Uxbridge, and later the first Marquis of Anglesey,—owner of the splendid cutter Pearl, was a participant in this match.
July 2, 1790, the Vauxhall Cup of the year was sailed for by the following yachts: Mercury, Captain Simms, 8 tons; Adventure, Captain Paillis, 10 tons; Eclipse, Captain Astley, 17 tons; Tarter, Captain Walmsley, 12 tons; Cumberland, Commodore Taylor, 12 tons. "N. B. The Cumberland is not intended to start, but entered by her owner to establish his right to sail." This match was won by the Eclipse, Captain Astley.
In the year 1791 the Mercury, Captain Astley, won the Vauxhall Cup. While a salute was being fired at the Cumberland Gardens in honor of her victory, the gun burst and two men were killed.
October 20, 1792, a match was sailed at Plymouth, between the cutter Prince and schooner Clarence. "The course was from a buoy off the east end of St. Nicholas Island, thence round the Spell Buoy and return; the wind was blowing hard from the S. W. with a heavy sea. The vessels started at 11 A.M. the Prince taking the lead, owing to the Clarence having a reef in her fore and main sails, but as soon as the reefs were turned out, the Clarence worked out to windward of the Prince, rounded the buoy ahead and won by a considerable distance. The Prince is an excellent fine cutter, copper-bottomed and sails remarkably well: the Clarence is of a new construction and sails so well that it is supposed she is one of the finest vessels ever built."
