The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-18 00:00:00

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The Meeting of the Allied Fleets,

.NIPRICE 4d.
STAMPED sd.

(FROM THE CORRESPONDENT OF THE MORNING POST.)
CHERBOURG, Aug. 16.
We have in the English calendar no day analogous to
the 15th of August in that of the French. Why this is 1
do not know, and leave it to persons curious in such mat-
ters to inquire. The fact is, however, incontestable.
Perhaps we are too matter-of-fact a people to have a re-
gard for traditions, or possibly want that exuberant viva-
city and overflowing patriotism which requires that at
least one day in the year should be set apart on which the
nation can give vent to emotions in which the religious
and the patriotic are intimately blended. The Irish pos-
sess many` characteristics in common with the French, and
the fete of the 17th of March—the anniversary of St. Pat-
rick's nativity—may to some extent bear comparison with
that of the 15th of August. But the parallel is only par-
tial. The religious' and the national elements are both
present in the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, but, al-
though the festival may remind the Irishman of his creed
and of his country, it brings with it no associations of
national grandeur. If the Irishman loves his native soil
it is for the same reason that Ulysses, on his return from
his weary pilgrimage, hailed the barren rock of Ithaca as
the sweetest land he had ever seen, namely, because it is
his home. The attachment which binds the Frenchman
to France is, however, of a different character, and the
reminiscences which he delights to awaken in his mind
have some solid groundwork on which to rest. The
Frenchman thoroughly identifies himself with his country,
and, as France is unquestionably great, he takes an
inordinate pleasure in basking in the rays of her re-
flected greatness. This feeling is so fully recognised,
and operates so strongly, that in no country in the
world probably are so much pains taken by the Go-
vernment to let it be understood that the volition
and the acts of the Executive are in truth those of the en-
tire nation, and that the voice which is heard and the words
which are uttered are in truth the voice and the words of
France. And so it happens that the fele of the Emperor,
which was ;celebrated yesterday with more or less splen-
dour in every town in France, kindles an enthusiasm in
which all, even those who may be opposed to the imperial
regime, equally share. One dynasty or one form of govern-
ment may be preferable to another, but when France, her
history, her traditions, her military glory, and her fancied
pre-eminence over every country in the world, are the
subject of a Frenchman's thoughts, all other considerations
become subsidiary, and are for the time lost sight of. The
Me of the Sovereign is a grand national festival on the oc-
casion of which the individual and the kingdom which he
governs are absolutely identified. In most other countries
the two ideas of the governor and the governed are kept
entirely distinct, and hence we seek in vain out of France
for a festival at all analogous to that of the 15th of August.
What kind of weather they may have had in other parts
of France I cannot say, but a more wretched and miser-
able day than we were compelled to pass here it would be
conceive. At early dawn a vast quantity of powder was
burnt by the several vessels in the port and the batteries
with which the fortifications are mounted in firing a salute
of 21 guns, and those who were awakened by the uproar,
and had the curiosity to look out of their bed-room win-
dows, saw nothing to encourage them to abandon their
beds for the sake of a constitutional walk. The rain fell in
torrents, the wind howled, and ever and again recurring
squalls swept the streets with sheets of water. As the
morning advanced the weather slightly improved, but
scarcely ever for a moment did the rain cease to fall. The
wind, which on the previous day had been strong, had in-
creased to a gale, and the only word that can be said in its
favour is that, being from the south-west, it blew off the
shore.

bfoulltow boltinger s.
the rear. The pace, which had beenvery slow, was slightly
improved upon nearing the Stand, whore Claremont took
outA t
otfh
teh
et ucronn Threadbare s
rwas
not
up the running, Dunkeld and Dr. Swishtail, side by side,
further persevered with. Going along the far side End-
sleigh ran to the fore, and displacing Claremont the latter
went on second, followed by Dunkeld, Lord Conyngham,
braeninugphtios
and Dr. Swishtail in the order named, The Plover bringing
up the rear. They ran with no material alteration till
the immediate
leaders,
within three-quarters of a mile from home, when Lord
Conyngham headed Claremont, but soon again gave way,
and Mr. Bowes's horse went on in close company with
Endsleigh to the distance, where Claremont was beaten,
and Mr. Brayley's horso maintaining the lead to the end
won cleverly by a length ; Stockowner was a bad third .
Dr. Swishtail was fourth; Lord Conyngham fifth; Dunkeld
sixth; Plover beaten several lengths in the rear.

A Selling Plate of 50 sovs, for two-year-olds and upwards ;
weight for age, with selling allowances. Half a mile.
Lord Westmoreland's Wentworth, 2 yrs, sst 10lb, £3O,
(Maidment)l
Mr. Hodgman's Viper, 2 yrs, 6st, £5O (Heartfield) 2
Lord Ailesbury's Rosalind colt, 2 yrs, sst 10Ib £3O,
(G. Sopp) 3
The following also ran::—Orphene, The Beau, Catapults,
The Nun of Avon, Countess 8010, Capricious, and The
Count.

Betting-2 to 1 agst Wentworth, 4to 1 agst The Count,
7 to 1 agst Countess 8010, and 10 to 1 each agst the Rosa-
lind colt and Catapulta. The Rosalind colt made play for
a quarter of a mile, when W entworth took up the running
and won by half a length ; a length separated the second
and third ; The Count was fourth ; Countess 8010 fifth;
and Capricious sixth. The winner was sold to Mr. Mills
for 210 guineas.

The P;rlc Meadow Plato (Handicap) of 100 sous, for all

ages ; certain winners extra. Five furlongs.
Mr. J. Portnoy's Menace, by Wild Dayrell—lntimida-
tion, 4 yrs, Bst (Fordham 1
Mr. G. Angell's Lady Valentine, 3 yrs, Bst (IL Parry 2
Mr. E. Brayley's Blackbird, 3 yrs, 7st 21b (Murray 3
The following also ran :—Overture, Filbert, Viceroy,
Bishopton, Knight of the Whistle, and Purity.
Betting-9 to 4 agst Overture, 4to 1 agst Viceroy, sto
1 each agst Menace and Lady Valentine, 6 to 1 agst Knight
of the Whistle, and Bto 1 agst Purity. Lady Valentine,
with Overture in close attendance, got away in advance,
followed by Menace, Viceroy, and Blackbird, and they ran
with little variation to the half distance, where Viceroy
dropped back, and Menace taking her place beside the
leader the pair came on in close company till within three
strides of the chair, where Fordham came with a rush, and
won a fine struggle by a head ; Blackbird a bad third ;
Purity fourth, Overture fifth, and Filbert next. Knight of
the Whistle and Viceroy, side by side, were the last two.

The Prince of Wales's Stakes of 50 sovs, added to a sweep-
stakes of 5 sovs each, for two-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 101 b ;
fillies, Bst 71b ; with penalties and allowances.

Mr. R. Kelso's Gretna, by Stockwell—Terrona, 9st (in-
cluding 71b extra) J. Goater 1
Mr. Rogers's Miss Roland, Bst 141 b (including 51b extra
(J. Mann 2
Lord Westmoreland's Rama, Bst 101 b (Morgan 3
Betting-6 to son Gretna, 6to 4 agst Miss Roland, 10
to 1 agst _Hama. Rama led for a short distance, when he
dropped back, and the other two went on in close company
to the stand, where Gretna got slightly the best of the
struggle, and won, after a rattling finish, by a short head;
Rama a bad third.

The Freemen's Plate of 30 sovs, added to a Sweepstakes of
3 sovs each ; winners extra. One mile.

Mr. E. Brayley's Mongrel, 3 yrs, 7st 21b (Murray) 1
Lord Westmoreland's Orloff, 3 yrs, 6st 81b (Kenyon) 2
Mr. Astley's Overstone, 5 yrs, Bst 91b (inc. 71b extra)
(Fordham) 3
Betting—Even agst Mongrel, and 2 to 1 each agst Over-
stone and Orloff. Orloff made play for the first half mile,
when he gavo way to the favourite, who went on with the
lead to the end, and won in a cantor by a length ; Over-
stone a bad third.

The programme of the imperial fete is much the same
wherever it is celebrated. In the churches 7'e Deums are
sung, in the squares and open places military reviews are
held, in the places of public amusement gratuitous per-
formances are given, on public and private buildings tri-
coloured banners are waved, and at night varied-coloured
lamps are exhibited, and the evening is brought to a close
with a vast expenditure of fireworks. Yesterday at Cher-
bourg, notwithstanding the unfavourable weather, the in-
variable programme was in all its particulars religiously
observed. At 11 o'clock high mass was celebrated in the
parish chrrch, and a Te Deum sung, and between the hours
of 12 and 1 o'clock the troops garrisoned here were paraded
in the Place Napoleon under a drenching rain. The streets
were in many places almost impassable with the crowds
which had arrived in great numbers from Paris, but chiefly,
as I suspect, from the outlying districts in the neighbour-
hood of Cherbourg flocked into the town, and which
speedily reduced the commissariat to the greatest straits.
As early as 10 o'clock in the morning, café au lait was not
to be procured in the majority of cafes and restaurants, and
a demand for a cutlet was met with a shrug of the shoulders
which was more expressive than any words. Towards
noon the beer fell short, and my own impression is that in
the evening nothing was left but black coffee, the inex-
haustible petit verre, and cigars.

The English fleet was, of course, the chief object of at-
traction, and, despite the boisterous weather, thousands
thronged the quays and crowded into the steamers and
fishing-boats which at frequent intervals conveyed their
enterprising passengers for tine promenade en rade. Dur-
ing the earlier portion of the day the weather was so thick
that it was scarcely possible to distinguish the different
vessels, notwithstanding their size and the liberal display
of bunting with which their rigging was adorned. All the
vessels in the roadstead were " dressed," and it only needed
a few hours of sunshine to enable the many to whom nau-
tical displays were entirely unknown to enjoy a scene
which for them, at all events, would possess the charm of
novelty. And this pleasure, lam glad to say, was not de-
nied them. About two o'clock the rain ceased to fall, and
the clouds cleared away, or scudded with such velocity be-
fore the wind that the sun was enabled to make itself seen.
The mist which enveloped the fleet was swept out to sea,
and the entire roadstead, with all it contained, became
plainly visible. The Magenta, with her consorts, the
Flandre and Heroine, on either beam, lay farthest from the
shore and towards the eastern entrance of the port, whilst
the English squadron occupied the centre of the roadstead.
In the centre lay Rear-Admiral Sir Sidney Dacres' ship,
her masts towering above the others, and showing at the
main, as did all the other English vessels, the French flag.
At the fore floated the English flag, while at the mizen was
hoisted the square white flag with the cross of St. George.
Between the flag-ship and the breakwater lay the new
cupola ship the Royal Sovereign, whilst to the westward,
and stretching in the direction of the arsenal, lay the other
vessels of the Channel fleet. Again and again did two
little steamers from Honfleur, and the English steamers
which ply between this port and Poole, making the circuit
of the roadstead, and return to find new cargoes ready for
shipment ; whilst hundreds, undeterred by the frequent
squalls and the turbulent sea, ventured out in the pilot-
boats and fishing-smacks in the faith of the most solemn
assurances by their owners that they would return to shore
not only safe and sound, but as dry as when they left it.
Man is naturally credulous ; but, in the view of returning
boats full of drenched passengers, it is more probable that
those who ventured out were indifferent to a wetting than
that they relied on the promises of the Cherbourg boatmen.

The evenings continued .fine, and the illuminations, such
as they were, had nothing worse to contend with than a
strong wind. The French do not, for the most part, or, at
least, did not here employ gas, either to the same extent,

and certainly not in the same manner, that we do on similar
occasions. The stars and monograms in which we delight

are almost unknown in this country, and some attempt is
invariably made, and almost always with success, to secure

beauty of design in the arrangement of the means by which
they produce their illuminations. Of course in a seaport
town such as this, anything of this. kind which is done
must be on a very small scale. The facade of the Hotel
de Ville was lit up with variegated lamps. The principal
hotels in the town made a somewhat similar display, whilst
the windows of the greater number of houses were hung
with Chinese lanterns, which, from the facility and fre-
quency with which they took fire, suggested the idea that
ere morning some one or more houses would probably
come to grief. In the harbour the different vessels showed
lights at their mast-heads, whilst on the breakwater a,

dazzling light produced by electrical agency threw a glare

across the roadstead. At ten o'clock a display of fireworks
took place on the ends of the piers, much more brilliant
than any we are accustomed to see on the other side of the
Channel, In the evening the Maritime Prefect enter:-
tained at dinner the Lords of the Admiralty, the admirals

of the French and English squadrons, and other naval
officers of high rank. The Lords of the Admiralty and
Sir Sidney Dacres were received on landing with a, salute

from the forts.

CHERBOURG, Aug. 17.
The French and English squadrons will leave this port
to-morrow.

BREST, Aug. 17.
The flies have been postponed, and will take place 011
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next.
The English squadron will not arrive till Monday, on
account of Sunday intervening.

THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF MAJOR :PO
VERE AT CHATHAM BARRACKS.—Major F. H. de Vere,
R.E., who was shot by Sapper Curry, still continues to
improve, as the following bulletin from the chief medical
officer of the Royal Engineer Corps, which was issued yes.
terday morning, and exhibited in the various departments
of the Royal Engineer establishment, will show:—" Aug.
17.—Major De Vere continues to improve. The wound in
front has healed sufficiently to close completely tho com-
munication which existed with the cavity of the chest. Ha
sleeps very fairly, and is _in good spirits. Stronger, hopes
than ever may now be entertained of his recovery.,
(Signed) J. BALFovit COCEBURti, M. Surgeon, R.E."