SIENA, ITALY, February 17, 1877.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE CRIMSON:-

DEAR SIRS, - I trust that I write to you for the last time, having neither the inclination nor the leisure to start a controversy with your boating men.

In an article entitled "Graduates and Boating," as well as in the Captain's communication to your journal, an appeal is made to graduates for pecuniary aid. These contributions were elicited by the letters written respectively by '52 and myself. To ask for alms is an extraordinary way to answer a criticism. I write that I disapprove the present system, and you reply by asking me for money to perpetuate that system. Though I will not accept the principle that advice must be backed up by dollars and cents, and though I am not now in a position to subscribe to any cause, should the boating men decide either to send one of their number to England, or to import an Englishman of the Sadler-Kelly stamp (ex-champions), I would gladly make a sacrifice to contribute.

Many of the older graduates feel, perhaps, that they have spent enough on boating, for previous to 1866 the crews were obliged to pay their own expenses, the College only furnishing the boat, if my memory does not fail me. One crew, wishing to experiment, bought their boat without any assistance from the University. Two or even three boats are doubtless necessary (though rarely the latter number), but permit me to say, with all due respect, that the imprudence that orders "five new boats" should pay for the same.

Most truly, yours,

F. CROWNINSHIELD.[The writer of the above seems to be laboring under a misapprehension. The crew are now using the English system in so far as their knowledge of that system and the climate of this country will allow. - EDS.]