Year: 1869




s.cn TIE Hsa1Dy SPECIAL COaaEspoSusnT.


Absurd Policy Of America IN Reference -


Foreign Duilt sAips-Ths Ocean Yacht
| Racc-Particulars Or tho Late Intcrna-


tlon.I Yacht Racc-A Pilots Opinion q
the Suppho's Trim-Tho Cansbria's Chance.
| SOUTHAMPTON. Dec. %, 1858.
| the American alone OF all people, civilized and
unciviiixed. is the only one whom his government
has virtually forbidden to cross the ocean under his
| own nag. what would we think Of prohibition
from washington Of the importation OF oranges for
the purpose Of protecting the domestic greenhouses
under Of which only such fruit can be grown,
or Of the introduction Of silks which, by an artificial
atmosphere. might possibly be produced At an enor-
nous expense ut homef And yet the policy OF our
efete navigation laws is not whit more absurd
than either OF these supposed restrictions.
l am not about to argue the advan-
| tages OF universal free trade, although
enough might be said ON that point alone consd-
cred. greater bond Of unity for our people than
all the schemes Of politicians past ana present; but
| am only adverting TO the suicidal policy OF our
government In continuing to forbid rs citizens to
purchase foreign ships. and especially iron steamers
| when We cannot build them In competition with
Great Britain. Arguments would seem supernuous.
That English bult ships under only the British
but the German and French nags. now possess the
commerce OF the seas and carry mails, passen-
gers and merchandise for US needs only 70 be
proved by reference to your columns OF daily ship
news. That we cannot build ships to compete with
them admits Of no other explanation than the sim
pie fact that we do not; for when did American
terprse ever allow foreigner to take business out
OF our hands unless nsurmountable objection was
interposeds Before civil the price OF mate
rial and the cheapness Of labor were such that our
talent in building fast wooden ships was devel-
oped to such an extraordinary degree that not
only the American shipbuilders but the American
shipowners were possessing themselves rapidly Of
the commerce Of the world. England was not blind
to this, and, therefore, despite the outcry Of her
shipbuiders. whose business would be injured In q
degree, although only temporarily, sbe wisely re-
scinded her prohbitory laws being determined that
II her people could no longer have the whole loaf
they should be deprived their bread altogether
she knew that our mechanics would build the ships
be debarred from the profits Of sailing some OF them
BY this prudent step her waning commerce was re-
invgorated and the fears which she had justly enter
tanned, that she would be cut OH from supplies Of
men for her naval wars, were dispeled. From dif-
ferent America finds herself In the same
predicament In which England was then placed.


Even without war and the burdens OF taxation and
high prices OF material and labor consequent upon
it, we might ind sufficient reasons for the decadence
0i shipbuidng. 1t ts enough that iron has taken
the place Of wood and under the most favorable cir
cumstances We should now be unable to compete
with Great Britain. AS intend soon to visit Scot
land / shall defer for the present some statistics
which WIN then give you from the spot where most
this may attract attention and provoke inquiry.
Until by wise legislation we regain our share 0I
commerce Americans, when they propose to cross
the ocean, patiently submit to the humiliation
OF choosing between The English. French and German


While in the roads ofr Southampton, the scene OF
the sOcaed International yacht race OF last summer
and OF the boatmen upon that affair: Since It came
on had been In Southampton and had gathered q
little information about II from the IKE class OF
prejudced than those OF higher rank but OF less
practical experience What heard vt this time cor
CLEANED. and now, at the risk OF being considered
pr0Iix BY landsmen who fortunately are not entitled
% % ne o
OF the community. IL ts due to them that they
should be posted up as far as possible; for Mr. Bull


the prompt acceptance by the owners Of the Daunt-
less and Phantom of Mr.. Ashbury's challenge, and
beat ne the 1Assp sappno sS last summer ns inr
race he thinks she can do the same thing
sisters generally NOW, in one respect it was ns
race, but In another 1t was not. Everything on the
part Of the Cambria was '.fair end above board.n
and no possible advantage was taken or even asked
an "internalionaT' yacnt race. me Messrs PoiIlon
command OF gentleman, estImabIe as knew him
to be In his particular line OF business. capable
Of The best character and Intentions But he had no
order to throw down the gauntlet In the way that
he did The Sapph0, although she had made splen-
did run across the Atlantic, was unprcpared for
racing. She was not coppered, her wooden bottom
FOUL her speed had been reduced for the purpose
Of crossing the ocean, she was still fitted with WIRE
rigging, her small crew was necessarily Increased by
mixture Of new and untrled hands, and, above
all, Captain Baldwin most injudicousiy undertook
to sail her himself. Lord blow you, srn said tho
pilot, "you should have seen her when she uned up
TO the wind ! Down she came with a Tree wind hold
ing er own well enough. was laying on there
watch ing 'em all, and thinks ], the Yankee has
good chance ~ any OF 'en, hut when see her try
ing to lay up most rother side OF the wind, with
great bag OF maintopmast staysail pulling
her starn foremost. and taking the wind out Of the
luif Of her main gan tOpsa, and she sliding OF TO
leeward like crab, says to myself, says P'-well,
won't repeat what The pilot said TO himself, as II
was doubtless intended merely for selfenlighten-
mcnt but the remark was not complimentary 10 the
manner In which the Sappho was handled.


The other pilots and boatmen were unanimous In
tributed little blame to the jIb topsaI which was
the cause OF the subsequent loss Of the jlbboom.
They Gil c0ncurred In the opinion, which has not
been seriously disputed, that tine race was lost be-
fore that accident happened. Now II may possibly
be that the Cambria Is the superior Of the Sapph0
and Of the Dauntless. and OF the Phantom: and she
may be the fastest yacht that ever was or ever will
be built but notwithstanding Mr.. Ashburys modest
bravado, l would not like to bet any very large
amount on his yacht against either Of her opponents
next summer and would advise any OF his c0un-
trymcn before they take such an unwise STEP 10 go
down to Southampton and have q little talk with
Mr.. Pennel and few others OF his stripe who GER.
anything American.


be more acceptable than the story OF the ordinary
routine OF q transatlantic voyage which might be
compressed into the single remark that we ate,
drank and slept until we arrived at Hamburg.


NEW PLAN Of GOVERNMENT m cuBA