The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-06 00:00:00

VISIT OF COUNT MENSI)OItk"rO
WOOL. Vt
•
Java 3. —l't sa-rday evening it was rnaified
to L.rd 151 emtield that his Excediaii y Court. Alee duet would
art ice tt Woida ich this morn:ng, Ise tie purpose 4.f seeing t e
arsenal and exerci-t s of the tiotea in the garrison ; :net his
morning ih, greatest aseisil prevailed to receive the distin-
guished visitors.
At ten o'clock. A. M., two of the Royal carriages arrived in
the arsenal, containing Count Mensdurf and his sons, attired
in full uniform. They were attended by Colonel Wylde and
Captain Seymour. After the usual formalities, Lord Bloom-
liel, acesmpan:ed by Colonel Sir C. Hoste, of the Royal En-
gineers, and Brigade-Major Cuppage, of the Royal Artillery,
led the way to the foundry for casting brass guns, and his Ex •
dellercy minutely examined the various materials in progress of
preparation for making castings. The visitors were then shown
the boring department, and witnessed that interesting process.
Ohleaving the boring machines the next place they visited was
the laboratory, where powder is made up into ball and blank
cartridges, by boya, with astonishing quickness, and in other
buildings percussion caps, with which his Excellency and his
sons appeared highly pleased. Napier's machine for making
balls by pressure also attracted considerable attention. The
carriage department, where Bramah's powerful planing-machine
is set in operation by a steam-engine, was next visited, and
front thence they proceeded to the extensive stores and harness-
rooms in a line with the wharf wall, and to the proving de-
partment, and from thence across the canal by a wicket-
gate into the Marshes, where Colonels Wylde and Blaakley,
who had the charge of the large gun batteries, were waiting to
receive them.
Richochet practice, under the command of Major Hope,
immediately commenced, and from the position occupied by
his Excellency and sans, within about 150 yards of the spot,
they had a fine view of the shot, as they fell with excellent
precision. A field battery, under the command of Colonel
Cleaveland, trotted up, and fired several rounds of round shot,
anti afterwards, at a shorter range, case and spherical shot of a
most destructive nature.
A detachment of the rocket-troop occupied a station at
about 650 yards distance, and the first discharge from ground-
rockets had a fine effect, entering the coal-box through the re-
presentation of a ship's side eighteen inches thick, and the iron
case, and setting the coals on fire within a few minutes; and
such was the intensity of the igniting materials, that the engine
from the arsenal was not able, by the discharge of water from
it to extinguish the flames, and it was found necessary to send
to the barracks for another engine before the fire could
be subdued. Several other discharges were made with
as many as twelve rockets at a time, and the practice to-
day was the best that had been witnessed for a long time.
The two Deuces from Syria were present during these prac-
tices, and the chief was introduced by Lord Bloomfield to his
Excellency. It was intended to fire:General Millar's 10-inch
gun and Colonel Dundas's 68-pountier, but the other practices
had occupied so much time that Major Andersen, who had she
charge of these large guns, received instructions to withdraw
their contents after they were loaded.
The distinguished visitors left the Marshes by the south gate
and again entered the Royal Arsenal at the east gate, and after
examining the saw-mill proceeded to the residence of Lord
Bloomfield, along with his staff, where they partook of an ele-
gant dejeumer. They afterwards visited the hospital and riding-
school, and then proceeded to the parade-ground, and were re-
ceived by the Royal Sappers and Miners, the 73d Regiment,
and Royal Marines, drawn up in line, headed by Lord Bloom-
field, as Commandant of the Garrison. His Excellency pro-
ceeded along the whole line in front and in rear, and appeared
delighted with the appearance of the troops. All the corps
then marched past at slow and quick time, the 73d Regiment,
headed by their commanding officer, Colonel J. F. Love, and
the Royal Marines by Lieutenant-Colonel Burton. The Royal
Sappers and Miners and the Royal Marines having marched
to their barracks. the 73d Regiment performed various evolu-
tions in an admirable and soldier-like manner, and with great
precision.
The brilliant cavalcade of officers who had by this time,
half-past three o'clock, assembled, including Major-Ge-
neral Sir Hugh D. Ross, Lieutenant-Colonel Turner, and
several others, presented a most imposing spectacle. owing
to the great variety of costumes on the field, and
as they gallopped to the mortar battery had a fine effect. The
practice with the howitzers and the mortars was excellent, and
many of the shots struck so near the fitie°,s'aff at 850 yards dis-
tance as to call forth cheers from the delighted concourse of
spectators who were gratified by being present. The gentle-
men cadets fired four of the howitzers one round each, and
made very good shots.
His Excellency then paid a short visit to the splendid mess.
room of the Ordnance corps, and afterwards visited the Reposi-
tory, where the d stinguished party remained nearly 'half an
hour. The Horse Artillery, consisting of three troops, having
been drawn up on the common, on the arrival of his Excellency
he examined them minutely, proceeding along their front and
in the rear. Practice immediately camsnenced, and the troops,
commanded by Colonel Dyneley, who also commanded the
Rocket Service in the Marshes, performed their exercises in
the best possible manner ever witnessed on any former occasion,
and to the entire satisfaction of Lord Bloomfield and his Excel-
lency. The day was beautiful, and everything was done so
admirab'y as to be gratifying to all part;es.
It is expected the King of Belgium will soon visit this country
and Woolwich, and it is to be hoped the public will have timely
notice of scenes of which they have just reason to be proud.