hull is, the faster the barque goes-a proposition admitting of infinite proof, and therefore beyond all possibility of test. There was an iron screw not very long since, looking the ideal of wreck and ruin, lying alongside a river ship-forge, between the Thames Tunnel and Blackwall. They built her by the mile, and set her up as a floating bridge between La Belle Normandie and perfide Albion; and the long and the short of it was, she wouldn't steer any more than a balloon. When they put her head for Dieppe, she made Newhaven; and on a second attempt, if she hadn't providentially gone ashore upon the Sussex sands, it is very generally believed she would have circumnavigated the globe. No brilliant illustration was from this experiment obtained in favour of unlimited longitude, as applied to naval architecture. Another self-willed ark was the Adelaide-also screw-which, when they proposed to pass through the gap that leads from Plymouth Harbour into the Channel-as the custom of well-regulated mariners is—made a rush at the Breakwater, and was within a toucher of "taking" it, as fast men do bullfinches. These theories emanated from the same source. Would the editor of Notes and Queries have the politeness to state, in an early number of that expounder rerum cunctarum, who was the engineer of the "steam-leg," which started upon its travels some fiveand-twenty years ago, and has not come back yet? In evidence of the reciprocity this Chicken is disposed-or, more courteously to speak, is desirous to barter with that "talented party," it begs to inform Notes and Queries that the "Temple and Strand Regatta," advertised for the 11th inst., will be holden upon the Thames, and not at either of the places named in that announcement. Should Notes and Queries require any enlightenment as to the literal and professional meaning of "lengthening the bows," he is informed that, to the best of the downy bird's belief, it signifies a device in ship-building for lengthening the bills. This is our interpretation-naturally.

66

a

The disputed "foul"-also naturally-excited our extreme interest. The Sailing Committee-in the words of the noble Commodore, committee of honourable gentlemen" (it could not very consistently have been a committee of dishonourable gentlemen)—have decided against the Sverige, and consequently in favour of the RosalindQ.E.D. for the noble Commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club : Mr. Bartlett-represented by the Sverige being "Vice" of the Royal London.

"Quo circa vivite fortes"-come what may,
The cock will crow, the dog will have his day.

Taking a liberty with a "bit" from a leaf of the last number of this periodical Apropos of these especial metropolitan sailing societies, it is said "There was no great love between them at the beginning; and" (according to the consequences ordinary to such events, the sequel will hereafter be as applicable)—“ and it pleased heaven to decrease it on further acquaintance". This first stone" will give a heavy blow and a great discouragement to the popularity of regattas-as relates to the Thames. Without throwing the shadow of suspicion upon the resolutions which disqualified the Vice Commodore's burgee of the Royal London Club, to the benefit and behoof of the Commodore's burgee belonging to the Royal Thames Yacht Club,

F

it is past peradventure that-looking at the peculiar features of the issue-a committee selected from either one or other of those clubs could not constitute a fitting tribunal for its consideration and disposition. Let it be remembered that the jury from whom a verdict was sought, like juries in civil and criminal cases ordinarily, had no personal cognizance of the facts from which they were to deduce their conclusion. They derived them from eyewitnesses, or those who were assumed to be eyewitnesses. A select committee of the Royal Squadron could have done as much, and done it far more satisfactorily. Conceive a dispute to arise-upon some point of custom-between the Corporation of London and the Committee of Improvements for Westminster; what sort of social welcome would greet the declaration that the Corporation of London would submit the question for settlement to a board of aldermen of the City? The dilemma admits of no casuistry: those whom it concerned must either have been aware that the course they adopted was opposed to the principle of justice and popular practice, or-being ignorant of the commonest of commercial canons" bad begins, and worse remains behind." I make no reference to the correspondence which took place between the principals in this contretemps, published in the newspapers...... It embraced a conclusion wholly irrelevant to the matter......Strange, that neither of them suggested the simplest and most conventional plan-" leave it to the arbitration of a sailing club in no way interested in the match!"......The usage is paramount on the turf, where the Jockey Club is the court of chivalrous appeal: why should it be otherwise "on the glad waters?"

As the season advances, the character of our naval sports advances also. There can be no question about the direction in which they are bound. The ocean is destined to be to the clipper yacht that which heath and down are to the racer. Pari passu should progress make provision for the consequences of this movement. The trial of quality can no longer be obnoxious to class caprice-a uniformity of jurisdiction should be anticipated by a code already in general recognition. This is impossible while eccentric fancies find place in the policy of yachtracing. In the coming regatta at Ryde, a prize of £50 is announced to be sailed for "by cutters of 60 and under 70 feet in length." This condition as we read it-would apply to a hull with a counter as long as her deck. The vagaries of measurement cry aloud for reform; and beyond and before all, what a yacht is, should be unmistakeably, and past mystification, defined. It is not a "sheer hulk"-the shell of what was or what is to be a ship. It is a part and parcel of a system, whereby

"navibus

66 -petimus bene vivere”.

WEST AUSTRALIAN.

WINNER OF THE DERBY, 1853.

ENGRAVED BY E. HACKER, FROM A PAINTING BY HARRY HALL.

BY CASTOR.

West Australian, bred by his owner Mr. Bowes, in 1850, was got by Melbourne out of Mowerina, by Touchstone, her dam Emma by Whisker -Gibside Fairy, by Hermes.

Melbourne, bred in 1834, and got by Humphrey Clinker out of a Cervantes mare, was a good stout runner; though but very roughly prepared for his engagements, he won many heavy stakes against superior fields of horses. The first year his stock came out-in 1846-Sir Tatton Sykes won the St. Leger; Cymba the Oaks in 1848; and now West Australian the Derby. Melbourne is also the sire of Canezou, Prime Minister, Westow, Meford, and many other winners.

Mowerina, own sister to Cotherstone, another of Mr. Bowes's Derby winners, was bred by him in 1843. She ran, though always in good company, with no great success at three and four years old; and was then put to the stud. Her first foal, Australind, by Sleight of Hand, was bought by Mr. Powney; but the bargain so far has not been a very grand one. Mowerina missed the following year, 1849, to Hetman Platoff; threw the Derby winner in 1850; an own brother to him, already "heard of" as Marley Hill, in 1851; on the Derby Day of 1852, another brother called Aurifer; and, rather singularly, a sister, on the Oaks Day of 1853.

West Australian is a good hard yellow bay horse, standing fifteen hands three inches and a half high. He has a very clean blood-like head, tapering towards the nose; with-like many of the Melbournes-somewhat peculiar ears, long and rounded at the points. He has rather a short, strong, but still elegant neck; good shoulders, well thrown back; with great depth of girth, and very strong and thick through, where his jockey's knees come. His back is splendid; and he is ribbed up so that you can barely lay your hand in the space left. He is not very deep from the top of the loin to the stifle, but has capital quarters, with good thighs and hocks, standing perhaps a little long from the hock to the ground. He has not very large arms or knees, but has plenty of bone, with very sound clean-looking legs. He has a thin blood-like tail, with a blaze of white in his face, as well as some white on the near fore coronet, and the off hind fetlock-joint. Summing up his general appearance, we may safely record West Australian as one of the finest specimens of the English racehorse ever seen.

PERFORMANCES.

In 1852, at Newmarket Houghton Meeting, West Australian, then two years old, ridden by Butler, and carrying 8st. 7lb., ran second to