The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-18 00:00:00

layish display of bunting, having apparently hung
otft flags npon every rope and part of the rigging
to which it was Thle to attach an ensign. The
ono on the starboard or right hand side, looking
eastward, was a Danish corvette, while that
on the opposite side of the opposite di-
vision was a small Italian man-of-war.
Both these vessels took part in the honours
which were paid to the Sultan. There can be no
doubt that the appearance of the fleet, as he
steamed between its lines, must have produced a
profound impression upon the mind of his Imperial
Majesty. The stately beauty of the old wooden
ships, with the Victoria at their head, and the
solid strength of the iron-clads, could not fail to
excite the interest and the admiration of the most
indifferent ; but it was somewhat unfortunate that
as the imperial yacht passed through the lines, the
weather was not favourable to the appreciation of
any of these qualities. Almost before the Osborne
rounded the Spit buoy the wet had begun to fall,
and as she passed between the ships the squall
increased in severity until the blinding rain ob-
scured the atmosphere, and prevented anything like
• critical examination of the noble vessels which
lined her pathway. The imperial yacht, however,
steamed straight through the fleet, followed by the
Helioon, the Enchantress, the Ripon and the Syria,
and continued her course to Osborne Bay,where her
Majesty's yacht the Victoriaand Albert was moored,
awaiting the arrival of the Sultan and the Queen.
Soon after this position was reached the weather
cleared up, and the smooth slopes and green woods
of the Isle of Wight, which had hitherto been
shrouded by impenetrable mists, shone out in the
bright sunlight. Some little time was lost here,
but so varied and animated was the scene pre-
sented to the gaze that none but the most inve-
terate grumblers were disposed to cavil at the delay.
Looking to seaward the eve ranged over the
long line of ships through which the yachts
had just passed, and whose massive hulls and
taper masts were clearly relieved against the green
water or the clear blue sky ; landward, there was
presented a lovely prospect of swelling uplands
and deeply tinted woods, with Osborne House in
the back-ground ; and immediately at hand the
eye was delighted and the attention engaged by
the rapid movements of a numerous squadron of
yachts, which had followed in the wake of
the Sultan, and with their canvas spread to
the breeze flitted in and out among the sombre
looking steamers which were crowded together,
awaiting the commencement of what rright pro-
perly be called the Review. The Queen
arrived from Osborne House and wont on
board the royal yacht, where she was soon
afterwards joined by the Sultan and the Vice-
roy. By the command of her Majesty the illus-
trious visitors were accompanied by the First Lord
of the Admiralty, the Right Hon. H. L. Corry,
who transferred his flag from the Enchantress to
the Victoria and Albert. Out of courtesy to her im-
perial guest her Majesty waived her right to fly her
own flag, and the royal standard, which had been
hoisted at the mainmast head when she came on
board, was hauled down, and its place taken by the
private flag of the Sultan. Upon the arrival of
the visitors the quarter deck of the royal yacht was
the scene of a ceremony very rarely performed at sea.
Her Majesty invested the Sultan with the Order of
the Garter. Ancient chivalry and a review of
iron-clads mingled together : surely there is
some anarchronism here ! After the inves-
ture was completed luncheon was served
in the saloon. Abont twenty minutes
before two o'clock the royal yacht got under way,
and steamed towards the fleet. The Terrible and
the Gladiator preceded the Victoria and Albert as
escorting ships, the former on the starboard and the
latter on the port aide, while close behind her came
the little Alberta—afloat for the first time, it was
said, since the death of the late Prince
Consort— followed by the Helicon, the En-
chantress, the Syria, and the Ripon. In
this order the royal cortege approached the fleet,
the Victoria and Albert going at only half-speed,
and the Terrible and Gladiator gradually drawing
away to take up their respective positions at the
head of the line. As the royal yacht approached
the squadron the men were sent up into the
rigging, and very speedily the nearest ships of
the port division began to fire a royal salute.
For some short time the firing was confined to that
line, the smaller class of ironclads taking no part
in the demonstration ; but as the royal yacht ad-
. .

vaned she was saluted from both sides. - The din
became almost intolerable, and but for the brisk
breeze which was blowing the smoke must have
been quite impenetrable. In the firing of the
salute the Royal George bore away the palm. On
some of the other ships the tiring was irregular and
somewhat spasmodic, but from her broadsides
gun answered gun, now port now starboard,
in regular succession and most accurate time.
The salute was not confined to the ships
of the fleet, it was taken up by the Italian
and Danish vessels and by many of the steamers
which were plying for the accommodation of spec-
tators, and answered to from shore by the small
artillery of the Royal Yacht squadron. As the
royal yacht passed by the blue jackets - white
jackets on this occasion —were all m the rigging,
and the marines and marine artillery were at their
proper stations on deck. The yards were not
manned, in order that the men might cheer
their Sovereign as she passed, and right
lustily and heartily did they perform this ac-
ceptable task. It is eleven years since Jack
has had the opportunity of expressing his devotion
to his royal mistress, and he seemed yesterday to be
determined to make up for lost time, and to give
vent in as many minutes to the hoarded loyalty
of the last ten years. Perhaps, too, the acclamations
were rendered more enthusiastic by the feeling that
the navy had got the advantage of the army, in
that this review had come off, while the military
display in Hyde-park had been abandoned. Far
be it from us to insinuate that there exists
anything like jealousy between the sister
services ; but there is no doubt that the
members of each are very jealous of its honour and
precedence, and that Jack dearly loves to get the
best of " the soldiers," whom, in the shape of the
marines, he only tolerates on board ship because he
has had so many proofs of their valour and dis-
cipline. As the royal yacht steamed through the
lines her Majesty, the Sultan, and the Viceroy re-
mained upon the platform between the paddle-
boxes, while their respective suites were grouped
around them in picturesque confusion.

According to the official programme, "On her
Majesty approaching the leading ships of the line,"
the vessels were " to weigh together and proceed
in close order of steaming to the eastward ;" after
which the line of steaming was to be inverted,
and then, after some other manoeuvring, the
vessels were, if possible, to return to their
anchorage under canvas. When the time came
for the performance of these operations it was,
however, found necessary materially to depart from
the programme. In the first place, owing to the
lateness of the hour at which the proceedings of
the day had commenced, and the consequent change
of the tide, the ships were all lying with
their heads to the westward instead of to the
east ; and as they must have turned one by one, a
considerable time must have elapsed before they
could have got into position to steam to the east-
ward, and then only a very straggling and uncer-
tain line would have been formed ' • and in the
second place, the sea outside the Isle of Wight
was running high, there was more than a fresh
breeze blowing, and there was every appearance
that both wind and sea would rise higher as the time
wore on. Under these circumstances it was deter.
mined probably not unwisely although greatly to the
disappointment of some veteran landsmen who had
come on board prepared for a run to the Nab, to
omit this part of the proceedings and come to a
subsequent stage in which the ships were to engage
each other until they were ordered to leave of.
In order that the sovereigns might be removed
from the noise and smoke of this encounter, the
royal yacht steamed away to the Spit Buoy, and as
soon as she had taken up her position the signal
was given to commence firing. Immediately
after-
wards the several vessels commenced operations
each against the ship nearest her, and for about 20
minutes there was a continuous roar of artillery
along the two lines. Now gun after gun, now by
volleys of three or four or more at a time, and