clarets of all shades, particularly very dark, olives of all shades, fiery brown, deep orange, cinnamon colour, with mallard wing tied large, are the flies best suited for these waters, but as a general rule we should advise the angler to consult some experienced fisherman well acquainted with the locality in which he finds himself, who will recommend a fly according to the state of the weather, and the water. The principal rivers in the county of Clonmel are the Suir and the Annar, which are both well supplied with trout, and salmon is to be met with in the Suir. The Nire sweeps along the waters from the valleys which separate the mountains south from Clonmel to the Suir, which it meets four miles below Ardfinnan, and trout, though not of a very large size, will furnish excellent sport to the followers of Old Izaak. Here the wren is a favourite fly, but black and red hackels, in all their varieties, will be found very useful. The Blackwater river near Kenmare in Kerry affords excellent sport to the angler, especially in the spring. During summer, except after heavy rains, the fisherman will meet with little or no sport. Pass we on to Lake Inchiquen, about ten miles from Ennis, where there are red and white trouts, and pike also of large size. Flies of the medium size, with red or brown fur bodies, light gold twist, and wings either of partridge and land-rail mixed, or else mallard with a few feathers of the peacock's breast. There is also a very favourite dropper fly, called the rush fly, which has a reddish brown body, with wings of a small land-rail's feather, not stripped off the quill. Although the beauty and grandeur of the Lakes of Killarney remain to the tourist, the attraction for the angler has long ceased. Departing hence, let us now transport our views northward towards Connaught, glancing only at Lough's Corrib and Mask, the former famed for its salmon and trout, and the latter for its perch and chub. At Ballyshannon the salmon fishing is excellent, the Erne flows out of the lough of the same name, and contains some of the largest salmon to be found in Ireland. The Nore, which flows through the county of Kilkenny, would be one of the very best rivers for salmon and trout, were not the weirs so numerous, and did not unlicensed fishermen who frequent its banks use both nets and cross-lines for the destruction of the fish. At Mount Juliet, the seat of Earl of Carrick, Norelands, and Woodstock, the river is partially preserved, and fly-fishing may there be had to perfection. There are other rivers and loughs abounding in fish, but unfortunately in the Emerald Isle river-poaching is carried on to a great extent, many families making their living entirely by this illegal practise. A REMINISCENCE OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE "LONGCHAMPS For more than two months in the summer 1854, competing almost in speculative interest with the news from the Seat of War in the East, to the Parisian Sporting world more especially, the approaching inauguration of the new race-course "de Longchamps," since more generally known as that of Neuilly, had been a constant topic of discussion. The plan of the course had been submitted to the Emperor, who had approved of it, and it was now so near completion, than an early date of the month in which we then were (September) was spoken of as the opening day of the "New Hippodrome of the city of Paris"-a race-course which we had heard averred by many enthusiastic Parisians would surpass not only that of Chantilly but those even of Newmarket and Epsom in England. This new enterprise had, I was informed, resulted from the association of several sharp-sighted individuals, under the style and title of "Societé des Sports de Longchamps," to whose appetite for speculation the obviously increasing taste, or rather passion, of the Parisian public for the sensationallyscenic episodes incidental to steeple-chases, was guarantee sufficient for a profitable dividend, more especially as such an institution would present, so to say, at the very doors of that numerous class of the Parisian world who readily pay for easily-accessible pleasures, yet upon rare occasions only, and few in number venture so far as the distant La Marche, or even to aristocratic Chantilly, to gratify their curiosity by way of holiday with the spectacle of their "grandes luttes hippiques. Although having business which called me to Brussels and Liege, yet, being very desirous to see the first races run upon this much-talked of hippodrome, I yielded to the pressing solicitation of my trusty Parisian Achates to defer my departure for Belgium, and remain his guest for another ten days. Meanwhile, in order to satisfy ourselves beforehand as to the truthfulness or exaggeration of the superior topographical features or terrain of the locality selected for the future arena of the hippic festivals of the French capital, we rode over one fine morning to Neuilly, as most convenient and approximate centrepoint whence to inspect and form a correct estimate of the chief characteristics of the new ground. This, in a few words, we found, as, by current public report, situated in the extensive and picturesquely-bounded plain which stretches between the Bois de Boulogne, the River Seine, the Abbey de Longchamps, and the village of St. Jacques. The 17th of the month was at length definitively fixed on for the opening day of the new enterprise, and was to be preceded on the 14th by a banquet to be given upon the race-course itself, as indicated in the address of invitation to the Parisian press by M. de Toqueville, who had the repute of being one of the greatest amateurs of the sports of the turf in France. Notwithstanding this persuasive form of argument, for reasons the detail of which I do not now clearly recollect, having failed to note them at the time with the other circumstances in my diary, the greater part of the Parisian press failed to enter an appearance. Nevertheless, as subsequently reported by those journals whose rédacteurs were influenced by more generous motives, the company which assembled on the occasion of this inaugurative banquet was both numerous and select, composed for the most part of the most influential members of the French Jockey Club and sporting world then in Paris, as also from the provinces and many other places. The tables were covered and re-supplied with viands of the most recherché culinary skill, by one of the first Parisian restaurateurs. The wines were both abundant and varied: champagne of the best brands sparkled on every hand during the courses; appropriate toasts were given, and speeches made of the most spirited and appropriate purport. Though the health of the press was proposed, it was drunk almost in silence, and in striking contrast thereto the toast given by the Curate of Neuilly, "To the prosperity of the enterprise in which young men would find in manly exercises distractions at once healthy and exhilarating both to body and mind," was received with enthusiasm. Another toast was responded to with a fervour that was universally contagious; it was as follows: "To our brave soldiers and those of our allies of the army of the East who are now emulating so nobly in the race of glory." This fête, which commenced shortly after the hour of noon, under the bright rays of a September sun, was scarcely terminated when the shades of evening began to descend upon the throng of equestrians and vehicles on their return to Paris from the convivial scene. Sunday, the 17th, the day which had been fixed upon for the opening of the flat races and grand steeple-chase, which were to inaugurate the turf of Neuilly in the presence of the Parisian public, was far from favoured by the same delightful weather as the day of the banquet. From the early morn, as though the first precursor of the storms of autumn, the rain had fallen in torrents and flooded the roads, giving a wintry aspect to all around. But this was by no means a damper to the hippic monomania with which not only the Parisian public, but the French nation throughout, had now become so thoroughly imbued as to awaken a cordial feeling of gratulation in every native of the land whose national sport they had appropriated, and naturalized among them with a geniality of spirit, and heartiness of abandon so worthy of admiration. Personally, more than many Englishmen then perhaps present, such were my reflections; for so far back as from shortly after the restoration of the Bourbons, I had had at several subsequent intervals of time, opportunity of observing the progress of this wonderful change in the general character, tastes, and amusements of the French people, resulting from the long more friendly relations of the two countries, and which, shortly after 1830 assuming the form of a social fact of international good omen, had now, in 1854, become fully accomplished, under favour of the countenance and example of a ruler of sincerer personal predilections and sentiments of amity to England, and the English; as also, wiser in his conception of the true national interests and prosperity of France, than any of his predecessors. Returning to our theme, i. e., the very unpropitious circumstances of the weather upon this opening day of the Longchamps race-course. Despite the threatening clouds that still gathered in the horizon, the rain had ceased towards noon, and the weather clearing up gave promise of a brighter and more pleasurable day than the morning had portended. Therewith, also, the hope of a more numerous attendance of the grand-monde by the hour of 3 p.m., designated for the commencement of the races, was rekindled; and by one o'clock the gathering of the Parisian petite bourgeoisie, and the popular element had become great. The financial prospects of the enterprise, as regarded the occupation of the "Tribunes" by the paying-general public, grew brighter also; and though their then affirmed capacity to accommodate near ten thousand persons did not seem likely to be tested, albeit that Sunday race-meetings were more popular with the middle and artizan classes than those of business days, they became tolerably well furnished with occupants. On each side of the course numerous handsome equipages moved about previous to taking up their standing-place, and the increasing affluence of gay groups of the gants jaunes and élégants of the elite of Parisian society, whose seat and handling of their high bred mounts attested to their thorough initiation in the science of the haute école of the manége gave increasing animation to the scene; while stretching away on either side of the entire circuit of the race-course, which then measured over three kilometres, the crowd of eager sight-seers and curious from all the adjacent localities formed an unbroken and continuous border of varying density. At 3 o'clock the flat races commenced for a Prix de 2,500 francs, distance 2,100 metres, one heat, for entire horses and mares, thoroughbred, three-years-old and upwards, bred in France. Seven were entered, and all came to the post. After two false starts, a colt belonging to M. Faquel (the name of which stands blank in my diary), went away with the lead, but Gagne-Petit, a 3 year old colt of Count d'Hédonville soon headed him, and made the running for some time. The other horses lay pretty close up, and so well together that nothing decisive could be foreshadowed, when suddenly, Golconde, a filly owned by M. Boldrick, and ridden by Boldrick junior, came through her horses and won by a length; 400 francs of the entrées went to GagnePetit, second. This first race was no sooner over than it again began to rain; small, thick, and drizzling at first, yet penetrating after the manner which cockney wit has ascribed and most erroneously restricted to the mists of Scotland as a pluvial specialty. This soon turned into a torrent-like down pour, the equatorial style of which soon made it very apparent that it was as equally distributed, and of a nature to test the impassibility of most of the horsemen, no less than to make the possession of an umbrella, whether red, blue, or green, by no means regretable to outside spectators. Happily this tropical shower-bath was not of long duration, and a new life seemed now to reanimate the once more expectant yet ere-while depressed spirits of the multitude. The "Grand Steeple-chase," that later importation of our hippic sports, which for some time past, despite the already experienced disasters which here as with ourselves had signalised not a few of them, A A had been growing so much in favour among the Talons and Perregaux "gentlemen riders" of France, and the public generally, was in fact, now to come off. Though personally averse to steeple races, from a long-confirmed opinion that they are not only senseless exhibitions of human foolhardiness, and of reckless cruelty to the animals who minister so faithfully to every reasonable demand upon their power to serve our pleasures, or our needs, I was very desirous to see the performance of a horse belonging to M. de la Motte, which, with his jockey, I had heard much spoken of as having mutually acquired a celebrity as a steeplechase horse, and rider, unequalled at that time in France. I need scarcely say, those two celebrities were Franc-Picard and his jockey Henri Lampleugh, both, but now recently, deceased. The so ardently expected" Grand Steeple-chase" was for 5,000 fr., given by the "Société des Sports de Longchamps," for horses of all ages, kind, and country. Entrée 250 fr., half forfeit; the second, to receive 600 fr. out of the entrées. Weight 65 kilos. Every winner of a steeple-chase of a value of 2,000 fr. (inclusive of entrées), to carry an extra weight of 2 kilos.; of 4,000 fr., 4 kilos.; of 6,000 fr., 6 kilos.; of 8,000 fr., 8 kilos.; of 10,000 fr. and upward, 10 kilos. Gentlemen riders allowed a reduction of weight of 3 kilos. Every horse having run twice in a steeple-chase without at any time winning, would be allowed 4 kilos. Distance: 4,800 mètres (about 3 miles English), and about 25 obstacles. Franc-Picard, h. b., aged, by Royal Oak or Nautilus, out of Niobé: 75 kilos. à Hercules, h. al., aged, by Retriever; 63 kilos., à M. James Kelly Sir Philip, ch. bb., 6 yrs., by Lanercost, out of Miss Martin; 65 kolos. à M. C. 1 2 3 fell. The dispositions made throughout the three-mile course, in regard of fences, &c., &c., though neither presenting the customary exaggerations or improbabilities of the hunting field, furnished nevertheless, some of them, no lack of sensational incident. After starting, all the first obstacles were well cleared, and until they arrived at the riverjump, things looked both interesting and business-like. There, however, Sir Philip, ridden by M. de Veave, made a regular plunge into it; and Franc-Picard, who was following closed, rolled over him, but quickly got upon his legs again by his cool-headed, but intrepid jockey, who threw himself into the saddle like an equestrian of the cirque; and the noble animal started in pursuit of his competitors. Although it still continued to rain, Franc-Picard, who put on a top-speed, and managed to spin lightly over the now slough-like quaggy clay of the course, was not long before he regained the distance lost by the ill-timed interposition of Sir Philip's fiasco right in his line of flight at the river jump. Rejoining the group, he soon passed them, and clearing the last obstacles in his wonted style, won in a canter, amid the vociferous acclamations of the delighted multitude. Hercules and Bedford followed, the latter limping home, having severely cut the tendon of the off fore-leg. Sir Philip came in last. Franc-Picard on being led back to his stables, received another ovation of triumphant bravos! from the applauding croud. |