until after passing the staging erected in the river off the West Middlesex Waterworks, when the Oxford crew, inch by inch, and stroke by stroke, reduced the remaining portion of the distance by which they were headed. In rounding the bend just below Chiswick Eyot they made a grand effort, and at length drew level with the Americans for the first time subsequently to leaving the starting-post, this happening just opposite the Old Ship Tavern, at Chiswick Lower Mall. When once the Oxonians were really level with the Harvard crew, the latter fell out of order in their rowing. At the foot of Chiswick Eyot the Oxford crew led by half a length, both boats keeping a good parallel course on the Surrey side of the river. Of a sudden the Harvard boat suddenly sheered in towards the Oxford boat, which held on in a perfectly straight direction. So close did the oars of the two crews come to each other, that for a moment there was considerable danger of a collision; but the bow-side oars of the Oxford being well ahead of the stroke-side oars of the Harvard boat, there was no contact, and all further danger was obviated by the American coxswain fetching his boat out towards midstream. Indeed, so determined did he appear to avoid touching, that he took his men unnecessarily wide, and, by throwing the boat slightly athwart the tide, lost them some ground. As soon as they had recovered their true course, the Harvard crew spurted, and for a moment appeared to hold way with the English crew; but as the effort died out, about the middle of Chiswick Eyot, the latter once more drew slowly away, the race being now safe. Off the upper end of the eyot the Oxford coxswain steered out in front of the Harvard boat, and skilfully threw the back-wash of his boat on to that of the Americans, which completed their discomfiture; and at Chiswick Church, reached in 13 min. 15 sec., Oxford led by one length and a trifle over. Nothing but an accident could then alter the fortunes of the day, for the Oxford crew, rowing with great precision, while the Americans were rapidly becoming unsteady and losing their compactness, increased their advantage at every stroke, leading by two lengths off the White Cottage, above Chiswick, and rather more at the Battering Creek, in the Duke of Devonshire's meadows, and further at Barnes railway-bridge, reached in 18 min. 4 sec. From the bridge upwards the Oxford crew still added to their lead. Just before reaching the Ship, a young man who was sculling a lady about in a gig rowed out suddenly from the Middlesex shore in front of the Oxford boat, so that in order to avoid running into her the Oxford coxswain was compelled to sheer his boat suddenly to the left, and as it was the bow-side oars of the crew just missed hitting the gig. By this contretemps Oxford lost at least a length; for by the time their boat was again straightened the Harvard four had come up a little. But notwithstanding this the former reached the Ship first, winners, by a length and a half, of one of the best-contested races ever rowed between Putney and Mortlake, and one equally honourable to victors and vanquished. The time of the race was 22 min. 41 sec. Oxford; and 22 min. 47 sec. Harvard, giving a difference of six seconds in favour of Oxford-as shown by Mr. J. W. Benson's chronograph, which was taken on board the umpire's boat at the special request of Mr. Blaikie, Secretary to the Harvard Club. It was at first supposed that the Oxford boat won by four lengths; but Sir Aubrey Paul, who officiated as judge, asserted that the Oxford crew only won by a length and a half; and the occupants of the judge's boat, to the number of three or four-including John Phelps, who acts as judge at the Oxford and Cambridge boatrace-all agreed that when the crews passed the flag an interval of half a length only separated the stern of the Oxford from the bow of the Harvard boat, but that the latter were rowing very wide of their opponents. The winners rowed in a boat built by J. and S. Salter, of Oxford; and the losers in one constructed at Putney by Elliott, of Green Point, United States, who came over with the Harvard crew. A dinner was given the same evening by Mr. Phillips, of Mortlake, to the two crews, to meet whom a large party had been invited. The competitors in the race were entertained, on the 30th, at the Crystal Palace, by the London Rowing Club. More than 100 gentlemen sat down. The room was gaily decorated with flags and other devices suitable to the occasion. The chair was occupied by Mr. James Layton, President of the Club. On his right were Messrs. Simmons (Harvard Boat Club), Mr. Charles Dickens, Mr. Fay (H. B. C.), Sir James Anderson (Captain of the Great Eastern steam-ship), Mr. Blaikie (Secretary of the H. B. C.), and others. On the chairman's left were Messrs. F. Willan (O. U. B. C.), Lyman, and Burnham (H. B. C.); Mr. T. Hughes, M.P.; Sir Aubrey Paul, and Messrs. Bass and Rice, who occupied seats in the Harvard crew when they first came to England. After the dinner, the guests left for a little time to witness the display of fireworks prepared for the occasion. They included two set pieces in honour of the crews. "" Harvard," in crimson letters, was the first set piece, to the right; and "Oxford," in dark blue, to the left; each word surrounded by a wreath, with crossed oars underneath. On returning to the dinner-table, the customary healths of the "Queen and Royal Family" were proposed by the chairman, succeeded by that of the "President of the United States." Mr. Charles Dickens, amid loud cheering, proposed the toast of the evening as an invited visitor of the London Rowing Club. With the toast he coupled the names of Mr. W. H. Simmons and Mr. F. Willan. Mr. Simmons, who was received with prolonged cheering, expressed his best thanks, on behalf of the crew as well as himself, for the honour done them, and for the kindness of the London Rowing Club, whose members had all vied with one another to advise and help the Americans in every possible way. The Harvard men came over under considerable difficulties, such as those of change of climate, different water, and different boats and steer ing. He trusted that if another crew came over to meet Oxford, the results of the experience of those who had gone before them would not be unserviceable. He had formed one of the unsuccessful crew, but from what he had seen of English oarsmen and English rowing, he felt that it was no disgrace to be beaten by the Oxford crew. Mr. F. Willan next rose and apologized for the absence of the other members of the winning crew, who, he said, all lived far away from London, and had to keep long-standing engagements. He had rowed, he said, many hard races from Putney to Mortlake, but none so hard as the match of Friday. The best thanks of the Oxford men were, he observed, due to Messrs. Warre and Morrison for their efforts to improve the crew in their rowing and in their physical condition. The company shortly afterwards broke up. 31. LETTER FROM MR. PEABODY.-Mr. Peabody addressed the following Letter to the Committee charged with the erection of his statue :: “Baltimore, August 31. "I have the honour to acknowledge your communication of the 28th of July, announcing the inauguration of Mr. Story's statue of myself near the Royal Exchange by the Prince of Wales, and I have to express to you, individually and collectively, my warmest and kindest thanks for the deep interest you have manifested in the undertaking from its very inception, and my gratification at learning that the assiduous attention which you have devoted to it has been so perfectly crowned with success. "The international character which was given to the ceremonies has been especially gratifying to me, as every thing has ever been which could tend to connect more closely the two great nations of England and the United States, both of them very dear to me, and never more so than at the present time. "I feel under the deepest obligations to the Prince of Wales for the cordiality with which he accepted your invitation, and for the graceful manner and kind expressions with which he accompanied the ceremonies of unveiling the statue; and it has given me great pleasure to learn that, on that occasion, my friend Mr. Motley, the American Minister, addressed, as I believe for the first time in public, an English audience. "And it has been a source of great satisfaction to me, that an eminent American sculptor should have so well performed the task you gave him, and that your choice has been sustained by the verdict of the London public, who have manifested so kind an interest and approval in the result. "I notice with much gratification, among the list of subscribers, that a large number of the working men of London aided the undertaking by their subscriptions. "I can but hope that the course of my life, now drawing towards its close, may justify, when finished, all the honours which have been so freely bestowed on me, of which this is one of the greatest; and I cannot more strongly express my feelings than to say, that I do not believe there could be found in the whole kingdom a man of any rank, however high, who would not feel honoured by such a noble testimonial as you have just dedicated to a humble American citizen. "With great respect, your friend and humble servant, SEPTEMBER. 13. WRECK OF THE "CARNATIC."-A terrible shipwreck befell one of the fine fleet of mail steamers of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, the "Carnatic," a powerful iron-built vessel of 1776 tons, which was totally lost, with about twenty-six of her people, off the Island of Shadwan, in the Gulf of Suez, this morning. The "Carnatic" had for some time been employed by the company on the service between Suez and Bombay, and Bombay and China. She left Suez for Bombay on Sunday, the 12th inst., under the charge of Captain P. B. Jones, R.N.R., commander, an old and experienced officer of the company. She carried twenty-two first-class passengers, twelve second, one native servant, and one child-in all, thirty-seven. She had a general cargo, shipped from the steamer "Venetian," from Liverpool, together with about 40,0007. in specie. A telegram of her departure was received at the company's office in Leadenhall-street, and the first they heard of the disaster to the ship was early on the 17th, when a relative of one of the passengers waited on the secretary with a telegram, reporting that the "Carnatic" was totally wrecked, and that his friends were to be telegraphed to that he was saved. Beyond this, no positive intelligence was received by the company till about noon, when the following came to hand from their superintendent at Suez: Pas "Suez, September 16, two a.m. "The Carnatic,' steamship, from Suez for Bombay, was totally wrecked of Shadwan at one a.m. on the 13th of September. sengers and crew landed on Shadwan, and arrived in the 'Sumatra' at Suez at two a.m., September 16, excepting five passengers and nine of the officers and crew, and fifteen natives. Mails, specie, cargo, and baggage 'went down in ship." After the receipt of the above, another was received: "Suez, September 16. "The 'Sumatra' arrived at two a.m. to-day. The 'Carnatic' a total wreck off Shadwan at one a.m., September 13. Passengers and crew landed on Shadwan, and arrived in 'Sumatra,' with the exception of the following, who are missing:-Captain Pope, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Cuppage, Mr. Pidding (Peninsular and Oriental Service), and Mr. Warren, Mr. Ransford (surgeon), Mr. Gardner (purser), Mr. M'Intosh (purser's clerk), Mr. Boque (chief engineer), Mr. Coll, Mr. M'Caw (fifth engineer), F. Ferguson (steward), Woods, Spratt, Harper, and fifteen natives. Mails, specie, cargo, and luggage went down in ship." The following account of the wreck was given by one of the passengers:: "The Carnatic' left Suez for Bombay on Sunday, the 12th inst., commanded by Captain Jones. By Sunday night, at half-past eleven, she had reached the island of Shadwan, the last of the group of islands at the bottom of the Gulf of Suez, where the broad part of the Red Sea commences. The sea was calm, and the night very starlight and clear, and the ship steaming at eleven and a half knots an hour, when she ran dead on to a well-known coral reef which fringes the island of Shadwan. The shock was not very violent, for she ran on to a slanting portion of the reef, her bows lifting right out of the water, and sliding so far up on to the bank, that she remained about evenly balanced on the edge of the reef, her forepart as far as the funnel resting on the coral, and her afterpart projecting, unsupported, over the deep water adjoining the bank. Her bows were thrown up at an angle of about twelve or fifteen degrees, and she was also leaning over to the starboard so much as to make it uncomfortable to walk upon her decks. The passengers, on rushing on deck, at once saw the long line of breakers stretching away on the right-hand for half a mile towards the island of Shadwan, and on the left hand for about 150 yards towards the Asiatic coast and the open channel; so that, had she been 200 yards more to the eastward, she would have passed in perfect safety. This reef is well known, and is passed at a safe distance by every steamer which travels up or down the Red Sea. The island of Shadwan was visible, apparently not a mile off, but, in reality, about four and a half miles distant, while behind was visible the island of Jubal, and the Ushruffi Lighthouse giving its cheerful rays. As the ship was making no water, and evidently in no immediate danger, the passengers dressed themselves, and, collecting together their valuables and a little hand-baggage, waited impatiently for the daylight. As soon as this appeared the situation was clearly apparent, and it was found that the reef was dry at low water, and had only three feet of water at high tide. At the same time, the wind had freshened considerably, and the ship, balanced on an uneven bed, bumped in a most uncomfortable manner from side to side. The disappointment of the passengers was very great when they were told they would not be put on shore, as they had all anticipated. They were, fortunately, only about thirty in number, of whom three were ladies and one was a little child, so that one boat would easily hold all. The crew commenced lightening the forepart of the ship by throwing over cargo, and endeavoured, fruitlessly, to pull her off the reef by putting out an anchor aft, which, however, would not hold in such |