The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-27 00:00:00

A little before two o'clock the troops in the camp
were under arms, and, after the usual parade in-
spection in front of their huts, upwards of 14,000
men of all arms began to move across the common
towards the long valley. An immense concourse
of spectators had by that time collected, and were
fast pouring in from the surrounding neighbour-
hood. For once the dust of Aldershot had been
completely laid by heavy storms of rain which
swept over the camp in the morning, and it was
kept in subjection by drenching showers at short
intervals throughout the remainder of the day.
There were, however, moments when even the dust
would have been a relief to the cold rain.
As usual, the most picturesque feature of the day
was while the mass of troops were en route to the
long valley ; the dense sombre coluinns of the
Rifles contrast ed finely with the bright hues of the
Line Regiments, Guards and Cavalry, while the
long trains of Artillery on the flanks seemed like a
massive frame to the bright picture in the centre.
Nearly the whole of the troops now wear the uni-
forms contracted for by the Government, and not
by the regimental colonels. The importance of hav-
ing superseded the latter gallant clothiers is mani-
fested in the altered appearance of the men. Their
coats are of beautiful material, the privates wearing
the cloth formerly only given to sergeants, while
the sergeants have the same as the commissioned.
officers. Yesterday one or two men could be dis-
cerned still dressed in the old brick-coloured baize,
and having an indescribably dingy appearance
among their well-clad comrades. All the infantry
marched to the ground in open columns of com-
panies—the cavalry and artillery in troops, and
troops of batteries. With the exception of theusual
Camp Guards from each corps there were out yes-
terday two companies of the Royal Engineers,
three field batteries, two troops of Horse Artillery,
the 15th and 7th Hussars ; two companies of the
Grenadier Guards ; battalion of Coldstream
Guards ; the Rifle Brigade, lst, 2d, and 3d batta-
lions ; the 22d, 54th, 66th, 19th, 88th, 20th, and
97th Regiments, with some of the Ist battalion of
the Military Train. The whole moved across the
long valley, and formed for a short time in the
slope of the long hill in close column, looking at
the distanc• as if rich pastures had suddenly sprung
into bloom across the barren heath. When General
Knollys came upon the ground the columns were
deployed into a line two deep and nearly a mile
and a half in length, tapering away into a distant
streak of red which twinkled with the glitter of
bayonets. In the centre of the huge semicircle a
double line was formed by the Guards, Cavalry,
and Horse Artillery, with the field batteries, in
front of all. The latter having fired the usual
Royal salute, the Minies of the whole force rose
into the air as if by magic, and the feu de joie com-
menced, at first with a confused hoarse rattle, but
gradually swelling into one tremendous roar which
filled the air and seemed to make the very plain
vibrate and throb beneath its thundering din.
Three times was this imposing volley given, the
echoes of one scarcely dying away ere another was
commenced, the Royal salute of the day—the men's
hearty cheers—winding up the whole. The latter
were often renewed, coming from the extreme right
of the line like the distant roar of the sea, and
sometimes almost vieing with the noise of the
musketry.
The line then broke up, and the most interesting
feature of the day—the marching past the General
—began. The force passed the Staff in the follow-
ing order :—Troops of Royal Horse Artillery, the
7th and 15th Hus.sars, companies of Engineers, a,
field battery, the Guards, 22d Regiment, 3d Bat-
talion of Rifles, 54th and 66th Regiments, field
battery, 20th and 97th Regiments, and 2d Bat-
talion of Rifles.
The marching of the Guards was, asli.td machine,always is,
faultless. Each company seemed one solid
and not a man an inch beyond or
behind his laiiswall,
comrade. After these, the corps the
most conspicuous for steady movement and perfect
formation wore the 20th and 88th. The ranks of
the latter were cruelly thinned in the late war, and,
for the numbers engaged, probably more men of
this fine old regiment fell in action with the enemy
than in any other corps. It Inkermann more than
half of those in action were killed or wounded, and
the memory of their losses at both attacks on the
Roden must be but too fresh in the minds of many
of our readers to need recapitulation here. The
breaches then made in their ranks have been but
ill repaifed, and mere lads now represent the fine
companies of picked soldiers which landed at Ka-
lamita. Nevertheless the marching of the regiment
was remarked and admired yesterday. After all
the infantry had passed the cavalry and artillery
again returned and passed the staff at a canter, and
with this the day's proceedings terminated.
It may save our readers some disappointment if
we inform them that the field days are now no
longer Tuesday and Friday. Retrenchment has
penetrated the Camp,. if reform has not, and powder
burning is strictly limited to Wednesdays. They
will also
station be
is b
glad to learn
ed at Farnborough,
tehreacttaha ndsom and
Com-
modious
which soon promises to be one of the most com-
fortable, as it undoubtedly is already one of the
best managed, on the railway.

We are not yet able to announce that the vacancy iii
the direetion of the East India Company, caused by the
retirement of Col. Oliphant, has been filled up. The
choicet supposed to lie between Mr. Thomas,
o
Madras Civil Service, and Sir Proby Cautley, of
tbe is generally
the Bengal Artillery. Col. Tucker, late adjutant-general
of the Bengal Army, has been also named as a fit person.
if not a likely candidate; and the names of more than
one retired Indian chief justice have been cited in the
course of the speculations which have been so fertile
during the past fortnight among people interested in In.
dian affairs. It appears, however, by no means impro.
liable that Col. Lake will be appointed to the vacant
feat —ania, Elder, and Co,'s Overland