The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-10-03

the thick-csning breath Of Ill their hopes and sl
their wishes. We look out up "a the soene-we rush
the solcitudes Of the strifs-but tho pleasures Of
the contest, gaxdia cytamimis, are all our own, and
we are permitted to rejoice in a triumph.
We rejoice In it, not in vain glorious Boosting,
but in the pride Of our descentin the fairness and
character Of our opponents-in the thought that We
have met even English competitors upon English
seas, and that our flag has never been lowered, ex
cept in the graceful courtesies of success.
"When Greek meets Greek then IL the tug Of war;
loud cheers.)
Gentlemen-But for the zeal, the energy, and
perseverance, Of our gallant Commodore, this club
would never have come into existence, for he
Dreathed into it the breath of life. And If there
| had been no New York Yacht Club, then there had
been no struggle for nautical superiority upon Bril-
tish waters, and no triumph to bring us together
| upon this festive occasion.
Born almost upon the sea, Commodore Stevens
has from bis youth sported with its waves. By
degrees he impaired his own taste to others-to
others he cannot impart his o.n kno Wedge and
power That which to the scientific is the consum-
nation of n noble art, is to him an amusement and
his pleasure is to struggle with the winds and
waves, and overcome them by his skill.
BY his influence this Club has been esta blshed,
and upon it the nation has been pleased to bestow
legal existence. While our models are open to in
spectoD, we are permitted to carry an ensign which
is be respected wherever our eagle flies upon the At
lantc or Pacific coasts. BY law we are authori sod
to carry our own, flag nearly identical with that
which has "braved the battle and the breeze" ever
since We became q nation; and who will say, that
under the charge of our gallant Commodore, one
star has been dimmed, or one stripe stainedo or de-
faced? prolonged cheers)
We welcome you, sir Cunning to Commodore
Stevens), back to your native land. We welcome
you and your companions to the fair scenes Of your
youth, to the fields Of your manly years. and to the
solace Of kindred, friends, and countrymen.
give you, gentlemen, ms sentiment -
Commodore John c. Stevens and his distin-
gushed associations in thlate voyage of the yacht
America: They are welcome, ever welcome, to
their native land"
The address of Mr.. HALL, was received with re-
reated cheers, and the toast was drank standing,
and with three times three we'll uttered
Commodore STEVENS, senaibly affected by the
warmth Of this welcome, tho tremor Of his voice
and hand manifested, read the following reply
GENTLEMEN-B Before commencing my reply to the
Astsering and overwhelming eulogium Of the honor
able and eloquent chairman, | will claim your in
diligence to make brief statement in writing, to
the end that there shall be no misunderst anding,
If a question should ever arise as to what did
or did not say. Have l your consent! (Aye,
aye, from all quarters) In the diplomatic notes
Of invitation forwarded to me, there was q let
ter enclosed from the chairman, assuring me
that no harm was intended, begging me not
to be afraid, and pledging himself and the
committee, if should be knocked over or stunned
by the gun they were to fire at me, they would
be in readiness to pick me up and put me
on my legs again, and to support me until
should recover sufficiently to stand alone. Great
laughtcr) Remembering tho awful risk | had
run some three months since, on occasion
somewhat similar, from an unexpected explo-
sion, the alarming effect of which 1 barely es-
capped by lucky dodge, determined to come to
10 vrit IN rhaf
the amount of danger really was. On ascertaining
this, concluded, after mature reflection, to make
the following cfer, viz Il would agree to stand, f
possible without Ainching,) one discharge from the
biggest gun they could find, loaded with small
shot, and filed to the muZEle with cannisters
of tropes and figures, of any sort or size, best
adapted to their purpose, provided l might
return the FIRE Gf l surviyed) by single round
shot, biletted with the simple and heartfelt expires
sion of my sncere thanks to you for your friendly
attentions and unvarying kindness. twas further
stipulated that / was at liberty to reply 20 any
other discharge, however more or less dangerous
| it might prove, other by making one Of my best
bows which was to practice for the occasion OF
by retrea.irg to the shelter of some friendly ram
part, armed with metal as heavy as thsir own.
How tho committee have carried out their part Of
the bargain, you have seen and heard. owe my
acknowledgements to the chairman. which trust
he will accept, for not rsking the bursting of his
| gun by putting in heavier load.
| owe, also, a debt Of gratitude to the Colonels
Hamilton and Stevens for the great care they tsok
that should have nothing my own way, without
their full approval and assent. wanted, at first,
to play commodore a Ia Unoe Sam. They would
not listen to II bat insisted, as free and ndepcn-
4 A. Al n.
conduct considered mutinous; but as logging was
done away with by law, and they bad contriyed to
get the captain and crew their side, thought it
best to wink at it, and let them cut and carve, and
| alter, and understanding myself with the old
adsge, "that discression was the better part Of
valor;" and with the reflection, that If anything
went wrong in the conduct of this business, might
attribute 1t to the iron will Of this stony hearted
majority.
You may, perhaps, have observed that my hair
| Is somewhat grayer than It was when last met
you III tell you how Il happened. But am tres
passing on your good nature. Go on, 90 on, from
| In coming from Havre, we were obliged, by the
darkness Of the night and thick fog, TO anchor
somo five or six miles from CoSes. In the morn
ing, carly, the tide was against us and it was dead
calm. At nine o'clock a gentle breeze sprang up,
and with 10 came gliding down the Lavcrcc, one Of
| the newest and fastest cutters Of her class. The
pows spread like lightning that the Yankee clipper
had arrived, ard that the Layeroek had gone down
TO show her the way up. The yachts and vessels
in the haIbor, the whaives and windows OF all the
houses bordering on them, were filed with thou.
snIds Of spectators, watching with eager eyes, the
tytkt! .-ssl Ne saw We eoEi3 not escapes for the
Laverock stick 10 us, sometimes laying 10, and
sometimes lacking around us, evidently showing
she Ind no intention Of quitting us. We were
loaded with extra sails, with beef and pork, aud
| bread enough for an East India voyage, and were
some four or FIVE inches too deep b the water. We
\ got up our calls with heavy hcar.s-the wind
bad increased to irc or Fix knot breeze; and
/ after waiting until We were ashamed 70 wait
! longer. We lot her get about two hundred yards
| ahesd, and then started in her wake. have seen
srd been engaged in many exciting trials at sea
against Sir Henry, and had heavy sums, both for
myself and for my fricnds depending upon the re-
suit saw Eclipse osc che frst heat and four 6ftas
Of the second without feeling hundrcth part Of
TIE responsibility, and without suffering orc-hun-
dTcdth rait Of the trspidation felt Ct the