Page:The history of yachting.djvu/380

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180
THE HISTORY OF YACHTING

seven numerically arranged. From the quaint phraseology and peculiarity of precedents, as well as from distinct allusion, it is quite evident that the Water Club existed prior to the year 1720, and it may be presumed that this work, published in 1765, was merely a reprint of older rules, revised and added to, as we find the last two rules, viz., Nos. 26 and 27, bearing the date April 21, 1737. It appears that the Island of Hawlboline, romantically situated in the beautiful harbour of Cork, was, in the year 1720, the exclusive property of the Water Club, and that the castle situated thereon was their club-house, whereupon the club flag was hoisted early in the morning of each club day, which club flag was 'a union flag (union jack), with the royal Irish harp and crown, on a green field in the centre, which flag was granted by the Lords of the Admiralty to William, Earl of Inchiquin:' The exact date of the grant is not known, but it is assumed to have been between the years 1720 and 1730; in a picture belonging to the club, bearing date 1738, it is depicted as above described. The meetings of the club were held 'once every springtide, from the first spring-tide in April to the last spring-tide in September, and the number of members who constituted the club were limited to twenty-five. Why the number was thus limited does not appear; but it may be inferred that its earliest progenitors were so aristocratic and exclusive in their notions, as thus to narrow the possibility of an objectionable personage being introduced amongst them, as a further proof of which we find that 'no