10 TKANSLATOU S PREFACE. 



exercises that would have had thousands of spectators. 

 The mournful event that deprived France of the prince 

 royal did not allow of this performance having the eclat 

 that was intended. Nevertheless, M. the Duke de 

 Nemours, wishing to judge for himself of the results, has 

 had part of these exercises performed in his presence." 



The death of the Duke of Orleans, and the indifference 

 and afterwards opposition of the Duke de Nemours, 

 were the principal causes of the system of M. Baucher not 

 being adopted for the whole cavalry of the French army. 

 The former was an ardent admirer of the system, while 

 the latter was an equally ardent admirer of a rival pro- 

 fessor of horsemanship. 



Extract from a letter of M. de Gouy, Colonel of the 

 First Hussars, to M. Baucher : . 



" So far from the muscular power being lessened by 

 the repetition of the flexions, is it not increased by hav- 

 ing all the advantage of exercise over repose, of work 

 over indolence ? Does not the muscular system, in rea- 

 son, develop itself, physiologically speaking, in propor- 

 tion to these conditions ? Will not address and vigor be 

 the result of these gymnastics ? Has the habitual dif- 

 ference between the forces of the right and left arm any 

 other cause than the difference in the daily use of the 

 one to the prejudice of the other ?" 



Baucher says : " To prove the complete success of my 

 mission to Saumur, I will back, according to my custom, 

 my assertions by positive facts. The ofiicers present at 

 my course of instruction were of the number of seventy- 

 two ; of this number sixty-nine have sent in reports 

 favorable to my method. There were but three dissent- 

 ing voices y 



This statement is followed by letters from General Pro- 

 vost, De Novital, etc., all highly commending the system. 



