The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-26 00:00:00

CIIOIITIAM.

TUE SPIRIT OF TIIE CAMP.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXPRESS.
SIR,—On Sunday I went down t' the camp at
Chobhaca, in order to ascertain if there was any truth in
the rumours that the wet season had bred sickness and
discontent among the troops; and I wish to communicate
briefly the results of my observations. Sunday was a
showery day—bleak and dark ; and, certainly, matters did
wear a very dismal appearanee. Tho visitors were very
few—three omnibuses carried oil the curious who went
down to Chertsey in the train. I was in the 1.35 ; and
those we met on tke road or about the camp, when we got
there, were not Londoners, but Sunday rustic idlers of the
neighbourhood. There was no bustle on the road.
When I got to the camp, a driarlieg rain had set in; and
first impressions led to the belief that there had been no
exaggeration as to the dangerous discomforts of the troops.
The camp on Sunday, on the Chcrtsey side, was, in fact, a
bog ; Led as Saturday and the two preceding days had been
comparatively fine—Saturday a decidedly sunny, dry day—
it is easily conceivable how dreadful must have been the
condition of the ground when the remplacement of the
troops was taking place, which was when there had been
floes or four days' constant ram. But as I got among the
tents, I got on to better and harder ground ; for these tents
ate, nearly throughout, pitched on slopes, with scooped
drains around them, and the rain has not done that mis-
chief which might have been expected, although dampness
is the prevailing tivment everywhere. I asked a private—
one of the Owtrds—if it hadn't been a dreadful time
with them. " Field days are severe," was the answer.
" But the rain, hasn't it played the deuce ? " lie answered
that in the hollows it was very boggy. But about the tents ?
No; no rain had come through, except the very heavy
showers. Was there much sickness ? No, not much ; a
little ; but, on the whole, the camp was in good health.
Were there many in hospital ? A few, not many. They
had been often wet through? Yes, pretty often; but,
still, the troops were well. The ground, he said, was
" queer ; " it was liquid one day, after heavy wet, and dried
up again " wonderful " after one day's sunning. Ile also
said that " this here wind" dried the clothes very soon.
lie was pipe-claying his white trousers, and I asked him
about that. Well, it was a great bother, that sort of thing ;
but when they were hung out, after that extraordinary
process, they dried in two or three hours. There were
long lines of white trowsers hanging out on ropes or
wooden rails, I forget which-01350 to him ; awl his remark
was oddly illustrated. A sharp shower came on, and the
tents immediately gave up their men—the guard* (Cold-
'memo) were rushing to take in their trousers. I passed
en to other parts of the camp, and everywhere I inquired of
the men themselves, and they all consistently told the same
story—that it was dull and dismal the rain, but that the
water had not got much into the tents, and that, generally,
sickness was scarce. But I could see, though there
was this honest, enduring spirit of a most lugubrious
period, that the camp was not popular with the camp

I met a very intelli4ent, obviously tru.hful man, and
I asked him—would the troops benefit by this practising ?
No, he could net see it; he dared say it amused the flue
folks; and if it had been fine weather, no doubt the men
would have been better to be out of town and in the brisk
pure air which blows over the common ; but aa for train-
ing, why, it was just the old manceuvres over and over
again, what every regiment was always at, and they would
not fight a real battle a bit the better. " Why, sir, what do
we see of a field day ? Its smoke here, there, aad every-
where, we don't see a yard from us, and don't know what's
going on t'other side of the common." Well, but the
officers ? That seas a new view to him. " Perhaps it was good
training fur some of them—the big 'um. It was his opinion
Lord Seaton would fight a jolly good battle, and an army
would follow him that was certain. It was a good thing
for His Royal Highness, too ; he was • willin' officer, he
was, and would learn. But for Vothers ; why the op-
ting' and the young officers,—why, sir, it's smoke for them,
too, and they only halters when they hesr hallers—they
' sees nothing." I put to him wasn't it a good thing to have
a taste of hardship ? He didn't know about that ; in a
downright real war, why there'd be something to think of,
as would keep 'em alive; but lord bless you—this was a
good deal worse than war—the having nothing to
do, between the outs, but pipeclaying. He ex-
pressed his great disgust at the tents. Why, he
asked, should they be so small ? With thirteen men in one
of those tents, with their toes radiating to a centre, it could
not be very comfortable ; and, as he described it, there
was no room for the legs—he awoke with cramps at night ;
and as for the heat—it was a black hole of Calcutta, and
worse, that was his opinion. Then how could they dress

—thirteen of them ? The call in the morning came in the
middle of a shower—well, how were they to dress ? They'd
be wet, and wet their clothes, if they got out ; and how
could thirteen naked men get through their toilettes
in a little tent ? The man's disgust was in_
tense, as he spoke on this point ; and there is
an obvious reform required in these tents, which look so
picturesque to the civilian, and are such muggy holes
inside. The horses are better provided for : they have
straw as clean, and rather sweeter, and they have each
more room. I asked several men about their accoutrement?,
and I find that the question of army uniforms is exciting
great attention among those most interested—the wearers.
I did cot speak to a man who was not deeply dissatisfied with
his clothes ; they were all very well in winter perhaps, but in
the heats and rains of this July the men have been tortured
at Chobham. Another, and a new question, would appear
to be in coutse of agitation. The wages movement has
reached Chobhara ; and the British soldier is beginning to
calculate whether as a labourer, with en Australia
tempting him, he is not insufficiently paid. I ascertained
that the principal sensation of the camp—on the non-field
days—is a sensation of dulness and weariness. The troops
I saw on Sunday had not been there more then a week, but
they were weary of the whole thing—hearing it is a loyal
hearty good spirit, but still, clearly bored. I doubt if fine wea-
ther would have made any great difference in this respect.
Everything is provided for the men but amusement. Most
of the men I saw in their tents on Sunday were asleep or
trying to sleep. I did not see half a dozen with books or
paper'. I heard that they had had no games or sports yet ;
they had not bad time, and the ground didn't suit. In
towns soldiers can always get up amusement ; and there ate
canteens, and booths, auti camp followers, enough at Chob
ham; but there is no provision for rational and &sizable
recreations after work. 1 heard that there was to be a Poses
Plastiques exhibition opened this week in one of the booths;
first for the officers, at two shillings and sixpence a head ;
and afterwards for the soldiers, at W. a head; and that is
all of that kind that is to be beard of, and that is not ex_
actly the amusement of which the " authorities " are likely
to approve. Why should the camp be dull ? Why should
there not be a camp newspaper, camp libraries, and camp
hproverbial danger in
dullness;
t ree nus; and
and the spectacles?
authorities
lll'm
i m
were more amusements there would be less politico-econo-
mical gishe a
consider that if there
TOGA.
mical criticism.—l am, &c.,

GOORKAII AND TRE LIVERPOOL CUP.—Mr. Edwin
Semis, Q C., has given an opinion on this affair, in which
be says : If it be intended to dispute the right of the owner
of the horse Goerkah to the Liverpool Cup, or stakes,
notice should be given to the stakeholder not to pay over or
to part with the stake or plate, and an indemnity should be
proposed by the owner of the second hone against the
consequences of ruch refusal. Should an action be
brought against the stakeholder he can apply to the court
for an interpleader issue, and the question will th..n be dis-
tmetly raised as to the age of the horse, end will be tried
by a jury. The certificate of the veterinary surgeons,
which has been given, is not conclusive, and the owner
of the second horse can try the fact by the process aborts
suggested.

LONDUN AND inficatros RAILWAY.

Yes:crcl.i the half-yearly general meeting of this
ettetnen) to•At place at tne Bridge-nesse lintel, SAithwark ;
Mr. LAINti. the chair.

The report, which has air, ady appeared in the Ex
fast, having been !liken as read,
The CliAlanas. after some preliminary remark,, moved
that the repent, together with the statement of account.
be received and adopted.
Mr. St'ill'atit seconded the motion.
gauge, and whether competition should or should not be
allowed in districts, ilte. They would no doubt introduce
a facility clau.e, upon the principle that a line of railway
was like a highway, which any person racy run over on
condition that they should di nothing which might en
danger pubLe sefoy. 8-me proviaian would be made for
'reference to the Bisect of Trade or the Court of Chancery in
**Ant instance, to carry out that principle in detail, and
treeessatenthei not an amalgamation, but a making !r-
-at for a i•Aft term of years, by which companies
fnatilir:ilviele the meek points between them, under the
'Gaetano of the Baird of Trade. Ile thought they wculd
And the result of the inquiry, as for as the Keeton was
C•eicerned, would simply be to make a mart, to lay doe n
Mrtain ruleg, and then to bete the railway companies
pretty much in the same position es before—(llear).
After some little discussion the report was unaliimowly
adopted.
A resolution was then pasted authorising the directors to
borrow
It was neat resolved that no further addition be made to
the matte fond, sod that the direct ore be authorised to
charge the. fund, :i3Ofitsf. 17e. Id., 'shellad been expended
in eel by asit portioneof the hue during the past half year.
A resolution was also passed approeing of the proceedings
of the directors in reference to the construction of works in
the term.
A davtdood of I/. leo. per cent. on the half-year, as re-
sommended in the report, was then declared, end thanks
having been voted to the chairman, the meeting separated.

MUMS TO MEZIERES. AND CIIARLEVILLE

t AIL 11'A Y.

Me Meadow mataina a decree, in confirmatiot
of a assavesHaa Min with the Minister of Agriculture,
Commerce, sad Pain Works, corroding the railway line
from Rheims to Mesierss and CharLavine, with a branch to
Sedan, sad the line from Cron to Beauvais, to Count
Simms (senator), the Duke do Moinehy (senator), Eugiae
1."1"."'• (4rpety). Jules Riche (deputy), Ben m Berri Seler"
(hanker), is Pun; John Masterman, Matthew tixielli,
Samuel Lain., and Mr. Hutchinson, of London; and M.
Basin de Muni' Saint Firmin. The company ander-
taken, at its own cost and risk, to construct the two rail-
ways, sad farther to pay to the Northern Com-
pany the sum of 2,500,000 f., which, added to 2,000,000 f ,
proceeding from local subventions, is inteaded to cover the
caress of expenditure resulting from the execution of the
line passing by Csmbrai is substitution of that by Cateau
to domain. In the event of the Northern Company failing
to execute this part of the arrangement the 2,500,0001.
will belong to the stato. Besides the above concession, •
confirmation of the Rheims line is conceded to the Simeon
Company conditionally. The company binds itself to exe-
cute this continuation in case at any time within three
years a further decree confirming the grant and fixing the
line of rouse shall be issued, and also in case • law shall
be passed ratifying the charges to be borne by
the state. It is not obligatory upon the state
to obtain this confirmation ; but, should it be obtained, the
state will execute the cuttings and works upon the system
which it may think most economical, and at such periods
as it shall see fit, or otherwise pay an equivalent sum of
money to the company. In return fur the engagements
undertaken by the company, it is stipulated that in can
hereafter it shall be decided to make • line from Compiegne
to Rheims, joining the Rheims and Charleville, and Creil and
B is lines, this company shall have the preference. M.
Magne, in his report to the Emperor, recommending the
concession, says it will maitre, without any sacrifice on the
part of the Treasury, the execution of • railway lung re-
Ared by the laborious population of the Marne and the
rdennes, which will form the first section of a new and
independent means of communication between France and
Belgium, and, further, it will give to the chief town of the
Oise and the city of Cambrai the advantage of an union
with the Cheat Northers line.