The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-02
INTERESTING LETTER FROM FRANCE.

ErAMpEs, NEAR PARIS FRANCE, June 7.
EDS. TURF, FIELD AND EARM.-One
hour or thirty-fve miles "by rail, "
took us from Arcachon to Bordeaux,
through the peculiar country called
"The Landes,'' already described. A
consequence of the bright thought
which planted this arid and changing
waste with the sanitary and product
i've pine, is not only the improved at
mosphere, hut the quantities of timber
and turpentine, equal to any business
of our own country in that way.
Nothing can exceed the beauty of
the railway stations in this part of
France; and just here, where every
foot of soil is artificial, they are of spe-
cial extent and luxuriance. Such a
protusion and variety of flowers and
shrubs 1 have rarely seen, and such
costly and tasteful culture at railway
stations is no where else to be found
not even in England.
At Bordeaux we saw "the finest
bridge in Europe not unlike that
London bridge (now so pertect) OH
whose last arch Lord Macaulay's high
ly civilized New Zealander is to sketch
the ruins of St. Paul's. Bordeaux has
fine and extensive quays, but nothing
like the English or even our docks.-
The shipping lies in the stream (the
Garonne,) where many load and un-
load. The ships are moored together
two and two, and it was no slight en-
ioyment to us to see these heavy mass
es at every change Of tide turn COM
pletely around, under a power so gen.
tie, but so unresistible. The extreme
cleanliness of this city, its fine build
ings, its broad streets and extensive
squares, and thickly planted grounds
and gardens, give it anything but
the air of commercial city. 1 must
here mention the pleasure had in find
ing our Consul refined gentleman, of
high intellectual culture, sustaining
well both the interests and the dignity
of our country and such representa-
tives the country should always have,
but with the paltry pay, $4,000, it must
be an accident that can command such
talent here
At Bordeaux, and all along the route
as as far as Orleans, we fell in with
fairs, extensive cattle shows and the
provincial races. Nothing so amazed
me as the numberless bulls [ saw-so
fat as to be scarcely able to walk
They looked like fatted beeves. The
best cattle were of the short-horned
Durham breed, but scarcely equal to
those had seen at our own cattle
shows-Thorn's in, in New York, or
Alexander's, in Kentucky. The native
cattle are mostly of dun color, some
Of them large and fine. There has been
decided improvement, of late years,
in the breed of horses generally
throughout France; and these seem to
resemble English horses and this
extends to carriages, harness, liv-
cries, and everything connected with
the horse. An English retired cavalry
officer told nae, few day since, he must
allow that the equipages in Paris now
quite outshine those of England. In
that respect Hyde Park does not retain
It's former splendor, and does not seem
inclined to contest the point with the
Bois de Boulogne. By the way your
correspondents, doubtless, have furnish
ed you with the details of the late great
turf events" in England and France.
will only remark that the history OF
the two preceding years has been re-
vNersed, by the defeats, in the Derby,
the Oaks, and some other valuable
stakes, of the favorites those, too,
That had triumphantly won "The Gui-
heas'' at Newmarket both for it's colts
and fillies; and now Patricien, the
winner of the French Derby at Chantil-
~, is also defeated.
"A friend of mine, living in Paris,
writes me relative to the recent d" big
event" at Lonchamps-he is an exten-
S;n'egIy travelled man, having been much
nj hhgland-that he had "never wit
Jesse" a,essed more brilliant scene and as
Ips9ioiage' pnia of Emperors, Kings, Queens,
oon lonees and titles of less degree. 500
Nv people are estimated to have been
'le ground, and he adds be " never