The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-21 00:00:00

Grand Match of Ball at Biarritz,

A correspondent writing from Biarritz on the
17th says :—" You must not imagine that the
fashionable circles alone find amusements here—
there is food for every taste. We two days back had
a tremendous irruption of peasants, male and female,
from the Basque country, attracted by a public noti-
fication that a grand match of ball was to be con-
tested by four of the most celebrated players of the
Soule against four others equally noted from the
Lallond, two districts long famous for producing
splendid players. A Basque peasant, whether of
France or of Spain—for the name applies to por-
tions of both countries—cannot imagine any
greater glory than to be first-rate at the noble
game of pawns. There have been many instances
of a farmer selling his horses or cows to raise
funds to bet ou some extraordinary player; and
whenever a solemn contest takes place, vast
sums of money change hands. The game is
played in two ways, either against a wall, as in
England and Ireland, or d la league, when a long
narrow piece of ground is marked cut, and the
ball is sent from one end of it towards the other, as
hard as the player who gives the service can con-
trive to propel it. This latter mode is considered by
far tho nobler game, and was that selected on the
present occasion. There were four combatants at
each side, and every one of them had frequently
distinguished himself in previous matches. The
principal heroes of the Soule were two brothers
named Mathieu, whilst the champions of the Lal-
lond were Moulin and Benjamin. Of the whole
eight this last was the only one married, the rest
being scarcely more than from 19 to 22. In
fact, when once a player enters into the bonds of
matrimony, he generally abandons the game of
a public player, and contents himself with the
glory of his former exploits. The players wear
on the right hand a sort of scooped glove, about a
foot long, made of dried leather and whalebone, and
with that adjunct they send a ball an immense dis-
tance. Whenever the ball in the course of the
service, overpasses the extreme line of the play-
ground, that event in itself constitutes the gain of
a point, and is always greeted with shouts of ap-
plause. Only twice during the whole of the match
at Biarritz did the ball overleap the extreme line,
and in each case it was shot out as if from
a catapult by Moulin, who for the rest of
the day was addressed by the pet name of Mou-
linet, a token of admiration and affection. Both
blows:were struck at the very commencement of
the play, and it would almost seem as if the
exertion was too prodigious to be often repeated.
As the game proceeded, the excitement became
extreme, and the agitation of the spectat ors pre
sented to the uninitiated something almost ludi-
crous. One thing only saved the scene from ridi-
cule, and that was, that the various occupants of
the tribunes were beyond any doubt terribly in
earnest. The sums they wagered were extra-
ordinary, and I saw near the spot where I stood, a
man whose whole attire was not worth twenty
francs, pull out a handful of silver and gold and
stake it on the Lallond. The mode of making the
bets is curious ; when a wager is accepted the
two parties place their money in the hands
of a third party happening to stand near, and
when the game is over the winner receives the
double sum. Of course the person applied to
for the office of stakeholder can decline, but if
he refuses another is found the next instant, and
scarcely ever does an instance occur of trust being
betrayed. I had next me a boy of 15, well-dressed,
and from his conversation liberally brought up; he
told me he had been saving all his pocket money
for the last three months to risk it on the Soule,
as his confidence in Moulinet was unbounded,
Whenever a good blow was struck by the men of
the boy's own party, his enthusiasm was uproarious,
and a companion of his—but who, I could under-
stand, had not possessed any money to stake—even
exceeded him in vocal demonstration. I fear, how-
ever, that they both went home in a melancholy
mood, for when I loft the ground, after looking at
the proceedings for about two hours, the brothers

(f Mathieu were gradually turning the scale, and vie-
tory for the other party seemed almost possible. I
think it right, of a faithful chronicler, to declare
that the play was pronounced by the best connois-
seurs to be first-rate, and that if Moulinet and Ben-
jamin could not succeed in changing the fortune of
the day, it was not owing so much to any want of
skill as to a series of mischances which will some-
times set in unaccountably against a particular side.
The scene was a curious one from the bright colours
worn by the women, and the large sums ventured
by the men; and I have no doubt that the great
match of paume at Biarritz in 1863 will long afford
theme for conversation over the winter fire in many
a village of the Basque country."—Galignani.

Chtist's Hospital Speech Day.—This Day,

STATE VISIT OF THE CORPORATION.

To-day being St. Matthew's Day, the Corporation of the
City of London paid their annual \ isit to Christ's Hospital

this morning. They were received by the Rev. Dr. Jacob,
the head master, the Rev. R. South, the Rev. M. Gibbs,
the masters of the various departments in the school. and
the three Grecians who are about leaving for the Univer-
sities. In the first instance the Corporation attended Divine
Service in Christ Church, Newgate-street.
At the close of the service the Corporation and visitors
proceeded to the great hall, which was soon well filled. The
Corporation occupied raised seats at the western end of the
hall, and the orations were delivered from a dais in the
centre.

Mr. J. H. WYLIE, first Grecian, Classical Medalist,
1863, Scholar of Pembroke College, Oxford, delivered the
English oration in praise of the founder. After some pre-
paratory remarks on the excellence of the institution, he
inquired what name in history was more honoured than
that of the royal founder of that house ? Was there an
Englishman who did not feel a pride at the mention of
Edward VI. It might be that his early and premature
removal from an earthly throne bad spared his reign from
infamy and his name from scandal, but the acts of his short

life were of so distinguishing a colour, and all his ways so
stamped with piety, that surely they did not give him
more than his due who distinguished him with the name
of " The Good." His name should be graven on the hearts
of each and all of those who ever had experienced the
benefits of his royal hospitals. His memory stood in every
corner of those time-honoured foundations, and in those
monuments of piety ho had built up for himself an impe-
rishable name, which no decay, nor time, nor age should
aver take away. From his day until this present hour,
through all the changes of 300 years, the star of that
house had been ever rising—her foundations had become
daily deep-rooted, and her head now towered amongst the
highest glories of the land, because she had dispensed her
blessings, hoping for nothing in return. She saw her sons
at home in every walk of life, mounting in the steps of ster-
ling industry to high and honourable positions—abroad, in
every profession or occupation in which a man could law-
fully engage, she had seen them struggling to approve
themselves good servants to their Queen and country,
(Cheers.) Well might that school be called the boast of
Englishmen. In the gratuitous education of English youth
she took the lion's share—her interests were guarded by the
representatives of every class (as the armorial bearings on
those walls could well attest), her foundation was benevo-
lence, and her support a strict discharge of duty. Ho well
knew that there were those who were glad to attack and
ridicule her system, who were "utterly sceptical" as to her
advantages, but against them stood unanswerably the great
practical results that had been effected, and were being
effected, by her means, and they did but think how different
might have been the case had her management been en-
trusted to less able and less scrupulous hands. It had been
usual on these occasions to enliven the course of the Eng-
lish speech by some marked allusions to the political events
of the past year, but he had purposely avcided all
notice of such topics that day, because he must
confess himself incapable of connecting the Confederate
cause or the insurrection in Poland with the benefits of the
Royal Hospital. Having conveyed the hearty congratu-
lations of the schs,ol of which the Prince of Wales is a
governor, to the Prince and Princess, Mr. Wylie remarked
that there were two subjects of home interest of which all
would be expecting some mention. This year had seen the
first very spirited attempt to establish among them a pub-
lic competition in English athletic sports; hitherto, how-
ever, no opportunity had occurred of thanking the movers
and promoters of these excellent games, so that he should
best express the feelings of every boy throughout the
school, when he offered their hearty thanks to those gen-
tlemen who originated and supported the athletic games of
1863. Their exertions were indefatigable, their rewards libe-
ral, their decisions impartial, and, as might be expected,
their success was complete. (Cheers.) The orator next
adverted to the sudden death of Mr. Chapman, the French
master, upon whose character he passed a high eulogium.
Mr. J. 11. NEIVNUM, second Grecian, mathematical me-
dallist, and 7hnes scholar, 1863, scholar of Pembroke Col-
lege, Cambridge, delivered a Latin oration. He remarked
that King Edward had been praised at that commemoration
so assiduously for 300 years, that the ears and minds of the
audience had become wearied from the very excess of praise
lavished on them. He might be allowed, therefore, to dis-
miss King Edward and his good deeds, and to employ the
opportunity of bestowing his thanks upon the gentlemen
before him, who deserved them so well. He then briefly
touched on the loss they had sustained in the death of their
French master, M. Chapman, and turning to Dr. Brette,
his successor, bade him a most cordial and eloquent 'wel-
come. Ho briefly noticed what he termed the spiteful
attack which had been made by Mr. Gladstone on Christ's
Hospital.

Mr. C. G. LOAD, third Grecian,, who is proceeding to
Trinity College, Cambridge, delivered the Greek oration.
He expressed his opinion that the praises of King Edward
could never be exhausted. That religious, royal, and
ancient foundation had often been bitterly assailed with the
most malignant invectives, yet had they seen its grandeur
daily increasing, and its system, although maligned, conti-
nually trampling over its antagonists. That sacred foun-
dation, which the fell sword of civil war could not injure,
nor the scourge of pestilence molest, nor the storm of anni-
hilating fire blast, had stood for more than three centuries
—a loving foster mother, ever affording to the homeless an
abiding place and a home. (Cheers.)
The following were also recited :—Greek lambics, trans-
lated from "Richard the Second," by Mr. Lewis Le
Hardy Sharky, Fourth Grecian, Classical Medallist, and
Richard's Medallist 1862 ; Latin Elegiacs, Translation of
"The Soldiers Dream," by Mr. Arthur Bovell, Eighth
Grecian; Greek llexareeters, translation from "Paradise
Lost," by Mr. Charles Alan Tyffe, Fifth Grecian ; Latin
Hexameters, "Fodince Carbonaria)," Richard's Prize Com-
position, by Mr. George Frederick Warner, Sixth Grecian ;
Greek Elegiacs, translation of "The Field of Gilboa," by
Mr. William Farrer, Seventh Grecian; Latin Alcaics,
translation from " The Lady of the Lake," by Mr, Robert
Harry Hughes, Ninth Grecian; English Poem, " The
Nile," by Mr. Charles Alan Tyffe, Fifth Grecian.
At the close of the recitations purses were handed round
and collections made for the Grecians, who aro proceeding
to the Universities. The National Anthem was then sung
with groat heartiness, and the proceedings closed.