In no year were so many magnificent iron clippers launched as in 1875, and of the ships which made the passage to Melbourne in under 80 days no less than five, namely, _Salamis_, _Loch Garry_, _Loch Vennachar_, _Parthenope_ and _Old Kensington_, were on their maiden passages. _Loch Garry’s_ best run in the 24 hours was 333 miles, and _Loch Vennachar_ did a week’s work of 2065 miles, viz., 285, 290, 320, 320, 312, 268 and 270. _Samuel Plimsoll_, with 360 emigrants on board, left Plymouth on 6th August, at 11.15 p.m.; on the same day she ran into and sank the Italian barque _Enrica_, though without damage to herself. She saved the Italian’s crew and put into Falmouth to land them. Captain Richards left the _Thomas Stephens_ in order to tune up _Parthenope_. He made the latter travel, but as he returned to the _Thomas Stephens_ in 1876 he evidently preferred his old clipper. _Thermopylae_ still maintained her wonderful reputation; on this trip she averaged 270 miles a day from 23° W. to 100° E. The _Old Kensington_ was a very fine ship with a good turn of speed, and she usually loaded home from Calcutta or San Francisco. The _Wasdale_ must not be confused with the later _Wasdale_, which was not launched until 1881. This one must have been a very fast ship, for on this passage she made five 24-hour runs over 300, her best being 332 miles. Many well-known heelers were just over the 80 days; for instance, _Miltiades_ was 81 days from the Start, _Thessalus_ 83 from the Lizards, _Theophane_ 83 from the Tuskar, _Cassiope_ 81 from the Tuskar, _Marpesia_ 83 from the Tuskar, _Thyatira_ 80 from the Start, all to Melbourne, whilst _Patriarch_ was 82 days from Torbay to Sydney. Two writers to the _Nautical Magazine_, both of whom were serving on the _Cutty Sark_ during her 1875-6 voyage, claim that she was 50 miles south of Melbourne on her 54th day out from the Channel, and that owing to strong head winds she was compelled to go round Australia. As will be seen, she was 67 days from the Lizard to the S.W. Cape, Tasmania, and I fear that a mistake of ten days has been made. Captain Watson also stated in a personal letter to me that she ran 2163 miles in six days. I have 14 years of her abstract logs, and from what her logs tell me I consider that she was quite capable of accomplishing such a run with a strong steady breeze, but it is very rarely that you get such a breeze for six days on end even in the roaring forties. She left London on 20th November but collided with the _Somersetshire_ off Gravesend, and lost her main topgallant mast, besides other damage, so that she had to put back to refit. “Sir Walter Raleigh.” The _Sir Walter Raleigh_, commanded by Captain W. Purvis, was a very well-known and regular wool clipper of the type of _Romanoff_. I do not think she was quite in the first flight, but she was never very far behind, and in 1880 she shared with _Ben Voirlich_ the distinction of making the best outward run of the year.