The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-31 00:00:00

and America. (Cheers.) I am no speechmaker,
yet the veriest tyro could not hesitate to
respond when such common interests are
coupled together (cheers) ; and I must confess
the higher and wilder beat the pulsations of my
heart when I think of the cordial sincere friendship
and love cementing the ties which should be our i
natural bond. (Cheers.) England and America !
Both nations have been rivals for years. England
is the mother; we are the child. (Cheers.) Both
have set the most brilliant examples of everything
right, proper, noble, good, and virtuous. (Cheers.)
We have tried to follow in your wake. If our steps
have been onward, yours have been upward ; we
have tried to emulate them. What we have done
you have taught us to do. (Cheers.) If in years
past our flags have been joined together and our
hands clasped, let us hope and wish that in years to
come England and America may be still more closely
united. (Loud cheers.) Looking down the long
vista of years to come, through the long corridors
of time, no dearer dream can we realise than that
of Great Britain and America joined hand in hand,
marching onward and upward together—(cheers)—
the stars round which our thoughts revolve like
satellites. (Cheers.) For, gentlemen, whom God
bath joined together let no man put asunder.
(Loud cheers.)
Major-General SEYMOUR, in replying for the
British Army, said,—I thank you sincerely for the
hearty way in which you have received the toast
proposed. The English army is, as you know, cer-
tainly not overpaid—(a laugh)--and in this respect
at least probably unlike the American army—(a
laugh)—so our guests whom we are assembled here
to honour will understand and believe me when I
say that it does not look to personal advantages or
pecuniary rewards as an incentive to do its duty half
as much as to the hope of being able to attain the
respect and approbation of its countrymen. (Cheers.)
These public occasions are, therefore, always hailed
by both services as affording a test and gauge of
the degree to which they are valued at particular
moments, and I am not afraid of being contradicted
when I say that, although our army is too small, it
never was more efficient. (Cheers.) Soldiers, equally
with sailors, are never backward in appreciating
enterprise ana skill, qualities which both have been
shown in no ordinary degree on the present occa-
sion, as proved by the almost unprecedentedly
short time in which those American yachts have
made their voyage at this inclement season of the
year. (Cheers.) I say almost, because her Ma-
jesty's ship Newcastle at the same season came in 11
,days to Falmouth ; but then there was the differ-
ence of tonnage, which makes all the difference in
the risk and danger. (Cheers.) It is with much
pleasure, then, that as a soldier I am allowed to
take my humble share in doing honour to these gal-
lant gentlemen who have made Cowes the goal of
their interesting race—(cheers)—and it is the more
pleasing that I have had many opportunities of
hearing my-brother officers speak with gratitude of
the facilities which were given them by American
officers of seeing the movements of the armies under
their guidance during the late war. (Cheers.) I
have often heard my father—whose name is, I be-
lieve, well known in America as almost the oldest
Admiral in the Fleet, and who was known probably
to several Cowes men now present as a near neigh-
bour in old days at Norris Castle—(cheers)—I have
heard him say that, in the different positions in
which be has found himself in various parts of the
world, he had continual intercourse with commanders
of American squadrons, and that he looked back to
that intercourse with much satisfaction. (Cheers.)
I repeat, therefore, that it is personally grateful to
my feelings to be present, but I have still a more
pleasing duty to perform. I happened to be at Os-
borne in attendarice on the Queen when the yachts
arrived, and I can speak, therefore, to the lively
interest which her Majesty evinced in all the parti-
culars of the voyage—(cheers)—and I am com-
manded by her Majesty to express her thanks for
the readiness which was shown to-day in bringing
the three yachts off Osborne. (Cheers.) The Queen
and the Royal Family derived much gratification in
seeing them under way. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I
again beg leave to thank you, and to drink all your
good healths. (Cheers.)
Captain LtrARD, in speaking to the toast for the
navy, said,—Although I cannot but feel that I rice
at very great disadvantage after the extremely in-
teresting speeches of General Taylor and General
Seymour, it is yet with no ordinary emotion
that I rise to return thanks in behalf of the
English navy on the present most auspicious occa-
sion. It is always a very great pleasure to us to
welcome the American flag into our waters ; but on
this occasion, when so remarkable an event as the
termination of the great ocean race is signalised by
the appearance of that flag here it is more than
usually so. I am sure that no Englishman—certainly
no English naval officer—can forget the memorable
words spoken by an Atherican Commodore at the
taking of the forts at Peiho, that blood was thicker
than water—(cheers)—and we all believe that the
spirit which prompted these words, and not only the
words, but the very efficient assistance then ren-
dered, will never be wanting on the part of the
great republic of the West. (Cheers.) I am sure,
speaking for the mother country-- far away down
east, as they would say on the other side of the
Atlantic—the impression made by the words uttered
and the assistance so generously given will never be
obliterated. (Cheers.) Through all the storms of
ponaltiiteincaaluctaontectrorvaers y, through all the necessities of
ft, through all our most distant anti-
cipations the future, we may confidently hope and
trust that of
ttfhe two nations may press forward hand
in hand together--(ebeers
)
anticipated by Colonel Taylor
that the futurernmayberealised.
(Cheers.) The numbers assembled to do honour to
this occasion must be a gratifying as well as con-
vincing proof of the interest taken by England in
all that concerns our Transatlantic neighbours. In
the name of all ranks and
grades of the British
navy I thank you for the honour you have done
them by coupling them with the army and navy of
the United States. (Cheers.).

The CHAIRMAN, in giving the next toast, "peace
and Prosperity to the United States and to Great
Britain," said he proposed it with a firm conviction
that these would be best secured to both countries
by their permanent and indissoluble alliance.
(Cheers.) Nay, more, in that alliance would be
found the best security for the peace, the intellec-
tual progress,. and the liberties of the world.
(Cheers.) In this toast every true lover of his
country in either hemisphere would, he was con-
vinced, heartily join. All would feel with him,
that two great nations so closely united by
every
tie of blood and of interest should never be
severed even in thought. (Cheers.) The union be-
tween England and America appeared to him
hardly to belong to the mere category of political
arrangement, but to have iu it something of a closer
and more domestic character. He thought that in
this was to be found the secret of those transient
clouds which occasionally darkened the serenity of
our horizon. It had often been said by social phi-
losophers that husband and wife should not be
exactly similar in temper and disposition. The self-
knowledge of each of the parties to the contract
made them see each other's little defects and failings
with an eye sharpened by their consciousness of
their own misdoings and deficiencies. (Cheers.)
He believed that this might be the case as between
ourselves and our great relative across the Atlantic.
We were too much alike always to be perfectly
agreed. (Cheers.) Be that, however, as it might,
supposing any such clouds to exist or to have arisen
he feld sure that by a frank and cordial explanation
they might be blown to the winds, and that the
words of the old poet, " the falling out of faithful
friends renewing is of love" might be completely
realized. He was certain that the more the two
nations saw of each other the more would their
mutual
regard and respect be deepened, and hence
he augured
well for the results of this auspicious
evening. (Cheers.)
Bound together as the two
nations were by every tie of a common origin, a
common language,
and a common literature they
ought to go hand in hand upon the great mission of
the Anglo-Saxon race—the civilisation and emanci-
pation of the world. (Loud cheers.) He begged
to couple the toast with the name of Mr. L. It.
Jerome.

The toast was drunk with great cordiality.
Mr. JEROME said—Mr. ChairmAnaudgentlemen,

I rise with what I may call extraordinary and un-
usual embarrassment, and under a great disadvan-
tage. I am, perhaps, the only person in our party
who has not his speech carefully written out ready
for delivery. (Laughter.) I did expect to be able
upon this occasion to make our apology for coming
to Cowes in December, instead of waiting for the
regular yachting season ; but even that subject has
been taken from me. (Laughter.) There is no necessity
for any apology. (Cheers.) I find that December
is just the time to come to Cowes. (Cheers.) Here-
after I shall advise all my American friends who
want to go to Europe to go in a yacht in the month
of December, and arrive at Cowes. (Cheers.) They
will be perfectly content to stop here. (Cheers.)
This little but most hospitable town is all that I
have seen of Morrie England ; but I would be satis-
fied to go home without seeing any more. (Cries
of " Stay with us.") Already I begin to feel like a
naturalised citizen, so great has been your kindness,
so overwhelming your generosity. (Cheers.) I am,
indeed, at home here. (Hear, hear.) Let me join
you, Mr. Chairman, in welcoming my young A.me-
rican friends to this yachting centre. (Laughter and
cheers.) I do not refer particularly to the other
yachting centre—Mr. Centre, of New York, the in-
ventor of wire rigging—although I might be under-
stood to do so. (A laugh.) I tell you seriously,
my friends, that we did not, we could not, antici-
pate such a reception as this. (Hear, hear.) Our
yacht race was made up at dinner. Two gentlemen
arranged it, and one of them, as if to outdo the
other, said, "Let us make it fram Sandyhook to
Cowes." " That suits me" was the reply. (Cheers.)
" Let us make the stakes thirty thousand dollars
aside." " That suits me." (Cheers.) " Let us
sail in the stormy month of December." " That
suits me." (Applause.) Then another gentleman
—a young gentleman, a modest gentleman—Cap-
tain Bennett, now present—(loud cheers)—asked if
they would let his yacht into the match. They
were very willing to do so, as she was considered
decidedly the slowest boat. (Laughter.) This slowest
boat has won the race, gentlemen. (Cheers.) I then
proposed to make the match "play or pay," and
that decided the aff air. You know the rest. Here
we are, and very glad to be here. (Cheers.) In
conclusion, let me say, let us bring our yachts and
racehorses into friendly competition, meet together
in this social way, and keep aloof from all the
politicians, and there can never be any difficulty
between England and America. (Loud cheers.)
With our flags hanging together, as we see them to-
night, our national mottoes side by side, and our
hands united in the cordial grasp of a sincere friend-
ship, the two countries will go on together in their
career of glory, the envy, the admiration, and the
rulers of the world. (Loud and continued cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN, in giving the next toast, said it
was perfectly natural that on such an occasion they
should dilate on the great national advantages of
union between the two great countries respectively
represented ; it was most satisfactory to find the
manner in which that sentiment was echoed on
both sides of the Atlantic, especially by their
honoured guests. They must all feel that this was
a very peculiar occasion. It was not a political oc-
casion—not a meeting of statesmen, not a conven-
tion of States which might be friendly or hostile—
it was simply a meeting of friends from both sides
of the Atlantic, all animated by their attachment to
a common pursuit, that great sympathy which
united the Anglo-Saxon race in attachment to any-
thing having a semblance of sport about it. In the
Isle of Wight they well knew what sport upon
water meant. They knew something of yachting
—(cheers)--and they were justly proud of their
Royal Yacht Squadron. New York also boasted of
its yacht squadron, so admirable and valuable in
many points by which a yacht squadron should be
distinguished. We bad learnt a lesson from them,
and a great lesson. He believed that to the yacht
squadron of New York must be attributed all ad-
mirable qualities of vessels they had lately seen.
(Cheers.) They had been most successful, and ac-
complished everything they had attempted. He
had much pride and satisfaction in seeing present
so many of the members of that club, and that they
had brought with them three such beautiful speci-
, meals of yacht architecture to excite their admira-
tion. He was glad to see Commodore Vickar
present—(cheers)—an excellent representative from
another hemisphere of the social and manly quali-
ties on which they prided themselves on this side
of the water. (Cheers.) He was glad to
see at this board a gentleman who merited the
suffrages of his fellow citizens, who had placed him
in the important and responsible position of corn-
modore of their yacht squadron. He had no doubt
they would give the toast he now proposed a most
cordial welcome, " The health of the New York
Yacht Club, coupled with the name of their hon-
oured guest, Commodore Vicar." (Cheers.)

The toast was drank with loud cheers.
Commodore VICKAR said—I confess I felt for
some time that the task I had undertaken was a
difficult one, but now we are here, and after all the
kindness we have received, I must say I feel very
proud of the result. There are a few incidents con-
nected with the formation of this match which, per-
haps, may be of interest as indicative of the feelings
with which it was begun. Mr. Jerome has men-
tioned some of the circumstances, but he has omit-
ted to state that when the terms of the match were
adjusted, a destination was not named, but silently
and unanimously it was felt it should be Cowes.
(Cheers.) Your kindness since our arrival has
made us feel that you have established as a fact
what must be felt at home, that in coming here we
did not come as strangers to a strange land.
(Cheers.) And were there any lingering doubt in
our mind we have only to look at the mottoes which
grace this room to feel there can be no mistake.
(Cheers.) One I see runs thus—" God save the
Queen," to which I am happy to think every Ame-
rican heart will respond. (Loud cheers.) Again,
I see, " Separated, not divided." I have no ques-
tion of the fact ; and if there were I would point to
the other side and say, "Evil be to him that evil
thinks." (Cheers.) Remembering where we came
from, and what we came from, the " Welcome to
Old England" is indeed a welcome home. (Cheers.)

The CHAIRMAN said he had now arrived at what
might be called the toast of the evening. They were
met to celebrate one of the most dashing and daring
exploits on record. (Cheers.) They bad met to cele-
brate the triumph of the winner of the great yacht
race between New York and Cowes. As he for-
merly stated, they had long been accustomed to
yachting, but in number of yachts and yachtsmen
there had never been a match carried out so spi-
ritedly. Never had yachts so braved the billows of
of the broad and stormy Atlantic. (Cheers.)
They had long been accustomed to yachting, but it
had been reserved for those who were called the
children of the mother country to teach Old England
to know what yachting could be made, and what
America had made of it. He hoped they would
take a lesson from what they saw before them. He
did not know that they had anything to learn in the
way of yacht-building, but they had to learn the
patriotism which converted even the yacht into an
instrument for the good of the country. This was
' not the first time that Mr. Bennett, jun.—(pro-
tracted cheering)— had signalised himself and his
yacht. (Cheers.) The Henrietta had not borne
her maiden colours to Cowes. She was long before
devoted to the service of her country, and did good
and gallant service in the great American :war.
(Cheers.) They were proud to welcome Mr. Ben-
nett as the winner of the race. (Cheers.) To be
second or third in such a match was only a degree
less gallant and glorious than to be first. (Cheers.)
Mr. Bennett had come over in his ow a yacht, and
his position as winner was therefore• all the more
gratifying. He hoped they would oft en seem him,
and that he would be accompanied VI many
of the
members of the New York Yacht Chi b. (Cheers.)
Ile had great pleasure in proposing " The Health
of Mr. Thomas Gordon Bennett, winner of the
Oeean Race, and their American Cousin:"
The toast was drunk with loud and continued
cheers.

Mr. THOMAS GORDON BENNETT, wh o was received
with repeated acclamations, expresse d his thanks for
the great and generous kindness r le had received
since his arrival in a very few bi if I sentences. He
regretted that his time had been LSI ) entirely occupied
that he had not been able to prey „pare a speech more