The New York herald., 1871-01-11
Mr.. Ashoiry and His nasv,--us mscent
-. Speech at Manchester;

-. Speeen NJ manchcssers
Mr.. Ashbury has returned to England and
is reported to have said, at dinner given TO
him In Manchester that the Cambria had r&
turned the winner Of eight races and that as sea-
going vessels the American yachts were not
equal to such vessels as the Cambria. We are
generous enough to suppose that the reporter
has erred in giving the language used by MIR.
Ashbury on the occasion referred to. The
Cambria arrived in our waters the winner Of
the ocean race, beating the Dauntless but 1t is
we'll established fact that, with one excep-
ton, she was outsailed In every match
race afterwards. The exception named was
when the Idler was beaten, and those who
witnessed the race assert that had II not been
for the unfortunate accident which occurred to
her by springing her stem, she also would
have proved victorious over the Englishman.
Mr.. Ashbury may have referred to when the
yachts were sailing In squadron under the Cons
modore's command, and on the placid waters
Of the Sound; and we are charitable enough
to think he did. Of this we take no account;
but Mr.. Ashbury csuld not, we suppose,
afford to leave It out Of his record Of the
Cambria's achievements We have not heard
il he mentioned the race which he fully
expected to win, We mean that for the
Queens Cup, wherein he did not succeed in
carrying back to old England the much COW
eted prize, but was beaten by so many of our
own yachts.
The statement, if he made 1t. that American
yachts are not equal to the Cambria as sea,
going vessels is simply ridiculous, and we
cannot imagine upon what ground he founds
the assertion. All his experience with our
craft-whether in smooth water or in seaway,
going large or close hauled, In light winds or
with reeGng down breeze-was that he had
brought his 1sh to the wrong Market" that
we could weather him on all tacks, and that il
he desired to carry back with him the Cup he
longed so much for he would have to bring
forward some other vessel than the Cambria.
Why he should have made so bold statement,
with the knowledge he possessed of the
weather experienced and time made by tho
Fleetwing, Vesta and Henrietta In their race
across the North Atlantic in the dead of win
ter, is to us inexplcable. They on that Occa-
sion proved their fitness to encounter any
weather, either when scudding or hove to, apd
we very much doubt the ability Of the Cam
bria or any other English yacht to do better.
Their performance electrified English yacht
men, and it appears bad taste now for one OF
the latter to try and detract from the reputa-
tion so worthily gained by our vessels.
No doubt that Mr.. Ashbury was expected to
tell his side of the story-to praise the Eng
lish yachts-aot for his own sake, but for the
reputation of England, Englishmen and
English vessels. 1t would not have answered
for him to have said that we were in any
manner his superiors He was not desired to
praise the Sappho, the Magic, the Phantom,
Palmer or any other of our yachts. The less
said of them the better. They wished him to
talk Cambria and the reporter says that he did,
and we can imagine the scene OF wild enthu-
siasm, the cries of 'Hearl heart" when he
announced TO those of Manchester that his
yacht had won eight races, and was vastly SUI
perior as sea-golng vessel to our matchless
American fleet. How Jolly that party must
have been-what handshaking and congratula.
tion-how many bumpers must have found
their way down the throats of our English
cousins when Mr.. Ashbury, told his Man
chester entertainers how much he had done to
retrieve the reputation of England's yachts,
which was lost when the America carried the
Cup away, which he could not and did NOT
bring back to them, although his vessel was
the winner of eight races and the superior Of
all American yachts in her sea-going quail
ties Mr.. Ashbury also announced
his intention of challenging a cham
pion American yacht to compete with
him again for that Cup, and he believed he
was not too sanguine In anticipating the pos.
sibility of the Cup returning to England.
What does Mr.. Ashbury mean by champion
American yacht? Does he intend to bring the
Cambria again, or his new vessel now build
ing9 He appears to forget that none of our
yacht owners claim to be the champion, and
when he is officially designated by the Royal
Yacht squadron and the fifteen other royal
yacht clubs Of England as their representative,
then, and only then, will we appoint some one
Of our yacht owners to meet him on equal
terms, and then, even, the race will not be for
the Queens Cup. This will have to be sailed
for, as when won by the America, by all
comers, and If taken back to England it will
have to be on the same terms. The above
was another good after dinner announcement.
and 1t is evident to us now, If It never
was before, that he is just the person to invite
to banquet where all think alike, talk alike,
and who tako their seats at the festive board
with desire to hear nothing that will conflict
with their one opinion. Mr.. Ashbury will
have, no trouble about the challenge; he
knows full well when and by whom It will be