The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-04-20 00:00:00

qtrlng ant) Nabp.

On Thursday about 500 men of the 2nd battalion 7th
Fusileers and Bedford Militia, under the command of
Major Hibhert and Captain Ledger, visited the Crystal
Palace. The men conducted themselves in a most or-
derly manner, showing by their conduct that they ap-
preciated the kindness of their officers.
Niw EUROPEAN ILKOIHINTR FOR BENGAL.—IS will
be gratifying to our military readers to learn that the
Court of Directors have resolved to raise three double
European regiments for the Bengal Presidency. These
new corps will absorb the officers of six of the dis-
banded native regiments; thus, in some measure, solv-
ing the difficulty as to what is to be done with the un-
attached officers. This measure will be recognised by
all parties as prompt and judicious.
The committee of officers engaged in investigating the
properties of Captain Grant's cooking apparatus, com-
menced on Wednesday by minutely inspecting the in-
vention in all its parts, the construction and manage-
ment of which were explained by Captain Grant him-
self. The oven answers admirably. By • simple con-
trivance the superfluous steam is carried off, by which
the flavour of the meat is Featly improved; indeed, it
is hardly, if at all, distinguished from roast. The pota-
toes are steamed in capacious colanders. The dishes of
roast meat, steaks, stewed meat, and potatoes, meat,
puddings, and excellent soup, with boned meat, were
delivered for 1,050 men in little more than ten minutes
with regularity. The advantages afforded by the appa-
ratus may be briefly stated :-1. The baking, stewing,
steaming, and frying are additional modes of cooking,
and not applicable to the common boiler. 2. A well
ordered change of cooking in rotation may be estab-
lished with perfect ease. 3. The saving to the soldiers,
in baking with the oven of the apparatus, amounts to
upwards of 113 per week on 1,000 men. 4. The little
trouble and attention required in keeping up the two
fires of the apparatus, compared with the great num-
ber of fires required for 1,000 men with the ordinary
boiler. 5. the great saving of fuel, amounting to four-
fifths of the quantity now consumed. Three meals for
1,050 men were cooked with 500 lb of coals. 6. The
applicability of the apparatus to large or small bodies
of troops. On this head the committee desire to know
whether the cooking for • single company left in a
barrack would be equally well done by an apparatus cal-
culated for a battalion of 1,000 men? This was most
satisfactorily proved to be practicable, the rations of 50
men having been as well cooked with the consumption
of 401 b of coal as those for 1,050. The saving of fuel
is in proportion to the number cooked for, the minimum
of 50 requiring 401 b. of coals, the maximum of 1,050
requiring 5001 b. for the three daily meals.
INEIPECTION OF COLCHESTER CAMP BY THE DUKE OF
CAMBRIDGIL—On Tuesday last his Royal Highness the
Commander-in-Chief, attended by Col. Foster, Assistant
Adjutant-General, and Lieut.-Col. Lord Biughereh, of
the Guards, visited Colchester for the purpose of making
a general inspection of the garrison. The Duke, who
travelled by the ordinary tram, which reached Colches
ter about 11 o'clock, was met at the railway station by
Col. Slade, commanding the garrison; Major Armit,
RE.; Dr. Taylor, chief medical officer; and Captain
Lindsay, of the commissariat department. At the camp
the troops, consisting of the depots of the Ist, 6th. 54th,
56th, 66th, and 88th regiments, composing the first bat-
talion, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Dixon, C. 8.,
and the sth, 34th, 37th, 38th, 44th, 97th, forming the
2nd battalion, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Street,
C. 8., numbering altogether about 3,100 men, were
drawn up on parade in contiguous columns quarter dis-
tance right in front, and on the entrance of the Duke of
Cambride and mounted staff officers the leading compa-
nies presented arms and gave the royal salute. His
Royal Highness then dismounted and walked through
the ranks, inspecting the various companies. The troops
afterwards marched past in double quick time, with the
drums and fifes playing, and then proceeded to the old
barrack-ground to be further inspected. The Com-
mander-in-Chief and staff, in the meantime, remounted
and rode off to inspect the hospital, and walked through
the various wards. From the hospital the Duke and
escort proceeded to inspect the military prison, at the
opposite end of the camp, where he briefly halted, and
then rode off to rejoin the troops awaiting his arrival at
the old barrack ground. Here the troops merely formed
open column, marched past in quick time, headed by
the pioneers with their spades, pickaxes, and hatchets,
followed by the corps of drums and fifes, and the sth
Fusileers, a remarkably fine looking body of soldiers,
and other depots, and then returned to the camp. This
concluded the inspection of the troops, when the Corn-
mander-in-Chief and staff galloped off tn take • view of
Middlewick Farm, comprising 180 acres of land, pur-
chased by Government for drilling the troops in the
summer months, and where it is supposed that perma-
nent barracks are intended to be erected. The Duke,
having completed his official inspection, returned to
town the same afternoon. As the Duke passed the
Exeter Hall Idiot Asylum, on his way to the camp, the
boys, headed by Mr. Millard, the respected superin-
tendent, loudly cheered his Royal Highness, who gra-
ciously acknowledged the compliment.