The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-08-13 00:00:00

VOLUNTEER REVIEW
AT NEWTON.

We wonder what the Antipodean traveller, who is to
come to this country when the arches of London bridge
are broken and St. Paul's is in ruins, will tell the New
Zealanders of the land he has visited. Will he, in the
work which his sketch is to illustrate, content himself

with describing things as they appear to him, or will he

travel back to former ages and picture to his country-

men the manners and customs of those who were in

being when the crumbling ruin before him carried its

massive dome to the clouds and sheltered the mona-

ments of departed heroes ? If so, what will he say of
the age in which we live ? If he touches upon the

present policy of European nations, will he, with the
knowledge of our future, talk of the feline stealthiness
of Russia, of Austrian incompetency, of Prussian ambi-
tion, and of Turkish decay? Will he dwell upon the
contentment of Spain, the misery of Italy, and the
supiness of other nations ? Or will he, when the maze

of French intrigue is unravelled by events yet to happen,
show how the Janus of Gaul plotted the downfall of
England, and was encouraged by the confidence of his
intended victim ? If so, how pleasing will be his task
when he comes to record the sequel. What language
will he find expressive enough to convey his idea of the

patriotism of that noble race, who, mindful of the
deeds of their ancestors, and regardless of the scoffs and
ridicule of a small, degenerated section of their country-
men, armed themselves for the defence of that spot
which, standing alone in the midst of tyrants, gave
liberty to its children, aid to the struggling, and refuge
to the persecuted ? If he be the descendant of an

Englishman, and those for whom he writes be admirers
of the institutions which we preserve, will not his heart
beat when he writes, and will not their souls be glad-
dened when they peruse, the words which tell of the,
treachery frustrated and liberty preserved—which show

how the ambitious monarch trembled *hen disappointed
in his projeets, and then fawned upon those whom he
would have injured? • And-L•but in the name of all that
we are permitted to apostrophise without detriment to
our gentility—what are we about? Here we are dis-
cussing ideal politics with ourselves, ignoring, with-
out any apology to Father Time, the period of a
thousand centuries, anticipating the age when Great
Easterns will be used as cock-boats, and people
will go to China for a pic-nic, and to the North
Pole for a skate. Here we are inquiring as to the
opinions of a New Zealand artist, whose only existence
was in the imagination of the dead historian, when we
ought to be thinking of getting a seat in a railway car-
riage, and are getting our ribs , nearly broken with the
elbows of those who have that object in contemplation.y
Thus suddenly brought to our senses in a Liverpool
railway station, we recollect that we are beings of the •
19th century—that our object is to get to Newton in the
train now -before us, in which- there is precious little
room ; and that if we have any idea of attaining our
wish, we must struggle with the crowd around us, who
have the same object in -view. Those who have reached
the station have had a good deal of difficulty in doing
so. They-have found the approaches to it almost im-
passable—they have seen the steps of St. George's-hall
and every elevated spot crowded with spectators desirous'
of a view of the Volunteers, who take advantage of the
spacious area in front of the noble building for a little•
preliminary manoeuvring before entering , the station,
and if undesirous of remaining with the rest to gaze at
the soldiers of industry, they have been a good deal
jostled, and have had occasionally to make themselves
small in order to 'reach the station door. After another
struggle they get seated, and in a short time are on the
way to the review ground as fast as two engines can
draw a long train. During the journey there is ample
time to take a view of the sky, and to canvass the pro-
babilities of a few hours of fair weather. It has rained.
during a greater part of every day for the -last week,.
and every succeeding shower has been a damper to the-
hopes of the Volunteers preparing for this, their field:
day. The inundation which descended from the'clouds
last night, as it beat 'mercilessly against his window„
was almost sufficient to drive a Volunteer to distraction, •
and many a one, no doubt, rose early this morning
and peered anxiously from his window to ascertain what
the fates portended. It was fair ; but, alas; there was
no hope in the muddy-looking unbroken sky forming the
background for blank watery clouds which floated lazily
about. So it has.continued throughout the day. 0 for
a ray of sunlight to cheer the landscape! Q for but an
acre of the blue vault of heaven to vary the monotony
of this long-continued dulness ! How it would gladden
the hearts of the volunteers, make happy the thousands '
of intending spectators, and enhance the beauty of the
scene in which they are about to take part. See, the
wish is gratified. We are approaching the race ground._
Houses on the distant hills assume a dazzling whiteness,
their windows glisten in the sun-beams, and we know
that, though .hidden from us, he is seen yonder. Gra-
dually the clouds are dispersed, and the sun breaks
through. The tents on the race-course and the crowds
assenibTed' loOk• bright for a short time, but the orb of
day has blit a fleeting reign. He is almost immediately
overcome by the clouds, and disappears for the remainder,
of the day.
When the train which conveyed the Liverpool Volun-
teers arrived at Warrington, there were some half dozen,
immense trains waiting to be shunted on. to the branch
line to the race-course. These had arrived from. all
parts of the county, and the men were displaying their
agility in dancing on the top of the carriages and jumping
from one to the. other. •' The branch line- from War-
rington to the race-course had been reserved specially
for the, troops, and but little -time was lost before the
Liverpool. train was pushed On- towards the review.
ground, and the volunteers dismounted.
Had there been but a; little sunshine, the scene at.
Newton would have been unsurpassed ity anything
which has preceded it. The course is not so level nor
so well cultivated as the Roodyge at Chester, nor has it
the long ranging landscape which lent so much beauty
to the review at Aintree, but it is spacious and sur-'
mantled by miniature hills covered with shrubbery-
Then the number of volunteers, which after all is the
principal feature in the display, 'was far greater than on
the previous occasions. All the _advantages, however,
were lost. The sun would not shine, . and the affair
looked as dismal as as one could possibly imagine., The.
spectators were numerous—probably twenty thousand.
The grand stand was well occupied with ladies, and,
indeed, was the only redeeming item in the acme the
bands now and then heading the various corps as they
arrived, made a show of creating a sensation,, but is was
no use. One, could not conceal the fact that many of
them had their trousers turned up that they might
paddle through the. mud ankle clop and wade through
the numerous pools of water which covered the ground'
with as little damage as possible to their clothing;
there was no possibility of ignoring the fact that the
clouds were gathering and becoming darker erery
moment, nor could one acknowledge any beauty in the
scenery, which was half hidden in haziness, while *le
various colours of the volunteer uniforms could se"..rcely
be distinguished in the distaßee. . .
By five o'clock the wh,ble of 'the voltrateers had
assembled to the number of about 8,00;0. We have
already given a list of the various corp', taking part in
the review. As they arrived they were formed into four
brigades; and on the arrival of Lieutenant-General
Wetherell, were put through. the various movements, in
accordanoe with the programme already given.
One of the Manchester; regiments had, during these
manoeuvres, been stationed to the left of the main body,
and were sent out in skirmishing order, and kept up a
well-continued fire, p%Awn forward till they approached
the main road. They were then recalled, in order that
they might take part in the marching past, which was
to conande the review. By this time, the weather,
w d a more threatening
aspegt,il bbursad gradually
t gforratdhin4tOn'asZailleof rain, and the volun-
teers, diPialiteYeciXacensiderable efficiency iu their
mtahin literally drenched. This formed thec whog,
were
climax )of the Proceedings, and the men, though,
they strove to
appear to the greatest advantage, displayedt
evident eigua of dissatisfaction at the mann,er in, which,
they were treated by the merciless element. A whop,
volume of Gladstonian speeches 'could not do half the
damage done by the 'rain. When the "march-
ing past;" which occupied upwards of half an
hour, was concluded, and the men were again formed
in their original position, Lieut.-General Sir George
Wetherell, ;he reviewing officer, called the commanders
of tha various battalions to the centre of the ground,
and said that, knowing as he did; the intelligence which
pervades the ranks of the corps which he had so mach
pleasure in reviewing that day, he ought not perhaps to.
express astonishment at the manner in which they had.
performed the movements. He declared, upon the
honour of a soldier, that he had seen many brigades
of the line conduct themselves worse, and some
of the movements were admirable. . He especially re-
marked the movement in line, which was excellent, and:
the movement' in column was also admirable. It didi
infinite credit to them after the -great trouble they had.
taken in acquiring this military knowledge, and he
trusted in God that they would persevere in it, and not
neglect their AB C. He knew that they did it at a.
great sacrifice of time, and that to them time was money;,
but how could money be better spent than in the
purchase of an assurance against. those commercial
panics, not to speak of any other panics, which had so.
frequently agitated and had been detrimental to their
individual interests as well as to the country in general.
(Hear, hear.) He trusted they would persevere sincerely
and industriously, but keep up this armed neutrality,
this great peace movement. He ought not to talk
polities there, but he considered the movement as the
auxiliary screw in the machinery which kept
other nations in their proper places, He concluded:
by expressing regret that the weather had been so un-
propitious, and a hope that on some future occasion
they would have anothee demonstration on that ground,
under more fav curable auspices.
The troop§ soen afterwards began to leave the ground..

Printed and Published by WALTER HENRY PEAT, of No..
8, Wesley-street, in the Parish of Texteth-park, at his
Printing Establishments-3, BiwNBWICK-STREET 'corner o
Castle-street), and 40, LElort-STREET, Liverpool.
AUGUST 18, 1860.