July 27, 1793, the Cumberland, Commodore Taylor, and the Eclipse, Captain Astley, sailed a match, the wager being a turtle. This match was won by the Cumberland, and thereupon the good commodore invited his captains to a turtle-feast.
In 1794 the enterprising proprietors of Vauxhall Gardens added to the attractiveness of the sailing and rowing matches, by placing on the river a float upon which was mounted a Neptune's Car drawn by tritons, containing a representation of Father Thames, attended by a variety of river gods, goddesses, and bands of music. The whole affair was propelled by some invisible means, and appears to have been an object of great wonder and admiration.
July 28th a Cowes schooner-yacht, with the owner and a party of friends on board, was captured by a French privateer named the Dagomar, and was taken into Dunkirk.
In 1795 the Vauxhall Cup was sailed for by the following yachts: Busy, Captain Pickering; Mermaid, Captain Edgeley; Kitly, Captain Richards; St. George, Captain Gunston; Vixen, Captain Fairbrother; Mercury, Captain Astley.
The yachts were started at a quarter to six in the afternoon from Blackfriars Bridge. A fresh breeze having been blowing from the westward, several of the boats had taken in reefs; but the Mercury carried all sail, and led the fleet four minutes at Westminster Bridge. Between Westminster and Vauxhall the Mercury and Vixen fouled, and a miniature naval combat ensued. To simplify
