The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-30 00:00:00

INCIDENTS 0.

VER REVIEW.

Closing Business
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SUCuESS OVER WIND AND RAIN.

Whatever may be the incidents attending any futu
anniversary gathering of the volunteers, the Dover Review
of 1869 cannot fail to rank as one of the most memorable.
Persons have been so accustomed to regard, or rather to
accept, Easter Monday as a day peculiarly set apart for
volunteer displays that many doubtless forgot the very
early date at which the laws that regulate " movable
feasts" this year brought on the principal muster of the
national army of defence. In the stress laid in the War
Office circular upon the provision beforehand of water-
proof coats and capes, there was a note of warning that was
not lost upon the wise. Travelling in a storm of wind and
snow, the late arrivals on leaving the railway stations found
themselves exposed to drifts of hail so thick and violent
that the object of their journey seemed hopeless of attain-
ment. On land there was disappointment, at sea disaster;
for a ship of war was beating out its life against the Admi-
ralty Pier, and the intention to hold the review, at first
abandoned, was reasserted and carried into execution
only by the determination and personal exertion of the
Commander-in-Chief.

2 1

... ....

TAE ARP:IN-ALS.
Some of the volunteers had come over night, but the
greater number chose the very day itself for travelling.
Soon after seven o'clock on Monday morning special
trains with volunteers from London began to arrive by
both the South-Eastern and the London, Chatham,
and Dover lines. Among the first corps which came
in were the 3rd London, the 37th, the 40th, and the 4Sth
Middlesex. The 3rd Middlesex Artillery was also among
the early arrivals. The men of the Non. Artillery Com-
pany came down in the course of the morning, their guns
having been brought down on Saturday. By nine o'clock
bands were playing in all directions, and some fifteen or
sixteen thousand volunteers were already preparing for
the muster on the various points of rendezvous along the
beach.

THE RENDEZVOUS.
At ten some eighteen thousand men bad solidly fallen in
on the Marine-parade. This was the rendezvous ; and all
was now ready for the first brigade of artillery to file off
from the sea front by fours, and commence the march to
Castle-hill Fort by Bench-street, the Market-square,
Castle-street, and New Castle-hill-road. Arrived on the
heights, this imposing force should then have marched
past the reviewing officer. But nothing of the kind did
take place. The weather became utterly execrable and
abominable. The watery firmament seeming pouring
through a hundred thousand windows, but always
driven slantwise by the wind. As for the sea,
it was inky black, save on the shore, where, churned
into an intolerable spasm of foam, it leaped up in towering
columns of wave, washing right over the flags of the
Marine-parade, and far into the roadway, and threaten-
ing in some of its refluxes to carry away the volunteers—
haversacks, rifles, brass bands and all—by the whole
battalion. Under these circumstances what was to be
done? To keep the troops in their position on the
Esplanade was manifestly cruel, for those unprovided
with waterproofs were literally soaked. At half-past ten in
the morning it was a matter not of moral impossibility—for
the men were ready to go anywhere, and do anything—but
of physical impossibility, to march even eighteen hundred,
much less eighteen thousand, men up to Castle-hill Fort.
The few mounted officers who ventured up to the Castle
were almost blown from their horses, and the driving rain
cut their faces as though with icy whips. By order of Sir
Hope Grant, the review operations were relinquished. It
was originally intended to dismiss the force at once and
definitively ; but at the suggestion, it is said, of Lord
Ranelagh, the volunteers were temporarily dismissed, and
bidden to reassemble again, at three o'clock, at the same
rendezvous, when, if it were at all practicable, a march
Past would be essayed.

able weatb er.

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCR 30, 169.

Ennee 'Keck rode past at the heal of his own brigade
of Surrey Artillery, and then joined the Royal circle at
the flagstaff. General Sir Hope Grant and a brilliant
staff were immediately in rear, and in striking contrast to
the British scarlet were two Austrian uniforms. The
passage of regiments before the Commander-in-Chief was
sustained with as much regularity as circumstances per-
mitted; but occasionally there were considerable intervals.
The 4th, 91st, and.94th Regiments of the Line, which
took part through representative companies in the
day's proceedings, were loudly cheered, and their
well-ordered lines stood out in relief against the looser
array of the volunteers. Many of these, however,
acquitted themselves most creditably, and would have
done even better if they could be induced to remember
that in marching past their business is to be looked at,
not to look at others. As already explained, men bad
come together very hastily on the Esplanade, with great
coats, capes, &c., in disorder, but advantage was taken of
every little halt to achieve something resembling unifor-
mity of appearance, and the corps undoubtedly were in
much better foim at the summit than they were at the
beginning of the ascent.

THE SHAM FIGHT.
The march past concluded shortly before four o'clock,
and most persons presumed that the different corps would
be taken straight back to Dover with a view to their
speedy departure by railway. The Commander-in-Chief,
however, was bent apparently upon adhering, so far as
time permitted, to the original programme. Accordingly,
as the various regiments passed the flag staff orders were
sent them to march upon the points indicated in the plans
prepared beforehand, and long lines of many-coloured
uniforms spilead themselves, in compliance with the
Duke's orders, over what appeared to be, and doubtless
were, many miles of country. Of the artillery corps
present, the majority were despatchedto Dover Castle. The
engagement was supposed to begin at some distance from
the Castle, between the rival lines of skirmishers, but it
gradually drew nearer to the walls, and then the fortress
took its part in the fray. To the general public this was
the most attractive portion of the spectacle, for between
the nondescript hue of the chalky soil and the kindred
haze of the smoke from the guns, the movements of the
rival armies were followed with difficulty, and when, later
on, the firing extended to the fleet the interest in this
direction culminated. The Royal Sovereign and the Scor-
pion, for some time before they opened fire from their
turrets, had lain broadside on to the Castle, with bulwarks
lowered and the muzzles of the guns showing ; but it was
feared that the same cause which had prevented the other
vessels from venturing out of harbour to fulfil their share
in the programme might hinder the large ships from
coming into action. The general mind, however, was re-
assured when, with a roar that shook the houses in the
town, the guns of the Royal Sovereign and Scorpion
opened. The cannonade was briskly sustained both on
land and at sea for a considerable time, and the shades of
evening were falling when the final signal was given, and
besiegers and besieged ended their differences amicably.

NAVAL OPERATIONS.
The delay in the military movements postponed naval
operations, and the afternoon bad far advanced ere it was
known that the sea attack would form part of the pro-
gramme. The order " Beat to quarters" on board the
Royal Sovereign was answered smartly by the picked
crew on board, and the hinged bulwarks were lowered in
a few seconds, leaving the deck clear for action. The
guns were run out, the seamen gunners at their posts,
and the turning gear free from all impediments. On board
Captain Brooker's ship all obstructions on either side
the turret were removed, and both vessels awaited
orders to engage the enemy. At half-past four the Royal
Sovereign opened fire with her big guns pointed at the
Guildford Battery, near the Dover promenade. The
practice was smart and exceedingly well regulated, and
the turrets worked smoothly and without a hitch in the
rotary motion. The reverberation was remarkable after
each discharge, and the peltering of rifles and the sharp
bang of the small cannon on shore were almost lost when the
booming from the sea had once begun. Then the Scorpion
opened fire, and the two ships did good service in the mock
battle, in assisting the invading army to accomplish its work.
The Royal Sovereign delivered her fire much quicker
than the other turret ship, and both men•of-war did
good service in assisting the invaders. The contest on
shore slackened, and then the order was given to cease
firing ; the bulwarks were raised, guns hauled in, and so
the naval movements ended. Had the weather per-
mitted the smaller war-ships to come out and attack
Archcliffe Fort, the spectacle would have been much
snore interesting ; as it was, the attack from the sea was
entirely directed towards the eastern fortifications.

THE PRESS UN 11-fE REVIEW.
The r inla declares that Monday was a day to try the
prowess of the volunteers. March is not this year going
out like a lamb. A mild, rainy, relaxing winter has been
folloWed by a sharp, cold, squally spring, which was at its
worst on Monday morning. The thousands who awoke
and beAirred themselves before sunrise to take part in the
national gathering must have felt that their task would be
one of duty, and not of pleasure. All through the early

hours the wind blew in fierce gusts, and the rain or snow
fell heavily. In the country the fields were white with

snow ; in London the flakes soon resolved themselves into
the ordinary slush. But on the s uth coast the visitation was
the most severe. But, at any rate, the volunteers-have the
satisfaction that the Easter Monday of 180 has not been a
blank in their annals. It would certainly have been a

subject for discontent and ill-natured criticism if the

metropolitan volunteers had gone ninety miles for a review
and had then been stopped by the rain. The end of the
day, in short, made amends for the beginning. Though

one or two heavy showers fell in the course of the aft;r.

noon, yet the evening turned out fine and comparatively
genial, and the trains brought the men to town at night
without accident, the railway service being not the least
creditable and satisfactory part of the day's proceedings.

We trust that in future the volunteers will select Whit
Monday, instead of Easter Monday, for their annual
review. They will have at least a better chance of favour•

The Daily News gives the volunteers great credit for

their conduct under very trying circumstances, The sud-
den call to the review after their dispersal put them at a
most unusual disadvantage. It was a gathering in hot
haste, which put their discipline to the severest trial.
The wonder is that they got through the review at all,
much more that they got through it with some credit.
Such a test would have tried the discipline even of profes-
sional soldiers, and it is never fair to the volunteers to
forget that they are not professionalsoldiers, but a citizen
guard. They do a great national service almost at a
private cost, and that the numbers are so well kept UP,
and the efficiency of the force so satisfactorily sustained,
does infinite credit to the patriotism and public spirit of
our people.
The Telegraph says that great credit is due to the gallant
volunteers that they succeeded in triumphing over such
Easter Monday weather. The aspect of the field might
have daunted the most seasonable and redoubtable war-
riors. But " Duty" is not a name to be washed out of
existence by equinoctial storms, or blown to the winds by
the hurricane of an expiring British winter; and on Mon-
day duty again brought a prompt and satisfactory reward.
Wet and weary enough, perhaps, but covered with well-
earned glory, the volunteers have " enjoyed" their field-
day, and displayed a patience and an amount of discipline
under the severest difficulties that must reinforce
the arguments of those who know and main-
tain the national value of this force. But
we would press on the volunteers, and ou
those who lead them, our counsel as to the season
for this national event. Let Easter Mondaybe henceforth
abandoned as the day of the annual grand parade. Even
when it falls later, that day is too rico, the winter 160:01•011
to be safely chosen for a spectacle so popular and impor-
tant. Why should not Whit Monday, on which there is
a relaxation of business demands and pursuits scarcely
smaller than that of Easter Monday, be selected for taking
our citizen soldiers to the country on their great field-day ?
Whit Monday is the "feast of gladness, when woods and
fields put off their sadness ;" which, being translated into
sober prose, means that even in this foggy and wind-lashed
kingdom, there is a pretty good chance of obtaining at
that more advanced period firm ground to march upon,
and a bit of blue sky overhead. The volunteers, no doubt,
have ere now proved that they don't care for a " wet
jacket ;" but a dry one is more comfortable ; and the
public will not trust in Easter Monday weather, after
Monday's narrow escape from disappointment and
disaster.
The Star observes that with us Easter Monday has been
regarded for a very long period as purely a secular holi-
day, on which any spectacle may properly take place
which is lawful at any other period. Nor are abstract
opinions on the rightfulness of war at all involved in the
proceedings of the volunteers. Of all branches of the
armed force, they at least come nearest to the perfect
model of an army, being by the very nature of their organi-
sation enrolled simply for purposes of defence, and not to
be used by any ambitious despot as the means for carrying
out a policy of ambition. They (10 not choose Easter
Monday for the purposes of their annual exercise in
arms from any other consideration than that of
convenience. They do not muster to make an offensive
d'splay of strength in the eyes of any supposed enemy,
but solely to keep alive their organisation, and to perfect
themselves in an art which is not opposed to the spirit of
Christianity if intended solely to preserve the institutions
of a free country from any polluting touch by alien hands.
A volunteer army is essentially a peaceful force, not in a
cynical and debasing point of view, but in the highest
sense in which such terms can be employed. It forms the
natural and true reserve of the country. We know very
well that should war unfortunately menace this country,
the Government and the people would at once throw aside
all abortive plans in regard to semi-discharged soldiers,
militia, and what not, and would place their sole reliance
upon the numbers, the spirit, the efficiency, and arms of
the volunteers.