The Sun.
London, England, 1837-08-31 00:00:00

THE CAMP AT COMPIEGNE.

COMPIEGNE, AUG. 27.—1 arrived here this day from
Paris, and found the town and adjacent country so com-
pletely alive with military of every description, that one
had little difficulty in believing himself transported to the
seat of some grand campaign. Embrowned faces and for-
midable mustachios, with " all the pomp, pride, and cir-
cumstance of glorious war," met you in every direction.
Since my arrival, ten minutes have not elapsed without the
tap of drums being heard in some direction or other, by
way of reminding the soldiers through some one of the
numerous varieties of " roll-call, or reveillie, oh !" that al-
though it is Sunday, a day prescriptively consecrated to the
laissez aller, and to amusement of every description in
France (church-going being reckoned one of those amuse-
ment's), they are not to forget what is due to their own
characters as staid and respectable militaires, assembled in
camp, under the supreme command of the eldest son
of France.

To render more complete the military aspect of this
beautifully situated and interesting town, from every second
window a spear and banner of some description, usually
tri-coloured, is conspicuously displayed ; every half-clothed
urchin you meet affects a military port, and here and there
you encounter a ragged " gamin," humming the Marseil-
laue, wishing, from the bottom of his soul, he could march
away as a " dashing white sergeant," and ostentatiously
cocking upon three hairs the cast-off bonnet de police or
foraging-cap of some military protector, who was recom-
pensed with its reversion some score of trifling services.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Orleans arrived here
yesterday, accompanied by his amiable Duchess, the Dow-
ager Duchess of Mecklenburg, and a numerous suite. The
Royal party has taken up its quarters in the Chateau of
Compiegne, where his Royal Highness purposes entertain-
ing each day at dinner a select party of Ministerial and
official personages, together with the officers of the eat
major. By the 20th of next month his Majesty the King
of the French will reach Compiegne, and proceed to give a
number of entertainments at the Chateou, consisting of
dinner parties, concerts, balls, and military fetes, on the
plan which was found so effective at Fontainbleau--that
of successive parties of visitors. Louis Philippe intends sig-
nalizing his present visit to Compeigne by the formation of
an historical gallery at the Chateau, on the model of the
galleries at Versailles, in which the residence of Louis
XIV. and Napoleon at this chateau, together with the
events historically connected Kith the castle, will be duly
commemorated. Numerous artists are at this moment em-
ployed at the Chateau upon works necessary to the realiza-
tion of this project.
The arrival of the troops being completed this evening,
an army amounting to 20,000 men is encamped in the im-
mediate vicinity of Compiegne. The troops are distributed
in two encampments ; one pitched in the skirts of the forest
of Compiegne, about a quarter of a mile from the town,
and the other at the opposite side, on the banks of the beau-
ful river Oist, upon which the town is situated. It is im-
possible to describe the fine effect produced by the sudden
view of the Camp du Foret de Compiegne, as seen by us
from the diligence, when it emerged from the last thicket
upon the Paris road. A beautiful valley stretched for a
considerable extent before you, bordered all round by the
forest, except in one direction, where the town of Com-
peigne, with the spires of its picturesque church, and Ho-
tel de Ville, with the beautiful winding Oise, were seen to
peep from amidst the trees. Of this valley, a space inclu-
ding at least 70 English acres, is composed of green-sward,
and upon this the tents of the first encampment arc pitched.
Imagine the effect produced by 600 of these graceful struc-
tures, all composed of snow-white canvass, with tri-colour
streamers floating from the top of each, and the rays of a
brilliant sun heightening the lustre of the canvass, and
glancing from piles of arms heaped up in every direction.
Horse, foot, artillery, Tirailleurs, Genie, Lanciers, met
the eye in every direction in graceful and animated groups,
and in front of the tent occupied by the Marechal du
Camp was seen that distinguished officer himself, accompa-
nied by the officers of the etat-major, and gratified at inter-
vals by military music, which is no-where performed so well
as in France.

As we passed in the diligence through the small village
of Lacroix, situated on the Paris road about two leagues
from Compiegne, we were gratified at the sight of one of
those fetes champettes in which the French delight. It
was completely a fete for the lower order, but not the less
graceful and amusing. What contributed greatly to enliven
it was the appearance of a great number of soldiers, who
participated in the dance with infinite zeal, and were gra-
tified with a numerous succession of blooming partners.
The costumes of the paysanncs were singular but pretty,
and to the eye of the stranger there was something very
pleasing in this gay admixture of the military and bour-
geoisie.' Some of the females wore a very remarkable
costume—military caps, red trousers, like the soldiers, with
corsets and long skirts of blue. Upon inquiring, I found
that these were the Cantinicres of the camp, dressed thus
Fancifully at the expense of the Colonels of the regiments
which they respectively serve with drink. The scene was
altogether as unlike as possible to anything I have ever
witnessed in England.—Tinies.