The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-20 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The half-yearly inspections of the troops at Al-
dershott were completed last week. On Monday
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, accom-
panied by Lieut.-Col. Clifton, Lieut.-Gen. Sir J.
Yorke Scarlett, K.C.8.; Lieut.-Gen. Sir Richard
Airey, K.C.8., and Lord Elcho, arri% ed at the back
camp shortly after 9 a m., and minutely inspected
the 2d Brigade, which was formed in line on the
Queen's-parade, under the command of Brigadier-
Gen. Bates. The brigade having marched past in
open column of companies in slow time marched
back to the ground and reformed line ; Major A. H.
Cobbe, put the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers through
the manual and platoon exercise, which was admi-
rably executed. Several field and light infantry
movements, by the three regiments constituting the
brigade (the 26th Cameronians, under Lieut.-Col
Carey, the 76th Regiment, under Col. Smyth, C. 8.,
and the 87th, Lieut.-Col. A. Murray) were then per-
formed. At the conclusion H.R.H. highly com-
plimented Brigadier-Gen. Bates on the general ap-
pearance and discipline of the brigade. His Royal
Highness then proceeded to Caesar's camp, where
the artillery and cavalry brigades were drawn up in
two lines, with the cavalry in advance. His Royal
Highness having been received with a royal sa-
lute proceeded to inspect the brigades, which
marched past in open columns of batteries
and squadrons. Various other movements were
performed with such steadiness and preci-
sion that the Duke complimented nearly every bat-
tery and squadron as they passed on their riding
and appearance. The troops forming these brigades
were C and G batteries Royal Horse Artillery,under
Colonel the Hon. G. T. Devereux, A and B batteries,
4th brigade Royal Artillery, under Lieut.-Col. E. A,
Williams—Col. Gambier, C. 8., Brigadier; the 6th
Carbineers under Lieut.-Col. Sawyer, the 12th Lan-
cers, under Lieut.-Col. Oakes, and the 13th Hussars
under Lieut.-Col. Jenyns—Major-Gen. Hodge, Bri-
gadier. The troops returned to their quarters about
2 o'clock, after which his Royal Highness honoured
Lieut.-Gen. Sir J. L. Pennefather with his company
at luncheon. Ho returned to town in the afternoon.
The A troop and 24th Company of the Royal En-
ginners, under the command of Capt. Akers, were
inspected by Major-Gen. Brook Taylor, on the 13th
inst., at the Level Camp ; and the 2d company under
Capt. Harrison, on the afternoon of the same day, at
Bourley Bottom. The 2d battalion military train,
under the command of Lieut.-Col. Robertson, C. 8.,
was inspected by Major-Gen. Hodge, at the South
Camp, near the New Church, on the 13th. Colonel
'Clark K9nnedy, Commandant of the Military Train,
had previously inspected the 2d and 4th battalions.
The appearance of the whole of the troops elicited the
warmest commendations from the inspecting officer.
We omitted to notice last week the inspection of the
64th Regiment, under Lieut.-Col. Shute, which took
place on the Bth inst., by Major-Gen. Russell, com-
manding the 3d Brigade. The regiment having
broken into open column of companies, marched past
in slow time, and then at quarter distance with quick
time, trailed arms, and afterwards at the double. It
was then put through a bayonet exercise in review
order by Major Mockler, and through a variety of field
movements by Lieut.-Col. Shute, Capt. Haldane, and
Capt. Coop, with the whole of which the General
expressed himself highly satisfied, as well as with
the sword exercise, which the officers went through
with Major Mockler.
The ship Middlesex, of London, Capt. Cammell
(Royal Naval Reserve), arrived off Falmouth on
Saturday afternoon from India with troops, and re-
ceiving orders she proceeded at once for SpitheA.
She brings Colonel Rjckhart in command, with 15
officers, 29 sergeants, 24 corporals,l4 drummers, 262
privates, 2t) women, and 48 children, belonging to
the 92d Highlanders. She left Calcutta on the 27th
January, the Cape on the 24th March, and St.
Helena (from which place she landed a mail) on the
6th April. The ship has experienced a fine weather
passage, and only one casualty (from consumption)
has occurred during the voyage.
On Thursday Mr. Colwell, the aeronaut, visited
Aldershott for the purpose of making a balloon
ascent and taking observations of the troops while
going through field movements. With this view
the whole of the division, in light order, had been
ordered out to the Long Valley; but as the wind

oved very unfavourable the ascent did not take
place. The balloon is lying at the gasworks. It i,
named the Evening Star, and is capable, when in-
flated, of c )Ltaining about 30,000 feet of gas. IT is
not so large as that in which Mr. Coxwell and Mr.
Glaisher performed their ascents; but, it is not in-
tended,we believe, in the present instance to proceed
to a highe altitude than about 600 ft. The experi-
ment is looked forward to with considerable interest
by the troops in camp.