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Leader (1850-1860), 30th July 1853, Edition Town of 2, Page 726, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      CHRONICLES OF CHOBHAM . The energy of the commanders in exercising the troops , and the interest of the people in the whole experiment , seem uuabated . On Saturday , great crowds came from town to see the manoeuvres . The evolutions were novel and well done . , The ^ supposed enemy occupied a strong position * somewhat similar , to the centre of the allied forces at Waterloo , having Colonel Challoner ' s extensive plantation in their rear . They were dislodged from this position and driven through the woods , whence , obtaining some fresh accession of strength , they ultimately drove . back the attacking force , whose retreat was covered by- brilliant charges of cavalry .

      The retreat and fighting in the wood was an exceedingly interesting and animating sight for those who had the courage to enter the plantation in the ranks of the enemy . As they retired before the advancing tyrigade of Guards and the 35 th , every hedgerow and ditch was gallantly contested , the defenders lying down concealed , taking steady aim at the advancing forces , and affording no opportunity for being picked off by the other side . Still , however , in overwhelming numbers the resistless brigade of Guards pushed on till they arrived at a thickly-wooded fir plantation , where their red uniforms and tall

      bearskins , ill concealed by the bare fir poles , made them excellent marks for the enemy , who now secure in the tall ferns of an open space , skirted by the plantation , kept up a steady and destructive fire . At length the open space was reached by the Grenadiers , who , forming in line at its uppermost verge , poured tremendous volleys into the retiring foe . The artillery was brought up as near as possible to the edge of the wood , and to the loud and long reverberations of the musketry was added the deafening thunders of the well-served cannon , while , through the dense smoke that enveloped the wood , the lightning flashes of two thousand muskets revealed the Ions : martial front or the scattered ifiles

      of the camp forces * At length the firing slackened , and as the white wreathing smoke ascended as a curtain , the enemy were seen advancing , Und the forces , apparently so irresistible but a moment before , were scattered , and rapidly retracing their steps before the foe . On Monday and Tuesday , the troops rested . The manoeuvres , on Wednesday , had a classic ground for their pei'formance . Runnymede " saw another sight" than that of John and his barons . Close by Magna Charta Island , near a bend of the Thames , and in the park of Felix Prior , Esq ., were concealed a

      body of those " enemies , " whose bold deeds at Chobham have lately been so frequently recorded . These were dislodged from their position by the Chobhain division of the British army , which crossed the river upon a pontoon bridge , and having gained a complete victory , marched along the north bank of the Thames , across Staines-bridgc , and returned in martial order to their encampment . The attack was well conducted . The attacking party moved in throe divisions . With the exception of the 79 th Highlanders , the whole of Colonel Loclcyer ' s brigade bivouacked in the fields as a reserve force ; the cavalry also dismounted

      and rested their horses till occasion required their services . The appearance of Sir 11 . England's brigade , as it debouched from the woods on the top of the hill , and formed in the open fields on the slope , was grand and imposing , and attracted , as was expected , the attention of the enemy , who supposed that the whole of the forced were about to occupy thtit position and to make nn attack on their right . Aa booh as the light brigade had formed , tho heavy batteries emerged from the wood , and firing over the heads of tho infantry , made a strong demonstration on this part of tho enemy ' s forces . This attack was followed up by the light

      companies extending their front mid pressing on as skirmishers of the main body . While , howovor , this was going on , the enemy—whose experience of Lord Senton ' s tactics ought to have taught him better—concentrating his whole , attention upon his right , s \ nd wasting 1 his energies upon- a forces which was out of Inn range , allowed the Viith Highlander to bo pulled over tho river in " punts / ' and permitted tho Suppers to proceed with tho construction of a pontoon bridge over a narrow bend of the river , of about ono hundred foot in breadth , without firing a gun . Too lato tho enemy

      discovered his fatal mistake , and tho first intimation of this ultared' state of things was made in tho shapo of tho ndvnnco of tho gallant Highlanders , who unexpectedly poured in a tremendous lire upon \ x \ h right flanh-Stnggored , but not defeated , the enemy sternly rallied , and abandoning tho ground on tho right , boldly and resolutely attacked tho 7 i ) th , who fell buck to cover tho pasiHigo of tho river , which was also protected by tho Artillery on tho opposite bunk . Big with tho idea of driving tho Highlanders into tho river , tho enomy pressed on us if to usaured victory . Suddenly , und ut

      first apparently without cause , the enemy halted in his career ; a moment after , however , as the heads of the advancing column of the Grenadiers was seen emerging through the woods on the bank of the river , light dawned upon the hapless foe—he was completely entrapped , and the retreat of the Highlanders was but the snare which drew them to their fate . Still pressed on over the pontoon bridge the dreaded battalions of the Guards , who , as they deployed into line on the open space , poured in volley after volley on the all but discomfited Sappers and Fusiliers . Driven from one position to another , they at last endeavoured to make a stand on the side of a ditcb ^ Some batteries of artillery which had by this titt ^ fe crossed the river , were brought into play , and the enemy was ultimately driven into the shelter of the orchard , where they surrendered at discretion .

      Untitled Article

      The Blenheim was to leave Kingstown for bpithead on tho 26 th , and all other ships and vessels on the home station , in the above list , or not included , but which are ordered to join the Spithead fleet , are to be at their anchorage by the 2 nd of August . The above is a more powerful fleet in character than ever assembled at this station , and no review of any such force has ever been made by royalty since the visit of the Allied Sovereigns to Portsmouth , on which occasion the Prince Regent reviewed the fleet at Spithead ( on the 23 rd of Juno , 1814 ) , in their presence : — The ships of the line wero moored in one lino from the N . E . to the S . E . end of Spithead , thus : —Sceptre , 74 ; St . Domingo , 80 ; Bedford , 74 ; Rodney , 74 ; Chatham , 74 : Ville da Paris , 110 ; Impregnable , 08 ; Prince ,

      98 ; Tigre , 74 ; Queen , 74 ; Magnificent , 74 ; Stirling Castle , 74 ; Montagu , 74 ; Norge , 74 ; and the following frigates and sloops : —Andromache , AcJchar , Apollo , Galatea , Ceres , Belle Poule , Cerberus , Cleopatra , Magicienne , Tartarus , Amphion , Tisiphone , Foxhound , Banterer , Tyrian , Orestes , Archer , ICclipse , Bittern , Hope , Penguin , Chanticleer , Martial , Urgent , Harrier , Snap , Reynard , Sparrow , Freya , and Fervent . Tho Impregnable carried tho Royal Htandard of England , as that was the ship on board which tho Princo Regent und his foreign allies took up their position on tho interesting occasion . Tho Ville do Paris carried tho flag of tho Lord High Admiral . The Chatham carried tho flag ( union at tho main ) of tho Duko of Clarence us Admiral of the fleet for the occasion , Rear-Admiral i . ho

      Hon . If . I Hack wood noting as enptum of tho fleet , and Hoar-Admiral Lukin acting an the cuptnin of the ship . Tho Princa carried the flag of Admiral Sir It . Bickorton , Bart . Tho Rodney carried the flag of Vico-Admiral G . Martin . Tho Tit / re curried tho flng of Roar-Admiral T . B . Martin , now ' Sir T . B . Martin , Admiral of tho Fleet , and Vice-Adniind of tho United-Kingdom ; and tho Queen carried the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir T . Lafonoy , Bart . Tho Allied Sovereigns ( the Prince Regent , tho Emperor of RiiBsia , and tho King of PruHsin ) and tlioir illustrious suiteH , including tho Duko of Wellington , Bluchcr , and the other heroes of that

      memorable era , proceeded in barges to the westermnQ f ship of the line , and reviewed the whole up to thefC ship . The majestic appearance of the ships of the Ifa the first-rates especially , was at once the admirati * ' and wonder of the Allied Sovereigns . :. n The fleet at Spithead seems to engage as much atten tion from foreigners of distinction as does the camp at Chobham , It , has been visited lately -by the followinedistinguished personages : -7- Prince di . , Carini , the Neapolitan Ambassador , and suite ; General the Count de Mont ebello , General of Brigade and Aide-de-Canm to the Emperor of the French ; General Ozaroff , Aide . de-Camp to the Emperor of Russia , and staff ; Count Bernstorff and Baron Brandenstern , from Berlin-Commandant le Compte Reille , Colonel on the staff of the Emperor of the French ; Don Argel Villabois

      from Spain ; Colonel Laurencez ; Lady Langdale and party ; M . de Kleuze , Chamberlain to the King of Bavaria ; Count Perponser and party , Count Euzenbarg and party , M . Wasserburger , Captain Salvador , and Lieutenants Tole and Youzon , of the Swedish navy .

      Untitled Article

      LETTERS FROM PARIS . [ Fkoji our own Correspondent . ] Letteb LXXXIII . Paris , Thursday Evening , July 28 , 1353 , The great event of this week has been the decision of the Court of Cassation upon the affair of the Foreign Correspondents . Their decision quashes the judgment of the Court of Appeal , and completely nullifies the claim of the Government to violate the secrecy of letters entrusted to the Post . This has been the talk

      of all Paris . No one expected such an act of firmness from the Supreme Court—the public no more than the Government . The former is delighted to see the Government kicked by Justice ; the latter is proportionately vexed at what it naturally conceives to be a check to its pretensions , a diminution of the arbitrarypowers it had insolently arrogated . Let me give , . you the text of this memorable decision . " The Court of Cassation , considering that Art . 88 of the Code of Criminal Instruction , set forth in the sentence of the Imperial Court , confers upon the

      jvge d'instruction , and on him alone , the right of seizing letters at the post : that it confers this right upon the said Juge d'instruction , only in the case of misdemcanour ( delit ' j , and of such offence beingproved : that , consequently , the Prefect of Police , a magistrate dependent on the Government , and removable at pleasure , has no right to execute such seizure : that even if he had the right to seize , he ought only to have done so in the case of offence proved : that in the present case there was no offence proved before the opening of the letters Hfiizffd : that the accused had been condemned on the

      proofs resulting from the letters seized and opened that these proofs could not be produced : quashes and annuls the sentence of the Imperial Court : orders restitution of fines , and refers the case to an Imperial Court , which will be ulteriorly designed . " The Government , however , will not allow itself to be stultified in this way ; it will prosecute further . It is already reported that the Court of Amiens has been fixed upon for this purpose . The affair of the complot rouge as it is called , has ended in a condemnation . Felix Pyat , Caussidiere , Boichot , Avril , are sentenced ,

      in their absence , to ten years' imprisonment , and six thousand francs fine . Tho poor old woman who figured in tho trial on tho charge of having distributed seditious writings , is sentenced to six months' imprisonment and 100 francs fine . It was Jules Favro who conducted the defence , and he did so with all his peculiar verve and irony . " Tho law officers , " lie said , " have made of this widow , Libersallc , a principal agent of the Coni ' mune republicaine—they pretend that the members of the society hnvo been in tho habit of meeting at her house , and that she has co-operated in an active distribution of these ' Letters to tho French People . ' Now ,

      if wo boliovc tho indictment , there is 11 party conspiring against tho Government . What party is there bo abandoned by Gods and men us to establish its headquarters at an old fruit-woman ' s ? This really is too much of a joko . This old woman is ft respectable mother of a family—a woman full of dovotcdnoss to her duties , but who has never mixed in politics . Monsieur l'Avocat Imperial has tried to make out of this poor old soul of sixty tho Jonnno d'Arc of tho Comnwnc revolutionaire ; " but , a * tho ' certificates of respectable pei-Honsof her neighbourhood , who have known her for twenty years , will assure you , sho is simply a fruit-woman , wll < * liiis' never ceased to bo ' la fruiliere la plus frutlt ^" ( In mnnde' "

      Tho affair of tho Optra Comique w still undergoing examination . The examining magistrate has renounce his intention of seizing tho threads of tho vast conspiracy which , he pretends , enfolds all Parif , und nft *» thrown himself upon tho provinces . Divers per « on » have been arrested in four or five dopartmentfl . *

      Untitled Article

      THE FLEET . Theee seems to be now some authority attached to the report of her Majesty ' s intention to review the fleet at Spithead , and the 2 nd of August is the day at present fixed upon ; but the day will of course depend upon divers circumstances , such as the state of the weather , the Queen ' s health , and " foreign affairs . " Certain it is that the Duke -of Wellington was recalled to Spithead to form the principal feature in the display , and the following , we believe , will be the force collected for the purpose : —

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      ¦ k- ^ 01 Where at preiNames . Guns . Class . sent lying .

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      Duke of Wellington 131 Screw three-decker Cruising in the Channel . Neptune ... ... 121 Sailing three-decker Portsmouth-I havbour . "Waterloo 120 Ditto Sheerness . Queen ... ... | 116 Ditto Plymouth . St . Jean D'Acre ... 101 Screw two-decker Devonport . Agamemnon ... 91 Ditto Portsmouth . Prince Eegent ... 90 Sailing two-decker Spithead . London ... ... 90 Ditto S p ithead . Blenheim ... ... 60 Screw two-decker Kingstown . Hogue ... ... 60 Ditto Spitnead . Edinburgh 58 Ditto Spithead . Ajax ... ... ... 58 Ditto Spithead . Impe ' rieuse 50 Screw-frigftte Spithead . Arrogant 46- Ditto Spithead . Sybille ... ... 40 Sailing-frigate Plymouth . Amphion 3 < t Screw-frigate Spithead . Tribune 30 Ditto Sheerness . Sidon 22 Paddle-frigate Spithead . Highflyer 21 Screw-frigate Spithead . Terrible 21 Paddle-frigate Spithead . Odin 16 Ditto Spithead . Encounter 14 ScreAV-corvette In search of the Duke of Wellington . Leopard 12 Paddle-frigate \ Spithead . Desperate 8 Screw-corvette Portsmouth . Barracouta ... ... 6 Paddle-sloop Shoerness . Vesuvius 6 Ditto Spithead . Banshee 2 Express-boat Spithead .

      Untitled Article

      726 THE LEA PER . [ Sati ^ a ^ ¦

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 30, 1853, page 726, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1997/page/6/