The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-27 00:00:00

THE ATLANTIC YACHT RACE,

(From the Correspondent of the Times.)
OFF COWES, Dec. 26.
The Ocean Yacht Race is ended. The Henrietta
passed the Needles at 3 46 p.m. yesterday, winning
the race and the £lB,OOO stakes. The Fleetwing
arrived here at 1 a.m. to-day, and the Vesta at 4
a.m. The three yachts are now lying at anchor in
this harbour, and crowds of people are visiting
them and admiring their sharp lines and natty rig.
The citizens of this town vie with each other in
courtesies to the American yachtsmen, and the
hospitalities of the Royal Yacht Club have been
tendered them by the secretary, Captain Brown
R.N.

The Vesta reports no special incident during

her long voyage. The Fleetwing had rather a
rough passage, and six of her seamen were, unfor-
tunately, washed overboard from the cockpit. Of
the trip of the Henrietta, with which yacht my for-
tunes were linked during the race, I am able to give
you a more detailed account. The logs of the other
boats will be sent to you for publication as soon as

possible.
We left New York city on Tuesday, the 11th
inst. ' The excitement about the race, which had
been gradually increasing during the fortnight be-
fore the start, seemed most intense when the day
of departure at length arrived. All the vessels in
the- harbour and boats upon the river were gaily
decked with flags. Numerous excursion steamers
were chartered to escort the contestants to Sandy
Hook. At the docks, where lay the tugs which
were to convey the yachtsmen on board their craft,
great crowds had collected, and cheered heartily as

the tugs steamed off. The day was clear, cool, and

bright, and the fresh westerly wind was just what
the voyagers most desired. The yachts were
anchored off Staten Island, and there the scene was
even more animated than in the harbour. Steamers
full of cheering spectators sailed around the
little vessels. The music from the band upon
the River Queen, chartered by the New York
Yacht Club, was echoed by the bands upon the
excursion steamers. The United States revenue
cutter fired a salute. The hills of Staten Island
were dotted with observers, and flags flew, from
every villa. A fleet of pilot boats clustered off West
Bank to accompany the yachts to sea. The forts
which line the entrance to the harbour dipped their
colours. As the New York Yacht Club steamer
passed the Henrietta the distinguished officers and
gentlemen on board gave three hearty cheers for
"the only man who goes in his own boat." The
enthusiasm was as remarkable as the good wishes,
loudly expressed by every lip, were hearty and
sincere.

It required an experienced eye to detect any im-
portant differences between the three yachts as they
lay at anchor. All are of nearly the same burden,
the Henrietta registering 205 tons, the Vesta 201,
and the Fleetwing 212, American measurement.
The Henrietta and Fleetwing are keel-boats ; the
Vesta has what is termed a" centre-board," or false
keel, like the celebrated yacht America. Of course,
the three yachts had been very carefully equipped,
carrying spare sails and spars, wire rigging, and
extra tillers. In the Henrietta, sailed Mr. Bennett,
the owner; Messrs. Jerome, Knapp, and Fisk,
judges and guests ; Captain Samuels, Sailing-master
Lyons, and a crew of 24 men, including Mr. Jones,
first officer ; Mr. Coles, second mate ; a carpenter,
sailmaker, and two stewards. The Fleetwing,
owned by Mr. George Osgood, was commanded by
Captain Thomas, with a crew of 22 men ; and
Messrs. Centre and Staples, of the New York Yacht
Club, went in her as judges. The Vesta, owned
by Mr. Pierre Lorillard, carried Messrs. George
Lorillard and Taylor, as judges, Captain Dayton,
and a crew of 23 petty officers and seamen. Each
of the yachts had previously won several closely
contested matches, and only the popular prejudice
against " centre-board" vessels in rough water gave
the other two boats an advantage over the Vesta in
the heanywagers staked upon the race.

At eleven o'clock the racing signal of the Hen-
rietta was displayed, and the yachts were taken in
tow by the tugs for the starting point off Sandy
Hook. Accompanied by innumerable steamers,
propellers, yachts, and pilot-boats, and amid re-
newed cheering and excitement, they were hauled
down through the Narrows and assigned their re-
spective stations. Precisely at one o'clock Mr. Fear-
ing, the starter, gave the signal for the race to begin.
In a moment the tug lines were cast off and sails
hoisted. The Fleetwing, occupying the most
northerly position, first felt the breeze and danced
away over the waves, the Vesta following closely.
The Henrietta, lying nearer the shore, had decidedly
the worst of the start, but regained her position as
she dropped away from the land. The tugs and
steamers sailed in line after the yachts, and pre-
sented a most picturesque sight. The wreck of the
Scotland was in full view, grimly reminding the
yachtsmen of the dangers they were about to brave.
The strains of " Auld Lang Syne" from the
steamers recalled to the adventurers the friendsthey
were leaving. Then a cloud obscured the sun, the
wind gradually rose, the yachts increased their
speed, the good-bye cheers were faintly heard, the
lightship of Sandy Hook was passed ; the open sea
was before us, and the voyage had commenced in

earnest.
At 245 p.m. the Neversink Highlands" sunk
out of sight. The yachts were then abeam of each
other, the Henrietta having caught the ten-knot
breeze. All canvas was set, and the Vesta sailed
wing-and-wing. Daylight now rapidly faded, and
the sun disappeared in a glory of crimson and gold.
The tug Philip, which -had been chartered by Mr.
Lorillard to accompany the Vesta until nightfall,
turned homeward with a farewell hurrah, and the
crews of the yachts bade good bye to the United
States with answering cheers. Each captain now
chose his own course, the Fleetwing keeping to the
northward, the Henrietta holding the European
steamer track, and the Vesta evidently making
for the northern passage. At 6 p.m., the wind blow-
ing steadily from W.N.W., we lost sight of the
Fleetwing in the darkness ; but the Vesta was still
abreast, looking like a phantom ship in the
dim starlight. The Henrietta now increased
her speed, rocking over the waves as gently as a
cradle, and at 8 o'clock the Vesta had disappeared.
We saw neither of our rivals again until they came
into Cowes. Songs and stories in the cabin, and
heavy snow squalls on deck, marked our first night
at sea.

The next day was bright and cold ; we carried all
sail, making 11 knots an hour until noon, when the
Henrietta was struck by a heavy snow squall, and
the topsails had to be taken in. During the 23
hours we had made 225 knots by observation, and
237 by log, and found oursolvzs in lat. 40.7 deg.
and long. 68-52. The wind was northerly, and
came in strong gusts. At 4.15 p.m. we passed the
steamer Cuba, and at 9 o'clock another steamer, to
both of which we showed our racing signals, receiv-
ing prompt replies. Several sailing vessels were
sighted, but .they all kept away from us as soon as
we showed our dark blue flag, as if believing the
canard that the yachts were Fenian privateers. The
weather grew more stormy towards night, and our
little boat was at times half under water, but be-
having most admirably. The mainsails were reefed
before midnight, but as the weather thoderated the
reefs were shaken out and both jibs set. Messrs.
Lyon and Jones, who headed the two watches into
which the crew Was divided, vied with each other
in handling the yacht carefully, and through this
storm, as throughout the entire voyage, the Hen-
rietta had all the canvas she could
say y
safely carry, but
her
not an inch more; consequently ,peeu,
was
steadily maintained, but nothing was strained, and
nothing carried away.

At noon on the second nautical (lay we scored 210
miles by chart, and 232 by log, the discrepancy being
accounted for by a current which had drifted theg
yacht over 20 miles to the south-west. Clear, sun_
shiny weather during the day, and brightmoonlight,
with occasional snow-squalls at night, cloned the
record for the 13th of Dec. The next morning the
weather was cloudy and warm, and the sea had
fallen. Some of the guests enjoyed their siesta on
deck; The servants, unexpectedly appearing in
white trousers, scorned like ghosts from the long-
departed summer. Nothing was in sight upon
the ocean except flocks of gulls and Mother Carey's
chickens. At noon we had made 203 miles by a

fine observation. In the evening the placid moon
shone silvery upon a sea as smooth as the Thames.
Reclining in the comfortable cabin, with Chateau
Margaux and Partagas within easy reach, the
guests listened to the captain's stories of haunted
ships and suicides at sea, and dismal wrecks in the
Southern Ocean. Towards midnight, however,
the scene changed, and repeated squalls, with rain
and hail, struck the tiny craft and bowled her along
at the rate of 11, 12, and 13 knots an hour.
At sunrise the next morning a snowstorm began.
The sea and sky seemed one, and both were a deep
slate colour. The men, half white with the snow,
moved slowly at their work. The dark horizon was
no iceably narrowed as the snow drifted .down.
The Henrietta hissed through the water that foamed
upon the deck. To leeward a spar from some
wreck lifted itself to the view, like a great skeleton
finger, indicative of ruin. All our surroundings
were mournful and depressing. No observations
could be taken, but by dead reckoning we had
gained 225 miles during the past 24 hours. As

night fell the yacht sailed faster and faster, until

as we looked over the side where the waves came
cascading over the diminutive bulwarks, we seemed
to be fairly flying along. The sky cleared, but the
wind freshened at sunset,,and the light sails were
hauled down and the mainsail reefed. The yacht

quivered like a racehorse over-driven, and the
pumps, which were tested ev9ry hour, sounded

dismally, but showed no leakage. Sea after sea
boarded the staggering mat. A wave came burst-

ing through the skylight into the cabin. All night
long this heavy weather continued, but the yacht
ran so easily before the free wind that everybody
slept as quietly as if the Henrietta were the Great
Eastern.

In the grey of the following morning, Sunday,
the 16th of December, we passed a brig bound to
Newfoundland, and her crew, who had evidently
heard nothing of the yacht race, climbed up the
rigging to stare at us as we dashed swiftly and
silently by, like the Flying Dutchman. We were
now crossing the Grand Banks, and at noon we
had sailed 246 miles for the day, and were one-third
the distance to Cowes. The -wind still remained
northerly and the yacht kept her course without
variation. At 2 o'clock the captain, officers, and
yachtsmen assembled in the cabin for Divine wor-

ship. While the winds whistled shrilly without and
the waves splashed across the decklights overhead,
the prayers for the day were repeated, and a chapter
from the Bible and one of Jay's brief sermons were

read. At 10 p.m. we were off the Grand Banks and

off soundings, going at the rate of 12 knots an hour.
Heavy seas still boarded the vessel, nearly washing
overboard one of the crew. The wind still held from
the north, and all hands were not too sensible to

credit the captain's superstitious stories, and refrain
from changing their attire lest that should bring a
change of wind. The night passed quietly and the
ship averaged 11 knots, in spite of the seas that
constantly hammered her like marine Vulcans.
The next day found us in " the roaring forties,"
which we had been taught to dread. The character
of the ocean had entirely changed. Instead' of danc-
ing over short, chopping waves, like those of the
English Channel, we appeared to be passing on
ranges of water hills. Running thus in the trough of
the sea, there seemrd to be no horizon. The water,
glazed by the snow that fell almost constantly, had
the cons;stency of oil. The sky was filled with dull,
leaden clouds, but the barometer rose steadily. The
wind, which had been rather doubtful during the
morning, blew from the north once more. A fine
observation gave us 280 miles for the yacht's pro-
gress during the preceding 24 hours. In six days
and 14 hours we had sailed half-way across the At-
lantic. In the afternoon a beautiful rainbow
brightened the horizon ; but this " bow of promise"
proved most deceitful, and brought us renewed hail
and snow squalls instead of pleasant weather. -Dur-
ing the night the wind shifted to W.S.W. We
" jibed" ship and hoisted the squaresail, but were
forced to lower it again in a few hours, as the signs
of dirty weather ominously increased.

The effect of " jibing," we may explain to the
uninitiated, is to change the cant of a vessel from
one side to the other. Naturally, then, the guests,
who had gone to rest when the yacht had an incli-
nation of 45 degrees in one direction, suddenly
awoke, cross and sullen, when they were rolled over
in their berths by the careening of the yacht to 45
degrees the other way. The weather was now
exceedingly threatening. The mainsail was double-
reefed, for the first time, and the vessel put in order

for a storm. At noon we had run 250 miles. The
S.W. wind freshened after noon, and at 4 p.m. blew
a regular gale. The mainsail was furled and three
reefs taken in the foresail, and the jibs taken in.
Even with this small spread of canvas the yacht
was driven nine miles an hour. On deck the rain
and spray shut in the vessel like a watery curtain.
Below the pitching and tossing rendered it im-
possible to sleep ; a bucket of water was placed
near the stove to extinguish the fire should necessity
require ; the deck lights leaked unexpectedly and
uncomfortably ; holes were bored in the state-room
floor to let out the water should the skylight be
broken in ; the servants were dashed about the
cabins as if shot from invisible catapults ; the
guests had enough to do to hold themselves insid e
their berths. Under these circumstances; which
would have delighted Mark Tapley, everybody
became again good-humoured.
Just at midnight the struggling yacht was
stunned by a tremendous sea that burst over the
quarter, struck full upon the foresail, and then fell
heavily upon the deck, staving in the yacht's boat.
Simultaneously the carpenter rushed wildly into the
cabin, pale with alarm, and shouted, " Mr. Bennett,
we must heave her to. She's opening forward, sir."
With great good sense nobody stirred save Mr.
Bennett, wbo quietly informed Captain Samuels of
the carpenter's report. As quietly the captain
came down from the deck and examined the
supposed leak, which turned out to be nothing but
the bilge-water oozing through the inner planking,
near the cook's berth. The gale strengthened how-
ever, and at last the captain decided that the Hen-
rietta could be driven no longer.
is reparations were
the ship
made to heave to, which simply laying
head to wind, under close canvas, so that she rides
as if at anchor. The storm trysail happened to be
stored in the cabin, and as the sailors came silently
down, oiled the tackle, and carried the sail up to
the deck, the scene reminded one of the bringing
forth of the pall for a ,funeral. A pause, in a race
like this, seemed the burial of all our hopes. Never-
theless, it was some consolation to be informed by
Capt. Samuels that in his 30 years' experience he
had never seen a vessel that could face such a gale
so long, and charitably to hope that our rivals were
having better weather than ourselves.
Once hove-to, the yacht rocked lazily and plea-
santly. The waves rushed and the winds howled
past, but did not disturb her. Before noon the
next day, December 19, the wind had lulled and
the ship again started off briskly, as if rested and
refreshed. Everybody now changed his attire, and
for once an old superstition proved true, for the
wind shifted to the north and west again. The sun
shone pleasantly, but the sea was still running high,
the waves blown about like the sandhills of a desert,
disclosing strange mirages of tents and sails as they
revealed scraps of the horizon here and there.. We
made our shortest distance on this stormy day, gain-
ing only 113 miles. At 3 p.m. we were going 13
knots, and kept up this pace for several hours. In
the evening we sailed calmly in the mellow moon-
light that marked our track before us with its sheen.
The cabin fire was allowed to die out, and overcoats
were discarded. The seas rose on either side like
walls, and the yacht glided swiftly between them at
the rate of 12 knots an hour. There could have
been no stronger contrast to the. incidents of the
previous night.

Sailing along at the same pace the next morning
we scored 260 miles by noon. The clouds, mov-
ing in a grand procession from east to west, and
forming in solid masses behind us, promised a con-
tinuance of the fair wind. At 3 p.m. we passed
the steamer Louisiana, bound west, making out
her name from Marryatt's signal flag. That night
everything was cheering. The yachtsmen sung lus-
tily in the cabin, and the sailors answered as lustily
from the forecastle. The captain turned in for the
first time since our start. • But nothing is so vari-
able as the weather, By 1 o'clock the next morn-

ing there was a dead calm, and we came on deck
after breakfast to find a warm, summer day. The
yacht was scarcely moving through the water ; the
sails hung drooping from the yards ; the ocean was
perfectly smooth. The stillness was remarkable.
There was no ripple of the waves, no rustling of the
sails. Of course another superstitious change of
toilet ensued. One of the servants was discovered
to be a professional barber, and a shaving shop was
improvised, everybody contributing oils, pomatum,
and perfumery. There was a general " rejuvena-
tion." Those who had not been shaven for ten
days came from out the barber's hands as from a
disguise. Bits of unsuspected finery, such as fancy
neckties and scarf pins, were displayed. One would
have thought it a gala day ; but in truth nothing
could have been worse for us than this calm. Wel-
come even another gale, so that it came from the

west.
All this mummery was again effectual. About
11 a.m. a fine breeze sprang up from the south, and
under full canvas, sails drawing well, the Henrietta
cut her way through the calm ocean. The cabin
was too warm for comfort, and the yachtsmen re-
clined on deck, like turtles in the sun. A school of
porpoises passed the ship, and the second mate
started a legend, which I cannot but believe apo-
cryphal, that the yacht was going so fast as to strike
one of the fish and cut it in two. Better evidence
of her speed is to be found in the log, which records
that she sailed 157 miles that day, despite the time
lost by the calm. By night we were making 11
knots, with everything as snug and trim as on the
first day out. A soft, balmy morning succeeded,
and we were roused up at sunrise to salute a Bremen
steamer, that dipped her colours as she passed.
The yacht now ran easily, like a machine, rolling up

252 miles by noonday. At 3 p.m. we fell in with
a Scotch mist, and in the midst of it spoke the
packet-ship Philadelphia, 11 days out from Liver-
pool. The captain of the Philadelphia doubly en-
couraged us by reporting that he bad heard nothing
of the other yachts and that the winds were westerly.
The next day, Sunday, Dec. 23, we logged 196
miles. There was a brief calm at daybreak, followed
by light S.E. winds. At noon Divine service was
held in the cabin. The wind gradually rose during
the afternoon, and, as usual in the evening, the good
yacht rallied splendidly, increasing her progress ra-
pidly from 7 knots up to 12, at which rate she was
dashing along as the moon rose bloodred in the hazy
English sky. The excitement in regard to the race
now reached, fever heat. All jokes and stories be-
came stale, and nothing was talked of but yachts
and time and winds, and the probabilities and pos-
sibilities of the contest. In every distant vessel wo
saw a Fleetwing ; every star near the horizon was
transformed into the Vesta's signal light. At 8 p.m.
we were on soundings, and at 12 midnight off Cape
Clear. Thus the next morning, Dec. 24, found us
in the Chops of the Channel, hoping to eat our
Christmas dinner at Cowes. It was a murky, foggy,
dark, damp, disagreeable morning, and even at noon
it was impossible to take a solar observation ; but,
by dead reckoning, we had made 172 miles. The
carpenter, who had given us one sensation by dis-
covering a spurious leak, now treated us to another
by announcing that the Fleetwing was in sight.
Everybody clambered upon deck. Binocular glasses,
eye-glasses, spectacles, and telescopes were brought
to bear upon the imaginary yacht, which was soon
made out to be an English topsail schooner bound
the other way. Indignation followed excitement,
and both quickly merged into a hearty laugh.
Nearing the land of Christmas Carols and of
Dickens upon Christmas-eve it was impossible to
go to rest. After a late dinner we had our Christ-
mas songs and stories, and among the former was
a ditty composed in honour of the Henrietta, and
sung to the familiar air of " Sweet Evelina."

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

EALING CHRISTMAS ANNUAL STEEPLECHASES

WEDNESDAY.

Stewards: Duke of Hamilton, Lord Coventry, Lord
Poulett, Lord Charles Ker, Colonel Knox, C. H. Carew,
and S. T. Baker, Esqs. Clerk of the Course and Judge:
Mr. T. Marshall. Handicapper : Mr. J. F. Verrall.
Clerk of the Scales : Mr. M. Verrall.
Favoured as the Ealing Meeting was to-day with bril-
liant weather, and falling on Boxing-day—one of the most
popular of Cockney holidays—it could scarcely have been
other than successful ; but the enormous attendance ex-
ceeded the most sanguine expectations of the promoters,
whose coffers will be very considerably augmented from
the proceeds of the gates. The Great Western Railway
Company ran special trains from Paddington at frequent
intervals, and each of them was heavily laden with plea-
sure-seekers, while the flys and other conveyances for the

accommodation of visitors also did a good business at the

Ealing end of the line. The course is pleasantly situated
about ono mile and a half from the Ealing Station, but be-
ing composed of low-lying land and undulating, the recent
rains had had the effect of rendering it somewhat soft, but
the committee had provided plenty of straw in the ring,
and laid down planks from the gate to the entrance to the
Stand, so that walking in the mud was much obviated.
The " going," however, was somewhat heavy, but the
weather keeping fine all the afternoon the outing was a
very enjoyable ono for the Londoners. As will be seen
from the appended returns, the fields for the five races set
for decision to-day were very large; but as the details are
given below comment on the running is unnecessary. The
committee of management made excellent arrangements,
notwithstanding which the shades of evening set in before
the last race was decided.

AP
Northampton
Windsor Spring 4
Edinburgh Sp. Meeting 6
Newmarket Craven 8
Curragh
31)
Chester (continued)
York Spring 7
Salisbury
Doncaster Spring
Bath
JU:
Ascot Summer 4
Windsor Summer
Manchester Summer
Hampton l3
Odiham l7
Bibury Club lB

The Maiden Hunt Steeplechase of 50 sous ; llst 71b each ;
half-bred horses allowed 71b ; the winner to be sold for
£100; certain penalties and allowances. About three

JU:
Carlisle 2
Newmarket July 2
Pontefract
Reading
Liverpool July Meeting 10
llungerford
Nottingham July

AUG
Goodwood (continuod) 1
Ripon
Brighton • • 6
Brighton Club 8 I
Lewes
Egham ... • l3
Wolverhampton l3
Stockton
Oxford ••••• 15
Hastings
SEPTE.
Warwick

Margate
Curragh
Leicester
Abingdon
Doncaster

miles.
Mr. Wesley's Hungerford, by Windhound —Mite (not
to be sold), list 51b (Col. Knox) 1
Capt. Shaw's Young Aladdin, 6 yrs (.£100), list 71b
(Pickett) 2
Mr. G. Hughes's Caller 0 u (h b) (£100) 10st 91b (Laxton) 3
Mr. J. Gilkes's Fairplay (late Chirp), aged (X 5), list Mb
. Grant 0
Mr. Hobson's Vision, 6 y (Mr
rs (£5O), 10st 91b (Owner)) 0
Mr. W. Jones's Zeloo (h b), 6 yrs (not to be sold), llst 51b
(Capt. Harford) 0
Mr. Morris's Old Ireland (h b), aged (£100), lOst 91b
(car. llst) Barton)Owner 0
Mr. Williams's Confederate (£5O), list (T. B) 0
Betting-9 to 4 agst Hungerford, 4to 1 each agst Vision
and Zeloo, 6 to 1 agst Old Ireland, 10 to 1 agst Confederate.
Hungerford made nearly all the running, and won in a
canter by six lengths from Young Aladdin. Caller Ou was
a bad third, and Vision was the only one of the others that
passed the post. An objection was lodged against the
winner on the ground of not being a maiden horse, but
after consideration the Stewards overruled it.

The Grand Annual Handicap Steeplechase of 100 sovs,
added to a sweepstakes of 15 sovs each, 10 ft, and 3 only
if declared ; the winner of any handicap steeplechase
value 100 sovs after Dec. 11 (at 10 a.m.) 101 b extra ;
any other winner 51b extra ; about three miles and a
half. • .
Mr. Tubb's Meerschaum, aged, 10st 111 b (Capt. Harford) 1
Mr. C. Green's Reporter, aged, list 41b...(Mr Mumford) 2
Lord Poulett's Benazet, 6 yrs, 12st 71b ...(Mr Edwards) t
Mr. C. Somers's The Rogue, aged, list (J. Knott) f
Mr. Lynton's Hornet, 6 yrs, 12st 41b (Griffiths) 0
Mr. Studd's Shangany, 5 yrs, 12st 21b (Mr. Thomas) 0
Mr. C. M. Bond's Gardener, 4 yrs, lOst 111 b (Ryan 0
Mr. J. Daily's Jack's Alive, 6 yrs, lOst 91b (Ablett) 0
Mr. Beadman's Threadbare, 4 yrs, lOst 91b (JJ. Page 0
Betting-7 to 4 agst Hornet, 4to 1 agst Benazet, 100 to
15 each agst Jack's Alive and Threadbare, 10 to 1 agst
Meerschaum, 100 to 9 agst Shangarry. Meerschaum, after
going a short distance, took up the running, closely attended
by Reporter and Hornet, Shangarry, a couple of lengths in
their rear, heading the others, the extreme tail being
brought up by Gardener. On passing the Stand for the
first time Hornet took up the running, Shangarry and
Meerschaum going on head and head clear of Jack's Alive,
Reporter, and Rogue, Gardener still being many lengths in
the rear. At the succeeding fence Threadbare refused, but
got over at the second attempt, and went on in pursuit.
Meerschaum, on the far side, again took up the running, his
immediate attendants being Shangarry, Hornet, and Repor-
ter; and this order was maintained till descending the hill,
where Jack's Alive joined the leaders, but as they were pass-
ing the Stand a second time The Rogue rushed to the
front, Jack's Alive simultaneously giving way. After
clearing the next fence Meerschaum ran up to The Rogue,
Shangarry getting badly over, thereby losing a lot of
ground; on the far side, Meerschaum had increased his
load to at least half a dozen lengths, Reporter going on
second, followed at intervals of about a couple of lengths
by Benazet, Hornet, and The Rogue, none of the otjiers
persevering with the exception of Shangarry, who was
beaten on the top of the hill. An interesting race ensued
from the last fence, but Meerschaum, having much the best
of it, won, after a punishing finish, by three lengths from
Reporter. At least 20 lengths in rear of Mr. Green's horse
The Rogue and Benazet finished a dead heat for third
place, having struggled home completely pumped out.
Shangarry alone of the others walked past the post.
Threadbare, when beaten off, fell at the fence on tho far
side the second time round.

IMBER.
Richmond..

1V bile these festivities were in progress we had
made Scilly Island lights at 7.45 p.m. The
current drifting us to leeward, we steered S.S.E.
for_ an offing, and passed the islands hand-
somely, having made no tack since we left
New York, and having only varied 11 miles from
the straight line between the two points. So admir-
able a landfall reflects great creiit upon Captain
Samuels. At 3 a.m. we passed the Lizard Light,
going 12 knots an hour steadily, the Henrietta, like
a well jockeyed racehorse, reserving her best pace
for the finish. Running close to the bold coast, we
sighted the Eddystone, Start Point, and Portland
Bill, and at 12 40 p.m. on Christmas day took on
board a Cowes pilot. A heartier cheer never rent
the air than that which greeted the pilot's announce-
ment that no other American yacht had passed up
the Channel. The race seemed won, and as a sud-
den blaze of sunshine lit upon the chalk cliffs of Old
England in silvery glory, it was like an illumina-
tion of welcome. Under every stitch of canvass,
with even her staysail set, and with her racing flag
and Yacht Club ensignlproudly floating in the stiff
breeze, the Henrietta dashed by the Needles, and
Messrs. Jerome and Knapp, the judges for the Fleet-
wing and the Vesta, decided that all the conditions
of the race had been strictly complied with. Down
went the racing flag, and the private signal of Mr.
Bennett took its place. As the yacht turned up the
Channel to Cowes the land shut out the wind, and,
like one who has finished a long and toilsome task,
the brave little yacht decreased her speed and floated
leisurely Along. Her blue lights and rockets an-
nounced her arrival here, after having crossed the
Atlantic to the Isla of Wight in the unprecedented
time of 13 days, 22 hours, and 46 minutes, mean
time, and that without having carried away any of
her light sails or spars, or even so much as a shred
of canvas or stand of rope. As she dropped anchor
she was cheered from the Royal Yacht Club-house
and by the peopleof Cowes. Capt. Luard, of H.M.S.
Hector, by direction of the Admiralty, at once sent
a midshipman on board to offer Mr. Bennett the
facilities of her Majesty's dockyard at Portsmouth
for repairing any damages the yacht might have sus-
tained, but this offer was gratefully declined, since
no repairs are needed. And thus the winners of the
blue riband of the Ocean Derby enjoyed their Christ-
mas dinner in Merrie England, and toasted the
Queen, the President, and the Henrietta.

The Selling Steeplechase Plate of 30 sovs, for 3-yr-olds
and upwards; weight for age. About two miles.

Mr. %V. W. Baker's Gorshawk, by West Australian, aged
(ao, list 121 b (Mr. Mumford) 1
Duke of Hamilton's Wedding Peal, 4 yrs (X3O), list 31b
_ _

(J. Page'
Mr. Oldreeve's Lot 84, aged (£3O), list 121b...(8. Laud'
Mr. IL Cranshaw's Tourist, 6 yrs (X3O), list 121 b

W (Barr
y;
Capt. Shaw's Tambour Major, 6 yrs O) 12st 51b
.-- -

(Pickett:
Mr. Jones's Helice, 4 yrs (X3O), list 3113...(Waddington.
Mr. Franks's Salamis' aged (£3O), list 121 b„, (Griffiths'
Mr. Church's White Stockings, aged (X3O), list 121 b

(Mr. Grant) 0
Mr. C. Somers's Finale, 3 yrs (X3O), lOst 31b (Kennedy) to
Betting-3 to 1 agst Gorshawk, 4to 1 agst Wedding
Peal, 9to 2 agst Salamis and Tourist. Gorshawk, with
the exception of a short distance, made play throughout,
and won in a canter by six lengths from Wedding Peal.
Lot 84 was a bad third, Tourist fourth, Helices fifth, White
Stockings sixth, and Tambour Major last. None of tho
others passed the post. Salamis fell at the first fence, and
was not further persevered with. The winner was bought
in for 100- guineas, and Mr. R. Church claimed Hence.

•
The Tradesmen's Cup, value 25 guineas, for horses the
property of persons residing within 25 miloF.l of London ;
list 71b each ; winners over a country once, 71b; twice
or more, 141 b extra ; horses having won a steeplechase
value 50 sous not qualified for this race. Once round.
Mr. William's St. Maximum, by Father Thames—Emma -
Donna, 12st 71b (Rickaby) 1
Mr. Frank's Bandoline, list 71b
Lord Poulett's Father- O'Leary, 6 yrs, list 71b

(Mr. Edwards
Mr. Miles's Fairplay, 12st (Capt. Harford;
Mr. W. Marshall's Lady Sarah, list 71b (Mr. Mumford'
Mr. Clare's Mrs. Naggleton (late Molly), list 71b _

- -.
(T. Ablett 0
Mr. A. Yates's Confusion, list 71b (Owner 0
Mr. H. F. Jackson's Ebor, 11st 71b .....(Owner 0
Mr. A. Jacobson's Ilarkaway, list 71b Owner 0
Mr. Shepherd's Rattler, list 71b (Owner 0
Mr. Halliday's Barabbas, list 71b.. (J. Knott 0
Mr. C. Hodge's Ingratitude, list 71b J. New 0
Lord C. Ker's Clarina, list 71b (Owner 0
Mr. F. Allen's Comet, list 71b (States 0
Mr. C. Somers's Lydia, 11st 71b ....(Kennedy 0
Mr. Steller's Over-the-Sea, list 71b ...(Mr. Grant) 0
Betting-3 to 1 agst Confusion-6 to 1 "bar one."
Father O'Leary cut out the work to the brow of the hill,
when St Maximum and Bandoline, who had boen waiting,
headed the leader, the first-named of the pair winning
very easily by four lengths; Father O'Leary was a bad
_ _

THE GRlFFlN.—Besides being an heraldic em-
blem, the griffin was an animal in whose existence
the early naturalists firmly believed. Its supposed eggs
and claws were carefully preserved, and aro frequently
mentioned in ancient inventories and lists of curiosities.
"They showed me" (in a church at Ratisbonne), says
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, in one of her letters, "a
prodigious claw, set in gold, which they called the claw
of a griffin ; and I could not forbear asking the reverend
priest that showed it whether the griffin was a saint. The
question almost put him beside his gravity, bat he
answered, ' They only kept it as a curiosity.' " Tho sup-
posed eggs (no doubt ostrich eggs) were frequently made
into drinking-cups. The Tradescants had QUO in their
collection, kept in countenance by an egg of a dragon,
two feathers of the tail of a phoenix, and the claw of a
ruck, "a bird able to trusso an elephant." Sir John
tßhi
ag
tht
t3nlnervbenydl
yousnTfratvhdias,
dc h,
f xu
lx vibe.
Mandeville gives the natural history of the griffin in his
aslt`rwomashilmarwgeer learn
and
stronger than "eight lions or 100 l "
eag es, so that he could
with ease fly off to his nest with a great horse or a couple
of oxen yoked together, 'for," says he, "he has his
talouns so largo and so long, and so gra upon his feet as
thowghe thoi weren hornes of grete
oxen, or of bugles, or
of kijgn."—Hotten's History of Signboards.
A PiTmAN's VIEW OF THE QUEEN.-" ITOOray
hooray !" oi shouted ; for oi woe wat yow. call
transported. T' Queen, oi do believe, seed me, for she
looked at me, and shook her handkercher. When t' Queen
wos gone, oi looked down, for oi am higher than Molly,
and oi sez, " What do yow think on't, Molly ?" and she
wos a cryin. ' Sez oi, " Did oi stamp your toes, Molly ?"
for oi thcwt p'r'aps oi might dun so in my joy.
She sez, " No." Then sez oi, " Wet are yow a cryin
for ?" "Oi doant know," sed she; " but if oi ha' sin' t'
Queen, of am cryin' because oi am glad ; and if oi ain't sin
hur, oi am a cryin` because oi am sorry." ()emu's tears is
queer things. "Not sin her," sez oi, "Molly ? whoy that
wos hur, that stout, motherly-lookin' ooman, just the thing
for a queen ; for hur face sez that she's got a mother's hart,
and that she looks onus all as bein' bur lads and wenches?"
"Wos that hur ?" sed she. " Whoy she was dressed
plain." "Plain ?" sez oi, "Molly ?" and oi put on such
a look. "Plain ?" sex oi again ; and of stopped,
for it wos a solemn subject, and oi wished
to make a impression. " Would yow ha' her dressed any-
thing but plain? She ain't cum hero tew day as t' big
folkses queen ; she is cum as t' people's queen. If she'd a
cum all goold and feathers, the big folks would ha' sed,
She's ourn ;' but she's cum jest t'way to say tow us, 'Oi
loike yow, moi lads and wenches, aswell as oi loike others.'
God bless hur !" sez oi ; " and, Molly, oi feel that if any-
body wos a goin' to hurt hur, that oi should let yow go
home alone, and oi should foight for hur until oi could
neither dee nor feel."—Dickens's "41( the Year Rome.

third.
The Castlebar Plate of 40 sovs (handicap); any winner
after Dec. 14 (at 10 a.m.) 71b extra ; about two miles.
Duke of Hamilton's Sinite, aged, 10st 101 b (J. Page 1
Mr. J. Daily's Sir Bobby, aged, 12st 71b (T. Ablett 2
Mr. Ellison's St. Maximum, aged, 10st71b(Mr.Mumford 3
Mr. J. Davies' Oscar, 6 yrs, list 71b (Rickaby 0
Mr. Hobson's Liston, 6 yrs, list 41b (Owner 0
Major Martyn's Arens, aged, lOst 71b...(G. Waddington 0
Mr. Frank's Bandoline, aged, lOst 41b (Griffiths 0
Lord Poulett's Wheldrake, 5 yrs, llst ...(Mr Edwards 0
Mr. Ricard's Pirate, 4 yrs, lOst (Rickards 0
Mr. S. Severn's Approver, 4 yrs, lOst (carried 10st 41b
(Halley 0
Mr. Hall's Kingsbury, 6 yrs, 10st (J. Llsedge 0
Mr. Bilham's Rochester, aged, 10st 71b (J. Reeves 0
Mr. Henry's Jassy, 4 yrs, 10st 71b (States) 0
Betting.-4 to 1 each agst Sir Bobby and Oscar, 7to 1
agst Sicite, 8 to 1 each agst St. Maximum, Jassy, and
Liston, 10 to 1 agst Bandoline.

Arcus immediately after starting took up the running,
followed by Wheldrake, Bandoline, and Jassy, the remain-
der going in good order, with the exception of St. Maxi-
mum, who brought up the rear. All got well over the
first fence, but at the second obstacle Pirate rushed at it
and came down. Passing the Stand Jassy headed Arcus
and Bandoline, Oscar going on fourth, Liston fifth, and
Sir Bobby sixth. Some distance in the rear of the others
followed Wheldrake, St. Maximum, and Rochester, many
lengths in rear of the last-named being the remounted
Pirate. After clearing the next fence Rochester stopped,
and could not be induced to cantiuue tbo contest, while
Jassy at every stride lost ground, eventually being headed
by Bandoline, Sir Bobby, and Arcus, Sinite, who had been
running well within herself, taking her place with the
leaders the moment Page called upon her. Half a mile
from home Bandoline was beaten, and Sir Bobby took up
the running, followed by Sinite, Bandoline, and St. Maxi_
mum at wide intervals ; but as they descended the hill to
the last fence, Sinite, full of running, went to the front,
and won by six lengths from Sir Bobby, who finished a
length in advance of
ping through a lot of beaten horses. Bandoline was fourth,Liston trotting in St. Maximum, the last-named run-
fifth, and Arcus sixth ; nothing else
passed the post.

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1867.
[JANUARY.
Manchester 1
FEBRUARY.
Lincoln Spring
********* 19 Nottingham 26
Barrow 2l I Derby

1
Liverpool Spring MARCH.
...... 5 'Epsom Spring 26
Chelmsford Spring,,,,,, 12 Lewes Spring 2B
West Drayt0n......,..,,. 19 Croxton Park 29
J 3 romley issiimmosism 21

THE SUN, LONLON, THURSOA,.Y EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1866.

Thirsk
Durham .. 22
Newmarket Ist Spring 22
Catterick
Chester 3O
Y.
Harpenden
Epsom Summer 2l
Newton 29
Croydon

Stockbridge l9
Chelmsford
Newcastle — 25
Curragh
Worcester Summer 27
Ipswich 27
,Y.
Down Royal Corporatn l7
Stamford
Huntingdon 23
Winchester
Southampton
GJodwood

York August
Dover ... 22
West Drayton 22
Plymouth ..... 23
Canterbury
Lichfield
Derby Summer
Weymouth
Tunbridge

Hendon l9
Monmouth
Manchester Autumn 2O
5 Newmarket Ist October 24
10 Walsall 25
OCTOBER.
Northampton Autumn. 1 Curragh
Edinburgh Autumn ... 2 Newmarket Houghton
Newmarket 2d October. 7 Worcester Autumn 29
Cheltenham l5