The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-22 00:00:00

ROYAL LONDON YACHT CLUB•

The first match of the season for prizes offered by
this club was sailed for on Saturday. The contest was
limited to third-class vessels only, belonging to mem-
bers of the club, and although the day was remarkably
fine, the wind most unfortunately disappointed the ex-
pectations which had been entertained by the numerous
company which had assembled to witness the race. The
committee had as usual chartered a steam-boat for the
accommodation of the members of the club and their
friends. The company having received a considerable
addition to its numbers at Blackwall, found on ar-
rival at Erith the following yachts ready moored for
starting :
Name. Tons. Owner.
Romp 9 Mr. Isfumford.
Cormorant
Mischief
Kitten
One minute per ton was allowed for the difference in

size.
The Romp was on the Kent side nearest to the shore,
and the others in the above order. The signal for the
start was fired by the Commodore, Mr. Goodson, at half-
past eleven precisely, and the yachts at once got under
weigh. The Kitten, however, was much the smartest,
a❑d although, from the absolute lack of wind, it was
some time before they could obtain any steerage way,
the Kitten first caught the breeze, and took a lead of
about 100 yards. She was followed at intervals of some
distance by the Mischief, Romp, and Cormorant. They
continued to drift down with the tide in a most mono-
tonous manner, and although their positions were con-
tinually changing, this portion of the match did not
afford the slightest test of the superiority of any of the
competing craft. In this state of affairs, the Commo-
dore most judiciously shortened the course at Rosher-
ville, when the tide turned, and the vessels with very
great difficulty rounded the steamer in the following
order :--

H. M. ES.
Mischief . 3 0 33
Kitten
Cormorant 3 56 12
Romp 4 5 0
A promising breeze having sprung up, the Mischief
made the most of the commanding lead which she had
obtained, and the issue of the match was apparent. The
wind increasing, the others gradually gained upon her,
and the advantage the Mischief had gained by catching
the wind first was made up for by the fact that the in-
creasing force of the breeze overtook the rearward yes.
eels sonic time first. The match, therefore, was no trial,
either of the capabilities of the vessels, or the skill of the
crews. They arrived at the winning buoy, off North
Woolwich, in this order :

H. M. S.
Mischief
Kitten
Cormorant
Romp

The day was delightful, and, in the absence of a
yatching match, the band of the Royal Artillery was
pressed into the service of the dancers, who improvised
a ball on the afterdeck of the steamer. There was a
great number of shipping and transports, in the river,
dressed out in their colours in honour of her Majesty
.0
birthday, and the Jason was met with, steaming at full_
speed, with artillery on board for Constantinople. She
was duly saluted with two guns from the Commodore,
citea
which act of courtesy was immediately returned,
on
come
pally on board the other vessels was e
somewhat grander scale. The enthusiasm of
on
utmost pitch, and they loudly cheered the troops
xd to the
board the Jason, who returned the comPlimela Iran
the greatest heartiness and goodwill.

MERCANTILE MARINE FUND.—On Saturday the
annual return to Parliament was printed containing en
account of the income and expenditure under the Mer-
cantile Marine Act and the Steam Navigation Act. The
income, with the balance was 40,2951.
12s. 7d., and the
expenditure, 33,0341. 15s. 7d. ; leaving a balance a
7,2601. 17s.
MERCHANT SEAMEN'S FUND.—On Saturday a Par.
liamentary paper was puplished giving an account of the
receipts and expenditure under the Seamen's Fund
Winding-up Act in the year ending the 31st December'
and bonds, bonds, 161,821 i.
1853. The receipts, with the balance in hand, were, in
Iv9as .r
various payments,
and stock
r4eol/.los. lid. On the 31st
balance at the
Decemberlcesdslo2df 6.t3hAfteryear6
lastl
fund, and the pensions amounted 26,306
pensionersto 59 ,
5301.
157.
3thle
The amount received for wages and effects (with balance
in hand) of 3,469 deceasedas seamen was 30,585/. 9s. 4d.,
and 13,9081. 14s. 10d.
w
d at
deceased seamen, leaving a
paid last year to the relatives
and representatives of 2,015
balance tinolalras 014 nfthe year 0f1,6 6761 its 6el
, .