A History of The First Trinity Boat Club

THE First Trinity Boat Club was founded in the year 1825. This booklet contains a brief outline of its history; it is published at the request of various past and present members of the Club. I warn my readers, however, that it is not and cannot be much more than a bare record of events which, though interesting to those who took part in them, are of singular sameness and of but little intrinsic importance; hence, those who read on must not be disappointed at the constant recurrence of similar statements about similar incidents. In the unlikely event of there being any profit from the sale of this book, it will be devoted to Club purposes.

The minute books of the Club now in its possession date from 1835. Some ten years ago I was told that a minute book earlier than 1835 was in existence, but I have been since assured that my informant was mistaken, and I fear we must take it that the earlier books are now lost or at any rate cannot be traced. The Club possesses, however, a few loose sheets, containing extracts from T.B.C. books and papers, on events in the years 1827 to 1834. It also possesses sets of its early laws, and a list, probably compiled in 1834, of its honorary members who had joined the Club in or before 1834 and the dates when they first joined it. The minute books contain full records of the proceedings of the Club in and after 1835, comments on Cambridge boating affairs, and, more often than not, memoranda of the minutes and decisions of the University Boat Club; in fact they constitute a frank history of the amusement as seen and judged by undergraduates, and are an interesting record of one aspect of College life. The Club also owns a book containing (inter alia) some lists of the orders in which boats started, and regulations and rulings of the C.U.B.C. about racing on the river from 1828 to 1837. The Club's account books date from 1829 but details of its expenditure are missing in many of them. The Club, in 1852, put all its papers at the disposal of J. F. Bateman, President of the Lady Margaret Boat Club, when he wrote his Aquatic Notes, so most of the information concerning rowing in general, as distinguished from the affairs of First Trinity, has been already published.

The statements made in the following pages rest generally on the authority of the Club minutes. These might be amplified and checked by reference to Bell's Life, and to the records of other clubs, but I take them as they stand: they are always optimistic on matters of opinion, but on matters of fact there can be no doubt of their accuracy. In documents extending over so many years it has of course occasionally happened that Secretaries have omitted to mention events which should be noticed in a history like this. Sometimes I have learnt of them from other sources and given the facts, though doubtless some are passed over in silence, and so far this sketch must be regarded as incomplete. Even, however, where materials exist, I dare not suppose that there are not inaccuracies due to the writer, and for these I must throw myself on the indulgence of my readers.

The minutes are necessarily disconnected, and I content myself with a chronological account of the salient features of the Club's history, and of rowing on the Cam not attempting to make a continuous story, which indeed would be an almost impossible task. Of the actual details of the hundreds of races chronicled in the books I say little or nothing. To those who took part in them such descriptions are of great interest, but their reproduction here would occupy too much space, and is the more unnecessary since the records are accessible to members of the T.B.C. who like to read the history of these many and hard-fought struggles. I note however each year the positions occupied at the end of the races by the T.B.C. boats, and I add also those occupied by the boats of the other Trinity Clubs. In the last chapter I summarize the results of various races.

Although the minute books of the Club prior to 1835 are not available, we possess an account of its origin in a letter by the late C. F. R. Baylay. This was published in the Field, January 28, 1882, and I here reproduce it.

Sir,- My attention having been drawn to a paper... in one of your contemporaries, I find it stated that what led to systematic rowing at Cambridge is not on record. I fear there are very few, if any, now surviving who took part in the first formation of boat clubs, and set races on the Cam....I will now as shortly as possible relate my experience. I went up to Cambridge in October, 1824. I soon found my way to the boat-houses, and I hired a canoe and sculled down to Baitsbite (no one ever stopped at Ditton). This was the usual distance, except when it was prolonged to Clayhithe. The resources of the "dockyards" were more considerable than the above writer supposes. There were two six-oars, and three or four four-oars, besides many other boats of smaller size. Before the end of the October Term, 1824, I joined a scratch crew and rowed to Ely and back, which, at that early date, was not considered an extraordinary feat. In the spring of 1824 four Trinity men, of whom I was one, used very frequently to hire a four-oar when we felt inclined for a row. Sometimes finding the boat we liked best engaged, we formed ourselves into a club, and hired a four-oar called the Shannon by the term. This was the first Cambridge Boat Club; We chose for our stroke a Westminster man of excellent form; but, unfortunately, sudden illness soon obliged him to quit Cambridge. So we took in another man, and I was elected stroke in his place. Rowing constantly together we easily beat any scratch crew we fell in with. This excited the emulation of some Johnians. They formed the next club, and brought up an eight-oar from Eton. What the writer says of its being cut into steps like the Great Harry, simply refers to a false overhanging stern, rising high at the after part, where the Flag staff was fixed; but this was only shipped on gala occasions, as, I presume, was the case at Eton. Otherwise the boat was like any other boat at that date. Snow was the stroke; the elder Selwyn, afterwards Margaret Professor, No. 7; and for a short time the Duke of Buccleuch, then an undergraduate at John's, was in the boat which was called the Lady Margaret. We managed to hold our own with her in the chance contests we had on the river, but we found that we could hardly expect to keep ahead of an eight-oar when the crew got to work better together. Our club therefore determined to increase its numbers, and to build an eight. King, of Oxford, had a good reputation as a boat builder; so we commissioned him to build an eight-oar for us. She, as was the custom then, was built entirely of oak, and was very crank, but fast under a crew well together. We called her the King Edward III, and I took my place in her as stroke. Other Trinity men then formed a Club, and brought up an Eton ten-oar, the Monarch; but she was a failure, so they commissioned Searle, of Westminster, to build them an eight, which they also called the Monarch - Blofeld, an Eton man, being stroke. Some Westminsters also built a four-oar at Cambridge, and the Caius men a six-oar in London. Having got so far, the next step was to form a Cambridge University Boat Club, to have set races, and lay down rules for them. I may here mention that I started a subscription for making good gravel paths across the common to the boathouses, and obtained the mayor's leave to execute the work - a great comfort to all who had to cross the common. The races established by the U.B.C. were carried on through every term. So long as our crew remained together - i.e. till the October Term, 1827, when some honour men ceased to row - we kept our place as head of the river. The Lady Margaret always pressed us dangerously during the first half of the distance; after that we went away from them. Once, indeed, she did succeed in bumping us, but that was owing to an accident to one of our rowlocks. The next day we recovered our place. Such is the history of the earliest rowing at Cambridge, from the still vivid recollections of one who had a very large share in it, and who established the first boat club in the university. It will probably be interesting to Cantabs who are, or have been, boating men. It cannot be very long before an authentic record of these events will be impossible. The popularity of the university boat race is an undoubted fact, and perhaps you may think it well that the rise of systematic rowing on the Cam, which has culminated in these stirring contests with the sister university, should be preserved on the files of The Field, as a matter of interest and future reference.

Appended to this narrative is an account of our taking the King Edward III to Lincoln in the Easter vacation of 1827, extracted from a Lincoln and a Boston paper of that date. It is a nearly correct statement, but our pace was eight miles an hour, as we found by the milestones on the Witham bank.

As a hint to "training," I can confidently state that I was never in such hard and staying condition, as at the end of those six day's rowing, of nearly forty miles a day on the average.

The crew of the King Edward, on my leaving Cambridge, presented me with the standard used on gala occasions, such as the Boat Procession at the College backs, which I greatly value, and still possess. It is of purple silk, with the heraldic lion and three crowns - motto, Fama super aethera notus.

Lincoln. It seems by the Lincoln Mercury that no small degree of curiosity was excited in that city on Saturday and Sunday last, by the appearance in its river of a superb pleasure boat, announcing itself in golden letters as belonging to "Trinity College, Cambridge," and manned by nine young gentlemen of that College, in the full aquatic costume of straw hat, blue jacket, striped, trousers, &c. It was first supposed, but incorrectly, that the visit of Bishop Kaye to his cathedral had been the attraction in this case, as the young gentlemen, having attended divine service in the morning, shortly afterwards took their departure for Tattershall, on their way home. The vessel in which this very spirited expedition was conducted was an open row boat, very long and narrow, being about 42 feet by 3 or 4, evidently well adapted for speed, but more to be trusted upon the smooth waters of the Bedford Level, than upon the inconstant main; in this wherry, however, having descended the Cam and the Ouse to Lynn, the gallant crew crossed the estuary of the Wash on Friday last, over to the mouth of the Witham, with the assistance of a Lynn pilot engaged for the purpose. Passing through Boston, they arrived at Tattershall the same evening, the castle at which place belongs to Lord Fortescue, the father of one of the adventurers, and on the following day reached Lincoln, about eighteen miles further. The rumour of this singular arrival, and of the intended return on the following afternoon, was soon bruited, and to the unadventurous citizens of Lincoln seemed to partake not a little of the marvellous, for though they believe the existence of such a communication has never been doubted by geographers, yet a canoe of Sandwich Islanders could hardly have excited more astonishment, in a place, which, considering its position, is remarkably deficient in aquatic accomplishments, The subordination of the boat's crew to their commander, with their seamanlike movements, afforded great gratification, and augurs much for Cambridge discipline, against certain cavillers of our day. Having unmoored their vessel from the boathouse in Brayford, each took his seat, and in an instant hats and jackets were doffed, the eight oars were then elevated upright at the word of command, and at the next signal were cleaving the water, with the precision (as connoisseurs observed) of the "true man-of-war's stroke." In this fine style they made the circuit of Brayford, to the delight of the many hundreds assembled, and then shooting rapidly through the town, were soon out of sight, intending to spend the rest of the day at Tattershall on their way home. They reached Boston on Monday morning, and on Tuesday, between six and seven o'clock, they attempted to repass "the stormy firth"; but in consequence of very unfavourable weather, prudently returned again to port between eight and nine, and rowed away with more success on Wednesday....

Boston. On Friday last the inhabitants of this town were rather surprised by the arrival of a very handsome, neatly decorated eight-oared boat or wherry which had been that morning rowed over from Lynn by nine young collegians of Trinity College, Cambridge. The boat excited much attention, being peculiarly calculated for cutting its way through the waves. It measured forty-two feet in length, and only four in breadth. The "tight young watermen" were all dressed alike in blue jackets, striped trousers, and straw hats, with purple ribands. After taking refreshment, and lounging through some of the principal streets of the town, they again embarked on board their "trim-built wherry," and proceeded up the River Witham to Lincoln. The expertness and facility with which they plied at and feathered their oars, will be obvious from the fact, that they travelled the first mile, although rowing against a very powerful current, in about six minutes. From the rapidity of their progress, which certainly averaged nearly seven miles an hour, and their easy and elegant style, the task must have been scarcely more than agreeable. They excited much attention at Lincoln, from whence they returned to this port, yesterday morning.

From the above very interesting account of the rise of boat racing at Cambridge, it appears that Trinity men have still adhered to their original boat uniform, in spite of the changes of fashion and the vagaries of college tailors. The only alteration of importance that has been made is in the jacket, which no longer is cut in the nautical style, with brass buttons. The... oars of that date were painted all over, and the boats were made entirely of oak. Many generations of Cambridge men must have been exceedingly thankful for the gravel path across the common, without knowing the history of its existence, The only way to the boat-houses in those days was down Park Street. It will astonish modern boat-captains, and horrify them also, to hear that in the "dark ages" at Cambridge men only boated when they felt inclined, and the only attainable craft besides funnies, pair-oars, and randans, were a couple of six-oars and a few fours, and those of a pattern excessively primitive. Logan and King were the chief boat builders, and before 1826 the only races were scratch races, got up on the spur of the moment. - M.P.

A letter by Archdeacon Cust - formerly E. G. Peacock, one of the founders of the Lady Margaret Boat Club - gives some additional details. The following extract from it is taken from the History of Lady Margaret Boat Club by R. H. Forster and W. Harris, Cambridge, 1890.

I remember Baylay perfectly well as stroke of a capital four-oar which easily beat any other on the Cam, and I also well remember meeting that boat coming up below Ditton, as we went down for the first time in the old Lady Margaret, which had only arrived a day or two before. The Trinity crew looked at us with astonishment, An eight-oar on the Cam! Unheard of prodigy.... I don't think Baylay's letter quite gives full credit to Trench, who was really the sole proposer and starter of the eight-oared races at Cambridge. He persuaded us to start an eight-oar, and got up the Lady Margaret from Eton. She was far too short for a crew of men, though well enough for boys.

The origin of organized rowing at Cambridge was also described by Dean Merivale - likewise one of the original members of the Lady Margaret Club - in a speech at the University Boat Race dinner in April, 1881, as follows.

In the summer of 1826 there were only two eight-oars in our water, a Trinity boat and a Johnian, and the only idea of encounter they had was that each should go, as it were, casually down stream and lie in wait, one of them, I believe, sounding a bugle to intimate its whereabouts, when the other, coming up, would give chase, In the year 1827, this slender flotilla was increased by the accession of a Trinity ten-oar, and of two or three six-oars from other Colleges, and then the regular racing began. In the year 1828 most of the other Colleges manned their eights.

There is also a slight sketch of the introduction of eight-oared racing in The Portfolio, published in 1840, and edited by J. J. Smith, Tutor of Caius, from which I take the following account.

It is now only twelve years since the naval armaments of Cambridge consisted almost entirely of funnies and canoes, large fleets of which were wont...to glide down the stream.... At the period of which we speak...there might be found...a. two-oar or a four-oar; but there is not the vaguest tradition of an eight-oar having ever floated on the waters of the Cam up to that time....The idea was conceived simultaneously by a Trinity man and a Johnian.... The Johnians started in an old Eton boat of prodigious strength and weight...Such was the old "Lady Margaret," the venerable ancestress of a goodly line of daughters, who have inherited her title and improved upon her virtues. The Trinity crew adopted a wiser course under the direction of their Westminster captain, and had their boat built in London; which proved in every respect superior to its competitor. This was soon ascertained in the trials of strength which the rival crews extemporized between themselves; the Johnians rowed gaily down the river, their steerer equipped with a bugle, which he occasionally blew in order to intimate his whereabouts to the Trinity boat; which would by and by come up and give chase, and generally succeed in bumping or striking the stern of its gallant rival. - Such was the origin of boat racing at Cambridge. The example thus set by the boats of the two principal colleges was rapidly followed by several others, and the following year (1827) saw the organization of an University Boat Club, and the institution of regular and systematic racing.

It is unfortunate that the names of the two reputed founders of the sport are not given. I conjecture that the Johnian was the Hon. R. Le P. Trench who had been at Eton, but I am unable to identify the Trinity Westminster, though, in addition to the above account, allusions to him are made by Bateman and Baylay.

Doubtless boating as an amusement existed long before the formation of boat clubs, but until 1825 or thereabouts men made up a party, hired a boat, separated afterwards, and considered themselves as connected by no stronger tie than binds friends accustomed to enjoying amusement in one another's company. From the above accounts we may, however, take it that in 1825 a Trinity crew rowed regularly on the river, raced after the manner of those times, and ultimately organized themselves into a boat club.

Baylay makes it clear that First Trinity was not founded before the spring of 1825, and I think his language implies that it was founded before the summer of that year, though (probably) with only five members. At any rate he asserts definitely that the Club was formed before the Lady Margaret Boat Club, and since we know that the latter was founded in the Michaelmas Term,1825, this would show that the former club was established not later than that term. The foundation of First Trinity before that of the Lady Margaret Boat Club is corroborated by the fact that in 1827 T.B.C. was granted priority, in the initial order of the eight-oared boats when bumping races were introduced. On the other hand I find that in the Easter Term, 1846-7, the Club celebrated by a dinner "the completion of its twenty-first year." At first sight this would seem to indicate that it was then believed that the Club was not definitely constituted until 1826, though it is consistent, if the 21st academic year is meant, with its foundation in the Michaelmas Term, 1825; but the early books of the Club had been previously lost, so the date fixed for the coming of age has not much importance especially as Bateman of St John's writing in 1852 mentions "about. 1825" as the date of its foundation, and gives it priority to the Lady Margaret Club. No College, other than Trinity and St John's, formed a boat club before 1827.

The First Trinity Boat Club was, it is supposed, constituted with the title of the Trinity Boat Club, commonly shortened into T.B.C. Technically this remained its name until 1906, though for a long time it had been also generally known as First Trinity, and thus distinguished from the Second Trinity and Third Trinity Boat Clubs which were founded later. I use indifferently the terms First Trinity and T.B.C.

In the absence of definite records I am unable to speak with certainty as to the early constitution of the Club. It is however probable that at first it was composed of active members who formed the actual rowing crew, and perhaps a few additional members from whom substitutes were provided when any of the regular crew were temporarily absent. Usually the stroke of the boat was Captain, and in early days he and the Steerer shared the management of the boat, and were independent officers. Presumably the boats were bought by subscription, and the current expenses were divided amongst the members. The earliest set of rules we possess may be referred probably to the year 1828: they are printed at length in the next chapter. I have already said that the Club's account books go back to 1829, and in the next chapter I give a summary of the Club's finances at that time.

From Baylay's letter it would seem that the original uniform of the Club was substantially as it is at present. The flag he mentions is also of the same design as that still in use. The armorial shield used by the Club on its flags, boats, &c., is azure with three crowns, one and two, and in base a lion passant gardant or. This shield has no connection with the Black Prince or his Father. I conjecture that it was invented by the founders of the Club, who took the lion from the arms of England or of the College, and added the crowns of France, England, and Scotland, which are borne on the sceptre carried by Edward III in his statue on the Clock-Tower. The motto taken by the Club, Fama super aethera notus, is that painted after the name of Edward III on that Tower.

It has been the tradition of T.B.C. that the ten-oared Monarch, mentioned by Baylay and Merivale, was, like the King Edward, a T.B.C. boat. It will be noticed, however, that Baylay definitely asserts that it originally represented a separate Club, Blofeld being its stroke. This letter is the only first-hand evidence on the subject, and I accept it as indisputable. But if his statement means that the Monarch Club was at first entirely distinct from T.B.C., we must, I think, take it that its independent existence was very brief. At any rate in the Easter Term, 1826, Blofeld was elected a member of T.B.C., and I have do doubt that in the races in 1827 the Monarch represented T.B.C. This question is mentioned again in the next chapter. Other members of the Club elected in 1826 were G. B. P. Jenner, H. C. Singleton, L. Garland, J. Marriner, C. V. Worsley, W. H. R. Read, and R. Blane. It does not seem an unreasonable conjecture that these, with T. J. Blofeld, were members of the Monarch crew. Worsley's name does not appear in the College admission books, but notwithstanding this he may have been a member of the College. In October 1826, J. Corser and M. Smith were elected members. All the above became honorary members in or before 1834. Of those who were elected members before 1834, but ultimately resigned, we have, in general, no record, and even in the case of a few whose names are given we do not know for how long they had been members.

Baylay came up to Cambridge from Greenwich School in 1823, and graduated as B.A. in 1828. He alludes to a Westminster man who stroked the Shannon in the spring of 1825, and according to the custom of that day would have been the earliest Captain of the Club, and presumably was its founder. There is no evidence that Baylay rowed after June 1827. His name appears in the subscription list of 1828, but it does not appear in the lists of 1834 and 1835 of honorary (non-resident) members, and it may be supposed that he resigned, perhaps in 1827. T. J. Blofeld came up to Cambridge from Eton in 1824, graduated as B.A. in 1829, was Captain of the Club 1827-8, and in due course became an honorary member of it.

The racing contemplated, and which took place in 1825 and 1826, was of an informal character. Each steerer carried a bugle with which he intimated his whereabouts to any rival crew on the river, and challenged them to a race. One boat coming up behind another pursued it and tried to bump it. A steerer was not allowed under a penalty of a guinea to blow the bugle or permit his crew to race if any member of the crew did not wish it.

The introduction on the Cam of eights was due to the Lady Margaret Club. The boats were large cutters. In the extracts above given the King Edward III is said to have been about 42 feet long with a beam of 3 or 4 feet. The Lady Margaret was 38 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 26 inches deep. The Monarch was an old Eton ten-oar boat, but we do not know its dimensions. These boats had some sort of a framework which could be fixed in the stern and carried a pole and flag. The weight of the flag and its support must have been considerable, for it is said that on one occasion, the crew of a boat shifted them into the bows in order to balance a rather heavy cox. The substantial character of the boats is shown by the voyage of the King Edward III to Lynn and Boston. The oars had heavy square handles and narrow blades: members of the Club are no doubt familiar with the sculls of 1846 and 1847 which hang in the Club rooms, and are built in this style.

The boats were used for water parties on such days as they were not required for racing, and the Lady Margaret Club has preserved a list of the articles packed into its boat when starting for a picnic. It includes two kettles, nine plates, a table, nine cups, saucers, eggholders, four basins, four dishes, table-cloths, napkins, and other miscellaneous paraphernalia.

Chapter 2: 1827-1834

In 1827 the University Boat Club was established, and bumping races initiated. Until 1835 the history of First Trinity has to be reconstructed from disconnected sources, and its presentation in a connected form is not easy.

Before dealing with the racing, I would remind the reader that the Club possessed two boats, the ten-oared Monarch and the eight-oared King Edward. Thus twenty members were required to man the boats.

At least nine new members were elected in the Lent Term, 1827, namely, W. J. Aislabie, C. Q. Constable, J. Frere, H. J. Greene, C. P. Hamlyn, B. R. Heath, F. Rodd, W. J. Tayler, and L. Thompson. All these, in due course, became honorary members: possibly there were also others who ultimately resigned. These, together with those of the original members and those elected in 1826 who were still in residence, would suffice to man the boats.

I proceed next to describe the doings of the Club in the bumping races held on the Cam under the directions of the C.U.B.C.

First as to the racing course. At that time there was a lock at Chesterton about half-way between the present Pike and Eel Inn and the Railway Bridge, and another lock opposite the present Fort St George Inn. The boats started from the former lock and rowed up stream, the winning post being situated where the capstan of the existing grind-ferry to the First Trinity Boat House now stands. The figure is a map taken from one in possession of the Club showing the course. The starting posts were 90 feet apart. Immediately on starting, each boat had to steer across the river. In order to allow the crews to get well on their way, a bump was regarded as ineffective unless the boat bumped or passed had previously reached a stake known as the bumping post, which is indicated on the map; and in 1830 it was further decided that if a boat were bumped or passed before reaching this post the boat making the bump or passing the boat in front should lose one place. To claim a bump it was necessary to "change flags." I conjecture that a boat when racing carried a small flag, and on making a bump exchanged it for a large one.

From the beginning boats had a continuous history, and new boats, whether representing new clubs or not, were required to start at the bottom of those racing. At first, boats were put on and taken off somewhat capriciously. There was no limit to the number of boats that raced, and any crew who liked to hire a boat could row in the races. Thus, a few friends hired a boat, rowed as long as they liked, and, on one member or more getting tired of the amusement, broke up the association and disappeared from history. Boats, representing temporary clubs of this kind, were put on by Trinity crews at various times. In some books and charts the Trinity boats prior to 1831 have been mis-termed First Trinity, Second Trinity, &c. This is incorrect, for it is known that the Second Trinity Boat Club did not originate before 1831, and Third Trinity was founded in 1833. Hence before 1831 the adjectives First, Second, &c., must be taken to refer only to the order on the river. We can distinguish the T.B.C. boats, and it seems clear that the other boats represented temporary crews; accordingly I shall designate them as Trinity A, B, C, &c.

The records of the order of racing are contemporary, and we may take it that the published charts are accurate, as far as the top boats are concerned, save for the misleading numbers attached to the various Trinity boats. I ought, however, to add that the records for the lower boats sometimes differ slightly, and this is especially noticeable in the year 1838. In reading the early charts, it must be also remembered that occasionally the order of the boats was changed between the races in a manner unintelligible to us. I believe that in such cases crews rowed against one another on non-racing days, and changed places according to the results of these unofficial trials.

I had at one time thought of giving a chart of the races each year and following it by a comment on the doings of First Trinity as therein represented, but this would make the history of the Club unnecessarily prolix, and I content myself with a running commentary on its doings and such other matters connected with the racing as may appear to be of general interest.

The races commenced in 1827 - the first race taking place on February 26 - and were held three times a week during the Lent and Easter Terms, 15 races being held in the Lent Term, and 11 in the Easter Term.

It was arranged that on the first day the ten-oared Monarch should start at the head, and that the two eight-oared boats, the King Edward and the Lady Margaret, should come next in that order. These were followed by six-oared and four-oared boats; of these only one, from the Jesus Boat Club, started the first night, but four others representing Caius, St John's, Emmanuel, and Trinity Westminsters entered later. Macmichael writing in 1870 says that T.B.C. then owned a parchment chart showing the results of the races in 1827. This is now lost, but probably it was one of the authorities used in compiling the published charts recording the races of that year.

As a result of the racing during the Lent Term, the King Edward went head the first day, was bumped by the Monarch the second day, rebumped it the third day, rowed head for two days, was then bumped by the Monarch, but rebumped it the next day, and then rowed over head till the end of the races. In the 12th race, on March 24, the King Edward rowed with only 6 oars, but just succeeded in keeping its place as head. The Monarch had rowed head or second for the first 11 days, but was bumped on the 12th and 13th days. Thereupon the boat was taken off the river, though it appeared again temporarily for two evenings in the Easter Term. In fact experience showed that a ten-oared cutter was too unwieldy a craft for racing on the narrow waters of the Cam. In the Easter Term, the King Edward started head, was bumped by Lady Margaret in the sixth race, but regained its place the following evening, and rowed head until the last evening. On that evening, according to the charts and the T.B.C. memoranda, it also rowed overhead; but, since in November it started second, the fact cannot be said to be certain. Thus out of the 26 races held, the King Edward rowed or finished head 23 or 22 times and the Monarch twice. After the races there was a procession of boats bearing their flags, as indicated in Baylay's letter quoted above, and this remained the recognized custom until 1892.

Another Trinity crew (Trinity A) which took part in the races in 1827 was composed of Westminster men. They rowed in a four-oared, or perhaps six-oared boat. The boat was put on in the seventh race in the Lent Term, and at the end of the Easter Term was taken off, it being then last on the river. I think Baylay's statement that the crew built the boat must not be taken to mean that they owned it - probably it was hired for the races from some yard. Had it belonged to the crew it might have led to the organization of another Trinity Club with a continuous history.

At the end of the races in May, 1827, only six boats were on the river, and they finished in the order T.B.C., Lady Margaret (or vice versa), Caius, Emmanuel, Jesus, and Trinity A (Westminsters); the boats being designated, according to Cambridge custom, by the names of the Clubs to which they belonged.

In the following year, 1827-8, races were held twice a week, 6 being held in the Michaelmas Term, 9 in the Lent Term, and 8 in the Easter Term. Only four boats started in the Michaelmas Term, but later in the year Jesus, Caius, Magdalene, Trinity Hall, Corpus, and Peterhouse put on boats.

The new eight-oared Monarch was delivered in October and was used in the Michaelmas races. The Club has a note that the crew were drawn from the old Monarch boat and that the King Edward did not start in these races. In this term, T.B.C. started second, went head the first night, and rowed head for the rest of the term. Besides this, a Trinity Etonian boat, which we may call Trinity B, appeared on the third night of the races, though it was taken off at the end of the term. In the extant Club records there is mention of only one election this term, namely, of T. G. Gossip.

We have a memorandum issued by the crews at this time, to which I must now direct attention. It is obvious that the expense to a small club of providing new boats would prove very costly to its members. Accordingly the Club appealed to residents in the College for donations. The response was most gratifying; more than £100 was received from no less than 148 subscribers, including nearly all the resident Fellows. "The Crews," in a printed letter, dated March 12, 1828, thanked the College. "The money collected," they continued, " is sufficient completely to cover the expenses of one boat; and it is their intention to procure a second themselves, from the crew of which all vacancies in the first may in future be supplied." They justified their appeal for funds by saying that "there did not appear to be any other mode of permanently uniting the crews"; they emphasized the desirability of the existence of a firmly established club, owing to "the liability of private crews to be dissolved when the parties by which they are formed leave Cambridge"; and they reminded the College "that neither of the private boats" in the previous year "had been able to make up its full complement." In this interesting memorandum it will be noticed, first, that "the crews" write as being or representing the Club, second, that they speak of the desirability of "permanently" uniting the crews of the boats, and third, that they make it clear that the boats I have termed Trinity A and Trinity B were private ventures.

The "permanent union" of the crews took place, for in a letter, probably from the Secretary, dated March 11, 1828, of which a few sentences are extant, the writer says "an union has just taken place between the a Clubs of Trinity." If this letter, that by Baylay, and the above memorandum stood alone, we should conclude that the King Edward and Monarch Clubs were independent before this term, and now amalgamated. But this is impossible, for we have definite evidence that both boats belonged to T.B.C. early in the autumn of 1827, and there is no reason to think they did not do so throughout that year: in fact all the extant club notices of the early racing treat both the King Edward and the Monarch as T.B.C. boats. Baylay's letter makes it clear that the King Edward was a T.B.C. boat from its origin in 1825. The Monarch was bought in 1826: the only member of its crew whose name we know was elected a member of T.B.C. in 1826, but the other elections of that year would, with the previous members, provide crews for both boats, so this also tends to show that the Monarch was a T.B.C. boat from 1826, and probably from the time of its purchase. On the other hand the Club did not include all rowing members of the College, and in particular did not include the crews of the boats I have designated Trinity A and Trinity B.

I think we can reconcile all these statements if we suppose that the King Edward and the Monarch boats were each the property of its own crew and not of the Club. On this view the two crews formed two divisions of T.B.C. and no doubt, if each crew had purchased its own boat, it would to a large extent manage its own affairs independently of the other crew. If so, we cannot speak of either boat being the first or second of the Club, for they were separate, though both represented T.B.C. Such, I believe, was the constitution of the Club before 1828, but I give the facts and my readers can draw their own conclusions. It will be observed that Baylay speaks of his crew ordering the King Edward from King, and of the Monarch crew after the races in 1827 ordering a new eight-oared boat from Searle. The latter was in fact built by Rawlinson and Lyon: the cost was £80, and the bill (of which there is a copy in the Club memoranda) was made out to the Gentlemen of the Trinity Boat Club, but the individual members of the crew may have paid for it themselves, and I suspect they did so. The note that the Monarch crew in the Michaelmas Term 1827 was drawn from the Monarch crew of the previous academic year also suggests that the crews were independent, though as the King Edward was not rowing, the Monarch (which was the only T.B.C. boat. then racing) took its place and was not required to start at the bottom of the boats racing. Henceforth however we may take it that the two crews or divisions were amalgamated and that, a crew was selected from any members of the Club available. Thus the constitution of the Club was put on its present basis.

The earliest extant rules of the Club were printed in 1827 or 1828 - I suspect in the Lent Term, 1828, at the same time as these changes were made. I give these rules in full:

That this Club be called the Trinity Boat Club and be limited to 20 Members, exclusive of Steerers.
That no Member of any College except Trinity can on any account, or in any way, belong to this Club.
That since this Club has been established solely for the purpose of rowing, no Member will be obliged to attend at any other meetings but those regularly appointed by the Club for rowing or settling their affairs, and that no public meetings of the Club be held for Breakfasts, Dinners, or Suppers.
That a Committee of five Members be appointed each term for the management of the affairs of the Club; and that the Captain, Steerer, Treasurer and Secretary, be Members of this Committee; and, in case there be a second boat, its Captain and Steerer shall be additional Members of this Committee.
That the rowing shall commence each term on the day appointed for the men to be in residence, and shall continue till the end of the term, except in case of any examination.
That a general meeting be held every term on the Sunday after lectures begin; and that due notice of such meeting be given to each Member of the Club by the Secretary.
That each Member of the Committee be obliged to attend at every general meeting, under the penalty of two shillings and sixpence, unless he give the Secretary previous notice of non-attendance; and such Members as absent themselves shall abide by the decisions of those present; and that the Secretary shall give twelve hours' notice of a general meeting to each Member, previous to the assembling of such meeting.
That all questions concerning the enacting of laws, the choice or alteration of rowing dress, increasing or diminishing the subscription, the election of new Members, or the expulsion of any one, and the appointment of the Committee, shall require a general meeting for decision; and that all other business whatsoever be entrusted to the Committee, to be settled at their discretion.
That the admission money of each Member be £4 - due immediately after his election, and £2 more, due at the commencement of the following term.
That the subscription of each Member be five shillings a term, due on the first day of the term.
That any Member not present at the boat-house at a quarter past one when the racing commences at a quarter past two, or at a quarter past six when the racing commences at half past seven, shall pay on racing days the sum of two shillings and sixpence, unless some unavoidable circumstance should prevent him from coming, and in that case he shall give notice to the stroke of the boat before nine o'clock on that morning.
That any Member not arriving at the boat-house within a quarter of an hour after the time appointed for meeting, on non-racing days, be fined one shilling.
That the fines for non-attendance can by no means be remitted except in the case of any Member having an exeat, absit, or aegrotat, or having been prevented from attending by some law of the College or University.
That every Member provide himself with the several articles of uniform chosen by the Club, and shall appear in such uniform on each racing day, under the penalty of five shillings each time.
That any person except the Captain or Steerer giving orders or speaking in the boat on a racing day, or on any other day after silence has been called, be fined at the discretion of the Captain any sum not exceeding two shillings and sixpence.
That all fines be paid within a week after they are incurred, and that in case of any Member obstinately refusing to pay his fine, he be dismissed the Club.
That the Treasurer keep a regular debtor and creditor account of all monies entrusted to him, and that his books, as also those of the Secretary, be open for the inspection of any Member of the Club at every general meeting, and that the accounts be audited at the end of every term.
That any Member intending to propose a candidate for admission, shall give notice of such intention to the Captain, who shall acquaint each Member of it, at least a week before the Candidate be proposed.
That any person wishing to become a Member of this Club, be proposed and balloted for in a general meeting, and that four black balls exclude.
That any Member intending to leave the Club, be required to give one calendar month's notice of his intention, or pay a forfeit of one pound, and that immediately after he shall have given notice of his intention to resign, his place shall be open for a new election.
That the command and direction of the boat be entirely entrusted to the Captain, and under his direction to the Steerer, and that a Captain pro tempore, in the absence of the regular Captain, be appointed before the crew set out.
That the Committee shall have the power of offering an oar on a racing day, to a Trinity man who is not a Member of this Club, in preference to an existing Member.
That every Member be subject to the authority of the Committee in all rowing matters; and that if any Member be considered to have infringed the laws of the Club, his case shall be submitted to a general meeting, which shall decide whether he shall be expelled or not.

The uniform of the Club in 1827 is described in Baylay's letter. In this year, 1828, the Club directed - see rule 14 supra - "the Club" (query Crew) "of the first Boat to go down every day in uniform, the ditto of the second Boat to please themselves. The Crew of the first Boat to wear the Britannia striped shirts." Shirts of this pattern continued to be worn in the boat procession till 1857 but after 1837 jerseys were used when racing.

After this long digression I return to the racing in the spring of 1828. During the Lent and Easter Terms the T.B.C. first boat and the Lady Margaret boat changed places more than once, but at the end of May the former went down to the fourth place. In the Easter term, the custom was introduced of the boats rowing down to the start in procession, in their proper order, and with their flags flying. Another Trinity boat appeared in the races after Easter, but was taken off at the end of the term. Having regard to the circular of March 12, I suppose this should be regarded as a T.B.C. second boat. At the close of the races, the first six boats were Lady Margaret, Caius, Jesus, T.B.C., Trinity Hall, and T.B.C. 2nd.

The order for the new boat for which general subscriptions had been raised in the College was given to Rawlinson and Lyon in the course of the summer. The cost, with two sets of oars, was £94. 10s. It was named the King Edward, but did not prove a success, and ultimately after a good deal of correspondence was taken back by the builders, who allowed £60 for it, and built a new boat for the Club in its place.

Next year, 1828-9, races were again held in each of the three terms, 6 in the Michaelmas Term, 11 in the Lent Term, and 7 in the Easter Term. The boat used by First Trinity in the Michaelmas Term is described in the Treasurer's books as the "black boat": from the references given below (pp. 43, 50) it would seem that the T.B.C. boats were at first painted black.

The records of the Club in 1829 are somewhat confused. At the beginning of the Lent Term acute differences of opinion arose in T.B.C. and some members left it. We have quotations from letters on the subject, but nothing to show the cause of the quarrel. The seceders included F. G. Lugard, H. A. Pitman, and C. Warren.

This dispute crippled the Club for the time being. No second boat of the Club appeared again until 1832, and even the first boat did not row in the earliest two races this term. Save on these two occasions, and on June 7, 1902, the Club has never withdrawn its boat from the river, and its records, like those of the Lady Margaret Club, have been continuous. It may be added that its first boat has never been lower than sixth on the river.

The members who left T.B.C. formed a new Club, which I designate Trinity C. They put a boat on the river in the Lent Term, and at the close of the races in May it was second. In some of the early charts the Club is called the Trinity Independent, and in others the Trinity Privateer. From a paper among those alluded to in the last chapter, entitled Extracts from T.B.C. books, we learn that the "Trinity Independent 1 Lent, 1829" arose from "a split... in the Trinity Boat Club," that "it took the name of Privateer the year after 1 Lent, 1830," and "lasted out the year." Its captain was C. Warren, who rowed in the University Boat of 1829 and it seems to have comprised some good oars. The boat was taken off at the end of May, 1830. In explanation of the name Privateer, it is perhaps well to remind the reader that at this time it was customary to designate Clubs by the names of the boats used. Thus T.B.C. is termed indifferently the Monarch Club, the King Edward Club, or the Black Prince Club, just as the Johnian Club was and is still described as the Lady Margaret Club.

A novel point was raised in these races. Trinity Hall and Caius had separate boats on the river in the Lent Term, Caius being the higher. In the Easter Term they entered a combined crew, who claimed to row in the position of the Caius boat. It was decided, May 9, 1829, that the new combination must be considered to be a new Club, and thus its boat could not take the place of either the Hall or the Caius boat; consequently it had to start at the bottom of . the river, but, as the Hall and Caius Clubs remained distinct, both boat captains were allowed to attend meetings of the C.U.B.C.

At the end of the races, May, 1829, the first six boats were in the order Lady Margaret, Trinity C, T.B.C., Corpus, Jesus, and a combination boat from Magdalene and Christ's.

This year, 1829, the C.U.B.C. challenged Oxford "to make up a University match." The race took place at Henley in June. Oxford won. The boat used by the Cambridge crew is said to have been good to look at but bad to go. The T.B.C. representatives in the crew were A. B. E. Holdsworth, T. Entwistle, and B. R. Heath (cox). The boat was painted pink; and the crew wore white trousers and shirts with pink sashes, on which is based the current statement that the earliest University colour was pink. The Oxford boat was painted green, the crew wore white trousers and jerseys with black sashes and black hats. Seven years elapsed before the next inter-university race took place.

The earliest book relating to T.B.C. now in its possession is an account book for the years 1829-1831. From this book we learn that in February, 1829, there were in the Club 13 members and one steerer; there were also a few honorary members, and perhaps one or two non-rowing members. In February, 1830, there were 13 contributing members and one steerer. In the Lent Term 1831, there were in residence 17 members (of whom 3 were honorary) and one steerer. The C.U.B.C. required the coxswain to be a member of the Club represented; hence in these years T.B.C. had only one boat on the river.

On the authority of this book it appears that the T.B.C. boats were housed by King, but that the Club employed Logan to clean them. King's boat-yard was on the site of the present Emmanuel Boat House. From these accounts we learn that in 1829 the Club acquired a new boat called the Monarch built by King at a cost of £55. It seems also that in 1831 the members had another boat, called the Black Prince, built for them by Rawlinson and Lyon, apparently at a cost of £62. 10s. 0d. Since then the boat used by the first crew has generally (though not invariably) borne this name.

From an analysis of the accounts I find that the average receipts of the Club from 1829 to 1831 were £60. 3s. 6d. a year. When we turn to the expenses I find that the cost of housing "the two boats" was £10, and the average annual cost of oars, and small repairs, came to £10; petty expenses - such as fees for opening locks, cushions for the boat, yard-boys for steering, and ale consumed by the crews - to rather under £2; the tax to the C.U.B.C. to about £2; thus leaving a fair margin for extraordinary expenses.

In 1829-30 and subsequently the bumping races were confined to the Lent and Easter Terms. This year there were 7 in each term. At the end of the races, First Trinity was head, and the next five boats were in the order Lady Margaret, Trinity C, The Corsair, Jesus, and Lady Margaret 2. The Corsair was a Johnian Club; the crew used the boat in which the University had rowed against Oxford in 1829. After the races, instead of a procession, the eights rowed to Ely and dined together.

In consequence of the increased number of boats taking part in the races, new regulations were drawn up in 1831. By these regulations 11 boats started on the Chesterton side of the river from posts 20 yards apart, the ropes attached to each post being 10 yards long. The rest of the boats started from the Barnwell side. If the number of racing boats exceeded 12, the last boat started from the lock with a rope 3 yards long. All other boats on the Barnwell side started with ropes 15 yards long. If more than 13 crews wished to race, the boats on the Barnwell side were started as soon as the middle of the 11th boat was opposite the bows of the 12th.

In 1831 there were 5 races in the Lent Term, and 9 in the Easter Term. T.B.C. finished head seven times, second six times, and third once, ending head.

Two other Trinity boats appeared in these races. One a short-lived experiment which I term Trinity D, appeared on the fourth day, but after six days' racing was taken off in the Easter Term. The other was a boat belonging to the Club ultimately known as Second Trinity [old] Club. It commenced its career in the Easter Term, and on the eighth day of the races achieved the distinction of bumping over five places, going from ninth to fourth on the river: a similar feat was performed by Third Trinity in 1837.

Second Trinity was originally called the Nautilus Club, but in 1833 the title was changed to the Queen Bess, from the name of the boat used. Most of the original crew were Simeonites, and the Club was popularly known as the Hallelujahs. In the T.B.C. books it is at first usually described as Reading Trinity - in fact throughout its history the Club had a close connection with the Scholars of the College - but it is also sometimes termed Second Trinity, and later, when the three Trinity Clubs were well established, the latter name is usually employed.

Whether this Club should be considered the same as the historic Second Trinity is doubtful. I had better depart from the chronological order and give the facts at once. The Nautilus or Queen Bess Club of 1831 continued to appear regularly in the races until 1838 when its boats (two in number) were taken off. But a boat of a Club called Second Trinity appeared again in 1840 starting at the bottom of the river. In the boat chart issued in 1842, and drawn up by F. C. Penrose of Magdalene, president of the C.U.B.C., this is called the "Second Trinity new Club"; also in the paper of Extracts from the T.B.C. books, alluded to on page 28, occurs the following paragraph. The Second Trinity, Queen Bess, "took off at the end of the year 1838 and did not appear again till.........when (curiously similar to the old Second Trinity which started in Easter 1832) it again sprung out of a boat called the Nautilus, alias Hallelujah, being a boat of Sims, which was not one of the racing boats; and which is the present Second Trinity, not one of the old Second Trinity being a member or even owning the connection." The construction of the sentence is open to criticism, but the meaning is clear, and if it be correct, the Second Trinity Club which came to an end in 1876 must date its origin from the year 1840. On the other hand it is certain that the original Second Trinity boat was popularly known as the Hallelujahs, and apparently was mainly recruited from Simeonites, so that at any rate the members of the new Club were drawn from the same set as those of the old Club, and on the river the name Second Trinity was applied to both Clubs.

It is not known in what colours the Queen Bess Club rowed, but in and after 1840 the uniform of Second Trinity consisted of flannel trousers, a shirt or zephyr, and a white flannel jacket or blazer edged with pink; the members wore a light blue ribbon on a pale speckled straw hat. In 1870 they changed their colours to black and dark blue. After a long and honourable history the Club was dissolved in 1876 as mentioned below.

An interesting point was raised in the races in 1831. The Pembroke crew desired to start with a coxswain from Corpus, but the C.U.B.C. decided (May 7) that such a boat must be regarded as a combination of two Colleges, and as such, being a new Club, must start at the bottom of the races.

At the close of the races, 1831, the first six boats were T.B.C, Lady Margaret, the Corsair or Tally-Ho of St John's, Second Trinity, Jesus, and Caius. After the races, First Trinity played the rest of the College at Cricket, and paid 24s for a tent on Parker's Piece in connection therewith. The match was an annual affair for several years.

In the Michaelmas Term, 1831, the Captains of the boats then on the river challenged the C.U.B.C. to a race. At the request of the Vice-Chancellor, who seems to have acted under a curious misapprehension as to the propriety of the affair, the contest did not take place that year, but explanations were given, and in 1832, and subsequently until 1848, the race was rowed in the Michaelmas Term, and to some extent served the purpose of University trial eights.

In 1832 there were 7 races in the Lent Term and 6 in the Easter Term. Throughout the year T.B.C. rowed head. At the end of the Lent Term, First Trinity was head of the river, and out of 108 races then held, it had been head 52 times. Proud of its success, the Club challenged the University Boat Club to a race. The challenge was accepted. The Trinity crew consisted of H. F. Broadwood, bow; P. Parker, 2; C. F. Partridge, 3; R. B. Cumming, 4; H. F. Carleton, 5; E. Carter, 6; C. Fosbrooke, 7; T. Entwistle, stroke; and C. Smith, cox. The race was rowed on April 7, and after a good contest, won by Trinity. The Club was presented with a flag to commemorate the event; this was in the possession of the Secretary as late as 1852. In the following year a similar race was arranged, but it fell through owing to a series of mishaps.

In the first race of the Easter Term the Club again entered on the river a second boat, described by the adjective cannibal. The crew rowed in a boat with the remarkable name of the Tobacco Pipes and Punch-bowls, and do not seem to have specially distinguished themselves. They did not row on the last night of the races, but the day before they were 12th out of 13 boats then racing.

"The name cannibal," according to the Magdalene Boat Club books, quoted by Bateman, "was given by the First Trinity to their second crew in 1832 because its captain Carlton was called Cannibal Carlton by his friends." H. F. Carleton (not Carlton) was an Etonian, an excellent oar, who rowed 5 in the first boat; a silhouette of him hangs in the Captain's room at the boathouse. Subsequently the name cannibal was commonly used on the river to designate any boat of a club except the first, but its use has now died out.

It seems probable that the limit of 20 as the maximum number of rowing members was now cancelled, and that henceforth the Club was open to all properly qualified members of the College, subject, of course, to election. We have no complete lists of members of this time, though in October 1832 there were not less than 14 contributing members in residence, and in February 1834 not less than 18, but there may have been, and probably were, more. In the Michaelmas Term, 1834, we have for the first time a complete list of members in residence. In this term, as mentioned in the next chapter, and in the Lent Term, 1835, there were 28 ordinary members besides some honorary active members. I think this change of policy in increasing the numbers must be referred to 1832, and perhaps should be associated with the name of Carleton.

Rowing must have been a popular amusement in the College this year, for, in addition to the two boats of T.B.C. and the boat of Second Trinity, two other Trinity crews, which we may designate Trinity E and Trinity F, appeared on the river in the Easter Term. They rowed in boats called respectively the Dick Haterick and the Adelaide. Both boats were taken off before the end of the Easter Term. At the end of the races, the first six boats were T.B.C., Clare, Lady Margaret, Queens', Jesus, and Christ's; the Second Trinity boat finished 7th.

In 1833 there were 5 races in the Lent Term, and 9 in the Easter Term. In the former term T.B.C. rowed head. In the latter term its first boat rowed head four nights, second three nights, and third two nights, ending third: the crew were ill with influenza towards the end of the races. The boat was called the Black Prince. First Trinity had two boats in these races, as also had Second Trinity.

On April 30 a new Trinity Club appeared on the river composed, it is believed, of Eton and Westminster men. They rowed in a boat called the Dolphin Boars built for six oars. The new Club may be considered to have been permanently established by 1835, when it is described as Third Trinity. There is however a break in its subsequent history for in March, 1836, it took its boats off the river and did not appear again till February 1837, when it started, like a new club at the bottom of the boats, but notwithstanding this, I take it that Third Trinity has had a continuous history since 1833. Presumably the Club colours in 1833 were much the same as at present.

It has been conjectured that the Dolphin Boars Club in 1833 was composed of freshmen, but nothing is really known about its constitution. Representatives of Eton and Westminster must have always formed an important section of the rowing community in Trinity. A Westminster boat had appeared in 1827, and an Eton boat in 1828, but with these exceptions, hitherto, most or all Trinity Etonians and Westminsters, if they wished to row, had joined First Trinity.

Probably the new Club was started by a few friends, and although it is supposed that it was confined to Etonians and Westminsters, it is certain that at first it was not intended to include all members of those schools. I do not know when it first became the custom or rule to regard old Etonians and Westminsters as ineligible for First Trinity, but it was not until much later. I have the authority of an Etonian, who took his degree in 1842, and was Secretary of T.B.C., for saying that in his time no custom or tradition of the kind existed, and that Etonians joined the one club or the other indifferently. It would even seem possible that a man might belong to both clubs. In the T.B.C. books in 1840 C. M. Vialls is alluded to as the Captain of Third Trinity, but he was also a member of First Trinity, though as far as I can find out he rowed only for Third Trinity. Again, in 1854 the stroke of the Third Trinity boat, H. R. M. Jones, temporarily joined T.B.C. and rowed in the club colours at Henley. I do not gather that this was regarded as in any way irregular, though by this time such a proceeding was unusual. I am inclined to conjecture that as old Etonians and Westminsters were accustomed to emphasize their school connections the Club gradually grew into one intended to include, and not merely confined to, all former members of those schools, and thus by a process of evolution such men were gradually regarded as ineligible for First Trinity.

At the end of the races in May, 1833, the first six boats were Christ's, Queens', T.B.C., Caius, Second Trinity, and Magdalene; the T.B.C. boats finishing 3rd and 14th, the Second Trinity boats 5th and 16th, and the Third Trinity boat 11th.

The extension of numbers of First Trinity, the foundation of Second Trinity and of Third Trinity, and the institution of second and other boats belonging to the Trinity Clubs gave all who desired it an opportunity of rowing in one of the recognized Clubs. After 1833, with one unimportant exception, no Trinity boats other than those of the three recognized clubs appeared on the river. Accordingly the history of Trinity rowing is much simplified.

In 1833 the subscriptions from the various Colleges to the C.U.B.C. were put on a definite basis, by the Clubs agreeing to pay for each boat racing 5s. a year, a sum which was afterwards raised to 10s., and in 1850 to 42s. Subsequently (1864) this was changed to a capitation tax, still later (1885) to a tax on the income of the Clubs, and quite recently (1907) to one on their expenditure.

The Club rules were amended and reprinted, probably in 1834, but perhaps as early as 1832. In this issue the rule placing a limit on the number of members was omitted, the entrance fee was reduced in the case of men in their seventh or higher term of residence, no subscription was required in the term in which the entrance fee, or part of it, was paid, and the offices of Secretary and Treasurer were directed to be combined as far as practicable. The offices were separated in 1844.

In 1834 there were 5 races in the Lent Term and 4 in the Easter Term. In the latter term so many boats desired to row that it became necessary to form two divisions - the top of the second division having the right (if it had rowed over) to challenge the last boat in the first division to a bye-race, and if successful to take its place. No less than 19 boats took part in the races, and it is clear that the amusement was now well established and popular.

An interesting point was raised in February by the Captain of Third Trinity. He asked whether, if the Club changed from a six-oared to an eight-oared boat, it would be required to start again at the bottom of the boats rowing. It was unanimously decided that a boat did not lose its place by changing the number of oars. Third Trinity went up a place every night.

First Trinity went head in the Lent Term, but was bumped on the last night of the races in the Easter Term. The T.B.C. boats finished 2nd and 14th. Of the other Trinity Clubs, Third Trinity finished head, and Second Trinity 3rd, the latter club's second boat rowed for one night only in the middle of these races. At the end of the races, the first six boats were Third Trinity, T.B.C., Second Trinity, Queens', Clare, and Christ's. In this year, 1834, Cambridge challenged Oxford to another race, but the match did not come off.

Chapter 3: 1834-1843

In the autumn of 1834 the Conservators of the Cam removed the locks and sluices at Chesterton and Fort St George. The change was hotly opposed by the boating men, but their resistance was belated and unsuccessful. The alteration caused a drop in the level of the water near Midsummer Common, and after some consideration the course was moved lower down the river to the position still used. At the same time the distance between the starting posts was extended to 140 feet, and the bumping post, no longer necessary, was abolished. The winning post was placed by the dyke which divides Stourbridge Common from the osier bed above the present Railway Bridge. All the boats rowed in one division, and they were started by gun-fire, somewhat as at present. The new course proved a decided improvement on that before used, and racing and rowing benefited by the change. A map of the course, in its present condition, is given below.

From this time until 1855 it may be taken that normally there were races in the Lent and Easter Terms every year, and that all the boats on the river rowed each term. In and after 1860, until 1887, the top boats rowed only in the Easter Term and the lower boats, if they rowed at all in that term, did not race every night. After 1887 the Lent and Easter Races were separated one from the other, and rowed under different regulations.

The books of the Club give us a continuous record of its affairs from the end of 1834 onward, and hereafter when sentences are put in inverted commas they are taken from the minute-books unless any other authority is given.

In the Michaelmas Term, 1834, 28 contributing members were in residence. This term the Club decided to move to Layton's yard, and its boats, the Black Prince and King Edward, were moved there in the course of the Christmas vacation. within three months Layton sold the business to Cross, and for some years the place was usually known as Cross's Upper Yard. The Club used this boathouse until the end of 1844. I am informed that it was on a portion of the site now occupied by Foster, and a few yards higher up the river than the Club's present house.

At the end of 1834 the Club determined to have a new boat built. Estimates were sent in by Lyon, King, Logan, and Searle. The contract was given to the latter. According to the agreement the boat was to be 47¹/₂ feet long, of best English oak, to be painted black outside, and green inside, with gilt beadings and lines inside and out. The Club was to have the use of the boat from February 1835 until June 1837 in consideration of the sum of £60. There is a memorandum that the boat was launched on Friday, February 20th, and was named the King Edward.

As I am dealing with boats I may note that only a few months later the Club directed Logan to build a new eight-oared cutter on the same lines at a cost of £70, and within less than a year another new deal boat, also called the Black Prince, 49 feet long, was built at a cost of £50; it was not satisfactory, and was replaced later by an oak boat for £70. But now that I have traced the early history of the Club I need not concern myself further with the regular provision of new boats. It may be worth adding that the boats were provided with cushions to which there are constant references in the minutes and accounts: for instance we read October 29, 1835, "Received, £1. 4s. 0d. from the Third Trinity Boat Club for our new set of green cushions as the Club intend keeping to the old pattern."

The rules were again overhauled in February 1835. The entrance fee now appears as £4 (instead of £6) for freshmen and junior sophs, but less for senior men, and the subscription was raised to 10s. a term for members subsequently elected. In 1835 the income and expenses were about £120. By 1840 the totals did not fall far short of £200. For the purchase of new boats special subscriptions were usually opened. Those who had paid a certain number of subscriptions (probably for not less than 10 or more than 20 terms) were generally elected honorary members, and commonly a few of these were in residence and rowing.

The numbers of contributing members varied in the different terms, usually being greatest in the Michaelmas Term and least in the Easter Term. On the other hand in the Lent and Easter Terms more honorary members took an active share in the Club affairs than in the Michaelmas Term, and since the numbers of such honorary members cannot be determined accurately I prefer to take the number of contributing members in the Michaelmas Terms as indicating the size of the active club; though, to obtain an estimate of the total number of members available, probably we ought always to increase this by two or three to allow for honorary members who had recently taken their degrees and were still in residence and regularly rowing. The numbers given in the Secretary's and Treasurer's books often differ slightly. In many years the Treasurer's returns are missing, so preferably I quote those given by the Secretary, though probably they are slightly in excess of the actual numbers.

The interest of the Club in the doings of its members was not confined to the river, and on February 15, 1835, the Secretary made a memorandum that 10 members went in for their degree, of whom not one was plucked, while among them was the captain of the poll and the last in the same except "the extracts." Similar memoranda occur in later years. Among other matters of miscellaneous interest noted in the minutes of this year, I observe that the Club's boats were blackleaded; the mixture being composed of "two quarts of small beer, one pound of black lead, and six eggs." It was also "agreed to have a new die for the Club buttons, and to abuse Creek for the present one, which is so vile."

As far as the actual races were concerned, henceforth we usually have the names of the crews, and various particulars of the racing. It will be enough to say that this year, 1835, there were 5 races in the Lent Term, and 6 in the Easter Term. The T.B.C. boats finished 2nd and 16th. Of the other Trinity Clubs the Second Trinity boats finished 1st and 11th, and Third Trinity (rowing in a boat called the Victory) finished 4th. At the end of the races, the first six boats were Second Trinity, T.B.C., Magdalene, Third Trinity, Trinity Hall, and Caius.

The C.U.B.C. contemplated a race against Oxford this year. To facilitate the collection of a representative crew it was decided that any boat from which one of the oarsmen was taken might be exempted from rowing, and allowed to keep its place on the river. I do not know that any Club availed itself of this privilege, and in fact the race against Oxford did not come off.

In the Michaelmas Term, 1835, 32 contributing members were in residence, including 6 elected in the course of the term. The Club possesses a list drawn up this term of all its honorary members previously elected: they number 144 and of course most of them were no longer in residence. In November the Club asked Second Trinity to join in sending, as the two head boats, a challenge to the rest of the University for a race that term. The challenge was sent, but declined at a meeting of the Captains on December 7 on the ground that there was not sufficient time to arrange affairs.

In 1836 there were 4 races in the Lent Term and 7 in the Easter Term. On the first day of the races the T.B.C. first boat bumped Second Trinity half-way up the Long Reach "regaining our old place at the head of the River." The crew received many felicitations, among others a letter from Queens' College Boat Club congratulating "them most sincerely on their again having obtained their own and proper place at the head of the river." But their pride must have been short-lived, for next term they were bumped on May 11 and again on May 14: the page in the minute-book which "records these sad facts being edged by the Secretary with black. The rudder of the Black Prince, the boat in which the first crew rowed, is preserved in the large club room. At the close of the races, the first six boats were Corpus, Caius, T.B.C., Lady Margaret, Second Trinity, and Queens'; the T.B.C. boats finishing 3rd and 12th, and the Second Trinity boat 5th. Third Trinity had taken its boat off, and presumably was in a dormant condition; thus First and Second Trinity were the only Trinity Clubs represented on the river.

In 1836 the University rowed Oxford from Westminster to Putney. To meet the expense it was agreed that the College Clubs should give the C.U.B.C. £1 for each boat they had on the river, The Club minutes record that Cambridge won easily, arriving at Putney...more than a minute in advance of Oxford. The T.B.C. representatives in the boat were W. H. Solly and J. H. Keane. In this race Cambridge chose light blue as their colour. It is said that when the crew were on the point of pushing off it was remarked that they had no colours, whereupon E. Stanley, Jesus, who was rowing 3 and had been captain of the boats at Eton, proposed that they should take light blue. Subsequently it has been generally adopted as the University colour in Inter-University matches.

Details of the Inter-University matches belong rather to the history of the C.U.B.C. than to that of a College Club, but most of the races are described at length in the T.B.C. books, and members of the Club usually took part in them, so I follow the minutes in mentioning them, and in chapter XI I give a table of the results.

Hitherto the Captain and the Steerer of each boat had been elected by the Club, and the two officers shared the management. This appears to have caused difficulties and in 1836 and 1837 matters came to a head. There was no doubt that the Captain had uncontrolled discretion in forming the crew, and making arrangements when they were not rowing, but it was not clear who was responsible when the boat was afloat; Finally the Club solved the matter by giving to the Captain the appointment of the Steerer or Coxswain.

The following year, 1836-7, seems to have been uneventful in the history of the Club. The members were again concerned with the pattern of their buttons, and decided that the "outer rim of the button should be bright, and T.B.C. should be put in the place of the word Trinity." In the Michaelmas Term 5 active honorary members were in residence and 37 contributing members (or perhaps only 34 for the Secretary's and Treasurer's books do not agree); in the Lent Term the numbers were 11 and 30, total 41.

There were 4 races in the Lent Term, 1837, and 7 in the Easter Term. On the second day in the Lent races Third Trinity bumped Emmanuel over five places. At the close of the races, the first six boats were Lady Margaret, Caius, T.B.C., Third Trinity, Corpus, and Queens'; the T.B.C. boats finishing 7th and 9th, the Second Trinity boats 7th and 23rd, and the Third Trinity boats 4th and 15th. I give below a view of the races in this year. It is interesting as showing the style of boat then used.

At the end of the term T.B.C. gave a dinner, to which the officers of most of the other Boat Clubs seem to have been invited. For several years this was an annual event described in the minutes, but in 1837 it appears to have been a new departure. The year 1838 is the first in which there is any detailed account of it. It took place then at the Hoop Inn, and 38 sat down to dinner. The proceedings were interrupted at an early hour by the unexpected appearance of the Junior Proctor, who broke up the party, but I note that they had already consumed, or at any rate the Club ultimately paid for, 47 bottles of Champagne, 12 of Sherry, 6 of Moselle, and 2 of Claret, besides 6 quarts of Ale, and £6. 14s worth of Punch.

In May 1837 the Cambridge Subscription Rooms were opened in London, and for many years the best oars in the University, on going down, usually joined the Rooms.

As there was no Inter-University race this year, it was arranged that the C.U.B.C. should row the Leander Club from Westminster to Putney, and that the Oxford and Cambridge Clubs whose boats should finish at the heads of their respective rivers should race at Henley. In the latter event, Christchurch should have represented Oxford, but its place was taken by Queen's College, Oxford, who met and defeated Lady Margaret, Cambridge. The former race was won by Cambridge after a close struggle. The T.B.C. representatives in the University boat were W. N. Nicholson, J. H. Keane, and C. T. Penrose.

In the Michaelmas Term, 1837, the number of contributing members in T.B.C. was 45 including 17 elected during the term; there were also 5 active honorary members in residence. In November the Club was much exercised over the painting of its boats, but it was "determined to keep to the old colour of the boat, viz. black with the Lion and Crowns on the bows"; it was also agreed that henceforth the crews should "pull in jerseys instead of shirts." As no less than 17 new members had joined the Club this term, it was decided to enter a third boat for the Lent Term races, 1838; this was done though the number of contributing members in the Lent Term was diminished by 8.

In 1838 there were 3 races in the Lent Term, and 8 in the Easter Term. The T.B.C. boats finished 2nd and 9th: its third boat having been taken off at the close of the Lent Term. Of the other Trinity Clubs, the Second Trinity boat finished 5th, and the Third Trinity boat 4th. At the end of the races, the first six boats were Lady Margaret, T.B.C., Caius, Third Trinity, Second Trinity and Lady Margaret 2nd.

This year it again proved impossible to arrange a match with Oxford, so one was got up between the C.U.B.C. and the Leander Club, but in the race the boats fouled and the umpire declared the race off: Cambridge seems to have had the better crew. The T.B.C. representatives in the University boat were W. W. Smyth, W. R. Gough, and C. T. Penrose.

In the Michaelmas Term, 1838, the number of contributing members was 51, including 18 elected during the term; 3 active honorary members were also in residence. This term the rules were again revised and reprinted. The entrance fee was reduced to £3 for freshmen and junior sophs (and less in the case of senior men), and members who had subscribed for ten terms were entitled to become honorary members.

In 1839 there were 4 races in the Lent Term and 9 in the Easter Term. No less than four T.B.C. boats appeared, though the fourth boat rowed only in the Lent Term; at the close of the Easter Term, the other three boats finished 1st, 8th, and 16th. The Third Trinity boats finished 2nd and 14th. At the end of the races, the first six boats were T.B.C., Third Trinity, Caius, Magdalene, Lady Margaret, and Jesus. Second Trinity had taken its boats off; and First and Third Trinity were the only Trinity Clubs now represented on the river.

The race with Oxford this year was rowed from Westminster to Putney in 31 minutes. Cambridge won, according to the T.B.C. minutes, by 1 min. 40 sec. The T.B.C. representatives in the boat were W. W. Smyth, and C. T. Penrose.

In this year, 1839, the Grand Challenge Cup was instituted at Henley. The Club entered for it and after two good races won it. The race is described in detail in the minute book. The Club was proud of its success, and a painting of the boat in which the crew rowed hangs in the Captains' room in the Boat House.

In the Michaelmas Term, 1839, the number of contributing members rose to 63, including 18 elected during the term; 3 active honorary members were also in residence. In 1840 there were 4 races in the Lent Term and 6 in the Easter Term. The "Second Trinity new Club" started at the bottom of the boats, and went up 7 places. At the close of the races, the first six boats were Caius, T.B.C., Third Trinity, Jesus, T.B.C. 2nd, and Magdalene; the T.B.C. boats finishing 2nd, 5th, and 17th, the Second Trinity boat 14th, and the Third Trinity boats 3rd and 23rd.

The race with Oxford this year, 1840, was rowed from Westminster to Putney in 29 min. 30 sec., and won by Cambridge by three-quarters of a length. The T.B.C. representatives in the boat were W. Massey and S. B. Taylor. The stroke was C. M. Vialls, Captain of Third Trinity (who seems to have been also a member of First Trinity see p. 37). In the account of the race given in the minutes there is a note that the boats were exactly alike save that the Oxford boat was carvel-built, while the Cambridge boat was clinker-built. There is also a note by G. Denman that he and a friend timed the crew from Westminster Bridge to Putney Bridge and that it was rowed in practice in 27 min. 30 sec., the best time then on record. Later in the year T.B.C. sent a boat to Henley to defend the Grand Challenge Cup, but lost to Leander.

In the Michaelmas Term, 1840, George Denman took up the Captaincy of the Club; he held it for three years, and proved en excellent officer. He commenced his tenure at a somewhat unlucky time, for the Cambridge bank with which the Club had an account failed this year, involving some pecuniary loss. On the other hand the number of contributing members rose to 80, including 23 elected during the term; there were also 5 active honorary members in residence. In the following term the corresponding numbers sank to 59 and 4.

In 1841 there were 4 races in the Lent Term and 7 in the Easter Term. In the first race the first boat went head, but on the next racing day it went down, and at the same time the third boat, as also both boats of Third Trinity, were bumped; "thus completing" as the minute-book says, "as unsuccessful a day for Trinity as any evil spirit could wish for." The Club was hardly consoled for this defeat by the fact that two of its members obtained University scholarships, though the fact is duly recorded in the minutes; one of these honours was obtained by H. J. Munro, who was awarded the first Craven. In the Easter Term the first boat was again unfortunate, and for two nights it rowed fifth, a lower place than it had previously occupied. At the conclusion of the races, the first six boats were Caius, Jesus, Peterhouse, T.B.C., Lady Margaret, and Second Trinity; the T.B.C. boats finishing 4th, 11th, and 17th, the Second Trinity boats 6th and 15th, and the Third Trinity boats 8th and 18th.

This year the custom about the procession after the races changed. "Instead of stopping in Queens' Pool to cheer," the crews "turned here and were drawn up in two lines between King's and Clare Bridges for this purpose. The effect was much better. And the champagne part of the business being quite stopped the whole thing was much more orderly." The new plan became the regular custom and remained so till 1892 after which year the procession was abolished. In the Club dinner comparative quietness was the rule, "and omitting a few breakages the conclusion might be called orderly."

The race with Oxford this year, 1841, was rowed from Westminster to Putney in 32 min. 30 sec. and won by Cambridge by 1 min. 4 sec. The T.B.C. representatives in the boat were A. M. Ritchie and G. Denman. The stroke was again C. M. Vialls of Third Trinity. The Club entered for the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley, but withdrew before the race so as to give the Cambridge Subscription Rooms a better choice of oarsmen. The Rooms won easily, two T.B.C. men, J. G. Lonsdale and W. A. Cross, being in the crew.

In the Michaelmas Term, 1841, the number of contributing members was 80, including 18 elected during the term; there were also 6 active honorary members in residence.

In 1842 some of the Clubs increased the length of their boats, and hereafter few boats were built that were not more than fifty feet long. This year we first came across the name Noyous as the name of the T.B.C. third boat. For some years the term was regularly used in the Club minutes, and it continued in occasional use until recent times. The Secretary has appended a note that the name was given "to our second cannibals...from their bad or noxious pulling." In the Lent races the first boat sank to sixth on the river, but in the Easter Term it retrieved its position. The remarks about the racing this year are unusually full. At the end of the races, the first six boats were Peterhouse, T.B.C., Jesus, Magdalene, Lady Margaret, and Caius; the T.B.C. boats finishing 2nd, 11th, and 21st, the Second Trinity boats 10th, 19th, and 22nd, and the Third Trinity boats 7th and 24th.

The annual dinner took place after the races. The Secretary has recorded that the food was good but the wines indifferent, though "this did not stop the good humour of the company, and everything went off well and with but little breakage."

The race with Oxford this year was rowed from Westminster to Putney in 30 min. 45 sec. and won by Oxford by 13 sec. The only T.B.C. representative in it was G. Denman. According to the Club minutes the Cambridge boat was thrown out of its course by a barge, and then hampered by steamers. There is also a long account in the minutes of the racing for the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley, though the Club does not seem to have been directly represented in the regatta. The race was won by the Cambridge Subscription Rooms, J. G, Lonsdale of T.B.C. rowing in it. The C.U.B.C. also entered for this race, but was beaten in the final.

In the Michaelmas Term, 1842, the number of contributing members was 96, including 24 elected during the term; 12 active honorary members were also in residence. This term the races for the Colquhoun silver sculls were for the first time rowed at Cambridge. This prize, open to all members of the C.U.B.C., had been founded in 1836, and had been raced for on the Thames in 1837, 1838, 1839 and 1840. In 1841 it was decided to move the contest to Cambridge. The first race under the new conditions was rowed in 1842, and was won by G. Denman of T.B.C. A list of the subsequent T.B.C. winners is given in chapter XI.

In 1843 there were 4 races in the Lent Term and 7 in the Easter Term. Hitherto there had been no limit to the number of boats allowed to enter for the races, and all the boats rowed in one division. The arrangements did not however permit more than 28 boats to start at the same time, and, as this year 29 boats wished to enter, private races were arranged between the lower boats to decide which should row. On the first night First Trinity regained its place as head of the river and kept it throughout the races. The minutes note that influenza was prevalent throughout the term, and that in every race one or more members of the crew were on the sick list. In this matter history has repeated itself. At the end of the races, the first six boats were T.B.C., Peterhouse, Caius, Magdalene, Lady Margaret, and Third Trinity: the T.B.C. boats finishing 1st, 9th, and 21st, the Second Trinity boats 8th, 10th, and 20th, and the Third Trinity boats 6th and 26th.

The annual dinner this year was held under difficulties in consequence of the Dons refusing leave for it. In the end, one of the members, P. P. Rolt, took his name off the boards of the College, and invited all would-be diners as his private guests. On this occasion the Club presented Denman with a silver cup in recognition of his services.

The Club entered for the Grand Challenge at Henley this year, but was defeated in the first heat by the Oxford University Boat Club. The final heat lay between Oxford University and a crew from the Cambridge Subscription Rooms in London; the race has been often described, owing to the fact that Oxford won though rowing with only seven oars.

Chapter 4: 1843-1850

In the Michaelmas Term, 1843, the number of contributing members of T.B.C. was 110, including 32 elected during the term; 8 active honorary members were also in residence. The activities of the club were not confined to the regular races, and this term we read about scratch fours held in December. Also there were Pewter races, apparently in four-oared boats. In 1844 these were held in the Lent Term, but a little later they were moved to the Easter Term. The results are not worth chronicling, but the existence of such races is worthy of note. As an incident of this year's proceedings, I may mention that hitherto the Club meetings had usually been held on Sunday evening: it was now decided to abandon this practice.

In the Lent Term, 1844, there were again more boats desiring to start than could be accommodated. If this became usual it was clear that a friendly arrangement - such as had been made in the previous year - among the crews of boats at the bottom of the order could not provide a permanent solution of the difficulty caused by an excess of numbers. Accordingly it was determined to limit the numbers of regular racing boats to 28, and to start a second set of "trial races" on other days for any crews who liked to enter for them. Such crews were called sloggers, and the best slogger boat was entitled to row at the bottom in the regular races.

These trial or slogging races continued until 1857 or 1859. The minutes usually record the results of them as well as of the regular races, but the order in which the slogging boats finished is not always known, and in giving the places occupied by the Trinity boats at the end of the races I have generally been obliged to omit all reference to those rowing in the slogging division. The Club seems to have done nothing for its slogging crews beyond providing boats in which they might row. The slogging crews were made up of any men who liked to row on the particular day, but I suspect they got as much amusement out of their races as if they had taken them more seriously. In the first of these trial races there were 11 entries. The introduction of a limit to the number of boats racing and the organization of slogging races mark the opening of a new chapter in the history of Cambridge rowing. Henceforth, new boats and clubs could not appear in the regular races at the pleasure of those who formed them.

As far as the racing this year, 1844, is concerned there is but little to chronicle, though, alas, T.B.C. went down, being bumped by Caius. At the close of the races, the First six boats were Caius, T.B.C., Second Trinity, Third Trinity, Magdalene, and T.B.C. 2nd; the T.B.C. boats finishing 2nd, 6th, 13th, and 28th, the Second Trinity boats 3rd, 12th, and 17th, and the Third Trinity boats 4th and 15th.

The close of the bumping races was followed by an interesting challenge from the Town to the C.U.B.C. to row a race. The proposal was accepted, but the University, instead of entering a crew of its own, requested the head of the river (Caius) to represent it. The Town crew was mostly composed of professionals. Caius won with ease.

In this year there was no race with Oxford, but both University Clubs entered boats in the Thames Regatta. Oxford won. The T.B.C. representatives in the Cambridge boat were W. P. Cloves and J. Richardson. The Club was not represented at Henley this year.

In the Michaelmas Term, 1844, the number of contributing members was 103, including 35 elected during the term; this was in addition to 10 active honorary members in residence. This term a new University race was initiated owing to the presentation by the Magdalene Boat Club of a pair of silver oars to be rowed for by pair-oared boats manned by members of the same club. The races were held in December, and this year no less than fifteen pairs entered. The challenge oars, usually known as the Magdalene Pairs, were won by W. A. Brooks and W. P. Cloves of T.B.C. The names of T.B.C. winners in subsequent years are given in chapter XI.

In December, 1844, the Club determined to move from Cross's boathouse to Searle's. It paid for the expense of fitting up its new rooms, and made these its headquarters until 1863; the rent was £50 a year. A view of the boathouse is given below.

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