The Committee beg to state, that during the three day's Regatta, thirtyseven races were contended in, and the sum of £376 distributed in money as prizes to Watermen-exclusive of a Coat, Badge, and Freedom for Watermen's apprentice, value £19. 11s.; and the further sum of £184. 10s. 9d. paid to Watermen for hire, gratuities, entrance money returned, &c., making a total of £580. 1s. 9d. paid alone to Watermen and their apprentices.

To their indefatigable Secretary, Mr. C. H. Tidbury, the Committee feel, that not only their own thanks, but those of the public are specially due, for the efficient and gratuitous discharge of the onerous duties that have devolved upon him from the first establishment of the Regatta; and they have the greatest pleasure in stating that, they still retain the invaluable services of this gentlemen, and they desire thus publicly to acknowledge their deep sense of their obligations to him.

The Committee also have to state, that the whole of the officers of this institution perform their duties gratuitously, which enables them to dispense with paid officers.

In conclusion, the Committeee would once more earnestly call on the public to respond liberally to this undertaking, in the success of which their own national character is so deeply at stake. The late Naval Exhibition made on our shores has shown us the mistress of the seas; but the arm that directs the deadly bolt, and the cool courage that takes advantage of its power, are human, and the skill and endurance of our brave countrymen alone gave them their worth. It is to foster this spirit of aquatic superiority --the mainspring of our supremacy on the ocean-that is the chief aim of our Regatta; that whether the aristocratic and accomplished oarsman, or the unknown tyro, or apprentice on a village stream, he may have some arena, some place of public exhibition, where an opportunity of proving his excellence and perfection in his art, that practice and hard work have alone enabled him to reach, may be afforded. That what the Olympic Games were to the Greek, this National Regatta may be to the Englishman. That, whilst encouraging a healthy amusement and praiseworthy emulation, the physical endurance and stamina of our countrymen, and the spirit of manliness and fair play may be perpetuated, and that an equal opportunity of honour open to every one to struggle for the reward of proficiency, alone may be excited. That the struggle over the friendly hand of fellow and companionship may be extended as before, and that the lessons inculcated in the peaceful pursuit of honour and fame, in one of our national sports, may bear with them their beneficial fruits, when sterner scenes call for a far different exhibition of like powers; and that the historian of a future age, when detailing the sad recital of the sternest realities and deadliest struggles of the late war may tell, when the battle was over, of the manly bearing of the Englishman, to his fallen and vanquished foe, and trace this glorious result to the feelings imbibed and moulded into his nature by the animus of his national pastimes, of which that now urged stands pre-eminet. It is not only to the passing exhibition of the hour, but to the far higher good that springs out of it, that the Committee would direct public attention, and for which they ask the helping haud, which they know will not be withheld.

NO. 6.-VOL. V.

20

CLIFFORD'S NEW METHOD OF LOWERING SHIPS BOATS AT SEA.

WE are glad to find that severe tests at sea have tended to confirm the favorable opinion we gave in a former number of the benefit that this valuable invention would confer on the maritime community. The repeated trials under the officers of the Emigration Commissioners, Captain Lean, R.N., at London, Captain Schomberg, R.N., at Liverpool, Captain Smith, at Southampton, and Captain Westbrook, R.N., at Plymouth, all establish its general practical utility and simple and easy action, and the Commissioners have consequently, with a decision that entitles them to public gratitude, more especially that of the poor emigrants whose welfare they have shown this regard for, determined that all emigrant ships shall for the future carry two boats fitted with this plan as a security in cases of emergency, and a condition to this effect now forms part of a clause in the "Charter Party" signed by the owners of such ships with the Government. In accordance with this stipulation the boats of the following ships have been fitted;-the Hooghly, Bermondsey, Omega, Aliquis, Lloyds, and the Shanghai.

The enterprising firm of Baines & Co., of Liverpool, have the Life Boat's of all their ships fitted with this plan, and we recommend such of the public as are about making a trip to the Antipodes, to go by some ship having this alteration for the salvation of the lives of the passengers, on board, and not run the risk of those on board the "Josephine Willis," in the event of sudden accident.

It will be seen therefore that the ingenuity and perseverance of one of our townsmen, and we are happy to be able to add a leading London aquatic and sculler, has at last accomplished in an effectual and satisfactory manner this important naval want, decided to be such by the Parliamentary report, which stated at the time of the enquiry that was instituted into the cause of the dreadful loss of life that resulted from the fire and wreck of the Amazon, Mail Packet steamer, in the Bay of Biscay, and the Birkenhead, Government transport ship off the coast of Africa, that, "the means of lowering ship's boats evenly and readily disengaging the tackles, were desiderata wanted throughout the naval service."

Surely our yachtsmen cannot be aware of the addition to their comfort and convenience that such a plan would be, or their well found craft, especially those of the larger calibre, would not be without it.

A working model of the plan may be seen at Bell's, late Farley's, the Dockyard, Fleet Street.

Colonial Land and Emigration Office.

Park Street, Westminster, 18th February, 1856.

SIR. With reference to my letter of 28th ultimo, requesting you to communicate with Captain Schomberg on the subject of the application to a vessel

CLIFFORD'S METHOD OF LOWERING SHIPS BOATS. 279

at Liverpool of your apparatus for lowering boats, I have much pleasure by direction of the Emigration Commissioners in sending you the enclosed copy of his Report of the trials made of that apparatus.

I have the honour, &c.,

To Mr. C. Clifford.

S. WALCOTT.
Secretary.

Government Emigration Office.

Liverpool, February 15th, 1856.

SIR.-I beg to report the result of the trials of Mr. Clifford's boat apparatus fitted on board the Government emigrant ship “Commodore Perry.”

As the Commissioners have already witnessed a trial at Southampton of this invention, I will not trespass on their time by giving a description of the apparatus.

I proceeded on board the "Commodore Perry," at anchor in the Mersey, at 1 P.M., on the 11th, accompanied by some of the officers of this establishment, and also the owners of the ship, Admiral Grenville, Commander Luctcraft, (late of her Majesty's ship Euryalus), and some other gentlemen, among them the inventor, Mr. Clifford.

I directed the starboard quarter boat to be manned and lowered. This boat was fitted on the ordinary plan, as a man of war's boat, slung with a piece of chain clinched through the keel, led up through a thwart with a hook in the sling, the tackle fitted with a thimble in the block. The boat was lowered with the crew in, successfully, the tide running I imagine about five knots. I dropped this boat astern, and kept her manned, as a precaution in the event of accident. Mr. Clifford then came forward with a volunteer crew, to lower his boat. The boat was lowered and detached in a few seconds with perfect ease; she was then hoisted up, and again lowered and in the descent checked several times by my order, testing the power of the controller. I then made a third trial, testing the power of the controller when close to the water, as it might be desirable in a sea way to drop a boat or hold a boat. In this manner the controller on these trials was held by Mr. Clifford's seafaring man. In these several tests everything worked with the most perfect success and uniformity. On the 12th the second day's trial was made under the same circumstances as of yesterday, except 1 directed the crew to manage the entire operation. The boat was lowered twice with success, the gear all worked well, the tide running at about five knots.

The third trial on the 13th, I again caused the crew to manage the entire operation, which was quite successful.

The fourth trial, on the 15th, I inspected the boat, and saw she was ready for use. I then selected a crew, and from the time of their stepping into the boat until the boat was in the water did not occupy a greater space of time than thirty seconds, and on this occasion there was not a very strong tide running.

In presenting the result of the trials of this boat in the Mersey, I feel it a great pleasure to state the very high opinion I entertain of the invention. I

thiuk it simple, practical, inexpensive, and a very great improvement on the ordinary fitting of ships' boats. It also has the great advantage that any practical seamen can comprehend the working of it at a glance, and I think it well worthy of a full test at sea with a ship in motion.

I have the honour, &c.,

(Signed) C. H. SCHOMBERG, Capt. R.N. Government Emigration Officer.

S. Walcott, Esq., Secretary, &c. &c.

Government Emigration Office, London.

In consequence of this recommendation her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners gave instructions to Captain Lean, R.N., the Emigration Officer for London, to see it carried out, and Captain Westbrook, R.N., was sent from London to Plymouth to test the plan en route, when the ship was under sail. The rough state of the weather prevented this being effectually done, but the result of one trial with the ship underway, and six when she was at anchor in the Sound at Plymouth, with a fresh sea on, are given from Captain Westbrook's Report.

WITH reference to this invention I beg to describe that six trials have been made while the ship was at anchor, and one when underway.

First. At Gravesend, (underway,) placing four men in the boat with Mr. Clifford (the inventor) as the controller, when she was lowered with perfect ease, and disengaged from the ship in the space of fifteen seconds.

Secondly. The following morning I lowered her myself, having a crew of six men, with equal facility and success.

Thirdly. At anchor in the Lower Hope, the experiment was repeated with seven men in the boat, and disengaged from the ship in twelve seconds. Fourthly. On the evening of the ship's arrival in the Sound, seven men were ordered into the boat, and lowered rapidly to the water, when the pendants were instantly disengaged, and the boat free from the vessel's side in the space of twelve seconds.

Being desirous to give the boat further trials when the officers and crew could be better spared, and to assist my judgment as to its merits, I repaired on board yesterday, having the attendance of the Master, officers, and crew; the boat was then lowered three times successively, with a crew of six, seven, and eight men, myself being once as the controller, and an able seaman on the other occasions. The average time in lowering occupied six seconds, and disengaging the pendants four seconds.

In conclusion I have no hesitation in reporting that the Invention is a decided improvement upon the ordinary method of lowering boats at sea ; and also, I believe it will be found to answer the purpose for which it was essentially intended, that of safely disengaging the boat from the ship's side, while the ship is steering her course through the water.

I have also the satisfaction of stating that I believe the invention has made a favorable impression upon the minds of the Master, officers, and crew.

MEMORANDA OF CLUB DOINGS.

ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB.-TORONTO.

Our colonial friends are enthusiastic in their support of yachting, and by the accounts which we have received from them the club is firmly established, and powerfully patronized. His Excellency the Governor General aiding by his countenance and support to place the club on a firm basis. The fleet number near a score yachts, and there is no doubt that 'ere long we shall receive accounts of a very favorable nature respecting the matches that are sailed and the amount of prizes won. Yachting has become within a few years one of the most general sports throughout the civilized globe. N. E. W. & S., yacht clubs spring up, and the yachtsman meets brothers and friends go where he will.

ROYAL CORK YACHT CLUB.

OUR attention has been directed to the following resolutions of the members of this club, in consequence of the resignation of the office of Hon. Treasurer, by H. T. N. Meade, Esq., who was also many years the Hon. Secretary. It was resolved-That Dr. Meade, having resigned the treasurership of this club, which he has held for a period of five years, and previously for several years acted as Hon. Secretary, the duties of which offices he had discharged with so much zeal and unwearied attention to the interests of the club in every respect, we hereby present to him, in the most emphatic manner, the warmest "Rethanks and acknowledgments of the club at this general meeting." solved-That a committee be appointed to prepare some more substantial testimonial of our esteem and regard for our late Treasurer, Dr. Meade, as a more lasting token than the mere verbal expression of our acknowledgments of his long and distinguished services in connection with the Royal Cork Yacht Club."

We have in conjunction with other journalists received many proofs of this gentleman's desire to afford on all occasions every assistance to the press; and we cordially add our best wishes for his happiness in his retirement.

ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON.

THE General meeting of this club was held at the Thatched House Tavern, St. James's, London, on the 9th ult., which was numerously attended, and the noble Commodore, the Earl of Wilton presided. Several gentlemen were elected members, among whom were Lieut. Col. C. Baring, Caprice, F. R. yawl, 56 tons; M. Ricardo, Esq., Maid of the Mist, cutter, 31 tons, Magenis, Esq., Drift, cutter, 50 tons; Col. J. T. Clifton, Plover, cutter, 35