Within the last few years a new era has been inaugurated in shipbuilding, emigration, navigation, and commerce ; and it is in no way a matter of surprise that the public should be peculiarly interested in the various clipper ships that traverse the ocean to and from the Australian colonies. A good deal of this feeling has been recently exhibited with reference to the case of the Marco Polo and the Kent, which two vessels had a very spirited race home.

According to the London papers, the latter ship is Generally considered to have beaten her rival by one day ; but the Liverpool people, and many mercantile persons in this city, entertain a contrary opinion ; for they think that, though the Kent was off Hastings on the 27th February, yet she did not reach her anchorage in the Thames till the 1st March ; whereas, the Marco Polo (notwithstanding her being heavily laden) anchored in the Mersey on the 28th February. The controversy respecting the two vessels has ran very high, and therefore it will prove interesting to republish the account of the " start;" which appeared in the Argus of 5th December last. At three o'clock p.m. on Saturday, the 2nd instant, the Marco Polo was taken in tow by the steam-tug Lioness, and proceeded down the Bay, keeping up the character of the Black Ball line for strict punctuality in sailing to the advertised date. Owing to a strong head wind blowing from the W.S.W., and the tide being unfavourable, the pilot deemed it imprudent to go through the Heads, and brought the ship to anchor inside, where she was joined by the Kent, at 7 p.m., on Saturday afternoon. At 15 a.m., on Monday the 4th instant, the Kent, accompanied by the Brilliant, got underweigh, and were followed by the Marco Polo in about an hour after. The steamer left the latter ship at 6-30 a.m., ten miles outside the Heads, the Kent and Brilliant being about six miles ahead. These three well-known Australian traders started with a fair breeze, and under circumstances which render the race to England one of the fairest and most interesting that has ever taken place from this port. The Marco Polo was drawing twenty-one feet water, and would require strong winds to enable her to outstrip her lighter competitors.

SG & SGTL Vol 12 ; Page 103 ; 21 May 1855

This celebrated competitor of the Marco Polo, we are informed by the agents, Messrs. W. P. White and Co., will have sailed from England on the 10th of May : Plymouth being the port which she would leave on that date. We may therefore rely upon receiving five day later news than by the Oliver Lang, either immediately after or immediately before that royal mail ship.

SG & SGTL Vol 12 ; Page 177 ; 30 Jul 1855

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