The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-18 00:00:00

STATISTICAL iIIEMS.

During the year 1866 the general traffic of mer-
chandise on the river Elbe amounted to 12,809,593
quintids (a quintal is 1101bs). Of these, 5,713,743
were conveyed up the river, the down traffic
amounting to 7,095,850. The year before the
total amount was only 10,170,261 quintals, or more
than two millions less, the surplus of last year
belonging almost entirely to the export account.
The traffic of the Elbe is almost exclusively in
the hands of Hamburg and Prussia ; for, of the
seven millions mentioned above, six proceeded
from the latter Power, and Hamburg received
about half a million more, the balance represent-
ing the amount of traffic with the other bordering
countries.—The number of emigrants that em-
barked at Bremen in 1866 was 61,877 ; of these,
10,178 were Hanoverians, and 3,848 were Hessians.
Generally speaking, therefore, so far as the port of
Bremen is concerned, emigration is on the increase.
The J ournaldesConnaissances lifedicales gives an ac-
count of certain remarks made by Baron Larrey on
the labours of the Statistical Board at the French
War Office. In his opinion, in a physical point
of view, the real number of young men examined
for the conscription is not, given ; the distinct and
essentially medical indication of the disorders which
led to the rejection of recruits, whether individual
or endemical, is also wanting; the proportion of
those rejected is easily influenced by certain politics!
circumstances, however rare they may be; notwith-
standing the progressive diminution of the number
of exemptions for deficiency of stature, there is
no increase of the average height of the contin-
gents, and yet there is an increase of that average
in the whole army ; whereby it may be concluded
that volunteers are taller than others, or that some
recruits continue to grow after having joined the
army ; the proportion of exemptions for infirmities
is nearly the same now as it was in 1831. Baron
Larrey is of opinion that by drawing up statistical
tables with reference to the affections which led to
exemption from military service, with the average
for each region, the physical capacity of the French
nation would be best determined.

THE INTERNATIONAL RACKET MATCH•

In a recent publication we noticed, under the
heading of " Sports in America," the commence-
ment of the game between William Gray and
Frederick Foulkes. The game then stood three
for Foulkes and two for Gray. We extract the after
progress of the game from Wilkes' Spirit of the
Times :

"It will be remembered that the latter unfor-
tunately broke his racket in the fifth game when be
was apparently winning it in a canter. The sixth
game had begun when the adjournment took place;
Gray had got six aces to five for Foulkes. Ihe
betting was then $5OO to $4OO on the latter, and
these odds were taken freely. When the companY
came together on Tuesday afternoon an impression
prevailed that Gray would win, and even money
was offered. It was Foulkes' first hand, and he
scored two aces and was then out. Gray was out
without scoring, and Foulkes ditto. Gray did not
score in the next hand, nor did Foulkes. Gray
missed again and Foulkes scored one. At his
seventh hand Gray made two aces ; he then missed
twice, and then made six aces, thus winning the
game, 15 aces to 8.

" Gray 'vas now the favourite, and there was a
great deal of excitement among the company. He
seemed to have made up his mind to settle it out
of hand, and, going on with extraordinary
vigour, and playing with a judgment, activity, and
precision that was greatly admiredlie made seven
aces before he was put out. The skill and activity
he displayed seemed to have a rather depressing
effect on his antagonist. He was soon out for a
blank, and Gray's hand was in. He did not score,
but in Foulkes' next hand succeeded in putting him
out with a blank score. In his next hand Gray
gained two aces, and the scores stood nine to love.
Foulkes' hand was out without scoring, and Gray
ditto. Foulkes was once more put out without
troubling the marker. Gray then got his hand in
and scored six aces in splendid style, thus winning
the seventh game and match. The score in this
seventh game was—Gray 15, Foulkes 0.
" As Gray has won the American part of the
match, and also scored 25 aces more than Foulkes,
it is almost certain that the former will win the
money. In order to beat him, Foulkes not only has
to get the best of the seven games to be played il3
Ireland, but also to score 26 aces more than be in
the course of these games. If Foulkes were to win
four games out of the seven in Ireland, and get in
the course of playing them 25 aces more than Gray,
it would be a tie, and another series of seven games
would have to be played. But this looks to us very
unlikely, while, according to the articles, Foulkes
may get the. majority of the Irish games, and
make twenty-four more aces than Gray, and he
will still be a loser. The articles stipulate that
if the games in one court shall tie those in
the other, then the player who has made the
most aces in the aggregate shall be the winner. 111
this point of view, that last game in which Gray
got 15 aces to none for Foulkes was doubly damag"
ing to the chance of the latter. It not only de-
cided the American game against Foulkes, but also
added 15 more to the balance of 10 aces already
existing against him. Two to one is offered on Gray,
and no takers.

"After the match a purse of $2OO was made or,
and for this Gray and Foulkes played the best of
three games. Both played well, and the contest
was interesting. The first game was 13 all, and
they set to 5. This Gray won, sto 2. The second
game was won by Foulkes, 15 to 11. The third
game, which carried the money, was won by Gray,
15 to 12.
" A match was made between Foulkes and Wil-
liam Devoy on the one side, and William Gray Oct
his brother Joseph on the other, to be played on
Saturday. At the time appointed, however, there
was a rainy, cloudy sky, which darkened the court
so much that the playing of this match was post-
poned until Tuesday. It is one full of interest to
racket-players. Foulkes and Devoy are the strongest
players in America, while William Gray is pro-
bably the best player in the world, and his brother.
Joseph, for a youth of only 16 years, is a pheno
menon.