The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-18 00:00:00

ASSAULT OF ARMS.

Avast concourse of people filled St. James's Hall yester-
day afternoon to witness an entertainment given under the
above designation by the non-commissioned officers of the
Household Brigade. These entertainments, though common
enough on the Continent of Europe, are to some extent fresh
to the majority of the inhabitants of England, and therefore
still possess all the attractions of novelty; but, independent
of this circumstance, the :announcement that the display
was to be made in aid of the funds of the institution at
Hampstead known as the Soldiers' Daughters' Home, was
Sufficient to induce the attendance of numbers of those who
feel that any institution which shelters, educates, and pro-
vides for the children of the poor soldier is eminently de-
serving of support. As charity was at the basis of the feel-
ing which gave rise to the exhibition of yesterday, and as
all who took part in it are,with one exception, still in active
service, it is perhaps needless to say that each man gave his
services gratuitously, and did his best to please the numerous
patrons of the entertainment. _ .

It had been announced that his Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales would be present. It is certain that his royal high-
ness had intended to attend, and that it was only at the last
moment that a letter was received from St. Leonardo an-
nouncing that the prince was obliged to forego the visit.
When it became known that the prince would not be pre-
sent some little disappointment was felt, especially as a tan-
talising display of empty chairs of state and settees in a
space under the platform on which the feats took place con-
tinually reminded the audience that they had missed an op-
portunity of showing their loyalty to the prince on an occasion
of each national interest. Ther© were present, however,
many noblemen and gentlemen connected with the military
service, and others who were not, but who generously sup-
ported the excellent charity in aid of which the entertain-
ment was given. Amongst the audience were the Duke of
Wellington, the Marquis of Breadalbane, the Earl and Coun-
tess of Cardigan, Earl of Effingham, Lord F. Egerton,
Sir J. Cathcart, Sir Thomas Hare, General Lawrenson,
Major Robinson and Captain Jay of the Hon. Artillery
Company, &c.; and besides these the let Life Guards were
represented by Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Dudley de Roe,
Major and Lieutenant-Colonel the Earl of Mounteharles,
Captains Bateson, Hon. Henry Wyndham, and Hon. Cecil
Duncombo; Lieutenant the lion. S. .1. Egerton and Cornet
Needham ; the 2d Life Guards by Lieutenant-Colonel G.
Howard Vyse, and Major and Lieutenant-Colonel Frede-
rick Marshall, Captain R. T. L. Norton, Lieutenant Sir S.
Hayes, Bart., and Cornets Lord Sandys and A. C. Ark-
wright ; and the Royal Horse Guards by Lieutenant-Colonel
Hugh Smith Baillie, Captain Duncan James Baillie, Lieu-
tenant F. G. Burnaby, Cornet 11. E. Westcar, Adjutant R.
M'Alpine, and Quartermaster Herbert Turner. Though
not present, the Marquis of Tweeddale, Field-Marshal
Viscount Comberruere, and many other noblemen and gen-
tlemen, sent handsome donations to the fund, tho gallant
marquis accompanying his gift with a lcttcr, in which
he stated that he warmly sympathise' with the object in
view, and also felt great pleasure in promoting any under-
taking which would tend to induce soldiers to acquire a
greater knowledge of their weapons than could be obtained
in their ordinary drills.
The entertainment itself (in which it must be premised
that only the picked men of the brigade took part) con-
sisted of bouts at single stick, fencing, boxing, sword and
bayonet practice, cavalry sword exercise, and other feats of
arms, including the celebrated and so-called Saladin feats.
Tho men engaged in the several contests were—Corporal
Butts, 2d Life Guards ; Corporal Howe, 2d Lite Guards ;
Corporal-Major Galbraith, Ist Life Guards; Corporal
Sheffield, 2d Life Guards ; Corporal• Major Waite, 2d