The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-03 00:00:00

were 8-pounders, admirably horsed and served,
with six horses to each gun. While the artillery
were firing in front, the infantry were drawn up
in three lines, one behind the artillery, and two
others in reserve. The enemy still advancing, the
artillery made a rapid movement in retreat, and
formed on the right of the line, and in spaces
left for that purpose at intervals along the
line. Infantry and artillery now commenced a
tremendous fire upon the advancing enemy. More
effective file firing than that which the infantry
poured in has seldom been heard. The guns were
also served with extreme rapidity, and the extraor-
dinarily rapid and incessant discharge of cannon
and small arms was deafening. The fire of the
Chasseurs de Vincennes along such a line must be
most destructive to the enemy's cavalry, and many
French officers contend that infantry so armed
need not fear a charge of cavalry whenever their
approach can be discovered at a reasonable dis-
tance. Marshal St. Arnaud is said to have given
instructions to General Canrobert to try and solve
the question whether the infantry of the line can
be trained to the exercise and duties of the Chas-
seurs de Vincennes. General Lourmel has written
a pamphlet to show that all the line ought to have
the Minie rifle and undergo the training of the
Chasseurs de Vincennes. It is clear that if Gen.
Lourmel and the officers who have served with the
Chasseurs in Africa are right in saying that the rifle
musket is as efficacious at 800 yards as " Brown
Bess" is at 200 yards, any advancing columns
would have received a most destructive fire from
such a line as was now drawn up, before they could
return a single shot with effect.
The enemy, however, still advancing, were sup-
posed to attempt to turn the French right. The
----a n

The French military authorities were careful to
explain to the English officers of rank who repre-
sented her Majesty at the Camp at Helfaut on the
occasion of the grand review of the troops by the
Emperor, that the French camp had not been
formed out of any rivalry of the Englizli military
display at Chobham. The assurance was scarcely
needed, for the plateau, of Helfaut has for many
years served as a camp of instruction for the French
soldiery. A permanent camp was formed here dur-
ing the American war of independence. In 1826 a
camp of 12,000 men was established here, and from
1827 to 1830 various bodies of troops assembled
here for military instruction. Perhaps the most
important event in the military history of Helfaut
was the organisation of the Foot Chasseurs (Chas-
seurs do Vincennes), which took place here in 1840.
In the following year the ten battalions of Chas-
seurs de Vincennes were assembled here, and mili-
tary men began to perceive that this now arm of
the service might be destined to effect a complete
revolution in military manoeuvres in the next gene-
ral war. I believe that from 1842 to 1848 there
was no encampment at Helfaut, although a few
troops were from time to time assembled. Since
August, 1847, up to the month of May in the pre-
sent year, the baraques have been unoccupied.
The camp at Helfaut is about four miles from St.
Omer. It is formed upon a plateau of about 65
English acres in extent, upon the heights which
overhang the valley of the river Aa. From these
heights the eye takes in a wide and rich' landscape,
including St. Omer with its cathedral, and the tower
of tkin,
the distance, tife- town of Cage 7: "Tvfo di Ihiee-
springs close to the camp supply the troops with
excellent water, the little river Aabeing nearenough
for the Cavalry and Artillery to water their horses
there. The tasteful manner m which the French
have embellished their camp opens up a whole
chapter of national contrasts between the character
of the French and English soldiery. Sculptors have
been found in the ranks at Helfaut to execute busts
of the Emperor and Empress ; architects have de-
signed symbolic monuments, which decoraters have
ornamented with poetical devices and emblems ;
and gardeners have traced out parterres and raised
seats of turf in successful resemblance to various
objects of nature and art. One regiment has in
front of its barracks a parterre, representing on one
side
ipoeur oorf
Legion
al in
ats t
Honour,
. eandl
ee
n a s. unp
thepHoer
Here
other
n gy theouth
saw
ec cross oo s s
ma
bofoa
frt he
large
he e LmE
plaster, representing the Emperor and Empress,
and there an escutcheon containing the Emperor's ,
initials, and a bouquet for the Empress, artistically
designed. The 3d battalion of the 48th have built '
a pyramid, surmounted by the military medal in '
plaster, and have inscribed upon the pyramid the
glorious names of Jemappes, Ekmuhl, Moskowa, 1
Staoueli' and Isly, in which battles the regiment 1
took part. The 9th battalion exhibit in front of
their baraques a construction of turf, representing '
the donjon of the Castle of Vincennes, and a foun-
tain rising from a basin surrounded by flowers.
Hard by is an obelisk to the memory of Marshal
Bugeaud, with the inscriptions,. " T Hour" and !
" Isly" ; then a column in plaster, surmounted by
a bust of the Emperor, admirably executed by a
young Parisian artist, a soldier in the battalion.
Most of these embellishments were commenced as
soon as the troops were marched into the' camp,
during their first hours of leisure, but during the
week previous to the Emperor's visit great exertions
were made to render the camp worthy of the Im-
perial presence. The little gardens had been newly
turfed and mown, the alleys newly sanded and
swept, and new sculpture and objects of art were
disposed in the most effective positions.
The camp itself is of two parts, the old and new
camp, which are about 150 yards apart. The whole
camp occupies a frontage of about a mile. The
English notion of a camp is a collection of tents
and marquees, but the baraques at Helfaut are of
wood and clay, and are rudely thatched. The bara-
ques of the common soldiers occupy three parallel
lines in front of the camp, each baraque holding
12 men. The non-commissioned officers are a little
in rear of the men, and then come by turns the

cover of a strong
line of sharp-shooters and riflemen, and the second
lino were ordered to change front and to advance
in the direction of the enemy,
.supported by the
artillery. The second line then in turn threw in
a most destructive fire, which lasted for several
minutes. These manucevres had been performed
' in a storm of wind and rain ; and as every soldier
upon the ground, including the Emperor, who dis-
dained to wear a coat or cloak, was drenched to the
skin, and as the rain showed no signs of abatement,
and the manoeuvres came to an abrupt termination,
the order was given to cease firing. An immense
square was then formed, and the Emperor, sur-
rounded by his staff, placed himself in the centre
and distributed several decorations of the Legion
of Honour—a ceremony which the Empress wit-
nessed from her carriage. By far the most remark-
able personage in the brilliant ;coup which sur-
rounded
the Emperor was the Prince Napoleon,
who acted as aide-de-camp to his Imperial cousin.
The prince, mounted upon a grey charger, in the
dress of a lieutenant-general, and wearing the grand
cordon of the Legion of Honour, presented a mar-
vellous resemblance to his uncle. He has the Em-
peror's features, his deep sunk eye, his olive com-
plexion, and round shoulders ; the prince is more
corpulent than the Emperor was at his age, but, as
his " make up" is perfect, one might have sup-
posed the " Little Corporal" was looking on upon
the distribution of the rewards. The troops now
and then broke out in cries of " Vive r Empereur,"
and " Vise t'Emperatrice," but as every soldier
had now been exposed for five or six hours to a
searching rain, the enthusiasm was of the mildest
character. After the distribution the Emperor
slowly proceeded round the interbr of the square.
It is observed that when the Emperor approaches
the standard of each regiment he gives his horse
the spur, and makes him bound towards the eagle.
The Emperor is an admirable horseman, riding in
the English style, and while his horse is executing
this little theatrical movement his Majesty grace•
fully raises his hat and salutes the colours.
The review over, their Majesties returned to St.
Omer, and the troops to their encampment at
Helfaut. At 7 o'clock the Emperor and Empress
honoured with their presence a grand banquet,
given by the city of St. Omer to their Majesties
and the Ministers, Marshals, and members of their
suite.

At this banquet, as well as at the ball by which
it was followed, the English military representa-
tives were treated with marked attention and cour-
tesy by their Majesties.
A few days after the Emperor's visit the camp
was broken up. It is said that a large body of
troops will be re-assembled at Helfaut next year.—
Times. •

huts of the subaltern and field officers. The two
Generals of Brigade (General La Motte Rouge and
General Besson) have their baraques completely in
the rear, and isolated from the others. A rude
building behind the centre of the old camp is oc-
cupied by General Canrobert, Aide-de-Camp of the
Emperor, who has had the command of the troops
assembled at Helfaut. In front of the camp, and
at the edge of the heights as they are approached The negligence and carelessness of the Colonial
from St. Omer, is a chapel, in which divine service Postmasters and Post-office clerks form aprominent
has been performed every Sunday. On the morn- feature of complaint in the Australian papers re-
ing of the Emperor's visit the troops were all draWn ceived by the last and by former mails. The trans-
up around this altar, and mass was performed by mission of letters from one town and colony to ano-
the Bishop of Arras. On the right of the chapel ther is slow and uncertain. Frequently letters do
is a building constructed for Prince Napoleon (the not come to hand at all; more frequently their
son of Jerome), who has passed several days at the transmission and delivery are delayed many days,
camp, and who is a great favourite with the men, and even weeks. In Sydney and Melbourne the
as well from his singular resemblance to the first great bankiug-houses, commercial firms, and mana-
Emperor, as from the ardour which he has brought gers of public companies alone receive the letters
to the study of his profession. addressed to them with something akin to regula-
The Emperor and Empress, accompanied by the rity, probably because it would, perhaps, not be
Minister of War, Marshal St. Arnaud, arrived safe to exasperate those who have the means of en-
from Lille at St. Omer at 1 o'clock on Sunday, the forcing redress. But persons of little importance
25th ult., and were received at the St. Omer Rail- and influence have to wait and petition before ,the
way station by the Prince Napoleon, General Can- correspondence is delivered to them. If they write
robert, General Espinasse, and a numerous staff letters they are never certain as to the time those
from the camp. Their Majesties immediately pro- letters will be forwarded to their destination. At
seeded to the camp in a covered carriage, followed the diggings this state of things is much worse;
by the staff on horseback, and accompanied by an owing to the badness of the roads, the mails
escort of hussars. The rain fell heavily during come in and go out with provoking irregularity.
the afternoon, but the entire population of The great post-offices of the colonial capitals are
St. Omer, in carriages and on foot, seemed to have slow to acknowledge the existence of new dig-
poured itself into the road leading to the camp. gings and of fresh communities of gold seekers.
The Imperial party proceeded at a rapid rate to the It takes much time, it requires many angry
camp, where they were received by a salute of 101 complaints in the local papers, before the official
guns, fired from 30 cannon of new construction, dignitaries at Sydney or Melbourne can be in-
which were loaded and fired with such rapidity that duced to appoint a postmaster for a newly peopled
in a few minutes the salute was achieved. The district, and to find for that district a couple of
Emperor, on arriving at the camp, mounted a messengers and bags. Thus much do the papers
splendid bay charger, and proceeded to inspect they of Post-office mismanagement within the co-
troops, who were drawn up in line. The Em- Tony. As for the transmission of correspondence
peror's staff here received several accessions, in the to England, and the delivery of letters from the
persons of the English, Prussian, and Dutch officers
mother country, the complaints are still more fre-
q
of rank who had been invited to attend the ma- quest and acrimonious. We have now before us a
noeuvres. The English officers who represented curious document signed by 52 gold diggers of
her Majesty on this occasion were—the Earl of Forest Creek, Castlemaine, which corroborates in
Lucan, the Marquis of Worcester, Lord Bingham, every respect the statements which the colonial
Colonel Fox Strangeways, and Colonel Jones, papers contain of the gross neglect that charac-
R.E. Captain L. Bulkeley, and many other Eng- tenses the whole conduct of Australian adminis-
lish officers, were also present. The Emperor, in tration, but which in no one department makes
passing down the line with his brilliant staff, was itself so generally and painfully felt as in those
Post-offices, which appear to be established for the
received with acclamations by the troops. He then
rode round the camp, and examined the works of retention and suppression of correspondence. Well
art which I have above described. He stopped be- may the poor diggers of Forrest Creek denounce
fore an excellent bust of the Empress in white the system as a system of robbery.
stone, and learnt that it was the work of a young " Seldom," say they, " does a letter from friends
musician. The artist, of course, requested his —from wife, sister, or brother—ever reach the
Majesty to accept the bust, which was ordered to unfortunate immigrant. We travel about '7O
be forwarded to their Majesties at Paris. The miles to Melbourne for a letter. We live at great
Emperor and Empress then proceeded to the expense while there. It costs us at least 12s. per
baraque of theiCommander-in-Chief, General Can- day. We spend hours, for days together, under a
robert, where a splendid collation was prepared. burning sun, before we can see an impertinent
Prince Napoleon, Marshal Arnaud, Marshal Val- clerk, who, with perfect coolness, informs us there
limit, Le Comte Clary, Senator, the Bishop of are no letters—aye often without' looking. If this
Arras, and the English and other foreign officers answer does not 'dismiss the applicant, we fre-
were among the guests of General Canrobert. quen.tly find a letter is at last given, and the post-
While the distinguished party were thus engaged mark and date prove that the letter has been lying
the troops received the order to march towards at the office for weeks past."
the plain of Bruyres, where the grand military The system as described by our correspondents
manceuvres of the day were to take place.
As infantry, cavalry, and artillery slowly wound sets a premium on bullying. A modest retiring
man, who has perhaps travelled 70 miles, spent
down the steep hill from the camp, they found
the road almost impassable from the numbers of several pounds, and waited two or three days before
he gains admission, will turn away footsore and
equipages from St. Omer and the surrounding d by his want of
towns and villages on their way to the camp sick at heart, until, exasperate
others, be
After passing through the little village of Blau-
. success, and taught by the example of
~;sance
decques, at the foot of the heights, the troops blusters and threatens until he becomes ana
and must be got rid of, and then, perhaps,
delivery
gained the vast plain of Bruyeres, and were formed is found. As for letters from home,
non-delivery
letters
in order of battle.
is the rule—delivery the exception.
England are
to
The Bruyeres is an extensive plain, quite flat, which are posted for transmission
the letter
senders, and
situated about midway between the camp and St.this head, the
Omer, of which town it commands a picturesque are dealt with accordingly.
of course beyond the control ofcle
view. It lies high, and is said to be on a level ' appeal of the 52 gold_ . diggers of Forest Creek is as
with the tower of the Cathedral of St. Omer- explicit as it is totilicehifiri They say '—
Charles of immigrants at Vic-
Charles X. often manoeuvred from 20,000 to 30,000 "Pray inform the
often written to—that they are
since on the Bruyeres. A portion of the plain has
worse than all—Oh I - e
since been enclosed, but there is still room to ma- not forgotten—and,
trials are before us. W
themselvesb
heard of. We have Sir, tell
nceuvre 10,000 men. The troops originally assem- them t
torus
lunch to
ne ; many
neverc .
bled at the camp were about 7,000 strong, but some svercoi h
. th "
• wee needstill
our IT .
must, I think, have been sent away, for I could not love to hear from tsliTealakndfoorf
up. These e.
satisfy myself that more than 5,000 were drawna_r
1 Y., not, therefore, repeat the ve
The infantry formed in line ; the artillery, ry harsh and uncom-
ilaitvaires) Alimentary epithets which our
and waggon trains (train des equipagreescry correspondents be-
ards in stow on the Post-office clerks at AII
forming a second line about a Mind I. el bourne.They
roughly will suggest themselves to
the rear. A vast c recourse of persons,te
h ground who can realise the the mind of every man
estimated at 60,000, were assemblehdei
°,llllts. Imme- terests sacrificed to idea
of seeing his dearest in-
andd occupied the neighbouring heights.
the Imperial party i sneered at by the the supercilious languor, an
diately upon the arrival of .
th a brilliant charge the public. A. arrogance of the paid servants of
the manceuvres commenced v.,' 1
who are a crack of this partial explanation of the growth
think the St I—iniquitous system is furnished by certain
by the Hussars—l d
but their horses, although letters and
corps, well mounted ;
on , deficient in the bone paragraphs which now and then figure
and se • in the Australian
fleet, are small,
of the English cavalry. The The papers.
and endurance
d the artillery went to ,
retire ,
Hussars having
commenced a heavy cannonade in I extent, lost the power of controlling its servants.
the front, and he enemy, who was suppose., II A. Government situation at the present time is not
the direction
ofalong the St. Omer road, The "1 BO desirable as it was before the discovery of the
to be advancing guns ! goldfields changed the social aspect of those colonies.

AUST R ALIAN POST-OFFICE DEEM--

QUENCIES.