the Cup is supported. The form which the manufacturers have given to it is that of the celebrated Warwick Vase. One side is occupied with a recumbent figure of "Old Father Thames," which is beautifully designed and chiselled. The handles, which also represent aquatic productions elegantly twined together, spring from heads typifying Thames and Isis; and the border which surrounds the upper edge of the Cup completes a classic treatment throughout, by being formed of the flowers and plants which adorn the noble River.

The Town Cup is scarcely inferior to the other in beauty of design. In this the figure of Thames is represented holding in each hand a garland of aquatic flowers, which is made to intersect the bulb or lower part of the Cup. Two swans are appropriately attached to the sides, their necks forming novel but very ingenious handles.-Both Cups were designed and executed by Makepiece and Co., Silversmiths, Lincoln's Inn, and do great credit to that firm.

At four o'clock the signal was given for the commencement of the various contests, which we shall describe in the order in which they were rowed, first informing our readers, however, that neither the Exeter nor the University Club boats of Oxford entered into competition.

FIRST HEAT FOR THE GRAND CUP.

The Oxford Etonian Club and the Brasenose College Crew, also of Oxford, contended in this heat. The names of the Gentlemen composing the crew are as follow:

ETONIAN CLUB.

Stroke Oar, S. E. Maberly, Christ Church.
No. 7...... P. L. Powys, Baliol.

6...... E. Boscawen, Christ Church.
5...... W. Rogers, Baliol.

4... W. J. Garnett, Christ Church.
3 ...... R. Elwes, Christ Church.
2...... S. H. Northcote, Baliol.
1...... J. Sealy, Merton.

Cockswain, E. Clayton, Christ Church.

BRAZENOSE.

Stroke Oar, G. Sandback.
No. 7...... J. C. Paxton.

6...... W. Lea.

5...... R. G. Walls.
4...... W. E. Buckley.
3...... G. Meynell.
2...... R. W. Lowry.

1 ...... J. W. Empson.
Cockswain, W. B. Garnett.

The Etonian crew were dressed in white guernseys, with pale blue facings; rosette, sky blue. Brazenose had blue striped guernseys, blue cap with gold tassel; rosette, yellow, purple, and crimson. The latter crew had the choice of station, and of course took the inside berth. The start in each heat was from the Island, and the distance rowed was down, through Henley Bridge, being one mile and about 600 yards.

On the signal being given they went away in excellent order, and were oar and oar for half the distance, when the Etonian crew began to show a-head, and they ultimately won by about six boats' lengths.

SECOND HEAT FOR THE GRAND CUP.

The Wadham College (Oxford) and the Trinity Club (Cambridge) were engaged in this heat.

The Oxford Gentlemen were thus attired :-White guernsey, with

narrow blue stripes, dark blue cap, with light blue velvet band, and light blue scarf. The Cambridge wore blue striped guernseys; rosette,

French blue.

The toss for choice of station was won by Oxford. This contest proved far superior to the first. Oar and oar was the order of rowing down to Phyllis Court Point, where Cambridge shewed rather a-head, but were not sufficiently in advance as to lead their friends to suppose for one moment that the race was safe. The struggle on both sides was kept up in the most manly and determined manner, and excited the utmost interest. Cambridge, however, succeeded in reaching the goal first, the Oxonians being so close upon them at the finish that their boat nearly touched that of their opponents. Both crews were apparently much distressed.

OARS MATCH BY THE LONDON WATERMEN.

The Leander Gentlemen, with that liberality which has so frequently distinguished them, set on foot a subscription for an Oars Match among the London watermen, and £12 being quickly collected, the following men took their stations at the Bridge, to row thence up to the Island and back :

Barrow and his partner took the lead at starting, followed by Williams and Pyner; but the others soon overhauled them, and at the Point went in advance. It was a pretty close contest up to the Island, but in returning Phelps and his coadjutor had it all their own way, and won cleverly, Williams and Pyner being second, and the others many boats' lengths astern. Williams stated that he broke his thoul shortly after starting.

CONTEST FOR THE TOWN CHALLENGE CUP.

The Match by the Town crews had long been the subject of much interest and speculation among the residents at Henley; each had their favorites. The Albion Club was, we heard, formed expressly for this contest, and, although they had not had a great deal of practice, many freely backed them. They came to their stations at the Island as follows, to row to the Bridge

The race was admirably contested, and afforded the utmost gratification to the vast assemblage of spectators. At starting the Dreadnought went away with the lead, followed by the Albion; and when about a third of the distance was rowed, the former gave way to the latter. At the Point, however, the Wave came out and headed the others, which position she held the remaining distance. The contest between the Albion and Dreadnought was so close a one that the Umpire declared it to be a dead heat between these two boats, which were excellently well up with the winning cutter at the finish.

FINAL HEAT FOR THE GRAND CUP.

The Etonian Oxford boat and the Trinity of Cambridge, as the winners of the first and second heats for the 100 guineas Challenge Cup, being entitled to contend in the third or grand heat, they came to their stations at the Island shortly after seven o'clock. It would be impossible to describe the interest which this final struggle excited in the minds of the University Gentlemen, hundreds of whom started over to the meadows in order to follow the boats throughout their course. From the fact of the second heat having been rowed in less time than the first, many of the Oxonians conceived the Etonian crew would come off victorious, but the general betting was 5 to 4 on Cambridge. The heat proved one of the best and severest ever witnessed. Cambridge had the inside station, and, after much caution was displayed on both sides that neither should have the advantage of the other on starting, they went away in a most gallant and determined style, the partisans of each cheering them in almost deafening shouts as they proceeded. Down to the Point each had alternately the lead, but it was so trifling that they may be considered as oar and oar. Shortly afterwards, however, Cambridge evidently had the lead, but their opponents were so very close to them that many considered that the Oxonians would eventually prove triumphant. By great exertion, however, and after a tremendous struggle the Cantabs were declared the victors by half a boat's length. This heat was so beautifully contested throughout that the London Gents declared that they would go fifty miles to witness such another. The distance was rowed by the winners in eight minutes and about thirty seconds. Both crews were evidently "baked at the conclusion.

Brazenose appeared to us to be the heavier crew, but for size and height perhaps the Wadham had the preference. For strength the Trinity had the lead; but for uniformity of appearance and equality of seat and stroke we should say the Etonian carried off the palm; decidedly, however, the Trinity shewed more muscle, more iron, more devil. Had not the Etonian crew taken so great an affection for the Henley shore, we think it would have puzzled the Umpire to have named the winner.

At the conclusion of the Regatta the Cambridge Gentlemen attended in the Committee Room, and received the 100 guineas Cup, they first having signed a document binding themselves to return the same to the Stewards on the annual entrance day, the 25th of May 1840. Each of the crew also received a handsome Silver Medal, round which was inscribed "Grand Challenge Cup Prize Medal," the Cup in bold relief, and admirably executed, being in the centre. On the reverse were the words " Henley Regatta, established 1839,” and a wreath of aquatic flowers.

The Wave crew also received the Town Cup and Medals, and the winners in both contests were complimented on their victory.

The Committee expressed themselves deeply indebted to Mr. Bishop and the rest of the Leander Gentlemen for their exertions throughout the day.

In the evening there was a splendid display of fire-works on the River.

We cannot conclude our account without expressing our admiration at the manner in which the whole arrangements were carried out by the Committee of Management. No Regatta, in fact, could have given greater satisfaction; and, as it may now be considered to be fairly established, we trust that it will continue to flourish for a long series of years.

CHAPTERS ON THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH TURF,

FROM ITS EARLIEST COMMENCEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.

СНАР TER I I.

All Evidence wanting as to the Progress of the Turf during the Reigns of James the First, Charles the First, as also during the Protectorate of Cromwell-Place and the White Turk-Errors of the "Library of Useful Knowledge" respecting the Race-horse-Definition of a thoroughbred Horse-Authentic Pedigrees go back to the Reign of Charles the Second-Pedigrees of Old Wyndham, Bald Galloway, Basto, Flying Childers-Palace at Newmarket-The Royal Mares and their Produce-Celebrated Foreign Horses of the same day.

We need scarcely observe that all evidence is wanting as to the progress of breeding for the Turf during the reigns of James and Charles, the first of their name, as well as during the Protectorate of Cromwell. In Place, however, who was master of the stud, probably what we should term stud-groom, to the Lord Protector, we recognise a name which is intimately connected with the earliest authentic pedigrees. There is a tradition that the famous White Turk was concealed in a vault by Place during the confusion that took place in the establishment of the Lord Protector immediately after the Restoration. Another edition of the story is, that the Coffin Mare was also thus secreted. As she was a grandaughter of the White Turk, she must have been a foal at the time, as we shall presently shew that the Turk survived the decease of Cromwell about twenty years. There is no improbability as to his having been so concealed, for Place appears eventually to have secured this stallion as his own. Both horse and mare attained great celebrity in after-days.

The account of Place's White Turk in "the Treatise on the Horse," contained in the Library of Useful Knowledge, is incorrect as to the period during which that horse flourished; and though we consider the book in question a very superior one, yet a want of technical knowledge of the Turf is apparent whenever the race-horse is mentioned in its pages. The following is the passage alluded to:-"A South-eastern horse was afterwards brought into England, and purchased by James (the First) of Mr. Place, who was afterwards stud-master or groom to Oliver Cromwell. This beautiful animal was called the White Turk, and his name and that of his keeper will be long remembered. Shortly afterwards appeared the Hemsley Turk, introduced by Villiers, First Duke of Buckingham. He was followed by Fairfax's Morocco Barb," &c.

That Place's White Turk is among the earliest of the authenticated progenitors of the English Race-horse we candidly admit; but if we

find the daughter of another horse put to him, we must allow that horse to have been his cotemporary, if not his predecessor, in the stud. That this was the case we find from the pedigree of Old Wyndham, who was foaled shortly after the year 1700. Wyndham was by Old Hautboy (bred between the D'Arcy White Turk and a Royal, i. e. a Barbary Mare), dam by the Selaby Turk, grandam by Bustler, son of the Helmsley Turk, great grandam by Place's White Turk out of a daughter of Dodsworth *. The age of this last horse we cannot exactly determine, but we can very closely approximate to it: he was begotten in Barbary, and foaled in England, and his dam, after the death of Charles the Second, was sold for forty guineas, being then twenty years old. Thus, being only twenty in 1685, her son Dodsworth could scarcely have been more than fifteen, and his daughter, the ancestress of Wyndham, more than ten or twelve at the most, and therefore Place's White Turk must have been alive and in vigor between 1675 and 1680. As Oliver Cromwell died in September 1658, the White Turk could not then have been an old horse, certainly could not have been the property of James the First, who died in 1625. That the Hemsley Turk was the property of Villiers, First Duke of Buckingham, is utterly impossible, that Nobleman having been assassinated in 1658. The name, Helmsley, sufficiently proves that he at one period at least belonged to Charles the Second Duke of Buckingham, who was the owner of Helmsley in the North Riding of Yorkshire, now called Duncombe Park, and the seat of the Lord Feversham. The dam of Dodsworth, which, as we have mentioned above, was sold after the death of Charles, was then in foal to the Helmsley Turk, and the produce was a mare called Vixen, from whom descended the famous horse Careless, son of Regulus, the property of Mr. Warren, of Stapleford in the county of Nottingham. Very little more is known of the Helmsley Turk, excepting that he was the sire of Mr. Place's stallion Bustler, and also of a stallion of the seventeenth century, known by the name of the " Royal Colt." This horse was out of a Royal Mare, and his name would strongly imply that he was foaled in the Royal Stud. If the account in the "Treatise on the Horse" be a correct one, the Helmsley Turk lived to the age of sixty, and retained his youthful energy.

We are the more anxious to trace this pedigree of Wyndham in all its branches, not only to set right the question as to the age of the celebrated Turk which boasted Oliver Cromwell for his master, but because it also tends to prove two other facts important to the subject; namely, that authentic pedigrees of thorough-bred horses actually go