The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-15 00:00:00

THE CAMP AT CHOBIIAM.

The change of troops took place yesterday under cir-
cumstances little calculated to inspire the incoming di-
vision with any especial admiration of camp life. The
rain, which had fallen in torrents during the previous
night, continued without intermission throughout the
morning, and at length reduced the whole field to such
a marshy condition that the Lieutenant-General consi-
derately countermanded the order which had been issued
to strike tents, and the whole were left standing by the
retiring regiments for the accommodation of those who
were to succeed to their occupation.
On Wednesday night the officers of the Cavalry
Brigade gave a grand dinner to the Duke of Cam-
bridge in their mess tent, which was gaily deco-
rated with cuirasses, lances, shabraques, sabres, &c.
About 90 sat down to an excellent entertainment,
furnished by the brigade suttler, Mr. Cole. Among
the officers present were—Colonel Cotton, Brigade-
Major ; Captain Clifton, 7th Dragoon Guards, A.D.C. ;
Deputy-Assistant Commissary-General Crookshank,
Brigade-Commissary ; the officers of the Ist Life Guards,
Carabineers, 18th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancers, and
those in command of the detachments of the Royal
Horse Guards (Blue), the 4th Dragoons, the Scots Greys,
and the Bth Hussars. The bands of four regiments
attended, and played a variety of favourite music during
the dinner. After the cloth had been drawn, Colonel
Hall, of the Ist Life Guards, proposed the health of her
Majesty, which was drunk with all the honours. The
gallant colonel next gave the health of their illustrious
commander, the Duke of Cambridge, passing a high
eulogium upon his Royal Highness's intimate knowledge
of everything connected with the service, and remark-
ing upon the great esteem in which the Duke was held
by all ranks of military men. The toast was most
enthusiastically received. His Royal Highness, in reply,
thanked the company for the honour paid to his name.
He felt greatly indebted to the Cavalry Brigade for the
admirable manner in which they had conducted them-
selves during the past month ; and he had no hesitation
in remarking, that all the credit which belonged to
them arose from their own exertions and their own high
state of discipline. In making this observation he re-
ferred to the rank and file as well as to the officers of
the several regiments. (Hear, hear.) He did not shrink
from confessing that he had personally derived much
benefit from his experience during the last month, and
he believed he had acquired a practical knowledge of
warfare which nothing short of actual service could have
given him. His Royal Highness said he trusted all pre-
sent would remember the friendly and brotherly feel-
ings which had prevailed at that board, and that those
he had the happiness of seeing round the mess table
would hereafter look upon him not only as a brigadier
commandant, but as a personal friend. (Cheers.)
After paying a high compliment to the household
troops, and remarking upon the excellent understanding
which existed between the brigade of Guards and their
brethren of the line, his Royal Highness dwelt particu-
larly on the good conduct of the troops, and, while re-
pudiating any desire for war, expressed his satisfaction at
knowing that he might have the command of such men
on service.

Other toasts followed, and a very agreeable evening
was brought to a close some time after midnight.
The Duke of Cambridge slept on the ground, and was
busily engaged as early as 7 o'clock yesterday morning
in superintending the movement of the various regi-
ments.

The Ist Life Guards, the Carabineers. the 17th Lan-
cers, and the 13th Light Dragoons vacated their quar-
ters at an early hour, and gave place to the incoming
cavalry regiments, all of which were housed before two
o'clock.

The outgoing infantry regiments were on their way to
the various railway stations before 10 o'clock, and the ar-
rivals continued throughout the day without intermis-
sion. It would be scarcely possible to conceive a more
wretched spectacle than some of the corps presented
after having been exposed to a pitiless rain for several
hours. But for the humane concession of the Lieutenant-
General allowing the tents to remain standing, the most
lamentable consequences must have followed. The
whole field and its approaches presented the appearance
of a perfect swamp, and all the roads in the lower por-
tion of the encampment were completely flooded.
The conveyance of the baggage belonging to the va-
rious regiments over the disgraceful roads of this vicinity
was a matter of great difficulty, and horrible cruelty was
practised upon some of the poor horses attached to the
carriers' waggons. In one case, where a civilian inter-
fered to protect from brutal treatment an animal greatly
overladen with artillery baggage, he was most unwar-
rantably seized by a bombardier and marched nearly two
miles between a couple of privates with drawn swords.
On reaching head-quarters he was of course immediately
set at liberty,
but not before he had assured the officer
with whom he was brought into communication that
proper means would at once be taken to obtain satisfac-
tion for the gross outrage of which he had been the
victim.

CITY OF LONDON TRADESMEN'S CLUB.—The annual
dinner of this club, which is one of a convivial character
was held last night at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-street.
The chair was occupied by Sir John Key, the newly
elected Chamberlain, who took an opportunity of thank-
ing the meeting for the kind assistance he had received
on a recent occasion. The health of Sir John was en-
thusiastically received, and the evening was spent in
mutual good humour.