The Clipper Ships "Flying Cloud" and "N.B. Palmer".

The Clipper Ships Flying Cloud and N.B. Palmer. -- The first sailed from New York May 16, and the other May 22, both for San Francisco. When the N.B. Palmer arrived at Valparaiso, she reported having spoken the Flying Cloud off Rio Janeiro on the 2d of July, having beaten her six days. The inference was that she had actually outsailed the Flying Cloud, side by side, and therefore, to use the words of the New York Commercial Advertiser, was the "faster ship of the two." Now the N.B. Palmer had a good run off the coast, and by pursuing a different track had made better progress than her rival; and on the 1st of July was seen 4 points on the Flying Cloud's weather bow, both ships by the wind, heading W.S.W. This was at 5 P.M., the ships 20 miles distant from each other. At 10 P.M., the wind changed to S.E. and shortly afterwards to N.E. and both vessels set studding sails and steered their courses, wind rather light; yet, by noon the next day, the Flying Cloud overhauled the N.B. Palmer, spoke her, and by 7 30 P.M. she, (the N.B.P.) was twenty-five miles astern, dragging her foretopmast studding-sail, with plenty of wind, and before sunset she was out of sight astern, even from the Flying Cloud's mast head. These facts show that, side by side, the N.B. Palmer is no match for the Flying Cloud. The latter beat her at least thirty miles in 24 hours, with all sorts of winds. Notwithstanding the N.B. Palmer's lucky run to Rio Janeiro, she was beaten 17 days by the Flying Cloud to San Francisco. The Boston built clipper, Mr. McKay's workmanship, our New York friends will perceive, still ranks among the foremost.

The Boston Daily Atlas, December 12, 1852.

Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius.

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