The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-02 00:00:00

MAJOR _RHODES' PATENT TENTS.

In our last volume we published an elaborate
description of Major Rhodes' improved tents for
army and other purposes, and expressed our high
sense of their value. These tents having recently
been brought under the notice of the authorities at
the Horse Guards, the Duke of Cambridge gave
directions for two of the tents to be pitched at Chat-
ham garrison, in order to put to a practical test
the superiority of the invention over the ordinary
military tents now in use by the army when
encamped at Aldershot, the Curragh, Chatham,
and other military stations. Two of the tents
have accordingly just been erected on the grounds
adjoining the Garrison Hospital at Chatham,
under the personal superintendence of Major
Rhodes. " During the storm and hurricane which
swept over Chatham on Wednesday night," says
the Times' Chatham correspondent, " they were
found to be in every respect superior to the ordi-
nary tents erected near the same spot
After the tent had been fixed on Wednesday after-
noon, ten of the portable bedsteads from the hos-
pital were moved into it, and as many patients di-
rected to take possession of them. Notwithstand•
ing the tremendous storm which raged early yes-
terday morning, not the slightest inconvenience
was experienced by the inmates, who slept as dry
as in an ordinary room, while many•of the other
tents admitted the water, which poured in as
through a sieve. Major Rhodes' hospital tent can
be pitched by eight men in 12 minutes ; and,
whereas in the present tents there are about 150
pegs and 70 ropes to each, the new invention
has only about 40 pegs and 12 ropes to secure it,
there being no necessity for the men to turn out in
the rain during the night to slack' the ropes as
with the present tents—a serious matter when that
duty has to be performed by sick patients."
The advantages of Major Rhodes' tents over
those of the Government may be briefly noticed.
His hospital tent weighs about 1121bs. less than
the Government hospital•marquee, and its cost sis
about £3 under the Government contract price.
The ventilation is most efficient, and subject to
the control of the medical -officer—impervious to
wet, and the strong rays of the sun—can be
pitched in 12 minutes by eight men. The Hanove-
rian Government (who have practically tested this
tent) pronounce that Rhodes' hospital tent affords
the best shelter hitherto obtained in camp
hospitals, &c. The price of a Government hospital
marquee, 30 feet wide by 141 feet, and 14 feet in
height, is from £33 to £35, and weighs (in three
packages) from 5071b5. to 6521b5. (the latter weight
includes 4 ground sheets.) It affords accommoda-
tion for from 18 to 20 patients. Major Rhodes's 20-
feet diameter field-tent costs £24, viz., about £l2
cheaper, and weighs (in 2 packages) 2301 b., viz. 277
lbs. less than the Government hospital marquee. It
offers accommodation for from 18 to 20 patients.
Two of Major Rhodes's 20-feet diameter field tents
can be pitched by 4 men (in about 8 minutes for each
tent), on about the same space of ground as is requi-
site for only one Government hospital-marquee ;
and further, from 10 to 14 men require from 15
to 20 minutes to pitch the latter ,tent. Major
Rhodes' tent provides detached accommodation for
24 rifles, 24 sets of accoutrements, and 24 knapsacks,
with a perfect system of ventilation ; in which very
important points the Governmtnt hospital marquee
is deficient. Irrespective of cost, &c., it results that
by adopting Major Rhodes's tents into the service,
healthy shelter can be provided for about 45 men,
allowing the same amount of transport as is at pre-
sent necessary for conveying only one Government
hospital marquee, which latter only affords accom•
modation for 20 men ; thus showing a clear saving
of more than one hundred per cent. in cost of trans-
port, which with an army in the field, would be a
very great relief to the Commissariat Department.
We now learn that the officers appointed to ex-
amine Major Rhodes's tents at Chatham are about to
report most strongly in their favour to the Com-
mander-in-Chief.-11fechanicsMagazine. .

[P.S.—We are glad to hear that the merits of
Major Rhodes's invention has already met with the
approbation and patronage of one of our ablest
scientific men, viz., Professor Doctor Tyndall,
F.R.S., &c., who has ordered one of Major Rhodes's
" Guard tents," for the purpose of taking with him
to the top of Mont-Blanc, where a scientific mission
is about to assemble. We trust that the results of
scientific research will amply repay the learned
Professor, and that his report will bear favourably
on Major Rhodes's invention.—ED.]

" THE LONDON," FLEET-STREET.

One of the personal greivances of the present
day is found in the continual complaints that are
made against hotel-keepers in their unreasonable
and extravagant charges. It is a reality in which
we can fully sympathise, inasmuch, as travel where
you will, locate ourselves at the best hotels, or at
the " Commercial and Sporting Houses," the nume-
rous items for accommodation and refreshments (no
matter how humble and unpretending they may
be) make a grievous onslaught on our pecuniary
resources. The charge varies in direct proportion
to the definition of the meal. There is the break-
fast, with or without ham and eggs, or meat. The
lunch, which is usually, with the omission of vege-
tables, a shade removed from the substantials of
dinner ; but the charges for these respective re-
pasts seem to depend upon the fact of whether one
or both are taken on the same day, and whether
you happen to be an occasional or regular frequen-
ter of the house. Waiters, as well as landlords,
have a shrewd recollection of the physiognomy of
their customers, and the former has an infallible me-
mory on the point whether or not you gave him a don-
ceurin addition to the payment of the usual charges
in your bill for attendance. These are some of the
reminiscences of a traveller's life, fraught with a
fair admixture of pain and pleasure. A little trip
from home is always an agreeable variety and
episode in the ordinary avocations of daily life, and
we can recount with much pleasure all the inci-
dents of some enjoyable excursion, but the wasted
exchequer has too often proved that if you would
save your money you must not leave your home.
Nevertheless, business will frequently call all
classes from home, and London in England is gene-
rally the central spot for business negotiations,
whether they partake of the professional, the plea.
surable, or the commercial. Now a great de-
sideratum in London, to meet the requisites of
these three respective classes of travellers, is a good
home, where luncheon and dinner can be supplied
with every comfort, and in all abunchnce, on terms
commensurate with their own views. Nor is this
desideratum only to travellers or visitors from the
country. Those also who reside in London,
and whose avocations keep them so much
from home need such a restaurant as we have de-
scribed. In cur inns of court especially, how truly
is appreciated some neighbouring hostelry, where
the cravings of an excited appetite can be supplied
with all the details of celerity, cleanliness, comfort,
and substantiality, near to their own chambers.
Now "The London," a -well-established restaurant
in Fleet-street, at the corner of Chancery-lane,
answers
its
every every
departmentsuch
will
iil
be
found
nthe
thosepublic,
in
conve-
niences and desiderata which will satisfy
most fastidious and suit the most economical.the
Daily, at one o'clock, there are hot joints in every
variety of meats,where either a substantial luncheon
or an equally substantial dinner can be obtained—
inclusive of all extras except wine, spirits, and
beer, and at the small charge of is. 6d. each person ;
and where " The London" dinner for 2s. 6d. chal-
lenges in vain a rival for its excellency and cost.
The same routine is observed throughout the re-
mainder of the day, up to nine o'clock p.m., prices
only varying in accordance with the expensive or
ordinarycost of the viands which may be ordered.
There is the best class of all kinds of ales and
p,and
remunerative these a
tn o s e
ale
charges butwb i
eaht
iwtsh wines,heiicrwhich
ee
requires
liserwtnel
regulates, not West-end, but
,City houses. The
syliceinc,h the proprietor (Mr. Sawyer)
celebrated,ebtu at
connoisseur
which
ha re e
bpalateen
wines.
vivant i s
ievqwhu
eabtlohl ye
daily
enabledaitlthe
d produce
,drinks
su
catepbpeorlfteebocaeti
osapist:
ttreeoos pronounce awes
Rhenish
heuieint
npheceteliab the
ser
- Epernay, of Spain, or Portugal, they cannot be
surpassed; and the best proof of their excellence is
ustom
in ers,suwebho
daily
now
found in the absence of any complaint whatever
fonic
e lovd
increasing tha t
favourite
numbers.
Ladies as well as gentlemen experience the sam
advantages.
accommodation and enjoy the same
There are private as well as public rooms, and it is
at the option of the party taking refreshment to
restaurantrselect their own room or table amid the guests who
are invariably found at " The London." There is
another recommendation, which affects gentlemen
only, and that is the spacious smoking saloon, fitted
up in a most elegant manner. Almost every daily
and weekly journal is to be found there. Luxurious
sofas and ottomans tempt one as much to read as
to smoke, and to enjoy, whether in the process of
digestion, or in the calmness of one's own thoughts,
in the very heart of London, the soothing influ-
ence of a cigar, which, if the price be given, the
Havannah cannot surpass in quality or flavour.
We have not a better recommendation for these
facts than the indisputable testimony of constant
frequenters at " The London ;" and thinking such
testimony to be of service to visitors to the metro-
polis, we recommend them to pay a visit there and
judge for themselves of the truth and accuracy of
the statements we have made.