The Sun.
London, England, 1825-08-23 00:00:00

PORTSMOUTH REGATTA.

PORTSMOUTH, Are. 20.—The Portsmouth, Portsea, and
Gosport Regatta, took
.place on Thursday and Friday, under
;he patronage of the County and Borough Members, Admiral
Sir George Martin, G C. 8., Lieutenant-General Sir James
Lyon, G.C.H. and K.C.8., and other distinguished inhabitants
and visitors. The non proved very favourable for the ex-
hibLion of these useful and highly interesting amusements,
thire. being a fine breeze from the N.N.W. just sufficient to
give life and variety to the marine view, without being disa-
gr cable to the numerous parties of fashionable ladies, who ho-
noured the Regatta whh their presence afloat. As on former
similar occasions, the Platform, Lines, and Southsea Beach,
presmted a concourse of well dressed personages; the Prome-
nade Rooms were crowded during the greater part of the day,
and, for the accommodation of other spectators, marquees were
erected along the beach. Sailing vessels with pleasure parties
were not so numerous as was expected, nor was the scene ma-
terially enlivened by the presence of the vessels belonging to
the Yacht Club.—The amusements of Thursday commenced
at eleven o'clock, when five wherries started for the prizes
allotted to this class, namely seven, five, three, and two sove-
reigns—lising boats to receive 10s.—The course for the sailing
vessels lay round the Spit buoy to the buoy of the Royal
George, thence to a boat off the Kicker Point, and round the
starting vessel off the Platform, which the wherries went round
three times, and came in the last round in the following order :
Snow, Drop, Judd, jun. Red Flag—in first each round.
Shannon, Baron, Union Flag—in second each time.
Fox, Smith, St. George's Flag.
William and Mary, Grubb, Blue Flag.
British Lion, Giles, Blue Peter.
The British Lion was the sternmost wherry every round. At
one o'clock the sailing vessels, under 15 tons, started on a sig-
nal being fired from the vessel placed off the Platform for the
accommodation of the Committee. These vessels pursued the
same course as the wherries, but owing to the decrease of wind,
the match was not decided until nearly five o'clock, when Eliza,
14 tons, Diaper, master, was declared the winner of the first
prize of fourteen sovereigns; the Resolution, 14. tons, Wood,
master, the second prize of 7 sovs.; and to the Othello, 12 tons,
Davis, master, the third prize of 4 soya.; the James and Mary,
10 tons, and Charles and Hannah, 12i tons, as losing
vessels, each received 1 soy. Perhaps the most interesting
of the whole of this day's amusement consisted in witnessing
the athletic competition and good judgment displayed by the
candidates for distinction and reward in the rowing wherries,
six in number, which started about four o'clock, and pulled to
a boat moored off Southsea beach (being a line of about a mile)
back to the starting vessel, and the course again, for three
heats. Such was the exhaustion of the men, that although one
boat had arrived abreast of the starting vessel, and a few feet
more would have obtained the first prize, they were compelled
by the strength of the tide, to remain in this situation several
minutes, and ultimately dropped astern. In the mean time an.
other boat, the Rose and 'Thistle, by having taken a circuit to
avoid the tide, although considerably behind during the greater
part of the time, came in first. This boat and the Snail Castle
were the only wherrieS which accomplished the task required by
the Committee; four others were obliged to give in. In the
evening there was a good display of fireworks on Southsea Beach,
near the Royal Clarence Promenade Rooms, which drew together
a vast concourse of spectators. Yesterday the weather was as pro-
pitious as on the preceding day,and the attendance equally mime-
rous and respectable. The sports consisted of only 2 matches, 1 be-
tween three pilot vessels of the larger class (hut under 40 tons),
to which prizes were awarded—the first being a ladies, cup,
valued at 20 guineas, with 10 sovs. in cash ; the second 14 sovs.
and the third 5 sovs. This match was well contested between
the Marquis, 31 tons, sailed by —Saunders, a pilot, who navi-
gates the Marquis of Anglesea's yacht the Pearl; and the
Flora, 34 tons, IVallis master, the former winning the cup by
three minutes and a half. The Ranger, 34 tons, Day, obtain-
ed the third prize of five sovereigns. At:four o'clock, five
galleys,• having four oars each, with a steersman, went off in
good style from the goal, taking a straight line for a boat moor-
ed off Southsea Beach, and back. Ihe Modest Assurance,
Borhum, maintained the advantage throughout the first heat,
which was performed by her in sixteen minutes, and by the
two last in eighteen minutes each. The Hit or Miss gained the-
second prize., One boat, named the Happy go Lucky, gave
up the contest in the second heat. On each day of the
Regatta the boats of the ships in ordinary, all uniformly rigged,
cruised about during the greater part of the day, and contri-
buted, in no small degree, to attract the attention of the coal- I
pany by their manoeuvres, and competition with each other.—
Yesterday evening there was a Ball at the Royal Clarence Pro-
menade Rooms, Southsea Beach, under the patronage of the
amiable lady of the Port Admiral; and it proving exceedingly
mild and serene, the rooms were crowded to excess. Amongst
the most distinguished individuals were Lord Yarborough, Sir
George and Lady Martin, Sir James and Lady Lyon, Sir
Charles, Lady, and the Misses Paget, Sir J. A. Gordon, &c.
Dancing was kept up with great spirit until a late hour. Nearly
500 tickets were issued.—We cannot close this report without
offering our thanks to those who, by_ their purses, personal
. services, or presence, have contributed to give a zest to this
truly national species of amusement, and we earnestly hope
that the success which has hitherto attended the exertions of

the promoters of the Regatta, will serve as a stimulus to en-
sure future patronage.—The near approach to equality dis-
played yesterday by the Marquis of Anglesea and the Flora.,
having given rise to a match between the owners, far 50 so-
vereigns, to sail their vessels from the Platform to the Owers
and back, both started at eleven o'clock to-day, but the dis-
tance they have to sail renders it impossible that the match can
be decided until a late hour this evening.