DINNER TO COMMODORE STEVENS BY THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 41, 28 February 1852, Page 4

DINNER TO COMMODORE STEVENS BY THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB.

(From the Boston Mail, Oct. \i.) A sumptuous dinner was given at the Astor House last Wednesday evening by the Yacht Club of New York, to Commodore J. C. Stevens, W. E. Stevens, and ColoneU. A. Hamilton, on their return home from their triumphal cruise in the America. A sentiment from J. Prescott Hall, Esq., who presided, called up Commodore Stevens, who acknowledged with many thanks the kind and flattering terms in which he had been alluded to by the Chairman, and then proceeded to narrate the particulars of his adventures as follows : —

In coming from Havre we were obliged, by the darkness of the night and a thick fog, to anchor some five or six miles from the Cowes. In the morning early the tide was against us, and it was dead calm. At 9 o'clock a gentle breeze sprang up, and with it came gliding down the Laverock, one of the newest and fastest cutters of her class. The news spread like lightning that the Yankee clipper had arrived, and that the Laverock had gone down to show her the way up. The yachts and vessels in the harbour, the wharves, and windows of all the houses bordering on them, were filled, with thousands of spectators, the eventful trial they saw we could not escape; for the Laverock stuck to us, sometimes laying to, and sometimes tacking around us, evidently showing she had no intention of quitting us. We were loaded with extra sails, with beef and pork, and bread enough for an East India voyage, and were some four or five inches too deep in the water. We got up our sails with heavy hearts — the wind had increased to a five or six knot breeze, and after waiting until we were ashamed to wait longer, we let her go about 200 yards ahead, and then started in her wake.

I have seen and been engaged in many exciting trials at sea and on shore. I made the match with Eclipse against Sir Henry, and had heavy sums both for myself and for my friends, depending upon the result. I saw Eclipse lose the first heat, and fourfifths of the second, without feeling one-hundredth part of the responsibility, and without suffering onehundredth part of the ,f.ear and dr.ead I felt the

thought of being beaten by the Laverock in ■this eventful trial. However, we worked quickly and surely to windward of her wake, and came to anchor at perhaps a mile a-head ; and 20 minutes after otir anchor was down, the Earl of Wilton and his family were on board to welcome us to his friends. To himself and family, and a host of other noblemen and gentlemen were we indebted for a reception as hospitable and frank as ever was given to prince or peasant. From the Queen herself we received a mark of attention rarely accorded even to the highest among her own subjects; and I was given tounderstand that it was not only intended as a courtesy extended to myself and friends, but also as a proof of the estimation in which she held our country ; thereby giving a significance to the compliment infinitely more acceptable and valuable. Long may the bonds of kindred, affection, and interest, that bind us together at present, remain unbroken. As a further proof of the feeling of the government and the people towards us, I will mention the following^ act of kindness : —

We had the misfortune, the day before the race with the Titania, to knock off a part of our outer shoe. This rendered it necessary that we should haul her out, and we repaired to the government dock at Portsmouth for the purpose. On the instant the application was made, an order was issued by the Admiral to repair her in the shortest time possible. If you could have witnessed the vigour and goodwill exhibited from the Admiral down to the humblest mechanic in the yard, to complete her for the next day's race, you would I am sure have felt the obligation (rendered so doubly binding by the way in which it was tendered) as deeply and sincerely as ourselves, and regret that any cause of quarrel should arise to separate two nations who want to be but better acquainted with each other's good qualities, to become and to remain fast friends. She was docked at 12 and finished by 8 o'clock the same evening. For this important service no remuneration in any shape or way would be listened to. I trust with confidence, if occasion should occur, this delicacy and feeling will be promptly and as delicately reciprocated.

In the race with the Titania, I suspect— although I do not know the fact— that too much of her ballast was taken out. It gave her an advantage in going before the wind, but told very much against her in returning. There was a steady breeze and a good sea running, and she fell so rapidly leeward as to be hull down and nearly out of sight. — We beat her, according to the Secretary's report, three or four minutes in going down, and some fifty minutes in. returning, on a wind. In the race for the Queen's cup there were, I think, seventeen entries, most of which, I believe, started. In addition to them there were perhaps about one hundred, under weigh, in and about the harbour ; and such another sight no other country, save England, can furnish. Our directions from the sailing committee were simple and direct ; we were to start from the flagship at Cowes, keep the No Man's buoy on the starboard hand, and from thence make the best of our way round the island to the flagship from which we started. We got off before the wind, and in the midst of a crowd that we could not get rid of for the first eight or nine miles ; a fresh breeze then sprung up that soon cleared us from the hangers on, and sent us rapidly ahead of every yacht in the squadron.

At the Needles there was not a yacht that started with us in sight. After passing the Needles we were overtaken by the Royal steam-yacht Victoria and Albert, with her Majesty and family on board, who had come down to witness the trial of speed between the models adopted by the old world and those of the new. As the steamer slowly passed uswe bad the gratification of tendering our homage to the Queen, after the fashion of her own people, by taking off our hats and dipping our flags. At this time the wind had fallen to a light breeze, and we did not arrive at the flagship until dark. I could not learn correctly at what time, or in what order, the others arrived.

The cup before you is the trophy of that daysvictory. I promised, half jest and half earnest,, when I parted with you to bring it home to you. The performance of this promise is another exemplification of the truth of an old saw, " that what isoftentimes said in jest is sometimes done in earnest." I am requested, by the gentlemen owningthis cup, to beg your acceptation of it as a testimony of their gratitude for the interest you have so keenlyfelt, and so often and kindly expressed, in our welfare and success. I regret that the late hour at which I made up my mind to attempt a reply hasput it out of my power to make it what it ought tobe. With your permission I will propose, as a toast, " the health of the Earl of Wilton."

The Commodore's toast and speech were cheered enthusiastically. Various other toasts were offered and responded to ; and thus the evening passed away in a manner gratifying to all present, and appropriate to the occasion which had brought them together. The toasts were— the Royal Yacht Squadron of England— The President of the United States—Her Majesty the Queen of England, &c.