did efficient service from New York to Florida, and at the close of the war, in 1865, returned to the service of the New York Yacht Club. In September, 1865, she was beaten by the Fleetwing, in a race around Cape May Light-ship, by 1 hour, 19 minutes. In October she was defeated by the Vesta over the same course, both her contestants in the ocean race, when she came off victor. After the Henrietta's return from the ocean race she was laid up, and ultimately sold for fifteen thousand dollars, to a Boston gentleman, for a fruiter; and, after making several successful voyages, she was lost off the coast of Honduras, Dec. 16, 1872, on her return voyage to New York. The Henrietta will always be thought of as winner of the first mid-winter ocean yacht race across the Atlantic, and no subsequent yacht race can ever deprive her of its laurels. After her triumph, Mr. Bennett bought her antagonist, the Fleetwing, for sixty-five thousand dollars, and renamed her the Dauntless. In 1870, the race between the Dauntless, belonging to Bennett, and Cambria, belonging to Mr. Ashbury, was undertaken, resulting in the defeat of the Dauntless. The club-house of the New York Yacht Club, bought in 1868, is a villa-like structure, located in Clifton, Staten Island, and is conducted on house rules varying in no substantial particular from city clubs in general. The admission fee to the Club is forty dollars; annual dues, twentyfive dollars. The New York Yacht Club remained in undisturbed possession of the America's cup until 1870, when Commodore Ashbury, of the Royal Harwich Yacht Club, England, challenged the New York club, and entered the yacht Cambria against the fleet of the New York Yacht Club, over their course. The race was sailed Aug. 8, 1870, and was won by the Magic, of the New York Yacht Club, the Cambria being the tenth yacht in. Commodore Ashbury, returning to England, had a new yacht built, the Livonia, and again challenged the holders of the cup to sail a series of races, the first of which came off Oct. 16, 1871, and was won by the New York yacht Columbia. The second race was between the Livonia and Columbia, Oct. 18, 1871, and was also won by the Columbia. The third race was run the next day, between the same vessels, and under a time allowance the victory was assigned to the Livonia. A fourth race, between the Livonia and Sappho, was won by the Sappho; and a fifth race, between the Livonia and Dauntless, was won by the Dauntless. These races were all sailed under the rules of the New York Yacht Club, under the management of the club committee. That they were fairly won, and proved the superiority of the models of the American yachts, there can be no doubt. The Livonia sailed for England, November 9, leaving the cup in the possession of the New York club. During our civil war, the America, which had previously been purchased by an English gentleman, became a noted blockade-runner, but was once so closely pressed that she was run on shore and scuttled. She was raised by our officers, repaired by the United States government, and stationed at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, where she was used for experimental practice until June, 1873, when she was offered at auction, and purchased by Major-General Benjamin F. Butler, who was the only bidder, for five thousand dollars, and she is now (1880) owned by him. The following are the names of the principal American yacht clubs whose signal-flags are given in the colored illustration (Plate X.), with the date of their organization or incorporation, when known: NATIONAL AND PATRIOTIC SONGS. "I knew a very wise man, who believed that if a man were permitted to make all the ballads, he need not care who should make the laws, of a nation." Andrew Fletcher. HAIL COLUMBIA. BY JOSEPH HOPKINSON. The author of this lyric was the Hon. Joseph Hopkinson, LL.D., a son of Francis Hopkinson. He was Vice-President of the American Philosophical Society, and President of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, &c. He died at Philadelphia, Jan. 15, 1842, aged seventytwo years. In a letter addressed to the Rev. Rufus W. Griswold, a few months before his death, he wrote: "Hail Columbia' was written in the summer of 1798, when war with France was thought to be inevitable. Congress was then in session in Philadelphia, deliberating upon that important subject, and acts of hostility had actually taken place. The contest between England and France was raging, and the people of the United States were divided into parties for the one side or the other, some thinking that policy and duty required us to espouse the cause of republican France, as she was called, while others were for connecting ourselves with England, under the belief that she was the great preservative power of good principles and safe government. The violation of our rights by both belligerents was forcing us from the just and wise policy of President Washington, which was to do equal justice to both, but to take part with neither, and to preserve a strict and honest neutrality between them. The prospect of a rupture with France was exceedingly offensive to the portion of the people who espoused her cause, and the violence of the spirit of party has never risen higher, I think not so high, in our country, as it did at that time, upon that question. The theatre was then open in our city. A young man belonging to it, whose talent was high as a singer, was about to take a benefit. I had known him when he was at school. On this acquaintance, he called on me one Saturday afternoon, his benefit being announced for the following Monday. His prospects were very disheartening; but he said that if he could get a patriotic song adapted to 'The President's March' he did not doubt of a full house; that the poets of the theatrical corps had been trying to accomplish it, but had not succeeded. I told him I would try what I could do for him. He |