The New York herald., 1870-01-22
Letter from MIR. Douglas TO Mr.. As!ibury.
HOTEL DU PARLEMEST, !
No. RUE DA LA FxRMR DIES MATHuRINs,

HOTEL DU PARCHMENT,
No. RUE DH LA FxRMR DIES MATHuRNs,
PARIS Jan. 8, 1870.
DEAR sR-Not having been favored by yoa with
any correspondence slace the 27th OF September,
1862 WAS somewhat asurprised to ind II stated, on
the LIST OF January, that you mad, on your return
from the Suez Canal, given me tho option OF sailing
the three proposed BY You last summer, either
Immediately or during the month OF May next.
In your letter OF the 14th Of December, addressed
to Mr. Bennett you allude 70 three important races
to take place between the Cambria and Sappho next
II you will kindly look over the correspondence
which has taken place between Us, think that you
course around the Isle OF Wight nv first commune
cation TO yol, on the 10th Of January 1869, was
challenge & 1or an open race % rrse from tne influence
You replied, accepting my challenge, but qualify
ing 1t by naming tae three following coursas-viz,
round the Isle OF Wight, Eddystone and back Cher
bourg and back. In answer 70 this stated that
such we're not the courses contemplated py me when
named an open course. and concluded by offering
to sail the Cambria either to the Azores
and back or nifty miles out to sea and back
from the west coast OF ireland, ! then received q
icctions that you had made to tnc Dauntlcss were
applicable TO the Sappho. still at the same
the sappho's longer race did your engagements per-
mt you to do So You wore gong 10 Cork or Dnpiin
for racing purposes and had NO doubt but that /
would sail TO eNher OF these places vita you. When
! had the pleasure Of meeting you IN Cowe5 en-
dsnvored to explain both To yourself and 10 Sir
Kingston James that the course around the Isle OF
WiNnt as unfair to an American yacht as the
course around Long Island would DC to an English
yacht competing IN our waters. l thought at the
Nne that you wero convinced by what said. After
this, wishing to bring the matter to some satisac-
tory term nation, addressed lotter to you askiRo
you to give the first race In the spring OF 1870.
On the 2ad OF September yon repaed as foiiows:-
As regards the proposed Cambria and sarpho
that did not challenge ana sinpy consented
longer do not profess 70 be Able TO pit vessel
against yours Tor PURPOSES consider myself bound
Wight Cherbourg ana back Edaystons and back and on
nay return In December shan you and duy arrange
gys you tho rnoes 10 meet ysur convenience
Supposing that 1t was your nnal determination to
Knowing that you were well acquainted with my
views she suoIoct let the matter drop, consider
Ing the whole business at an cad.
/ cannot conceive why you should not profess to
purposes, wheu you waive all considerations In re-
Eard 10 the vessel oil squa tonnage with
tne Sappho-ard agree to race her rom Cape Clear
TO Sandy Hook.
nave this day sent communication to the Times,
tho Field BetpS LIE and the Telegraph containing
challenge to any schooner yacht to sail across the
Atlantic during the month OF july ,IS70.
have also challenged any sonooner yacht TO sail
from tho Nab Light 70 Cherbourg Br6akWater and
back during the nrst woek In June ana beg OF yeu
lsnge.
In thus Offering 10 sail both an ocean ana Chan
mel race l trust thai may refute the inslnuatlon
which you threw out In your answer 10 paragraph
men are afraid TO mest their Eaglisn competitors In
ANY waters where the percentage Is aot greatly In
their 1aver.
Ths lsle OF wight race en- phaticaliy decline. In
20 doing am acting In accordance with the advice
OF many English yachtmen whom have consulted
on the subject remain, dear Sir, yours truly,
WILLIAM DOUGLAS
JAMas AszBysY, Esq