The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-14 00:00:00

THE CAMP AT CHOBSAM COMMON. 1

THIS DAY, 12 A.M.
The first of our great modern military essays com-
menced this morning. At an early hour soon after the
break of day the artillery and cavalry began their march
for the camp at Chobbam Common, from the various
points where they had been halted for temporary rest,
and as they approached the ground of encampment the
respective bands awoke the rustic population from slum-
ber, and hastened the arrival of the surrounding gentry,
who, as early as five o'clock, were on the road well
horsed for the better enjoyment of the grand spectacle
of the day, and among them were some hundreds of the
gentler sex.

As the morning wore on apace the infantry began to
hover in sight of within some three miles. of the common
from various points, and as they wound round the roads
in full marching order the scene presented a grand pano-
rama of men fully equipped for war, and moving as it
were by one motive power, so regularly did the footsteps
meet the eye. The sun, which shone out resplendently,
threw its beams upon sabres and fixed bayonets, lending
to the reality the ideal of an advancing forest of burnished
steel.

At eight o'clock, Chertsey was like one great military
field of operations, some 2,000 of the Infantry having
arrived by the South-Western Railway early train, a
force augmented by the arrival of the 95th, who had
only left Chatham at half-past four o'clock that morn-
ing, all in heavy marching order—an achievement
that must tell most favourably of the great assist-
ance of the railway mode of bringing our troops
rapidly to any given point where their presence might
be required. At 9 o'clock the troops commenced their
march from this point, all having fallen in on the word
of command without the slightest disorder, and headed
by their bands, the rear being brought up by such of
the men's wives and children and camp followers, as the
general order applying on the occasion permitted to fol-
low. From Chertsey this fine body of men were flanked
on either side by gentlemen equestrians, and a goodly
number of ladies, who, in their riding habits, came by
special train from the Waterloo station, their steeds
having been sent down on the over night.
At Woking Common there arrived from Portsmouth,
by the 5.30 and 6.30 trains of the South-Western Rail-
way, two detachments of troops, infantry and cavalry,
and later there also came, on that large plane, by the
half-past 7 o'clock train from the Willastone Junction,
Kew, and Staines, two divisions, making in all about
3,500 men. This force having been drawn up, were
called over, and ordered to march for Cobham-common'
a distance of six miles. For troops heavily accoutred,
it will be readily understood that the ground to be got
over by this portion of the force was considerable,
considering that they did not commence their march until
half-past 8 o'clock for the destination. It will,
therefore, be seen that the order from the War-office
expecting the whole 10,000 men to be on the common
at Chobham not only by 10 o'clock, but that they should
if possible arrive there simultaneously, could not under
the circumstances be carried out without fatiguing a
large number of the troops by a forced march through
roads rendered heavy by the rain of the previous even-
ing. As we now write, several divisions are still on the
march from Woking, and distant from the encampment
some two miles. They are, however, presenting an ap-
pearance of vigour that must more than compensate for
the little delay in arriving in camp.
A smart shower is now coming down, and fears are
entertained that we shall have a succession of them, to
the discomfort of not only our army, but of the thou-
sands of spectators assembled.
The respective detachments of regiments are in readi-
ness with the tents, which will be served out when all
are drawn up ; and when the word " Pitch tents " is
passed, the whole are expected to be up in 20 minutes ;
but this manoeuvre cannot possibly be carried out before
2 o'clock at the earliest, after which the men will do
ample justice to the dinner now being cooked for each
mess.

METROPOLITAN POLlCE.—Yesterday morning, in-
structions were received by the Commissioners of
Police, from the Home Office, to send a number
of efficient constables immediately to Chobhaxp, to
perform duty near the military camp now forming in
that locality. In consequence of such instructions,
the superintendents of the various divisions received
orders to send, without delay, twenty men and two
sergeants from the reserve force of each division, who
will be under the direction of three inspectors. The men
mustered at 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon, with all their
clothing and necessaries, at their respective station-houses,
and after being inspec;:ed by their superintendents,
marched off to the South-Western Railway station,
where a special train was in readiness to convey them
to Chertsey, from which station they were taken to
Chobham in covered vans. Lodgings have been pro-
cured for the men, and temporary police stations erected
around the encampment, so that every precaution has
been taken to prevent the light-fingered corps from
following their avocations with much success. On
field days and reviews extra men belonging to the
detectives will do duty with them. The Secretary-at-
War has issued orders that all the men so employed
shall have extra pay. The inspectors 4s. a day, the ser-
geants 2s. a day, and the constables ls. a day, in addition
to their regular pay. They will remain on duty at
Chobham until the encampment is broken up. The
Surrey constabulary, under Mr. Superintendent Biddle-
combe, attached to that district, will also be reinforced,
and assist the metropolitan police in preserving order
and protecting property. A number of mounted police
will also patrol the neighbourhood, both day and night.
CHOBHAM CAMP POST-OFFICE.—An arrangement has
been made for a post-office at the Chobham Camp, with
two deliveries and dispatches daily, which will be in
connexion with the Post town of Chertsey. All letters
for the Camp should be specially addressed "The Camp,
Chertsey," otherwise delay may occur.

AUSTRALIA AND INDIA.—The General Screw Steam
Company have received advices that the Argo, outward
bound for Port Philip, reached St. Vincent on the 18th
of May, after a fine run of 10 days from Southampton,
all well,. The Calcutta, for India, reached the same
port on the morning of the 25th, 10 days 16 hours from
Plymouth, all well.
BANS OF AUSTRALASIA.—The dividend declared at
the meeting held yesterday, was at the rate, of 15 per
cent. per annum, and the report and accounts were
unanimously adopted. The chairman (Mr. T. W. Hen-
derson), in explaining the position of the establishment,
stated that business was making satisfactory progress,
and that there was no reason to anticipate any unfavour-
able reaction. From well-authenticated statistics the
directors had received it appeared that the gold produced
in Victoria during the year 1852 was 18,000,0001., in
addition to the considerable yield from New South
Wales. The trade of the Australian colonies, now ra-
pidly expanding, together with the large local works
being carried out, had opened new sources for banking
transactions, and hence the board were led to anticipate
a steady career of prosperity. In adjusting their accounts
full provision had been made for bad and doubtful debts,
while with respect to old dependencies little remained
to be arranged.
_ _

RouEN.Letters from Rouen mention that the market
for manufactures was heavy, the attendance of buyers
being limited, and the majority having already com-
pleted their purchases.
ODEssA.—The mercantile advices from Odessa reach
to the 3d of June. Extensive purchases had been made
of wheat, but prices had, nevertheless, experienced a
further decline, and were expected to go lower, unless
political affairs shobld mend: Nothing further was
known as to the position of the war question, and all
transactions, therefore, were entirely uncertain and
speculative.
THE NUNNERIES BILL.—DUBLIN, Monday Evening.—
The aggregate meeting at the Rotunda to-day, to peti-
tion against the Nunneries Bill, was most numerously
attended. Many leading Roman Catholics from all parts
of the country were present. Sir Thomas Esmonde pre-
sided. The resolutions against the bill were unani-
mously adopted. All passed off peaceably.
THE STATUES IN ST. PAUL'S.—A correspondent com-
plains, and with justice, of the way in which the statues
in St. Paul's are disfigured by printed placards. Dr.
Johnson, as Bacon bas made his statue, is seen, as our
correspondent writes, "in a noble abstraction his
great mind evidently dwelling on some of the loftiest
studies which can engage human attention; but how
completely is he turned to ridicule by the Dean and
Chapter, for on Johnson's forefinger is seen to
dangle a pasteboard, inscribed, 'lt is particularly re-
quested that the monuments may not be touched'—
as if Johnson's expressive forefinger had been thus
extended by Bacon for no other object than as a peg on
which a common placard might be hung. Surely this
disfigurement of a noble statue is disg:aceful to the Dean
and Chapter. Would a magistrate fins me for removing
it to a situation in the same building where it would be
equally well seen, and would not disfigure one of our
finest portrait statues ?" We have ourselves observed
of late that some of Chantrey's statues in Westminster
Abbey are disfigured in the same tasteless manner by
another Dean and Chapter. Should the trustees of the
National Gallery imitate our cathedral and collegiate
deans, we shall have the Ecce Homo of Correggio carry-
ing on its canvas a white paper placard, inscribed, "You
are particularly requested not to touch the pictures."
How these divine heads would suffer from such a taste-
less juxtaposition ! Our statues suffer much in the same
way.—Atheneum.

WALKING UNDER WATER.—Among the marvels of
the day must be reckoned M. de Saint-Simon Sicard's
invention of an apparatus which permits the possessor
to take a half hour's promenade at the bottom of a
river, and there occupy himself as fancy suggests—from
flirting with mermaids to rescuing " moist bodies."
We are recording what has been done in Paris, not
what the inventor professes can be done. M. Grand-
champ made a public experiment the other day, and
remained thirty-five minutes at the bottom of the Seine.
A little improvement in this apparatus, will, it is pro-
bable, greatly extend its capacity. This is all we can learn
of its'construction :—a complete clothing of caeutchouc
from head to foot, including helmet and sock, allows the
wearer to descend below the water without danger of
contact; the helmet has a valve which allows the air to
escape at the moment of submersion ; and no sooner is
this submersion complete than the pressure of the water
closes the valve hermetically. A provision of air to be
inspired is carried in a box, placed like a hump in the
back of the cuirass of caoutchouc. This box has a tube
which carries the air into the helmet in order that the
breathing may take place without effort ; and a little
stopcock enables the distribution of air to be regulated
at pressure. No sooner is there difficulty of breathing
than a signal is given, and the experimenter is brought
to the surface once snore.—The Leaflet*.