The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-11 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY AT ALDERSHOTT.

The Royal. Review of Saturday if the last of the
season was, beyond doubt, one of the best which
has been held at the Camp for a long time past.
Unfortunately it was not generally known that the
review would not commence till the afternoon, and
all the early trains from Waterloo brought down
their batch of visitors, who hurried to the heath
only to find that they were some six or seven hours
too early, and that they had-nmple time to survey
the attractions of the Camp, all of which, however,
can be seen at the briefest possible period. The
neighbouring gentry seemed to be equally prema-
ture in the hour of their visit, and the heath was
tolerably well covered with carriages and pedestri-
ans as early as 1 o'clock. The heat upon the com-
mon was so intolerable that walking was literally
quite out of the question, and it is almost needless
to say how the fly-drivers improved the occasion,
and made such demands as upset the calculations
and patience of those who, from previous experience
of these Royal days, were pretty well prepared for
extortion. Nevertheless, in spite of the "fancy"
prices which were placed on the use of all kinds of
vehicles, they were in eager demand, and before
the close of the day almost any sum would have
been given for the use of fly, cart, or cab. So great,
indeed, was the " inquiry" for conveyances, that
even the Pickford's vans near the station were hired
by parties of ladies and gentlemen, who, indeed,
thought- themselyes. most fortunate to secure any-
thing on wheels, no matter what its kind. During
the early part of the day.ber Majesty, accompanied
by the Princesses Alice and Helena and Prince
Arthur, drove round the Camp, and paid long visits
of inspection to the hospitals, and the new schools
for officers' children. The Prince Consort and the
Prince of Wales, the latter in his uniform as Co-
lonel, also made visits to the permanent barracks,
and afterwards rode about the Camp, and among
the regiments under canvas.
Half-past four was the hour fixed fur the review,
but as the intended scene of action was at some dis-
tance from the Camp, the troops were all under
arms by two o'clock, and began pouring across the
plain in dense brilliant columns, all converging
gradually upon the general rendezvous at Caesar's
Camp Up these rugged heights they streamed in
glittering and picturesque confusion, which gra-
dually settled as the great mass were formed behind
the heights, and the guns unlimbered, loaded, and
brought to bear from every point of vantage. The
programme of the day's proceeedings supposed the
Aldershott force to be a large corps d'armee threat.
ened with an attack on both flanks by an enemy
marching from London by the Salisbury and,
Southampton roads. Awaiting this event, the forces
took up a position of immense strength on the huge,
amphitheatre of hills formed by the rugged eminence
known as Cresar's Camp on the right, and Beacon-hill
on the left. The heights of Caesar's Camp were held
by the Ist Brigade, composed of the 36th Regiment,
Ist battalion of the 11th, and the Staffordshire
Militia, with a field battery of six guns. Next in
line to these came the 2d Brigade, consisting of the
Oxford Militia, Ist battalion of the 9th, 2d batta-
lion of the 11th, and the 2d battalion of the 24th,
with a field battery. The 4th Brigade, consisting
of the 2d battalion of Coldstream Guards, 2d bat-
talion of the 12th, and 2d battalion of the 17th,
with six guns, occupied a position in advance, in a
hollow between the hills, and formed the left centre.i
The 3d Brigade held the extreme left on Beacon-
hill, with the 47th, the Stirling, Bedford, and Wilt-
shire Militia Regiments, and six guns. A sth Bri-
gade was extemporised for this day to act as alight
division, and consisted of the 4th battalion of the
60th Rifles, with the rifle 'militias of Antrim and
North Cork, supported by a troop of Horse Artil-
lery with six 9-pounder guns. These were posted
in advance of the extreme left, among the orchardi,
and hedgerows of a little farm abutting upon the
woods known as Bickley Copse. The extreme left
was guarded by a troop of Horse Artillery, with
the Light Cavalry Brigade, consisting of the 10th,
11th, and 15th Hussars. The right 1 nk was
larly protected by the grand masses of the heavy
cavalry, including the Ist Life Guards and the 4th
and "sth Dragoon Guards, with a troop of Horse
Artillery. In all 17 regiments of infantry, with
six of cavalry, and 42 guns, held the heights.
Precisely at half-past 4 o'clock her Majesty came
upon the ground. She rode a superb bay charger,
and wore a scarlet riding jacket with a General'i
sash over the shoulder and a General's plume in
her, riding hat. On the right and left rode the
Prince Consort and the Duke of Cambridge, both
in full uniform. The Prince of Wales, also in full
uniform, rode with the Princess Alice. The junior
members of the Royal family followed in an open
pony carriage. As the Royal party took their
position on the right ,of Caesar's Camp the review
began by, an advance against the enemy coming on
the left flank by the Salisbury road. The sth Bri-
gade, all of Rifle regiments, was instantly thrown
out, and, breaking up into skirmishing
a rapid advance to Bickley Copse, and under its
which
shelter kept up a tremendous fire,order, made
re-echoed
in the woods like thunder,-filling them with smoke,
as if they were on fire. At the same moment all
the guns on the heights came into play, and undel
cover of this, and to support the advance, the
brigade, poured down from the hills in dense
columns. To cover their movement and check the
enemy, who was now supposed to show in force
upon the right flank also, the solid squadrons of the
Life Guards and Heavy Dragoons
were rapidly,
manoeuvred, and wheeling round by troops, poured
in a stream over the hills on to the plain on the
right. The Light Brigade on the left were equally
vigilant, and, to gain time for the infantry to
change front, so as to meet the sudden attack on
their right, they executed a magnificent charge
across the long valley. Unfortunately, but little of
this brilliant movement could be seen as, after the
first few yards, dense clouds of dust hid everything,
and it was wholly by the heavy dull thundering of
the horses' feet that the nature of the movement
could be guessed. At the same moment the heavy
brigade poured its light troops and squadrons into
the plain, and at once wheeling into line made some
magnificent charges up the valley, always sup-
ported by their artillery, which, unlimbered,brought
their guns into action, and were up and away again,
emerging with marvellous rapidity from the cloud
of dust into which they had plunged for action only
a minute before. While this brilliant diversion was
effected, the infantry brigades had formed on the
slopes of the hill, and prepared to receive the enemy's
cavalry by throwing themselves into a line of mas-
sive squares with the batteries of artillery in the in-
tervals. This was a beautiful manoeuvre, and the
effect was grand in the extreme, as each of the
bright coloured quadrangles poured out its stream
of musketry, and the action with the squares
became general along a line of more than a mile
in extent. Immediately after the regiments de-
ployed into open line, and, supported by the
artillery between the brigades and the
sayalry on both flanks, a simultaneous advance was
made. The rapidity and regularity with which
this was effected was really beyond all praise, for
the infantry appeared to keep their line with the
most exact precision, though it extended more than
a mile and a half in length. Apparently, the
enemy accepted this challenge, for the regiments,
halting in the centre of the plain, began one of the
most tremendous and sustained file fires that has
probably ever been witnessed even in actual war-
fare. It is seldom that a connected line of 17 in-
fantry regiments is simultaneously attacked along
iiwtnshtihlee fwholetuhs front.eil lafourd e
the As regimentratte
batteriesbe
of
faamf teaer rat
ilregiment
hurrying,
rj rod
yi
deafeningnimeg,
up took part in the action, with a cannonade
which seemed to shake the very air. For
more than a quarter of an hour this fire of
musketry and artillery raged up and down the
varying and
minute
e ns ty,
seeming. ap-
parently
away,
to make the earth vibrate with its redoubled fury.
A second advance was then made by brigades.
pystock-hill, on the extreme left, was quickly
occupied by the Light Brigade and Artillery, and
the enemy driven back on the left 'towards the
Salisbury road, while a heavy cannonade covered
immensethe formation of a pontoon-bridge with which to
continue the advance pursuit on that flank across
the Basingstoke Canal. On the right flank, both
light and heavy cavalry again executed some most
rapid :movements against the enemy coming by the
Southampton road. The infantry again supported
them, and this time the advance was continued
across the long valley, and against a commanding
eminence called Spy-hill, on which, as is always
the case on these occasions, the innocent an un-
suspecting British.pnblic had collected in immense
numbers. To their credit, be it said, they stood
unmoved while the long columns of infantry,with
the batteries of artillery, advanced against thew,
and opened a cannonade and fire within 50 yards.
The service allowances for this purpose were duly
fired off, but without Zaaking the admiring multi-

tude in the least degree uneasy. Not so, however,
when the Coldstreams brought their firelocks to
the charge and dashed up the hill ,to take
it at the point of the bayonet. The panic was in-
stant and universal, and pedestrians and equestrians
carriages and carts of all kinds, made. an indiscri-
minate lush from the anticipated scene of slaughter,
the pursued looking back upon the cold' white row
of bayonets close upon their rear with undisguised=
alarm,. and with some vague notion that,they had-
been given up as aprey and a spoil to an infuriated
soldiery. This advance, as well it might, concluded
the evolutions of the day, and the enemy having
been repulsed on both fianks7—the pursuit, ceased—
the public regained confidence on seeing that no
bloodshed was really intended, and all assembled to
witness the marching. past. This, as may well be
imagined, was a dusty and long ceremony, though
one which well repays the military spectator from
the opportunities which it affords of judging of the
training and discipline of both men and horses.
It was nearly 8 o'clock before the troop; returned
to their cantonments, so utterly concealed by.dust,
powder, and smoke as to resemble an army of • Hin-
doos or Arabs, rather than -our mild militia,, or
English home-service _regiments.
'I here was a great rush back to Farnborongh to
be in time for the special train, and a still greater.'i,
demand in the little hamlet for provisions—a de-
mand which was only met by a limited supply of
alum buns, which apparently had been the sun-dried
ornaments of a village grocer's window for months
past.

Yesterday her Majesty and the royal family at-
tended Divine service at the south canip ehurch.
To-day (Monday) it is expected that the small camp,
formed by three or four regiments at Woolmer Fo-
rest, about 15 miles from Aldershott, wilt be ham:
oured with .a royal visit. The time of her Majesty's
departure to-day for Osborne has not yet been fixed.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE,

WOLVERHAMPTON.

The Right Hon. C. P. Villiers, the new President
of the Poor Law Board, was re-elected on Saturday
without . opposition. In returning thanks to his
constituents for the further proof of confidence
and constancy which they had 'just offeredlim, he
apologised for the trouble that his colleague and
himself had given them by causing such frequent
elections. To lessen some of the inconveniences
which attend these elections it had been suggested
to him that the electors would not deem it disre-
spectful in him if he should not attend personally
on that occasion, and such was the pressure of busi-
ness on himself in London that he had considered
considerationtheh is fsrui
egge
ndss tmi o
in but, not
from
g;
h tnot
himselft
h feeling i
nkt
iot
thosew sureant thatif
wanting
from
mi somen
whomp of
proper
op
heer
had received so much, he had determined at any
inconvenience to be present—(cheers)—and he was
now gratified that he bad done so, as it had enabled
him personally to witness and acknowledge their
accustomed kindness on these occasions—(hear,
hear)—as well as to receive some valuable instruc-
tion from his friend who had seconded him. His
friend who had proposed him had made some ob-
servations with regard to the efforts that he had
made in the great cause of free trade at a time
when it was treated with derision, and when
no personal advantage could follow from it. That
induced him to say that he never complained of
any injustice done to himself on that account, and
that he had always consoled himself by two circum-
stances that had followed upon the success of that
question, one of which was the regard which he
had secured for himself from his constituents, and
the other was the great advantage conferred by it
upon the country at large. (Cheers.) He had de-
voted himself entirely to that subject in former
years. Long before he appeared among them he
had traced out the consequences of evil from the
existing system of protection, and of the advan-
tages likely to follow from that of free trade, which
placed it in his opinion, beyond every other question
of importance that invited the public attention.
(Hear.) He had always believed that no measure
of improvement for the working class could be en-
during in this country that left them subject to
periods of such intense distress as occurred under
the protective system, when the harvests were
defective—(hear, hear)—and from 'the moment
when he obtained a position by being their mem-
ber, and acquired the lead of that question in Parlia-
ment, he had had no other object in view but its
success, and he always, in consequence, hailed with
satisfaction every accession of strength, come from
what quarter it might, that conduced to that end ;
and, far from claiming any exclusive merit or glory
to himself for its final achievement, no one, had
more fully acknowledged or appreciated than him-
self the eminent service rendered by that enlight-
ened combination which sprang up at Manchester,
with which their friends Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright
had been more especially connected, and who by
their persevering energy, intelligence, and distin-
guished powers of oratory had exercised such power-
ful influence over the opinion of the country.
(Cheers.) Since that time his own great satisfaction
—and especially during the last 10 years, since
which time' the new system had actually been in
force—had been in watching the result of that
experiment, and he did say that whether he looked
to the evils averted, the comparative contentment
of the people, the extension of commerce, or the
prosperity of agriculture, that a more successful
example of enlightened legislation could not be con-
templated either by ourselves or any other country.
(Cheers.) He believed that no department was
more alive to this change the' the one over which
he had just been appointed to preside—(hear, hear)
—and on account of which he appeared among them
at present. In former times the duties of that
office had been discharged under circumstances of
great anxiety, and the decisions of the Board had
been matters of deep concern to the public. (Hear,
hear.) The improved condition of the people had
fortunately diminished the difficulties of those days,
and it was now, though an arduous office, one that
could be directed
with comparative ease. His ac-
ceptance of that office was not, he trusted, at vari-
ance with any of the principles which he had pro-
fessedd among them—(hear, hear)—nor was there
anything in the constitution of this Government
that precluded any member of the Liberal party
from joining it. (Hear; hear.) There was not a
member of the Government that was not or had not
been an ardent Free-trader. (Hear.) Lord Palmer-
ston, at its head, had always been so, and had for 30
years past and upwards been completely identified
with all the views and measures of the Liberal
party. (Cheers.) Lord John Russell was there
himself—(cheers)—and, next to Lord Palmerston,
the most prominent member of the Cabinet—(hear,
hear)—and all were pledged to the principles of
peace and reform. (Cheers.) He had asked Mr.
Cobden, after he had refused to join the Cabinet,
whether he had done so on grounds that he thought
applied to other public men, and he inferred from
his reply that he regarded his own case as peculiar,
and that he encouraged Mr. Milner Gibson to re-
main in the Government—(chters)—and, though
he (Mr. Villiers) repeated then what he had said at
the last election, that life in Parliament was far
more agreeable without office than with it, and that
he was not anxious to take office, yet he really had
believed that when the offer was. made without
sufficient reasons for refusing it, that his consti-
tuents would have heard of his refusal with more
surprise than satisfaction. (Cheers.) He was bound
to say, however, that a seat in the Cabinet of
tkis country was a position of 'which any man
might be proud, and when associated with men who
had the ability, experience, and will to administer
the country honestly and wisely, it must be one of
ngroeraetassaotnisftaoctieoxnpeacntd
dinisateprepsotintm(Cehnet, (Cheers.) He
He had
no reason to expect disappointmelt, though cer-
this Government commenced its career under
circumstances of no common gravity. There never
was a time when the demeanour of this great coun-
try was of more importance to the world at large—
(hear)—consequently, when the conduct of our
foreign relations was more anxious and difficult.
(Hear, hear.) No one, however, that he knew of,
had any reason for supposing that Lord Palmerston
or Lord John Russell would be indifferent to the
wishes of the country in this respect, or that they
would disregard the opinion that has been so gene,
rally and unreservedly expressed of late, that we
should continue to maintain that position of neu-
trality with regard to the war in Italy which has
hitherto been observed, and that this country
should keep aloof from the great disputants now in
the field, and only arbitrate in their disputes when
they could do so with dignity and effect. (Cheers.)
The British Government made honourable efforts
to avert the war, but its counsels were disregarded,
and there is still a mystery hanging about this war
which they could not explain, but which leaves us
only to grieve at its continuance, and to pray that
it may cease. (Cheers.) Independently, however,
of the merits of its origin, there was
one conT-
quence that has followed that he feared must
considered as a fact—namely, that it has p
iroduced
apprehension and a sense of insecurity n evey
state of Europe, and that every country now is
gee.
preparing for its defence as + cities do when
some pestilence breaks out and is expected to n-

, resume its former desolating' track. (Hear, hear.)
It was somewhat the fashion, he knew, to deride
these fears as exaggerated or uncalled for, still
,he
did not think it was for this country so to regard
them, for they must remember that their insular
position, enabling them to have a powerful fleet
on their frontier, afforded to this country a pro-
tection of which others were deprived, and that
- countriesi on the continent were far more easily
- invaded than our own. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
Moreover, he questioned whether the public
feeling in this country had remained wholly un-
moved on account of the events which had lately
occurred on the Continent. He believed that this
country was never more tenaeiou-; of the policy that
required our defences to be improved—(hear, hear)
and that no Government would remain in power a
week which pretended to deride or disregard any
consequences to ourselves that might arise out of the
present disturbed and unsettled state of Europe.
(Cheers.) When this Government, therefore, was
giving its most anxious attention tq the state of our
defences, and was peculiarly solicitous as to the
condition of our navy, they were only doing that
which the people had a right to expect and did de-
mand. (Cheers.) And great was the responsibility
on this subject increased by the fact that it was im-
possible for any Government to have more complete
command over the resources of the country than was
always voluntarily awarded to it here whenever its
honour or safety were in question. (Hear, hear.)
On them, therefore, exclusively did the duty devolve
of providing for the general protection. (Cheers.)
He was no friend of great or unnecessary armaments,
and he was sure that no man faithfully represented
the wishes of this country who was so. The thing
that would please this country most, and in which
he heartilyjoined; would be a general disarmament;
but it was not necessary to impute to any Power
the infamy of a desire to assail us ,without. reason,
nor should we regard with indifference the proceed-
ings abroad of the 1-st four months, or not make ex-
traordinary provision for a state' of things so excep-
tional as they now presented. (Cheers.) He hardly
knew what to think of the news of the last day—
that, through an armistice entered into between
France and Austria, there was for the while to be
a cessation of slaughter. (Hear, hear.) He was
sure it came from the heart of this country to hope
that it might be the means of permanently conclud-
ing the dreadful consequences of these hostilities—.
(cheers)—but he could not help doubting if such
would be the case. Of this armistice or its history
nothing was known when he left London ; he could
tell them nothing on the subject they had not learnt
for themselves, nor could he at all understand
what would be the effect of the war, should it
terminate at present, upon the people for whom it
was said: to be undertaken. (Hear, hear.) We
were in this country too ignorant of the real feelings
and interests of the various peoples that occupied
the different portions of the Italian Peninsula to
judge precisely of what would most conduce to their
better government or contentment; but this •he
'knew, that an honest' and hearty struggle for free-
dom always enlisted the cordial sympathies of
Englishmen—(hear, hear)—and that nothing is
more firmly implanted in their breasts than the
belief that free constitutional government is to be
'preferred to every other form, as affording the best
means of securing freedom to the people and peace
to the world. (Loud cheers.) That the Italians
may have this advantage whether it spring out of
this war or out of any effort of their own, is the
hearty wish of the people of this country. (Cheers.)
Among the many reasons for which it is desirable
for us that this war should cease, not the least
perhaps is that is impossible to procure that
requisite attention to great questions of a more
domestic kind which now await the decision
of the Legislature. The estimates and the state of
our defences will probably occupy our chief atten-
tion during this short session, but there is one en-
gagement with which this Government have taken
office that he had -no doubt they would fulfil at the
earliest period—namely, that which purports to
improve the present representation of the people.
(Hear, hear.) Legislation on that measure will be
comparatively easy now. The opinions resolved
during the dissolution of Parliament showed that
resistance to reform will be far less than formerly,
or than was expected, and that the reasonable views
'that generally prevail will render improvement
much more.easy to .accomplish. He should expect
that after this session a measure removing many
of the acknowledged defects of the present system
would be introduced, and a generous instalment
given of that fuller measure of power for which, by
their intelligence and social improvement, the peo-
plesess .
were becoming
were moretoo qwueallli fi e
acquaintedt
oi
s-
with his views, a, what was more important— '
his votes—to desire to hear from him. any further
(Loud annually
cheers
reference to public affairs. They had kindly re-
sponded
to the appeal that he had made to them,
and he was proud to think that they had given him
their confidence as cheerfully when he sought it as
a Minister as when he presented himself to them
a few weeks ago as an independent member ; and
he felt sure, as he sincerely hoped, that when they
met again the same friendly relations will not have
been disturbed. (Hear, hear.) He was obliged to
his excellent friend who had seconded him for re-
minding them that somewhat more of forbearance
was required towards a Minister than was due to a
member only, and he hoped that they would remem-
ber that a Ministry acted collectively, and that it
was impossible for every member to indulge his
•
own crotchet, or have his own way. (Hear, hear.)
He had been reminded of the popular course which
he had adopted hitherto, and was warned against
losing any opportunity of enforcing these views on
his colleagues. He admitted the propriety of
the warning that his friend had given him
as well as the obligation of promoting popular
views to'the utmost of his power in the counsels to
which he had been admitted, and they might rely
upon it that he was not then. going to abandon the
opinions of his former life. (Cheers.) He begged
only, in conclusion, to repeat emphatically what he
had said on a former occasion, that he greatly pre-
ferred being their representative in Parliament to
occupying any office whatever, and that, if the time
should come when the policy of the Government
should displease them, and they thought it more
for their advantage that their member should cease
to be among them, he, would, at their request,
readily and cheerfully retire. (Loud cheers.)