The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-05-11 00:00:00

THE Q.O.R.Y.C. AT WEYMOUTEL

Mr. Gerard Shirt, 11.1'., was riisht when, in the House
of Commons, he ridiculed the idea of England being short
men, the sudden upspringing of the Volunteer army, anil
of horses, if ever an invasion should come. As to the
its siastentation through good an.l ill report for so nemy
years, fully proves that Englishmen are ever ready to do
,
their duty. But whether we had been too :ouch ii nation
of shopkeepers, and bad let the litoyera from " France
.tustria. Italy, Australia, or Mesopotamia," come in mat
buy off our lior.un might be a matter of dolt till Mr.
Sturt prayed that we hail more and bigger now than ever.
A fresh illustratien of this—and though in a small way
proportioned to the 100,sesi horses dui hon. menileir
promised the Government, it jean illustration so near to
on that ita propinquity gives its lien:la:met— Was giVell on
Saturday afternoon last when, in spite of the most
unfavourable weather they have had fur 13 years, and of
),,roirled 1 e
considering! ly
htnh:uyn,n
wereeaxl'imy
local drawbacks in one or two of the troops, the Q.0.1L y.r.
u.hoekiiig weather, aacoi:tbulaTts
we have said, ether circumstances, it was most gratifying
to see that fiat: came. Of course, all during the previous
week, the townsfolk had been furbishing up, re-painting,
re-varnishing, and generally getting the town in present-
able condition. Everybody was ready. except those who
hail driven .lit their work to the last in ..... ent. The
Amusement Committee had announced diveNions for the
many, as well as the horse and pony racing, bicyle riding,
foot racing, and what an boo. member in the House lit 'ems
mans (no ! not a member from Dorset:shire) said affects us
all --donkeys were considered and previ.led for. But place
aux domes—the dressmakers of course had been busy, for
it is an article of the Wey thian faith whether
the lady be Evangelical, Dissenter, or High Church,
that the question of vestments must he solved
in the Yeomanry week, by the gayest vf bonnets
and costumed in place of birettas and copes. lianas
were wanted by the half ahem' by the drapers, and
in the house decoration hue. painters were not to be had
for love or money, even the Eaplanade chairs being reconi.
mended to wait. Many hauds gut through the work of
dressing the ladies and decorating the heuses, and even
the Gas Company concluded pro tens, their operations en
the streets. As to the inns, the amount of waggon loads
of hay and straw they had attractel to their stables was
something portentous—and we speak feelingly, for many
a time during the past fortnight it has been a chalice
whether WM° one or other would not smother us at Ni..
7, Bond-street. The distances some of the (mister and
litter was brought were noteworthy,unich coming from so
far ad Sherborne. As to the liquors, of those we venture
not to write at present; huts word or so will surely hare
to come in when we arrive at the treatment of the Ports
land Artillery. Lodging.house keepers had long been
astir, and probably the large sales in the early part of the
year were now turned to less! accoupt. For a short time,
all unpleasant suspicion of danger was abroad; it was
whispered that there was a fear lest, after all, the
Yeomanry would not come ! Or, if they did come, that
they might not stay. The I ',usandrits hinted that the
Government would not pay the all...ea:ice if the regiment
did net muster 21.10, and tales, awful to those who bad
expended their capital, were passed along how one land-
lord had not looked up his meant., and so is troop there
would be short, and, how another, at sane drill or other,
bud not got an officer, and ao many had resigned. And
when, as the week easiest on and the weather sot worse,
it mist be confessed there was canederable anxiety as to
the remit. The day itself broke unfavourably, 3 thick
Mist was alternated with occasional shewers, just the
nasty weather calculated to keep anybody but a Laplander
or—an Keelideisen, away from a long journey. Some of
the Q. 0.11. Y.I". live long distances away in the heart of, the
county, and, although railways Oat 1.14 up in most directs:ea
yet there ia nothing but a long ride on horseback t.e.
a large number of the force. flow much did people's
hire. lengthen L. the weather became worse and worse.
The rain was more driving and business was slower ; the
mist was thicker and the gnaw: of people were thinner
the maks were muddier sod the streets were clearer ,and
every one's courage threatened t i size out. Even the
Volunteers, who have a sort of homely feeling toward*
rain, delayed their start, and the Portland Artillery
nicked their arrival so close that they were only. just in
time. Towards the end of Saturday afternoon a tourney
towards Code Hill is the duty of all reaorters, and in
the journey was made. Scarcely a sign of the
great expectation of the day could compare with former
years: the few flags hung drenched from the poles, the
gathering crowds were nowhere, and a " strong detach-
inent (f our)" of the I erough police. atatianed near St John •
school, had no greater task than ti take cue of thetas
selves. Even the merry schoolboys who had deeperately
rallied into the country to spend the Saturday afternoon,
were driven bon with their ne wieir bunches of cowslips an
bluebells, and thed
"tiny faces pressed amunat the wind ow
pane," were almost blank in rueful anticipanon of missing !
the show. But at last a dozen or SO grey horse' loom '
through the mist, and we heeeme aware of the approach
of the band. Their jovial leader, Mr. Eyen, If It ellt in
Weymouth by indisposition ; but 'tin a satisfaction to rieo
nik on
uffttoebta,renat last, .
cheering music. A long nay behind, the advanced guard
of the Q.Q.11 Y.C. appear, and soon the 'ewe hndv.
behold ! accompanying them is some excese for a crowi
ganthe'reillgiltettart,,,yrfrefetontlgentkZut their
The Yeomanry ride on silently, as Primians to a much
torn, Capt. Hambro's tall form among the first. but the
bravery of their appearance, the "pomp and circumstance
of glorious war,' i I
are aoeyance new., ear h ruk,i
" with his martial sleek around hint Ihe rain
increases, and we can't even cheer, all are so drenclugl
hut as we surmount Ita.lipole Hill. there are thcc
Riflemen. who have faced the bitter showers. and even
our noble friends, the i'ortland Artillery Volunteers. The
Weymouth men are commanded by Lieut. Gwen and
Lieut. Tisard (Captain Arden being unwell), there are
four sergeants, and 54 men, including the band,led by
Mr. Board. Lower :lown. opposite Wellingtonn T!'eTaen•
are the I'ortland Volunteer Artillery, including Captain
Eliot, Lieutenant Andrews, [Jr. )(clean. e remerier's I
instructor, 47 rank and tile, and 13 band: total te. Theae
had neutered about hal:bps:it three at the Drill hall,
Easton, left by the 4.10 train. and on coiniv g to Weymouth,
mustered at the Railway station, and marched directly up
arriving opposite Wellington Terrace just in geed Mine.
There is certainly much credit clue to both artillery and
ride volunteers for their capital musters on such. a wet
day. Their pluck is no reason. however, why curdle/IS
should lie exposed without proper protection, and we
that all will shortly lie provided with overcoats. Ttie
otticere should see tm this, for, to put the matter ou a tell
salutes wire exchanged and the artillerY
low ground, the damage to the imiforius would le some-
thing whets wetted through soil through. The "'"1.1
the yeomanry, followed.by the riflemen, and all niarchel
into Weymouth. both Volunteer bands discoursing sweet
wale. while the general enquiry was for that of the
Yeomanry Band also. Arrived opposite the Rorakik.tel•
the Yeomanry were halted. The crowd had by this time
fell in behand
increased to a very respectable number ; but of course
' nothing like what Is seen on fine days of entry. But every
window was thronged with faces. here the Yeomanry
, were dismissed, and no doubt were itlad to get shelter and
the hearty welcome of their friends and hosta. The rifles
were disliliseal as usual uppesite the King.., Slat"e• and
' the Portland Artillery marched over the Bridp to
Messrs. Devenish,and Co's beewery,where Me. Curtis and
others dispend the
ee hospitality a that kind-he
firm. Scattered under aarted
, great glass roof there was
ample room to entertain all the contionr. with capital
bread-and-cheese and beer, and even Good Templars were
made at home by a large supply of their own dnnka
After having enjoyed Messrs. Devenish's kindness, the
Artillery marched lack to the Guildhall. vi the lively
otraina of their bond, Piled arm: and fraterniael with the
townsfolk and their brote,,Finnus till it oe` time tn'
leave by the last train. 'iii.M
a. le rain. however.
bail outdoor excitement, and the tern ern. 5000 CU
The field date was as (sallow,
I stare - colonel Lord Richard (Irom our, Major 31. Veen"."
I Adjutant Oriels, Surgeon Goog, Asaistant-Surgeon Daniels,
Veterittery-SUrgeoll Rowe.
' 3""C" the Earl of Ileliester, Lieutenant
Br)mer, Lieutenant Yellow.% Quarter-ouster Gauge, ! sir.
sauna, 3 corporate, 22 privatoi; total 31.
Dosciinirga --Captain A. It Feder, Lieutenant 161.1111t0n.
Li•eion4tit Thornton, tinarter-naaster Itawitou, 4 ItlVniday
corp.:els. 1 farrier, M privates • total 33.
V,,LI Captain T hi. llowee.l ikutenant, 1 quarter-master,
1 evrgeatit, 2 corporals. Is pri raise ; tote/ 24.
""*"".--CLP"ia J It. P. ttoodden, I lieutenant, I
quarter-muter, 3 sergemas, 4 corporals, 1 trumpvtor. 20
privates; total, 31.
BLAND•OLD. --Captain C. J. T. Ilamo, I sub-lieutenant, I
quarter-ouster, 8 sergeants, I donsaml. I trumpeter, 34 Pri-
rates ; total, 43.
'lV:await —Captain sir R 0 Glyn, I Lieutenant, I quarts"
maw, eargeaute, 1 eorpceal, 23 privatae ; total. Ph