244 
Report upon the Sp'ing Show of 
decree of January 29, 1790. The second Ceesar had doubtless 
experienced considerable difficulties in horsing his numerous 
armies, and it has always been asserted that his cavalry was 
the weakest arm in his service. It was in accord vsdth such 
circumstances, therefore, that he should devote some attention 
during his earliest leisure to the encouragement of horse-breed- 
ing, if only to meet his own supplies for the mighty projects he 
had in view. The decrees which he signed in 1805 restored the 
public studs, and the following year regulations were drawn up 
to provide for six Haras and thirty depots for stallions. Two 
millions of francs were devoted to the purpose, and it was 
decided to give premiums to the best jiroduce bred by farmers 
under certain conditions, one being that a colt so primed could 
not be castrated without the consent of the inspector-general of 
the district. 
There had been no racing in France at this time of any note ; 
the sport, such as it was, being mostly in the form of matches, 
and competitions of a very mixed order. Consequently the 
stock of horses the first Napoleon deemed it wise to improve 
were the native breeds of the country, and a few importations. 
Hostilities with this country debarred him, of course, from the 
best source, and it is difiicult to form any idea of the material 
upon which it was proposed to build up a very great institution. 
A ten years' residence in France during the last Empire gave 
me the opportunity of watching very closely much of the good 
work done by the Imperial Haras. I must confess to impressions 
strongly based upon the splendid organisation of the system, and 
the great results derived from it, for, allowing that the first 
Napoleon put the plan into motion, he wrecked it again before 
its foundation was secure, since what could have been th© 
position of France in regard to a supply of horses at the time 
the allied armies occupied Paris ? In fact, no country could have 
been in a poorer condition, and for many years afterwards there 
was scarcely a good horse in the country. In 1825 it was very 
difficult to travel in France owing to the scarcity of horses suffi- 
ciently good to do the most moderate amount of roadwork, and 
the army had to be supplied from outside sources entirely. It 
was computed that 25,000 horses were imported annually at that 
time, mostly for the army, and that the exports were 3,000 only, 
confined entirely to the heavy breeds. This was what Louis 
Philippe essayed to alter, and during his reign the State stud 
was replenished by the first consignments of English thorough- 
bred stallions, and the turf was taken up under the fostering 
care of "La Sociote d'Encouragement pour I'Am^lioration des 
Races des Chevaux." 
The changes of Government in no way altered the Hara^ 
