The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-30 00:00:00

The Volunteer Review.

On Saturday tho Volunteers were reviewed in
Hyde Park in the presence of such a concourse of
spectators as has seldom before assembled within
its precincts. As a military demonstration it was,
of its kind, one of the most important as a pageant
it was one of the most brilliant it is possible to
imagine. With the single slight and necessary,
omission of the Royal salute at the close of the pro-
ceedings—a salute which it was impossible to give

line with such a number of men in such a limited
area of ground, the programme was rigidly adhered
to, even as to time, and the whole display reflects
the greatest credit both on Colonel M'Murdo and
the War-office, who had its management, and the
corps of Volunteers, who so perfectly carried out
their instructions.

It is now four years since her Majesty held the
first Volunteer review in Hyde Park. On that
occasion only some 14,000 men were mustered, and
it is no disparagement to them to say that their
appearance then gave little indication of the solidity
of drill and discipline at which, as all saw on Sa-
turday, the force has been destined to arrive. Dur-
ing the interval that has elapsed the Volunteer
movement has taken deep root in every class of
society, and nowhere more strongly than in the
provincial towns. Comparatively short, therefore,
as was the notice:given of the review of Saturday,
it was sufficient to call together 22,000 disciplined
troops ;(there were 21,745 rank and file on the
ground), whose fine military appearance and per-
fect regularity of drill, as compared with their evo-
lutions before the Queen four years ago, literally
astonished the spectators. Most of the London re-
giments were ordered to parade at their mustering
places at 3.30. Long before that hour, however,
groups of gentlemen in uniform had begun
to draw together, and from groups to form
companies, and from companies to expand rank after
rank into strong regiments, and from regiments to
grow massive brigades. Long before that hour,
also, it seemed as if half London was on the move to
Hyde-park; and the thoroughfares presented much
the same sort of aspect as they would wear if the
Volunteers took it into their heads to march to
Epsom on a Derby-day. Indeed, the appearance of
the Park itself reminded one very much indeed of
the Derby. There were the same ricketty stands,
improvised out of planks and ladders, on which the
public were besought to risk their lives and limbs
for charges which rose in proportion to the height
and danger of the structure. A stand which only
offered a fall of 3 feet when it gave way could be
had for a shilling, but the more ambitious elevations
on which it was little short of manslaughter to
decoy people, were as costly as they were unsafe,
and, doubtless, for both reasons fortunately re-
mained almost unoccupied. The review-ground, or
rather the parade on which the troops were to as-
semble in line of contiguous columns, extended over
the whole length of the Park from the Ride to the
Bayswater-road, and even this space was insufficient
to permit of the alignment of the forces, which con-
sequently had to be formed up with their right
wing, so to speak, considerably advanced and at
right angles with the main body. The
space for the privileged spectators was a long en-
closure running parallel with Park-lane, and to
this admission was only to be gained by tickets.
The distribati m of these admissions was unfoi-
tunately mismanaged, and was, in fact, a cause
of considerable dissatisfaction throughout the day.
The Board of Works had gone to the trouble of
arranging the enclosure, and, having thus done
their part, expected Sir Richard Mayne to do his
by providing a sufficient force of police to prevent
its being occupied by those who had no right
to admission. Sir Richard Mayne, however, de-
clined, it is stated, in the absence of the Sove-
reign, to draw upon the police for men to keep
the ground. The result was that only some few
additional constables were sent into the Parks, and
as these were left without orders they became, in
fact, a mere addition to the speetatore. It was else
refusal of Sir Richard Mayne to send police 'os keep
the enclosure which led to the dist ributior. of ticket.-
being postponed until they were vP;ineless. The
country and other corps only got Oneir shares when
they were ectually marching to the ground, and
could neither use them nor give them away.
Soon after 4 o'clock soma troops of Horse Guards,
with a troop of L oicsrs, came upon the ground,
and in a few moments qaietly cleared the whole
space allotted for the review, which formed a vast
square, the line of which was thenceforward kept
only by a few sentries, but beyond whose bounds,
until the review was over, the crowd never attempted
to pass. It was not, however, from want of provo-
cation to break it that the line was kept, for the
rule laid down by the Commander-in-Chief that
officers in uniform were not to pass civilians within
the lines without tickets was flagrantly set at
naught. Every officer brought a large civilian
party, and overbearing all remonstrance on the part
of the sentries, insisted on placing them inside the
lines, and this they repeated so often that at last a
a perfect inner circle was formed before the seated
visitors, between whom and those standing in front
a constant altercation was going on. Sometimes the
crowd of sitters were so loud and persistent in their
cries of " Sit down in front I" that for very peace
sake those who were obstructing their view were
obliged to do so. But the concession was seldom
made for long, so that at various points along the
line the altercation was always going on, and no-
where with more vehemence or with worse effect
than immediately round where the Prince and Prin-
cess were stationed, to which point of course all
officers took their friends.
There is a celebrated saying of a celebrated
General, that we had not a General who
could get 20,000 men out of Hyde Park, If
this was ever true, which we mach doubt, it
certainly shows what strides we hale made in our
military education since it was uttered. On Satur-
day there were, including regulars, nearly 25,000
men on the ground, yet they all assembled there
within an hour, and left the Park after the Review
was over ill even less time. This display proves,r
a e
not onw3y that the Volunteers have made a great
advance in numbers and efficiency, but that where
their officers take pains to make the necessary ar-
rangements beforehand, they have also acquired
considerable facility in the execution of combined
movements. To many of those present it, no der.aot,
seemed a simple matter to march to the 'ark, to
stand for a couple of hours under arty d, to take part
in a general salute, to march De
and then to re-
turn in the sumo order in -,,en e.".s
they came. 'Three-
fourtha of them, of -eourse, fancied in their secret
hearts that it scald have been better to burn is little
powder, or in some way to "let them
show what,
they cold do." Bat in reality their united perfor-
mances were vastly more important than if each
battalion had gone through the manual and platoon
exercises with uninape .chable accuracy. The con.
centration of the various Divisions from the several
joists of rendezvous was skilfully planned and
successfully executed. The Cavalry and Artillery
Brigades, the pletwe of assembly of which was at the
east side of Goosvenor-place, the Prince of Wales's
Brigade, Vas, rendezvous of which was at the west
side of aaae gorse Guards' parade, and the first and
sec°Std brigades of the First Division, which met
aeepectively at the east end of the Horse Guards'
p .rade and the east end of the Mall, all entered by
the Hyde Park-gate. The third and fourth brigades
of the First Division and the first brigade of the
Second Division, coming from Beigrave and Eeton
squares, found their way into the Enclosure through
Albert-gate. The second brigade of the Second
Division, the rendezvous of which was at Grosve-
nor-square, third brigade
nor-square, and of the same
Division, which had to make its way from Pins•
bury-square, passed into the Park through Gros-
venor-gate. The first brigade of the Third Division
marching from Sussex-square, and the Second
Division from Glocester-square, found a ready mode
of access through Victoria-gate, and the two remains
• ing brigades of the Third Division, approaching one
from Russell-sqcare and the other from Portman-
square, entered the Park by Cumberland gate.
Nearly the whole of the troops arrived at the time
appointed, or very slightly after it, end the only
fligrant deperture from the rules laid down was in
the ease of a gallant but highly Erratic corps pro-
erlv belonging to the Second Division, which ap-

.4

first gate it came to, regardless of- the fact that it
was eapeted in an opposite direction. By half-

past five o'clock all were on the ground. The gene-
rally sombre colours of the Volunteers were here
and there relieved by corps in red or lighter gray,
and the density of the masses on the extreme right

contrasted well with the open format:on of the Ar-
tillery on the extreme left. The muster of Artile
lery was remarkably strong and creditable. Though
only 26 guns were brought on the ground, yet the
number of effective gunners that attended were
more than equal to the serving of 100 pieces. The
Volunteer Artillery deserve every praise, for their
drill means double work—infantry drill and drill at
the great guns—and the manner in which they
went by on Saturday both in battalions and with
their guns shows how admirably they must have
attended to their twofold duty. Soon after six
o'clock the boom of the guns and the cheering of
the multitude proclaimed the arrival of the il-
lustrious party, and almost immediately after
the Royal cortege, followed and preceded by a
brilliant Staff, entered the enclosure, and with
a quick, continued rattle the whole force pre-
sented arms, while the Honourable Artillery Com-
pany, the only Volunteers who possess colours,
lowered them to the ground as the strains of the
National Anthem marked the Royal salute. The
Princess of Wales, dressed in deep black, was in an
open carriage and four, with outriders in scarlet, and
escorted by a detachment of the Life Guards.
Seated by her Royal Highness, but not in mourn.
ing, was the Princess Louis of Hesse. In the
second carriage were the Countess of Morton and
Mdlle. De Grancey, in attendance on their Royal
Highnesses. The Prince of Wales, in the uniform
of the Royal Artillery Company, rode by the side
of the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Louise of
Hesse, both of whom were in full uniform also.
Following the Royal party were the Marquis of
Salisbury, Sir Richard Airey, Sir G. Wetherell,
General Knollys, the Marquis of Ailesbury, the
Aides-de-camp to the Prince of Wales, the Duke,
and Prince Louis, the Deputy-Adjutant, and
Quartermaster-General, &c. In the Royal suite,
also, was Count d'Audigne, Attache to the French
Embassy, who wore his uniform of the Imperial
Guard. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,
accompanied only by the Duke of Cambridge and
the officers of their respective Staffs, at once rode
along the line, making their inspection slowly as
they went, and examining every corps with critical
but evidently well-pleased glances. From this in-
spection his Royal Highness did not return to the
saluting point, but at once rode off and took his
position at the head of the fine brigade which was
placed under hie orders for the marching past.
The Royal carriages meanwhile had diem: up
close to the flagstaff, and as they took their posie
don his Royal Highness Prince Arthur, accom-
panied by Major Elphinstone, R.E., came forward
and joined the party. Shortly afterwards the Dake
d'Aumale and two gentlemen by whom he was
accompanied were perceived in the reserved seats by
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge.
They were at once conducted within the enclosure,
and, having paid their respects to the Princess of
Wales, remained to witness the march past. First
in order came the Hon. Artillery Company, a body
which can trace its pedigree back to a time when
there was no standing army in England, and whose
ancestors, the old Train Bands, ranged themselves
sometimes on the side of the Sovereign and some-
times against it, but always on the side t liberty.
Next marched the representative corgis of Oxford
and Cambridge Universities, and +Ale brigade closed
with a battalion raised from those distinguished
civil servants who act as ....me wheels on which our
social machinery revives. The Prince, wearing
the uniform of col-onel of the Hon. Artillery Com-
pany, with t'Ae blue riband of the Garter, was
warmly eteered as he rode past in advance of his
brigad and, having gracefully saluted the Corn-I
all:eder-in Chief, took up his post on the left of
Gen. Pennefather, where he could be seen to advan-
tage by the different regiments as they passed. It
is no new thing to say of the Hon. Artillery Com-
pany that they are hardly to be distinguished from
the corps d'elite, to whose uniforms their own so
narrowly approximate; but on Saturday, conscious
of their added dignity, they put forth special efforts
to justify their ancient renown. Oxford University
came tripping along merrily to the music of
" Faint"—a little short in the step, perhaps, but
that may have been the fault of the band—with a
somewhat novel look imparted to their ranks by
the bright blue colour of their caps and stock-
ings. The Cambridge men enjoyed the advan-
tage, as far as appearance is concerned, of those
knowing Zeuave gaiters, which
,on parade replace
the " cardinal" stockings. In other respects the
University corps were on a footing of perfect
equality, and in every respect worthy to be in-
cluded in this new formation of Infantry of the
Guard, Lord Bury, the Lieutenant Colonel of the
Civil Service Regiment, was warmly greeted—a
tribute apparently persanal as well as complimen-
tary to the fine regiment under his command. The
cavalry brigade, comprised of Ist Surrey Light
Horse, the Ist Middlesex, and Ist Hertford Volun.
tear Cavalry, formed in the aggregate a squadrot
of nearly 100. The horses for the most part were
exceedingly good, but many of them either had not
been accustomed to march in line, or were discon-
certed by the music of the bands. Cavalry at pre•
sent is scarcely one of the elements of strength in
the Volunteer service, and it would be well if occa-
sionally means could be taken of enlisting the co-
operation of the Yeomanry. The military effect of
Volunteer reviews would be much heightened by
their presence. The Artillery display was very
imposing. This has always been a favourite branch
of the service ; but, in spite of their previous
knowledge on the subject, the public were surprised
to find how large a proportion the artillerists bore
to the general force under arms. In addition to the
six light guns which had gone past with the Hon,
Artillery Company in the Prince of Wales's Br;
gade, 20 others of heavier calibre were now -
in charge of the Ist Administrative -
Middlesex Artillery Volunteers
Creed, and the 3d 11,r •
bearing of the me-
were highl-
conte-

paraded
_ Brigade, the
„commanded by Col.
—adleses Volunteers. The
and their general equipments
creditable to all concerned, and, not

with mere efficiency, some of the batteries
oorrowed a hint as to style from the Royal Horse
Artillery, and horsed their guns exclusively with
animals of one colour. In addition to what may
be callod, for the sake of distinction, the service
Artillery, there was a complete brigade of Artillery
Volunteers armed with carbines only, numbering
close upon 2,000 men. When these had passed the
infantry divisions came up, and continued to move
along in unbroken order for nearly an hour and a
half. The public are by this time such keen critics
at Volunteer reviews, and the regiments themselves
by the earnestness they threw into the movement
at the outset have accustomed spectators to such a
standard of efficiency, that anything in the nature
of shortcoming is sure to be detected. It is there-
fore paying no small compliment to the force upon
the ground to say that at the conclusion of the pro-
ceedings the general voice declared the display to
have been attended with complete success. From
first to last, as far as the Volunteers were concerned,
there was not a single hitch ; on the contrary, the
improvement in discipline since the last great display
in Hyde-park is too palpable to admit of question.
A fact to which attention cannot be too strongly
pointed is that the battalions from various parts of
the country takiag part in the review were, if any.
thing, in advance of those in the metropolis, It
has been the fashion to speak—not slightingly, for
it was never possible to do that—but in a careless,
off-hand manner of the performances of " eountry
corps," and to assume that in 1864, as in 1860,
London is still giving the tone to the provinces in
all matters connected with Volunteering. But if
the regiments sent up from Lancashire, Nottingham,
Warwick, and Derbyshire are average specimens of
those in other parts of England, the metropolis must
look to its laurels, and that without delay. It
is true that all the established favourites of the
London Volunteer garrison were on the field on
Saturday afternoon, and in no degree lessened
their former high repute. The South 'Middlesex,
for examp:e, were Present in large numbers,
and the pertect evenness as to merit of the
companies showed the good reAtt!ta of the internal
i'uted in that corps.

C:)IT4

The London Scottish, steady and precise, repaid the
trouble taken by _ Lord Elcho, while the London

Rifle Brigade, solid and sombre, upheld the credit
of the city of London. The Inns of Court, neatly

dressed and smartly handled, as Rifles should be,
elicited frequent remarks of " We've not seen any
like this yet," and from one old gentleman the
plaintive soliloquy, D Fine fellows, very fine fel-
lows; what a pity there are such rogues among
them l" The Victoria Rifles, under the Duke of
Wellington, did credit to their long and careful
training. But rating the merits of these and other
corps as high as
possible, the fact cannot be got rid
of that, without exception, the finest brigade upon
the field was that commanded by Lord Grosvenor,
.and composed exclusively of country corps. The
6th Lancashire, better known as the Ist Manches-
ter, led the van of this brigade, followed by the
celebrated " Robin Hoods." The late Lord Her-
bert once coveted an Irish militia regiment so much
that he almost infringed the rules of the service in
the hope of transferring it bodily into the Queen's
army. The Commander-in-Chief must be more than
mortal or less than a soldier if he did not cast a
longing eye on those serried files of Lincoln green.
So great was the interest excited by their appear•
ance that the Volunteer corps which had just made
the circuit of the field and returned to their former
positions cheered them enthusiastically again and
again. The Birmingham. Derbyshire, and 2d Man
cheater corps were almost as good ; they were cer-
tainly equal to any corps present, if the Notting-
ham men be deducted. Bearing in mind that most
of these Volunteers had made a journey longer than
that which metropolitan corps undertake when they
go to Brighton, and that in the aggregate they coras
posed a brigade of nearly 3,000 men—exclusive of
the Somersetshire and Berkshire regiments, not less
fficient, which were classed in other brigades—
it will be manifest with what spirit drill must
be pursued in the provinces. The march past
began shortly after a quarter past 6, and terminated
at 2 minutes past 8 o'clock. It was estimated that an
hour and 40 minutes would be occupied in the pro-
ceedings from the time the troops were aet in motion,
and it will be seen from this how accurately the
volunteers must have carried out their instructions.
The programme was adhered to with such literal
fidelity that the occasion was almost devoid of inci-
dents. The directions as to equalizing the strength
of companies had, en the whole, been very fairly
attended to, bat there were still some instances in
which blank files—say in a regiment of gray uni-
form, had been filled up with " casuals" dressed in
green, inconsistencies which detract very much from
the appearance of a regiment on parade, and ought
not to be allowed by officers in command. More-,
over, there is a manifest want of head somewhere
when a mounted officer sits his horse as if it were
an easy chair, and lounges past the flagstaff without
giving himself the trouble to draw his sword; and
when the tallest member of a cadet corps struts by
in plain clothes and a " billycock" hat. Matters
like these the Volunteers for their own credit will
do well to keep their eyes upon, as they would never
be tolerated in the military service to which it is
their desire to approximate ea closely as possible.
When the last corps had passed the flagstaff, and
it became evident that the Prince and Princess of
Wales were about to leave the ground, there was one
general impulsive rush to see and cheer them. The
carriage in which tae Princess sat was surrounded,
swallowed up, and almost climbed into, by eager
thousands, who bestowed upon her Royal Highness
such a greeting as has not been heard since she passed
through London on the day of her public entry. It
was with the utmost difficulty that a way was at
last cleared for the carriage to take its departure,
but once it was in motion a troop of Lancers, form-
ing in rear, were enabled to check the pressure.
Immediately that the royal party quitted the park
the great, massive line of Volunteers whichstretched
across it began slowly to disjoint itself, the brigades
were disintegrated into regiments in a few minutes,
and a general move made in various directions for
the different outlets at all points of the compass. It
was very picturesque, this breaking up of the force,
and managed with admirable celerity and good
order. The City of London Rifles were well on their
way down Piccadilly with the first spectators, yet,
early as they were out, the Inns of Court were level
with them by a different route, though even they
were not the first, for as " the Devil's Own" passed
Regent-street the Cambridge Corps, which had pre-
ceded them and was waiting to disband, faced about
and presented arms as the Inns filed past. While
the City of London were being dismissed in Carl-
ton-gardens the City of London Engineers were
marching down the Strand, and the strains of the
band of a Surrey corps on its way dawn Parliament..
street to Westminster-bridge mingled with the
music of another going north near the National
Gallery. Whoever arranged the routes of depar-
ture deserves great credit, for hardly two took the
same, and all seemed to progress with equal rapidity
north and south, east or west. This quick and
easy dispersion was all that was needed to perfect
the success of a day which should long be remem-
bered with pride by all the Volunteers who have
had the honour and satisfaction of sharing in it.