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States, make due entry at the custom-house of the port at which, on such return, it shall arrive.

"Approved June 29, 1870."

The following are the forms adopted for licensing and commissioning American yachts, and for application for a commission. I am informed by the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury that up to April, 1872, only one commission had been issued.

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"Of a yacht of twenty tons and upwards, to proceed from port to port of the United States, without entering or clearing at the custom-house.

"In pursuance of an act of the Congress of the United States of America, entitled 'An act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to license yachts, and for other purposes,' having given bond that the are owners, burden

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dredths of a ton, as appears by her enrolment, dated at ployed exclusively as a pleasure vessel, and designed as a model of naval architecture, shall not, while this license continues in force, transport merchandise, or carry passengers for pay, or engage in any unlawful trade, nor in any way violate the revenue laws of the United States, and shall comply with the laws in all other respects.

"License is hereby granted for the said yacht called the, to proceed from port to port of the United States, without entering or clearing at the custom-house, but not to be allowed to transport merchandise or carry passengers for pay. This license to continue and be in force for one year from the date hereof, and no longer. Given under my hand and seal at

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application for a commission to sail the said yacht on a voyage of pleasure to a foreign port or ports, under the provisions of sec. 3, Act of June 29, 1870.

Owner.

"Description: Name; Home Port,; Managing Owner, —;

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"I hereby certify that the above-mentioned yacht belongs to the Yacht Club, an association duly incorporated and organized under the laws of the State of and I recommend that the above application for a commission be granted by the Secretary of the Treasury.

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COMMISSION.

"Commission for a Pleasure Yacht, under the Act of June 29, 1870. The Secretary of the Treasury of the United States of America. To all to whom these presents shall come greeting: Be it known, that whereas the yacht called the whereof is at present master or commander, being schooner-rigged and of the burden of tons, or thereabouts, her official number being, belonging to an association duly incorporated and organized under the laws of the State of -, hath been duly enrolled and licensed according to yacht is now lying at the port of -, bound for on a voyage of pleasure; and whereas, the owner thereof, has made application for a commission for the said yacht under the provisions of the act hereinafter mentioned:

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"Now, therefore, I, George S. Boutwell, Secretary of the Treasury, in pursuance of authority in me vested by the act entitled 'An act to amend an act, entitled an act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to license yachts,' approved June 29, 1870, do hereby commission the aforesaid yacht called the as a vessel of the United States, entitled to proceed from port to port of the United States, and by sea to foreign ports, without entering or clearing at the custom-house: Provided, that said yacht shall not transport merchandise nor carry passengers for pay, nor engage in any unlawful trade, nor in any way violate the laws of the United States: And provided further, that the said yacht having visited a foreign country shall, on returning to the United States, make due entry at the custom-house of the district within which on such return she shall first arrive, and shall thereupon surrender this commission; and so long as the aforesaid conditions shall be faithfully observed, this commission shall be a token of credit to any United States official at home or abroad, and to the authorities of any foreign power, for the privileges enjoyed under it.

"In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the seal of the Treasury Department to be affixed, at the city of Washington, on the in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred

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A pretty long net-work of law to cover so small a matter. Thus protected and fostered, the work pressed bravely on. The progress, however, of the popular taste in this direction was very gradual. In 1850, the whole fleet of the club could be counted on one's fingers. It had its regattas, but they were not the popular events they have since become.

In the summer of 1851, the yacht America, built by George L. Steers, bearing the pennant of John C. Stevens, Commodore of the New York Yacht Club, crossed the Atlantic to take part in an international yacht race, open to the yachts of all nations. Sailing from Havre to Cowes, she fell in with the crack yacht of England, whose owner proposed a race. Her sailing-master (Commodore S. not being on board) assented, and the yachts started for Cowes, Isle of Wight. The America soon left the English yacht astern, which so frightened the Englishmen, that the international race was given up. Commodore Stevens then posted a notice in the Club House at Cowes offering to race the America against any English yacht for ten thousand guineas. That offer was not accepted; but the America was entered for one of the Royal Yacht Club matches, the prize being a cup presented by the squadron, open to the yachts of any country, of any rig, and of any size, to be sailed without time allowance, around the Isle of Wight. There were sixteen entries. The America won the race with ease, and returned with the cup to the United States. Her owner presented the cup to the New York Yacht Club, to be always held as a challenge cup. It received the name of the Queen's Cup,' though British yachtsmen call it the '1851, or America's Cup,' its proper name. The deed of trust to the New York Yacht Club reads as follows:

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The America's Cup.

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"Any organized yacht club of any foreign country shall always be entitled, through any one or more of its members, to claim the right of sailing a match with any yacht or other vessel of not less than thirty nor more than three hundred tons, measured by the customhouse rule of the country to which the vessel belongs.

"The parties desiring to sail for the cup may make any match with the yacht club in possession of the same that may be determined upon 1 The America is now owned by the Hon. Benjamin F. Butler.

by mutual consent; but, in case of disagreement as to terms, the match shall be sailed over the usual course for the annual regatta of the yacht club in possession of the cup, and subject to its rules and regulations, the challenging party being bound to give six months' notice in writing, fixing the day they may wish to start. This notice to embrace the length, custom-house measurement, rig, and name of the vessel."

The great event in the history of the New York Yacht Club took place in 1866-67, when the Henrietta, Vesta, and Fleetwing crossed the Atlantic, the Henrietta, belonging to James Gordon Bennett, Jr., winning the race.

This daring event contributed more to give a status to our country's yachts and yachtsmen than any feat ever before accomplished by them. For years, although the speed of our yachts was admitted, it was the custom, at home and abroad, to consider our yachtsmen as smooth-water sailors, addicted to cruising in land-locked bays, and seldom venturing off soundings. After this race, all such jibes were forever silenced.

The start in this ocean race was made Dec. 11, 1866. The course was from Sandy Hook Light-ship to the Needle's Light, in the English Channel; it was a sweepstake race, for a purse of ninety thousand dollars, thirty thousand dollars for each yacht, the winner receiving

the entire amount.

The contestants were the schooners Henrietta, a keel yacht of 205 tons, the Vesta, centre board, of 201 tons, and the Fleetwing, keel, of 212 tons. The race was a close and gallant one, all three making their Cowes anchorage within three hours of each other. After the first day out, the vessels saw nothing more of each other until they encountered in port. Mr. Bennett went out in the Henrietta, and Mr. George Lorillard in the Vesta. The Henrietta, Captain Samuels, carried off the honors, making the passage in 13 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes.1

The Henrietta was modelled by William Tooker, and built by Henry Steers, at Greenport. She was launched in June, 1861. Her dimensions were 107 feet on deck, 99 feet water line; tonnage, by custom-house measurement, 205 tons.

Soon after her launch the civil war began. Mr. Bennett generously placed her at the disposal of the government. His offer was accepted, and the yacht was commissioned as a revenue cutter, and

1 We are indebted to the politeness of the publishers of 'Brentano's Monthly' for the engraving of the Henrietta.

The Log of the Vesta,' by Col. Stuart M. Taylor, and 'How the Henrietta Won,' by Stephen Fiske, published in ‘Brentano's Monthly,' are admirable records of the race. See, also, the illustrated paper on Yachts and Yachting in 'Scribner's Monthly,' vol. iv., August, 1872.

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AMERICAN YACHT HENRIETTA CROSSING THE ATLANTIC, DECEMBER, 1866.

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