The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-16 00:00:00

SVAG HUNT AT FONTAINEBLEAU.

The following particu'ars of the sta,q-hunt at Fon •
tain,..l)leau are taken from Ga/ignniti's Messenger:
" The grand st:ig-hunt, which ina,itgurated the
rrsidence of the °curt at this Imperial Palace, was
of the most interestmg desetiption. The weather
-was delightful, and the appearance of the forest
most picturesque, with irs light green covering just
assuming the strength and beauty of summer foli-
age. The sun was not too bright, and a gentle
breeze fanned the air ; in fact, a mere propitious
day could not be wished for. The place of rendez-
vous was the Carrefour de la Croix de St. Herein,
situated on the road from Fontainebleau to Ne-

mours At 11 o'clock a number of carriages of all
kinds arrived from every quirter, and took up their
station at each side of the road near the Carrefour.
Admirably mounted horsemen came in every-
instant, apparently the cavaliers of the fashion-
ably-dressed ladies in the carriages. This con-
stant series of arrivals constituted a scene of the
grea.est animation, and the excitement was in-
creased when, at a little after 12, were seen
advancing a number of hounds conducted in leash
by three of the Imperial grooms on foot, accompa-
nied by two mounted huntsmen. These men were
all dressed in the Emperor's hunting livery—green
coat trimmed with silver lace, red unmentionables,
and laced bat. The huntsmen hai each his horn
suspended from the shoulder, and the hunting-
hanger was suspended on the left side. At a quar-
ter-past one the Imperial party made their appear-
ance from the Palace, which they left by the Cour
de Cheval Blanc. The cortege was composed of
several chars-a-bane and open Carriages. In the
first char-d-baitc were the Emperor and the Em-
pr,,ss, occupying the front seat, with the Grand
Duke Constantine and the Prince of Nassau behind,
their Majesties and the Princes being in the Count
hunting costume, consisting of a green coat with
gold lace, the waistcoat red, thd lower part of the.
dress being white, with high hunting boots. The
hat Louis XV., a hanger, and a . whip completed
the costume. As soon as their Majesties ar-
rived at the Carrefour de St. Herem they and
their wore immediate party got on horsehack,
grooms having brought horses to the spot a few
minutes before. A considerable number of the
guests followed the example of their Majesties,
horses being provided for all ; and as the Empress
thought fit to follow the chase on horseback, of
course it was the fashion for the ladies to follow

the example, and accordingly, a considerable num-
ber of them appeared on horseback, and all in uni-
form. The ladies' costume was exactly of the same

character as that of the gentlemen, the habit being
green with crin son waistcoat, hat and feather, and
gild lace. The Empress's horse was a most beauti-
ful animal, remarkable for spirit, but her Majesty
sat him fearlessly, and proved herself a most ac-
complished horsewoman. When all the guests had
got on horseback, every one in the costume pre-
scribed by etiquette, the sight was an exceedingly
striking one : and tue eager haying of the hounds,
the impat'ence of the horses, the animation of the
riders, and noble forest for the back scene, were
in themselves worth coming twenty le igues to
see. But no great time was afforded for admir-
ing the scene, as the Emperor at once gave
the signal, and the chase commenced. The
Imperial party took what is known by the
name of the Route Ronde, and almost immediately
the stag was roused at no great distance from the
trystiug place. The Emperor, Empress, Grand
Duke and Prince de Nassau were in the first line,
etiquette as well Ai politeness interdicting their
being headed at the commencement of the hunt;
afterwards when the incidents might become more
multiplied, why alors comme alors. Near the Em-
peror's partyrode Marshel Magnan, the grand hunts-
man, on an immensely powerful horse, which
seemed quite up to his great weight on the turf,
though it might be a very different thing were the
gallant marstial in Leicestershire. Gen. Nay, first
huntsman, was also in close attendance on their
Moje-tes. Behind came the other persons onhorse-
hack, and last of all a number of chars-a-bane con-
taining such members of the Imperial party as loved
bette rto trust their limbs to steel springs and strong
wheels than to the wild curvettings of tome unruly
steed. At first only the privileged persons were al-
low ed to pass atone. the wide alleys of the fo res t in the
immediate neighbourhood of the place of rendez-
vous ; but, afterwards, when the hunt stretched
out iu the distance, all attempts at hindrance were
useless, and when at last all advanced some few
were fortunate to hit on a side path, bringing them
near that the stag had taken. It was thought that
the staff would make at once for the Mare aux
Bceufs, arid then stand at bay ; and accordingly we
all made for that point. But we learned that the
animal had gone straight forward in the direction
of the Carrefour of the Croix de Souvray. There
we met with another disappointment, for one of
the piqdlars inform: d us that the stag had made a
detour, and doubled back towards the spot from
which it started. It was then about 3 o'clock. The
stag, on approaching its lair, finding itself rather
closely pressed by the dogs, again made for the fc-
rest at greater speed than previously, and put both
hones and riders on their mettle. At last the whole
hunt became more or less dispersed, but as the ani-
mal had returned to its starting-place the greater
number of the riders by degrees arrived at the Car-
refour St. Herem, and at 4 o'clock the Emperor
and his parrymade their appearance in the distance.
PreQently they drew nearer, and while the Empress
the Grand Duke, and the Prince of Nassau con-
tinued the chase in the direction of the Croix du
Grand Maitre, his Majesty came and gave an ac-
count to the per,ons assembled of what had taken
place. The run, it seemed, had been a splendid
orie, and the stag was then to all appearance fresher
and stronger than at starting, and no one could say
when the animal would be 'forced,' as the phrase
is, or if that most desirable event would take place
at all. But to the heated crowd cf fashionables
around, the stag was not at that moment of so
much importance as a drink of wine- and water.
The day had become exceedingly warm, and the
exertion rendered any potable refreshment most
desirable. Foitunately a fourgon was near, *lndira
a moment every one was attacking the contents of a
hamper filled with wine, and anothercontaining beer.
Again and again they drank, and to their parchedlips
the glass of weak wine and water seemed like nectar.
At last the party turned their horses' heads towards
the Palace, while the Emperor, accompanied by
Marshal Magnan, galloped off towards the Gorge
aux Loups in the hope of falling in with the chase.
The stag and dogs had, however, long dashqd be-
yond that spot, and it was useless to think of going
further on mete chance. So the Emperor returned
to the Palace, where the Empress and her party
had already arrived, at about 5 o'clock. At the
moment that I write no one can say teat .the stag
has net been forced, but if so, the curee, or break-
ing-up of the animal, will take place to-night in the
court of the Palace."

MR. RUSSELL'S NARRATIVE OF THE

IVA R .

On Thursday evening Mr. W. H. Russell delivered
the second portion of his personal narrative of the Rus-
sian war at Willis's Rooms, King-street, St. James's.
The appearance of Mr. Russel; upon the platform was
the signal for loud applause. He took up the narrative
at the point at which he concluded his last lecture—the
victory of the Alma—remarking that it would be for the
future historian to say whether it was the fault of the
French or the English, or of both, that one of the greatest
efforts of valour, and one of the noblest battles ever won,
bad no consecutiveness and no result ; for instead of im-
m•-diatelv seizing upon Sebastopol they remained through
a long seiga and a weary winter, feeling that the battle
of the Alma had been all but fought in vain. The
lecturer went on to describe the tediousness of the. flank •
march to Balaklava, referring to symptoms of indispo-
sition he had felt after crossing the river Katscha,
which caused him to fall from his pony, the only as-
sistance he received from Dr. A. lexa der, who saw the
plight he was in, being the advice to "take care of him-
self. The sadness and melancholy of that march were
dwelt upon with much force by the lecturer—how some
hurried on by the wild impetus of war were obliged to
leave a sickened comrade in some forest glade, with
no prospect of seeing him again, and how sad it was
to see the wounded lying by the wayside, imploring aid,
wnhitchhenorneeardawraeshtahlte
ill
t()
agriavued,
iintb cos
causesatckheyad
knnetwllatthbayt
i
doing so they would lose all chance
of partaking in the
coming glory. Baialtlava having been reached, it was
then found that the delay which had taken place had
given courage and vigour to the arms of the enemy.
The difficulty of landing our siege train at Balaclava
was referred to, and the insignificance of our artillery
and cavalry forces pointed out. It was so miserably
• eficient that iawould bea standing reproach to ourgene-
rals and officers of all the superior grades, that they had
the audacity to take Sebastopol with 73 pieces of artillery.
Mr. Russell then went on to describe the work of the
trenches before Sebastopol—the unsuccessful result of the
first bombardment, remarkingin somewhatpointed terms,
upon the superiority of the Enclish over the French
army. The capture of the Turkish redoubts and the re-
treat of the Turks Wai then adverted to ; and the sudden
wheeling of cur heavy cavalry to meet the advancing
enemy—the encounter and defeat of the immense army
by a torce sot one third of its tits ength—was vividly de-
picted. The scene at Inkerman—being the concluding
pertion of the lecture—was dwelt upon with some em-
phasis ; the charge of Lord Cardigan and his cavalry
band being descried in the most graphic terms. It had
been said, by the French, that that charge was not war;
but it was war—war in its noblest form ; which calls
upt,n a man to disregard life and to sacrifice all that he
helcls dear, except his honour and his country; and so
long as history has got a page in its volume, whatever'
•
may have been the errors of the commanders or the re-
criminations of the chiefs, the courage of the English
1 soldiers who rode into that cavern of death would always
be held sacred in the heart of every Englishman.
Mr. Russell was listened to throughout the delivery of
his lecture, which occupied two hours and a half, with
attention and interest, and at its conclusion was loudly
applauded.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

'IOUS EOF Lor.DS (YrarzD2-;-.)
The Lord CIIANCr.LLuit took lais beat WI Lilo woolsack
at 5 o'cl.ck.
Lord DUNGANNON gave notice that en Monday
he should put a question to her NLjesty's Government
as to what arrangements had been made for steam nom-
luunication between Holyhead and Kingston. If any
had been made he would liketo know the period at which
they would be carried into effnt. He also gave notice
that on Friday next be would move for a copy of the
correspondence that had take, place between the Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland and the Doolin Prot,?mtant Asso-
ciation. The noble 1)r1 al-o pre,ented a pt,nt;on from
Armagh against any furttler grant to the Coil..ge of
May n
_ _

Lord COLVILLE presented a petition from the civil
servants of the Crown employed at Chatham, prayiog
for an alteration in the system of allowances from the
superannuation fund.