The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-06-27 00:00:00

THE GRAND VOLUNTEER REVIEW AT

WINDSOR.

This review, looked forward to with so much Interest, came
off on Saturday. The weather was altogether favourable,
with the exception of part of the day being inconveniently
sultry. The ground selected was that portion of the Great
Park situated between the Long Walk and Queen Anne's Ride,
and stretching in a southerly direction to within a short
distance f the will known statue of George 111, at the end
of the Long Walk. It is a spot admirably adapted for the
purpose, and was selected on a (omen's-cation for the review
of the Household Brigade and other regular troops, during the
visit to the Queen of the Emperor Napoleon. The area of the
arousal kept for the volunteers was something under get)
acres, and its limits were clearly and boldly defined by rows
' of those lordly forest trees which constitute the charm of
the Great Park of Whalsor. The preparations within the
park for the accommodati n of the Queen, the Royal Family,
and the public generally, were carried out under the personal
supervision of Major-General E. 11. Seymour, the Deputy
Ranger of Windsor Park and Forest. The whole of the
area was strictly reserved for the volunteers and those con-
nected with the business of the day.
THE QEFEN'S VISIT Ti) DATCHET—THE PONTOON BRIDGE.
One of the most interesting incidents of the day was the
construction of the pontoon bridge at Datchet, which w-as
effected by a detachment of Royal Engineers from Aldershot.
The object in view was to enable about one.third of the
volunteer regiments to reach their place of rendezvous hy
the shortest routes, and to lessen the confusion incident to
the progress of man); th0,...t 11,11 through Windsor. At '
eleven o'clock hex ii.ajesty, suitis the Princesses Louise and
Beatrice, reached Datchet ;11 4,1 • pea carriage, anti imme-
diately afterwards the construct!"...f the bridge was began.
to rapidly was the work accomplished, itlai a pontoon, gla
feet in length, was pla,ll across the Thames in twenty eight
minutes, end at noon was cries:lllllw the gnu Essex Adman..
trative Battaliim, which was the ens regiment to arrive at
Dateliet Station. lu the simscnee of her Majesty this corps
marched across the first politmui bridge ever placed RCM,.
the Thames for the passage of volunteers. 51 hen they
reached the Windsor side id the river the men gave a cheer
for the Queen, which wails heArtily joined in by the spectators.
The Royal party remained for shout half an hour watching
the successive corps that arrived at Patchet. The bridge
was marched across In formation if haws, and, notwithstand-
ing the immense weight which it hail ti bear, very little
oscilhitlon wan observable.

THE ASSEMBLING OP THE CORE%
The arrival of the various corps on the ground, precedel :
by their lands, at, watched with con-t leraide Interest by
the spectators. mime if the corps which had the good for- )
tulle it arrive early hail an eiwortunity of piling arms,
resting upon tile j
e turf, and doing ust lee to the much-needed !
anti welcome (mid and drink which thoughtful WiVCA and •1
sisters had provided for them. Some of the corps had the
good fortune to have all their w into provided for on the
ground, and notable among them woe the Otis Tower
Hamleta,
THE ARRIVAL Or THE QUEEN AND CoERT.
The time fixed for the arrival of her Majesty on the
ground was leer o'clock. but owing to the want of punctu-
ality on the part of the railway company in bringing up the
troops, the Queen did not arrive at tile saluting point until
some minutes past five o'clock. The delay in bringlng up
the tr 01,11% naturally caused considerable annoyance to the
officers in command and the Queee, who postimned her
departure from the Castle for sonic time, no that the whole
of the forces inlaid be asseudded and in order.
tier Majesty was aecompanied by the Prince and Princess of
Wales, Prince and Princess Christian, Prince and Princess
Louie of Besse, Princess Beatrice, Prince Arthur, the Duke
of Cambridge, Princess Mary and Prince Teck, end the
Crown It inee of Denmark. Ihe carriage in which Her
Majesty was seated woo drawn by six grey horses, with
postilions tn the Royal livery. rhum other carriages, four in
number, were drawn by four horses. Her Matesty wore, as
usual, deep mourning, while the Princesses vshoMeeompanleil
wore light dresses, on approaching the saluting point
her Eajesty recognised Lady Constance Grosvenor, the
Princess Sase.W eimar, Mrs. Loyd Lindsay, anti other ladies,
who occupied the front seats of the eau lieges drawn up out-
side tile enclosure, and very cordially bOWeli 11.0 them In
return to the marks of respect which they offered. Having
reach, d Hu, saluting noun Cie Qll,ll, the members of the
Royal party, and tLeir suite proceeded hi their carriages to
inspect the two lines of volunteers which hid now been
horned up, and were prepared to give the Royal salute.
A prettier. end. indeed, inore imposing sight has seldoni
been seen ttam that presented during this part of the pro-
ceedings. A leng checkered. parti-coloured walla volunteers,
the ends of which faded awe,- Ps a dark point in the distance,
was drawn up opposite the hrt.e.o and irregular line of
,pectat4,rs and the infantry and cavalry of Om Ifomehold
Brigade, which motionless and statue-like, represented the
flower of the Pm UM army. In the front of that many-
coloured wall—grey and rusivet, brown, black, and green, and
here and there some patches of the fain:ltar scarlet uniforms,
the Queen and I mutt, with a brilliant start of officers, and
Situ eicort of the Hoesz "moats, passed slowly on tier way.
Some eh:timing combination. at colour were formed as the
moving r toq, pasSeti on. At Ono tinie the grey horses of
her Majesty's carriage showed up on a grOutiii of black
uniforms, at another the scarlet uniforms of the staff passed
before some volunteer companies in light grey. The coheirs
were coustantly shifting arid chauging as this rouge passed
•n. Add m this the brilliancy of the sim, which brought
out the colours In their fullest effect, tipped the steel of the
bayonets, and flashed on the helmets and cuirasses of the
Guards, and lighted up the lighter tints of the dresses if the
ladies in the Royal carriages. Then there was the broad
expanse of turf which formed the Pima-round, and the noble
trees which mist a deeper shade on the back ground, and
sky of ndn el.' white and time which spread like a canopy
ovcr the whole scene. One could not look upon S 1100110