The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-23 00:00:00

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

The 2d battalion of the Culdstreams and the 8d of the
Grenadier Guards embarked yesterday at Southampton
for Malta. The former arrived from Chichester at half-
past 8 in the morning, and at once went quietly on board
the Orinoco, where after a few hours they appeared to
settle down into a tolerable state of order and comfort.
The Grenadiers left the Waterloo station, as we stated
yesterday, in two special trains, between half-past 6 and
7 o'clock, reaching Southampton about 10, and embarked
in the Ripon and Mgnilla to the music of their own band.
Though the last to go on board, the Grenadiers were the
first to leave the dock, and what with their journey from
town, the excitement of leave-taking, and the short time
given them, they had Unity accommodated themselves to
their new quarters when they got under steam. The Manilla
the smallest of the three ships, and which is fitted with
the boomerang propeller, led the way about two o'clock,
having 250 rank and file of the Grenadiers, and six
officers, with a large quantity of baggage and 'stores on
board. Soon after three the Ripon paddle-wheel
steamer followed, having on board 600 rank and file of
the Grenadiers, 28 to 32 officers, and 32 women. Last
of all, and detained for more than two hours later by
the want of water in the dock, the,Orinoco took her de-
parture with 854 rank and file of the Coldstreams, 28 to
32 officers, and 32 women. She had also on board of
her Colonel Bentinck, Colonel Eyre, and their respec-
tive staffs. The three steamers remained in South-
ampton Water last night, and only proceeded on their
voyage this morning- -a judicious arrangement, by
which the men are initiated into shipboard life before
before being called upon to pay tribute to Neptune. As
the ships passed out of dock the crowds that lined the
quays rent the air with their cheers, which were re-
turned again and again, with ,thrilling effect, by the
soldiers. Any one who has watched a bee-hive in a
state of violent internal commotion, and will suppose the
hive a steamer and the bees soldiers, will have a very
tolerable idea of the scene which the different decks of
the Orinoco, Ripon, and Manilla presented yesterday for
several hours. Not that there was the least ill-temper
displayed, but that every one was looking out for him-
self without knowing precisely how. Officers and men
were all in the highest spirits, and taking leave, though
protracted by the former in many instances almost to
the last moment, seemed to throw no damp over the
general excitement. The whole scene was a mingled
and confu- ed one, through which the general impression
of a remarkable event being in progress could, neverthe-
less, be more or distinctly caught. The two battalions
thus despatched were the first portion of that army
which we are about to send out to the East.
For nearly 40 years no such expedition has left our
shores. Within that period steam navigation has been
created, and Southampton, from a place of no import.
ance, has risen to be the harbour for fleets of steamers
which carry the civilisation and the commerce of Eng-
land round the world. The gigantic Himalaya, yester-
day, alongside one of her quays, was a stupendous tes-
timony to those changes which peaceful industry has
wrought since that army which " could go anywhere
and do anything" was despatched from this country.
Her huge bulk, reposing so placidly in the harbour,
dwarfed even the dimensions of the Orinoco, and the
public crowded eagerly on board during the day, their
curiosity being vainly checked by a small admission fee
imposed for the benefit of the South Hants Infirmary.
On Friday next she will leave Southampton, taking with
her thence 150 Sappers, 211 of the Rifles, 8 officers, 12
women, and 20 children. From Plymouth, ou Mon-
day, she will take on board, in addition to these the
93d Highlanders, consisting of 860 rank and file, 31
officers, 44 sergeants, 16 drummers, 54 women, and
from 75 to 100 children. She will thus have on board
1,320 effectives and 186 non-effectives, besides 12 horses,
all accommodated in a manner hitherto unknown to the
transport service. With such a triumph of naval archi-
tecture iu their harbour, and with all the gratifying re-
collections of progress during the past 40 years, it is not
surprising that the people of Southampton should haye
beheld the scene of yesterday with deep interest and
emotion. From their port, and iu steamers which may
almost be called theirs, the first considerable portion of
the British army destined for the East was embarked. A
great war would make this at least as memorable an
event in their local history as the well-known tradition
of King Canute, still preserved among them.
The following circular letter has been addressed from
the Horse Guards to the general officers commanding at
Dublin, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Manchester, and Edin-
burgh :

" Horse Guards, Feb. 10.
" Sir,—lt being probable that the regiment under your
command, and named in the margin, will immediately be
ordered on foreign service, and it being desirable that it
should embark as strong as possible, I am desired by the
General Commanding-in-Chief to request you will furnish
me, with the least possible delay, with a statement show-
ing how many men it will require to insure SOO effectives
being brought into the field, exclusive of officers' servants,
hospital attendants, orderly-room clerks, and others indis-
pensable for the ordinary duties of a battalion, under all
circumstances.

" Men who, from length of service, or from their state of
health, are likely to be brought forward for discharge, and
recruits at drill, are not to be included
" In the event of the contingency alluded to in the former
part of the first paragraph occurring, all the heavy baggage
is to be left in store with the depot, as well as the firelocks
of the musicians, and the depot will consist of two recruit-
ing companies—viz., 2 captains, 4 subalterns, 10 sergeants,
2 drummers, and 10 corporals, and all non-effectives left
behind will belong to it, and recruits as they come in.
" The General Commanding-in-Chief also, deeming it
essential that a soldier when actually in the field, should
carry no more than is absolutely necessary for his efficiency,
desires me to acquaint you that the regiment will be fur-
nished, at the public expense, with squad-bags (four per
company), each capable of containing the articles extracted
from the authorised kit of the soldier. = The articles carried
in the soldier's knapsack* and those in the squad-bagt are
specified below, it being clearly understood that the shell-
jacket may be carried in the one or the other, at the dis-
cretion of the commanding officer, and according to local
and other circumstances; the coatee and great coat (or
blanket) being, under ordinary circumstances, considered
sufficient for the comfort and health of the soldier. The
squad-bag will be left in the Regimental Quartermaster's
store when the regiment is actually in the field, at such
place as the General commanding the forces may appoint.
" In granting discharges, commanding officers must keep
in view the efficiency of their corps, and no personal indul-
gence, which might materially affect or interfere with that
primary object, can be granted to individuals. Private
interests must yield to the exigencies of the public service.
"To provide for the contingencies mentioned in the
latter part of the first paragraph, the regiment will embark
850 rank and file. Four women per company will be
allowed to embark.—l have, &c.,
" G. A. WETHERALL,
" Deputy-Adjutant-General."

* In Knapsack.-1 pair of trousers, 1. shirt, 1 pair of
boots, 1 pair of socks, 1 forage cap, 1 pair of mitts, 1 brush,
1 small book, 1 holdall, reduced; blacking, 1 towel.
In Squad-bag.-1 shell-jacket, 1 shirt, 1 pair of socks,
1 towel, 2 brushes, and such articles from the hold-all as
can be immediately dispensed with.