When  hailed  and  asked  if  anything  could  be  done  to  assist  her,
if  she  required  a  supply  of  bread  and  water,  the  answer  invariably
was:  "No,  thank  you;  we  are  comfortable  enougL"  When
within  two  days'  sail  of  the  English  coast,  on  answering  the  various
questions,  and  particularly  the  inquiry  of  how  long  out,  "  Seven-
teen days  from  Boston,"  the  old  salts  refused  to  believe  any  such


104  TAOHTING.
gtatement  Bat  one  ressel  ontsailed  her,  and  fthe  was  an  East
Indiaman.
At  the  annnal  regatta  dinner  of  the  Royal  Yacht  Sqnadron,
given  at  the  Castle,  Oowes,  August  8,  1866,  the  Commodore
said  he  had  a  pleasing  toast  to  propose,  which  was,  '^  The  health
of  Mr.  Appleton,  the  owner  of  the  Alice."  He  was  delighted  to
see  American  gentlemen  coming  amoi^t  them,  as  they  obtained
some  good  and  udefbl  hints  from  them,  and  they  were  thus  enabled
to  make  great  improrements  on  their  own  lines.  It  was  really  a
most  gallant  act  for  the  owner  and  a  son  of  the  great  poet
Longfellow,  with  the  assistance  of  only  three  men,  to  cross  the
Atlantic  in  so  small  a  vesseL

This  toast  was  most  enthusiastically  received.
SAILING  REGATTA  IN  BOSTON.
On  the  Fourth  of  July,  1866,  the  friends  of  yachting  in  Boston
arranged  an  interesting  regatta  as  a  portion  of  the  celebration  of
^'  Independence  Day "  in  that  city.  There  had  been  no  saDing
regatta  of  any  great  importance  in  Boston  for  nearly  twenty
years,  and  those  friendly  to  yachting  recreation  resolved  to  ren-
der the  aquatic  demonstration  a  success.  The  city  authorities
also  gave  the  affidr  their  influence  and  aid.  The  result  was,  that
more  than  fifty  yachts  entered.
