The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-09 00:00:00

TEE CAMP AT CHOBHAM COMMON.

THE SUTHERLAND GATHERING.
Tho plains of Chobham yesterday presented a very
different aspect from that which has hitherto charac-
terised them since the present encampment. Martial
pomp, and all the pride and circumstance of war, were
for once laid aside, and the din and noise of warfare rnd
the shock of contending armies gave place to the shouts
of eager combatants in a more peaceful arena ; th,litary
combinations and the movement of nr.sses of men
were superseded by feats of skill and strength, in
which each athletic competitor strove as intensely and as
perseveringly for the palm of vicLory as though the fate
of empires depended on his individual exertions. The
spectator who may have been present at any field-day at
Chobham, and witnessed the steady advance of masses
of men, could not fail to have been struck with the
immense amount of power which such masses must
possess when acting in concert. Any attempt to
grasp an idea of the resisting force of a charge
of cavalry, or of a body of infantry, is almost hopeless.
Yesterday an opportunity was afforded of analysing, as
it were, the strength of the component parts of that gi-
gantic machine, a well-organised army, and some notion
of its collective power might be formed from the results
of individual exertions. There is no regiment in the
whole service which has done so much to encourage and
promote a love of athletic and manly sports among its
-men as the 93d Sutherland Highlanders. Every year a
grand gathering takes place, in whatever town the regi-
ment may be stationed ; and wherever held, these ga-
therings not only excite a great amount of interest, but
tend greatly to the diffusion of a love of manly sports
throughout the country. The 93d Highlanders now
possess in their ranks a number of men who are probably
unequalled for their strength and skill in all games pe-
cuilar to Scotland. Their lists were yesterday opened
to all corners from the Scotch regiments ; but, with one
or two exceptions, none ventured to come forward to
dispute with them their well-earned fame as skilful and
powerful athletes. One or two men from the 42d
Ilighl9nders, some from the Scots Fusiliers, and some
from the Life Guards did, it is true, enter the lists, but
only to be most thoroughly and completely beaten.
Even in those spirit-stirring Scottish dances the supe-
riority of the 93d was gallantly and gracefully
maintained over the really excellent dancing of
some of the 42d and Scots Fusiliers. The results of
yesterday clearly show to what an extent the cultiva,tion
and practice of these sports tend to the development of
muscular strength and power of endurance. Among
the competitors with
the men of the 93d there was visi-
ble the same massive iron thews and sinews, and appa-
rently the same corporeal power, but they lacked in
many- instances the power of turning their vast strength
to the best advantage', and of gracefully wielding that
which they put forth. On the other hand, many of the
men of the 93d, as they put out their giant strength,
presented the most perfect and beautiful models of mus-
cular action which can well be conceived. We scarcely
remember an instance of a finer study for the sculptor
or the artist than that of Bell, as he whirled the ponder-
ous hammer over his head the moment before its final
throw. If instead of continually reproducing copies from
the classic originals, and devoting the whole of their
energies to the construction of a Roman gladiator, the
artists of the present day would select some Caledonian
Hercules or Sutherland Achilles as his model, he would
be conferring a boon upon Englishmen, who are taught
to look only to Greece and Rome for manly perfection,
and would benefit the cause of art generally by teaching
its professors that there ex'sts at their own doors and
among their own countrymen those whom Pra
xiteles
would have gladly studied as models, and Phidias im-
mortalised in marble.

The prize for thvowing the hammer was carried off
by Bell, of the 93d, the distance thrown being 121 feet,
the greatest leng:,h which, we believe, has yet been
reached ; the weight of the hammer 17 lbs., and the
handle four feet in length. In putting the heavy ball
the same man was also successful ; the distance thrown
was 32 feet 5 inches, and the weight of the stone, or iron
ball, rather over 23i lbs. The ball was picked up out-
side the ramparts of Quebec, in 1846, when the 93d was
stationed in Canada, and it has ever since been used for
this purpose. Constant use has reduced its weight from
a 24-pounder to its present weight. The light stone
weighed 17 lbs., and was thrown by Bell 36 feet 51
inches, and the prize awarded. Bell was also the suc-
cessful competitor in tossing the caber, the longest being
a 20-foot fir pole. The first prize for the running high
leap was awarded to Gow, of the 93d, after a severe
contest with several Guardsmen and Scots Fusiliers,
the height finally reached was 5 feet 3 inches. The first
pi ize for standing high leap was awarded to Forbes, also
of the 93d, the height of the jump being 4 feet 8 inches.
In reel dancing and the Gillie Callum, and Highland
fling, a like success attended the 93d, although in this
case the prize was strongly contested by the 42d and
Scots Fusiliers, the successful candidate being the famed
Mackenzie, who hps upon more than one occasion been
selected for dancing beforo her Majesty. The short foot
race of 100 yards was capitally run, and the prize gained
by Serjeant M`Gillivray ' • and in the hurdle race of 400
yards, with five hUrdles, Corporal Motion was the suc-
cessful winner.

The other sports, such as sack-racing and wheel-
barrow-racing blindfold, where highly amusing. The
sports concluded with a foot steeple-chase open to the
whole camp, which was not run till a late hour in the
evening. In order to do full justice to al the competi-
tors, we shall give a list, as soon as completely made up,
of the results of the whole games.
There was a very large assemblage of spectators, a
large proportion of whom were ladies, to witness the
games, and every facility was afforded for viewing them
without inconvenience. The Duke of Cambridge and
nearly the whole of the brigade and staff officers were
present, as well as those connected with the other regi-
ments in camp.

General Sir: de Lacy Evans, who has the command of
the brigade in which the 93d is placed, has throughout
evinced the warmest interest in the success of the
" Gathering," and has most liberally contributed to the
fund. A number of the officers of the Carabincers and
Lancers agreeably diversified the operation by leaping
their horses over poles in the vicinity of the ground
allotted to the other sports. A splendid luncheon was
most hospitably and opportunely provided by the officers
for the numerous visitors, and the whole of the arrange-
ments of the committee of management, conceived in a
practical and business-Re spirit, were carried out with
a courtesy and gentleman-like urbanity, which reflected
credit on Colonel Rothe, Captain J. A. Evart, Lieute-
nant W. D. M'Donald, and Lieutenant Dalzell.
There is a rumour.afloat that the whole of the officers
in camp intend, previous to their removal, to give a
grand ball to their friends. It is expected that it vr.ll
come off in a large tent to be erected by Mr. Young-
husband, near the site which he at present occupies, a
short distance from head-quarters, and the use of which
has been granted to him by Lord Seaton.
The only occupation of the troops in camp yesterday
consisted of out-post service, but from this duty Lord
Seaton had most considerately exempted the three
Scotch regiments.

The following important communication was pub-
lished last evening, with the division orders :

"The Lieutenaiii-Genersl commriding has much plea-
sure in causlng the following memorandum to bo published
in division orders :

" Horse Guards, July 5, 1853,
" Memorandum.—General Viscount Hardmge has re-
ceived the Queen's commands to express her Majesty's
satisfaction in having u Anessed this day the lay'ng down
tho cylindrical pontoon bridge, which was completed in
less than one hour, for the passage of the artillery, cavalry,
and infantry.
" ' Her Majesty did not fail to observe the order, the
silence, and the perfect acquaintance with every detail
which prevailed throughout all ranks of the Sappers and
Minors.

" Her Majesty highly appreciates the services of this
portion of her army.
" From the date of its original formation, this corps
has bean remarkable in the annals of the British army for
the scientific attainments of its officers and the practical
knowledge of its men, and has justly acquired the confi-
dence and esteem of the army by its skilful arrangements,
and by being at all times foremost in the perilous duties of
war; in peace, upholding its high reputation by the useful
labours which it so cheerfully performs.
" Viscount Hardinge requests Lord Seaton will convey
to Colonel Jones, of the Royal Engineers, who directed the
pontoon train, and to Colonel Vicars, in charge of the engi-
neer duties in the camp, and to the officers and men of all
ranks oethe Royal Sappers and Minors, the Queen's high
approbation of their state of discipline and conduct.
"6 By Command of General Viscount Hardinge,
(Signed) "G. BRowri, A.G.
" By order, R. B. WOOD, Lieut.-Col., A.A.G.' "

REPORT OP THE COLONIAL LAND
COMMISSIONERS.—Yesterday the ND
thirteenthE generalmianllrnl
It is an portant publication at
srieopnoorrts owfasthrerinCtoeldo.nial Land and Emigration Commis-
the present period. It appears itmliat sincet theadcolnefltusion
th
is
of thewa3746n3729t2hiermtyi-gerigahntteyeaerfs—hwhieehre had
791, e 446, or
country
considerably more than one-half, have emigrated in the
six years. commencingias
tsix
yearswith
haslB4 h 7. e e Then
29858 and h
annual emigtrae-
tion during the
number who left the United Kingdom in 1852 was
368,764, being 23& per cent. above the average, and 91
per cent. above the emigration of 1851, which was the
largest that had before occurred. The great bulk of,the
emigration from the United Kingdom has for many
years consisted of Irish. The whole emigration to
Australia last year was 87,881, of which 53,527 .was
spontaneous, and 34,354 was Government. It seems
that in the first quarter of the present year there has
been a decrease in emigration, which the commissioners
regard as a proof that the labouring classes of the United
Kingdom, and especially of Ireland, are in a state of
unusual comfort and prosperity, which state of things
is likely to continue, looking at the vast contracts for
public works, so as to lead the commissioners to expect
that the condition of the labouring classes in this
country will continue to improve, and that either at
home or in British colonies an ample field and full re-
muneration will be found for their services.
THR ORDNANCE EBTABLIEMMENTS. —According to a
return issued en Friday, there are 150 persons employed
in the Ordnance establishments abroad, as storekeepers,
clerks, and temporary clerks., The entire charge of such
establishments is 67,2601.