The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-02
THE YACHT TRIUMPH.

The following letter from the Hon William
c. Rives. our Minister in Paris, to Col. Hamil-
ton of New York, Csays the New York ErPress)
shows how deep an interest everywhere, was
felt in the success Of the yacht America:
BoULoGNE-sUR-MER. august "a, 1851.
My DEAR SIR: congratulate you with my
whole heart on the success of the gallant Amer
lea in her contest with the Royal Yacht Squad
ron the day before yesterday, the result OF
which has Just been communicated to me here,
When had the pleasure of seeing you at
Paris, told you how much felt our national
honor and interests to be involved in the issue
of any match the America might engage in at
Cowes. and how much relied on the sagacity,
Judgment, and skill of Commodore Stevens,
with his spirited and patriotic companions to
uphold the reputation of our glorious flag. The
contest has now been decided and the Ameri-
ca, and with her and our American stars and
stripes, have been once more si1 ---1,7 ID
what a victory To beat Britannia,
Whose flag has b.sved thousand years the battle
and the breeze y
to beat her in her own native seas in the pres.
ence of her Queen, and contending against q
fleet Of seventeen sail of her picked models o.
naval architecture owned and personally d.
rected by the proudest names of her nobility
her MarlborOughs and her Anglesseys - il
something that may well encourage us in the
race Of maritime competition which is set be-
! fore us.
The destinies of the world in regard to civil
and political liberty and progressive cviza-
ton OF every kind must depend in great de-
gree upon that power which shall obtain per-
manent ascendency on the seas. Ever since
the demonstrations of our naval aptitudes and
proves which the war of 1912 gave rise to, all
eyes have been turned TO America as a cand-
date for that great and glittering, and if right
ly used most noble prize. ! have always said
that our ships are our best representatives
sbroad. ard Commodore Stevens and his breth-
rel, of t!.e New York Yacht Club have shown
how well they understand their mission. Honor
and thanks to them, then, for having added
another glorious day to our national calendar !;
for ~ highly do | estimate the importance in
its effect direct or indirect, of their successful
achievement of peaceful rivalry the day before
yesterday, that the t,centy-Second Of Augtst is
destined in my opinion, to take rank in our
annals with those days which have been rem
dered memorable by victories won at sea or ON
land, or have been otherwise endeared to us by
associations connected with our national re-
nown
And how OPPORTUNITY has all this come to
raise us up from the depressing effects of our
supposed failure in the exhibitions of the Crys-
tai Palace--an arena in which have always
been inclined to question the policy Of our APP
pearance at this time in the character of COM
petitors, rs it was early to be foreseen that OBJ
iects of mere luxury and artistic elegance would
be predominant there in regard to which it
was not to be expected that so young people
could contend on equal terms with the older
and more luxurious nations of Europe. Ship
building, and the arts of seamanship, however
with other pursuits of the useful and the origi-
nal, belong to the bold and adventurous youth
of our country, and | trust it is now demon
strated that in these we need not fear n COM
parison with the rest of the world. The arts
of elegance will follow in their turn and in due
season. In the mean time, we cannot cherish
with too much pride and f0ndness that element
of our national strength which, in the extraOr-
binary mechanical improvements of the age,
has become an indispensable means of security
and selfdefence, while it must in the end exer-
else controlling influence upon the destnes
of the civilized world
In this connection, trust our legislators will
not be unmindful of the high duty they are
under of giving an effectual encouragement and
support to the noble enterprise that has been
commenced with such brilliant success in your
city for indicating our equal share in the nav
igation of the ocean between the Old and New
World by steam; and the whole nation will
am sure, rise up and cheer the America by
their Joyous and spontaneous acclamations, (the
only encouragement happily, which she re-
quires,) as soon as the news of her success shall
meet our shores
have not the pleasure of being personally
known to Commodore Stevens, but pray you
to present my best respects to him, with my
warmest thanks ~ an American citizen for the
proud leaf he has added to the chaplet Of our
naval and national renown.
Believe Inc, my dear sir, very truly and faith
fully yours W. {. RIvEs.
Col James Hamilton, at CORES.