THE COCKNEY FLEET.
SOME little decked boats, with very large sails, taunt masts, and dis- proportioned spars, sail about the wide waters of Putney and Bat- tersea, and are absurdly styled by their adventurous navigators the Coronation Fleet; a name of a magnitude by much too big and sound- ing for their character. They have their matches, which take place amidst the firing of guns, the roaring of spectators, the admiration of good citizens, and the consumption of much beer and tobacco at the pot-houses which abut upon their seas. They sail not in washing- tubs, but on the broad bosom, as the newspapers would infallibly de- scribe it, of Father Thames, where his chest is considerably contracted: -and if they do not fall foul of dead dogs, or encounter any similar mishap of river-navigation, they make their voyages good to eel-pie red-houses, and other remote parts, the attainment to which sufficiently bespeaks daring adventure. Very great reports of these achievements appear next day in the newspapers ; and it is this circumstance which renders a just description of the nature of the performances necessary, for it is ill to puff up the minds of the London Marine with a mistaken _nautical pride. Mr. NETTLEFOLD, the Commodore (!) addressed a letter a day or two ago to the editor of a Morning Paper, complimenting him on the ability with which the manceuvres of his fleet were re-ported. We quote the last specimen, for the amusement of genuine yachters; and it is by far the best we have yet seen.
"The signal for starting being given soon after five o'clock, the sails were unfurled in a few seconds. The Rowena, which was placed nearest the Surrey shore, tacked to the south of the river, and her sails filling very speedily, ate cut along in a most beautiful style. The Donna del Lago tacked to the southern side of the river, and headed all the other vessels except the Rowena. The Donna del Lago had theoiails of the Don Giovanni, and there were many bets that the Lady of the Lake would beatthe Rowena. The latter, however was manned with first-rate.sailors, who knew the turns of the river, and exer. cised their skill in such a manner, that before the vessels arrived at Battersea, odds were betted on the Rowena against the fleet.
"On passing the Red House, the Rowena headed the other vessels more than one-third of a mile. The Clarence by a very neat tack passed the Donna del Lego, and having caught a cap full of wind, appeared inclined to approach the former vessel. The Rowena, however, kept a steady course, and bid defiance to all her competitors."
The seeming inclination of the Clarence to approach the Donna del Lego, is a most extraordinary feature of a race. The "neat tacks," and " unfurling sails "—which we will answer for it were not furled at all—are the technicalities proper to the Coronation Fleet, and the just use of which has extorted the expression of Commodore NETTLE- FOLD'S admiration.
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