The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-24 00:00:00

A HUNT AT COMPIEGNE.

On the 17th November there was a hunt in the
forest If Compiegne. The meet was at Puits- du-
Roi, one of the finest and largest of the crossways
in the forest. To those who had arrived there about
one o'clock a fine sight was presented. On one side
was the pack, consisting of 64 great white hounds,
spotted with black and tan, drawn up in battle
array, in charge of servants attired in glittering
liveries. In the centre were the hunters wearing the
uniform of the imperial hunt, or the scarlet coats in
which Englishmen delight, and in one of the great
avenues were char-à-bancs and court carriages driven
up at a gallop to their places. A confusion of
toilets, of costumes, and of colours made up a pic-
ture full of animation, enclosed as it was by the
lofty forest. The trees, already nearly leafless, ap-
peared to let fall with regret those leaves of purple
and gold with which autumn had tricked them. The
uniform of the imperial hunt consists of a green coat
with silver buttons, and a collar of scarlet velvet.
The facings and seams are covered with gold and
silver lace, forming a sort of scutcheon on the figure
—a scarlet vest, with similar trimmed breeches of
white doeskin ; heavy boots rising above the knee—
a Louis XV. hat, called a lampion, likewise trimmed
with gold and silver lace. The Emperor, the Em-
press, and the Prince Imperial only wear in the hat
a long white plume. When permission to wear this
costume is given the chief huntsman sends with the
certificate the buttons, stamped with the imperial
crown, which are to be worn on the coat. Hence
the expression " to receive the button," and the
abbreviation "a button," signifying one who has the
right to wear this dress and to take part in the hunt.
Besides the privilege of being invited, by right, to
hunt, the button also confers that of dining with
the Emperor on almost every occasion of a
hunt. In fact, it is very rarely that the chief
huntsman, after receiving his Majesty's commands,
does not inform all the " buttons" that they are
invited to dine at the palace. The master of
the horse and the mounted piqueurs are distin-
guished from the huntsmen by wearing breeches of
scarlet cloth with seams of gold and silver lace. In-
stead of the lampion, they wear a large cocked hat
like that of a gendarme, but trimmed with gold
and silver. The whippers-in wear the same dress as
the piqueurs, except the great boots, which would
hinder them from running. They wear shoes with
buckles, and long white stockings tied below the
knee. It is wonderful to see them following the pack
in full cry and to hear them shouting to encourage
the dogs. Nothing stops them. They run under
woods, across briars, ditches, and brambles, and are
almost always among the first in at the death. No
one wears a decoration on the dress of the hunt.
The Emperor only when he rides has the badge of
the Legion of Honour on his hunting coat. Any one
may follow the hunt if he be well mounted and can
ride well enough. The Prince Imperial was to-day
first at the meet. His imperial highness rode a small
cream-coloured Arab horse, and wore the full dress
of the hunt, as well as M. Bachou, his esquire, and
the son of Dr. Conneau, who were at his side. The
young prince rode round the open space, handling
his horse with an ease and grace which the beholders
could not fail to admire. A few minutes later the
Emperor and Empress arrived in char4c-bancs. The
Emperor wore the simple dress of a private gentle-
man. The Empress wore a turban and mantle of
maroon velvet. Apropos of the toilet of her Majesty;
it has been remarked that up to the present time she
has only worn of an evening dresses made or embroi-
dered at Lyons. The Emperor left his carriage and
walked round the company shaking hands and speak-
ing with several persons; then the Prince of Mos-
kowa's grand huntsman having received his Ma-
jesty's commands gave directions to the huntsmen,
and started to beat the nearest cover. The dogs
started a stag which was seen to leap into au avenue
close by followed by a dozen dogs. For some time it
seemed likely that there would be but poor sport, as
he kept dodging into cover near Puit-du-B,oi ; but
at length he broke, and darting at the top of his
speed towards the pond of Sainte Perrine, was fol-
lowed by the hunters, to whom he afforded au ex-
cellent day's amusement.

AQUATICS.

THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY