The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-23 00:00:00

TILE MILITARY CAMP AT CIIOBHAM.

' The military camp sow In course of fornbilion on
Choltham.common promises to be the great feature of the
1 present season.he general a:testy for information on
the subject will probe:4y render the Delinquent authentic
details in relation to the proposed operations interesting at
the present moment. The novelty in England of any
great military display invariably attracts vast crowds of
spectators, and this seems to have been anticipated by the
authorities in their selection of Chobham-common as the
scene of the encampment. The grained for several miles
is nicely undulated, the alternation of hill and valley being
very gradual, affording at the same time excellent opportu-
nity for the practice of military evolutions and the best
mean. of observation fur spectators. Chobham,
moreover, is distant only about three miles
from Chertsey—the nearest railway station. The Lon-
don and South Western Reilway, wisely anticipating
n Inge accession to their Woking sod Chertacy traffic
during the next three menthe, have already made arrange-
ments of the most complete character for the accommoda-
tion of the public. The number of ordinary trains will be
increased, and a special express service will be laid on fur
the convenience of the officers of the camp and their friends,
the hours of departure being so arranged as to allow of tra-
velling to and tr. between London and Chertsey at nearly
all period, of the twenty-four hours.
1: he preparations fir the encampment are rapidly rro-
ceeding, although the progress yet made is not very percep-
tible to the spectator. Standing upon the ridge of high
ground running across the centre of the common
, the eye clearly takes iu the line of the field, which is
already molted out by lofty poles inserted in the
ground showing the position of the various regiments.
The cavalry will occupy the extreme right of the field
extending from the fir plantation in the valley looking
towards Virginia Water, to the summit of the first ridge of
high ground. The Sappers and Miners will occupy • posi-
tion next to the cavalry, end they see to to. followed by the
troops of the Household Brigade, who will occupy the cen-
tres. The other foot regiments will come next, and the
Rifle Brigade and the Royal Artillery are to form the es-
treuae right, stretching out to Begshot Heights—the old
line of encampment which more than half • century since
was the scene of a great military display, brought together
at the commencement of tho French revolutionary war.
These heights are now partially under cultivation, teat the
extreme right will just touch upon the old ground, and it
is a singular fact that sonic remains of the huts built by the
soldiers in 1799 still exist, and will come within the trenches
of the present encampment. The troops will be arranged
in the form of a half circle or crescent, and the lines w ill
probably exceed three miles in length. Only the south-
western portion of the common will be occupied, the oppo-
site aide being very damp. and, from its marshy character,
unsuited to military operations. ,ludeed the locality. alto-
gether is damp, so much so that an order has been issued
by the commander-in-chief granting permission for the
troops to sleep on palliasses instead of upon the ground as
usual, and some anxiety has been expressed as t.i the effect
the marshy soil may have upon the health of the valuable
horses belonging to the Household Cavalry. The irregu-
larity of the surface, and the broken character of the ground
will render the evolutions of the troops—especially the
cavalry—difficult, if not dangerous; but as the object of the
camp is to improve and perfect the military education of
the soldiers rather than to afford them a summer's holiday,
this circumstance has not been considered objectionable at
the Horse Guards.
It has already been stated that Lieut.-General Lord Sea-
ton, 0.0.13., G.C.M.G., G.C.H., an old Waterloo officer, is
to have the command of the camp. His Royal Highness
the Duke of Cambridge will command the cavalry. In
order to he within reach at any moment both officers have
secured residences in the immediate vicinity. His royal
highness has taken Bsgshot Park, for many years the
favourite residence of the lace Duke of Gloucester, and Lord
Seaton has agreed to occupy during the term, Iligham
Lodge, the villa residence of Lord Vaux of Harro*drn.
Bsgshot Park is about four miles distant from the camp.
Higham Lodge is almost on the field.
The preparations for the encampment have been en-
trusted to Col. Edward Vicars, an officer of distinction in
the Engineers, who is already actively engaged on the spot
The commissariat will be under the control of Commissary-
General Sir Randolph Routh, K.C.B.
The following is a correct list of the various regiments
and battalions forming the camp—Cavalry : The Ist Regi-
ment of Life Ganda, under the command of Colonel John
Hall, from Windsor; the 6th Regiment of Dragoon Guards
(Carabineers), under the command of Col. H. R. Jones;
the 13th Light Dragoons, under the command of Lieut.
Colonel C. E. Doherty, from Hounalow ; and the 17th
Regiment of Light Dragoons (Lancers), under the com-
mand of Colonel J. Lawrensen, from Canterbury. In-
fantry : The Ist Battalion of the Grenadier Guards, under
the Comm vol of Colonel Thornton; the Ist Battalion of the
Falsifier Guards, under the command of Colonel Knollys ;
the let Battalion of the Coldstream Guards, under the com-
mend of Colonel 13entinck; the Royal Engineers (Sappers
' and Miners), the Rifle Brigade, several batteries of the
=Artillery, the 30:h Regiment (let Staffordshire),
the command of Colonel Sir J. Campbell, Bart.; the
Und Royal Highland Regiment, seder Colonel Cameron;
the 60th Regiment (the Queen's Own), under the command
of Col. Sidley; the 93rd Highlanders, under the command
of Col. Roche ; and the 95th Regiment (the Derbyshire),
I under the command of Colonel Walter. The infantry will
be divided into three brigades: the first composed of the
three battalions of Foot Guards; the second of the 38th
Regiment, the 50th Regiment, and the 95th Regiment ; and
the third of the 42nd and 93rd Highlanders and the Rifle
Corps. The muster-roll of the whole camp will amount to
something less than 10,000 men.
It is intended that after the Ist battalions of the house-
hold regiments have served for a certain period, their places
shall be supplied by the remaining battalions of their res-
pective corps, so as to give every soldier the same oppor-
tunity of doing duty in the field. This duty, as at present
understood, will not be very light. No nay will pass with-
out some active omits ; and, in addition to frequent re-
views and sham Ights, there will be occasional " night stir-
' prises," involving • muster of the whole camp in the
shortest possible space of time. The formation of pontoon
bridges over the lake at Virginia Water will be among the
exercises engaged in by the troops.
The force employed under Colonel Vicars at the present
moment, in carrying out the preparations for the encamp-
ment, is mot large. It consists only of 100 sappers and
miners from Chatham, sad about the same number of the
96th regiment, with 72 picked men of the Scots Fusilier
Guards, under Sergeant Knox. The latter are employed
in making out the position of the various regiments. The
= pal work upon which the sappers and the men of the
t axe now engaged is the erection of camp
stables fie born. This will be a heavy work, as with
• view to protest the animals as much as possible, Lord
Seaton has insisted that • substantial sort of building
should be erected. A spectra= stable was completed a few
days since. His Betel Highness the Duke of Cambridge
set Lord Seaton me the smog mi Mersday, for the par
gem of &alba upen it eligibility, Each stable occupies
• apace of Om* II lost by 12 test, and is seti-
mated to afford nessommedelims ha eight horsed standing
heed to head. The lower gm*m et the walls are of turf,
an by Maas and the esmaists of a
t=
meek of boughs of 6...befr.wr intertwined so
sate keep eat the cold. The sett is of canvas, supported
ea Isar wenn and twos's** pine staves. There are two
enure* one at ask sad, art it is met latemded to aft:
any dewg In order to esseablom the *sem as much as
cZto the ehenge theism end *ode* of the stables
St° the 11111147.4.04.1.• ata camp are new
left apse day mad WO.. The sgssiman stable was approved
both by Lord Ihntsta ad the Debt of Cambridge, and the
emotion of the menWeey similes is now proceeding. The
other rind* mishit* been the slaking of wells, of which
no boa them tembeee basneempleted in various parts of the
eamonsm. The babe bessmeerally been found to be pretty
gook ase
eggiestsfi has crier f will
de* the sithe mesessery number of wells for
name she* The outoeilbsing of a seedy abase it is
alleshetely messmery to shore tip the edge el the well as the
andlis *this barren diarist then is tom* any other
Oaks des tegnearable. Of that there is plenty cm ge-
minate* gesmad, and the eroW4ff *el it freely in
&Oki up their week until it was vbed that the tar
'Win bibs green magi gave • brackish and very Melo
gWeb to the water. Well-sinking was this
mail it will ist be resumed until a supply of beech
thit
dile kW. The erection of stables for the cavalry
e of means for obteining an adequate
Zamalee me the only important works to be done
the imp it ihimood. Bask regiment will bring its
MPS dente, madam Ns amoeba & Brigade will, it is ex.
iillie this to gilds tbss idlli very little instruction
agnam7. Sa
sr WI moa. be formed MS the 14th June. Orders
haesizer ea issmss ter all the deeps engaged to be upon the
em lint daya ad it is understood that a grand
ereiser ef the elide terse eral fellow immediately.
Anfelim af Ihstivities am spoken of as likely
Wee cf41.1..i August. The officers of the
6erlifelPie have illateneised upon keeping no the
ilissaiWg of their miss, and Maus. Ouster have
ban affiliate's the sables&
There nee mealy any pabileissesse is the neighbour-
hied, and whatever requiremeats MIN on the part of the
public maul be salided math. beiquees. With this view
several bays dm* boss segaged by speculators.
The ell pada vredihouse of Choblem is to be made a
someossiesimmilitagare,heliell.Lt
psonivisrad le tea"
athasbee:iti:riminpr
thert.eampi"lpt.ebtanadStaillnaaevrefryor
wailer beat
theatatedirestd *Let thee, commissarcomunimaryiat.wenersibe far-
1111110. Mr. Croskshaak, Deputy Assistant
dm asahastraetibe., nwbsitcbC,ber"swith tYherolkiirleset "Wet'
li Or heath in the first instance offered to the
irlara.
I tag the *Belot. The inhabitants of Cherbey,
lbstrileemle de not appear to have availed themselves ot the
athantages to be anticipated. It was generally believed
that Mr. L•coste, banker and miller in the town, would
lave undertaken to furnish the required quantity el lour—
MI seeks per day, but it appears he has not done so, aral
thecialy person whose energies have been called forth by
...session is " mine best" of the Swan, who intends
WIN as a number of °meanest and well appoints d flys
II 11111,0110 the pretty rural chive of four miles between
OhollimiS Osmasou and the Chertsey Railway .station.
The emeimmt the bread and flour has been taken by Mr.
Jobs Want, of Bile er-street, Bloomsbury, wLo has also
undertaken to furnis'a 600 sacks of corn, 80 PA& of hay,
and 60 loads of straw weekly for the cavalry horses.
The contract for tb e supply of 6,000 lbs. of fresh meat daily
has been taken by Messrs. Charles Baker tad Bon, of New-
gate Market.
The pretty little village of Chertsey is beginning to assume
and air of great importance. The frequent passing to
and fro of the officers engaged in the preparations, and the

accagiond visits of those who we hereafter to take part in the
munitions, give to its generally quiet 111111h4treet " of
1 business, which has not belonged to it for Olaf Yea"-
The railway traffic has very materially ineimasodnistodfi
and there can be no doubt every succeeding day' will bring
an secession.
THE CITY CHANIBERLAINSHIP.

A public meeting, to promote the election of Sir
John Key, to the vacant appointment of Cramberlain of the
Corporation of London, was held on Saturday, at Ander-
ton s Hotel, Fleet-street. There was a considerable number
of the inhabitants of the ward (Farringdon Without)
present.
Mr. Russ was Toted to the chair.
ltesirlut:ous, in consonance with the object of the meet-
ing, were carried.

REDUCTION OF DUTY O.V RAISINS.

The following memorial has been extensively eir-
eulate4l:

"The undersigned merchants and dealers, interested in
the Mediterranean trade, beg attention to the following
fsets :—On the 13th day of April Mr. GI idstone announced
a reduction of is, per cwt. in the duty upon raisins. Orders
were immediately sent aliened to purchase unon the Conti-
nent, wd the intelligence w.s communicated to the vine-
growing countries, with the view of obtaining in-
creased supplies as early as possible in the en•
suing sewon. The last year's crop of currants
was, toe great extent, destroyed by disease. The disease
has reappeared, so that there will again this season be ,a
short and damaged crop. As the supply of currants has
diminished, the demand for raisins has increased. The con-
sumption of currants was 22,738 tons in 1852; in 1853, it
was but 18,154 tons. In the same period the consumption
of raisins rose from 10,440 to 11,463 tons.:,The first three
months of the present year show a like result: the con-
sumption of currants having fallen off 23, and that of raisins
increased 20 per cent. The price of hut currants little
more than • year since was 365. per cwt. ; it is now 755.,
and the chances are that neat year there will he no first-
elan fruit to be had. At the low prier, currants were
largely used by the working classes; now they are too dear
for them, and they ere using raisins instead. The reduc-
tion of duty has proved 'therefore particularly well
timed, as any reduction in the price of raisins
would bring them more within the reach of the
working classes, and greatly increase the consumption. And
there are at the present moment considerable quantities of
low and damaged fruit in this market, which, at a duty of
10a., would come into consumption, and swell the revenue,
which at the higher rate mut be exported, and eonse•
quently lost to the revenue. There was a rise of price in
raisins last year sufficient to ensure enlarged supplies for
the present season, so that the increased demand would be
met, and the reduction of duty recovered to the revenue.
The present duty shuts out large quantities of raisins, espe-
cially Italian, Sicilian, &c., which would reach us under a
lower duty. The fruit is wanted to supply the place of
currants, and the reduction of the duty is therefore impor-
tant. Previous to Mr. Gladstone's first promise of the re-
duction, it was reported that a severe frost had damaged the
prospects of the grapes in Turkey. Since then it has,
however, been found that the frost, so far from in-
juring, Las saved the grape crop. The frost, instead of
destroying the grapes, has cut off incalculable hosts of locusts
to the destruction of which, previously. the whole energies of
the people had been devoted. In view of these and other facts.
Mr.Alezander Mitchell has given notice of an amendment, to
the effect that the duty upon raisins shall stand as originally
announced, at 19 per owt. We very respectfully ask your
support of the amendmect, awl the more earnestly, upon
the ground of the very great injustice of rescinding so im-
portant • reduction of duty, after having allowed it to re-
main as established upon the faith of the government for an
entire month.—We have the honour to be, sir, your faithful
servants, J. Travers awl Sons, G. B. Carr, Ales. Hintz and
Co. Spartali and Lasearidi, Francis Ede and Son, Lewis
Reis and Co., Cattleys and Carr, Anselmo de Armee.,
Davidson and Co., &e., &e., &e."