The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-07 00:00:00

The Great Prize of Paris.

The race for the Great tit of
Paris bids fair
the Derby in, , and espeeially if it be teinetobered
that the interest of a Derby-day is not Conlieci id the ex.
ploits of the course. As yet the great French race is in its
infancy. It was run last year for the first time, but
although it is still of tender age—although many English
Men and women who rejoice in the speetaole Of our Epsom
games have never even heard of it, the institution has at
once asserted its pre-eminence, and has come to be re-
garded a 6 one of the chief attractions of the racing year.
How could it be otherwise, considering the *endour of the
prize and the charms of the racecourse ? There is fed such
prize offered on any known field. What the winner of the
Derby carries off is not in the etriet sense a prize ; it is a
sweepstakes, A certain sum of money is stitscribed by the
owner of every horse entered for the race, and to that sum
there is nothing added. a the great French race the win-
ner carries off not only the stakes which hate been sub-
scribed by 120 horses (which, by the way, is about half the
number of entries for the Derby), but also a work of art
offered by the Emperor, and £4,000 in money offered by the
city of Paris and five railway companies. The contention
for this magnificent prize takes place on the finest course in
the world, within easy distance of the most pleasant of all
cities. Suppose a beautiful racecourse, arranged with the
rare skill that Frenchmen show in administration, sur-
rounded with fine scenery, honoured as Ascot is by the pre-
sence of. the Court, and situated, as it were, in Holland-
park, not far from the heart of London—what could be
more perfect ? if the French have envied us the enthu-
siasm of the Derby-day, they may now boast that they
have established near their metropolis an equestrian festival
which, as far as the mere framework goes, worthily rivals
our own. It says something for the great race that there
were no less than 126 entries for it—but surely it is dis-
appointing that of these only five ran. Of the original
entries by far tbo greater number were of English
horses; of the few that ran only one belonged to an Eng-
lish stable. If English horses were scarce, English visitors
were plenty, and seemed to have the most business on their
hmnds all about the course. Especially upon them devolved
the business of cheering the Emperor and Empress. They
crowded about the box in which Napoleon 111. stood con-
spicuous, and cheered him in a manner from which the
French themselves held aloof. When the ladies in lovely
toilettes heard a commotion in the neighbourhood of the
Imperial box, and turned to their lords for an explanation
of the excitement to which they began to feel attracted, these
lords turned round with imperturbable coolness to explain
that it was only those foolish Anglais who were making a
noise about the Emperor, Noise or no noise, they crowded
about his box, and gazed with English pertinacity on the
Imperial pair. With some of the English, indeed, the
sight of the Emperor seemed to eclipse that of the race.
Ono English dame we heard quarrelling with her spouse
because, in order to see the Emperor, he would not throw
away the chances of a good place from which he could see
the grand contest of the day.
Although the race for the Great Prize of Paris is so im-
portant, the manner of the festival in honour of it and the
accessories have no resemblance to those of the Derby.
Some Englishmen may be disposed to think that all the
drunken orgies of Epsom are less to be reprehended than
the Sabbath-breaking at the Bois de Boulogne; and we
have therefore a word or two to say as to the day selected
by our French friends for their greatest racing event. That
the English disapprove the selection of such a day, and that
the leading authorities on their turf should remonstrate
with those of the French turf, is most natural. The Count
Daru, as head of the society which presides at Long-
champs, wrote last year to Admiral Rous a long
letter to explain how Sunday came to be selected for
the race, and how no other day would suit.
The fact is that the Parisian does not as yet care enough
about the finest race to sacrifice his business for it, and it is
only upon the day of rest that he can be coaxed into giving
to the sport the patronage of his presence. Any one who

`', rival

went to the Bois de Boulogne on Saturday last might con-
vince himself of this. On a love;y day, within an easy walk
of Paris, there was some very pretty racing, the Fmperor
being there to see it. His subjects who came to see it with
him were amazingly few. Such a sight so near to London
would draw out half its population; they would not miss it
for the world. The society which has got up the races gives

itself a fine name, which in this connection is not without
significance. We have our Jockey Club to institute races,
a society of gentlemen who no doubt do much good to our
breed of horses, but whose first and professed object is to
enjoy the sport. Oar neighbours have their "Societe
d'Encouragement pour l'Amelioration des Races de Che-
volts en France ;" they place in their most characteristic
manner on the forefront of their title to public support the
theoretic or the practical object which horse racing may be
supposed to subset ve. They announce themselves not as
providers of pleasure, but as patriots seeking the welfare of
their country, and they are doubtless sincere in this proles-
ion. Also, when the city of Paris and the railway compa-
nies give their support to the society with the long name,
and offer a prize of £4,000 for a single race, the object evi-
dently is not to furnish the Parisians with three minutes of
superb excitement once a year, but to lead them thoroughly

to interest themselves in a great national event. If pleasure
were the chief object of their search, then we might extect

the society to yield to our views and change the day. When
pleasure is offered to the people and they refuse it, they
have only themselves to blame. But seeing that the main
object of the society is to compel the French to interest
themselves in horses, they are justified in forgetting us en-
tirely and in adapting their arrangements to the convenience
of the greatest number of their own countrymen. Crowds
of Englishmen will go to the race whatever be the day
selected, and English horses will run.
The grand peculiarity of the race to an Englishman,
however, arises out of its vicinity to Paris. It is just be-
yond the Bois de Boulogne, on the old duelling ground of
Longchamps, with St. Cloud a little further to the south.
We miss here the sine smooth turf of our English Downs,
and find ourselves on ordinary grass land ; but the view
is lovely, and all the arrangements of the course are perfect.
Belted with treed; the course, with all its gentle undula-
tions, can be seen frord the enclosure in every part, except
where for about five seconds n the longer races a clump of
trees hides the view. The distance, too, are so arranged
that spectators have the pleasure of S2l.g in most cases.
s but a few
the start as well as the finish. Tho race begins
yards to the right of the enclosure, goes poi, the stand,
then describes a circle greater or leafier or of middle size,
and finally goes past the Stand again to the post, Every
body can see the whole with ease ; no pushing, no gtteiet-
ing, no rushing about. Then there is nothing like the ex-
citement of luncheon on the hill at Epsom. If anybody
wishes for refreshment, there are ice, lemonade, claret, and
every kind of pat is serie provided for French tastes, and
great fleets of tumblers containing sherries and grogs, with
piles of sandwiches, for what are supposed to be the correct
tastes of Englishmen and Anglomaniacs. But the orgies of
luncheon are beyond the desires of a people who breakfast
between 11 and 12. who can walk if they choose from their
homes to the racecourse, and walk back again with little
fatigue. The presence of the Court added to the brilliancy
and the stately quiet of the scene. Never on any race-
course have we seen such wonderful decorum. As a small
proof of it we venture to state an incredible fact. Is it pos-
sible to believe that the everlasting and inevitable dog
was not to be found on the racecourse at Longchamps?
That necessary attendant of our races, where he flies
with frantic terror along the course, amid the yells of
an admiring populace—was utterly extinguished and
put out of sight by the civil power. It is a very old saying
of a very old Frenchman that we in England take our
pleasure sadly. But on one who has been accustomed to
the uproarious jollity of a Derby-day, and to hear all the
chaff that flies on the road to Epsom, the idea begins to
dawn that even our French neighbours can be stiff, staid,
and even triste in their pleasures. On the road to Long-
champs the nearest approach to a joke which we saw was
one which was not intended. All along the way men were
engaged in watering th roads with force pumps, a kind of
enormous squirt attached to piping that runs upon wheels..
All along the road men were exercising those heavy squirts
in every direction for the purpose of allaying the dust, and
it was only by great attention and skill that they could avoid
covering the passengers with spray. Suddenly a splendid
equipage might be seen in the Bois de Boulogne, throwing
all else into the shade, the ladies whom it contained in the
gayest dresses, the coachman beautifully powdered, the
horses with high action, sleek and, glittering. Nothing in
the whole order of the universe could be more correct, more
stately, more exalted above the accidents an infirmities of
mundane existence. Behold, as we are admiring at a
bumble distance this faultless equipage, Jacques Bonhomme
directs right upon the coachman's left ear his ;enormous
squirt, nearly knocks him off his box, and covers with un-
kindly spray the fair denizens of the carriage. Well, we
do not complain. Life is full of compromises and compensa-
tions. If in the Paris race we miss the jollity of a Desby-
day, and sigh for some little outbreak of humour, we are
perhaps paid for our loss by the comfort of the journey, its
calmness, its easiness, its ladylike decorum.
The recent struggle for the Derby, which ended in the
victory of Blair Athol, detracted to some extent from the
interest of the French race. There were few persons who
did not believe that the Derby winner's superiority over
all colts of the same age was firmly established, and if he
really were the horse which he seemed to be, then there
could be little doubt as to the issue of the French race, pro-
vided it were fairly run. No great hopes were entertained
of his chief antagonist, who had, nevertheless, proved her-
self the best filly of her year, and, indeed, the running of
this animal, and not only of her, but also of other horses
belonging to the Comte de Lagrange, as Hospodar, Stra-
della, and Jarnicoton, had provoked so much criticism that
many who expected to see Fille de l' Air beaten were much
helped to that thought by their wishes. Tho performances
of this mare have been, to say the least of it, unsatisfactory.
She had during the spring lost the Two Thousand Guineas,
for which she was first favouzite, and she also lost the cor-
rec7onding race in France. Yet immediately afterwards
she won the French Oaks, or, as they call it, the Prize of
Diana, with ridiculous ease, and but a few days back she
won our own Oaks without any trouble. On the occasion
of the last named victory our neighbours across the Chan-
nel were puzzled to understand what could be the meaning
of the demonstration against tho winner, and the question
was asked,—" Is this the result of the Commercial Treaty,
that these English cannot brook the success of a French
horse ?" Our continental friends have since then been

penidliigtihesteonfeds,omanedonf
owtheweF
baerilsievpeapthearst: inw hspicihtehoafrpthoenstthue-
-I:evenge of Waterloo achieted by File de l'Air, and vainly
-.seine that the English can be jealous of a horse bred
parents simply because it has fed on French
torn and is owned by 1;, French subject, they begin to un.
derstand that the anger of the English mob was directed,
not against the success of a French horse, but against
the success of a horse whose previous performances
had been most unaccountable. The only other com-
petitor 'who was supposed to have something of a
chance was. Dois lionesel, the winner of the French
Derby, in honour of whom Mademoiselle Isabelle,
the well-known flower girl at all the French races,
Wore the colours of M. Dehurtarre. Bois Roussel
is a heavy-looking horse, from whom, although it was
supposed that he Can stay well, not much was expected ;
and still less did his stable companion and half brother,
Vermont, excite great expectations. Vermont was known,
indeed, as the winner of the Prix de Frintemps—a race run
on precisely the same course as that of the great race of
Sunday last, but that was his only known public perfor-

mance, and it was not regarded as sufficient to establish his
character. In point of fact it had so little established his
character, tha,, his owner, M. Delamarre, apparently did
not expect to win upu: him, but put him into the race to
peed that ultimately would
force the running and make 1,• 8
tell in favour of Bois Roused when it would be time enough
for the latter to go forward and win.
Sunday was a magnificent day for the race, although so
warm that it added to the hardness of the ground. All
Paris went out to see it and made a splendid show, although
we must add that as regards the number of individuals
and of equipages even Ascot, which is 25 miles from
London, far outvies Longchamps. A great concourse of
people assembled of all grades, in which what was most
conspicuous were the lovely dresses with the exquisitely
chosen colours of the French dames. Surely in no out-of-
door spectacle in the world could such a show present it-
self. That part of the ground immediately before the
Grand Stand which at Epsom is allotted to the betting men
is at Longchamps made a promenade for the ladies, and
there they sit in chairs right in front of the racecourse,
while the benches of the stand range down to the ground.
The sight was very gay and pretty, and especially in the
neighbourhood of the Imperial box, but all round the course
bright crowds in light dresses assembled to gaze upon the
contest, which, more particularly since the reception File da
l'Air received at Epsom, has come to be regarded with
patriotic interest. Great was the excitement as to the issue
of the event when it was heard that Blair Athol had been
detained at Folkstone, and had arrived only the night
before. Frenchmen, when they heard of his deten-
tion, began to brighten up, and told each other confiden-
tially that the horse would not appear at all. Englishmen,
too, began to lose confidence in him, and it was not until his
arrival was reported that his position in public favour was
recovered. Then, and especially when he was said to have
cantered well on the racecourse, he rose in the betting, till
the odds of 2to 1 were ventured on him. In the same, and
indeed much greater proportion, Fille de l'Air declined in
public favour, so that when the time for the race came 3 to
1 was offered against her and no one would take it. When
she appeared on the course, however, she was greatly
cheered, not because those who cheered had any distinct
knowledge of her capabilities, but because their patriot zeal
led them to wish success to the French mare. On her
back alone the honour of France was supposed to rest, and
it was for her to vindicate France against perfidious Albion
represented by Blair Athol. Less notice was taken of
Bois Roussel and Vermont, and few indeed of those who
saw the race could tell the difference between the two
horses. The former is a dark bay horse with one white
fetlock; the latter a bright bay, with three white legs.
Bois Roussel is a stiff, sturdy, large made horse ; Vermont
is light, airy, and of more striking action when gallopping.
His style of going, indeed, was so conspicuous that after
his preliminary canter he enlisted many supporters who
had previously not even recognised his existence. As for
baronello, the only other horse that ran, he mightily pleased
the ladies, but he was not fated to bring any greater
success to the house of Rothschild than Breeze or Tomato
obtained at Epsom.

The horses got off at the first start, Vermont leading,
and Blair Athol biding his time behind. That Vermont
should lead was precisely what the public expected.
They regarded Bois Roussel as the better horse, and sup-
posed that it was the business of Vermont to make the
running for his stable companion. The conclusion which
was drawn from the position of the horses as they
passed the stand was that if either of M. Delaniarre'a
horses was to win it would certainly be the hindmost. As
they want round the first turn by the mill, Vermont still
held the foremost place, but whereas hitherto Bois Roussel
had followed next, Baronello being third, the last of these
now for a time took the second place, Bois Roussel dropt
into the third place, while Fille de l'Air remained as from
the start, fourth, and Blair Athol last. Very much in this
order the race continued up the gently undulating distance
which may be called a hill, and the only point which need
be particularly specified is that Baronello soon gave way,
and lost all chance of coming again into the race. At the
top of the hill the pace, which had before been indifferent,
improved, and Fille de l'Air rushed to the front, she and
Vermont coming on by themselves down the hill, at the
bottom of which Blair Athol joined them. Here, for a
second or two, the anticipations which unlearned men would
have formed from the betting seemed about to be realised
inasmuch as the two favourites appeared to be going faster
than Vermont, who was nevertheless still leading. The
emotion excited by this advance was only transitory, as
Fille de l'Air was almost instantaneously disposed of, and
Challoner's pursuit of the leader was, in less rime than we
take to mention the fact, discovered to be futile. Nothing
daunted, however, he continued his efforts to the half dis-
tance, when perfidious Albion was fain to acknowledge
herself beaten, and Vermont, who continued without fal-
tering the same magnificent action which had characterised
his running throughout, won easily at the last by two
lengths. Whether the extra three furlongs over and above
the Derby Course did or did not prove fatal to Blair Athol's
chance, we do not here attempt to decide; but the facts re-
main that at the Derby distance he looked as like a winner
as anything could well be, and that when that distance was
overpassed he was practically disposed of.

It may be supposed that the result of the great race pro-
duced considerable excitement. The crowd rushed to the
judge's chair to hear the name of the winner, but being too
excited in the belief that it was Bois Roussel, had no ears
fur anything but their own responding shouts. They shouted,
their hats, turned to the Emperor, and cheered him
sad v„,_-tout in the name of France. The crush at this
point
eras tre,s^ndous, the roar of the huzzas rent the air,
and the Zroperor Mowed in acknowledgment of the glory of
victory. it clest rrognifivte I c'est magnifique I" were the
only words heard on French lip, for the rest of the day.
so
Ladies and gentlemen, as they accost d each other, all said
without exception, " C'est magnifique P.' Not content with
cheering, clapping their hands, and crying PW.agnifique,"
they hissed Blair Athol and Challoner who rode hiu; with a
right good will. There was a perfect storm of hisses, the
meatjng of whi2h could not be mistaken. It was of course
a bitter exclosion of rage against England, which in the
moment of victory might well have been spared, even if
there was just cause for it. We have explained, however,
that the exciting cause of this demonstration was based in
error. Englishmen have no hostile feeling to French horses.
The Sporting Gazette of last Saturday made with admirable
point a quotation from Juvenal, which pears directly on
this question :
" Laudamus equum, facili cui plurima palms

Fervet, et easulta.t ratio) victoria circo;
Nobilis hic, quocunque venii de gramine, cujus
Clara fuga ante alios et primus in sequore pulvis."

What matters it to us on what grass or hay the horse has
fed? It is the venale peeus who are mentioned in the very
next line, and who contrive by innumerable arts to surround
and turn to doubtful uses the noble animal, that we have to
dread; and it is because the owner of Fille de l'Air, or some
one in his employment, incurred the suspicion of being, it
may be without knowing it, connected with such a herd,
that the English resentment against the French mare was
aroused. If Englishmen have had a feeling against Fille de
l'Air they have no feeling whatever against such a horse as
Vermout, whose success on Sunday last may be accepted as
thoroughly deserved, since no better test of a horse's powers
can be devised than that it should make all the running in
a race, and from start to finish should never once be out-
paced. Fille de l'Air was so unfortunate as not even
to obtain a place in the judge's list. She passed the chair
third, but her jockey neglected to weigh afterwards, and
consequently was, by racing law, distanced, -so that the
honour and profit of third place were given to Bois Roussel.

Four races besides that for the Great Prize were run on
Sunday, and the last of these came off about 5 o'clock.
Then came the rush homewards—carriages, horses, awl foot
passengers in little order striving who should be first. Not-
withstanding the crowd of carriages, which, down the
Champs Elysees, formed about six unbroken streams ad.
vancing in parallel lines, the drive through the Bois de
Boulogne and along the Champs Elysees afforded a plea-
sant ending to a day of great interest. It was, at least, a
novelty for an Englishman to find himself, amid all the
heat and turmoil of a racecourse, and after a quiet journey
of scarcely an hour, safe again at his own door.

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The Iron-clad Corvette Research.

A series of highly interesting and important gunnery
periments took place in the Channel, off Berry Head, 1
Saturday last, on board her Majesty's iron-clad Corve
Research, for the purpose of putting this new and expoi
mental ship to the severest twists which her fighting capa
lities will have to undergo in azitual warfare. On a rece
occasion the firing of her guns at Devonport with full 1
blank charges produced some trifling damage to the fur!
ture of the vessel, owing, according to le
erd C. Paget's stud
ment in Parliament, to the neglect of
some of the um.
precautions that are taken in men of war when clearing`action and preparing to bring heavy guns into use.
have also reason to believe, although the fact w 'as not t stet
in Parliament, that, in addition to the decks
being I:
uncleared during the firing, the ship was subjected to t
extraordinary and altogether unnecessary test of haulevery gun on board of her fired at once, with full chel
of powder, and with the guns placed, not in the broad
parts, but in certain fore and aft ports which are design
for occasional and exceptional use only. We need hard
say th,et there is no ship in the entire navy designed to Ell
taint the le,!multaneoue discharge of all her guns, but a retu
which has b„en called for in the House of Commons slice
that the damage.'ustained by the Research, even under the
circumstances, wag ..'hut trifling, the cost of its repair amour
ing but to .£24—X5 ee,,e materials, and £l9 for labour.
The experiments on Oattirday were arranged with di
regard to the objects with which the Research was d
signed, and to the principles
F her construction. The sh
steamed from Plymouth Sound a,' daylight in charge of h
ee
able commander, Capt. Wilmshurst,
R.N., whose insti
tions were to put her to thorough test under proper condong
sing
at firing shotted guns with full charge'a of
powder l!
at all ports in succession, and concentrate.
A broadsides
rifled and round shot at the permanent ports, 1.-
om the M
rest
proved strong 110-pounders and 68-pounders of 95cwt. The re
proved the perfect capability of the ship in every re'specas
nndergo this necessary but severe ordeal. Soon after ..11
ing the Start, finding the offing tolerably clear of sh/PPbe.
Capt. Wilmshurst manned the guns and cleared the 0111
for action. The first shot was fired point-blank from t).
68-pounder at the foremost starboard broadside port, vat]
a fall charge of 121 b of powder and a solid shot. The se
cond quickly followed from the Armstrong 110-pounder 0
the same side of the ship, with the same charge and a ton
shot of 1101 b. The guns at the opposite broadside were nee
similarly dealt with. After reloading with like shot an,
charges, all four guns were " extreme trained" into PO5l,
tions the most unfavourable her them, that is, with thel
breeches turned towards the armorer-plated bulkheads, en
in these positions were successively discharged. The
in every instance remained well clear ,'f the battery eft°
recoiling. Up to this point of the experiments all Beet
tures for the escape of smoke from the batter y, excePtill;
the broadside ports, were kept closed, for the purpose -
ascertaining what would be the worst condition Of thing,
during a close without special ventilation. The exPeri
ment showed that an action might well be mainfaOle'
under the circumstances ; but the relief experiello''
during the subsequent firing, by opening the bulkheec
Coors, the battery hatches, and the ventilators over thi
guns, were undoubtedly very beneficial. The next firing vii/
with the guns "extreme trained" in the opposite direction
with unaltered charges, the result being equally satisfacto9
The guns at the broadside ports having thus being tile
singly under all practicable circumstances of difficultlt Pc,
thing remained but to discharge them in pairs on each broa,
side alternately. This was accordingly done, with fg
charges of powder; on the starboard side first, and en t)
port side afterwards. The shock in each case was sever'
but produced no effect whatever upon the ship. The gall
were " extreme trained" on both sides, and the shot met f"ri'
crossed each other at a very few yards from the ship's side,
diverging afterwards until they were more than a mile gar',
This completed the firing at the broadside ports. A short/
inspection was then made by Capt. Wilmshurst and the °l'
cers of the ship, on deck and below, and not the slightl
sign of strain or breakage of any kind could be discover!
although it is well known that it is a very rare occurrence in
deed fur a man-of-war to clear for action, and much Or
rare for her to practise all her guns with full charges 51/1
solid shot, without doing some sort of damage to her mill
fittings.
The experiments might have ceased at this point if t 11:
Admiralty and Mr. Reed had been content with accomPlis"
ing in this small sea-going iron 'clad all that the much Roge
ships can effect as regards range of file, for there is not 11
Admiral Deere's squadron a single iron-clad ship capable:
firing fore and aft from within her armour plating.
has, however, been attempted in the Research, and after 10
firing described above all the guns were transferred to al
bulkhead ports, for bow and stern fire, loaded with 10
chargcs,and discharged over the decks and through the lon
ports in the ship's,side. The guns were not fired together
these positions, because as they bear in four entirely differel
directions there can be no conceivable object in dischargne
them all simultaneously. The jar upon the
ship was mot
marked at each discharge than it had been previously, and f 0
the moment it seemed incredible that the lighter fittings °
a ship could withstand such violent concussions ; but whel
discharge after discharge had taken place a thorough ex
amination of the ship was again made; b nt, with the excel
tion of two small iron eyes, and two glass articles which lig
been left on deck, no sort of damage was found to have beel
done to the vessel or her fittings. In order to test to the
very utmost what the ship could stand, Capt. Wilmshurst
finally loaded the 68-pounders, which were now placed al
chase guns, with more than full charges, with 161b$. °I
powder in fact, and fired them in quick succession along the
decks with less than 20 degrees of the line of keel. OD
renewed examina/ion even this was found to have left ever)"
thing unharmed, the very pitch in the deck seams under the
muzzle of the guns being found absolutely undisturbed.
The experiments of the day were concluded by a series
of manoeuvres intended to ascertain with what frequellc,Y
the Research could ply an enemy with shot and shell will°
chasing her. It was found that by diverging 16 deg. from
her course, she could bring the first gun to bear in 25 se°4
and, on reversing the helm, weld bring the opposite one t°
bear in 51 sec., returning to her course in 34 see. Or
Thus, in less than two minutes, she can, at full speed, dl5,-
charge two guns right a head at an enemy, and returnagaill
to the direct pursuit.