Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/447

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states eighty-nine days). Indeed, so completely have we outstripped the United States and all other nations, that instead of American clippers bringing teas from China to supply the London market, English clippers are frequently engaged to load the early teas from China to New York.


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ANALYSIS.

White Dogs to Lizard                  84 days. Foochow anchorage to St. Helena       56  " Foochow anchorage to Deal              88  " Foochow anchorage to West India Dock  89  "

"The greatest day's work of the Sir Lancelot was crossing from Anjer to the Cape, when she made, by observation, 354 miles in 24 hours. For 7 days (consecutive) she averaged on the same track, with a beam wind, slightly over 300 miles per day; but I think the most remarkable feature in the sailing of this ship was the maintenance of a comparative high speed in light winds, and the great power she had to beat dead to windward against a strong breeze.

"I may mention that after the racing premium was abolished, and with it the sort of mania for China clipper sailing, I had 8 feet cut off all the lower masts, and reduced the masts aloft and the yards in proportion.

"Notwithstanding this the Sir Lancelot is now arrived in London after a voyage from London to Shanghai with general cargo, thence to New York with a tea cargo, thence to London with a general cargo—all in 9 months and 2 days.

"I am afraid I am troubling you with too many details, but I feel proud that this celebrated clipper, one of the very few China clippers left, proves herself in the tenth year of her life as swift as ever."

Mr. MacCunn may well be proud of his ship, and such pride is one of the chief causes of our power and greatness as a maritime nation.]*