The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-02 00:00:00

THE ARRIVAL AT BRIGHTON.

(PROW OUR OWN RRPORTRIL)
BRIGHTON, MONDAY MORNING.
Brighton, always gay in the season, looked gayer
than usual yesterday, but it got up this morning
with a doleful visage, when it was discovered
that rain had been falling heavily during
the night. Many who were determined
not to accept the unpleasant fact if they
could help it, tried, as they dressed, to per-
suade themselves that the moisture on the roofs of
the houses was but the morning dew. However,
there was no arguing against the muddy
streets and the drenched pavements. The sun
has been shining nevertheless at irregular intervals
since daylight, and Brighton does not yet refuse to
be comforted. Appearances up to this time (10
o'clock) are even as to weather. There are plenty
of suspicious-looking clouds waiting about overhead,
but there is a high cold north wind which ought to
keep them in check. it was as fine a day
yesterday as any holiday keeper might desire, save
and except the keen east wind, which made it
rather cold. This did not prevent tens of thou-
sands of persons from strolling up and down
the parade. At night when each succes-
sive train had deposited its hundreds at the
thronged station, and the town, already
apparently full, had kept on receiving the new
arrivals the whole day through, the place, turn
where you would, was choked up with people.
The large hotels were made the head-quarters of
various metropolitan regiments, and they
looked very pretty when lighted up. If there
were no " sounds of revelry within ;" there
appeared to Be a good deal of dining going on,
and the hearty laugh of the diners frequently came
out upon the promenade, and might be heard
travelling seaward. Of course there were
numerous volunteers to be met in the streets, but
not so many as might have been expected. If
one might judge from the appearance of a few who
were exhibiting themselves last night and yester-
day afternoon in a rather unsteady condition, their
first duty this morning will be to get rid of a
severe headache.
Soon after 6 o'clock this morning the volunteers
began to muster in "the Levels." The wide
spaces resounded with those peculiar sounds
made by volunteer officers in giving orders,
with the sharp decisive word of command from the
non-commissioned officers, with the steady march
or careless tramp of men making a few evolutions
to give them an appetite for breakfast, with band
and bugles, with the loud praises of the friends of
the Volunteers, and everywhere with the ques-
tion nearly in every mouth, " Is it going to be

fine r -
The programme, as already published, will be
adhered to as closely as programmes generally are
and I cannot learn that there are any changes of
importance as to the time at which the
various events will take place. If all goes
well, the Prince and party will arrive
at the platform about noon ; the volunteers will be
on the move to the race course from 10 o'clock ;
the marching past will be as near 12 o'clock as
the presence of the royal party will allow ; and
the review will be practically over at 4
o'clock, for half-past S is the time fixed
for the return d the Prince and party to the
Pavilion, what a luncheon is prepared for them.
The station is very prettily decionded, and every-
thing is readi for a proper reeeption of royalty.
Outmde the station there is a fine triumphal arch
erected, under which the royal party will pm?.
Along tha route many et the seats in