WHAT I SAW, HEARD, AND THOUGHT AT CHOBHAM.
(By one who has mentally been there).
I saw the Light Cavalry so heavily accoutred that it seemed a perfect farce ever to have ordered them on "active" service.
I saw the Infantry dressed in such torturingly tight coats, that it appeared a bitter mockery to bid them "stand at ease:" and I thought that what made them smart on parade must make them anything but smart in actual service.
I saw the troops generally learning to stand water as well as to stand fire: and I thought a drenching shower rather seemed to damp their military ardour.
I thought that most of the regiments, in attacking a sham enemy, would be attacked by a real one in the shape of rheumatism: while many a brave fellow who never owned to a defeat would return to his quarters completely weather-beaten.
I heard young Ensign Drawlington complain that it was a "horwid baw fa fla who's—aw—fond of Opwa and Clabs—and—aw—that sorthing, to be fawced to leave town for this fernal camp affaiaw:" and I thought the gallant officer would feel considerably more at home in the Theatre of St. James's than in the Theatre of War.
I saw a force of nearly two dozen policemen sent to keep in order nearly ten thousand men: and I thought that the "force" should be rather called a "weakness" on the part of the Government.
In short, I saw on all sides sufficient ground for thinking that there are few finer fields for observation just at present than the field at Chobham; although, as an area for military manœuvering, it is not to be compared with many an area in Knightsbridge.