The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-11 00:00:00

GRAND REVIEW IN WINDSOR PARK.

Yesterday the Volunteers, in their Whit-Monday
exercises, broke entirely new ground. By permis--
sion of her Majesty, obtained by General Seymour,
C. 8., Deputy-Ranger, they were enabled to assem-
ble and hold a field day in Windsor Great Park—a
privilege which was enhanced by the presence and
co-operation of one of the regiments of Household
Cavalry. Nine metropolitan corps took part in the
proceedings—viz., the North-East London, Bth
Tower Hamlets, Hon. Artillery Company, the Vic-
torias, West Middlesex, North Middlesex, South
Middlesex, St. George's, and Civil Service Corps.
Of most of these there was hardly as good a muster
as could have been wished, or as there doubtless
will be when, after hearing their comrades' report,
opportunity is again afforded for a review upon the
same site. But in Windsor itself and its vicinity the
event excited the strongest interest. The Berkshire
battalion came in force from Reading, receiving on
its arrival fresh local contingents. The Harrow
companies travelle3 down by the Great Western
line ; and a full troop of the South Bucks Yeomanry
added their lances and picturesque costume to the
force under arms. Most of the shops were closed
during the afternoon ; and in the Park itself so large
a number of spectators assembled that General Sey-
mour, in addressing the officers after the field day
had concluded, alluded to the fact that the manoeu-
vres had been somewhat restricted on that account.
For the purposes of a military procession—for such
in effect was the march from the railway stations to
the review ground—few grander avenues can be
found than the Long Walk, and the spectators pro-
bably enjoyed this promenade, to the music of re-
gimental bands, as thoroughly as any other portion
of the day's proceedings.
The troops, consisting of somewhat over 2,000
Volunteers and 350 cavalry, were divided into an
attacking and defending force, to the former a
preponderance of cavalry, and to the latter a great
superiority of infantry, being assigned. The four
guns of the Hon. Artillery Company paired off, two
on either side. Major-General Seymour commanded
in chief, and his Staff included Lieutenant-Colonel
the Hon. W. Colville, acting as Assistant Adjutant-
General ; Lieutenant-Colonel Trefusis, Scots Fusi-
leer Guards ; Captain W. F. Seymour, brigade major;
Captain Wynne Finch, Scots Fusileer Guards ;
Captain Hugh Seymour, Grenadier Guards ; and
Colonel Richardson-Gardner, North-East Lon-
don Volunteer Rifles. The attacking force
was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Marshal],
2d Life Guards, the infantry movements being
directed by Lord Ranelagh. On the side of the de-
fenders there were two brigades, led respectively by
Lieutenant-Colonel Loyd Lindsay, V.U., and
Lieutenant-Colonel Charles H. Lindsay. At first
the opposing ranks were so well hidden by trees and
undulations of the ground that nothing was to be
seen beyond a line of cavalry pickets pacing to and
fro parallel to the Long Walk. To these, consist-
ing of the Bucks Yeomanry and Light Horse of
the Hon. Artillery Company, there soon advanced
a line of skirmishers, composed of the South Mid-
dlesex, Victorias, and Harrow corps ; but they had
barely issued beyond the line of trees, when from
the Long Walk battalion after battalion of the de-
fending infantry came to meet them, and the
Yeomanry and Light Horse thus supported made
repeated charges, which had the effect of driving
in the right of the attacking force. These now
called up their cavalry in turn, at first in moderate
numbers, but as the pressure increased the entire
regiment of Life Guards rode over the crest of
the hill and swept down into the level ground.
It is said, and possibly with truth, that breech-
loaders will change the whole character of modern
warfare, and that cavalry—heavy cavalry especially
—is as much out of date now as three-deckers in
the navy. But it seems difficult to believe that
anything which can produce a powerful moral
effect can ever be out of date, and to the charge of
a regiment like this there is only one epithet which
can be applied, and that is " crushing." Light
cavalry may exhibit more impulse, more dash; but
in the onset of the Life Guards there is a sense of
irresistible force—a thoroughness which it does one's
heart good to see. Colonel Marshall is entitled, not
only to praise for the splendid condition in which he
brought his regiment into the field, but to the
special acknowledgments of Volunteers for the sym-
pathy and goodwill towards their movement which
he showed in placing his men side by side with
themselves. It is an unfortunate accompaniment of
cavalry charges over ground frequented by rabbits
that falls are almost unavoidable, and yesterday
formed no exception to the rule. In one of the
earlier movements two Life Guardsmen were un-
horsed, but escaped without injury, being able to
rejoin their troop where the riderless horses had
taken up their accustomed positions. A charge
later in the day was attended with more serious falls.
Two or three horses fell in a cluster, and one actu-
ally rolled over his rider, but, thanks to his cuirass,
the man.escaped comparatively unhurt. The other
fall was more alarming. When the horse regained
his feet and started off one foot of his rider was still
in the stirrup, and in view of his comrades and all
the spectators the soldier was dragged along for fully
200 yards. Persons rode or ran from all directions to
catch the horse, but before this could be done the
Guardsman, by accident or dexterity, had wrenched
his leg out of the boot, leaving this still in t]ie
stirrup, and so freeing himself from the danger.
When assistance reached him it was found that

the edge of the cuirass had inflicted a nasty
cut under his chin ; but, though his nerves
were quivering with excitement and exertion, he
mounted his horse and rode quietly to the rear.
Among the Volunteers there was also an accident.
A member of the Tower Hamlets corps unfortu-
nately handled his rifle in such a manner that it ex-
ploded and blew off a finger.

The day's proceedings closed with a rapid advance
and bayonet charge by the defending force for the
purpose of capturing Queen Anne's Ride. This was
at such close quarters, and yet so unforeseen, that
the batteries of the lion. Artillery Company had not
limbered up when their assailants were upon them.
In the twinkling of an eye this was done, and after
a heated and exciting race they succeeded in dis-
tancing their pursuers. The entire force then formed
up and marched past the General commanding,
the Life Guards again eliciting universal admira-
tion. They passed and repassed the saluting
base several times at different rates of speed,
concluding with a grand charge; and so carried
away were the Volunteers by their feelings that
they applauded with hand as well as with voice.
Of the Lancers and Volunteer Cavalry, it must be
added that, tried as they were by such a high
standard, they acquitted themselves most honour-
ably.
In the evening the North-East London Rifles
were entertained at dinner under a large marquee
in a field near the railway station by their com-
mander, Colonel Richardson-Gardner. To him as
well as to Colonel Loyd Lindsay much of the suc-
cess of the review is to be ascribed, through the
care bestowed on the preliminary arrangements.

THE LATE SEVERE WEATHER.

(From the Mark-Lane Express)

The injurious effects of the severe frosts that oc-
curred for several nights during last month are be-
ginning to manifest themselves in all their destine-
tiveness. Two classes of cultivators have more
especially sustained great injury, namely, the market
gardeners and the growers of seeds " on contract"
for the London dealers. The first of these have lost
the chief part of their crops of French beans that
were above ground, while other crops of early escu-
lents have suffered to a greater or less extent. In
Bedfordshire a large breadth of land is occupied in
growing cucumbers in the open fields, between
rows of rye a foot distant from each other, which
protect the young plants until the warm weather sets
in. The planting out of the cucumbers takes place
generally about the beginning of May, and we
question whether the young plants could have with-
stood the extremely severe frost of two or three of
the nights. The early potatoes had their foliage
turned black, but whether the tubers have sustained
injury has not at present been ascertained, though
they must have received a check in their growth.
The fruit-growers for the metropolitan market
have sustained severe losses. The gooseberries
and currants were protected by the foliage of
the bushes, and have probably escaped ; but both
raspberries and strawberries felt the full effect of
the biting frost. We have been told of one straw-
berry-grower who loses entirely 35 acres of fruit ;
and others have suffered more or less, in proportion
to the extent of their cultivabion. So great is the
destruction in the large open gardens that this fruit
must necessarily be scarce and dear this season.
We can scarcely hope that the apples and pears
have escaped without injury, which, if sustained,
will very soon show itself. On the whole, the supply
of native fruit must be greatly curtailed throughout
the season, and unless a larger importation than
usual takes place, the price will be high in propor-
tion to the scarcity.
Equally destructive has been the season through-
out to the crop of turnip, marigold, carrot, and
other seed plants; and the climax of frost last
month gave the coup de grace to many of these.
Hundreds of acres of turnips planted for seeding
have been ploughed up, not enough plants being
left to yield even a tolerable crop. Even where
this was not absolutely the case, the high price of
cereal produce induced many who were doubtful of
the result of the turnip-seed to choose the alternative
of ploughing them up and sowing the land with a
spring crop of either barley or wheat, rather than
risk the probable loss of the turnip seed. The
carrot seed has also been destroyed in some districts,
and the price of this article has greatly advanced.
The seed turnips and the marigolds on the ground
look fair at present, and the late rains came well to
give them a fresh start. But the breadth of land,
owing to the amount that has been ploughed up,
must necessarily be less than usual, and the new
crop is not yet housed ; nor is it yet ascertained
whether much injury has been done by the frost of
last month. Scarce, however, that seed must be,
there being little stock on hand, either with the
growers or seedsmen, and the latter, being quite
aware of the state of things, have advanced their
prices. Many of them, in fact, are greatly
disappointed in the amount they will receive
from those with whom they have contracted, the
farmers having been obliged to plough a portion of
the plants up, as already stated. So far, therefore,
as the produce of the garden and of the seed
plants is concerned, prices will probably rule
'high for another season. With regard to the
more important products of the farm, the cereal
crops, fortunately, were not forward enough to
sustain much injury from the late frosts. The
wheat had not shot the ear, and until that is the
case frost will not injure it except in the blade,
which will turn brown ; but a few fine days will set
all to rights again. A good deal of wheat plant
was destroyed by the excessive rain during the
winter, and the season throughout has not been
favourable for a heavy crop. Still, at present there
is at least a prospect of a moderate average, where
there is a plant ; at the same time the breadth of
land devoted to the cultivation of wheat has been
largely reduced during the last few years, as may
be concluded from the extraordinary increase in
importations, which has far exceeded what that of
the population would warrant. It is therefore cer-
tain, taking all things into account, that we shall not
haie .a heavy, probably not an average crop of
wheat ; and on the other hand, the stocks of that
grain are so low, not only in the United Kingdom,
but over the whole of Europe and of North Ame-
rica, that unless the crops abroad should be un-
usually abundant, we can see nothing in the pros-
pect to make us suppose that prices will be below
what they are at present. And if, on the contrary,
anything serious should happen to the growing
crops, either at home or abroad, we should have
difficulty in providing for the consumption of the
population except at very advanced prices. With
respect-to barley, it is, we believe, very backward
in most districts of the country, and cannot have
suffered materially from the late frosts. A large
breadth has been sown, owing to the high price it
has borne in proportion to other grain, being at
certain times of the year within a few shillings of
the price of red wheat. We need, however, warm
dry weather for all the crops, the low temperature
that prevailed during the greater part of May hav-
ing materially interfered with their progress, and in
some cases stunted their growth. The hay crop is
considered everywhere to be an abundant one, which
will come in well, as very few farmers have much
old hay on hand.

TIIE ST. IVES iNIACKE REL FISHERY. —The mackerel
caught last week by the St. Ives boats have fallen
short of the average quantities through the season. The
quality, however, as is usual in June, is very superior to
that of the May fish. A good many nights' fishing was
lost by the heavy sea prevailing to the westward, and the
average catches have been about 500 per boat. On Satur-
day the highest number caught by any one boat was 2,100,
and many had not more than 100. The season is now near
its close, and has been on the whole very successful, so
much so that it is expected that an unusual number of
boats will be built for the next season.

DROWNED WHILE BATHING.-A painful excite-
ment was occasioned in Newbury yesterday by the death
by drowning of a most respectable young man, named
Rolfe, shopman at the drapery establishment of Messrs.
Rodman and Jones, Northbrook-street. It seems that he
had intended leaving Newbury by the first train yesterday
morning to visit his relatives, and rose earlier than usual
for the purpose of bathing in the river Kennet, a short
distance from the town. Ile did not return, however, when
expected, and soon afterwards his lifeless body was dis-
covered in the stream.

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HER MAJESTY, &c•

•
The Prince of Wales rode out yesterday, attended
by Lieutenant-Colonel Keppel.
The Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse, accom-
panied by their Royal Highnesses the Princesses
Victoria Elizabeth and Irene, and attended by
Baroness Von Schenk and Hofmarschall von WeS"
terweiler, arrived on a visit to the Prince and Prin-
cess of Wales at Marlborough House.
Their Royal Highnesses were met by the Prince
of Wales at the terminus of the South-Eastern
Railway, Charing-cross.