The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-06
From the Neio York Journal If Commerce.
Dinner 40 Commodore stsxona.

AiOiA cruise IN the yacht
America.
The company assembled at hal r. past five O'Clock.
the members Of the club mastering in great num-
bsrs. Among the guests invited were Commodore
Kcarney and Perry, of the United States navy; the
President Of Columbia College; DIR. Kane, Surgeon
of the expedition that went in search of Sir John
Franklin, Captain De Haven, the Commander Of
the expedition, was unable to be presently and
Captain Comstock, of the United States steamer
Baltic, with whom Messrs. Stevens and Hamilton
returned to the United States.
Al six O'Clock dinner was announced, and the
chair taken by J. Prescott Hall, ESQ.,. having
on his right Commodore Stevens, on his left Cap
tain Hamilton. Mr.. Edwin Stevens was prevented
by indisposition from attending. At the head OF
the room the American and English flags in
tertwined The tables were decorated with vari
Gus devices emblematic of the occasion, and the
dinner such as at the Astor House they know
how to serve Occupying conspicuous position
on the table facing the President was the cup won
by the America in the regatta.
When the substantial part OF the dinner was
over. the presiding officer, Mr. Hail. arose, and adj
dressed the company. After speaking of the visit
Of Commodore Stevens and his companions to Eng
land, and its object, he exclaimed;
chow interesting, gentlemen, the specta-
Gle, when an American yacht glided quietly into
BRITISH harbor, TO take up gage which had there
been thrown down to all the nations Of the civilized
world. But Van Tromp comes more into the
British channel. The sailors of sunny France look
out upon the shores Of their neghbors, has been
their wont for many weary year, merely to
the "meteor flag of England" still wave upon the
waters, now become its own. The eagles of the
north will not venture to show plume upon the
narrow seas; and the bold defiance must be met
if met at all, by those who speak the language Of
the chalengers-in whose veins the came blood
lows-who cherish the same free institutions, fol-
low the same laws, and love with all their hearts
the manly sports of their ancestors. IGreat APP
plause.l
"For time, gentlemen, the national pride, the
national character, and, in some degree, the ma
tonal honor, was committed to the keeping of our
distinguished guests; and to what stronger hands
and truer hearts could all these precious Jewels
have been conided? Cheering
"The contest has commenced; witnesses from
all civilized nations look on, and royal queen
comes down from her throne to behold the animat-
ing scene.
"Our commodore says to his competitors, in
modest but selfrelying terms, unfold your stand
ards to the sky; come away from the lazy winds
OF the shore; give US six knot breeze
80" Pelagoque volans da voa patcn IT,
Gentlemen, what would not the members OF
this club have given to be present upon such
occasion, that they might animate their country
men by their cheers, and breathe upon their sails
the thick coming breath of all their hopes and all
their Wishes. we look out upon the Scene-We
rush into the contest-our hearts beat quicSly--we
feel the solcitudes of the STRIFE but the pleasures of
the contest gaudta certGmisfs, are all our own and
we arc permitted to rejoice in triumph.
"We rejoice in it, not in vain glorious Boosting,
but in the pride Of descent, in the fairness and
character of our opponents in the thought that we
have met oven English competitors upon English
seas, and that our flag has never been lowered,
cept in the graceful courtesies of success.
"'When Greek meets G reek then is the tug of war.
loud cheers.l
Mr.. Hall then spoke Of the prominent part taken
by Commodore Stevens in the formation of the New
York Yacht Club. and concluded by Offering the
following sentiment:
Commodore John C. Stevens, and his distin-
guishcd associates in the late voyage of the yacht
America They are welcome over welcome, to their
native land"
This called up Commodore Stevens, who acfnow-
lodged with many thanks the kind and fiattering
terms in which he had been alluded to by the chair
man, and then proceeded to narrate the particulars
of his adventures as foows'
elm coming from Havre we were obliged, by
the darkness of the night and thick fog, to an
Choir some five six miles from Cowes. Inthc morn
ing early the tide was against u5, and it was dead
calm. At nine o'clock gentle breeze sprang up,
and with it came gliding down tho Layerock one
of the newest and fastest cutters OF her class. The
news spread like lightning that the Yankee clip
per had arrived, and that the Laverock had gone
down to show her the way up The yachts and
vessels in tho harbor, the wbarfs, and windows of
all the houses bordering on them. were filled with
thousands Of spectators, watching, with eager eyes,
the eventfu trial they could not escape, for
the Laverock stuck to US, sometimes laying too,
and sometimes lacking around US, evidently show
ing she had no intention of quitting u5. we were
loaded with extra sails, with beef and pork, and
bread enough for Eest India voyage, and were
some four five inches too deep in the water. We
got up our calls with heavy hearts, the wind had
incre a n or al lfnO breeze.
waiting until we ashamed to wait longer, we
let her get about two hundred yards ahead, and
then started in her wake.
81 have seen and been engaged In many exciting
trials at sea and on shore. made the match with
Eclipse against Sir Henry, and had heavy sums,
both for myself and for my friends, depending
upon the result saw Eclipse lose the first heat,
and four hfths of the second, without feeling one
hundredth part of the responsibility, and without
suffering hundredth part of the fear and dread
felt at the thought of being beaten by the LAYER
ock in this eventful trial. During the first five
minutes not sound was heard, save, perhaps, the
beating of our an xous hearts, the slight ripple
of the water upon her sword like stem The cap
tain was crouched down upon the floor of the cock
pit, his seemingly unconscious hand upon the I'll
Ter, with his stern unalterng gaze upon the vessel
ahead. The men were motonless statues, with
their eager eyes fastened upon the Laverock with
6xcdness and intensity that seemed almost
natural The pencil OF an artist might, perhaps,
convey the expression but no words can describe
IT, 1t could not, nor did not, last long. We worked
quickly and surely to windward of her wake The
crsis wac pact, and some dozen Of deep drawn
sighs proved that the agony was over.
"We came to anchor a quarter, or perhaps
third of mile ahead, and, twenty minutes after
our anchor down, the Earl of Wilton and his
family board to welcome and introduce
us to his friends. To himself and family, to the
Marquis of Anglesea and his son, Lord Alfred Pa
get to Sir Bellingham Graham, and host OF other
noblemen and gentlemen, were we indebted for
reception as hospitabe aud frank given
TO prince or peasant. From the Queen herself we
received mark of attention rarely accorded even
to the highest among her own subjects; and was
given to understand that it was not only intended
courtesy extended TO myself aud friends, but
also a proof of the estimation in which enc held
our country; thereby giving Significance to the
compliment infinitely more acceptable and valua-
BILE. Long may the bonds of kindred affection and
interest that bind us together at present remain
unbroken As a further proof Of the feeling ofthe
government and the people towards US, will men
ton the following act of kindness
1--WE had the misfortune, the day before the race
with the Titania, TO knock off part of our outer
shoe. This rendered it necessary that we should
haul her out and we repaired to the government
dock, at Portsmouth, for the purpose. On the in
slant the application mado an order was Is