the Silver-cup and Salver, value £30; and the Violet being second of the same class, entitled to the Silver Tankard, value £10.

Two days after the match just recorded, the challenge prize, value £70, of the Prince of Wales Yacht Club, became the absolute property of Mr. Bulmer, owner of the Little Mosquito, that vessel having won it in two consecutive years. On the present occasion the match was sailed under peculiar disadvantages of calms and cats'-paws; and, therefore, without entering into minute particulars, it will suffice to say, that six little yachts started for this contest at 12 o'clock at noon; and it was twentyfive minutes past nine in the evening before the winning yacht glided past the goal; and no other yacht being in sight at the time, those aboard the club steamer did not wait to note their arrival.

As if to make up for the deficiencies of the last two matches on the Thames, that of the Royal London Yacht Club on the 20th July was sailed under the more favourable auspices of a pretty fair breeze; but which, being a leading wind nearly all the way, there was but little test of the weatherly qualities of the little fleet, and the great art consisted of manoeuvring with the tide. Although three prizes were offered, but four yachts were entered in the match, viz. :

The start was well managed, and the vessels canted briskly, and got away with a light southerly breeze, Julia showing the greatest alacrity in setting her sails, though the Little Mosquito, from having the best berth, took the lead. The Atalanta was prettily rigged and handsomely sailed; she held her own amongst her rivals at first; but her form of rig being better adapted to strong winds than the light breeze which then filled her sails, the little schooner fell astern, when an accident to her mainmast compelled her to retire from the contest. On the wind freshening off Purfleet, the Julia teazed the Mosquito with threatening effort, but could not pass her. In St. Clement's Reach, however, the Julia made a rapid stride, and came close in the wake of her opponent. In the next reach, Julia was very unlucky with the wind, and Little Mosquito went a long way in front, and rounded the flag-boat off Coal House Point about three minutes in advance of Julia; Blue Belle being twelve minutes later. And now the struggle rested with the tide, which was yet ebbing strongly, and compelled the little vessels to get as close to the shore as practicable. Thus they proceeded, some distance, under the most careful pilotage, until a strong puff bent their slender spars as it pressed upon the canvas, laying them nearly flat abeam; and, like a more powerful vessel than her leader, the Julia passed completely under the lee of the Little Mosquito, and took a determined lead-that lead she had been struggling for throughout the match, but which had hitherto been denied her. The race was now at the pitch of excitement; for, had Julia failed to weather the point on the opposite side of Northfleet, her chance of success would be gone; by the most perfect handling she weathered it beautifully; and once more free, she gained rapidly upon her antagonist; and, up Long Reach, found quite as much wind as she wanted in the heavy puffs which came down upon her. During the

beating to windward up Blackwall Reach, Mosquito appeared to gain a little upon her bold challenger, but the other had too good a lead to allow of a defeat; and the Julia finally completed her course 3 m. 40 sec. in advance of the Little Mosquito, the Blue Belle arriving just half-anhour after the Mosquito. Each of the three had to receive a prizeJulia, a silver claret-jug, value £20; Little Mosquito, £10 in cash; and Blue Belle, £5.

The Irish Regattas of this season have been remarkably successful. The first which claims our attention is that of the Cork harbour, which commenced on the 13th July, at Queenstown. The first match (for yachts) was for the Eglinton prize, value £60: the contest for which, at the start, lay between

With the usual good luck which seems to attend the Queenstown regattas, the day was all that could be desired for a sailing match between sea-going clippers; and such as would test the merits of the most sturdy yacht afloat. The Mosquito got away with the lead, closely followed by Wildfire and Oithona. As soon as they had cleared the harbour, and reached the open sea, the only place for faithful contest with vessels of this class, the true spirit of match-sailing was instantly apparent; a strong breeze was blowing, and a heavy sea running; but what of that with vessels of 50 tons and upwards? they found themselves in all their glory, struggling boldly with the white-crested waves,

"At all risks, determined to stick to their tethers;
For true-hearted sailors are born for all weathers."

In such a breeze and sea, and with such desperate hands as those aboard the Wildfire, it was soon apparent she must either content herself with less head-sail and a reefed bowsprit, or run the risk of losing both; but determined, as it were, to " 'conquer or die" in her desperate struggles, a warning wave dashed violently at the bows of this determined racer; then another, and another; but warnings went for nothing with her crew; until, dashing her bows madly at another wave, in an instant the Wildfire's bowsprit was gone, and with it her chances of the day. The race then lay between the Oithona and Mosquito; the former had now a considerable lead, which she steadily increased, though the Mosquito was beautifully sailed, and made splendid exertions. to overtake her powerful opponent, which she would be obliged to do to win the prize, there being no time allowed for difference of tonnage : and after a remarkably hard-sailed match, the Oithona came in an easy winner.

In the second yacht race at this regatta, nine vessels were entered, though but seven started; this was a time race. The following are their names and tonnages:

With such a list of clippers, many of them of world wide fame, and with such a bonny breeze, the fairest anticipations were astir that an exciting contest would take place; but a most unfortunate mishap occurred just after starting, to the Extravaganza and Meteor, which yachts fell foul of each other in their endeavours to go clear of a ship riding at anchor in their track, and both were disabled from taking farther part in the contest. The Glance now stole away with a pretty lead, the Vigilant keeping close watch by her heels. But this state of things was not long suffered, for the Amazon proudly passed the Vigilant, and finally, after a neck-and-neck race with Glance, passed her also. And now the wind increasing, it was "Down with another reef!" and the little clippers went staggering onwards, plunging and pitching with gallant efforts. The Amazon and Glance appeared well matched for a long time, until the short water of the Irish Sea, as usual, told fearfully upon the little fleet, and first the Dream with loss of bowsprit, and then the Amazon, were both disabled from continuing the contest, and the Glance finally made a quiet victory, and received the prize, value £45.

In the Schooner match, which for want of wind on the day following was postponed till Friday the 16th: there were but three yachts entered.

The Ella made a beautiful start, and increased her lead every minute, finally winning with nearly an hour to spare; Urania and La Rêve being apparently well matched, but having no pretensions to race with the Ella, which vessel has shown astonishing powers of speed; and if we are not very much mistaken, she is the fastest schooner-yacht afloat.

The match for the Queen's Cup, value £100, had also been postponed from Wednesday, on account of the calm which succeeded the gale of Tuesday; and so far conveniently, as it gave time for repairing the damages which most of the yachts had more or less encountered in the match of that day; and never did a prettier fleet of clippers take up their stations for a race than those six well-tried racing-vessels which assembled on this occasion-the great event of the regatta. It is only necessary to mention their names, having already given most of them their tonnages and other particulars above; viz., Vigilant, Mosquito, Amazon, Foam, Extravaganza, and Glance. But before proceeding with particulars of the match, it must be observed that three yachts, Meta, Julia, and Dream were started at the same juncture, with the Queen's Cup combatants, for the £45 prize offered to competition by yachts of less tonnage than those in the other class. The scene at the start was, therefore, highly exciting, and indeed throughout the contest; it is seldom that a more spirited match has been sailed. The sailing powers of the Dream were the subject of much admiration, and at one time she bid fair to outsail the whole fleet. This little clipper was handled with remarkable skill, and showed some of the most renowned yacht-racers that they had a rival which would not be snubbed, though the most diminutive of the fleet (with the exception of the Foam). The Glance could not get on with that success which had so recently attended her,

and she ultimately fell astern of her rivals. Amazon and Extravaganza each in their turn ran the Mosquito sharply, and challenged her tack for tack, the little Dream astonishing them all; but the good old iron-boat (Mosquito) proved too much for her modern rivals, and gallantly added another well-earned victory to her numerous triumphs. It is certainly pleasing to see this famous old clipper in these her declining days, defying the efforts of all yacht builders; and notwithstanding the many lessons of improvement which have been gathered of late, still the invincible Mosquito is mistress of her band. The little Dream was second, and consequently winner of the second prize; she was but seven minutes behind the Mosquito, Extravaganza nine, Amazon thirteen, and others much farther astern. Thus terminated a very beautiful and spiritedly sailed match.

But before leaving the pretty lasses of Erin, the pleasures and festivities, the yachts and the waters; there is yet another regatta to record, the doings at which excel beyond comparison any other of the season. Yachtsmen are becoming awake to the gallant struggles in the Irish waters; and those who wish for yachting fame are well aware that the truest tests have often been decided off the cliffs of the Emerald Isle. We applaud the spirit which leads them on to take part in such distinguished sailing matches.

The first race which falls under our notice in Dublin bay during the regatta of the Royal St. George's Yacht Club, on the 21st July, was for a purse of £100, open to all yachts of 30 tons and upwards. A time race, over the famous course where the gallant Cymba in former days won her glories; and where many a daring race has been contested. Eight indisputable clippers took up their stations to compete for this prize, viz.—

This was the first appearance in a match of the Surge, which vessel was built by Fife, of Fairlie, and launched only three weeks before the match. After some two hours' delay, caused by a false start, this beautiful fleet of clipper yachts left their moorings, and immediately their spars were hidden among clouds of white sails, the Wildfire leading, closely followed by her splendid rivals. The Mosquito was the first to challenge her for pride of place, and quietly glided past her, like the good clipper she was of old, but evidently wanting more wind to test her well-known powers. On nearing the south buoy off the Burford bank, the Surge began to show that Fife had put some of his Irish grease upon her bottom, for she gave her opponents one after another a taste of her quality, and ran close in the wake of the invincible Mosquito, and in a few minutes passed her, and led the race! Here, then, was her first triumph, and unmistakable proof that the Surge will be a credit to her builder. After some of the prettiest handling ever witnessed, the Irish lightship was rounded in

the following order :-Surge 1, Oithona 2, Mosquito 3, Cymba 4, Amazon 5, Wildfire 6, Dream 7, Maraquita 8. After jybing, the vessels stood on a wind, and the Surge went away from her rivals like a fairy: Cymba, Oithona, and Mosquito in close proximity, and vainly struggling to overhaul her. On rounding the Bailey flag boat the Surge was eighteen minutes ahead of the second vessel-the Oithona. On running out for the Irish light-ship in the last round, the Mosquito and others gained upon the Surge; but directly they came on a wind again, the new clipper left them like a hare. And now the wind suddenly increased to a strong nor'-wester, when they all laid down at their work in beautiful style, but with less canvas than before. The Surge's chances of winning were now next to certain, when down came her mainsail by the run! the peak-halliard block-hooks had parted, and her hopes of victory seemed to be fast vanishing away. But no; like thorough sailors, hands were instantly aloft, the damages temporarily repaired, and, after some minutes' delay, the noble little clipper dashed boldly on; but not until Mosquito had overtaken her, and threatened to wrest her well-earned laurels from her prow. The excitement at this, the close of the race, was beyond description, as the two favoured vessels, under the most perfect handling, dashed past the winning-goal at the following time :

The gallant Surge, happily, was within her time, and 2 min. 13 sec. to spare; therefore the well-deserving winner of the prize. Had it not been for her mishap, she must have been in ahead of the Mosquito. A more beautiful race was never witnessed; and loud and long were the cheers which greeted the Surge on her first most gallant victory.

On the same day a match was sailed by yachts under thirty tons, for a £30 prize, between the Whim, North Star, Kelpie, Banba, Fingal, and Flirt. This was a very spirited race, thought the wind was too light for some of the vessels. The North Star was first in; the Flirt being two minutes behind her, but nevertheless winner of the prize, with 1 min. 15 sec. to spare. The Flirt is 19 tons, and belongs to Capt. H. H. O'Bryan. The third-class match for £20, between yachts not exceeding twelve tons, was won by the Bijou, 10 tons, Mr. R. D. Kane.

On the second day of this celebrated regatta, the wind at first was even lighter than on the day previously; but afterwards proved far more favourable, though changing and blowing at different times from every point of the compass. The first race of the day was between schooners, for a handsome silver cup presented by the Marquis of Conyngham, for vessels belonging to the Royal St. George's Yacht Club only; a time race. The following started: