February 25.] 
THE FIELD. 
177 
takes pluce on every Tuesday during the season, and three 
candidates aro announced for the next day of admission. 
Wednesday next, the 1st of March, is the last duy for paying 
subscriptions ; any member (not absent from Ireland) being 
ju arrear after that day, ceases to belong to the club. The 
annual reading out dinner, the Commodore in the chair, 
comes off on the 1st March, and is always most numerously 
uttendcd. The preparations for war seem to have had some 
effect upon the preparations for yachting ; a few weeks since, 
the destinations of many yachts were fixed upon, and par- 
ties formed for tho Coast of Norway, the Mediterranean, and 
the circumnavigation of Ireland. Since, however, tho 
advice in the Times, and tho volunteering of men for the 
Naval service from Kingstown and the neighbouring coast, 
yachtsmen are resting on thoir oars; a few weeks will 
determine tho question, when wc shall recur to it aguiu. 
HOYAL WELSH YACHT CLUE, CARNARVON. 
At a meeting of the Royal Welsh Yacht Club held on 
Friday week, tho following gentlemen were elected as mem- 
bers, viz.: — T. Love ; D. Jones Parry, Esq., of Madryn Park, 
High Sheriff of the county ; E. XV. Mathews, Esq., Worn ; 
H. 13. Robert**, Esq., Bangor; S. D. Darbyshire, Esq., 
pendyfryn ; James Edwards, Esq., M.D., Conway; and 
William Williams, Esq., Carnarvon. The following honorary 
members were elected, viz.: — Capt. Ogle, R.N. ; Com- 
mander Stevens, R.N. ; Lieutenant Palms, R.N. ; S. Nor- 
man, Esq.; J. Glasson, Esq., Carnarvon; T. Churchill, 
Esq., Carnarvon. The rules of the Club and sailing regula- 
tions were read and ordered to bo printed with the flags. 
Admiralty warrants, sailing directions, and other useful 
information for circulation amongst tho members of the Club. 
The finances were declared to bo in a most satisfactory con- 
dition. The subject of the proposed new Club-house was 
entered into, and n strong hope expressed that it might be 
erected prior to the next regatta. Tho Club having been 
made a Royal one by the patronage of her late Majesty the 
Queen Dowager, proceedings were directed to he taken to 
obtain further royal patronazo. The Club year was fixed 
to commence in future in April, and the annual general 
meeting to bo held on the first Wednesday in that month. 
The ordinary meetings were fixed in future for the first 
Wednesdays in April, May, June, July, Angust, September, 
and October. The schooner yacht, Princess Olga, has recently 
boon added to tho Club, having been purchased by Henry 
Leader, Esq., of Talgwyticdd. 
Sale op the Halcyon. — This vessel, which was adver- 
tised in the last number of “The Field,” has been pur- 
chased by Mr. Robert Sheppard, who is not at present a 
member of any club. Tho Halcyon was built by Mr. W. 
Moore, of Plymouth, and was much improved by her 
recent owner, Mr. Barkworth, who would not have parted 
with her hut on account of an intended tour. 
Plymouth. — A letter has been received hero from Lieu- 
tenant F. A. Bowen, R.N. , written onboard the schooner 
vacht Proserpine, which left Southampton on the 25th of 
October for Melbourne and New Zealand, and dated 30th of 
November, at St. Jago, Cape Verde. It states that off Ma- 
deira, on the 7th of November, they exchanged colours witli 
two Russian frigates, and tried sailing with them, and heat 
them both. The Russians were bound out; they carried a 
press of sail and rolled heavily. 
Isle op Wight. — Lord John Scott is evuling in this 
neighbourhood in his Flower of Yarrow yacht, as well as 
(.!. S. Teuton* Esq., in his sclmoncr-yacht Oriana. 
IMi-ssrs. John and Robert White are lengthening Sir R. 
B. W. Bulkclcy’s sclmoner-yacht Lcda 10 feet by the bow, 
in (heir yard at. East Cowes ; uud, in a few days, they will 
have Lord Wilton’s new schooner-yacht Zara, in the same 
yard, to lengthen 14 feet in midships. 
New Life Boats. — A trial of a new life boat took place 
on Tuesday week, in the canal, at Limehnuse, in the presence 
of several experienced gentlemen in tho construction and 
management of life boats. The boat in question was de- 
signed by Mr. J. Fouko, assistant master shipwright in her 
Majesty’s Dockyard, Woolwich, and was built by the 
Messrs! Forrest for the National 1 Institution for the Preser- 
vation of Life from Shipwreck, who purpose to place the 
boat at Ardrossun, on the const of Scotland. Having been 
hove keel up, by means of an iron crane, tho boat self- 
righted at once, and freed lierself of tho water she had thus 
necessarily shipped in thirty seconds. The rapidity with 
which the boat emptied herself of tho water, by means of 
the self-acting delivering valves, gave great satisfaction. On 
a trial of the stability of the boat, she bore seventeen persons 
on her side to bring the gunwale down, with the tubes shut, 
to the water; and twelvo men were required to bring it 
awash, with tiio valve* open. It will thus bo observed that 
the self-righting power of the boat bus hardly diminished 
her stability. The boat is twenty-seven feet long, and costs, 
with her necessary gear, about 1.307. Many similar boats 
have, during the late awful gales, been eminently successful 
in saving the lives of a considerable number of shipwrecked 
persons, and their crews speak of their performances on 
these occasions in the highest terms. Nevertheless, it is la- 
mentable to reflect that during thepastmouth 700 poor fellows 
perished from shipwrecks on our coasts, a fact loudly calling 
for every exortion to bo put forth to lessen so frightful a 
sacrifice of human life. 
R'i) shall feel obliged by the Secretaries of “Rawing Clubs,'' ami 
others, forwarding their appointments of Matches or Notices of 
Matings to come, at their early convenience. 
MATCHES APPOINTED. 
Mar. 14. — JnniPB Messenger, of Tedclington, ami James Candlisli, of 
Newcastle, to row on the Tyne for 100/. a side. 
April 14. — Messrs. T. Wilson and G. Wildboar v. Messrs. II. Jackson 
and H. Bunion, to row from Chiswick Evot to I’ulney Bridge 
—10/. a side. 
i, 17 T. Taylor, of Ouselairn, and W. Patterson, of Gateshead, to 
row for 30/. a side I rum the High Level Bridge to Scotsvvoad 
Suspension Bridge. 
Oxford and Cambridge Eight-Oared Rack.— T he groat 
trial of Aquatic skill between the Universities of Oxford and 
Cambridge, will take place on Friday the 7 1 It of April next. We 
understand Unit, in consequence of tho tide, the rnee will bo from 
Mortlake to Putney, and not from Putney ns it lias generally 
been. Doth crews are in active training, — Oxford under the caro 
of Mr. Shadwell, and Cambridge under that of Mr. Egan. 
OUR GENERAL WIND-UP OF THE SEASON, 1853. 
THE LANSDOWN CLUB (BATH) MATCHES. 
In our last, we promised to visit the members of the 
“ Lansdown Club,” at Bath, with the view of speaking of 
what happened to them at their “own home;” but the 
writer is, at this moment, unable to place his hand upon 
his Mems. of that affair, in consequence of his papers hav- 
ing been “mixed up” when he changed his residence, 
about a fortnight since. Doubtless, the particular paper 
will turn up ere he has brought the notices of these 
matches to a close ; and should it, he will then advert to 
what it contains 
In the meantime, he will go on to their next contest in 
succession, namely, that played on Rodway Hill, Mangots- 
fiehl, against the “ West Gloucestershire Club,” — a club, 
by the way, which, through the energetic exertions of Mr. 
Grace and a few other gentlemen, is rapidly rising into 
importance in the cricket world. On Wednesday, June 
22, the Lansdown reached the “spot of fray;” and, at a 
goodly hour, having won the toss, they took the bat, which 
weapon of defence their members continued to wield until 
they had obtained a score of 101 runs, towards which 
amount Mr. Jones contributed 23, Mr. Williams 30, 
and Mr. Marshall 17. At this period, “ things" looked 
well and healthy ; but, as in other matters, there is 
what some have described as a “ mutability in the 
affairs of life.” So, in cricket, and in this amongst many 
other matches of the season, a change came o’er the scene. 
Fine weather had been the companion of the belligerent 
parties during one innings, and then, as if to wash certain 
remembrances out of mind, down came the rain in such 
torrents, ns for a considerable time to defy all attempts at 
a renewal of the human contest. All who know anything 
of cricket, will thus see that were the game to be resumed 
that evening, the “ out” side would have to bear up against 
large difficulties. Well, the liquid message from the celes- 
tials having been duly delivered, and that delivery brought 
to its termination, shortly after 6 o’clock “ West Glouces- 
tershire” went to the wicket, and upon “time” being called 
at half-past 7, two wickets having been lost, Messrs. Kcmp- 
son and Pocock carried out their bats with a score of 77 on 
the paper. Lucidly, the Thursday proved a “ real Cricket 
day ” aloft for the continuance of the sport, and at 1 1 o’clock 
the two gentlemen who were observed to have shouldered 
their hats on the preceding evening were again seen at 
the wickets full of life and vigour. That they did well and 
good suit and service to their district of the county, will be 
found in tho fact, that whilst Mr. Pocock was not removed 
until his runs had reached the number which is repre- 
sented by tho figures 92, so Mr. Kempson maintained his 
ground till 77 stood as the indication of the result of his 
efforts. Need it be remarked that the rain of the previous 
afternoon somewhat contributed towards these “ long 
hands.” The “ West Gloucestershire” ran on through a 
prosperous career until they eventually scored no fewer 
than 255, of which number the individual offerings attain- 
ing two figures in addition to those of the gentlemen al- 
ready named, were those of Mr. Ray, 18, of Capt. Chester 
11, of Capt. Warde 10, and of those “extra personages" 
Messrs. Byes nml Co. 28 !!! The Lansdown cans, in the 
face of tho majority of 154, entered upon their second 
innings with no small amount of pluck. Like the 
writer of these notices, who never “ gave up” a match 
as lost till it “ was gone,” they said with him, 
“it may be done if we all pull well together; 
it may not be probable that victory will hover 
over us in the end, but the thing is not impossible.” And 
this is the feeling which should actuate all cricketers. But 
of later years wc have noticed an inclination with many 
persons to give up a match as lost because their side have 
been in a large minority in the first innings. This feeling 
was not very frequently exhibited in former days; and 
when the writer can find a few leisure hours, he will place 
before the reader numerous matches where, notwithstand- 
ing the one side have obtained a majority, in some in- 
stances amounting to an excessive and annihilating “ wet 
blanket” on hope, so apparently overwhelming that all 
exertion, and nil that a well combined effort could do, 
must of necessity fail — the minors in the earlier innings 
ultimately became the 'majors. Some of these earlier 
scores, although contributed to by some of the best players 
and amateurs of the time, have never been published to 
the world, but arc in the possession of the writer. Well, 
the “Lansdown Club ” took the bat for their second 
innings to reduce and to extinguish the majority of 154, 
which stood against them ; and, having succeeded in 
the latter achievement, then, if they could, to do so much 
on tlieir own account as should render it a “ task,” at all 
events, for their opponents finally to overcome them. In 
the present instance, however, this was not to be done, for 
104 was the total of their exertions, and so they were van- 
quished in one winnings by 50 runs. The double scores 
were made by Mr. Williams 28, by Mr. W. Attfield 20, 
by Mr. Jones 15, and by “Byes & Co.” 11. On the 
Thursday, July 0, the men of Lansdown assembled on 
Durdham Down, Clifton, near Bristol, to try their chance 
against the Westbury-upon-Trym Club. This experiment 
proved successful, seeing that they won by 23 runs, some 
capital cricket being shown as the game progressed during 
the two days. The heroes of the present notice opened 
the piny by going to the wicket in the outset, from which 
they were not all routed till they lmd marked up the 
goodly number of 136, towards which total the following 
double contributions were made: — Mr. \Y . J. Williams 29, 
Mr. E. Trcvi Ilian 21. Mr. E. Gardiner 15, Mr. Tugwell 15, 
Mr. Kington 12, and Mr. Wilkie (not out) 10. Then there was 
an unamiable total of 14 for “wide*.” The Westburv men 
then handled the hat, and by the aid of Capt. Warde’s 35, 
of Mr. A. Pocock’s 21, of the 12 of Mr. II. G. Grace, 
jiinr., and of the single figures obtained by others in the 
II, they showed 100 runs, when the last wicket fell. 
The Lansdown made 62 only in the second innings, 
and the Westlmry 75; but these totals, added to the results 
| of the preceding innings, had the effect of placing our 
friends from Bath in the position of winners by 23 runs. 
In onr next we shall again follow the L. C. in their 
doings. 
Salisbury.— 1 The enthusiasm with which this noble 
game was supported by tho young men of Salisbury and 
the crowds ot visitors that were attracted to the matches 
ot tho Surum Club in the “ Butts ” last season, have in- 
duced Mr. Forward, of Iligh-streeL to hire a field at 
Milford, to the cast of the Green Croft, and to enclose it 
m a proper manner for the practice of the ensuing season. 
Flic first match, we believe, will conic oft’ on the 16 th of 
April. 
IlotitCS of § Mills. 
The Slave Son. By Mrs. William Noy Wilkins. 
Chapman unci Hall. 
It was much to be feared that the consequences of a book 
of such wonderful popularity, und of such a molo-drnmatia 
character as “ Uncle Tom’* Cabin,” would have been a 
shower of black books ; but fortunately public enthusiasm 
took so decidedly a personal turn iu favour of Mrs. Harriot 
Beecher Stowe, lliut black literature died out a great deal 
by that circumstance, and it is much to bo doubted whether 
any other book of the sumo character would attain any 
particular success. The authoress of “Tho Slavo Son." 
though dealing with a similar subject, treats it in an entirely 
different manner, and wo think more in accordance with its 
merits, and certainly in a less feverish style. When peoplo 
came to reason on the exceedingly exalted, evangelical 
leelings which slavery appeared to nourish nnd bring out 
there really seemed some compensation In these excellent 
results for tho vices of the system as depicted by Mrs. Stowe. 
Mrs. Wilkins, on the other bund, argues from tho exceeding 
badness of the people, thus oppressed and forced into wrong ; 
from their malignity and depravity under slavery, nnd from 
their good instincts when out of it, to the hideous wickedneis 
of the system. 
The scene of this simple story is laid in the West Iudia 
island of Trinidad, before the emancipation ; but the 
authoress observes that sho might easily have traifeferred 
its characters and incidents to any other time or slave- 
holding state, “for the samo causes arc ever followed by 
the same effects.” Indeed, she might luivo added that there 
were many mitigating circumstances in tho Trinidad codo 
favourable to tho negro population, and therefore if there 
was a case to make out against tho United States, or any 
other slave-holding states, it would bo doubly made out 
when established against more favourable specimens of tho 
class. 
The hero of the story, a mulatto, named Bclfont, whom 
scandal nnd other circumstances pointed out as his master’s 
sun, is by no means the perfect character that the hero of 
Mrs. Stowo's romance is. He is it thief, anti confesses it 
without shame, as far a* white men are coB«eroe*l, though 
scrupulously honest in regard to blocks ; he bos been to 
Europe as the attendant of his master's acknowledged son, 
arid has picked up some learning and some good, while his 
dissipated young master has been only improving himself 
in the demoralisations of Earopeaa life. The slave escapes, 
and, with a number of runaway slaves like, or rather unlike, 
himself, is established in a little independent colony )n the 
inextricable woods at tho buck of the island. It is 
on bis love for Lurline, an emancipated sluve ; his 
capture by his master; und his final attempt to eavo 
that master and father from death, in a rebellion got 
up to deliver the arrested runaway, that tho story 
hangs. There will be found plenty of incidents of revolting 
cruelty in connection with the cow-skin, and other means 
of punishment, to satisfy the cravings of the most greedy 
horror-devniirer ; but the “ Obiuh priest,” Funty (an undo 
of tho hero’s), is perhaps tho best sketch iu the boob. The 
Obiuh — that mysterious power Which is attributed to witch- 
craft, but which, of course, belongs to poison — is the negro’s 
means of revenge; or, as Mr. Dorset, a philanthropic 
planter, describes it, “ the very chain that tho muster ha* 
fastened round the foot of his sluve, which the negro, in his 
turn, has locked by tho other cud round the neck of his 
master.” This Fanty is well described, as ho appears in his 
dwelling among the poisonous underwood of the forests, 
attended by his tame snakes, muttering his spoils and dis- 
pensing death to cuttle, human and unhuman, by means of 
the most subilo poisons. Mrs. Wilkins, who dedicates her 
hook to Mrs. Jameson, writes iu a free, ploasant, and often 
highly poetical style. 
The Scottish Heiress. By R. M. Daniels. 
Another shilling volume published by Mr. Hodgson, of 
13, Pateruosfer-row. iu “The Parlour Library,” un interest- 
ing hook, from which wo yet hope to give a maritime 
chapter, tho ninth. 
Railway Library. Paul Clifford. Routlodgo nnd Co. 
The second volume of this cheap and popular edition of 
Sir Edward liulwer Lylton’s works, is the animated novel 
Paul Clifford, nnd a cheap cighteeuponny worth it is. Wo 
need hardly advise tho possessors of Pelham not to be with- 
out its successor. 
Our Cruise in tho Undine. By The Captain. J. W« 
Parker, London. 
A butterfly, by the acknowledgment of tho author, and 
therefore not t« he broken upon the wheel of criticism. To 
tho immediate friends of tho captain and his adventurous 
companions, this light journal of a cruiso in >» pair oar over 
above a thousand miles of river und canal, iu France, Badou, 
Bavaria, Prussia, and Belgium, will bo no doubt very 
welcome; ami the expedition itself a subject of interest to 
all admirers of pluck, and amateurs of aquatic sport. 
There have been two or three previous expeditions of u 
similar nature, terminating in published journals ; und tho 
present expeditionists seem to have met with more than 
