The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-03 00:00:00

.........................................M........a......_
culties and discourrgements ; but though it needed
not the smiles of Royalty to give it tone and lend
it energy, not the less -is it appropriate and
fitting that those in high places should come for
and attest by their presence and encourage-
ment that they feel and recognise the full signifi-
cance of the affair. It was very fortunate that the
PRINCESS was able to go yesterday, for great dis-
appointment would have been caused by her absence.
At the same time all were under great obligations to
her, for the state of the weather rendered the ex-
cursion anything but a pleasant one. Her Royal
Highness is deserving of great credit for the efforts
she always makes to carry out any plan that has
been made which involves the comfort or gratifica-
tion of others, and no occasion was more worthy of
exertion than that of yesterday.

We may truly say that the Volunteers have be-
come a great national feature of the age ; they re-
present the spirit and intelligence of the country,
and supply a deficiency that has long been felt,
but until lately seemed almost possible to remedy.
We are not a warlike nation, and, what is more, we
do not wish to mix ourselves up in the wars of
others ; but it is, at the same time, imperatively
1 necessary that we should be prepared for conse-
quences, and that we should be placed in a position
suitable for this great country and the interests
she represents. No other mode of remedying
the evil that existed could be found
so efficacious as that of the Volunteer's institution,
and we may rejoice to find that it has now ap-
proached so nearly to perfection both in numbers
and efficiency. The only drawback to yesterday's
affair was the unpropitious state of the weather,
which marred the effect of the grand demonstration.
It was so far fortunate, however, that it was fine when
the PRINCE and PRINCESS passed through the town
on their way to the Downs. Brighton has not
witnessed so gay a procession for many a long
year, and the PRINCESS must on her first arrival
have obtained a good idea of the place
under its most favourable auspices. After the
review was over or nearly so the Royal visitors went
to lunch in the Pavilion. Many circumstances have
occurred, and many changes taken place, since the
Prince of WALES'S great uncle used to visit there,
but we may fairly conclude that no alterations that
have been effected through old things passing away
and new things supervening have been so remark-
able as the establishment of the Volunteers them-
selves as an efficient resource to the country in time
of need. Another feature of interest intimately
connected with the affair of yesterday is the excel-
lence which has been obtained by the railways
in the shape of transmission. To allow of the
affair of yesterday taking place, what combination
had to be effected, and what skill exhibited, and it
is a triumph of science that such could have been
done so well and so speedily. We may form
some notion of the utility which railways
would be in affording assistance to the despatch
of troops. and artillery when we reflect upon the
traffic of yesterday. As for the real business of the
day, the Review itself, it was very successful, and
displayed in a striking manner the efficiency of the
troops. Lord ELCHO was present, although it had
been feared that indisposition would have prevented
his appearing. He wasgreeted with loud cheers, and
it was naturally felt that his appearance was a
great advantage. Twenty-thousand Volunteers ap-
peared yesterday on Brighton Downs, which
was as large a number as that of the whole
English army in those bygone days when
Brighton flourished under the auspices of the Prince
REGENT. In many minor points the regiments
have improved since the last occasion of their pub-
lic display, and we may conclude that this grand an-
nual gathering is of service in every respect. On the
whole, there was nothing to have been wished for
comparison with other things of more moment. The
visit of the Prince and Princess of WALES was
most opportune, and it is satisfactory to think of
the great contrast that is observable in the Prince
of WALES of our time and the one who was famous
in the last generation. His Royal Highness has
given promise of distinguishing himself in all those
qualities which his predecessor so greatly lacked,
and his reception whenever he appears in public
testifies to the respect and attachment which is felt
for him. As for the Volunteers themselves, yester-
day more than any other occasion of their grand
field days, showed that they were ready for action
if required, and meanwhile could comport them-
selves with propriety, and train themselves for
future exigencies. In a national sense of the word,
yneisshterd an yesterday
the review which took place on Brighton Downs
illustrationwas
qui
of tea
our powers
ersantdo
t mayhe other well
fur-
n a -
tions of Europe.