The Express.
London, England, 1855-05-29 00:00:00

THE CAMPS AT BOULOGNE.

topol ; but although fully ecofident I could give
opiates even stronger than Lord Ellsnborough did
in a late speech as to his being an hereditary legis-
lator on account of the services of his father, I refrain
at present, from having in the revolutionary year of
1848 heard a discussion among some Irish reformers.
The one party proposed that the House of Humbug
(House of Commons) should be turned topsy turvy,
to which proposal no objection was made. Then that
the House of Lords should be done away with; but
this proposal met with the most strenuous opposition
from the old women of the party, who said they
would stand up to the last for the House of Orphans,
" Whom do you mane by the House of Orphans?"
"Why, to be sure, none else than the House of Lords.
Poor craters; they can't get into that house until
their fathers are deed; poor orphans they be, and must
sot be meddled with." So here we see a difference
of opinion on political as well as military matters,
therefore I shall stick to facts. At the bottom of the
camp all the roads which pass through it here join'
the road to Vimereux, and at this corner are one or
two large cafes or restaurants, with large letters'
painted ever the doors—as " Entree pour Messieurs
Wi Officio", Messieurs les SoneOfficiers, and Messieurs
les Militaires." There are refreshment and billiard
rooms for all ranks having these separate entrances.
Keeping to that side of the camp furthest from
the sea, and ascending, are small rides and shops, full
of such necessaries as are required by soldiers, and on
the cafés " English spoken here." Still ascending,
nearly in the centre of the camp is a very beraderime
netaurant,w here many of the officers breakfastanddiss,
It is of a circular form. having io the front of its centres
scaffolding ornamented with the Tricolor, on which ate
placed the baud' of the regiments on fete damplaying
waltzes, polkas, gsloppes. dre.., to the gris-ttes of Bon-
e, with a large sprinkling of lovely English girls,
who very often forget the day which follows Satur-
day. Farther off, towards the fields, are the springs
which supply the camp with water. Close to the
*imp it a row of shops filled with all sorts of goods,
mixed with two or three covered waggons, provided
with windows and seats, where the soldiers• can read
amusing books and the newspapers for one franc per
month. A few such travelling waggon libraries for
Aldershott would pay the speculators well, and at the
same time prevent much druekennesa and crime.
Higher up are the cafés of Sebastopol and Bo-
=wound, and elm to them a long narrow
building, fitted up as an infirmary for sudden
eases of illness, till waggons for conveyance
to Boulogne can be provided. Near this point,
awl on the inland road to Boulogne, are the neat
Mitten of the engineers with their offices. At the
top of the camp are numbers of cafés and shop., the
owners of which pay a certain sum to the proprietor
of the ground, and another for a license from govern-
ant. Ali are under martial law, and in case of din-
turbines are instantly turned away.
In my next letter I shall attempt to describe the
arrangement of the buts in camp—the kitchens, the
dimensions, and how they are built also the roads
and drainage of the camp, with other details, having
an ardept wish, but a very faint hope, that the autho-
rities of Aldershott may listen to the
VOICE FROM THE BIVOUAC.
May 25.

TO TIM 11DITOR Or Tllll DAILY WSW,.
11114—As camps are useless unless the soldiers ars
annated or means are afforded them there for
ninsation, I in my letter of 23rd May urged the im-
mediate appointment of • military instructor to the
snoyat Aldershott. In the same letter I made a re-'
fame to the four French campo—Equihem to the
smatik Honvisalt, Witnereux, and Ambletease, to the
I north of Boulogne. each capable of accomoiodating
from 10.000 to 11,000 infantry. Upon statements I
have heard, and from documents which I have
examined, I may state that theee four camps, with
their chapels, theatre, restaurant., canteens, kitchens,
eating-rooms for officers and non-commissioned officals,
fencing school, and with two hospitals fitted up in the
town of Boulogne, have been constructed at en ex-
pense not exoeeding 60,0001., and all so substantially
pat together that they can be kept in repair for eight
years at an expense during that timeof about 5001. Tho
same number of men billeted on the inhabitants would
in seven months hays coat the nation a sum of about
60,0001. I have gone carefully through the above-
named camps, and although from the stile of ground
on which they are placed each may differ in some
minor details from the other, still a description of the
Camp d'Honvault, which is nearest to and most
easy of scores to visitors at Boulogne, is a suffi-
cient description of all the four. A new road to this
Camp hse lately been opened by the Hoperor. It
winds along the coast at the foot of those clayey
cliff. so conspicuous to those who approach Boulogne
from the sea. Nearly opposite Fort la Creeks the
road begins to ascend. Here, to the right, a streamlet
trickles through a green valley, pas.siog the pillar
erected on the spot where the Great Napoleon distri-
buted the decoration of the Legion of Honour to the
army of Boutogne, just before he started for Vienna
with a suite more numerous and efficient than that of
Lord John Russell, to make Austria speak out.
Farther inland stands the celebrated column of Na-
g=urmounted by a colossal statue of himself.
surmounted
to ascend, are seen the remains of one of
these forts constructed by him to prevent the
Weaned of invaders, Arriving at the height and
where the road begin, to descend, • strange sight at
once bursts on the view. The sea is to the left
bounded by the white cliffs of Kent, while looking
down towards the north-east is a slope of bare
sand, dotted with crowds of men moving to and fro,
while the heights above the sea are studded with a
number of various shaped constructions. First, be
the theatre of the camp, then its chapel, its detached
guards for police purposes and prisoner., and a
large fencing room, around which are seen soldiers
practising all manner of games and gymnastic%
To the right, 500 yards inland, appears a city of
huts laid out in regular order, but the uniformity of
U. roofs in some measure varied by the turrets of
the old Chateau d'Honvault, now the quarters of the
general commanding this division of the army. The
camp may be about 11 mile in lengtt• , end half a
mile in breadth, intersected by four great roads leading
from the top to the bottom of the hill, these roads
separating the huts of the men from those of the subal-
terns, the captains, the superior officers, and the staff
and musicians of the different regiments. ('tossing
these roads are those which separate the huts of the
men from each other—wider roads for the
separation of battalions, and still wider spaces
hermits' the different regiments and brigades.
At the bottom of this camp is seen a
lit& dishing village on the banks of an arm
of the sea, which Napoleon I. had made as • sort of
baritone of refuge for his gun-boats, when projecting
the invasion of Britain. From this village rises
rather anruptly, • beer sand-stone rocks- hill, on
hick are seen the huts of the camp of Wimereux,
where about 11,000 infantry are quartered, mad
looking over this et about three miles distance, is
seen the hill on which Ambletenee camp is pitched.
Far to the right, inland, is an undulating country
admirably adapted for military inauceuvres on assent
scale, the road from Boulogne to Calais passing
through it. Leaving the height from which this
view is taken, I first went to the asap
theatre, which has accommodation for above

400 men. There is amateur acting here twice a
week, generally by the officers, but a proportion of
all the men of the division are, in their turn, admitted

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY .29. 1855.

THE FIRST REPORT OF THE POST-

MAS tint-GENERAL.

In the United Kiogdoin there in 15 letters
written in the year for every one of the pepalatlon. In the
United States the number is only four. This is eztraordiaary,
con'siderin'g the spread of education' In America es compared
with this country, the commercial activity of our Transatlantie
Musson, and their locomotive disposition and soeiality.l
The 'ovulation of the United States is about 24,000,000, and
of the United Kingdom 27,000,000 ; yet in 1854 the letters
which passed through the American past-faces wen
119,000,000, while the number that passed throrogh the poet-
°Rees in this country was nearly 450,000,000. In Lowden,
in 1852, there were 41 letters written for every one of the
inhabitants, and in New York the number wee only 23. The
cause of this discrepancy is, coo doubt, the want of postal feel-
Aintiolll. There is no such thing as prompt and daily
Ideliveries of letters to every house, cottage, and hovel in
that country such as we have in England, and although
there are 24 000 poet offices in America, end only 10,000 in
the United Kingdom, the former de not afford the wooer
modatlon which the latter do on account of the viut area over
which they are spread; and, besides, they are a poor sub-
stitute for the letter carrier and rural patinas. The popu-
lation of the following eight places, via , London, Liverpool,
Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Picnics, Weeder, end
Limerick, in 1854, we, 3i millions ; the postal receipts were
11 mullions sterling; sod the postal local expecditure was
280,0001. The population of the eight following places,
vie., New York, Philadelphia Baltimore, Boston, New
Orleans, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and San Fraecisoo,
was in the same year 11 tai hiou; the postal receipts were
300,0001. ; and the kcal expenditure, 80,0001.
Thus in the eight titles and towns of the United Meg.
ism the postal receipts amounted to nearly half as many
pomade starling as there were inhabitants, and the eon was
about one-sixth of the receipts, while in the eight American
di la the postal receipts did not animist to one-filch the
fiber of pounds sterling as there were inhabitants, and
re eat was nearly oee•tbird of the receipts. The local coot
cog working a million of letters in England L 5504 and in
Amain 2,4001. This difference arises from the chemisess
with which letters charged an uniform postal rate can be
worked as compared with the cost of working letters charged
a variable postal rate. In America there are three inland
rate', and in England there is enly.ints. In 1839, before
the introduction of an uniform rate of postage in England,
the gross ripen.. of working a million of letters was 10,0001. ;
at the present time it is only 3,0001., or leas than one-third.

•
Lord Canning in his report says, that the " extessioa of
the rural posts has bees in steady progress for several years,
and I have no doubt has assisted inaterislly to produes the
great increase that has taken place in the total number of
letters." In a 'aro cumber of rural district+ there have
been double daily deliveries established. Postal moonse-
modation is now looked upon almost iss esseetial as
drainage and • good supply of water. The value of
genteel residences in suburban districts has been much en-
' hasseed by a double daily delivery of letters, as it saves the
expense and trouble of sending at s distance to the chief
pat-ofitce for day wail letters and newspapers. The postal
facilities for the delivery of newspapers have abo vastly in-

creased the number of lettere of his years. Almost every
copy of a newspaper published gives rise to epistolary cor-
respondence en business of other matters ; but this would
net be the case to one•balf the extent, if it were not for the
postal facilities for the delivery of newspapers, Demists if
the newspapen are not of very recent date when received
and read, the immense number of lettere which they are
maculated to give rise to are useless. Oftentimes, a single
advertisement in a London morning newspaper causes scores
and even hundreds of letters to pass through the poet.

The following an the postal charges for newspapers and
other printed matter passing through the post in amen( the
principal mantel's is the world. In Austria, Prussia,
Saxony, nod Lubeck, newspapers sod other printed matter
pass through the post at • charge of Id. per i os. In Baden
for 60 per cent, on the published pries of political news-
papers, and 25 per cent, on that of non-political newspapers.
In Bavaria for id. per j on. on newspapers and other printed
matter, which must not, however, weigh more than 2 on. In
Belgium for one-tenth of a penny for newspapers, and Id. per
ten sheets for other printed matter. In Brazil for id. for news-
papers, and i letter postage for other printed matter. In
Bremen newspapers pass free, and other printed matter at Id.
per oz. In Brunswick newspapers pas. through the post at a
charge of 25 to 61 per cent. on the pubsished price, accord-
. ins to frequency of pablication, and other printed matter
fur half letter paste gee. In Chili the cheese is id. for
native newspapers, nothing fur foreign newspapers, and 6d.
per lb. for other printed matter. In Denmark it is
20 per cent. on the published prise of Danish
newspapers, 10 per cent. on English ones, and
one penny per 2 os. for other printed matter. In
Fracas it is Id. per sheet for newspapers and id. per sheet
for other printed matter. In Frankfort 25 to 60 per cent.
on the published price of political newspepue, and i letter
•postage on other printed matter. In Hamburg id. per
aces. on newspapers. In H 25 to 60 per cent on the
published price of newspapers. In Naples Id. per 6 sheets
on newspapers and other printed matter. in New Granada
newapapers go free, other printed matter is charged 2s. per
lb. In Holland the charge is id. per sheet, and id. per
sheet on other printed matter. le 0 daubers it is 60 to 26
per cent. on the published price of newspapers, sad Id. per
2 on. for ether printed matter. In Peru newspapers go tree,
and 17s. per lb. is charged for other printed matter. In
Portugal the charge is id. each for newspapers, and id. per
on. fur other printed matter. In Sardinia it is id. per sheet
'for newspapers and other printed matter. In Spain 4d.
per lb. for newspapers. In Sweden id. per sheet fur
newspapers. In Switzerland 1.12 d. per es. for Series news-
paper; 10d. per os. for foreign newspapers; id. per
2.11. for other printed matter not sent beyond thirty
miles, and Id. it beyond that distanee. in the
United States It. per oz. for newspapers and other
Printed matter, including books. In Wurtemburg ft is 60
per cent. on the published price of political newspapers, 26
per cent. on nonspolitisal newspapers, sad id per 2 us. for
outer printed matter. In the United Kiegdom stamped
newspaper of any weight and other stamped printed
matter not weighing above three ounces go fret, and 6d.
per pound is charged for books. In 11352 the gross postal
, Nessus of twenty-nine of the principal countries in the
, world was upwards of 10,000,0001., sorterdieg to the Post-
, oast report. Beckoning, therefore, the postage on the
letters es averaging 3d. each, this would give a total of
/ 800,000,000 letters se having passed through the postsoffices
, is the above named *navies. Before railways were intro-
, dosed, each proprietors often method mils foe nothing, and
eves paid for the privilege of canting than, for the
mail
, bap were then light, and mail mothen were exempted from
terapike tolls end secured more passengers than other
smudges, on account of the prestige they acquired for pane-
tuality sad meet]. Some idea of the revolution caused by
railways and low postage may be gathered from the fast
mentioned in Lord Canning's report, that twelve years ago
the easels proprietors between Luseseter sad Carlisle paid
2001. a year to the Post-office for the privilege of esnying
toe mails twice a day between those two plans, and at the
present time the Pat-Wiles pep the railway computies
' 12,00 W. a you for performing the same service.
As education is difesed in this country, the samba of let
tars written will be enormously increased. Letter writing
is a necessary of life for both rich and poor, for the circling-
stances of life separate families of every rank and condition.
The Post office is a thoroughly democratic instigation, for it
' delivers letters with the same attend= et the hovel as at
the palace, anilines is the cheaper of letter writing, that
' it can be indulged is by persona of every rank in the scale
of wealth is the country. There is only one glass who
cannot indulge is it—the uneducated. To tens of thousands
of adult persons in this Neatly, at the present time, the
writing of a letter is an effort of great dilleulty, through
defective education. When this is no longer the
case, the postal revenue of the souk, will greatly
increase.

Madlle. Jetty de Treffs, the popular consort
stager, is at present appeariag at teacarts at Paris._ . .

.. -
The following, according to the Garet* Musicale,
will forms the troupe oldie Theatre Italia' at St. Petenbarg
during the appeasable( awes :—Prieto doom sorrel*
Ydmea Bodo, Lotto, Maray ; eantesieo, biding. Damsel° ;
in: teams, MM. Temberlik, Calsolani, Bettiai ; first cassia
bass, Y. Lablaabe ; float baritome, MM. RIOODIIi, de Bas-
sist; basso preemie, M. Didati beers and Whose*
MM. Taillalleo, Palos's', Ceased ; set:soma donne, Yeti.
_ _

The ilium of Madame Stoltz has caused the repre-
sentation of the Prophets to be farther postponed at Paris.
Prince Frederick of Prussia, who is an excellent
musician, will be present at the festival of the Bee 6thin,
at Dusseldorf. Jassy Lind is expected. also (mpg the
Gaulle Myriads) Mucener, Lindpainter, Idinehais, Cher
ley (Hestia ilusieoloyse), sad fitepbes•Heller. Lis la-
Chapelle, Cologne, Barmen, Meader, &a, will seed 630
shuns as.

MUSIC.

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.
The sixth concert of the season took place last
evening, at the Hanover-square Rooms. The pro-
gramme was is follows :

PAIS 1.

Biafra& In 6 minor (ML eo;;;eed for the PhD.
hareem* Sock- y)
Arlo. "Quad avventorierl," Herr Parma (D Se
mile)
Concerto, violin, M. &tram BIOUBOTIO.
Plethora, Mtlite Bokkolts Mood
Overture, "blooms" ... Beethoven.

PAST U.

Stakela is A slur, No. $ ---
."
Mendelnman.
Neck. i " Crndelo !" i NCI& Dolikotts Fakant
Arta 1 " Non of die f (Don Oiovonsi) ..... lloZirt•
ROO I nee I " H..... p,.......
bong "Ora dim than """""— (Ada) Handel.
the sherry" and Galatea)
Orators, " Barg,si "
Conductor, Herr RkaarcWagner, ~%
.

•
Mr. Potter's symphony in G minor, which was
written expressly for the Philharmonic Society (of
which Mr. Potter has for many years been a most
distinguished member) is a composition of a .very
high order of excellence, and is well worthy of a
plage among the greet works of the purketassical
school. Every part of it bespeaks the man of genius
and the accomplished artist. The first movement,
allegro con flung, is exceedingly bold and vigorous,
but with a tinge of sadness arising from its minor
key. It is built upon a abort but strongly-merkad
phrase, which is heard throughout the whole'
movement, treabd with a vast deal of skill and
fancy; so that the movement is full of variety, and
at the same time exhibits complete unity of design.
The slow movement, andante con moto, is remarkable
for the beautifully vocal character of its melody, and
the elegant distribution of the melody among the
different instruments. The applause bestowed upon
this movement was so warm that it might have been
interpreted into an enoore, but this waif netodone.
The Scherzo is very animated, and quits id the spirit
of Beethoven ; and the piece is concluded W a solid
and well-worked, na/e in the form of a rondo. This
symphony was admirably performed in, every re-
spect; and, atter a reception so very favourable, we
trust it will not be allowed to remain upon the shelf.'
Stanton', performance of Beethoven's Conoerto was a
magnificent display of all the great qualities of a
violinist--a combination of strength, fire, grace, and
refinement, which could not be surpassed by any per-
former of the day. Saintoo, ever since his snivel in
this country, has been in a state of constant progress,
and we doubt whether any of his mintisental
rivals are entitled to be called his superiors.
Mendelssohn's Symphony in A minor, the " Scottish
Symphony," was played with powerful effeet,ttiaugh
the times of some portions of it were not iltegether
the same as those given by Maidelasohß himself.
Probably M. Wagner never heard him oonduct the
symphony. An author's own reading, of course,
must be the best ; though we confess that ..Mt Wag-
ner's ideas, when they were different, did sot always
displease us. The immense impetuosity which he
threw into the allegro guerriero gave wdlditional
grandeur and majesty to the resumption of the first
subject which forme the finale. In the overture to
Leonora, likewise, the time was occasionally passed
and relaxed in a manner to which we have hot .bees
accustomed; but our impression was that these
licenses, as they are deemed, heightened the fire and,
vigour of this incomparable overture. .. •
The vocal music was very good. Mademoiselle
Bohkoltz is an accomplished artist. Hes Aida:ties
of the beautiful Sicilian of Pergolesi wean proof of
her excellent tute, and her performance of it was a
pure and highly-finished piece of singing. Her exe-
cution, too, of Mortrt's famous bravura from Lies
Giovanni was brilliant and highly effective.,Formes's
manner of singing the two songs in the programme
is well known. On this occasion he made them as
effective as usual.

THE ENGLISH GLEE AND MADHIGALAJNION.—
This excellent 'mei. ty goes on and prospept, ...Every
season its concerts are better and bettet Attended.
The Brat concert of this season at Willis's Rooms wu
given yesterday morning. The menibus .of the
society—Mrs. Endersohn Mr. and Mrs. Lackey, Mr.
Hobbs, and Mr. H. Phillips—were assisted by Miss
Phillips, Mrs. Berle, Mr. Foster, Mr. Cummings,
Mr. Beale, and Mr. Thomas. They .an an admi-
rable selection of the finest English glees aa Madri-
gals, both ancient and modern. All of thetn.were
warmly applauded, and several enoored. :the great
room was completely filled, and a gust number of
distingaished amateurs were present.