The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-09-20

The EFFECT PRODUCED IN ENGLAND By THE APPEAR.
ANcE YACHT AMERIcA-suPERIoRIrY OF
AMERICAN SHIPS INDUCEMENTS BUILD FAST
sAlLERs-sTEAMERs, ENGLISH AMERICAN
BUiLpING OF THE YACHT AMERICA, HER MODEL
THE NEW YORK PILOT BOATS; IMPROVEMENTS IN
MODELLING THEM-INrERRsrING MEMORANDA
CONCERNING PILOT BoATs-LIsrs NEW YORK
PILOT BOATS, CLIPPER SHIPS FAST STEAMERS, AND
YACHTS.
The sailing fea.s accomplished, and the victories
won, by the New York yacht America, in her late
contests with the crack vessels of the English Royal
Yacht Squadron, have caused as much talk in all
cucles here and in England, did the first appear
ance of the Pacific and Atlantic steamers of the
Collins line. School boys and gray boards, SER
wants and soveregns, mechanics and merchants, in
short persons of all classes and of both sexes enter
into spirited conversations upon the topic. The
press on both sides of the Atlantic, in city and
country, have devoted considerable valuable spa,e
man atiye description, and discussion upon yacht
ing in general, and this years yachting IN pa ticu
lar. All this is not simply because the America
outsailed the best yachts OF the eastern world,
but because princ pie involved in the matter,
and because this principle was Of vast Importance
both to England and America. Every English
man, from the prince down to the pauper, has, for
many years, been in the habit of Boosting that
Britannia ruled the waves that hers was the great
est navy, both in the merchant marine and national
service, in quantity and quality-the greatest that
the world knew THIS broad proposition and proud
boast has for nearly forty years been denied by
those whose business curiosity induced the m to
examine the merits of the vessels of both England
and America. For more than thirty years have
spectators of all rations sat on the heights of
Gibraltar, and observed with admiration the
graceful forms and excellent motions Of the
ships Of America, as they passed through the
H. ~ .-a IF t;o
cessfclly competing with AL other ships, coming up
to and passing them If fsyorng gales filed
their canvas, and failed reach the calls of tbs
rest. Everything visible, from track to water line,
OF the Ysnkee ships. gave token Of their nationality
Graceful spars clean canvass, well painted hull and
top hampsr--al things gave the information at
once, Without ala Of III ensign, that the object OF
admiration from Z" the land OF the free"
This phenomenon not peculiar to the Straits Of
Gibraltar, but was observable in every part of the
wo1!d Wherever Yankee ships, sailed by Yankee
men, made their appearance, and were compared
with the ships Of other nations, the comparison
suited in favor Of the United States. England
no passive observer Of al this. With the best IA
cities in the world, they began to plan and build
.'model briggs AID model craft Of all dimensions;
hut while they were learning, imperfecty, the les
sons given 10 the nauti ,al world by our shpbuiid
srs, we steadily and rapidly progressing. Bal
timore clippers a.tiiEed the name Of complete ex-
cellerce; and when their raking IN sts aad long,
low, black huls appeared al sea, they were Viewed
by careful captains si,h d scrutinizing glass, ani
suspcion of their honesty generally entertaiued
till they were out ofsight, brought enough 70
view 20 declare their IA intentions ''B fillmore clip
per built at length to be the expression aim st
Invariably used in describing the vessels taken from
the slave sery ce or in unhoy piratcal expe
dtions. But the Baltimore ship builders had more
apt, or, at least, more successful pupils this side
Of he Atlantic than they had on the other. Cir
cumstances occurred which made the Chinese trade
Of peculiar importance to the United States. Can
ton was long way of, and our merchants used |
every effort to obtain quick returns. Captains of
ships engaged to get the best speed of their
vessels, and handsome presents we're awarded to
officers and crews who delivered their cargoes here
in the shortest space Of tune after their departure
These inducements, added to national pride,
wrought emulation up to a spirited contest. The
motions Of ships were watched carefully, and their
apparent faults noted with great particularly.
Carrying qualities were kept sight Of, but speed
became Of paramount importance, and every
ship avoided some known fault, and adopted some
new point in modelling sparripg. IL the new in
vention proved of no avail, it dropped; but if
1t turned out to be advantage, it was carefully
reserved, and used.
IL at length became obvious to English states
men that English interests were ufering, would
suffer, from the success of our ships, and commits
sion was accordingly appointed in England to ex-
anime into and and report upon matters Of inte-
rest connected with the maratime service. In
their iaves,ga the commission looked at and
reported upon the qualities and conduct Of ships,
officers and crews. The report was highly coupl-
mentsry to American ships and American seamen
for whose some reasons were advanced
Whether this reasoning was correct or not, i. is
not worth while to discuss at present; II is
enough that they officially acknowledged the
superiority Of our ships and OF the man
per in which they we're sailed. But" said
eAvllers and stickers for English glory, English
fhip builders are bound down by certain rules, |
which must be piled with, in order to give their
chips q standing at Loyds, and thesc rules prevent
them fssm using their genius unlimitedly." An |
answer to this furnished in the proposition made
by the New York merchant, On Change, to build
ship to cost 100000, another ship to be built in
England, and the two ships to sail a match
voyage. the owners Of the winning ship to take
possession Of both vessels at the end Of the voyage
This challenge was not accepted, and the matter
vas dropped. Meantime, clipper ship after clipper
ship was launched from our ship var Is. and sped
away to the antipodes, almost literally on the
wings Of the wind, and returned 10 annoan,e their
own arrival On the other side Of the world long Ger
their competitors, who sailed before them, had
arrived The numbers Of these clippers multiplied,
till nov We have whole feet Of them, and new lc-
ccsssns are continually being made.
The chsgrin felt by England aaoat' at being
thus Ou.done on her peculiar element, could not be
conveniently hidden, and all manner Of things were
said about the inability Of clipper ships to carry
large csrgoss, the danger Of damaging goods, &c;
but they principally consisted themselves by point.
ing to their o,ean steamers of which they were