Year: 1869

always gracious, and therefore Il is with reluc-
tance that gentlemen will readily understand
that we venture to examine what wac receh'y
said by Mr.. Ashbury in the cabin OF his own
yacht when, the dishes being removed Sls
health was proposed by Lord Lennox. indeed
we could not be tempted to such examination
by any ordinary means; but on this occasion
MIR. Ashbury manifested 30 uncommon de-
gree of the post-prandial tendency to associate
matters having no relation one with another,
and did SO astonishingy put things in the wrong
places, that failure to dissent might be mis-
understood. He spoke first of the cup won
by the America, and now held by the New
York Yacht Club, and of his intention to come
here and try to win it, saying sit had been in
the possession of America for seventeen years,
and no one had had the pluck or the energy
to compete for it," From the consideration OF
the cup itself he went on as follows "a
great deal had been said about the difference
in the tonnage of the vessels. He desired in
no shape or way to take advantages but he
did desire that the vessel he competed with
should be of the tonnage of tho Cambria, and





the discussion in regard to the size of the
Dauntless. Now, we have to inform Mr.. Ash
bury that this question in regard to the size
of the Dauntless has nothing whatever to do
with his proposed race for the cup won by the
America and we cannot conceive that
yachtman so intelligent and accomplished
should suppose the contrary, save we fall to
the pleasant after dinner theory. We hope
that his attention will be called on this point
to the communication we give in another
column from one of the oldest members of the
New York Yacht Club.


Can it be possible Mr.. Ashbury does not
remember that he has put forth challenges for
two races-one proposal to sail any boat Of
the New York Yacht Club for the cup won by
the America, and another to make his trip across
race with any American yacht of certain
size? Such certainly is the view taken here of
the letter published by him Immediately after
his very pretty triumph over the Sappho.
In that letter he appeared as genuine Brton,
ready for anything in the shape of sport on
fair terms; and it there was little exube-
rance of triumph in it we reflected that it was
q great while since an American yacht had
been beaten on that side the water. From
the terms of his challenge, as fairly taken,
there was chance for any one to make
race, and the Dauntless merely accepted
one of his propositions; that was all.
| This was an independent individual act of
| the owner of that yacht-not the act in any
sense whatever of the New York Yacht
| Club-having no official relation to the
club, nor to the cup the club holds. Indeed,
we doubt if the New York Yacht Club would
| be any more ready than the English clubs are
to make an international ocean race. They
agree entirely with the English clubs that long
races are not test of speed, and they have
never goneinto them. The great winter ocean
| race was the private match of three members
| of the club, and not club affair; nor was it
considered (officially) club matter until the
three yachts had left our coast 1t will be
the same with any race between Mr.. Ashbury' S
yacht and an American yacht now, if any is
made. 1t may be that only some individual
member will venture on the many chances
against him across the ocean that lie in the
build and power of suoh boat as the
Cambria.


| As to the contest for the cup, without doubt
that Mr.. Ashbury is sincere in all that he
utters of his intention to make contest, we
have still to say that he has not yet even
opened the preliminares for such race. Won
in peculiar circumstances and from gallant
and stanch foe, that cup is treasured here as a
high trophy, and it is provided that any contest
for its possession shall be subject to certain
rules. These rules were published over ten


years ago and are on record in English
authorities, and the fact that they are thus
accessible to Mr. Ashbury makes it the more


strange that he has not yet complied with their


requirement, as that is the only way in which


he can institute race for the cup. Let him


do his part and come on, and he need not


doubt that the New York Yacht Club here


will receive him in generous spirit and


afford him all opportunity for the contest.


It will not turn on points of measurement


or disputes Of systems, whether or no


he shall have big boat or little one.


Indeed, the rules prescribe how the size of the
contesting yacht shall be ascertained. The
New York Yacht Club will put q repre-
sentative boat fairly against him If he comes
-, operly accredited as representative him
so,r not otherwise. And, however we may be
! doubt, III as to what our yachts may do against
British yachts in British waters this summer,


a feel almost certain that we know who
v;, u be the victor here.


| r, r CUBAN QUE sTIoS BEGINNING TO Loom
| IT, ~ ENaLAYp.-Some of the leading heavy
,,oprnah and reviews of the British capital are
-, .innn to discuss the ominous drift of pub
lie $, ,utim ent in the United States on the
= -. rectiou tho oro aning pr0pen aitieq