The Express.
London, England, 1858-08-03 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY AT PORTSMOUTH.

ORAND DISTRIBUTION OF THE VICTORIA

PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY NionT,

The grind ceremony at Cherbourg vas destined
to be preceded by ea event scarcely Isis interesting nationally
than the opening of the Cherbourg dockyard is interna-
-1 rascally. Shanheavenly with the reparations on the one
aids of the Chianti for cossummating one of the Wes Na-
-1 pa:4;4ollnel I. the presence of a British sovereign, arrange-
-11 meats were made on the other for tho awarding, by the hand
of her Majesty, what has now become a oersted object of
English chivalry to the 19th century, to some of those 'patent
heroes from the East who have proved that the "age of
chivalry" is not "gone," and that nothing is needed but a
fitting opportunity to call into action the highest principles,
and the grandest energies of human mind and action.
The distribution of the Victoria Cross, which took
piece yesterday afternoon, at Booths Common,
was an Brent of no ordinary Interest, sad to the
Habitants of the locality it was a rest petritMle
Iffavity, ambers being attracted from the seerround•
lag distrties to witness the proceedings. The troops
Imps to aseeroble on the common about half-pest three
o'clock, and formed into two brigades, the first commanded
by Lieutenant-Colonel Cole, of the 16th Regiment, and the
second by Colonel Hurdle, C. 8., of the Royal Marten Light
lafantry. Them our is all shoot 4,000 men—a very
respectable gathering considering the large drafts that ham
tweedy gone out to India—and [Wading, besides some
compeake of Royal Artillery, the 15th Regiment of the line,
and five regiments of Militia. The officers and colours were
drawn up in front of the line of oontiguous columns awaiting
the arrival of her Majesty. For the acootemodation of the
Queen an elevated dais, suitably decorated, was erected
in front of the brigades, and in the rear of the
platform was a royal pavilion or teat for her Majesty and the
royal party. Enclosures were set apart for the officers of the
garrison and their friends, among whom were of course
• large number of ladies. These enclosures flanked
each tide atlas platform erected for the sovereign ; while a
Bee of sentries, extending for a cousiderable distance in front
of the eacimares fevered a square, in the centre of which were
Maimed the brigades. The general public thronged the
space immediately beyond, and it is to be feared obtained no
very distinct view of the ceremony Welt A grand stand
was provided for the use of those who chose to pay for an
elevated position, but the situation was more favourable for
a soup &ail than for minute inspection.
The esplanade was gaily decorated with party coloured
flags, and here also were erected a number of email platforms,
the priperty of enterprising speculators in the gratification of
public curiosity.
The Queen landed at the royal statute the dockyard under
royal salutes, shortly after fuer o'clock, the crews of the
vessels in harbour manning yards and cheering lustily
during the royal approach and disembarkation, and
the ships themselves being dressed in theft. gayest
Imbues. Her Majesty proceeded at once to Portsea-
common. She was saluted la rasing opposite the fleet
lying at Splayed by the magnificent screw vetoes at anchor,
and similar Usage we paid by the garrison battery. The
royal carriage entered the ground by the astern encloses.,
and stopped for two or three minutes alongside of the dale,
while her Majesty gamed an the beautiful ease before her,
the principal feature of widish was the gallant bead whose
deeds were the occasion of the cereincey. On the right el
her Majesty was his Royal Highness the Prince Consort
on hovieback, in the uniform of a beld.matehal ; on the
left was his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge.
In the carriage with the Quer were the Princes@ Alice
and the Prisons Helens, and a lady in wafting. There was
• suuseroaa and brilliant staff. At a signal from her Majeety
the royal cortege proceeded to the eastern extremity of the
two brigades, and traversed the whole frost from sad to end
at a slow welkin pece. It then retatived amid the shiers of
the asallitade to the dais appointed for tbe eirmiony of dire
tribetioa, which bee Majesty immediately ascended, acena-
ponied by the two royal primers', the Priam Cornet, and
the Duke of Cambridge, and by thaerel Peal, her Modesty
standing in front. The officers sad men selected to receive
the Victoria Creme were then ordered to advance, which they
did snoceasively, sad each in turn had the gratifica-
tion of having the mom fastened on his breast
by the hand of the Queen herself—an harsour
which seemed to have • rather dazzling and bewildering
effect on some of them, as was elms a by • forget fulness of
the military salute, and • ledicrous bashfulness in retiring.
The recipients consisted of twelve men in all, nine can-
raissiosed and two non ememirioned 0018114 and one pri-
vate soldier. There are still solos thirty or forty often and
teen new Deming in India who have hardly earned this high
military distilleries, and who tam yet to be decorated by hair
Majesty.
The first of the gallant twelve who were the heroes of
yesterday was Liestienant-Colonel B. W. D. Boil, Zed Bat-
Wien 23rd Italian, whose medal was earned by a long
WWI of galleat deeds, oommeacing at the Alma, and
emending throughout the whole Crimean campaign.
The mooed, Lisuiseeza-Colonel H. D. Dixon, ILA., Is
also a Crimean, end his crass was gained on the coasts of
opening fire Lir the fourth time upon Sebastopol, es the 17th
April, 18.56.

Th third eras Deputy laspector-Generalof lioepltals James
Mood, C.B , late 6th Dragoons, of shorn the GostelG says:
Date of act of bravery, October 26, 1654. For having
voluntarily prooeedod to the sealstabre of Lieutenant-Colobe.l

mom., e.n., 17th 1.811e9T4, who Wag lying dangrroa.ty
wounded In en exposed situation after the rotreet of the Light
Cavalry at the Dottie t 4 Beiskiseh, wed having dressed the