The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-17 00:00:00

TILD CAMP AT CHOBITAM COMMON.

Yesterday was a day of repose for the troops, and
now that the ordinary routine of camp life has begun,
the quarters of those regiments which have seen much

foreign service arc easily to be distinguished from their
less-experienced brethren by the greater efficiency of the
men and better pitching of the tents. The troops of the
Household Brigade, it will be remembered, were the first
to pitch their tents on the • day of the formation of the
camp, but beyond this temporary superiority we cannot
say that they have done anything to maintain their pre-
eminence. Either from some fault in the ground, or in the
arrangement of the tents, a great many of them were re-
pitched on the following Wednesday, but even now
they are about the worm pitched tents on the whole field.
This we mean to apply with regard to the canvas, not
being properly strained down to the pins, but suffered
to hang in loose and unseemly wrinkles, and frequently
with the pole set awry. The regiments of the line, on
the contrary, seem to improve, and be more at home in
the camp every hour. The 95th and 93d, in particular,
occupied the longest time in pitcl.ing their tents of any
regiment, but the work though slow was sure, and what
was done, was done thoroughly, for decidedly there is no
force on the ground which has, as a body, its tents pitched
so well. The gallant 42d also deserve high praise. But it
is not in tent pitching alone that these particular corps
surpass the others. In everything which relates to
"roughing," with its thousand and one make-shifts—from
killing and cutting up a bullock down to the men wash-
..

ing themselves all over in a little tin pannikin, into
which literally they can scarcely get five fingers
—they are pre-eminent. The accuracy and rapidity
with which the men of the 93d employ themselves in
plaiting circular straw mats for completely covering the
ground on which the tent is pitched would astonish any
beholder. The greater part of yesterday was al›.
sorbed by such duties, with drill, parade; water parties,
&c. Towards the close of the day, when the men had a
little more spare time, they amused themselves with the
usual athletic sports which the regiments generally pur-
sue when in barracks. Football was most vigorously
played by the English soldiers, while the Scotch devoted
themselves to dancing to the music of the bagpipes. On
Wednesday evening the men of the 42d and 93d were
dancing the Highland fling with an agility and grace
which we have seldom seen surpassed. Some of the
93d men also danced the sword dance over two drawn
claymores in a manner that elicited great applause from
the groups of officers standing by.
From these details it will be seen at once that the
most perfect unanimity prevails among both officers and
men. Some endeavours, however, have been made by

many of the men of the different regiments to evade the
active duties of camp, by presenting themselves to their
respective medical officers, and complaining of such ills
as gumboils, pains in their bones, toothache, &c., and
which they alleged nothing would cure but being taken
into hospital. It is needless to say that such fictitious
illnesses did not prevail over the skill of the surgeons,
who in almost every instance sent the men back to their
duty. We believe, also, that the medical officers report
unanimously that there never were fewer men upon the
sick list than now. As we stated yesterday, the
hospital tents are placed in the rear of each regi-
ment's quarters, but they are only destined for the
reception of trivial cases which can be easily cured.
All cases which may threaten serious indisposition will
be immediately removed from the lines and sent on to
the general hospital, which has been established for the
occasion at Chobham, and where all the conveniences of
a regular infirmary are provided.
No heavy duties in the way of reviews, sham
battles, night surprises, &c., will take place this week
we believe ; but with the next, the heavy work, for
which the camp was assembled, will commence.
This (Friday) morning, the whole of the camp,
cavalry, infantry, and artillery, with the tents and
stables, will be inspected by the Commander in Chief
General Lord Hardinge. To-morrow there will be no
field day nor demonstration of any kind. We wish to
impress this fact upon the public, as several of our
morning contemporaries have announced such a cele-
bration of the Waterloo anniversary as being definitely
fixed to take place. On Sunday there will, of course,
be no operations or sight of any kind, beyond the pas-
sage of the men to the different neighbouring churches.
On Tuesday there will be a grand review and sham
battle upon the plain ; her Majesty and Prince
Albert will be present on this occasion, and a most
numerous attendance of the aristocracy is also expected.
On Wednesday next the whole of Lieutenant-General
Sir De Lacy Evans's Brigade, consisting of the 38th and
93d Regiments, and the Rifle Battalion, will strike their
tents, and taking with them provisions and water for
three days, proceed upon a march into the country, re-
turning back again to camp on Friday afternoon. Each
of the two other brigades of infantry will likewise take
a similar march into the country in their turn. In such
exhibitions as these the " rouehing" will be even more
severe than in the camp.

WHITECHAPEL PRIZES TO WORKING MEN. -On
Wednesday evening a public meeting was held in White-
chapel, in the large school-room—the Earl of Shaftes-
bury in the chair—for the purpose of presenting the
prizes recently offered to the working men of White-
chapel by a committee of gentlemen of the parish. The
meeting was well attended, and as the working men had
been especially invited, they were present in great num-
bers. The Rev. W. W. Champneys, chairman of the
committee for awarding the prizes, opened the meeting
with a statement of the immediate object the committee
had in view, namely, to learn from the working men
themselves what difficulties they had to contend with,
and the best practicable means of removing them. The
prizes were then presented by the Earl of Shaftesbury.
The first, of seven guineas, to James Patten, fancy soap-
maker ; the second, of five guineas, to Thomas Stoner,
carpenter ; the third, of three guineas, to John Jones,
printer. His lordship then addressed the meeting at
some length, pressing home upon the poor the wisdom
of looking to themselves rather than to others, and, upon
the rich the duty of considering the poor, as there were
ninny things in which the poor are of themselves help-
less. After other addresses from gentlemen on the plat-
form, -
form, and the usual votes of thanks, the meeting-a
broke up.