The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-24 00:00:00

MILITARY INTLLIGENCE.

The 18th depot battalion, stationed at Pem-
broke Thck, under the command of Col. J. Moore,
has been inspected by Lieut.-Gen. Sir A. A.
Spencer, K.C.B. The men were put through com-
pany and battalion drill and various other evolu-
tions, and the General expressed his entire satisfac-
tion with the efficiency of the battalion. The Royal
Artillery stationed at Pembroke were not inspected,
as was intended, as nearly the whole of the men
are employed in mounting the heavy ordnance at
Popton fortress.
A draught of the 41st Regiment, consisting of
Major Wavell, Lieut. Webb, Ensign Thackeray, and
55 rank and file, will proceed to Tilbury on Monday
to embark in the ship Essex, for conveyance to
Calcutta, to join the service companies of their regi-
ment. An order has been received at Colchester
from the Horse Guards, directing four officers and
18 non-commissioned officers and men to be held
in readiness to proceed to the Hy the School of Mus-
ketry.

Lieutenant-Colonel Moubray, R.A., has been ap-
pointed to the command of the Royal Artillery in
the Eastern district, vice Colonel Knox, who re-
tires ; Col. Moubray has entered upon his duties.
Major Jones, of the Bth depot battalion, has assumed
the command of the troops at Languard Fort, Har-
wich, S:iotley, &c., in the room of Major Coxon, of
the 4th depot battalion, who has returned to Col-
chester.

TILE GUARDS BARRACK AT BUCKINGHAM

PALACE.

The Lancet observes that if any one is desirous of
seeing how closely wretchedness is placed to royalty
let him pay a visit at the dead of night to the guard
and barrack rooms which are situate at the southern
extremity of Buckingham Palace, just within the
railings at the park gate. Here three huge columns
support a massive plinth. Behind them are two
noble looking doors, which appear more like en-
trances to a Grecian temple than to the two wretched
apartments in which her Majesty's guard and a
cJmpany of Grenadiers are quartered. The doors
are widely open, and the men (27 in number) are
lying down on their uncomfortable guard beds.
Here, except when on sentry, they remain and take
their meals, which are cooked in a small kitchen,
of which the stove occupies a large propottion of
the space. This guard-room is lighted by two
large windows on the western side, and a thorough
ventilation is easily secured. It is,however, a palace
compared with the barrack-room above, which is an
apartment 70ft. in length, without windows at the
sides or ends. The low, flat ceiling is broken by
two small cupolas, with a lantern opening on the
top of each ; and there are iron gratings, which do
not lead to anywhere, and seem utterly useless for
purposes of ventilation. There are three glazed
openings near the floor, which communicate with the
outer air under the portico, and some ventilators are
placed in the wall opposite. They have been appa-
rently stopped up, lest the men should look through
them and destroy the privacy of the yard behind,
on which, nevertheless, the windows of the room
below abut. In this apartment there are beds for
37 men. Here the soldiers brush their clothes and
take their meals, and here they attempt to keep
their fool until the evening. They are not per-
mitted to go out except in undress uniform. They
have no amusements, and none of the occupations
of ordinary barrack life. At the door is a sergeant
who takes charge of them, and whese own apart-
ment is equally unventilated ; whilst close by is the
kitchen, lift. by 12ft., in which cooking is done.
The only outlet is a small yard downstairs. In one
corner are dirty-looking latrines, the machinery of
which is out of repair ; and in another a set of Mac-
farlane's lavatories, which will not hold water. Hard
by is a stinking dust-pit, foul with refuse,
stale vegetables, and food which, being spoilt, the

soldiers cannot cat. In our short experience we
have met with no accommodation so infamous as

this. There is neither light nor ventilation. The
comforts of the men have been altogether sacrificed
to outside architectural effect. Windows are not
consistent with classic columns and stately temples ;
the soldiers must therefore be made to go without.
Propriety would be shocked by seeing the men
leaning out of the windows in their shirt sleeves :
but this is no reason why they should be confined
like birds in a cage. Surely room might be found
either in the Wellington or St. George's Barracks
(neither of which are now full), and this wretched
barrack-room at once done away with. If her
Majesty were to inspect her own household, she
would be shocked that such a corner should be
found.

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