The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-21 00:00:00

THE LEFIEW AT ALDEJISHOTT.

Th, re was a brilliant field-day at Aldershott on Satin"
day, and the large concourse of visitors who, despite the
weather, assembled on the moors bad the gratification
of witnessing one of the finest military spectacles per'
sented since the formation of the camp. -•
Her Majesty and Prince Albert, who, with their suite,
had arrived at the camp on Friday afternoon, and 810
at the Pavilion that night, took a lively interest in the
proceedings. Among the nobility present were the
Duke and Duchess ofßichtnond, Lord Hardinge, Lora
end Lady Ellesmere,.the Earl of Cardigan, Lord Bch°,
11I.P &c. • • •
His Royal Highness the Duke of Canibridge, attended
by his aide-de-camp, Colonel M'Donald, - came. down
from London by the 7 o'clock train, and at once repaired
to the Pavilion.
The general place of rendezvous for the troops was •
wide expanse of moorland, extending for some miles be'
hind the Roma Roman encampment, and forming •
natural plateau, known as Ladyhouse-common. Here;
at half-past 10 o'clock, the troops assembled in gay and
glittering array, and were formed in lines of contiguous
columns, quarter distance..., Theswhole army of -Alder-
shott was present, 'divided iuto tour brigades, comprising
the following regiments :—The SOth and 91st Regiment'
of the Line, the 31 battalion of the Rifle Brigade, the
Antrim Rifles, and the Militia of Sussex. Glocestershireo
Leicestershire, Worcestershire, City of Dublin, sth El'
theme, Hertfordshire, 2d Surrey, Ist Somersetshire,
Kerry, CaMbridgeshire, and a few detachments of the
Land• Transport Corps, making a total strength of souse'
thing like.lB,ooo men.
There is little of sottnesser luxuriance in the surround'
ing landscape. Its general aspect is bleak and barren,
but it has that wild and desolate grandeur which is often
more impressive then verdant valley or golden corn-field.
Its immensity affects the imagination powerfully. The
Surrey moors, stretching tar as the eye can reach, re'
setuble a sea of heather, interspersed with billowy hills,
the "offing," so to speak, dimly defined by belts of fir
and clumps of thick brushwood. In ordinary times 5
sense of loneliness comes over the traveller who surveys
these desert wastes ; but, enlivened by the strides of
military music, flashing with swords and firelocks, flat'
tering with flags and feathers, aid sparkling with-every
variety of uniform, the scene en Saturday was full Of
lite, light, and motion, and had every element of
.pano•
ramie beauty. The contrast of colour was complete,
and greatly enhanced the brilliancy of the picture. The
dark costumes of the Rifles relieved the eye, dazzled
with "the splesdour and the sheen ", of scarlet coats,
and the effect of light and shade was still further heights
Coed by the contrast bet eveen the dusky surface of the
heath itself and the white uniforms of the bandameo-
There are few trees on these shelterless plains, bat these
few are of infinite value as elements of the picturesque.
In a spot where vegetation has nii higher development
than furze and heather, a tree, esserywhere a beautifil
object, becomes a luxury.
The Queen, who arrived on the ground shortly-after
11 o'clock, was attended by a brilliant suite and staff,
among whom were Viscount Hardinge, Sir F. Smith,
Gen. Med tys, Brigadier-General Hutchinson, Col.
Grey, Lord A. Paget, and her Majesty's Lady-in-Wait'
ing, the Countess of Desert. Her Majesty was mounted
on a chesnut Charger, wore a dark riding habit with the
riband of the Garter, and across her left shoulder a sash
of blue and gold. her hat was decorated with a plume
of military feathers. Prince Albert rode on, her Majes-
ty's left, the Duke of Cambridge on her right, and both
wore the uniforms of general officers. The Princess
Royal and the Princess Alice followed -in an open car-
riage drawn by four gray horses. As the Royal party
approached the bands struck up the National Anthems,
the ensigns lowered their colours, and the troops pre-
iteuted arms. Her Majesty rode leisurely along the
whole line, which extended, nearly a mile, and. mi-
nutely inspected each regiment, returning the salute'
tions of her soldiers with a grace in Which dignity' and
affability were happily combined. Just as thepamde in-
epection was completed the wind, veered suddenly -and
sharply round to the east, and continued at that unpo-
pular point of the compass for the rest of the day, so
that the flags of the various regiments, though they had
little of the " battle" to brave, had more than enough of
the "breeze." The Royal party having dismounted and
selected their position on arising ground General Knellys
put himself at the bead of the troops, and theneom-
meaced a series of evolutions and manceuvres' which,
though "familiar as my garter" to professional specta•
tors, were rather more curious than, intelligible tecivi-
Owieg, we presume, to the absence of cavalry
and artillery, there was no attempt at a- regulareliate
battle, and the operations differed from those of former
occasions in this respect, that any representation of au
enemy was entirely dispensed with. This threw the
spectators completely on the resources of their own 'ma.
gination, and hence arose much embarrassment and per-
plexity, which would have been, avoided had the army
been divided into conflicting hosts. It was not very easy
to understand why the gallant sth Elthornes, who seethed
to be carrying all before them, and to be keeping their
own right manfully, should suddenly fly to anew psi'
Lion ; or why the 2d Royal Surrey, who defended ima-
ginary trenches with' an intrepidity that reflected the
highest honour on every member of the regiment, from
the colonel to the goat, should all at once give way as
if driven in on the right flank. The explanation is, of
course, that the gallant Elthornes and the heroic .Surreys
are, like the personages of a Greek play, the victims of
as inexorable destiity, and succumb to swords invisible
as the phautom-dasser'of Macbeth. But all this to not
quite so obvious to people who• are not of a poetic tempe-
rament,, or who may have neglected to cultivate the ilea-
giriative faculty. The Rifles took up their position in
Cresar'st Camp, and inspired by the glorious memories of
the spot, performed prodigies of valour. Nut Cessaeseelf
could have behaved better. They threw out skirmiShers
in eveirdirectfore they lined every ditch, they lurked
insidiously in every hollow, they picked down men like
partrideee, they hurled defiance at the foe from the stun*
wit of the hill—nay, they carne down and gave battle to
Ens' in the talky ; but 'cis not in Rifles to command
success, when it' is predestined 'from the foundation of
the Genernl'e programme that they shall not have it. So
they retreated—alas, the '44 !—and not a man of theta
would have been left alive bad not a br gade of infantry,
draVsn up in line on the • crest of a ridge, come to. the
rescue, and opened such a murderous file fire of blink
cartridge as compelled: the unseen enemysto turn tail.
The keen wind and cold mist which threatened heavier
rain terminated the eneasement much earlier than was
Orginally intended. Nevertheless it lasted for more
than two hours, and through meadow and mountain,
nioss and moor, the Royal party followed on foot in
whatever direction the army marched.
When the operations of the day had concluded the
troops formed into contiguous line of open columna of
companies to salute her Majesty, the bands playing na-
tional melodies as the regiments defiled past the saluting
point.

At 5 o'clock the Royal party returned to Buckingham
Palace.

The Earl of Cardigan, attended by Captain Low, was
on the ground in the uniform of his regiment, but though
continually in the proximity of the Court, waY not-ob.
4erved to juin the Royal party.

CLEVER CAPTURE OP AN AMERICAN

BWELLMOBSMAN.

. ,
LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.
One of the most clever arrests which for years past
Nave been made was this morning effected on board the
royal mail steam-ship Persia, just as she was starting on
her trip to New York, by Detective-officer Scott, of the
Liverpool force.
Information was received yesterday at the police-office
by telegraph that several of the London hotels bad been
made tire scene of plunder, and that at one hotel, the
Great Western, two gentlemen were robbed of upwards
of 600/. , Gentlemen staying at some of the first hotels
in the metropolis have bad their rooms entered at night
and money to various amounts abstracted while they
lay aSleep and the house in repose. It happened, how-
ever, that in the case of the robbery of the Great Western,
that the money was in notes, and the numbers were
taken—the police accordingly were put upon the alert.
These notes, it was found, were immediately changed
into gold in London, the.party signing himself " Alfred
Howard" upon every note. From the description con-
veyed by telegraph, he was at once recognised on board
the Persia by Mr. Scott, and certainly the cool mender
evinced by the latter on the occasion is deserving of a
passing remark. -Iteceivilia- the information late last
evening, he at once commenced hie- inquirses, aid this
morning proceeded oil board the Persia, arid (as the
delay on board these steamers is limited) he was very
prompt in his observations,-and in a short time e'pied a
gentleman answering the description walking along the
deck. Having satisfied himself of the identity of this Mr.
Alfred Howard, alias Mr. Allen, he approached him and
asked him if he' was a passenger per the Persia, and, of
course, was answered in the affirmative. Then attribut-
ing some complication of the luggage, he induced "Al-
lied Howard" to his cabin, when, having discovered
where all his luggage was, he at once arrested him. Upon
searching him Inspector Scott fouls: upon his person a
fir St-class ticket to New York, arid the following sums
in-cash—viz., 1151 sovereigns, 78 gold pieces of $2O
each, 32 of $lO, 34 or $5, and two of $24 each, all gold,
$45, silver pieces, two quarter dollars, and 4s. in silver.
In addition he bad a 'rage quantity of luggage on board.
This'eai.ture reflects great credit on the discernment,
tact, and in.senuity of Mr. Scott, who, it may be added,
accompanied him to Lon Jon in the 3.45 p.m. train to-
day. It may hi:alsa remarked that two accomplices of
the detected Howard are in custody; one Of 'whom, was
arrested in Ma chester end the other in LiVerpOol
the detective Eaton, and it is hoped before losng that this
plundering gang will be totally annihileted.
The, party arrested is an American, and from docu-
ments fouud in his luggage there is little doubt that he
forms oee, if not the leading one, of the New York swell
mob who hive earned for themselves a most unenviable
notoriety in plundering hotels both on the continent and
in this country.
'The luggage of the accused is labelled "Boulogne,
Havre, Lyons, and Paris." Howard, or whatever his
real name may be, appears a fashionable man, wears full
beard and moustache, and wore on the occasion he was
arrested a plain suit of clothes. When arrested he did
not Manifest the slightest surprise, and, to outward ap•
pearance,'eemed to have expected it.

A Cabinet Council was held-on Saturday afternoon at
the Foreigu-office, Downing-street. The Ministers pre-
Feet were—Viscount Palmerston, the Lard Chancellor,
Earl Grauvitie, the Earl of Harrowby, Sir George Grey,
Mr. Secretary Labouchere, Lord Panmure. the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer,' the Right Hon. R. Vernon
.Sznith, Sir Charles .Wood, Lord Stanley of Alderley, the
Right Hon. M. T. Baines, the Marquis of Lansdowne,
and the.Dalo-Ot Aroll. The' Ccoaucil,_ lilt two lino
Qui