The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-07 00:00:00

GRAND REVIEW AT ALDERSHOTT.

The Queen reviewed the troops encamped at
Aldershott yesterday,Tin the presence of Marshal
the Duke of Malakhoff and a brilliant staff.

The following list will show what an imposing
muster was made for yesterday's review. There
were present of cavalry, the 2d Life Guards brought
down expressly from London, and being their first
appearance at Aldershott, the 4th Dragoon
Guards, the 4th Light Dragoons, the 10th Hussars,
the mounted Sappers, and the Military Train. The
artillery consisted of two troops of horse and
four batteries of foot. Of Infantry there were
the 2d Battalion of Grenadier Guards, and four
reeiments of the line, the 16th, 36th, 67th, and
99th, together with the 60th Rifles. But the most
remarkable feature in the whole display was the
large number of militia regiments present, their
fine military appearance, and the wonderful per-
fection of their drill. The last peculiarity was the
theme of general commendation, and many shrewd
guesses were hazarded that the distinguished visi-
tor, with all his military acumen, would not be able
to distinguish these troops from the most practised
veterans of the line. There were the Royal South
Down Rifles, the West York Rifles, the City of
Dublin, the 3d West York, the Donegal, the Lime-
rick, Kerry, Royal Cheshire, Stirlingshire Militia,
and one or two other regiments whose names we
could not obtain.

While all these troops were mustering on the
plain, the surrounding hills and hillocks were being
rapidly covered with spect ttors. There were
a"(! terrigkas, the French char-
a-bane, and the 'resit jLtulita,,,,, ear. e t'. •
sporting tandem, drawn by thoroughbreds, worth
two hundred guineas a piece, and the humble
market cart, in which the venerable Dobbin had
slowly dragged the fatmer's family to see the
I review. ,
The military evolutidifs „consisted of what is
called the field day proirarnme, which differs only
from a regular sham battle_ in having none of the
opposing armies visible. In this case a mythic
force was supposed to have taken up a strong posi-
tion on Caesar's camp, the bill which commands the
upper end of the Lang Valley. But not content
with this they bad advanced their shadowy posts
into the wood adjoining, and the achievement of
the day was to be their dislodgment from these ad-
vantageous positions. To ensure that the attack
should result in a victory, the infantry were divided
into three brigades, commanded by experienced
generals, and the cavalry into two, with an impos-
ing force of artillery to make assurance doubly sure.
From the clearness of the day and the amphithea-
trical character of the locality, the whole of the
manoeuvres could be seen in perfection, and
were watched with intense interest by the
public. First the skirmishers were thrown out,
and after their pop, pop, had been heard for a few
moments, they fell back on the main body. Tben
the infantry advancing in successive brigades,
charged the position on every side with a rattling
fire 'of musketry, indicating that a hot struggle was
going on. But the resistance was obstinate, and
cavalry prepared to charge. It was a noble sight
to see the Life Guards breasting the hill at the
three-quarter gallop, and the lighter horsemen de-
ploying into small squadrons and attacking the
enemy in every direction. In the meantime the in-
fantry reformed in the plain, and as the cavalry
returned from the charge they opened their ranks
at accurately measured intervals to allow their gal-
lant auxiliaries to resume their original position
in the rear. Then it was the turn of the artil-
lery to unlimber and wheel to the front. The sudden
rumble which shakes the earth, and which is the pe-
culiarity of the dread artillery, is heard. It becomes
more rapid, and then the fire opens along the
line, not only completing the discomfiture of the
enemy, but startling many of the spectators by its
incessant thunder. When the troops had all re-
turned into the plain, the infantry formed into a
succession oflhollow squares—a'movement in'which
the Duke of Malakhoff seemed to take a peculiarly
deep interest. During the whole of the sham fight
his Excellency had kept his station in close con-
tiguity to the Queen and the Prince Consort, but
the moment the squares were being formed he ad-
dressed some words to the latter, and both de-
scended into the plain, when the squares were mi-
nutely inspected, the Marshal riding round, and
finally into one of them. On his return his Excel-
lency appeared in excellent humour, and main-
tained an animated conversation with the young
Princess Helena, who was in an open carriage
close to the Queen's position.
Thefinale to the day's evolution's was the march-
ing-past; which occupied nearly an hour, and gave
to the spectators an imposing idea of the strength
and military bearing of the force collected.
The spectators were highly delighted with the
marching past, and became quite enthusiastic when
the movement was repeated by the cavalry at a
canter. " Partant pour-la Syria" was played at
the conclusion iu compliment to the French Am-
bassador, and the Queen and her suite retired,
the people cheering and waving their hats as her
Majesty passed along. After this the vast crowd
broke up, the seldiere, returned not unwillingly
to their huts and their dinner, and by 3 o'clock
Allershott-common had been restored to its normal
appearance of barrenness and desolation.

•
GOOD TIDINGS OP THE THAMES.—The recent coal
weather having entirely checked that fermentation of
the Thames which occasioned the hideous odour it re-
candy emitted, the river below bridge is beginning to
recover its comparative purity, the influx of the tides
from the sea gradually washing down the unclean water
without receiving fresh additions of putridity. The first
sign of this wholesome amendment is the nearer approach
of the whitebait to London, these delicate fish being now
taken up by the fishermen at Barking Creek, three miles
below Woolwich, whereas in the last season they did not
approach the frying pan nearer than Mitt), six or seven•
miles lower down. This agreeable fact has also restored
the accustomed bevy of aristocratic diners to the Ship
and ,ither houses at Green rich, and Quarterinaine re-
joices in the cessation of a panic which hid fair at one
time to eclipse his season of all its splendours.
PRICE OP GoLD.—The quotaLiou of gold at Paris is
about 2 per mule discouet, and the short exchange on
London is 25.02.12 for 1/. rterling. On comparing these
rates with the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 10.1 d. per
ounce for standard gold, it appnars that gold is
nearly 4-10chs per cent. dearer in Paris than in Lon-
don. Ey acivices frau Hamburg the price of gold is
424 per mark, and the short exchange ea Louden is
13 56 per 11.. sterling. Standard gold at the English '
Mint price is therefore about 3-10chs pt.r cent. dearer
in London than in Hamburg. Toe course of exchange
at New York on London for bills at GO days' sight is
about 1091 per cent., which, when compared with the '
Mint par between the two countries, shows that the
exchange is slightly against England. But, after malt-
ing allowance for charges of transport and difference of
interest, the present rate leaves no prefit on'the trans•
in;sAon of gold between the two cuntriee,