The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-21 00:00:00

THE Sir: ~%ONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 21, 1861.

THE NAV).

The Trafalgar, screw line-of-battle ship, Capt. S.
B. Dickson, lying at Spithead, will embark to-day
two 100-pounder Armstrong guns in addition to the
two 40-pounder Armstrongs she has already on
board. She will land some of her 6 and 8 inch guns,
so as to reduce the total number on board from 90
to 86. She is ordered to be ready for sea by the end
of the present month.

The Black Eagle, Admiralty paddle yacht, Master
Commander Petley, has arrived in Portsmouth har-
bour from Cowes, after conveying his Grand Ducal
Highness Prince Louis of Hesse and suite from
Ostend to Osborne.

The Bombay, Sl, line-of-battle screw steamer, has
had the whole of her bottom sheathed witk Muntz's
patent metal, and is now completed. According to
present arrangements she will be undocked at
Chatham on Saturday next, when she will be fitted
with her engines and machinery, a considerable
portion of which has arrived at the dockyard. The
Bombay is to be immediately fitted for the steam
reserve in the Medway.

The two 100. pounder, Armstrong guns received at
Chatham from Woolwich have been placed on board
the screw corvette 'Challenger, 22, 400 horse power,
Capt. J. G. Kennedy, C. 8., fitting for sea.
The Anson, 91, new sere* steamship,-which has
800 horse power engines by Messrs. Maudslay, Son,
and Field, got up steam in the basin at Sheerness
for a trial of her machinery previous to her water-
pressure trial, which is to take place on Friday next.
The trial was of the most satisfactory character.
The War Department transport Petrel arrived at
the Ordnance wharf, Chatham, yesterday, and
landed by means of the steam crane the remainder
of the guns and stores belonging to the Cressy, 81,
screw steamer.

Yesterday the workmen at Chatham dockyard
commenced caulking the Arethusa, 51; converted
from a sailing ship to a screw frigate, in the third
dock.

A ship's armour plate, measuring 15ft. bin. in
length, 3ft. tin. in breadth, and 41in. in thickness,
has been received at Portsmouth dockyard and will
be experimented upon in the forthcoming trials in
Porchestcr Lake, under the supervision of Captain
R. S. Hewlett, C. 8., commanding H.M.S. Excel-
lent. The plate is marked" S. Beale and Co., patent,
Parkgate, Yorkshire."
The examination of boys for apprentices in the
shipwright department of Portsmouth dockyard
will take place on the 17th and 18th June.
The Chersonese transport has arrived at Wool-
wich Arsenal pier from Portsmouth, bringing a de-
tachment of the 44th Foot and about 1,500 tons of
army stores from China.

The convicts (180), arrived at Spithead in the
brig Henrietta from Bermuda, have been landed
from that vessel and forwarded from Portsmouth to
the establishment at Milbank.

The ship's steward of her Majesty's revenue cut-
ter Active was examined on Friday last before the
Hon. George Grey, Rear-Admiral Superintendent
of Portsmouth Dockyard, and sentenced to three
months' imprisonment in Winchester gaol for hav-
ing stores belonging to the Crown in his possession,
and for having given to a boy named Russell, who
was admitted as evidence against the prisoner, 71b.
of mould candles and a quantity of ship's vinegar.
The prisoner stated that the articles were the sav-
ings of his own allowhnce.
Considerable surprise has been expressed in naval
circles at the fact of the recent promotions of com-
manders to post rank for China having passed over
the commander of one of her Maj esty 's troop steamers.
Commander Coke, the officer alluded to, is stated to
be senior to the five officers who have been promoted
over his head, has commanded a troop steamer for
five years, and is one of the moot energetic and
pushing officers of his class.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Henry John Phillimore,
naval cadet to the Rinaldo ; Edward M'Carttey,
assist.-surg. to the Steady ; Clarence Aylen, assist.-
paymaster to the Mars ; W. H. Nurse, promoted to
the rank of second-class assist.-engineer in the
Fisgard, as supernumerary ; and William J. J.
Spry, third-class assist.-engineer to the Indus, as
supernumerary.

TSB VOiUNTETBS.

FIELD-DAY AT REGENT'S PARK.
Yesterday evening, according to previous an-

nouncement, several of the volunteer corps of the

metropolis were brigaded together in the Regent's-

park, and went through a series of evolutions under
the command of Lord Ranelagh. Half-past four

o'clock had been fixed for the appearance the

troops on the ground, and before that hour ,&n.se
masses of people.were assembled, and occupied every
available part of the large field which forms a sup-
plement to the park proper, and strongdettiehinehts
of very light infantry were 'posted advantageously
(for themselves) in all the trees, with but little
chance of suffering dislodgment. It was stated that
a sham fight was to form part of the proceedings of
the day; but the aspect of the day seemed to pro-
mise that a real contest would ensue, in which the
gallant volunteers would have had to encounter a
rmidable enemy in the British holiday public. In
fact, as in the outset of most human things, the first
and most difficult matter was to clear the ground.
Lord Ranelagh, with those officers who constituted
his staff, arrived with military punctuality, and,
took pains to have it promulgated that he must
trust to the public themselves to afford space for the
movement-of the troops, to which they would only
be invited by the assistance of;a few mounted men;
but he added very decidedly .at he would not
suffer a single soldier to appeaiintil ample,verge
and room etough was given for the requirements
of the intended operations. Tor SCIIIIO time nothing,
could seem more hopeless than inch a result, the
crowd displaying that independent contempt of
that regularity, or steadiness which was indispen-
sable :to the occupation of, the very • tolerable
" Champ-dc-Mars" which ,had been.. selected for
the military movements. Soon afterwards a troop
of the Surrey Mounted Rifles, in their neat, indeed
handsome uniforms, and a trop of the Ist Middle-
sex Light Horse, dressed and equipped in what
Captain Nolan would have renounced admirably
adapted for effective cavalry service. Both bodies
capitally mounted, came into the field. Their ap-
pearance by no means dissipated the sceptical opi-
nions as to the possibility of clearing the ground,
and some sarcastic remarks were made as to the
probability of these troops being so much occupied
in keeping their spurs away from the flanks of their
steeds, and endeavouring accurately to distinguish
between their bridle and sword hands, as not to
be very capable of performing the service required
of them, while jocular observations were current
about sending for some of the horses of the Life
Guards and Blues, without riders, to show them
how the business will be done. All this turned out
to be a great mistake, for this small body of men
in a very short time managed to bring the . crowd
into the exact position that was required; evin-
cing not only good temper, but excellent skill in
the management of their horses ; both of which
qualities were not a little tried by the erratic
attempts of the London b ays, who rushed
into the most impossible places, at the
most critical moments. In the meantime the
volunteer corps had been marched very quietly into

the park, and took UfC a position in contiguous
columns in the south-eastern angle, their left resting
on the grounds of Sir Isaac Goldstnid's villa, and
their right in the enclosure bordering on the broad
walk. There were present the South Middlesex,
under Lord Ranelagh, : the West Middlesex, under
Lord Radstock ; the Six not Guards, under Col.
Bruce; the Ist Middlesex Artillery ; the St.
George's, under Col. Lindsay; the Ist City of Lou-

don ; and theist Tower Hamlets—in all, something
over 1,500 strong, as nearly as we could compute in
the absence of any information. About half-past
six the evolutions commenced by the`throwing out
of a strong body of skirmishers (the South Middle-

sex) who advanced in admirable order, though
somewhat too deliberately, according to the ideas
of the uninitiated, who are under the impression
that skirmishing means nothing but throwing light

troops forward, higgledy-piggledy, to do just as
they please, and to fire at imaginary objects, or the
moon if they are so minded, so that they make noise
and produce smoke enough ! On the contrary the
line of skirmishers on this occasion was rigidly pre-
served ; the supports came up with a regularity and
precision which was most praiseworthy ; and the
firing, which was well sustained, though not too
rapid, gave the notion that each man was intent on
taking aim before he discharged his piece. In truth
this was in every respect the best executed move-
ment of the day. In due time the remainder of the
brigade advanced in column and deployed into line,
the West Middlesex being on the extreme right,
flanked by the City Rifles, the centre being com-
posed of the Six Foot Guards, the St. George's, and
the Tower Hamlets ; on their left were the Middle-
sex Artillery, and the South Middlesex, when the
skirmishers were called, formed the extreme left.
The line pressed on towards the north-western part
of the park, in the direction of Holford-house and

commenced file-firing. This was kept up with
the Southola lsuffi-
cient
weretolerable,
spirit,and was succeeded by battalion volleys,
in which the West Middlesex, the Middlesex Arta-
letth.ye,rnd.
cicledly the worst. T dhadeol
decsote
uhxnebt
reorrioe-
wmooaffrr theclhi atomhe palm
tes;
rtedhaoe
r.
was then executed, but only for strategical pur-
poses, for the troops instantly formed squares to re-
ceiveout, b coat v
a trifle
a ry This evolution was steadily carried
slowly, always supposing that the
illusion that cavalry were near enough to charge
was duly kept up. Once
was executed, and the troops ops
wheelingthokup
a into
strong line
after after a steady and continuous fire, a flank move-
mentposition in line on the north side of the enclosure,
with the Zoological-gardens as a kind of Wood of
Soignies in the rear, rendering a retreat difficult if
not impracticable, and so a gallant stand was made;
firing
by
by companies—veryTho whole
h o I:
li
line,
boi
being
well
edpotn
ue —p
with
battalions,th a
conti-
nuity
and
which was highly creditable to all the corps.
It was hoped that a brilliant charge would have
succeeded, but somewhat to the agreeable disap-
pointment of the spectators, the more holiday move-
ment of a march round in quick time was substi-
tuted, and an opportunity of testing the steadiness
of the troops as tlfey passed by in open columns of
companies was afforded to those who came to inspect
them curiously. It was on the whole satisfactory;
but it is just possible that if Col. M‘Murdo had been
present he would have found occasion here and
there to repeat the advice he has on late occasions
given to the volunteers, not to neglect their com-
pany drill, or to suppose that it is not indispensable
to the perfection of brigade movements. All things
considered, and especially considering that this was,
after all, only a trial brigading of battalions which
had not previously acted together, after the manner
foafualt 1 there was little
except, perhaps, by the severest
military critics ; but to the eye of any one simply ac-
rteohbeearfsoaolodfo,r this occasion
ac-
customed to see troops in tolerable numbers manceu-
vring together, the display was, on the whole, credi-
table, and it certainly must have contributed not a
little to that habitude of acting in bodies which is
essential to the efficiency of our volunteer force. As
a spectacle for the public it was decidedly a success;
every one seemed to be pleased ; and it certainly
was a welcome addition to the enjoyments of the
pleasure-seeking folks, who rushed out in myriads
into the bright sunshine of a gloriously fine Whit-
Monday. We did not learn that any misadventure
occurred ; but we were sorry to hear that two of the
horses
ill return
nkept the ground were
stabbed r
individuals. It was an
i
performance of a very troublesome
sltr e t of
by theor some
the
malicious r y who
service by a body of gentlemen, to whose exertions
it was mainly owing that so large a crowd was en-
abled to witness the review.

o'clock by the Great Western Railway, marched
from thence through Eaton and Windsor, end pro-
ceeded doivn the Long Walk to the Great Park,
under the command of Lieut.-Col. Lord Grosvenor,
with their, excellent brass band and-corps of drums
and fifes. There were also about 80 cadetsbelong-
ing to this imposing regiment, which, we under-•
stand, is 2,000 strong. At the same time 350 of
the London Scottish VOlUnteers passed through the
town to the Great Park, under the command of
Lord Elcho. The latter regiment went through a
variety of field movements, which they performed
in a steady soldier-like manner, and afterwards
returned to Windsor, where they halted a short
time for. refreshments previous to their return to
town. The Queen's Westmiusters, on reaching the
park, were regaled by their colonel with a plentiful
supply of treble X ; after which they formed into
two battalions, the first being under the command
of Lord Grosvenor, and the second under the com-
mand of Lord Fitzgerald.
The evolutions were varied and interesting, the.
deer pen being the principal position for attack and
defence, and after about three hours' marching,
countermarching, firing, skirmishing, and various
movements, both the battalions formed into corn-
panics, marched past in quick time, and then returned
to Windsor, where a half hour's halt was given them
for refrcshincnts proviou§ to their returrt to town.
The weather was ,most favourable for the—oeca:
sion, and the park was thronged with spectators.
Captain Oldershaw unfortunately had a serious fall
from his horse, which stunned him for a short time.
He was taken to the deef-pen, and was attended by
the assistant-surgeon of the regiment (Mr. Leonard),
and in the course of an hour he was able again to
join the battalion. This corps performed the main
part of their evolutions in a very sat isfa dory manner.