Year: 1871

The International Yacht Race for thj


Americas Cup-The Controversy Closed.


The obstacles that were SO unexpectedly


and unfortunately cast in the way Of q race


for the Americas cup between a representa-


tive vessel or vessels Of the New York Yacht


Club and the English yacht Livonia appear


now to be happily removed Commodore
Ashbury has at last consented to race the
seven races offered him, on the further con-


dition, however, that in case Of tie in the
first six races the seventh or deciding
race shall be run over q course Of


his own selection-namely, the light.
ship sea course, and not, az the club proposed,


over the course on which they should them-
selves decide. The New York Yacht Club.
determined not to cease their efforts to ac-
complish match and to meet the demands Of
Commodore Ashbury, have waived their right
to name the deciding course and yielded to
this new condition. It is true there still re-
mains the technical and immaterial point as to


what club or clubs Commodore Ashbury may
claim to represent; but as that gentleman is at


liberty to present the cup, should he win
it, to any club he may select, this question
will not, of course, be suffered to stand in the
way Of the contest. We may therefore


reckon upon series Of interesting matches,
commencing on Monday, the 10th Of October,
and continuing on alternate days until the
whole series shall have been run, and every


American will say, with hearty good will,
''May the best yacht win.


This happy result having been reached, it
is unnecessary to notice Commodore Ashbury's
long communication, published to-day, more
especially as 1t is mainly recapitulation of
controversy already worn threadbare. We
may point out, however, one or two facts


which dispose of his claim to race at this
time as the representative of any English
club except the Royal Harwich. His first


cable despatch to the New York Yacht
Club was clearly challenge 10 race
ita champion vessel either after the


expiration Of The necessary SIX months notice,
or sooner if the club would consent to waive
such notice. But if there should be any doubt
as to whether challenge was intended it is
set at rest by the explanatory cable despatch,
numbered s'fve" in Commodore Ashbury's


selection, which says, in reply to an inquiry


made by the New York Yacht Club, II pro-
pose racing for the Cup in October" To this
despatch the following response was sent -


'sThe New York Yacht Club consents to
waive the six months notice and accepts
your challenge as representative of the
Royal Harwich Yacht Club to race for the
Americas Cup in October" The challenge
had come from Commodore Ashbury, who was
known to represent the Royal Harwich Club.
The answer was sent to Commodore Ashbury.
and accepted his challenge as the representa-
tive of that club. Indeed, at the time of the
receipt Of this acceptance, so plain in its terms,
Commodore Ashbury, according to his own
statement in his present letter, did not repre-
sent any other club than the Royal Harwich,
s'had no positive knowledge" that he could OBJ
tain the authorization to represent any other
club, and was afterwards actually refused that
of the Royal Cork Club. Commodore Ash
bury could not, therefore, have sent chal-
lenge to New York on behalf Of any club
he did not represent, and the specific


waving of the six months notice by the New


York Club could not have been in favor of
club which did not through its representative
challenge them until long after the date OF
such special concession. If Commodore Ash
bury did not recognize the waving Of the
required notice and the acceptance Of the
challenge as in favor of the Harwich Club
alone, as it in distinct terms stated, then it
was clearly his business to set the New York
Yacht Club right upon that point. Besides, il
he had eventually been refused the cer-
tificates of all the clubs, which he then


'had no positive knowledge" that he could
obtain, what would have been his course2
Would he in that case have pretended that
he had sent no challenge at all to New York,
and that the acceptance of the New York
Yacht Club was not an acceptance of chal-
lenge from his own club, the Royal Harwich?
We are confident that when Commodore Ash
bury reflects upon the untenable nature Of
his technical points he will not allow mere
quibble to prevent contest which he has
himself invited. At all events, race or no
race, it is well that the New York Yacht
Club has brought to close correspondence
Of which all our citizens are heartily tired.


AN IMPIoUs BLAsPHEMER, while the fire
Hend was raging in Chicago, harangued q
multitude from the steps of the Court House,
melting to disorder. He cried out, "Where
is your God? Where is your God now?
Where are your Gods angels now?" A
policeman grabbed him by the collar and con-
fined him in the basement Of the Court House.
hat Of fha aqnhampr ia not