, who, during a time of profound peace, require some
such auxiliary aid; nor is it less patriotic in affording employment to
sea-faring men, encouraging the natural characteristic of Britons, and
feeding and fostering a branch of service upon which the country must
ever rely for its support and defence in time of peril. To the owners
it offers advantages and attractions which are not, in other pursuits,
generally attainable; Health here waits on Pleasure,--Science benefits
by its promotion,--friends may partake without inconvenience or much
additional expense,--travel is effected with economy,--and change of
scene and a knowledge of foreign coasts obtained without the usual
privations and incumbrances attendant upon the public mode of
conveyance. By a recent regulation, any gentleman's pleasure yacht may
enter the ports of France, or those of any other power in alliance with
England, exempted from the enormous exactions generally extorted from
private and merchant vessels, as harbour and other dues,--a privilege of
no mean consequence to those who are fond of sailing. In addition,
there are those, and of the service too, who contend, that since the
establishment of the Royal Yacht Club, by their building superior
vessels, exciting emulation, and creating a desire to excel in naval
architecture, and also by the superiority of their sailing, the public
service of the country has been much benefited, particularly as regards
our lighter vessels, such as revenue cutters and cruizers. This club,
which originated with some gentlemen at Cowes in the year 1815, now
comprises the name of almost every nobleman and gentleman in the kingdom
who keeps a yacht, and is honoured with that of the sovereign, and
other members of his family, ~148~~as its patrons. Cowes Harbour is the
favourite rendezvous; and here in the months of July and August may
be seen above one hundred fine vessels built entirely for purposes of
pleasure, and comprising every size and variety of rigging, from a ship
of three hundred tons burthen to the yawl of only eight or ten. It was
just previous to that delightful spectacle, the regatta, taking place,
when the roads and town presented an unusually brilliant appearance,
that I found myself agreeably seated on board the Rover, a cutter
yacht of about thirty tons, who, if she was not fitted up with all the
superiority of many of those which surrounded me, had at least every
comfortable and necessary accommodation for