The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-09 00:00:00

STEEPLECHASING IN FRANCE.

Although a steeplechase took place a short time ago
at La Marche, near Ville d'Avray, the real opening of
the season must be dated from Sunday, both on account
of the interesting steeplechases which came off, and of
the vast crowds which flocked from Paris and the adja-
cent villages to witness them. It will be seen from the
account below that the principal part of the day's busi-
ness was full of moving incident: and it may safely be
asserted that no sporting solemnity in the neighbour-
hood of Paris has for a long time past attracted such a
multitude of epectaters of all classes of society, or ex-
cited so strong an interest. The railway stations, and
especially that of the Right Bank, were literally be-
sieged, and it was not without a severe struggle that
places could be obtained. The trains, which left in
rapid succession, were of enormous length, anal were
crowded to inconvenience. In addition dashing equi-
pages and troops of horsemen proceeded to La Marche
by the different routes. The coup d'ceil which the ground
presented when spectators vehicles and horsemen were
all assembled was very animated, and its éclat was in-
creased by the presence of a great number of ladies in
elegant toilettes and of cavalry officers from the adjacent
garrisons in uniform.
The ground was laid out with some skill; but the
stands, of which there were only two, were not well
placed for seeing, and were inconveniently and too slightly
constructed.
The Prince President of the Republic, for whom a
special stand had been erected, was expected, but was
not present. Prince Murat, however, was on the ground
the whole day. Most of the leading members of the
Jockey Club, and of the principal patrons of the turf,
were also in attendance. The business was as follows:—
The First Steeplechase for 2,5001., added to 150 f. entry;
forfeit, 100 f.; weight, 1421 b, with 41b extra on the
winner of a steeplechase of 1,500 f., 81b extra on the
winner of one of 3,000 f., and 121 b extra on the winner
of one of 4,500 f., and with 41b less on horses that have
never won, and 41b less on horses ridden by gentle-
men; the second horse to receive twice its entry; dis-
tance about 4,500 yards. 7 entries.
M. de La Motte's b h Franc Picard, 1461 b (Jackson)
_1
Count de Coataudon's eh h Bedford, 1421h(Edwarde)
Viscomte A. Talon's ch h Emilius, 1501bs (Owner)
Viscomte de Tournon's b h Pilot, 1381bs ...(Owner) g"
M. Dollfus' br h Archer, 7 yrs, 1421bs ...... (Gamble)
M. Aumont's oh h Hardi, 5 yrs, 1421bs .......... . .........
"
M. Delamarre's hr h Black Devil, aged, 1501 h. .
first
A
All got away pretty well together. 6 h
than a
obstacle, consisting of a turf bank, rather
to r r
e join the
yard high, Hardi fell, and was not ableece lane about the
re
race. At the sewed, consisting of a
more
was
seen
same height, Archer bolted, and nothing r°
and made it
of him. Pilot then cut out the ruonni:g,
to the turf bank, nearest the st
and ands
hegiguhartteerf.
which was rather more thaknaineywaray,
who roe
hdd
oei a
trheelimyma,bi
remained
turning ems
There he fell in a very . rein
pletely over. Vicomte de TBoru.rn. on
under him, and was so mtsch injuwres'els thatimm
senseless for some minute:. He
g r e amt
mvei
do ,lance,
eant
ocel
theh chateauhaonfkM, rySnellee:
and conveyed on a litter t
far, the painter. In taking t same
came headforemost to the ground with
and dislocated his neck. lie died
.almdost i
after, and his jockey wasKlig dteYcolnetibuteFour of the
horses being thus placed hors
.... bat, the other three
went ahead Picard some ctstance its front, &Il
ford second, and Emilius third. ha thls way
. ,pro-
ceeded to a brook about yards Picard
took it very cleverly; Bedford htunabied on the brink hnd
threw his Jockoy, bul the utter soon recovered his seat.
Meanwhile Franc Picard went forward, followed by
Emilias. At one time the latter gained ground con-
siderably, but was never able to catch Franc Picard, and
as the race drew to a close he was caught, and then
passed, by BAford. Franc Picard eventually won
easily, and Bedford was a good deal
atoad
of
Emilius.
The number of leaps was
twenty, but, with the excep-
tion of those mentioned, none were very important. Por-
tions of the ground, however, were very heavy.
Second Steeplechase for 1,000 f., added to 50f. entry; the
second horse to save its entry. Weight, 1521 b, but
less on horses declared of leas value than 4,000 f. The
winner to be claimed for 5,000 f. Gentlenaen only al-
lowed to ride. Distance about 2,300 yards. Six
entries.
M. Cheri-Salvador's b 1341b...(M, Blake) 1

9,185 Q.

Duke de Fitz James's ch m May Fly, 1401 b (Rowley) 2
M. Delamarre's ch h Nonsense, 140 lb (Mr.LaurestcE) 0
M. Tesieire's gr h Turk, 4 yrs, 14011-•
M. M. Loyer's b h Austerlitz, aged, 14016 ...(Owner) 0
Tne nunibcr of obstacles in this race was only twelve,
and few incidents of interest occurred. Felcnie went
away with the running, followed by May Fiy, svd kept
it to the brook, where she stumbled. May Fly then
took it up, and continued it to the turning at the bottom,
(a consith,rable distance). She was theke caught by Fe-
lonie, who went ahead and won very easily. Turk and
Austerlitz stopped at the brook, but the latter again
started, but shortly after refused a hedge. Nonsense
was beaten at the brook. May Fly fell at the last bank,
but neither she nor her rider were injured.
The last account of the Vicomte de Tournon was that
he was going on favourably—no bones are broken.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
The Admiral Commander-in-Chief Sir Thomas
Briggs, K.C.8., the Admiral Superintendent H.
Prescott, with their respective suites, have set the
example of volunteering the gift of a day's pay each
towards the relief of the unfortunate widows,
orphans, and distressed relatives of the seamen and
marines lost in the unfortunate steamer Birkenhead.
This noble example has been followed up by the cap-
tains, the officers, and the crews of the ships in har-
bour, consisting of the Victory and Neptune, flag-
ships ; the Excellent, the Royal yachts, the Blenheim
and Winchester; also by the Sprightly, the Ports-
mouth, and smaller vessels attached to this port. No
doubt all the ships at Spithead will follow, and a
day's pay will be subscribed, which all together will
make a handsome sum for a beginning.
Mr. Stafford, M.P., the Secretary of the Admi-
ralty, accompanied by Colonel Green and Mr. Grant,
have arrived at Portsmouth. They will proceed to
Plymouth in the Retribution, steamer, Captain War-
den, it is said.

We regret to announce the death of Lieutenant
Andrew Robert Dunbar (1842). This gallant officer
had seen much active service, having been fifteen
years in tropical climates, seven of which were passed
on the west coast of Africa, where he was present at
the capture of 34 slavers. He was one if the first
who was seized with fever in the unfortunate Eclair,
and though he survived the attack, yet his health
never entirely recovered the shock. He subsequently
commanded the Acheron steamer, in the relief squad-
ron, during the famine in Ireland, and was much
beloved by the officers and men under his command.
Black Eagle, Admiralty yacht, is expected at
Portsmouth the latter end of this week, to be in
readiness to embark his Grace the Duke of Northum-
berland, who, it is said, will embark on her on Tuesday
next.

Lightning steam-yacht sailed from Portsmouth on
Wednesday, for the Channel Islands, with Lord
Hardinge on board. His Lordship visited the new
forts recently built at Brown's Down, and en route
in the Lightning will visit the site selected at Hurst
for the fort which is to be erected to protect the
Needles passage.
Superb, 80, Captain Purcell, was paid down at
Spithead, on Wednesday, and one watch of the ship's
company went on a fortnight's leave. The Prince
Regent, 90, Captain Harris, has not yet been paid,
but will probably be so about Monday next.
_ e Rodney, 92, Captain Graham, C. 8., was exercising
her crew at gunnery practice yesterday morning.
Sprightly,
Bt e a -
te
She fired several broadsides from both starboard and
port guns
simultaneously.nd,_ Master Commander S • ntl Allen,
went to Southampton on Wednesday, taking down
Mrs. Lushington and family.
There are no orders as yet down at Portsmouth re-
specting the Vulcan, screw-steam Master
Commander Penn. She is still _ frigate,
alongside the Blake
hulk, with royal yards aloft.
Pestongee B omangee, convict-ship, arri dve at Ports-
mouth on Wednesday morning, from the ri •
ver ; she
will embark about 100 more from this port
andpro-
ceed on her voyage to Australia.
The Vulcan, iron screw-steamer, Master Com-
manderPenn' was towed into Portsmouth Harbour by
the Echo on Wednesday at one o'clock. Yesterday
a board of naval officers, consisting of Captain Hen-
derson, C. 8., of the Blenheim • Captain M'Dougall,
of the Hogue ; and Captain *arden, of the Retri-
bution, assembled to make inquiry into the causes and
circumstances attendant on the long-protracted pas-
sage made by Vulcan home.
PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY.—The Victory, 104,
Captain G. B. Martin, C. 8., flag of Admiral Sir Tho-
mas Briggs, G.C.M.G., Commander-in-Chief, has
resumed her moorings on this side the harbour
t o -day.
The Neptune, 120, Captain E. H. Scott, has re-
ceived her crew ; and the Illustrious has returned to
her ordinary moorings to-day.
The Winchester, 50, Captain Loch, C. 8., has
been brought into le angle dock to-day to have her
bottom cleaned and examined.

SHEERNESS, APRIL B.—Her Majesty's screw-
steam-frigate Horatio, 24, Captain the Hon. S. T.
Carnegie, was removed from the fitting-basin yester-
day to moorings in the harbour. It is stated she will
be sent in a few days on an experimental trip of 48
hours' duration, to test to the fullest extent the effici-
ciency of her machinery and screw propeller.
Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-vessel Cuckoo,
2, got up her steam on Tuesday forenoon, and pro-
ceeded round the Great Sore for the purpose of try-
ing her machinery, under the inspection of Captain
the Hon. S. T. Carnegie, superintendent of the steam
squadron of reserve, and Mr. F. W. Paul master, her
Majesty's screw steam-frigate Horatio. Mr. T.
Taylor, the Admiralty pilot at this port, was on board
during the cruise. The Cuckoo returned to her moor-
ings in the harbour in the afternoon, the result of
the trial having proved in every respect satisfactory.
Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-vessel Adder
called in here on Tuesday forenoon, and proceeded to
Woolwich with boats for one of the steamers at that
port. She touched here yesterday c.t 9 A.M., raid,
after communicating with the dockyard, returned to
Chatham.
Her Majesty's screw steam-frigate Amphion, 34,
is progressing rapidly with her internal fittings.
She has taken a great portion of her tanks and sea
stores on board, and is all ataunt in the fitting-basin.
Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-sloop Geyser,
6, chief engineer J. Neill, fitting at Woolwich, is,
when complete, ordered to be stationed here as one of
the first division of the steam squadron of reserve.
Her Majesty's ship London, 90, Capt. G. R. Mundy,
will be completed by the dockyard artificers in a
fortnight.
Her Majesty's steam-frigate Cyclops, 6, has had
nearly all her defects made good. New copper has
been put on her forward, from the waterline to within
a few feet of her keel.
The schooner Buchan, Chancy master, arrived here

. _
yesterday from Hartlepool.
The Useful, Kellett master, and the Clara Jane/
Cheeseman master, both bound for Newcastle, are
lying in the harbour windbound. . dto the We"
Commander J. B. Marsh is a
terloo, 120, as part complement of that stated.
for service in the steam flotilla, previously" Avon steam-vessel,
riggersin
ffrom
WooLwicir, Arum
tender to the Impregnabls,rnaogov,
ship at Devonport,
appointed
ship,
end
not
fte
thaendValorous to Devon-
thheav
arrived here yesterday
Miller, Ravenhill,
left Woolwich on Friday last
round
this
dockyard
0 Lieutenanteky er d whe
nv.Robertsonisgaa.t—ef lb;
P.
16-gun sloop, fitted with
port. The Valorous i$
power, by
and enginesce.,
when tried by three tuna at the
her average speed,
ascertained to be 1
oafnd4owoh-henorseh:
Of knots per
measured mile, was she had h
hour. On Saturdayher compasses adjusted
left
Johnson, and Greenhithe at noon, in
by Captain Robert • •
charge of Lieutenant son, arriving at Plymouth
four o'clock
at half-Past voyage
on Sunday afternoon, and
during the enfiredof 1 round made an average
f upWar S nuts, with the whole of her speed 0 , and 200 tons of ballast on board. The
...,s0 left this afternoon on her return to Devonport.
4-708 ARCTIC EXPEDITION.—The greatest activity
is displayed in getting the remainder of the requisite
stores on board the vessels of Captain Sir Edward
selcher's expedition; but as the two screw steam-
vessels, the Intrepid and Pioneer, will not be ready
for taking out of the basin until Saturday, it is not
expected that the whole of the vessels will be able to
leave Woolwich
until the early part of next week.
Hundreds of visitors went on board the Resolute,
Captain Kellett, C. 8., to-day, as she is lying along-
side the wharf wall at the west end of the yard.
kinong others were a number of ladies with presents
for the gallant captain and the officers of the Reso-
lute, consisting of silk flags, various kinds of knitted
comforters, elegantly worked and embroidered caps,
sofa and chair covers, and many other articles.
The whole of the ship's company of the Fisgard
flag-ship of Commodore Henry Eden, at Woolwich,
on hearing of the disaster to the Birkenhead, autho-
rised Mr. Bean, master of the Fisgard, to say that
they will give each a day's pay towards the relief of
the sufferers.

ROCKETS FOR THE NAVAL SERVICE.
It was a remark of Sir William Congreve, cs
"strange that the powers of the rocket were lucre
appreciated on the continent than in this country,"
which he attributed to the little information that ple-
vailed here on the subject. He accordingly most
earnestly de?ired that his own countrymen should hs
more gradually informed of its importance, without
disclosing anything from which our enemies could
derive advantage. We do not hesitate, therefore,
briefly to continue our description of the mode of
applying this powerful prejectile* for naval.
The explanations we have formerly given, swugh
Bested by the success of the attack on Logos
r the service
rockets, by a few men in a boat fitted fo purposes.-

* The penetration of the 12-pounderh lihellt
b-rocket
their
(rockets being denominated as can no-sdistance,oy r
is
actual weight), at from 800 to 1,200 yards
not less than 20 to 25 feet into • solid bank of earth;
its extreme range, 2,500 yards; that of bombarding
rockets, 3,600 yards.

under command of Lieut. Corbett, and which drew
forth the hearty cheers of the neighbouring ships'
crews, applied to their projection solely from boats.
We now add a few words of explanation of the mode
0 f discharging rockets from vessels, premising that it
is the inherent power possessed by the rocket of pro-
jecting itself, without reaction upon the point of dia.
c barge, that forms one of its chief advantages, as by
its means as much may be accomplished in a few
minutes by a few small vessels as, in the ordinary
mode of naval bombardment, would be the work of
some hours from the same number of the largest
bomb-ships ; whilst such is the simplicity of the
system, as defined by Sir William Congreve him-
self, that the equipment required for the discharge of
whole broadsides consists simply
of the spare spars
of the vessel. It would seem, therefore, that
the rocket might, with great advantage, be put more
generally into the hands of the navy ; its economy, as
a self-motive weapon, being as remarkable as its
power, and the gradual perfection of our steam navi-
gation, since Sir William Congreve, s day, opening a
wider field for this species of naval warfare, by the
facility of its combination with the heaviest rockets.
The mode of fitting ships for firing rockets—the
weight of the apparatus less than the rocket itself—is
by the construction of scuttles in their broadsides,
giving to every vessel having between-deck a rocket
battery, in addition to the gun batteries on the spar-
deck, without one interfering with the other, or with-
out risk to the ship, the spars of the rocket in going
off being completely excluded either by iron shutters
closing from within, or by a particular form of scuttle
and frame, contrived so that the whole of the scuttle
is completely filled in all positions of traverse and at
all angles by the frame, and thereby the possibility of
the entrance of fire prevented. This arrangement
literally gives the kind of small vessels here indicated
a second and most powerful deck for general service as
well as bombardment.

Smaller vessels still, such as schooners and cutters,
may be fitted to fire rockets by frames similar to the
boat-frames described in our former number, from
their spar-deck, and over the side or the stern. A
single rocket, it should be observed, is not to be corn.
pared with a single gun-shot by firing at a target.
The consideration is whether under some—indeed,
most circumstances, and for sudden emergencies—the
concentrated power of quantity and rapidity of fire
do not counterbalance the greater accuracy of the
gun, remembering also how few men are required to
discharge the most powerful vollies with this peculiar
arm. (Whilst incidentally, as to the land service, the
one system comparatively requires only the transport
of the ammunition—in the other, not only the am-
munition, but of the most massive ordnance, without
which it is useless.)
_

We do insist, therefore, that it is of the deepest
moment, at this juncture, as an auxiliary means of
defence, that all possible precaution should not only
b 3 continued by the authorities at the Ordnance to
guard the manufacturing details of this matured and
now thoroughly-tried invention against disclosures ;
but to provide, in case of sudden need, such a store
of Congreve rockets for the navy as would meet the
contingency of any war, whether of invasion or not ;
the more so as it has been clearly demonstrated from
official experiments, that rockets are the most durable
of all ammunition, they having been successfully
tested, and returned into store for future service, after
seventeen years knocking about in all climates—a
state of preservation which is owing to their being
inclosed in a metallic case that, with common care,
is impervious to air and moisture.—Herald.