358

REVIEW OF THE VOLUNTEERS.

CHAPTER II.

A.D. 1803 to 1805.

NEVER, since the reign of Elizabeth, did Britain exhibit a more glorious spectacle than on the morning of Wednesday, the 26th of October, 1803; when the King reviewed the London district of volunteers in Hyde Park.

As soon as light appeared, the greater part of the population was on foot, impelled by curiosity to witness the brilliant scene. At seven o'clock, several of the corps entered the Park; and by eight, all stood assembled in close column of companies, each on its proper ground. Soon after nine, a signal-gun announced the arrival of the Commander-in-Chief, who entered from Hyde Park Corner, with the Duke of Cambridge and their aides-de-camp. The Duke of Cumberland, in the uniform of his regiment of light dragoons, soon followed. It was not quite ten, when his Majesty, in his private carriage, attended by the Duke of Kent in his uniform as general, and the Duke of Clarence in the uniform of the Teddington Association, entered the Park at Kensington gate.

Here the King alighted from his carriage, and mounted his charger. His Majesty then rode forward, preceded by the life guards, and the royal grooms, with four led horses, richly caparisoned. His Majesty was accompanied by the Princes, and followed by the Queen, with the Princesses Augusta and Elizabeth, in one open landau,

and Sophia and Mary in another. Opposite the entrance to Kensington Gardens, his Majesty was met by the Duke of York, and the whole of the staff. As the procession advanced, it was joined by Monsieur, the Prince de Condé, the Duke de Bourbon, and the Duke de Berri, all on horseback, and in the ancient French uniforms. Several of the noblesse, and General Dumourier, were in their train. The cavalcade, which was closed by a party of the 13th light dragoons, passed rapidly along the carriage road from Kensington Gate as far as the rear of the barracks, where it turned, and crossed to the right of the line by the bottom of the Serpentine river. As soon as his Majesty entered the Park, a royal salute of twenty-one guns was fired by the artillery company. A second cannon announced his Majesty's arrival at the centre of the line. The officers saluted, the corps presented arms, and the bands played "God save the King." Immediately afterwards, a third cannon was fired, when the corps shouldered, and then supported arms. His Majesty now proceeded to the right of the line, each corps carrying arms as he passed. The grandest part of the spectacle was when the King descended the hill to repass, at the bottom of the Serpentine, to the corps on the left, stationed along the footway to Kensington Gardens, with their front towards the water. By this time, the fog, which had hitherto dimmed the splendour of the scene, was dispelled in some degree, so that the whole procession, as well as the military line, became conspicuous. The ground in the rear of the royal train was covered with elegantly dressed females, and other spectators. His Majesty having passed to the extremity of the line, returned again by the Serpentine, and took his position in the centre. Then, at signal, three vol

leys were fired by battalions from the centre to the flanks, and, at another signal, three loud and universal cheers were given, while the drums beat, and the music played the national tune of "God save the King." At the firing of the ninth gun, the whole of the corps wheeled round by divisions, and, having passed his Majesty in order, proceeded to their respective quarters.

The review being over by half past one, the royal party, with the foreign princes and generals, returned from the centre of the park to Piccadilly gate, and thence to Buckingham House, followed all the way by an immense crowd. Being no longer restrained by the military employed in keeping the lines, the people ran in all directions to have a view of the Sovereign. The air resounded with shouts wherever he passed, and his Majesty shewed his sense of their loyal affection, by pulling off his hat, and other marks of feeling. Among the persons who attracted particular notice in the Park, was the Mameluke chief, Elfi Bey. He was in a carriage accompanied by an interpreter and his aid-de-camp, with a train of servants dressed in scarlet and gold. whole number of spectators, on this occasion, could not have been less than two hundred thousand. Many came to town from a distance of one hundred miles, to enjoy the exhilarating sight. The volunteers, reviewed this day, consisted of more than twelve thousand.

The

On Friday, a similar exhibition took place in the review of the Westminster, Lambeth, and Southwark volunteers. So great was the anxiety in some corps, that the majority of the men never laid down during the preceding night, the whole of which was spent in preparation. At six o'clock the men were mustered at their respective drill-grounds; but so great a fog came

on, that at half-past seven not a single object could be seen in the Park; and several of the corps would have passed the gate, had they not been stopped by a party of the life guards stationed to guard the entrance. The eager expectation which ushered in the morning, now changed to apprehension. The houses, scaffolds, and vehicles prepared for the accommodation of spectators, dropped their prices, and would have fallen lower, had not the fog fortunately begun to clear up about half-past eight; when the day assumed a more cheerful aspect, and the people again assembled in still greater numbers than on Wednesday.

The same regulations to maintain order were observed, as those which were adopted on that day. The Park was shut up all night, and the gates were not opened for the admission of the populace until eight o'clock, at which time the corps began to arrive. From that hour until ten, the crowd at Piccadilly Gate was so great, that the pressure became alarming; and many persons, it was feared, would be crushed or trampled to death, in the immense tide which endeavoured to force through the side passages, the only ones for admission. Under these circumstances, the police officers ventured to open the main gates, and by that means prevented the dreaded evil. As each corps entered, the guards shouldered arms; and as the colours passed, arms were presented. The King arrived at Knightsbridge barracks, from Kew, about ten, accompanied by her Majesty and the Princesses. Soon after, the royal party entered the Park, preceded by a troop of horse, and attended by the Dukes of York, Clarence, and Cumberland. The fog now began to disperse, and the sight became truly magnificent, as the cavalcade could be seen passing the lines, the whole of

362

THE PRINCE OF WALES.

which was formed into companies, to the extent of three quarters of a mile. The evolutions were as on the former day, and did equal credit to the volunteers and their officers. The multitude was beyond conception great, particularly females; and it seemed as if the whole non-military population of the metropolis had come forward in honour of their defenders.

On the following day, the Commander-in-chief issued general orders, saying that he had received the King's command to convey to the several volunteer and associated corps, which were reviewed in Hyde Park on the 26th and 28th instant, his Majesty's highest approbation of their appearance, which equalled his utmost expectation.

The corps reviewed the second day were more than fourteen thousand men. All Britain displayed the same spirit; and the number, thus voluntarily enrolled for the national defence, fell little short of half a million.

It was remarked as very extraordinary, that at neither of these splendid and interesting occasions did the Prince of Wales make his appearance. The reason, if it may be called such, was afterwards explained, in the publication of a correspondence that had taken place during the summer, between his Royal Highness and Mr. Addington, and next between the Prince, the King, and the Duke of York.

The Prince demanded, as of right, and a sense of duty, a high military command, suited to his station; but the King refused his consent, and said, "that His Royal Highness would, if the enemy landed, have an opportunity of showing his zeal at the head of his regiment.” This answer, so far from satisfying, displeased the Prince to such a degree, that he renewed his complaint, and his