The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-22 00:00:00

is that they may grow up full-sized men, and then
they will have learnt how to handle a firelock.
Their spirit is not to be denied, but their powers of
endurance are naturally not equal to those of men
or robust youths of full stature. Of course, of
such special corps as those of Eton, Rugby, and
Harrow these remarks do not hold good. Nothing
could be better than the air, gravity, and strict
discipline of these lads, who must not be offended if
they are not praised as veterans. When the last
corps had passed it was 7.20 ; the march had con-
sumed more than one hour and a half. Then
General Scarlett and his Staff galloped to the left
flank of the line, which was forming. Staff officers
and orderlies began to fly about. The Duke and
his Staff and groups of Generals and Staff appeared
on the field in front of the spectators on the right.
The Volunteers were seen moving here and there,
their arms shining out in unexpected places, and the
ladies became anxious lest they should not appear
again. Presently the Duke of Manchester's Horse
came out boldly and executed a charge to the front
parallel with the line of spectators. The horsemen
may have been furious, but they were not fast, and
it was hard to imagine they had ever intended to
form a compact body. They were followed by a line
of skirmishers who advanced with more caution and
tardiness than was needful, but who still managed
to get a good long way in advance of their supports.
They, too, advanced in line, at right angles to the
spectators, and when they got halfway to the Royal
enclosure halted and opened fire in front. At this
moment some artillery from under the trees on their
right flank opened, with what object no mere spec-
tator on the right of the ground could divine. The
supports and the reserve of the force on the right,
however, moved up after some pauses, the skirmish-
ers tumbled in, then began a heavy fire of musketry
which one could compare, very disadvantageously,
with the Snider torrent-like rol:, and all seemed to
be going on well, till of a sudden out rushed a line
of skirmishers from under the trees at right angles
to the conquering force and began to fire away, not
at it, but right at the line of spectators and the
Royal Stand. Then came out supports, and the
force on the right fell back—nay; formed squares
—and was vexed by surreptitious guns, which
openel on it from unsuspected places. All the
while there were thousands of men behind
them lying down on their arms, and not firing
a shot. "The only thing I could always make
out in a battle," said the old Prince of Ligne,
"was which side ran away. Why they did it
I never could well understand." A field-day with-
out a clue is equally puzzling. Indeed, if the Vo-
lunteer Brigadiers and Colonels were obeying
their orders, and if the Divisional Generals were
carrying out the plan of inano3uvres laid down by
Sir James Scarlett, it would have been well to fur-
nish the public with a key to it. Artillery and
musketry were busy in the front, and all over the
ground. Sometimes, after a silence which made
one think the Field Day was over, came a volley
or a platoon fire from different spots, and dropping
shots were audible all round. At last there was a
general advance in line, the bands played " God
save the Queen," the Volunteers cheered loudly,
and even raised their shakos on their rifles, and her
Majesty most graciously acknowledged by repeated
bows these demonstrations of their loyalty. Thus
ended the review.
Some of the corps, we heard, who had not been
engaged and had not fired off many rounds, got
rid of their cartridges at discretion in the Home
Park, and incurred the displeasure of the highest
personages. At the close, we regret to 'say, there
was deplorable irregularity and confusion created
by Volunteers rushing for the trains without regard
to the order of their corps, and thus impeding those
who maintained formation and had a right to tran-
sit. Gen. Lindsay, however, will have had a good
opportunity of seeing what evils are to be guarded
and it is to be hoped
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