rowing, however, flourishes. As we suggested last month, the London Rowing Club have sent a friendly challenge to Harvard College, U. S., and as they offered to row eights, fours, pairs, and sculls, all or either in any We do not wish to hold the succession, something is bound to come of it.

O. U. B. C. responsible for the opinions of the local scribe who manifolds for London dailies, but the latter thought fit to dispute the right of the holders of the Grand Challenge Cup to represent English Champion rowing. So be it; but if they don't, who does?, We pause for a reply, and are likely to keep A correspondent in a on pausing if we wait for his satisfactory answer. contemporary efficiently disposed of his 'platform,' by showing that Oxford and Cambridge 'Varsity crews have frequently entered at Henley, and the last time they appeared they rowed splendidly and were beaten one after the However arranged, the coming other a few inches by the Londoners. American challenge is sure to lead to an exciting race. They have shown true British pluck in conceding coxswains, and by so doing deserve a victory we must admit ourselves too patriotic to quite wish them. Henley Regatta is fast coming on, and in spite of the marvellously idiotic propositions brought forward by the Committee, will probably be a successful meeting. We are not at present disposed to be discursive, or might enlarge on the attempts to ruin the prestige of the Wyfold, or the Hanwellish limitation of the dead weight a coxswain might carry to bring him up to the required standard of bigness. The Grand Challenge will secure the head boats from Universities, Oxford being represented by University College, and Cambridge by 1st Trinity; 1st Kingston we hope to see, though they are not doing much work at present. Of the College crews University will probably prove better than Cambridge, but neither will, we think, come up to London, who at present bid fair to hold the trophy another year. The stewards will, we fancy, lie between the holders and the Oxford four who are practising for the American VOL. XVI.-NO.

II2.

match; both are fine crews, and it is anybody's race, so whichever are freshest after the Grand Challenge should win. The spell which Surbiton holds over the Wyfold is mighty and mysterious, and as we at present know nothing of their antagonists we must decline an opinion. The goblets might almost have Long and Stout engraved on them beforehand, if they start, and in the sculls Long will be facile princeps. So much for Henley.

The Metropolitan Regatta ought this year to be a success, for a change; and being fixed but a few days after Henley, crews have no excuse for not keeping in training, though we fear the fun of the last nights at the Lion will suffer in consequence. Perhaps the latter evil might be averted by all crews vowing religiously not to train, but this we leave to competitors.

'OUR VAN.'

THE INVOICE.-May Meditations.

MAY, so dear to Royal Academicians, Chimney-Sweeps, and Chester-Cup lovers, may this year be said to have celebrated her long-talked-of union with December amidst a perfect storm of disapprobation, which, to use a penny-aliner's phrase, was with difficulty repressed. In truth, 'our sea-coal fires' have rarely been put out, Ulsters have taken the place of Zephyrs, and the feetwarmers in the railway carriages, which had gone into dock for the season, have been again put into commission, by a long-suffering and patient-enduring people. In the meantime Sport has been pursued under difficulties, but at the same time with scarcely the same amount of enthusiasm, as we witnessed in the Hastings era, which we suppose will always be designated as the Golden Age of the Turf. During the month the Racing Man has had a busy time of it, and has scarcely known where to rest his head, and to have enjoyed as much locomotion as The Guard of the Midland Express, for North and South have claimed him at the same time; and as he could not be simultaneously in the same place, he has been compelled to give one day to one racecourse and another to its rival. On Saturdays the Suburban Meetings or the Pigeon Club have claimed him, so he cannot be said to live upon the bread of idleness. And when we consider the excitement the Ring undergo, the distances they travel, and the risk they run in these days of railway collisions, the profit attached to their winnings must be said to be hardly earned. Chester was the first great rendezvous of the month, but it has sadly fallen off in its attractions since poor Leman Rede was wont to depict its features in the Sunday Times,' and when that newspaper always contained in the subsequent week at least half a column of matter, with a leaded heading, entitled 'Aspect of the Roodee on the Morning of the Race,' and which was greedily devoured by Sporting Licentious Victuallers.' Those were the days when Davis stood in the bar of the Northumberland Arms in Serle Street, and pencilled down the odds to thousands of pounds, to the undisguised admiration of idle apprentices, and footmen of a sporting turn of mind. Then you had to make a start for Chester the day before the sport commenced, for Specials were unknown, and velocipedes only considered as toys for pet Heirs Apparent. Then Mr. Baker, of Manchester, achieved great notoriety by riding express with the name of the winner to Manchester, where he was received as if he had been the popular candidate for the representation of that city; whereas if you are not particularly desirous of witnessing a score or so of horses

now,