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^^""^^ iv ^ nMiH war , for the sake of winning some eclat for her tarnished flag , and so , by a powerful impulse of national pride and glory , rallying all tho popular sympathies to Bonaparte . III . To Vienna Russia has sent Baron Meyendorff , to say that she would gladly find Austria interposing her good offices to secure an honourable solution of the question in dispute . By this means she paralyzes Austria completely , and even disposes her to take sides with the Czar , if her proposals for peace are rejected . IV . Lastly , Russia has succeeded in extorting from Prussia a complete adhesion to her policy , and the pn > mise of effectual support .
In the following words does the New Prussian Gazette announce the result of [ Russian intrigues . " Prussia for her part , in consequence both of the Anglo-French alliance , and of communications made to the Court of Berlin by Russian diplomacy , has been led to assume a decided position in the Russo-Turkish question / ' The meaning of this last result is that France is to be half paralyzed in her Eastern policy—she may not fire a gun in the Black Sea without having a Prussian army on her frontiers at home . Now , in Bonaparte ' s actual position , this is a matter to
be considered . So long as a naval war only was in question , he could afford to appeal to arms ; but , with the prospect of a continental war , will he psrsiat in his warlike resolutions ? If he had no insurrection in Paris to fear , his friends might answer , Yes ; but , as this nation will never suffer a war to be conducted by a man whom it despises and detests , I answer , No ! Now , if France withdraws , what will England do with her fleet and her gold ? Unless she make up her mind to revolutionize all Europe , she will be obliged to follow France , to remain passive , and leave Russia in peaceable possession of her Danubian
provinces . Conclusion . The perplexities are increasing , and the posture of affairs is becoming more and more strained . At home it has been attempted , by dint of the nrrests made last week , to throw a sort of halo of interest" over the Emperor and his wife . Rumours of a conspiracy to break out at the Hippodrome were artfhlly spread about . Bonaparte feigned fear ; ftnd instead of returning by tho Allee de St . Cloud , he changed his route , and since that day he bas not
appeared at the theatre without a formidable escort of guards . The whole foundation of this plot rests upon half a dozen gamins , who amused themselves with shouting after the Emperor's carriage in the Allee de St . Cloud , Vive la Republique ! d , bas Sadintjuet ! a bas les Aristos I Tho police took good care not to lose the opportunity of transforming this farce into a horrible plot against the Emperor ' s life . person , and to arrest a certain number of bourgeois who were marked as republicans . Two hundred bourgeois were arrested , besides some fifty working men . Among
others , a bookseller on the Quai Voltaire . After three days arrest he learned , through the inquiries of a deputy to the Legislative Corps , that he was accused of introducing into Paris a bale of Victor Hugo ' s brochures . This accusation was utterly unfounded , and after strict search it was found that the police had made a mistake ; they had confounded him with another bookseller ; not of the Quai Voltaire , but of the Quai Malaquais . This week , again , there has been a new scandal on tho Bourse , und a new lie of the official prints . That terrible fall of last Thursday occasioned immense disasters . Among others , a certain
stockbroker was hit no hard , that an execution followed ; but us the situation was a critical one , and this execution Mould be the signal for a host of others , and of incalculable disasters , M . Pould advanced 1 , 200 , 000 francs ( 48 . OO 0 J . ) to the broker in question . The next day tho official journals came out with a flat denial of the report of the broker ' s ruin , and affirmed witb a certain ostentation that far from being " hard up" thin broker had met hi * losses , which only amounted to 1 100 000 francs ( 44 , 000 / . ) with securities to the amount of 1 , 200 , 000 francs ( 48 , 000 / . ) - ThiH "npudout mystification was very badly received . The provincial journals contain ( singular reports of trials of officers who refused to escort tho procession of the Corpus Chrinti . The Correctional Tribunal of Nhnes sentenced M . 1 'liilippo Villnrtl , captain of tho Pompiers ait Vauvort , to ft flue of 50 truiics for not bavins obeyed the requisition bo had received from the authorities to inarch liw troop in tlio procoBsion . I have heard tlint twenty-six officers of what was formerly called tho Republican Guard luivo been Hcnfc to Algeria for " dwufo'cLiun . " It tho army gets into n habit of consp iring it u all up witb Itonapurte . H .
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THE CAMP . Ten thousand English soldiers met at Chobham Common at noon on Monday . At twelve o ' clock , standing near a central clump of trees on the Common , one might see the troops advancing by five different roads . Through the green of the hedge-rows the bright glancing of the arms had a fine effect . The Welch Fusileers were the first on the ground , marching in with great liveliness . From another quarter , the Artillery , some troops of which had travelled a great distance , came near , the heavy " rumbling" of the wagons shaking the ground , some of the men and
horses splashed with mud stains , while others looked fresh and unsoiled . A stirring strain of martial music swelled in from the Chertsey-road , where were seen in full march the fine forms and splendid cuirasses of tbe Life Guards . Topping the ridge crossed by the Windsor-road , the tall shakos of the Grenadier Guards appeared : this was one battalion , but a larger body of the regiment advanced to join them in another direction , with drums and fifes , preceded by tbe grave and dignified goat of the regiment . Along another road the fluttering pennons of the Lancers glinted through the trees ; the dark tartans of the Black Watch—the
noble 42 nd— moved in masses along ; while the bright caparisons and smart accoutrements of the Light Dragoons diversified the varied procession . The day was wet , the roads miry , and some of the men had travelled far . The whole country around—a quiet and rural neighbourhood—was enlivened by these living streams of military humanity moving through them . Little villages were startled from their dulness ; " pretty cottages , the homes of retired competence , shook as horse and foot and rumbling gun-carriages went by . Groups of gaping country-folks collected at cross-roads to stare at the unwonted pageant , and even when it was gone they still lingered to watch as the camp baggage
lumbered heavily behind . Now and then there was a halt , during which the men who had marched farthest seemed glad to rest themselves , as best they co-ild , until the call of the bugle once more set them in motion . Till nearly midday the advancing columns were struggling along the narrow approaches to the common , and taking up the positions respectively assigned them /' At length all were on the ground at about half-past twelve ; and the busy masses spread themselves over the common , diverse regiments apparently intermingled , but still all disentangled from the melee by the influence of the judicious regulations laid down . The scene now was of the most animated character . The strains
of many bands mingled in tho air ; the striking and distinguished uniforms stood out in moving contrast to the dull dark heath , except where tho rifles—least illustrious but very serviceable corps—proceeded darkly to their allotted locality . The common is a wild , extensive , hcatli-clad tract of land ; tbe lower parts nre marshy ; tbe high ground covered with a scrubby dry turf ; the heath is about a foot high . The soil is black and mossy , its products
coarse heaths und stagnant pools ; tho surface is undulating- and dotted with two or three clumps of dismal firs , a . pleasant wooded and corn county lying northward , and ugly lumpish hills bounding tho expan . so to the Houth . On tbe west side of tho road , traversing the moor , lies the camp , arranged in separate towns of tents , tbe cavalry ( looking from the path ) being to the right , the iiifamtry in tbe centre , and tho artillery on the left . Its extent , its freedom from inclosures or
wood , and on other considerations on the whole , well adapt it for the use to which it is now put . The wet weather bus made it in some parts moist and rutty ; "but , " says tbe Times correspondent , " looking at it with tho impartiality and coolness which , not being compelled to sleep there , enables me to exercise , it Booms impossible to deny that tho cainp is finely situated . " In little- more than half an hour from the time
when tho first ; regiment arrived , tho whole of the troops were on tho ground ; and the report of u gun , echoing over tho common , announced the assemblage . Tho bugles then sounded , the men hastily broke up in groups . As if by magic , white tents started up like mushrooms , ami the heath was soon murlu'dl by tho dotted lines of the encampment . Although tho weather prevented a simultaneous operation , as whh originally intended , a general verdict of approval wns given as
regarded rapidity and dexterity in erection . The canvas houses of a whole regiment were set up in a few minutes , each regiment straining to do their work in the shortest possible time . The palm was generally conceded to the 4 < 2 nd Highlanders , who handled their tents as if the Arabian desert , not the Scottish hills , had rejoiced in their nativity . At one o ' clock the work was done , and the camp at Chobham was formed . The men , re-forming , defiled by regiments before the Commander-in-Chief ; and then returning , sentinels were placed around each quarter allotted to a regiment ; civilians were excluded ; and the men , released from duty , lounged , cooked , chatted , bustled about tents , or built kitchens , as whim or necessity prompted .
" The suttler ' s tents were soon driving a busy trade , each being crowded with soldiers , and singing , shouting , and merry-making became the order of the day . Brawny Highlanders might be seen testing the camp kitchens with huge caldrons of future soup ; light infantry flew across the ground armed with quartern , loaves ; and here and there the crowd and excitement round a particular tent indicated that , within , the sinews of war were being dispensed in the shape of thirteen peifce to each gallant son of Mars . The Irish , who muster strong in the line , rejoice in an infinite variety of brogues , a constant flow of animal spirits , and light , bony fingers . The English look solid , square , and well ' set up , ' are generally good looking , and
have considerable difficulty in throwing the necessary ferocity into their mild Saxon physiognomies . The Scotch have a grave , determined look , especially while watching the soup-kettle , great development of muscle , and seem equally ready for a charge with a bayonet , or a literary or philosophic discussion . Their peculiar uniform excited as much wonder amongst the primitive inhabitants of Chobham as it did amongst the Parisians , in 1814 ; and their dialect was the subject of grave speculation . Altogether it is thought that a finer body of British troops never met together to go through their exercises . The powerful men of the 1 st Life Guards , the able-bodied men of tho Dragoon Guards , the light and agile Dragoons and Lancers , with .
their fine and well-kept horses , were the admiration of thousands of spectators ; and the strong bone and muscle of the Highlanders evidenced that these gallant kilted corps have not in the least degenerated , ana that on any emergency their hardy frames would enable them to accomplish wonders equal to any recorded in the former annals of the regiments . The light infantry regiments also appear in admirable order ; and tbe Rifle Brigade , with their dark clothing , which render them almost indistinguishable amongst the dark heath , would prove no common enemy when all arc armed with the Minie musket . The men of tho Royal Horse Artillery and Field Batteries are well acquainted witb . their duties , and all their horsea in remarkably fine condition . "
Tho Times has a good word even for the suspected " Household" heroes , and speaks highly of the general body of the troops . "The Household troops , horse- and foot , may be rather spoiled by a luxurious life , alternating between Windsor and the metropolis . Lot them be closely examined , however ; let foreigners go out to Chobhain and seo how they look there . Their earth kitchens may be somewhat moro carefully made than those belonging to the line , their horses better provided for , and some faint efforts at furniture in their mess-rooms ; but they are as fine and aa noble a body of soldiers as any general could desire to wield , and one could not help feeling some pardonablo pulsations of national vanity at seeing them yesterday a
conspicuous feature of the camp . The troops of the line , howovor , are tho strength of tho British army , and must always bo its chief pride . In them are supposed to be happily blended tho characteristic spirit of three or four nationalities , and tho historians of our wars affect to trace in bnttlo tho firm and sustained courage of English regiments , tho devotion of tho Highlanders , or tho wild impetuosity of tho Irish . If then ; bo truth in this view of our military forco , "it is well developed at tho cainp , where yesterday , as you passed from one sot of tents to another , you heard tho mother tongue spoken in unmistakeablo varieties of accent . Now a mellifluous brogue saluted tho car , and a little beyond it was tho broad dialect of the land of cakes , whilo tho waving tartans and plumed bonnets appealed similarly to tho eye . "
This arrangements of the camp are suitable and sufficient . A soldier ' s tent is . simple . Fifteen men sleep in it , cachwith his feet to tho central pole , around which are clustered the guns and bolts ready for use . { Straw is thickly strewn on tho floor . Tbe oflicers' tents are littered in the same way , but each officer has a tent to hiniHolf , and his furniture consists of : i tub , a chest , and au iron bedstead . Tho kitchens built by the Sapper * and Miners are a decided improvement on the old
form in use during the Peninsular war , and which souio of the regiments , we observe , still practise . They economize fuel , and < muhlo cooking to be ; carried on more quickly and in larger quantities ; but , on tho other hand , they arc perhaps a little more troublesome to construct . The experience and practice of tho unuip on the first day wero mainly centered on this point , for of course- when tho men came on the ground , alter their tents were up , the first , thing requisite was to feed tlioni , and when that was done tho rain had
effectually cleared the common of spectators . It , must not bo supposed that tho culinary art , as practised i « the midst of war's alarms , is au uninteresting object of study . Anything more rude und accordant with campaigning it is hardly possible to conceive . A trench
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June 18 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 583
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CONTINENTAL NOTES . Thh British fleet nailed from Malta on tho evening of tho 8 th in » Lt , tho Admiral having received bis order * the
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same morning . The French fleet sailed from Salamis on the 11 th instant , and by this time , no doubt , the allied fleets are at anchor in Besika Bay . M . Aristarehi , the Charge d'Affaires of Wallachia , has left Constantinople . He is a Greek , and nothing more nor less than an agent of Russia . General Dembinski has written to the Journal des DSbats , to contradict the report that he had offered his services to the Sultan , towards whom , however , he expresses sentiments of the deepest gratitude and respect . A grand constitutional and national festival has been celebrated in Denmark .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 18, 1853, page 583, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1991/page/7/
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