The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-10 00:00:00

DIEPPE STEEPLECHASES AND FETE.

The old, quiet, dozy, dirty little picturesque city of
Dieppe has of late found itself suddenly fashionable and
famous from the sunshine of Imperial favour having
shone upon its fantastic gables and pinnacles, and high-
pitched Norman roofs. The conseenence of the patron-
age of Napoleon the Third and his fair Empress, has
been such a scraping, and painting,
and cleansing, and
decorating ; such galas and shows ; such an outburst of
flowers of fashion, bright uniforms and such a show of
gold, silver, and worsted lace of
every
a profusion of flags on every "coign of vantage as
colour, and such
never was seen in the memory
of that oblivious per-
sonage, " the oldest inhabitant" In addition to flattery
and feastings, and frolics and fireworks, and bathings,
and pic-nics and parties of all sorts, hotel-keepers, horses,
and house-accommodation have been steadily advancing
in prices. As Thursday, however was advertised as
the day of a grand display of
steeplechasing, and know-
ing they do not use to " manage these things better in
France," ' we departed per South Coast for Newhaven at
an early hour on Wednesday; but our intentions of an
early arrival on the scene were frustrated by an unfore-
seen accident, the boat Le Rouen one of the new iron
boats of the Brighton and South Coast Co., which was
to have received the 10h. 30m., a,rn, passengers, in
making the difficult and shoal harbour Of Dieppe at early
morn, had touched the bar, and tearing away her rudder,
had become unmanageable ; the strong flowing tide set-
ting in, then drove her violently against the pipes of the
jetty, tearing them away in a wonderful manner, then
rebounding against the opposite side of the narrow
entrance, and destroying her own paddle-boxes and
wheels. Thus completely crippled, the service fell upon
the Paris, her twin boat, and the early voyagers, rein-
forced by the 7 p.m. train from London, crowded the
boat, which left at 10.30 p.m., a stiff head wind and a
crowded vessel made the pleasure seekers doubly anxious,
but on arriving a little before 6 in sight of Dieppe, the
water was insufficient, and the steamer stood on and off
till 11 in the day before a landing was effected. At 1,
crowds of equestrians, vehicles, and pedestrians were on
their road to the course, situated in the prairies of
Dieppe and Rouxmenil, a tract of coarse grass land on
the left of the road to Argues. It presented the usual
natural features of an English course. Three water
jumps, a circuit of about 3,000 yards twice traversed,
and a distance added, with fences and dressed hurdles of
the ordinary character. The Emperor and Empress,
who in the morning had been walking almost unat-
tended, and without escort on the beach, arrived on the
ground at a few minutes before the time appointed for
the first race. They came in two open carriages, of
English style, each drawn by four magnificent bays,
with postillions in green and gold, and an escort of
mounted " Guides ;" the enthusiasm of the people for
the Emperor and Empress was unanimous and unmis-
takeable ; indeed, it cannot be disguised that the Em-
peror is immensely popular with the middle and lower
classes of his volatile subjects. The coup d'wil from the
" tribunes," or stands, which were most tastefully deco-
rated, was admirable. Groups of military, a regimental
band, and the picturesque peasant costume of Nor-
mandy, heightened the attractions of the scene. The
entrance fee to the pesage, or weighing-place, a
commo-
dious enclosure, favourably contrasting with many of
the English black holes used for that purpose, was fixed
at the high sum of 20 francs for each person, which
obviated inconvenient pressure on the officials.
The racing will be found appended. It appeared to
give the greatest satisfaction to the Imperial party and
the populace. The Emperor did not depart till the last
race was over. In the evening the town was all alive,
and the Emperor and Empress went on board La Reins
Hortense, war steamer. A succession of fetes, for which
great preparation, triumphal arohes, firework stages,
&c., were erected, with lighted pavilions for dancing,
an all the addenda of a fair were prepared, tookiplace
yesterday (Friday).
The following is a return of the steeplechasing
The Dieppe Steeplechase of B,ooofr. (330 sovs.) given by
the town of Dieppe, 500 fr. (20 sovs.) entry, for horses
of all countries ; six to start ; over about four miles
the second horse to receive I,ooofr. (20 sovs.) ; to carry
70 kilos. (1401 b.) ; French horses allowed 4 kilos. (81b.)
M. De la Motto's Franc Picard (by Royal Oak or
Nautilus, 70 Kilos .....................(H. Lamplugh) 1
Mr. Thos. Golby's Ploughboy, 75 kilos (W. Lamplugh) 2
Le Comte de Sacy's Sam Hood, 70 kilos (S. Darling) 3
M. de la Marre's Lady Arthur, 74 kilos (Wakefield) 4
Mr. Sait's Timothy, 72 kilos (Goater) 0
Vicomte de Salon's Coeur de Lion, 70 kilos(H.Rackley) 0
7
M. Rost's Billy from Brigg, 72 kilos ......... (Rodney) 0
Betting—Even on Franc Picard agst the field, 6 to
4 agst Ploughboy, the others friendless.
The Race—Coeur de Lion led over the first two jumps,
Ploughboy close up, Timothy third, Billy from Brigg and
Franc Picard as here set down, Lady Arthur last.
Turning at the top and descending the hollow towards
the brook, Ploughboy "went to the fore,"_ Coeur de Lion
and Sam Hood second and third, Franc Picard going
easily and well within himself. As the horses passed
the Grand Stand, and came to the artificial water jump,
a second time Ploughboy was first, Franc Picard second,
and Sam Hood third, Lady Arthur fourth, Billy from Brigg

seemed taking it easy, and Coeur de Lion, having re-
fused, was also in the rear. After turning at the top,
by the enclosure, Sam Hood came out strongly, headed
Ploughboy, and went to work in rattling style for a
quarter of a mile, at the end of this near the brook
Ploughboy came to him, with Franc Picard close at
hand, Ploughboy jumped the big brook first, but over-
reached, and cut himself severely, and on went Franc
Picard with the lead, Sam Hood after him ; Ploughboy
recovering, soon passed Sam Hood, but Franc Picard
kept his forward place, and won cleverly by two lengths,
Sam Hood third to Ploughboy's second by about the
like interval. All the horses took their jumps without
a casualty, save that of Pl9ugboy. Lady Arthur was
fourth, Timothy fifth, Billy from Brigg and Cceur de
Lion pull up, and walked in.
The grand event over so punctually, that a great
number of 'the English visitors did not arrive till the
winner had returned to scale, the second race was called.
This was
A STEEPLECHASE of 2,400 f., given by the Companies of
Rouen, Havre, and Dieppe ; open to horses of all
countries ; 150 f. entrance, h ft ; about three miles ;
to carry 65 kilos. (130Ib.) ; the winner of a stake of
120 Boys to carry 41b extra ; of 160 sous, 61b ; 61b
allowed to horses foaled and trained in France. Three
miles.
M. de Lamarre's Flying Buck, 67 kilos (H. Rackley) 1
M. George's Augustine, 65 kilos .............(Planner) 2
Le Comte de Contandon's Bedford, 65 kilos
(H. Lamplugh) 0
Le Baron de Monnerove's Quickstep, 65 kilos

(Wakefield) 0
Bedford and Flying Buck found most friends, the for-
mer at 6 to 4, the latter at 2 to 1 ; 3 to 1 agst Augus-
tine or Quickstep,

Flying Buck was in front at the stand, Bedford in
close attendance on him, Augustine and Quickstep a
little in the rear. At the water jump, which Flying
Buck cleared neatly, Bedford fell, and Lamplugh got a
regular purler. He, however, immediately got on his
feet, and started off in pursuit of his stray animal.
There was a warm manifestation of applause from the
imperial party on seeing the rapidity with which he
recovered himself. Soon after this he refused, and was
out of the race. Quickstep also got into the brook,
but was persuaded out by Wakefield, and raced after
her horses in vain. Augustine now took second place
to Flying Buck, and this order was kept to the end.
Flying Buck, well ridden by Harry Rackley, being put
by six lengths from Augustine, who pulled determinedly,
and seemed inclined to bolt, but Planner kept her to
work. After Bedford's fall and Quickstep's blunder,
there were but the two horses in the race. The third
event was a gentleman's race.
A steeplechase of 3,000 f., presented by his Majesty the
Emperor of the French. Entrance 150 f. ; gentlemen
riders ; about two miles ; to carry 65 kilos ; a winner
of 3,000 f. before entrance to carry 1 kilo extra ; of
5,000 f., 2 kilos ; of 10,000 f., 3 kilos. Thirteen
jumps.
M. Delamotte's Franc Picard, 72 kilos (Comte
Contandon) 1
M. De Lamaire's Flying Buck, 72 kilos (M. De
Lauriston) 2
Vicomte de Talon's Cceur de Lion (Owner) 0
Franc Picard was the favourite at 3 to 2 against the
pair opposed to him.

Coeur de Lion went boldly to the front, but could
not hold his pride of place ; Frano Picard and Flying
Buck passed him, and got a commanding lead, owing to
his refusing the water jump. Comte Talon forced him
determinably at it, and successfully cleared it, amid
much applause. In the second and concluding portion
of the race, Franc Picard had it his own way, and won,
held, by, a dozen lengths. Count Contadon was raptu-
rously cheered as he rode to scale.

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1853.

The figures within parenthesis denote the number of

day's racing.
SEPTEMBER.
Western Zoyland and Leicester (2) 21
Bridgwater (1) l2 Lanark (2) 22
Folkestone, Hythe, and Manchester Autumn (2) 22
Sandgate l3 Canterbury (2) 22
Doncaster (4) 13 Newmarket F. 0. (3)...27
Dover 15 Walsall (2) 28
Pontefract (2)
Bedford (2) 2O

IBER.

Chester Autumn (2) 4
Monmouth
YorkshireUnionHunt(l) 6
Wrexham (2)
Newmarket S. 0. (5) lO

Warwick Autumn (2) ...18
Caledonian Hunt and

Kelso —lB
Richmond (2) 19
Newmarket (H.) (6) 24

MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.)

COVENT GARDEN.
Very large supplies of fruit and vegetables were on sale
to-day. The general demand ruled active, as follows :
FRIIIT.—Pine apples, English, 3s Od to Os Od each ; ditto
colonial, is to is 3d each ; Orleans plums, is to 2s ; green
gages, is Od to 2s Od per punnet ; hot-house grapes,
is Od to 3s 6d; apples, 3s Od. to 5s per bushel ; pears,
2s Od. to 4s per half sieve ; lemons, is to 2s Od ; oranges,
2s to 3s per doz. ; pomegranates, Od to Od each ; almonds,
5s per peck ; Barcelona nuts, 20s per bushel ; cob-nuts,
s per 1001bs. ; chesnuts, 8s to 20s per bushel ; straw-
berries, is to 2s Od per basket ; peaches, 4s to lOs ; nec-
tarines, 4s to 108 ; apricots, is to 3s per dozen ; melons,
is to 3s each ; cherries, Od to 2s Od per lb. ; gooseberries,
28 to 35 6d ; currants, is 9d to 38 Od per half sieve ; figs,
3s per doz.
VEGETABLES.—Cabbages, 6d to Os 9d ; Brussels sprouts,
2s Od to 3s 04 per half sieve; brocoli, 3s to 6s; greens,
2s 6d to 4s Od per dozen bunches; broad beans, is 6d
to 28 Od per half sieve ; French beans, is 6d to 2s Od per
half sieve ; sea-trail Os Od to Os Od ; asparagus, is Od to
45 per bundle ; rhubarb, 3d to Os 6d per bundle;
cap li-
flowers, 2d to 4d each ; potatoes, 40s to 100 s per ton ;
turnips, 2s Od to 2s 6d ; carrots, 3s Od to 4s Od per dozen
bunches; cucumbers, Os 2d to Os 8d each ; celery, 9d to
is 6d per bundle ; spinach, is Od to 2s 041 per half sieve ;
old onions, 6s Od to lOs Od per bushel ; young do, 4d to 6d
per bunch ; leeks, 3d to 441 per bunch ; shallots, 6d to 8d ;
garlic, 6d to 8d per lb ; endive, 2s 24:1 to 3s Od per score
small salad, 2d to 3d perpunnet; horse-raddish, is Od to 3s Od
per bundle ; mushrooms, is 6d to 2s Od per pottle ; parsley,
2s Od to 3s Od per dozen bunches ; turnip greens, is 3d
to is 6d per bushel ; beet, is Od. to is 6d per dozen ; cos
lettuces, 6d to 8d per doz. ; radishes, is Od to is 6d per doz.
hands ; tomatoes, 6s Od to 8s Od per dozen ; mint, 3d to
5d per bunch ; artichokes, 3s to 6s per dozen.