The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-24 00:00:00

THE JAPANESE AMBASSADORS AT

ALDERSHOT.

Yesterday merning the Japanese Ambassadors,
accompanied by Mr. Macdonald, the attache to the
Embassy, were present at a review and sham fight,
given expressly for their entertainment at Alder-
shot. It was originally intended that they should
have arrived at the Farnborough station at 11
o'clock, at which hour everything was in readiness
for their reception, when a telegram was received
stating that they had missed the train, and must
not be expected until 12. On their arrival by the
later train they were received by Colonel Clif-

ford, Sir Alfred Horsford, the Deputy Adjutant-
General ; and Major Paget Bayly, who conducted
them to the three carriages which were in waiting
to convey them to the ground where the review was
to take place ; an escort of the 9th Laneers, com-
manded by Lieut. Erskine, accompanying them.
Daring the early part of the morning the usual

English fete weather prevailed ; the silvery white
sand peculiar to the spot, mingled with a drizzling
rain, being whirled in clouds across the desolate moor
by a bitterly cold wind. Notwithstanding the state
of the weather, numbers of ladies were present, both
on horseback and in carriages. Under these rather
unfavourable circumstances the review commenced.
The ambassadors were stationed on a rising ground
which commanded a view of the Long 'Valley where
the sham fight was to take place. The troops, con-
sisting of 5,933 infantry, 1,079 cavalry, and M 8 men
of the Royal Artillery, with 30 Armstrong guns,
were under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir
J. L. Pennefather, K.C.B. The movements com-

euiry they were satisfied that the statements of the hon. menced by the troops marching past in the following
member (Mx. Maguire) were very much exaggerated. There order :—The A, B, and I batteries of the Royal
was much exaggeration in reference to Irish matters. Horse Brigade, the A and B batteries of the 4th
lie thought the house should place more reliance on the
information obtained by Government than any obtained by Brigade, at a walk ; the 9th, 12th, and 13th, and
agents for newspapers, upon which the hon. member (Mr. 16th Lancers, also at a walk ; the 2d battalion of
Maguire) relied in the statement he had made to the house. the let Regiment of Infantry, the Ist battalion of
He repeated that he much regretted the distress that pre- the sth Regiment, the let battalion of the Bth Re-
veiled in the south-west of Ireland, but he was happy giment,
inand the 61st
each Regiment, marched past by
to inform the house that in that part of Ireland the
green companies quick time, brigade preceded by
and cereal crops were in a very prosperous condition. He its bands and staff. The infantry then retired over
did not deny that distress existed in Ireland, but he con-
tended that, contrasting the state of the country some Eelmore-hill, and formed in order of battle in line
years ago with its present state, there was an im- of contiguous columns, while the cavalry galloped
provement. He strongly deprecated placing implicit past left in front. In the sham fight which then
reliance on the reports in Irish newspapers as to the condi- commenced the enemy were supposed to have ad-
tion of Ireland, as they were generally too highly coloured
and founded on inaccurate information. inveed from Odiham, with the view of attacking
the camp, and to have come into position with their
PUNISHMENT IN
VIOLENCECASES OF PERSONAL left on Pyestock Ridges by the Basingstoke Canal,
.
Sir M. PETO called the attention of the house to this their centre upon Cocked-hat Hill, and their right
subject. Ho said that the punishments inflicted by magis-
in Bicklay Copse. The object of the troops was to
trates for this class of offences were most capricious. In turn the left flank of the enemy, and thus to pre-
some cases they were deservedly severe, and in others they vent his advance in the direction of London. To
were strangely light. Looking at the importance of the effect this the whole of the artillery were placed in
subject he thought it was a matter that should be taken up line directly opposite to the supposed position of
by the Government. the enemy, the infantry being brigaded in a lino of
Sir G. GREY said that the law necessarily 'placed con-
aiderable discretion in the hands of the magistrates, and he contiguous close columns in the hollow in rear of
did not think that, in reference to the general question the artillery. The 9th Lancers were drawn up in
involved, it was necessary to go into the particular cases rear of the centre of the line, and the 12th and 16th
cited by the hon. baronet (Sir M. Pete). in rear of its left. A cloud of skirmishers was ad-
EXPENDITURE ON NATIONAL DEFENCES. vanced 'Alto the plain, covered by the guns, which
Sir et. CLIFTON drew the attention of the house to the had already opened fire. The brigade on the right
immense expenditure for national defences in time of peace, then advanced against the enemy's left, and made
and
them retreat, the skirmishers of the centre brigade
moved for papers respecting the armarneAts of France.
Lord PALMERSTON said that no thinking person meanwhile clearing the small wood on Cocked-hat
would for a moment suppose that, in the present state of
the continent of Europe, this country should be deficient in
Hill of the force which occupied it, thus corn-
neiling the enemy to throw their left back and
military and naval preparations. He deniedthat
French;he had
bt '
exaggerated the forces of the Ems. e orof the retreat upon Hungry-hill. During the action the
while he had no objection to produce extracts from French 9th Lancers followed to support in rear of the left
official documents, he could not undertake to communicate of the brigade on the right, and charged to their
confidential reports to the houo.
front when this brigade had dislodged the enemy's
LONGFORD ELECTION. left from the heights of Pyestock, in order to cut
Col. GREVILLE called attention to the withdrawal of them off whilst retreating. The brigade having
the Longford election petition, and to the statement made changed its front to the left, the cavalry regiments
by Sir It. Peel some weeks ago to the effect thata
telection
presented a scene of violence and intirnidatinn th
Which just;_ remained in rear of its right in order to protect that
fled the Government in employing a considerable body of flank, and advanced in their support up to Beckley-
military and police. He himself was present on the ecru. f copse. Meanwhile, while the centre brigade had
MOD, and never saw an election conducted in a more
.succeeded oreingthe _
orderly manner—and he called upon the Chief Secrete in f • Cr-ntre of the enemy's pos i-
either to substantiate the charge or admit that he was mirYs tion, the 12th and 16th Lancers made two brilliant
taken. The hon. member then moved for papers relating charges in succession on the open, and then re-
to the proceedings in Longford at the last election. formed in front of the enemy's extreme right, caus-
Sir R. PEEL observed that the statement he had made lug him to beat a retreat upon the rising ground
was founded upon the information which had then reached below the left of Cee3ar's camp The second brigade
him, and which he believed, and several members of the having, in
fad;
conformity with, the movements of the
house knew, to be founded on fact. He had been informed first bri
that but for the intimidation resorted to on the occasion effectuallychanged its front to the left, and
Colonel White would have been returned by a majority of secured a position on Cocked Hatehill,
30J. In one instance, 25 of Colonel White's supporters some guns were brought up et a rapid pace across
the plain from
assembled at a place called Ayvagh, the night before the their original position, and played
election, where they were attacked by a mob of 600 persons, upon the wood in Which the enemy was concealed.
headed by a priest, and all but two were prevented from re- The enemy heavily engaged the left, which had also
cording their votes. It was true tho petition had been with- changed its front, in order to give his left and centre
was of opinion that if it had been prosecuted 1 ample time to retiresnit.pironan and make good his position
wirers were therefore ad-
drawn ; but be
y and they,
r es ehsr suddenlye
theirthe case would have been made out to satisfy the require- on Hungry-hill..
a repetition of charges
7:ciente of the act of Parliament. He declined to produce the
vented against his right ;
correspondence. ing squares, were aided b
in rear of
form-
Lord It. CECIL considered that the character and dignity
of the house were involved in the question. He thought by the 12th and 16th Lancers, who
that when a Minister of the Crown from his place in Par- former charges remained in
the left of the infantry. The left be
liament made charges affecting any portion cf her Majesty's
advanced in support of thigeaide'r linineeanai
subjects, he was bound to substantiate his assertions when while,
skirmishers, and the cavalry was thus enabled
they were denied, by producing the documentary evidence
to fall back in rear of its left, leaving the infantry
on which his statements rested.
Mr. NEWDEGATE did net see what the electors of
Longford had to complain of ; inasmuch as, but for the to force the enemy hack upon the crest of the forti-
precautions taken by the Government, it W3i not quite clear fled hill, known as Coe3aes-camp, in possession of
tti , they would have had a free election. If the executive' which it was deemed expedient to leave them, as it
bad not adopted these precautions they *would have been was now half-past three o'clock. The charges of
inexcusable.
After some observations from Major o'lterreey, the cavalry, were brilliant, and the movements and
, firing of the infantry excellent, Mr. CONOLIN denounced the motion as a muck run by'
with ef ,_ LI A whilst the rapidity
a certain section of the Irish members against the Chiefguns were loaded and
Secretary. willeu the eermstrong
fired showed how much more formidable they must
Sir G. Glt EY defended the rettolutenietu of the Government now nearly obsolete
to withhold the papers, which were confidential. be in serious warfare than the
In the course of the discussion which.'froelllY ltVilir.hholone
sell, Mr. Lcfroy, and Lord C. Hamilton ad:ewe:el:a palm for bravery and dogged determination, old-fashioned muzzle-loading field
how-
pieces. The
had prevailed at thei
Lord PALMERSTON said it was his firm conviction;u ever, must be given to the spectators, who defended
hill with dauntless resolution, regardless of
that great violence and intimidation
every
late Longford election, though perhaps not more than . volley
let after volley that -
was poured into them at 50
many other elections which he could name. It would to yarcle,nmge,244litil- th6y were at length surrounded