THE AMERICAN YACHT HENRIETTA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 109, 11 May 1867, Page 3

THE AMERICAN YACHT HENRIETTA.

The following correspondence between Mr. James Gordon Bennett, jun., and his Royal Highness Prince Alfred has been permitted to be published, as the sentiments expressed in his Royal Highness's letter are of public interest, and tend to show the feeliug of England towards the United States : —

Off Cowes, Dec. 31, 1866.

Your Royal Highness, — At Lord Lennox's dinner on Friday last you were pleased to match your yacht the Vikiug to sail the Henrietta around the Isle of Wight next August, for a cup worth £100. I -would not say so then, because I was bound to make the match proposed ; but, in fact, this arrangement will somewhat interfere with the disposition which I had determined to make of my yacht in case she should wiu the ocean race. I beg that you will accept as a New Year's gift to au English yachtsman from an American yachtsman the Henrietta, as she now lies in perfect order off Cowes, and I have instructed Captain Samuels to hold her subject to your orders. The uubounded hospitality with which the American yachtsmen have been received by all classes in England will always be remembered in the United States with the warmest gratitude, and I sincerely hope that you will not deprive me of the opportunity of acknowledging this most cordial reception by presenting the winning yacht to the representative of English yachtsmen. I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, yours, J. G. Bennett, Jun. Clarence-house, Jan. 22, 1867. Dear Mr. Bennett. — I find it difficult to express how gratefully I appreciate the kiudly feeling which dictated your letter of the 31st ult., as well as tlie splendid present which you offer to my acceptance, but most of all the delicacy with which you seek to diminish the personal obligation under which you would lay mei by giving to your generous offer an international character. It is, indeed, this last consideration only which has led me to hesitate iu replying to your letter, for personally it would have been impossible for me to accept so costly a present, but I felt bound fully to consider the question in the light in which you were good enough to place it, and if on full consideration I feel compelled to decline your generous offer, I trust that neither you nor your gallant competitors, nor your country at large, will believe that the. yachtsmen of England less appreciate, or less reciprocate, thefeeling ofgood fellowship which prompted tbe offer. The Henrietta is a vessel •which any man may feel proud to possess, aDd I trust she may long continue in the.

hands in which she has accomplished so triumphant a success. We must try to fiud a rival to her, and do our best iu common with all Englishmen. I siucerely hope that such friendly rivalry may be the only description of contest iu which our respective countries msiy ever be engaged. It has given us great pleasure to offer a cordial reception to you aud your companions in England, and I feel assured that if my professional duties in command of one of her Majesty's ships should ever take me to your shore, I shall there meet ou the part of my brother seamen with a reception not less hearty thau that which we have been happy to afford you here.

Believe me yours, sincerely, Alfred.