The Express.
London, England, 1865-09-23 00:00:00

PRZZIRNTATION OP THE VICTORIA CROSS.

PORTSMOUTH, San. 2'.1.
A large concoarge of persons anew bled on Soothes',
Common this afternoon to witness the presentation of the
Victoria cross to a midshipman sad two seamen of her Ma-
jesty's ship &union, for the gallantry displayed by them
daring the °pastime le the Saute of Simon Seki, Japan,
on the 6th of September, 1864. Her Majesty signified her
commands that these decorations should be presented in
such a public and formal manner as might be considered
beat adapted to evince her sense of the noble darns die.
played by the recipieuta before the enemy, and apremsd
her wish that a decoration which allows and men equally
share, may be highly prised and eagerly sought after by all,
of whatever rank or degree, in her Majesty's naval sad
military serving. The Lords Commissiooers of the Ad-
miralty, therefore, specially acumanded that in the
discharge of this duty nothing should be omitted
which might tend to redound to the honour of this
officer sad of thus men, and enhance the value of
tie decoration. With this view, is the absence of the
Queen herself, the duty of presenting the mans devolved
upon Admiral fir Michael Seymour, 0.0,8., the commander-
in-chief of this port, and all possible Mat was given to the
ceremony under the circumstances. The army was not
represented, excepting the Royal Artillery sod the Royal
Marines Light Infantry, with their motto, • Per mare r
terram," which characterises its service, may be r as
reasentstives of the military branch of the nubile service.
In addition to these two corps, on battalion of eon being
as the grated. there was a field battery of samosa with
Armstrong guns, and a strong brigade of Names, the Ex-
cellent contributing the largest contingent. TM naval ni-
non was under the command of Captain A. C. Hey, 0.11.,
of the Etonian, sad consisted of easallona parties of
her Majtaty's ships in port sod at Spitbeed. The battery
of field pieces from the Excellent, under the command of
Lieutenant Poulden, landed at the dockyard at on o'clock,
and left the yard about half past one, with the abeam an
crew of she Earyalus, under the command of Cantle
Dowell, C.B. The brigade was composed al follows
Right battalion, six companies of the Excellent, under the
command of Captain Herbert, of the Royal Sovereign ; left'
battalion, six eomposeies from the Excellent, Terrible, Re-
search, &Arpin, and Royal Sovereiga, under the command
of Captain Wilmehuret, of the Research. The battalion ell
Royal Marine Artillery and Royal Maine Li ht Infarn7
were demanded by Colonel Tan R.M.A. The duties of
brigade to both brigades were entrusted to lAsetenant and
Adjutant Clelomb, R.M.A. Wham the forces had arrived
on Souttnea-common they were drown up is line
parallel with the beach in the billowiest order :—Field
tottery on the right, brigade of seamen, Royal Marine
Light Infantry, sad Royal Marin Artillery, which formed
the left fink. The crew at the Haryana were drawn up
in two division, right and left of the mita* teats off**
site the other line.
The Oommuideria-Chlef arrived on the pound in a
Ikea 0111111.0 shortly after two o'clock, sad au proceed.
leg into the square kept by the Royal Marine Artillery
was received with a general salute. The brigades. then
manned past in quick time in opea column of cocanamon to
the music of the unicted bands of the Royal Marine ArtMery
and Royal Marine Light latuatry. The operation being
concluded, the brigades tam took up pavanes in cow
aeons battalion columns at quarter daemon, and
the peremony of presentiag the crosses began ; but
the crowd was so great, sad the eagerness of the people to
witness the proseedtep so Maass, that the square which
the Macias Artillery were appoieted to keep woe several
thou broken through, and the coseequeon was that very'
few of the mein *mused persons who had resembled
were skis to wits's' the inierestien cormooy whisk they
went eat is see performed.
Then wen three rainiest' of this disetessisied ease I
of valour : the Brat befog Mr. Dusan Gerdes Boyle.
shim= of the Extryslas, for ecospiceous plisetry, tali,
essordiag to tie toollosny Oapteln Alexander, 0.1..
at that time fiat espial to VicecArimlenl
filet
Aegean/ Raper, &CA. Mr. Sepia dimple's& oa
the meeker of the capture of the sosese" sleeked&
!Ws *lent rang *Mot carrier 1 • caws with the lead.
eseepary, kepe te *dosses et all in the fees a net
thickest of the lire, hie colearoargente bats! fa
am
=the ether daegareeely wended, end be ma feply
trees preseallng yea farther hi the ceders of hie
make ohm Tbe edger he anis& wee si
ed x thaw
tog aging Wig The used egolgissh