The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-16 00:00:00

HAY MARKETS.

SMITIIFIELD.—Meadow hay, 21 15s to 4/ 12s ; clover
ditto, 3/ 5s to 6/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 12s to 1/ lis per load.
A full average supply and a moderate demand.
CIIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 2/ 18s to 4/ 15s ; clover
ditto, 3/ Os to 5/ 18s; and straw, 1/ 14s to 11 18s per load.
Both hay and straw were in fair request- at our quotations.
WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 4/ 15s; clover
ditto, 31 lOs to 61 Os ; and straw, 1114 s to 1/ 18s per load.
Supply moderate, and trade tolerably firm.

THE CAMP AT BOULOGNE.

BouLoGNE; Sept. 15.—The contemplated ma-
noeuvres on the line of road from St. Omer, by
Escoeuilles and Desvres, yesterday, terminating to-
day in the attack and capture of Boulogne itself,
have not taken place ; and, it is now said, stand
postponed tiil the Emperor's return from the south
of France. As far as conclusions can be safely
drawn
from his movements, he intends to do
something of the kind, but when exactly, or how,
no one can say. It does not at all follow that the
circumstances which connect his name, rather ludi-
crously, with the idea of
an attack on Boulogne
should have any
influence in deterring him from
making such a demonstration ; for he has more
than once taken occasion tolife
sh a show that he is not at
all ashamed of acts in h
uni-
versally condemned as
.t the time
foob. Meanwhile,
however, the mixed population of this favourite
watering-place have breathing spaceafforded them
from the terrors of the impendingsiege, but it is due
to them to stale that never did inhabitants of
threatened town or city display
greater composure
with such a prospect of assault and military violence
imminent. Whether this proceeds from
a
well-
founded confidence in the security of the English
affiance, or from any other cause, must of course
remain doubtful. The Emperor, although his plans
are changed, or have perhaps been misapprehended,
has not been idle. Yesterday at an early hour he
again visited the camp of Helfaut, near St. Omer,
and reviewed his troops in the presence of Lieu-
tenant-General de Wedell, the general-officer de-
puted by the King of Prussia to witness the mili-
tary evolutions of the army of the north. The re-
view, apparently, had for its sole object VS give
General de Wean an opportunity of seeing Helfaut,
and the extent and quality of the force in cavalry
and infantry stationed there, or within and around
St. Omer. The infantry were first minutely in-
spected, and defiled past the Emperor on the fine
open ground in front of the camp. Then the ca-
valry to the number of 32 squadrons—one half of
Cuirassiers and the other composed equally of Lan-
cers and Dragoons—were manoeuvred for some
time by his Majesty with splendid effect upon the
bruyere, a piece of level ground about a mile and
a-half to the west of St. Omer, and well adapted
' for such movements. It is somewhat difficult to
determine which sight was the most imposing—
that of the foot soldiers drawn up on an elevated
plateau, with a noble prospect extending over
many leagues in front, and behind a huge en-
campment of more than 20 years' standing ; or the
mounted men, a vast and glittering array, the
bare sight of which, as it swayed and surged to
and fro along the plain, must have stirred the heart
of every spectator.
.The camp at Helfaut is the
most striking in every way of the five in which the
Army of the North is now assembled. Situated on
the summit level of the heights which overlook St.
Omer, it is hardly possible to conceive a position
more healthy, or better adapted in every way for
the purpose to which it has been applied. An
obelisk monument to the late Duke of Orleans
stands in front, the inscription almost obliterated
by the names of soldiers rudely carved over it.
The huts are more substantially constructed than
those around. Boulogne, and are different in plan,
being larger, more commodious, and, in fact,
forming to all appearance a town on the top of a
hill, regularly laid out in rectangular streets,
of uniform, substantial, well-thatced cottages,
with a swarming population, made up exclusively
of soldiers. One may fancy the effect of such a
scene—so different from anything to which English-
men are accustomed.. But it is not during the day,
or even while reviews and exercises are in progress,
that the remarkable spectacle which this camp pre-
sents is seen to the greatest advantage. It is when
the evening closes in and parade work is over—
when the men turn out in front of the camp and
1 form themselves in happy groups to pursue their
L favourite sports—when foraging parties wend
their way down the zig-zag road into the val-
ley, singing gaily to while away the time, and
when the ruddy glow of the camp fires begins
to divide the picturesque effects upon the eye
with the declining light. The Prussian General
must have been struck with all that he saw at
Helfaut ; but, beyond the arrangements of the
camp and its commanding site, the appearance
of the soldiers must have impressed him. So
intelligent and full of alacrity, these sturdy
little men seem to have &bout them every requisite
for successful campaigning ; and what an English-
man remarks most in them is their great sobriety.
We have not yet seen among them a single case of
drunkenness.

The Emperor's review of the cavalry was unfor-
tunately marred by heavy rain, which came on
shortly after the evolutions had commenced. The
different regiments were drawn up by squadrons in
two exended lines, the Dragoons and Lancers in
front, and the Cuirassiers behind, when the Impe-
rial cortege arrived. The usual preliminary inspec-
tion over, a series of brilliantly executed move-
ments of the ordinary parade character followed,
and the display terminated with a grand charge.
One man was unhorsed, and broke his leg in the
fall. In two other cases the horses came down
with their riders, but recovered themselves
again. Taken singly, French troopers have rather
an insignificant appearance as compared with those
of our service, and our regiments may fairly claim
considerably greater perfection and precision of
drill and training, but there the balance of contrasts
stops or turns against us, and in numbers especially
we are completely overwhelmed. There must have
been from 4,000 to 5,000 cavalry.on the bruyere
yesterday, and a striking sight it was to behold so
vast an array of mounted men, now formed into one
dense mass, and now whirled by squadrons into ex-
tended columns—retiring, advancing, taking ground
one moment to the right, another to the left, and
still through all preserving the firm, compact, un-
wavering line of their ranks. Some objections have
been taken, apparently with good reason, to the
mode in which the French cavalry hold their swords
in charging. They rush on at the assault with the
arm uplifted and the body left very open, instead
of being in an attitude in which they can most
readily avail themselves of an opponent's fence. I t
is a splendid force, however, and looked grand
yesterday in spite of the weather. In so large a
body of men the shouting of orders swells to such
an extent as almost to resemble cheering, and
several times it was difficult to resist the impres-
sion that the different regiments were giving the
Emperor a hurrah as ho passed. The tricolor
streamers of the eight squadrons of Lancers,
when massed together, had a wonderfully pretty.
effect ; nor were the Dragoons in their brass hel-
mets, and the Cuirassiers in their glittering panoply
of steel, less splendidly attractive. What will
" the pomp of war" become when the diminishing
value of cavalry, as an arm of the service, is at
length recognised. If the extreme limits of the
range, accuracy, and rapidity of firing with projec-
tiles like the Minie are still undetermined, may
the heart of humanity not hope that a time will
shortly come when with rare exceptions the horse
may be exempted from all but his natural service
to man, and no longer be obliged to share with him
the carnage of the battle-field ? It was past five
o'clock, and they had both been well soaked by
the rain, before the Emperor and his guests,
dismounting and resuming their seats in the
Imperial carriage, returned to Boulogne. The
troops at the same time, and without defiling,
returned to their quarters. They wear in wet
weather long cloaks, of a light fawn colour,
which are not so conspicuous as those used in our
service, and yet in a body of men look remarkably
well. At a distance they might be taken to be
waterproof, but in reality are not so.
Although beyond the mere display of cavalry and
infantry there was nothing in the actual details of
what occurred yesterday near St. Omer worthy of
any lengthened notice, it is not improbable that a
deeper meaning than meets the eye lurks beneath
the Emperor's courtesies to General Wedell. In
the present state of European politics, the King of
Prussia may be sincerely desirous to know all that
he can with reference to the five great camps com-
posing the French army of the North. Napoleon,
also, may be anxious to make the King thoroughly
appreciate the military resources which he com-
mands, and which at very short notice from St.
Omer he can pour across the Rhine.