Review On Hounslow-Heath.
The Times, 1824-07-08T00:00:00

* u Pursuance of a general order iis-ud by bi3sRoyal fliglanesa the Cotnmfander-inCXhiefon the 3dinst., a grand reviewofcevah.ytoo'k placcyesferdayon' Honnslow.heath. Eorsomedays previosly, moto the regiments intended to be reviewed were quartered in tievarious towns and villages in the neighbourl-ood of the heath; and other necessary arranfements were also made. The 8t' Hussars, under the con3nand oflLieutenant-Colonel Westenra, (a regiment but very recently reEumed from India) wereordered to keep the ground, as. sisted by onesquadron of the2iaDrsgoonGuaras,and thedetachmente at the riding establishments. Atcordiegiyde seo earlyas 6 o'dlok in the mominr,onetroopof the8th assembleastiiege ound,end theremain. derof te troops to keepthe gtundis Ime an mmmense namber ofspecttrst`bigan to arrive, and the road lead. ing frora town was lined as far as the eye could see *vith equestrians and e9uipages of all kinds, but principally of the must dashing de. scripton. By ten o'clock there was not room for a sinjile carrage to squeeze into the front along tho lines, in either direction * ad by eleven, there were ten or twelve deep nsearly all the way. Amongst them were to be seen the equipages of ah the nobility and per. sons of rank atpresent in the -metropolis or is vicinity, exhibitn1., as may be imagined, a bright display of beauty and of fashion. the rear of the carriages a number ot' tents were nitched, which, coupl'd with the view of the troopxsgave to the heath at a little dis- tance, the apnearance of anilitary encampment-an illusion, how- ever, which was dissipated upon a nearer approarb, by discerninr the unmartial exhibition-boo'hs with which they were associated. The troops reviewed weredivided into aeuirassier, and a lightbrigade, andabrig,de of artillery. The cuirassiec brigade wasconnmmanded bv Col. Lygon, and consisted of the 1st and 2d regiments of Life Guards, mI d the Royal Regiment of Horse Geiard6.- The light brigade, un der the command of Colonel Lord Charles Manners, was composed of the ld (King's own) Light Dragoons, the 7th (Queen's own) Hassars, and the 15th (Sing's) Husrars. The brigade of artillery consisted of three troops, under the crmnand of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Augustus Fraser. The whole of the division was under the command of Major-General Lord Edward SomerseL Shortly after eleven o'clock-, a royal salute from the artiller announced the arrival of the Commander-in Chief. His Royal lighness was dressed in the full uniform of a Field-Marshak, and was surrounded by a brilliant staff, and several other officers of rank, amongst whoisv were the Duke of WeUington, Earl Catheart, tho Earl of Harrington, Sir Harry Calvart, the Marquis of Conynghara, Sir Ehilgrove Turner, Sir J. I4aoleod, Sir H. Tavlor, Sir H. Torrens, Sir J. W. Gordon, &c. It was stated that the Duke of Glocester, Prince Leopold, and the M?arquis of Anglesea, were also present, but we did not observe them. Upon coming on the ground, the Duke of Wellington, who was in blue uniform, rode for- ward at full gallop, to place himself at the head of his regi- innn (the Royal Horse (iuardas) At this time the division was drawn up in line, and the Commander-in.Chief rode down the front, followed by a grand' military cortege, and returned by the rear to his station Qpposite the centre of the line. The brigadesthen passed in parade by half squadrons, filed past, cantered past, and subseq4tently formed in contiguous coltumns of mvrch. Ef was im- possible to conceivea finer appearance than they presented,although tle pleasure of beholdingso interesting a s^ene was materially di-ui. nished by the heavy rain which had continued to fall (, was the case uipon a similar occasion last year> during the whole tirne from the pried when the Commander.inXChief came upon the ground. his Royal Highness, howcycr, remained undoaked, and although therain drift unmereifUlly in his face, he continued to "'bide the pelting of the pitiless storm" until it was all over. As soon as the btrijga es had performQd these evolutions, they then went through the follow'ing MOVEMENTS AND ATTACKS. 1. The division on its march, descried an enemy on its flank, and took a position in two lines to attack. 2. The Light Brigade attacked, supported by the CJairassiers and guns. The defeated enemy were pursued, anJd cannonaded. 3. The division retired to Tesume its march, but the enemy re-ap- pearing and threatening the left flank, that flank was refaced, and ultimately thrown back. 4. The Cuirassiers attacked, supported by the artillery and the Light Brigade in Se&ond Line. 5. The division again retired on its line of march, when an alarm of an enemy being given on its right flank,that flank was thrown back. 3. The Cuirassier Brigade attacked by echellon of regiments from the left, supported by the Light Arigade in line, and the artillery. 7. The division retired but on It retreat theenemy showred abody of cavolry on the left; that Ranlk was thrown back, and a position for attack was taken. 8. The division advanced, but the cavalry of the enemy having unmasked a body of infantry behind its centre, a new disposition wgas made. 5.The division moved ontoattack,halted,and detached pursuers. 10. The pursuers were recalled, and the Light Brigade retired into second line, 11. The division, lastly, took close columns of brigades, de- ployed into general Une of parade, and gave the general salute. '^ he whole ofthese movements were executed with a degree ofpre- cision, notwithstandingtheslippery state ofthe ground from the wet, which excited universal admiration,andreceived the unualiflied ap- probatioRoftheCess1ander.in.Chief. Ittwouldbe dificultto ima. gine any thing ex-ept,perhaps, an actual field of battle, more inter- esting to the feelings of the spectators, than thae view of the troops when performing some of the attaeks; one brigade charging at full gallop, the other supporting them in the rear, the roaring of te artillery in the flanks; the irregular discharge of carbines by the pursuerst the sounding of trumpets, and the neighing of steeds -all combined in forcing upon the mind a powerfil idea of a scene of real warfare. When the last movement was completed, the rain ceased; but not before the splendid appointments of the officers, particularly of the 8th Hussars, who wore tbeirs for the first time, were materiaUly daroaged by the mud and wet. The Duke of York left the ground, accompanied as before, and re- turned to town, where his Royal Highness immediately changed his wet clothes. It is painful to state that a fatal acci- dent occurred in the early part of the day. Just at the com- mencement of the attacks, a gentleman was riing across the ground, when tbe discharge of artillery frightened his horae. The animal became unmanageable, and running away at a furious rate, threw his rider, who, coming upon his head, was killed on the spot. A sargoon was imnmediately procured, but thte unfortunate geRtleman was dead before he arrived. Afew falls took place amongst the dra- goons, owing to the state of the ground; but we heard of no other accident of a serious nature. A great deal of contention for prece- dence took place along the way home amongst the coachmen, in con- sequence of the immense number of carriages there wcere; many of which had reached town before others were able to clear the heath. The 8th Hussars ani 17th Lancers will be reviewed by the Corn mander-in-chief on Friday next, I . ''_tIE svE HO O N9W-E