The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-27 00:00:00

THE CAMP AT ALDERSHOT.

As a general rule Aldershot is not a pleasant
place to visit. Like one of Dante's circles it has n,o
medium in temperature, and is either as arid and
dusty as Sahara or cold and cutting as the Arctic
regions. So with the wind, which is always revel-
ling over-the plain—it is either a hot, puffy blast,
half heath half sand, cr it blusters with a violence
against which it is almost useless contending. Yes-
terday all these atmospheric variations succeeded
each other with a rapidity which was astonishing
and uucomfor able to ihe last degree. A grand re-
view in hooour of the Queen's birthday was antici-
patd by the public and,. we believe, intended by
the authorities; but the very unsettled state of the
we %tiler (which only settled at brief intervals into
heavy rain) prevented the display so far as a sham
fight was concerned. An unusual number of visi-
tors went down to the camp by the early trains,
though the result hardly repaid their promptitude,
for non hing took place till after two o'clock. All
early comers, therefore, had ample opportunities
afforded them of inspecting the beauties of the
camp, which, to do them mere justice, may lie seen
in the very briefest period. To a superficial ob-
server the whole bears as strong resemblance as ever
to the black-looking sheds round the mouth of a
coalpit, and the only ornamental feature on the
whole plain is the neat little clubhouse, hedged in,
as if taste was impounded for having strayed
so far. Those familiar with the camp, espe-
cially With its last year's aspect, will, however,
under its general mask of monotony notice, many
changes and some improvements. The whole ground
both between and round the huts is scrupulously
clean, and the huts themselves have a tidy and even
a comfortable air. The cavalry stables are great
improvements ; inside they are lofty, spacious, dry;
well drained and ventilated, paved with stone, and
as clean as huts. Each stable accommodates 70
horses, which stand in rows at both sides, so
accustomed to one another's presence as even to
have given up kicking. At,intervals of every 20
feet or so doors are " fixed in the aide walls, in
order to give free egress to all the horses instantly
in case of any accident from fire. Outside the
stables are surrounded with trim little gardens,
which, though containing nothing beyond a few
wild plants and stone devices, look tasteful, and
augur well for the discipline and good order of the
camp. The visitor will observe with surprise that
all these ranges of stables (than which it would be
impossible under the circumstances to have better),
are formed of rough planks, roofed in with canvas
—a means of shelter which, it will be recollected,
was derided as utterly worthless when sought to be
applied to our cavalry in the Crimea. Some months'
experience of these stables at Aldershot, completely
overturns all the hypothetical objections which were
urged as reasons against their use in the East before
the Chelsea Beard of Inquiry.
In the South Camp (beyond that wretched canal,
compared with which Let he must have been a purl-
ing brook) radical changes have taken place. Where
the eye last year only rested upon a dreary expanse
of common, varied here and there with a treache-
rous morass, a town of permanent barracks is fast
springing into existence. Whole acres of stabling
and streets of barracks extend. over an immense
space. These edifices are distinguished by some
few and most important improvements in barrack
building, and are certainly the most complete and
useful buildings of the kind that have ever been
erected in this. country. In this brief notice it, is
impossible to convey a proper idea of their extent
and fitness, but we shall take occasion to refer to
the subject again as the works advance towards
completion. •