WE are glad on many accounts that the Freshmen have decided not to challenge Cornell. Taking into account the existing circumstances, it is probably just as well that a race with the redoubtable Cornellians has not been fixed for next summer. To be sure, our Freshmen lay themselves open to the charge of "cowardice" from Cornell, but so many charges of this nature come from Ithaca that '82 will not be alone in its ignominy! We certainly hope that the Columbia Freshmen will look favorably upon the challenge.

Oxford and Cambridge. - The Inter-University match will be rowed this year over the usual course on April 5th. The latest news reports Cambridge as doing exceedingly well, and, according to the English papers, the race will be by no means such a gift for Oxford as it once appeared.

ATHLETICS.There have been several exceedingly good walking and running races over the track at the Mechanics' Fair Building during the past few weeks, but as they have been fully reported in the daily papers it is unnecessary to summarize them here. We were glad to see Mr. Thacher enter and start in the mile run, and are sorry that he did not get better than third, - although it was an exceedingly good third.

The N. Y. Athletic Club has announced its second annual assault-at-arms for February 21 and 22 for the amateur championships in the following contests:-

Sparring, Feather, Light, Middle, and Heavy Weights; Wrestling, Collar and Elbow, and Graeco-Roman; Fencing, Foil, Single Stick, and Broad Sword.

Programme and place of contest will be announced in the amusement column of the New York Herald, on Tuesday, February 18, 1879. Gold Medals will be given to first, Silver to second. Entries close Friday, February 14th.

For further particulars regarding weights and rules, address Secretary N. Y. Athletic Club, P. O. Box 3101, New York.

SPARRING.There is one exceedingly good rule in the laws of "Sparring" in the H. A. A. Constitution which we hope to see strictly enforced. This is a rule making the "set-to" of three minutes' duration, best two in three, and thirty seconds between each bout. This is a capital rule, and will render it impossible for any man to win his bout unless he is in good hard condition, as he should be.