DOGGET'S COAT. AND BADGE. These form a prize at a rowing-match on the Thames every year on the 1st of Aug. The prize is a bequest of Thomas Dog, et, an actor of Drury Lane theater, who desired to signalize the accession of George I. to the throne (Aug. 1, 1715) by a prize of a waterman's coat and badge. Such is the account usually given; it would appear, however, from the following. notice in the Times newspaper (Aug. 2, 1861), that there are several prizes rowed for on this occasion. "The first prize is a livery and badge given by Mr. Thomas Dogget, deceased, to which the Fish mongers' company add a guinea. The second and third prizes are respectively five eighths and three eighths of the interest on £260 17s. 3d., formerly £200 South-Sea stock, left in the will of sir William Jolliffe, the amounts respectively being £4 17s. 9d. and £218s. 9d. The prize for the fourth man is £1 Ils. 6d., and for the fifth and
sixth men each £1 ls., the last three given by the company." Besides these prizes, additional sums are occasionally given by private individuals to the winner, or to the first, second, and third in the race. The competition is by six young watermen whose apprenticeships have expired the previous year; each being' in a boat by himself, with short oars or sculls. The barge-master of the Fishmongers' company is ordinarily the umpire. The competition takes place when the current of the Thames, by recession of the tide, is strongest against the rowers; and the race, which is from London bridge to the Old Swan at Chelsea, always excites much local interest, being one of those manly sports in which the English take much pleasure.
See Corcu-GuAss.