The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-02 00:00:00

THE SUN,

COURT CIRCULAR.
BALMORAL, AUG. 30.
Her .MajJsty and his Royal Prince
Albert, accompani!!.d by the Prince of Wales, Princess
Alice, and Prince Alfred, left Holyrood Palace yes-
terday morning at eight o'clock, and proceeded by
railway to Stonehaven, from whence the Royal party
travelled in three carriages-and-four to Balmoral,
arriving there at seven o'clock.
Her Majesty visited her Royal Highness the Duchess
of Kent, at Abergeldie, when passing that place.
Her Alnjesty and his Royal Highness were attended
by the Countess of Desart, the Hon. Miss Byng, Lord
John Russell, Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, Colonel
the Hon. A. Gordon, Sir J. Clark, and Mr. Birch.

There was no addition to the Royal dinner party
yesterday.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3

Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
were much afflicted yesterday by the receipt of in •
telligencc: that his Royal Highness Prince Ferdinand
of Saxe Coburg and Gotha died on the 27th inst.

The deceased Prince was the uncle of her Majesty
and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the brothel
of the Duchess of Kent and the King of the Belgians,
and the father of the King of Portugal.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness visited the
Duchess of Kent, at Abergeldie, soon after the receipt
of the mournful intelligence, and dined in private
with her Royal Highness, at Abergeldie, in the
evening.

Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial
Oce from the Governors of the North American
Colonies.

Dispatches were sent off yesterday from the Co-
lonial Office for the Governors of the West India
Islands.

TEE CHALLENGE .111ATCH BETWEEI,
THE AMERICA AND TITANIA.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
Sir,—As I consider it of great importance to the in•
terests of navigation and naval construction that the
facts of this case should be accurately known, and a.
I have not seen any account of the match that appears
to have come from an eye-witness, I have thought it my
duty to send you the following notes, made by one of
the few who followed the match throughout, fur the
purpose of eliciting from it practical information regard-
ing the sailing qualities of the competitors:—
The object proposed by the Yacht Club was under-
stood to have been the determination of the relative
values of the English and American forms of yachts in
strong winds and a rough sea. For this purpose it was
stated that the yachts would not be started unless there
should be a strong breeze.
There was not, however, so much wind as could have
r been desired on Thursday morning ; nevertheless, at
half-past eight the orders of the Earl of Wilton, the
commodore, were sent on board, " that the vessels
should be alongside the Xarifa at ten, near the Nab
Light," and should start before the wind, to run 20
miles out to sea, rounding a steamer sent out for the pur-
pose, and then return, beating up against the wind, to the
Nab Light.
Both vessels had been put into dock previous to the
race, and many and curious were the examinations
made of their bottoms. They resemble each other under
water much more than would be supposed from their
different aspects above. They are both built on the
wave-line principle ; they both have great depth of keel ;
they have the same difference of draught ford and aft,
and they both have the gripe entirely rounded away, or,
in other words, the keel rounds up in a quarter circle,
nearly into the stem at the water line. At the surface
of the water their water lines are similar, but the trans•
verse sections are very different, the America having a
wedge bottom, like the vessels of Sir William Symonds,
which project out above the water beyond the waterline,
while the Titania has the straight up and down side,
such as is seen iu the vessels of the School of Naval Ar-
chitecture. Above water the vessels aro entirely diffe-
rent. The Titania has the raking stern of English
yachts ; the America is cut off close to the sternpoat.
At the bow both show the hollow wave-line, but the
America carries the hollow up into the harping, while
the Titania presents the usual aspect on deck of a sharp-
bowed yacht.
The main and essential differences, however, between
the vessels are their dimensions, tonnage, and cut of the
sails. The America is 223- feet beam, the Titania 18;
the America has a keel over 90 feet long, and the Ti-
tania under 70; hence, the America is some 210 tons
by our measurement, and the Titania 100 tons. To es-
timate the value of such difference, we have only to refer
to the scale of time for tonnage, to see that in an English
yacht race the time allowed for difference of tonnage
would be 55 minutes.
It was, however, in the cut of the sails that the differ-
ence between the vessels was most striking to the eye as
they' got under weigh to start. The general arrange.
ment of the sails is not very different, nor the rake of
the masts. The Titania's sails, cut by Eversfield, of
Gravesend, are of the best English cut, beautifully gored
and curved; the America's are simply " flat as a board;"
and, during the race, they remained eel Tho value of
this fact, however the object is effected, is most impor-
tant, and will appear from the sequel of the match. Both
yachts had arrived at the Nab Light by a quarter-past
eleven o'clock, and at 11h. 19m. 15s. the signal gun was
fired from the Xarifa, the Blue Peter was hauled down,
and both vessels started, the America taking the lead.
The course was S.E., and right before the wind, which
was a fresh breeze. There was a rolling sea, but by no
means heavy. As the wind freshened the Titania gained
upon the America, and as it fell the America gained
upon her. For half an hour they alternately gained and
lost upon each other, and the issue appeared very
doubtful until the wind tell a good deal more, when the
America gradually gained on her rival, and at last took
her station permanently ahead. They rounded the
steamer as follows:-
1. America ...
2. Titania ...

... at 2h. 3m. Os.
... at 2h. "in, 6a.

Difference in favour of America Oh. 4m. 6s.

Thus the America gained the first half of the match,
running free, by a very small difference; and this fact
is very important to naval architecture, as showing that
in point of resistance to going through the water, or in
adaptation of the forms of the vessels to speed simply,
the advantages were nearly equal. The second part of
the match, in beating up against the wind, was of a
totally different character. It was evident to every qua-
lified spectator that the America must win. The advan-
tage obtained by the American cut of the sails was at
once evident to the eye. The America was able to steer
one point of the compass nearer to the wind than the
Titania without the least flutter of her canvass. &I-
though, therefore, the Titania appeared to hold her own
very fairly in point of distance run, and although when
the wind freshened she appeared to be gaining in speed
over her competitor, yet the distance the America would
be able to make good to windward over her adversary
on each tack by laying her course 11i degrees nearer
the wind was such as to put competition beyond a doubt.
During the race the wind freshened and the sea rose,
but both yachts carried all their lower sails, without
taking in a reef, and both proved themselves wholesome
and easy sea vessels. They passed the Nab to the S.E.
as follows:

America

••• at sh. 31m.
... fit 6h. 22m.

2. Titania

Difference in favour of America ... Oh. 51m.

If from this difference on the whole match we sub-
tract the difference on the first half wo find the America
to have gained 46 minutes 54 seconds in beating to
windward—a most important advantage, and one which
shows clearly how valuable an art the, better cutting and
management of the sails is for the purpose of giving
windwardly qualities to ships.
If anything could add strength to the importance of
the practical conclusions which this important experi-
ment suggests, it is the circumstance that in beating
home to Cowes from the Nab Light both vessels either
passed or gained upon every other yacht under sail by
a long distance. This fact shows how much may be
gained by the study of the forms of two vessels in some
respects so much alike, and in others so dissimilar. The
public aro certainly indebted to the owners of both yachts
for giving them the advantage of so interesting an ex-
periment. It is much to be desired that advantage
should be taken of the experiment to advance the in-
terests of scientific shipbuilding and of practical seaman-
ship; and it is for the advancement of those objects that
these notes are offered for your acceptance by
Your obedient servant,
AN EYE-WITNESS, AND
A MEMBER OF SEVERAL YACHT CLUBS.

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.
Gross traffic receipts for passengers
and goods, week ending Aug. 30,
1831 £20,058 14 5
Ditto, Aug. 31, 1850 ... ... 16,605 18 8

Increase in 1851 ...
London Terminus, Sept. 1, 1851.

... £3,45215 9

MORE PURCHASES BY THE NATIONAL FREEHOLD
LAND SOCIETY.—Tbis society is making good progress with
the work of enfranchisement. It has recently completed
the purchases of two other estates —one in Hertfordshire, the
other in East Kent. The former is a large one, comprising
two hundred acres, situate at Barnet, within ten miles of
the metropolis, and in convenient proximity to the Great
Northern Railway. The second, the purchase of which was
only concluded last Thursday, consists of thirty acres, in the
immediate vicinity of that popular watering-place, Margate.
This land, which is of an excellent quality, was the pro-
perty of Sir R9bert Peel, Bart., M.P. The former estate will
be divided into about one thousand allotments; the latter
into one hundred; the whole of which will very speedily be
in the possession of the allottees. The directors of the so-
ciety have recently caused it to be registered by the name
of " The National Permanent Mutual Benefit building So-
ciety ;" and alterations have been made in the rules, so as
to secure to the society those advantages which building so-
cieties enjoy under the Act permitting their enrolment.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY.—Yesterday notice was
issued at the National Gallery, Trafalgar-square, and at the
Vernon Collection, Marlborough House, that they would ,be
closed to the public on Saturday, the 13th instant, for the
annual vacation. They will be re-opened to the public on
Monday, the 27th of October.
NEW REGULATION AT THE BRITISH
The doors of the British Museum will be opened daily (ex-
cept on Saturday) from ten to live during the month. At
the end of September the establishment will be closed for a
week, and then only open on Monday, Wednesday, and Fri-
day to four o'clock:

SEWERS.—Accorciiag to a return of rates made
by the Commissioners of Sewers, it appears that the total
rateable annual value of the districts in 1849, was 8,077,5911.,
and that in leso it had risen to 8,791,957/, whilst the cost
of management per annum was, in the former year
20,0004 7s. 6d., and iu the latter 23,4651, gis. Id.

LON DON,

AMERICAN NEWS.
LIVERPOOL, MONDAY, SEPT. 1.
We have received from New York the following
additional intelligence, dated Aug. 20:—
" The steamship Brother Jonathan arrived off
Sandy Hook at nine last evening, and reached her
wharf at midnight. She left Chagres on the 9th, and
Kingston, Jamaica, on the 12th. We understand she
was detained on her return trip by a fire which broke
out near the boilers on the evening of the 17th inst.
The vessel was densely crowded with passengers, and
for a time the excitement amongst them was intense.
Ilowever, in less than an hour the flames were ex-
tinguished, and quiet was restored. The boilers sus-
tained so much injury by the fire that but slow pro-
gress was made thereafter. The passengers award
great credit to the Captain and his officers for their
promptness and decision during the consternation.
" The steam-ship Falcon was at Chagres waiting
rhe mails for New Orleans.
" The steam-ship Union, from San Francisco for
Panama, with 300 passengers and 200,000 dollars in
gold dust, was totally wrecked, the fourth day out,
on St. Quinlan's Reef. The passengers and gold
(with the exception of 6,000 dollars) were saved.
the loss of the ship was the result of carelessness, the
man at the wheel being too intoxicated to see where
the ship was going. She struck at three A.M., and the
passengers were compelled to wait till daylight, the ship
every moment growing weaker and weaker, before they
could escape, which they finally did in small boats.
The Northerner hove in sight, and carried the unfor-
tunate passengers to Panama. All the freight of the
Union was lost.
" The steam-ship' Ohio reached Chagres on the
9th ult., with a broken shaft, and one engine so much
disabled that she will have to go to Navy-bay and
await orders from the owners. Her shaft was broken
off Kingston, on the sth ult. She reported having
experienced very heavy weather.
" The Panama Star states, that the steam-ship
Northerner arrived at Panama at ten P.M. on the sth
ult., with 1,900,000 dolls. in gold•dust, from San
Francisco. The dust from the wreck of the steam-
ship Union, together with her own, and what was in
the hands of passengers, would make considerably
over 2,000,000 dolls. on board altogether.
" The steam-ship Commodore Stockton returned to
Panama port, having sprung a leak when about 250
miles on her way to San Francisco. She had 80 pas-
sengers, who afterwards demanded the return of their
passage money ; as the demand was not complied
with they forced the crew to cease work, and took
Forcible possession of the vessel. The matter had
been laid before the American Consul at Panama, and
his protection sought by the commander of the Com-
modore Stockton.
" The Kingston (Jamaica) papers received contain
no general news of interest. Cholera still lingered
fn the island. The small-pox had broken out in
several parts, and the extreme heat of the last fort-
night, succeeded by heavy showers of rain, had led to
the prevalence of an epidemic resembling influenza,
attended with fever; and, in consequence, the 13th
anniversary of the freedom of the slaves, on the Ist of
August, was celebrated with much less spirit than
usual."

THE GOLD FEVER in AUSTRALIA.
We copy the following most important statement
from the Sydney Morning Herald of Tuesday, May
20, which professes to take it from the Bathurst Free
Press of Saturday, the 17th :
" The discovery of the fact by Mr. Hargraves that
:he country, from the Mountain Ranges to an inde-
finite extent in the interior, is one immense gold field,
has produced a tremendous excitement in the town of
Bathurst and the surrounding districts. For several
days after our last publication the business of the
town was utterly paralysed. A complete mental
madness appears to have seized almost every member
of the community, and, as a natural consequence,
there has been an universal rush to the diggings. Any
attempt to describe the numberless scenes—grave,
gay, and ludicrous—which have arisen out of this
state of things, would require the graphic pen of a
Dickens, and would exceed any limit which could be
assigned to it in a newspaper. Groups of people
were to be seen early on Monday morning at every
corner of the streets, assembled in solemn conclave,
debating both possibilities and impossibilities, and
eager to pounce upon any human being who was
likely to give any information about the diggings.
People of all trades, callings, and pursuits were quickly
transformed into miners, and many a hand which had
been trained to kid gloves, or accustomed to
wield nothing heavier than the grey goosequill
became nervous to clutch the pick and crowbar or
" rock the cradle" at our infant mines. The black-
smiths of the town could not turn off the picks fast
enough, and the manufacture of cradles was the second
briskest business in the place. A few left town on
Monday equipped for the diggings ; but on Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday the roads to Summer-hill
Creek became literally alive with new made miners
from every quarter, some armed with picks, others
shouldering crowbars or shovels, and not a few strung
round with washhand basins, tin pots, and cullenders,
garden and agricultural implements of every variety
either hung from the saddle-bow or dangled about
the persons of the pilgrims to Ophir. Now and then
a respectable tradesman, who had just. left his bench
or counter, would heave in sight, with a huge some-
thing in front of his horse which he called a cradle,
and with which he was about to rock himself into
fortune. Scores have rushed from their homes, pro-
vided with a blanket, " a damper," and a pick or
grubbing-hoe, full of hope that a day or two's labour
would fill their pockets with the precious metal; and
we have heard of a great number who have started
without any provision but a blanket and some rude
implement to dig with. Such is the intensity of the
excitement that people appear almost regardless
of their present comfort and think of nothing
but gold. Of course all this must end in disap-
pointment. The wet weather of the last two nights,
with the damp ground for a bed, and the teeming
clouds for a canopy, will do much towards damping
the enthusiasm of numbers. We have the authority
of an experienced man in stating that from the im-
perfect and unsuitable implements used by all who
have left for the diggings, coupled with their miser-
able provision in other respects, success is impossible;
that the labour necessary to success is extremely
severe, and he ventures, as his opinion, that no more
than 3 per cent. will become permanent miners. One
of the consequences has been a rapid rise in the price
of provisions. Flour, which ranged from 265. to
28s. per 1001 b., has been sold for 455. ; tea, sugar,
and almost every other eatable commodity have ad-
vanced in equal proportion. A large amount of the
wheat in the district is in the hands of a few specula-
tors, who will maintain their hold in the hope of a
golden harvest. But for the very extensive supplies
now on their way from Sydney, flour would soon be
at a famine price, and should a rush take place from
below, as may be reasonably expected, it is to be
hoped that there are capitalists enough to adventure
in one of the safest speculations of the times—the pur-
chase of flour for the supply of the district.
" What assisted very materially to fan the excite-
ment into a flame was the arrival of a son of Mr.
Neale, the brewer, with a piece of pure metal weigh-
ing eleven ounces, which was purchased by Mr.
Austin for 301., who started to Sydney by the fol-
lowing day's mail with the gold and the news. Since
that an old man arrived in town with several pieces
in mass, weighing in all from two to three pounds.
He also started to Sydney with his prize. Mr. Ken-
nedy, the manager of the Bathurst Branch of the
Union Bank of Australia, visited the diggings on
Saturday last in company with Messrs. Hawkins and
Green, and each of these gentlemen picked up a small
piece of the pure metal; and a few handfuls of the
loose earth from the bed of the creek, which were
brought home by Mr. Kennedy from motives of cu-
riosity, have been since assayed by Mr. Korff, from
Sydney, and a piece of gold extracted therefrom of
the size of a small pea. Besides these we have not
heard of any particular instances of success.
" On Wednesday morning last Mr. Hargreaves ac-
companied by Mr. Stutchbury, the Government geo-
logist, went to the digging!, and with his own hands
washed a pan of earth in his presence, from which 21
grains of fine gold were produced. He afterwards
washed several baskets of earth, and produced gold
therefrom. Mr. Stutchbury hereupon expressed his
satisfaction, and immediately furnished him with
credentials, which have since been forwarded to
Government. The fact of the existence of gold is
therefore clearly established ; and whatever credit or
emolument may arise therefrom, Mr. Hargraves is
certainly the individual to whom it properly belongs.
Should Government deem it necessary, as it most
probably will, to appoint an inspector, superintendent,
or commissioner, over the gold regions, in addition to
the fact of Mr. Hargraves being the discoverer, his
practical acquaintance with mining points him out as
the most suitable and worthy person for the appoint-
ee...W.

" We have very much more to say, but have not
space to say it in.
"A Mr. Rudder, an experienced California gold
digger, is now at work in the diggings. There are also
several magistrates plying their picks and cradles
most laboriously, but we have not heard with what
success. In fact there appears every probability of a
complete social revolution in the course of time.
Those who are not already departed are making pre.
parations. Servants of every description are leaving
their various employments, and the employers are,
per necessitatent, preparing to follow. But, notwith-
standing all this, we feel that a reaction will speedily
take place. The approach of winter and wet weather
will do something towards cooling the ardour of the
excited multitude."

NATIONAL LAND COMPANY DISSOLVING.—Cre-
ditors under the order in Chencery for Winding up this coin-
paPy are to come ill And proe their debts.