The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-25 00:00:00

AUGUST 25,

unfortunate in one respect, for, in going about, the
Freak fouled the Volance and carried away her jib-
boom ; and the boatmen's pet became thereby utterly
disabled, and lost the small glimpse of fortune which
the light winds might have given her. Meanwhile
minute after minute " the Yankee" was gaining
ground, and at 3.30 was flying past St. Lawrence
I towards Old Castle, while the Bacchante and Eclipse,
which had been working along honestly and steadily,
were about 2i miles to leeward behind her. Further
away still were visible five or six yachts, some hull
down, some dipped further still, digging into the tide-
way as hard as they could, and lying into the wind
as well as their sails might stand it. The America
had by this time got the wind on her quarter, having
gone round liocken-end, and thus having a tolerably
fair course from the south to north-west up to the
Needles, the wind being light and the water some-
what broken. The persons on board the steamers
were greatly astonished at zeeieg ahead of the Ame-
rica, after she had rounded the Rocken-end, a fine
cutter Kith jib and foresail together—" two eingle
gentlemen rolled into one," bowling away with all
speed, as if racing away fur her life, and it was some
time before they could be persuaded she was riot the
Aurora; but she was in reality the Wildfire, 42 tons,
Mr. F. Thy one, of the Ro) al Cork Club, which was
taking a little share in the match to herself, and had
passed the EA 3.40. The America, however, bore
straight down for the cutter, which was thoroughly
well sailed, and passed her, after a stern chase of
more than an hour, though the Wildfire, when fist
sighted, must have been two miles and a half ahead of
the schooner. At 540 the Aurora, the nearest ) ache,
Was fully seven miles and a half astern, the Freak
being about a mile more distant, and the rest being
" nowhere." The America was at this time close
to the Needles, upon which she was running with a
light breeze all in her favour. Two of the excursion
steamers ran into Alum Bay and anchored there to
see the race round the Needles. While waiting there
in intense anxiety for the first vessel that should shoot
round the immense pillars of chalk and limestone
which bear the name, the passengers were delighted
to behold the Victoria and Albert, with the royal
standard at the main, and the Lord Admiral's flag at
'he fore, steaming round from N.W., fhllowed by the
Fairy, and the little dockyard tender. Her Majesty,
the Prince, and the Royal Family, were visible by
the aid of a glass from the deck of the steamers. The
royal yacht went past the Needles, accompanied by
the Fairy, at 5.35, but quickly returned, and at 5.45
lay to off Alum Bay. The Fairy was signalled to
proceed round the Needles, to bring tidings of the
race, and at once started, Ariel-like, on her errand.
Satin after the royal yacht anchored a boat put off
from her, in the stern sheets of which were Prince
Albert and the Prince of Wales, who wore his white
sailor's dress and tarpaulin hat. They landed, at-
tended by two gentlemen, on the beach under the
cliff at Alum Bay, with the aid of the boatmen, and
it was some time before the saunterers from the steam-
boats, who were climbing up towards the heights were
aware of the presence of such distinguished visitors.
They proceeded a short way up the narrow winding
path which leads to the heights, but a Wet drizzle
drifted before the wind, and rendered the walk un-
promising, and the Royal party soon returned to the
beach, the young Prince dancing round the shelving
road with boyish vivacity. After a stay of eight or
ten minutes, the Royal party returned to the yacht.
The Fairy, which bad returned to signal, again stood
out past the Needles, but all doubt and speculation, if
any there could have been, was soon removed by the
appearance of the America hauling her wind round
the cliff at 5.50. The breeze fell dead under the
shore, and the America lowered out her foresail and
forestaysail so as to run before it. All the steamers
weighed and accompanied her, giving three cheers as
she passed, a compliment which her owners and crew
acknowledged with uncovered heads and waving hats.
At Oh. 4tn. the Wildfire rounded the Needles and bore
away after the schooner, which by this time had got
almost in a line with the Victoria and Albert. Though
it is not usual to recognise the presence of her Ma-
jesty on such occasions as a racing match, no more,
indeed, than a jockey would pull up his horse
to salute the Queen when in the middle of
his stride, the America instantly lowered her
ensign—blue with white stars—the Commo-
dore took off his hat, and all his crew,
following his order and example, remained with un-
covered heads for some minutes till they had passed
the yacht—a mark of respect to the Queen not the
less becoming because it was bestowed by Republi-
cans. The steamers, as she passed on, renewed their
cheering, and the private battery of some excellent
gentlemen at the " Crow's nest" opened fire with a
royal salute as the Victoria and Albert slowly
steamed alongside the America. On turning towards
the Needles, at 6.30, not a sail was in sight, but the
breeze was so very light that all sailing might be said
to have finished, and it was evident the America had
won the cup. unless some light cutter ran up with a
breeze in the dusk and slipped past her. The
steamers, including the Tourist, which astonished the
natives by steaming through the still water at the
rate of some 15 or 16 miles an hour, returned towards
Cowes, and the royal yacht, having run close by the
America under halt-steam for a short distance, went
on towards Osborne. Off Cowes were innumer-
able yachts, and on every side was heard the hail,
"Is the America tiret ?" The answer " Yet."
" What's second r The reply, " Nothing."
As there was no wind, the time consumed
in getting up from Hurst Castle to the winning flag
was very considerable, the America's arrival first not
having been announced by gunfire till 8.37. The
Aurora, which slipped up very rapidly after rounding
the Needles, in consequence of her light tonnage and
a breath of wind, was signalled at 8.45 ; the Bac-
chante at 9.30; the Eclipse at 9.45 ; the Brilliant at
1.20 A.M. August 231. The rest were not timed.
'Elms the America made good all her professions. It
is with great pleasure I have to state that a protest
which bad been entered against her receiving the cup,
on the ground that she had not followed the course
marked out, was withdrawn, and that the Messrs.
Stephens were presented by the Royal Yacht Squad-
ron with the well-won cup. Oa the evening after
the race there was a very brilliant and effective dis-
play of fireworks by land and water along the club-
house esplanade, at which 6,000 or 7,000 persons
were present. A reunion took place at the club-
house, and the occasion was taken of Mr. Abbott
Lawrence's presence to compliment him on the suc-
cess of his countrymen. His Excellency acknow-
ledged the kindness in suitabie terms, and said that,
though he could not but be proud of the triump h of
his fellow-citizens, he still telt it was but the children
giving a lesson to the father. If the America was
purchased here, they would nevertheless try to build
something better in New York, so as to beat even
her.

The last remark of his Excellency alluded to a
rumour that an offer had been made to buy the
Americs, but that the sum was not considered sufficient.
We have thus been undeniably beaten, but we have been
beaten with a good grace, and our conquerors are the
first to admit it. They speak in the highest terms of
the condescension and kindness of the aristocracy
they had been taught to believe arrogant and un-
bf.nding, and acknowledge in the warmest way the
affability and courtesy of the gentry of the various
clubs.
Ibis evening the America sailed from Cowes to 03-
borne, in consequence of an intimation tbat the Queen
wished to inspect her. The Victoria and Albert also
dropped down to Osborne. At a quarter to 6 the
Queen embarked in the state barge, accompanied by
his Royal Highness Prince Albert and suite, and on
nearing the America the national colours of that
vessel were dipped, out of respect to her Majesty,
and rai.ed again when her Majesty had proceeded
on board. Her Majesty made a close inspection of
the America, attended by Commodore Stephens,
Colonel Hamilton, and the officers of the yacht. Tine
Queen remained on buard half an hour, and expressed
great admiration of the general arrangements and
character of this famous schooner. On her Majesty
leaving the American colours were again dipped, and
her Majesty proceeded in the barge to Osborne, where
she arrived at half-past six o'clock.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

SECOND TRIAL OF THE AMERICAN YACHT.

COWES, AUG. 24.—Her Majesty's Cup, value 100
guineas, open to yachts of all nations, will be sailed
for to-morrow. Commodore Stephens has entered
the America, when he offered to sail her against any
of the yachts ; he stipulated that they should not
start unless there was at least a " six-knot breeze."
We have at the least a " twelve, knot breeze" to-day,
which her crew says is just what suits her. We
shall be able to tell more about• this to-morrow night.
The Constance, the Alarm, the Destiny, and the
whole fleet are determined to try her once more ; she
has beaten them handsomely in a light air and in a
stiff breeze; should to-morrow be as to-day, and
there is every appearance of its being so, they will
have to try their powers in half a gale of wind—quite
enough for any of them at the back of the Wight,
and, we guess, a little more than some of our yachts-
men will like.
The Titania schooner, 100 tons, with which Mr.
Stephenson has accepted the American challenge, is
come into harbour to have her bottom cleaned ; she
is landing her guns and all her spare stores, intending
to do her best, but it is not thought that she will be
any use against the America.

THB ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON CUP GIVEN TO THE

AMERICA.

The Bachante_baving withdrawn her claim to the
CLITV the America takes it. In- all matches round the
igaild the milts have always gone round the NO,

1851.

and had there now been only the Squadron yachts
sailing, the Bachante would have won, though the
America beat her by at least tin nines.