The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-04-19 00:00:00

our Paton tt orrtspoubta

[We deem it right to stste that we do not at &Mames
identify ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions.]

Easter was three weeks later this year than last,
'still there was not an entire absence of those north-
easterly breezes Which at this time so often pass over
these islands, finding out the weak points in the con-
stitutions of the aged and the infirm, but reminding
the robust of Charles Kingsley's fatuous apostrophe
to the fierce north-easter, whom he welcomed 'fresh
from its frozen home." Frequently enough, in this
month of April, is the sun shining brightly in these
latitudes in a clear sky, but the colouring of that
firmament is that of a cold steel; and if a cloud, even
one with a silver lining, comes between the sun and the
earth, so powerless is the earth to retain the little
heat which it receives, that the temperature drops
several degrees; and, like the Hyperboreans, those
who are exposed to the influence of the blast would
very much like to get behind the north wind.
Three years ago at this very time London lay in the
teeth of the Siberian east wind, and an illustrious
statesman was at the point of death in Curzon-street,
Mayfair, who had been a member of the Legislature
forty-five years. Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beacons-
field, had been such an historic figure in modern
political life that the incidents of his last illness
were watched with interest by people of all
shades of opinion. For three weeks he
kbattled for life; but a man 70 years of
Inge does not expect to win in such
an unequal conflict. It was on the morn-
ing of the 19th April that he breathed his last,
a more than usually bitter east wind having set in on
the previous day, which undoubtedly hastened the
end, though under the most favourable conditions it
could not long have been averted. An unique honour
is now paid to the memory of the departed statesman
by the date of his death being remembered as
Primrose Day; his favourite flower is then worn by
large numbers of those who approved of his public
career and admired the indomitable perseverance
which enabled him to overcome every obstacle which
stood in the way of his attaining the leadership of
his party.
The Easter recess came opportunely enough to
enable Mr. Gladstone to recruit his health, so as
to set him up for the coming fatigues of what
promises to be a harassing session. The Premier
seems to be particularly partial to the county of
Surrey as a place of recreation, and those who know
that pleasant shire are perfectly aware he could not
do better. Coombe Warren, the Durdans, Holmbury,
are all in that agreeable county. The Durdans, Lord
Rosebery's seat, situated near Epsom racecourse, sug-
gests a species of recreation to which the Prime
Minister has never been a friend, contrasting strongly
in this way with his locum tenens in the House of
Commons when he is absent, the Marquis of
Hartington. The Secretary of State for War is
equally at home in the Paddock, on the Treasury
Bench, or at his office in Pall Mall.
A division upon the second reading of a Reform
Bill without the name of Mr. Bright appearing in it,
would be regarded as a curiosity, but for an explana-
tion of the attendant circumstances. The cold winds
and the changeable weather have had their effect
upon the senior member for Birmingham, who was so
ill from congestion of the lungs when the division
was taken that not only was he unable to vote, but to
make arrangements for a pair. The great hardware
capital, which has had the reputation of setting in
motion the machinery by which the question of Parlia-
mentary reform has again be en brought before the House
of Commons, had only one of its members out of threo
in the division lobby. The President of the Board of
Trade voted, Mr. Muntz paired, and Mr. Bright was
unable to do either. Mr. Bright is now in the 73rd
year of his age, and in his earlier days his voice and
lungs must have been very much tried by the long
succession of open-air speeches delivered during the
corn-law agitation.
The Queen's visit to Darmstadt is, it seems to be,
strictly private, for the purpose of rest and retirement,
the shqck of the death of her son having been a severe

one. Her Majesty, it must be remembered, has been
a widow nearly a quarter of a century, and
having lost her husband at the early age
of forty-two, has seen trouble after trouble in
her maturer years. Two grown-up children
have been taken, each leaving a family. Princess
Alice was the daughter who nursed her father so
tenderly in his last illness but that her sympathetic
tiftaioff WAS not restricted td those of her own house-
hold was proved by the touching letter which she
wrote when the pleasure steamer bearing her name was
run down in the Thames on the 3rd September, 1878,
and about 700 persons were drowned. The Princess
was‘then sta-c4ne. at Eastbourne, and her letter was one
or many proofs of the possession of a good heart, %ALA
made her Royal Highness so beloved in this country.
As to the Duke of Albany, his delicate health had but
rendered him all the dearer to a fond mother,
who saw in his literary tastes the nearest
approach made by any of her sons to the intellectual
pursuits of Elie father. The sympathy for the
bereaved widow is of course great; but sorrow sits
more lightly upon the shoulders of the young than
upon those with silvered hair. The Queen's reign has
exceeded the lifetime of vast numbers of her subjects;
these can truly say, "The Sovereign we have had
always with us," so that tribulation in the Palace is a
matter for sympathetic interest to a wide-sweeping
stretch of country beyond it.
The terms of the London Government Bill are now
before the people of the metropolis, who can judge for
themselves respecting this measure of administrative
reform. As the Franchise Bill stands first for the
consideration of the House of Commons, the Budget
debates have to come on; and Egypt is not yet done
with, many who are well acquainted with the difficul-
ties of working a bill like this through Parliament
doubt whether it will be placed upon the statute-book
this year. Time was, and not so very long ago
when Mr. Gladstone would have taken this up
himself, as he did the Irish Land Bill in 1881.
But he finds that years are telling even upon
him, and he is now compelled to leave to his colleagues
the duties which belong to their several departments,
contenting himself with that general supervision which
the head of the Government always gives to the
multifarious ',affairs of State, and which, indeed, are
quite enough for him properly to attend to.
It is sincerely to be hoped that the inability of the
Prince of Wales to open the Health Exhibition at
Kensington on the Bth of May will not interfere
with the success of a very deserving enterprise.
An enormous amount of time and Labour has
been devoted to it, and the Heir Apparent is
so popular with all classes, that it is feared
his absence may tell against the prosperity of
meritorious undertaking. The Duke of Cambridge
is chiefly known in military circles; and the place
where he is best known in London is the Royal
United Service Institution in Whitehall yard, directly
opposite his own office in the Horse Guards, so that
leaving for a time his official duties he has only to
cross Parliament-street and take the chair at any
military gathering at which he might be announced
over the way. A long life of military authority has
given to the duke a habit of short speech, which is
appreciated upon the parade ground and in the tented
field, while the Prince of Wales Is all smiles and
bonhammie. However, the Duke of Cambridge, as
the direct representative of her Majesty the Queen,
will occupy his distinguished position with:that dignity
whioh is such a characteristic of the Royal family of
Eagland. _

_
lIITFIMD ELoqtrzsen.—Dr. Franklin, in his
Memoirs, bears witneas to the extraordinary effect
which was produced by Mr. Whitfield's preaching in
America; and relates an anecdote equally characteris-
tic of the preacher and of himself. "I happened,"
says the doctor, "to attend one of his sermons in the
course of which I perceived he intended to finish with
a collection, and I silently resolved h. hould get
nothing from me. I had in my pocket a handful of
copper money, three or four silver dollars, and gee
pistols in gold. As he
proceeded, I began to soften,
and concluded to give the copper. Another stroke
of his oratory made me ashamed of that,
and 'determined me to give the silver; and he
finished so admirably, that I emptied my pocket
wholly into the collector's dish, gold and all. At this
sermon there was also one of our club; who being of
my sentiments respecting the building in Georgia and
suspecting a collection might be intended, had by
precaution emptied his pockets before he came from
me; towards the conclusion of the discourse, how-
ever, he felt a strong inclination to give, and applied
to a neighbour who stood near him to lend him some
money for the purpose. The request was fortunately
made to perhaps the only man in the company who
had the firmness not to be affected by the preaCher,
His answer was, at any other time, friend Hodgkin-
son, I would lend to thee freely; but not now, for
thee sae= to be out of thy right senses?!

THE VOLUNTEERS ON EASTER
MONDAY.
AT PORTSMOUTH. _

The bugles woke up icr-t.s-r-ro-uth soon after sunrise
on Monday morning, and it was not long before the
streets became alive with pedestrians and vehicles of
all descriptions. The first to arouse the echoes were
the commissariat waggons and the four guns of the
Army Service Corps. A. few volunteers put in an
appearance at the Portsmouth Town Station, hoping
to be taken to Fareham or Havant, but they had
to wend their way to the Soldiers' Recreation-ground,
where all the volunteers who were staying in the
town had to assemble at eight o'clock, and then
march to Gosport or Portsmouth to take the
train to Fareham or Havant. At the latter station
the trains from London began to arrive at 6.45, and
for two hours they came in punctually to time.
The men cleared out of the station directly and were
formed into companies near the church, whence they
marched to the rendezvous at Purbrook. Some of the
men were rather disappointed at not being able to get
their breakfast at Havant, but they marched on to the
inspiriting strains of their bands. The Ist Sussex
Artillery mustered well and, besides their regular
bands, had a capital bugle band, which could be heard
at a much longer distance than the biggest of the big
drums, and to march to the music was very pleasant
relief. After a march of about three miles in the keen
morning air the long-looked for rendezvous was sighted.
The men who had already arrived were looking un-
commonly blue, for the only signs of breakfast were
carts loaded with beer casks and oranges; but the
word was soon passed round that the canteens in the
fort were open, and thither the hungry, shivering
soldiers soon found their way, and haversacks were
opened and a cup of hot coffee or tea soon brought
back the blood into the cheeks of the men. The sun,
too, now began to warm the air, and by ten o'clock
the rendezvous was crowded, and cheery laughter and
chaffing showed that the early al fresco meal had done
its work well. Then came tobacco and an inspection
of the barracks within the forts, and then the bugles
sounded "Fall in." Water-bottles were soon re-
plenished, and after a good deal of inquiry the men
found their corps, and long before the time appointed
for the arrival of Major-General White, the com-
mandant of these, the Northern forces, companies
had been equalised and proved, and the men were
ready to march anywhere. The wind was still easterly,
and there were sufficient clouds sailing slowly west-
ward to keep people wondering whether it would after
all be wet, but the welcome sunshine took off the
keenness of the easterly breeze, and by no in the
weatherwise predicted a fine day. Looking round
now on the landscape, the lanes leading up to the
forts seemed alive, and one road—that through Hilsea
lines—seemed like a huge snake, the semblance
being heightened by the shining accoutrements of corps
still making their way to the rendezvous.
The corps staying at Portsmouth detailed to form
part of the Western force assembled at the Royal
Marine Barracks at Forton, near Gosport, and after
beine formed into companies were marched to the
rendezvous at Fort Nelson, vid Fareham.. The corps
from London began to arrive at the Fareham Station
soon after seven, and were taken to fields adjoining
the stations, where refreshment booths were ready
with plenty of good food and tea and coffee. The
railway station commandant was Major B. A.
Monsell, and his assistant Captain J. A. M'Kecknie,
Royal Marine Light Infantry. The trains came
up very regularly, but they were none of
them as heavily laden as expected. The Ist
Hants Artillery Volunteers went to Fort Nelson by
way of Cosham, and some companies of the 3rd
Hants Rifle Volunteers by way of Porchester. The
march to Fort Nelson was witnessed by an enthu-
siastic crowd, who cheered continuously as the corps
went by. The town was very prettily decorated, and
words of welcome, set out in very primitive fashion
and sometimes quaintly expressed, greeted the eye at
every turn. By half-past eight the last corps due at
Fareham had arrived, and as soon as breakfast was
finished the toilsome march up the hill began. When
the brigades had been formed at eleven o'clock it was
estimated that there were about 6500 volunteers on
parade.
When the mid-day gun was fired the ridge of the
Portsdown Hills was covered for miles with dense
masses of spectators, the majority of whom were
making their way to the lone stretch of sward and
roadway between Fort Southwick and Fort Widley,
about midway between which points on the northern
slope of the hills was the ground marked out for the
march past, and distinguished by the fluttering in a stiff
north-easter of the Royal Standard. The weather
fortunately continued fine, the wind carrying away to
sea the threatening rain-clouds which at one period
of the morning had caused some apprehension of
drenching showers. The field of operations was
comprised within a triangular space, the base of
which extended on the north from Fort Nelson
to Fort Purbrook-, a distance of between eight and
nine miles, the apex being at Hilsea, about a mile
and a half from the Portsdown Hills in the direction
of Portsmouth. Here, within formidable lines of
fortifications, and cut off from the mainland by a
narrow arm of the sea, spanned by a couple of bridges,
lay the garrison which it was the object of the
western Avancind from Salisbury, under Major-
General It. Monck, to relieve. The garrison under
Colonel Sir F. Festing consisted of the Royal Marine
Artillery, the 2nd Battalion North Lancashire Regi-
ment, and the Ist Hants Artillery Volunteer
Cori* with eight 64-pounder guns. The relieving
forco was made up of three brigades of volun-
teers and one of the regular troops, the latter
being composed of the let Dattaliee ril3ucesiersiiiee
RecATZer,t, th Ittattaliori "Hampshire Regiment,
awl the Royal Marine Light Infantry. A detachment
of the Hampshire Yeomanry Cavalry was attached to
this force, which, having marched as was supposed,
from Salisbury to Farebam, had now taken up a
position immediately to the east of Fort Nelson,
whence an attempt would be made to effect a junction
with the Hilsea garrison in the hope Of turning the
flank of the invaders, who, marching west from
Havant, were in possession of the ridge of the hills as
far as Fort Purbrook.'
The invading force, under the command of Major-
General R. White, C. 8., was of the total strength of
10,635 officers and men, having with them six 40-
pounder breech-loading guns and 630 of the Brighton
Brigade of the Sussex Artillery Volunteers. A de-
tachment of Middlesex Yeomanry Cavalry was
attached to this force. The artillery were placed
under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart,
HA.; and the two divisions into which the infantry
were divided were under Major-General the Hon.
W. H. A. Fending, and Major-General R. Gipps, C. 8.,
respectively.
When the signal gun was fired the advance of the
western force commenced in an easterly direction
towards Fort Southwick. Scouts were sent well in
advance, followed by skirmishers preceding the main -
body of the troops. Colonel bfoncrieff's brigade
pushed forward along the southern courses of the
ridge, Lord Ranelagh's brigade at the same time
advancing on the northern face, while Colonel
Panter's men held the summit of the heights. In
this order the advance was made good to some dis-
tance towards Fort Southwick, the garrison at
Hilsea meanwhile sending out small bodies
of cavalry and infantry to Wymering and
Cosham to endeavour to open up communi-
cations with the relieving forces. The invaders, on
the other hand, had lost no time in advancing from
his splendid base of operations behind Purbrook Fort
as far as Fort Widley, thus practically obtaining
command of the Cosham-road. The Ist Division
went forward on the northern side of the heights,
Colonel Fitzroy's brigade taking possession of the
Petersfield-road, and thence making a wide detour to
the north by way of Widley Farm in order to obtain
the advantage of the cover afforded by some hilly
ground to the rear of Pigeon-house Farm.
The second and third brigades kept closer in the
hillside, but so rapid was the advance over the open
ground that for a time the connection between the
first and second divisions was dangerously slight.
The latter had been making good the position on
the southern slopes, where, under cover of the guns,
the Ist Sussex Artillery now turned upon the Mises,
garrison as they were gradually feeling their way in
the direction of Coshana. The right wing of the
invaders was soon skirting the cover in the vicinity
of Rolwell, and the Hampshire cavalry acting as scouts
on the hill crest galloped back with the intelligence,
and Lord Ranelagh's brigade was pushed forward
to check the advance of the main body of the first
division of the northern force. The latter's signallers
stationed on the high ground at the rear of Fort
Widley did good service, and soon the London Irish
and the regiments brigaded with them made their
way across some ploughed land belonging to Pigeon
House Farm, and then changing their front formed
an alignement from east to west, whence under cover
of uneven ground they poured a hot fire into the ranks
of Colonel Panter's men, and compelled them gradually
to retreat up the hill side. Colonel Webber's brigade
coming up compelled General Monck to send
forward the Royal Marine Light Infantry to the
assistance of his extreme left, but the Ist London
and the Ist Middlesex Engineers had got possession
of a copse and an old chalk pit, from whose friendly
shelter they poured forth a raking fire. On their
extreme right, too, Colonel Fitzroy's brigade was
beginning to close in and threatened to outflank the
Western force. In order to prevent this it became
necessary- for General White to send forward in hot
haste most of his available reserves, and thus what
was probably intended omnliydafobrleapmaretroef dtheme
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being waged, for between the northern and southern
portions of the contending forces thousands of spec-
tators intervened. A heavy artillery fire had beenkept
up from the 40-pounders of the Ist Sussex Artillery
upon the Hilsea Garrison against which the eight
64-pounders of the Hants Artillery which were
within the lines were powerless to do any execution.
The southern advance of the invading army had been
pressed forward without serious check until General
Monck's right wing and the outposts of the garrison
were alike within rifle range. A brisk fire was main-
tained on both sides, but at this time the feint which
had been made to the north by the relieving army
was met in so decisive manner that the general was
obliged to call up his reserves from the Southern
Brigade, where he had intended to deliver
his main attack, and the remainder of
his Southern Brigade. NTSS outflanked and

almost annihilated, the Ililsea garrison being simul-
taneously driven back within their lines. The latter,
indeed, had been struggling throughout against over-
whelming odds, and had not been able to advance
their scouts more than three or four fields before
retreating. The Royal Marino Artillery lined a
hedgerow, and there was some very pretty volley
firing which would have done much execution had the
cartridges contained bullets. The same, indeed,
might be said of the tiring on the other side of the
ridge, where file Royal Marino Light Infantry and
their opponents were blazing away at each other with
extraordinary vigour at 300 yards distance for some
minutes after the "cease firing" was sounded.
The march past commenced at three o'clock, when
the Duke of Cambridge, attended by his stuff, took
up his position at the saluting flag, while among the
many officers in the enclosure was a French military
attaché, whose blue uniform made him a. conspicuous
figure. The spectacle was witnessed by a vast con-
gregation of people stretching for miles along the hill
sides. Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar lade at the
head of the force, and having saluted the Field-
Marshal Commander-in-Chief took up his place beside
him.

Directly the troops had passed the saluting point
their steps were turned homewards. The Gloucester
Regiment, the Hampshire Regiment, and the Royal
Alarine Light Infantry had to march all the way to
their barracks in Portsmouth. There was very little
to notice in their appearance as compared with
the volunteers. All were dusty enough, but they
all marched along the streets with springy step,
to the admiration of a vast crowd which lined
the roads all the way from Cobham to Ports--
mouth. The troops told off to return through
Hilsea made their way, • accompanied by their
brigadiers, across the fields north of Hilsea, to the
pontoon-bridge which had been laid by the Royal
Engineers. The bridge answered admirably, and all
confusion was avoided by reserving its use solely for
volunteers going by rail. They were entrained at the
temporary platform at Hilsea, road were despatched
with great promptitude. The men who were staying
in the town or at Gosport were marched to their
rendezvous in the same order as they left in the
morning, and were dismissed under the direction of
a staff officer.