The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-22 00:00:00

The Great Channel Match of the Royal
Thames Yacht Club.

Yesterday opened most auspiciously for the great event

of the Royal Thames Yacht Club. The race excited un-
usual interest in yachting circles, from two causes, the
primary one being that this was the first Channel match
which had taken place in connection with this club ; the
second being that several new vessels took part in it whose
racing capabilities had never been practically testod. The
somewhat unfavourable wind during a part of the race,
however disappointing it may have been to those yachtsmen
whose vessels acquit themselves best when not on the tack,
was not altogether inopportune, inasmuch as it brought
out not only the qualities of the vessels but the seamanship
of their respective crews. The wind from the first of the
morning blew stiffly from the east ; this being unfavour-
able for the race until the yachts passed Margate, when it
filled their sails and sent them in flying.
The race was from the Nore (off Sheppy) to Dover, and
was open to schooners, luggers, yawls and cutters —luggers
to class with schooners, for three prizes, value £l5O, £5O,
and -£so—one for each rig ; the first of either class arriving
at Dover to receive the most valuable prize. Although the
contest was not confined to the Royal Thames Yacht Club
a—ll3b'aeclhontsgg
ofnf any royal club being eligible—of the 17 entered
to the R.T.Y.C. save the Egeria, of the Royal
Yacht Squadron, and the Niobe, of the Royal London
Yacht Club. The entries for the match were—
Name. Rig. Tons. Owner.
Evadne ............ s. 206
Blue Ball ......... s. 170
Egeria ........... s. 160
Gloriana ......... s. 148
lolanthe ......... s. 83
Fleur de Lys ... s. 82
New Moon
Eresby.
Xantha F. 135
...... Lord A. Paget.
Lulworth C. 80
6005
.........•
......
v•Di.ru.mpHpouarig.cehe.
J.
51 ...... A. C. Kennard.
MVanguard" "
s.
...... H. Maudslay.
sCphhriisntaxb..e.l cc. .48
Amulet
46
Amazon ......... c.
Vindex c. 45 ...... A. Duncan.
Niobe

At six o'clock yesterday morning, pursuant to the in-
structions of Lard de Ros, the vessels assembled between
the Noro light and the vice-commodore's yawl Mabel,
moored on the edge of the Cant Sand, where they awaited
the signal from the flag-ship. By the conditions schooners
and luggers were allowed to set foresails and mainsails ;
yawls, mainsails and wizens; cutters,
mainsails, but neither
headsails nor topsails till after the signal to start. The
vessels to sail in ordinary cruising trim, with their boats,
anchors, cables, &c.; there being no time allowance nor
any restrictions as to canvas. The fixed course for the
vessels on leaving the Nore was leaving the west buoy of
the Oaze on the port hand, the east buoy of the Shivering
on the starboard hand, round the North Foreland, outside
the Goodwin Sands, leaving the North and South Sand
Head lightships on the starboard hand, round the South
Foreland, and finishing abreast of the Admiralty pier at
Dover, opposite which a station-boat was anchored, on
board of which a gun was fired on the first vessel of each
rig passing. This, with fair wind, is a olear sail of fifty
miles.

The yachts weighed anchor at seven o'clock, and when
the vice-commodore considered the wind and tide favour-
able for a start the signal was lowered, and the vessels bore
away for the race. The adverse wind rendered the pas-
sage through the Princes Channel an extremely difficult
one, and it was not until the North Foreland was turned
that the race may be said to have fairly begun. Here the
most intense excitement began among the crews, and the
race past the Goodwins was all-exciting. But the excite-
ment culminated as the vessels rounded the South Fore-
land, and for the first time sighted the winning-post.
Steamers, whose decks were crowded with spectators,
yachts and other pleasure craft, had put out of Dover and
other places in order to see this the most exciting part of
the race.
About 2 o'clock the first vessel was descried from Dover
rounding the South Foreland, and it was soon disco7ered
to be Lord A. Paget's yawl. After tacking out to wind-
ward she steered straight for the pier, and before the win-
ning gun was fired a cluster of others was seen in the dis-
tance. The match was won by Xantha, the vessels coming
in as follows: H. H. S.
Xantha 2 55 0
Egeria
Christabel
The two latter vessels had a tight contest for the second
prize, being separated by a very short distance as they
crossed Dover Buoy. The three next boats arrived as un-
der : H. M. s.
sphinx 3 19 0
Gloriana
Marina 3 28 0

FATAL ACCIDENT BY PLAYING AT THREE STICKS
PENNT.—Yesterday afternoon, whilst several persons
ware amusing thPlm Alves by playing at Aunt Sally and

Three Sticks a Penny, a man named William Higgs was,
whilst stooping to pick up somo of the sticks, struck on the
head by a falsely played weapon. He was at once rendered
insensible, and was removed to the hospital, where he
expired in less than a quarter of an hour after his ad-
mission. The affair appears to have been ono of pure
accident.

FERDINAND BLIND.—The Vossische Zeitung, a
moderate Liberal paper of Berlin, states that the ex-
asperation against the Prussian Government is unbounded
in Wirtemberg, and that deep hatred of bount von Bis-
marck fills all hearts. Among the soldiers in 4ie south an
uncontrollable spirit manifests itself, and fears are expressed
that the Cabinet war, as meditated by Bismark, will end iu
a German civil war. " The photograph of Ferdinand
Blind," the letter in the Vossische says, "is exhibited in
Stuttgardt, in the shop windows wreathed with immortelles,
and people loudly declare he is a second William Tell."
From another source it is stated that the " Landwehr-men
of Sigmaringen, who are called into service for the Prus-
sian army, kissed the portrait when marching through the
streets, and gave enthusiastic cheers, amidst tears, in
honour of the deceased."
OUR ENGLISH RAPPAREE BOY !—Sir Robert
Peel seems anxious to justify the Government in
having got rid of his counsels, says the Spectator (very
justifiably) by behaving in Parliament as much like a wild
Irishman at Donnybrook fair, and as little like an Irish
Secretary, whose duty it is to try to make Ireland as ra-
tional as possible. Yesterday week, on a fresh discus-
sion of Chief Justice Lefroy's competence to do his work
on the bench at 92, and the Lord Justice of Appeal Black-
burn's competence for the same sort of duties at 84„ Sir
Robert Peel apparently gave the lie direct to Mr. Maguire,
charging him with making a statement which he knew to
be " perfectly unfounded." (The statement appears to
have been the reiteration of a rumour that there are two
insuperable difficulties in Chief Justice's Lefroy's mind
about resigning that he cannot resign under a Tory
Governmeat without making room for Mr. White-
side, who defends him, and whom he is supposed to
find intolerable, and that he cannot resign under a
Liberal Government without opening the way for
a Liberal). Of course Mr. Maguire rose to order.
The Speaker said Sir Robert Peel was quite unparliamen-
tary, and must apologise ; Sir George Grey was mildly
persuasive; Sir Robert Peel curtly declined to withdraw
his words ; the Speaker became dignified and authorita-
tive; Sir Robert Peel only put on his hat, like Mr. Bockum
Dolffs, when he wishes to silence Count Bismarck by sus-
pending a sitting ; the Speaker spoke once more with
sterner emphasis ; Sir George Grey explained in still
sweeter tones what expression it was,—Sir Robert Peel
knew quite as well as he did,—that he was expected to
withdraw ; Mr. Whiteside offered an enticing suggestion
as to what Sir Robert Peel might say that he had meant,
and then, at last, Sir Robert Peel rose and explained, ac-
cording to Mr. Whiteside's hint,
that he charged Mr.
Maguire not with falsehood, but with error,—adding, as
the house laughed at his reluctant and awkward retracta-
tion, " That is really what I said. I have often had to ex-
plain what I may have said." Doubtless—only too often,
for Sir Robert Peel speaks first and thinks afterwards. " I
am sorry," he added, with quite a burst of reason, " that I
rose to speak at all." And this was the Ex-Secretary for
Irish Affairs,— an officer who needs more weight and good
sense than any other member of the Administration except
the Prime Minister.

THE PRUSSIAN LANDIVEHR.—The Prussian Land-
wehr continues to show very little enthusiasm for
mobilisation. The following is an extract from a letter to
the Rhenish Gazette, from Dortmund, dated the 17th :
" To-day have passed through this place a number of men
of the Landwehr and the reserve of the battalion of Iserlohn.
The laws on the press do not permit us to relate the senti-
ments which animate these soldiers. But here are some
facts which will enable you to judge. At the railway sta-
tionthn they tore a gate off its hinges and threw it
on
rails ;in the waiting-room and at the luggage-office they
smashed 56 large squares of glass, to repeated cries of Bis-
marck. The servants of the company, the proprietor of
the refreshment-rooms, and the waiters did not dare to re-
fuse them anything when they demanded it with these
words, I say, Bismarck,' for those who spoke thus had at
the same time their faces inflamed with anger, and their
sticks raised."
THEea e
QUESTION ON THE CLYDE.—What
t h
the hecommencement of a severe struggle be-
tweens
r n
WA
capital
to be GaEnd labour in the en gineerin g
and shipbuilding
trades in this neighbourhood was decided upon on Friday.
In order to put an end to the frequent demands upon them,
the master engineers and shipbuilders on the Clyde on Fri-
day decided on a thorough lock-out, to take effect on the
28th inst. It is to be hoped that negotiations will yet pre-
vent this frightful calamity coming on the district.—North
British 3lail.

0- DEATH OF SIR J. MAXWELL TYLDEN.—The death
was announced yesterday morning of Sir John Maxwell
Tylden, in his 80th year. The deceased was born at
Misted, near Sittingbourne, in 1787, and was twice
married. In early life he connected himself with the army,
and served with distinction in South America, at the cap-
ture of Monte Video and Buenos Ayres, in the Peninsular
war, in India, and at the capture of Java, and also at New
Odom. Wt. *toad knighted is 1812.