298 STAG-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 



Haras system was deniolislied almost as ruthlessly as in 

 1790, horse-breeding had a good deal to put up with. 

 According to the Bocher Eeport, it suffered many things from 

 incessant changes of Government, from the freaks of depart- 

 mental administration, and from the absence of any con- 

 tinuity of policy. At one time its affairs were committed to 

 the Beaux- Arts, at another to the Minister of ' Marine.' 



In 1874 there was another reconstruction based upon the 

 Report of the Bocher Commission ; and the troop-horse at 

 Chalons or Saumur to-day is the best test which can be 

 applied to the soundness of the conclusions then affirmed, 

 and given effect to by the ' Loi des Haras ' of 1874. He stands 

 it well. It might not do to ask what he now costs or has 

 cost the country to bring to good effect since Louis XIII. 

 instituted a State Haras. But there he is, ' Per varios casus 

 et tot certainina rerum,' a very different animal to the 

 ' Cheval Normand ' of Lord Malmesbury's good story. ^ At 

 the same time, I should not say that any of the cavalry 

 horses I saw out hunting were quite up to the best mark of 

 picked troop-horses from the ranks of a crack light cavalry 

 regiment. The conditions of modern warfare have taught 



' ' In 1829, he [Louis Napoleon] used to have several old officers of his 

 uncle, the emperor, about him — men who seemed to me to be ready for any- 

 thing. I recollect one, an old cavalry officer, who had seen the whole Penin- 

 sular war, relating the following anecdote. One day he was reconnoitring with 

 three or four troopers when they came suddenly upon a young English officer, 

 mounted on a superb thoroughbred horse and similarly occupied. Summoned 

 by the colonel to surrender he quietly cantered away, laughing in the French- 

 man's face. The dragoon jDursued at full gallop of his heavy steed, and when 

 the Englishman had allowed him to get quite close he kissed his hand, and leav- 

 ing him behind, shouted, pointing to his horse, " Cheval Normand, monsieur." 

 Again the Frenchman pursued, threatening to shoot his enemy if he did not 

 surrender, and pointed his pistol at him, but the weapon missed fire. With a 

 roar of laughter, the young officer shouted again, " Fabrique de Versailles, 

 monsieur," and giving the thoroughbred his head, was seen no more. It was 

 most amusing to hear the old colonel tell this stcry and describe his rage, add- 

 ing, however, that he had always felt glad that he had not shot " ce brave 

 farceur." ' 



