Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Royal Volunteer Review At Edinburgh, 25th August, 1881.
little colour in the dense masses that occupied every available vising ground , that one conld think of nothing they were like but huge swarms of bees sticking to a branch . By-and-by , when the rain set in , the effect of the many thousand umbrellas close set together was somewhat comical . No one seemed to dream of retreating , if , indeed , that were possible ; but there , in the face of what proved a pitiless storm of rainmenwomenand children patiently stood
, , , watching and waiting . The First Division is meanwhile getting slowly into position on the Parade-ground , immediately in front of us , ancl as regiment after regiment marched up , the blue ancl scarlet uniforms make a pleasing contrast and brilliant foreground to the black masses on the hill behind . . The brigades were drawn up in open columns of companies ancl extended on two sides of the squarethe commanding officers in frontthe whole division being under the
, , command of Major-General Sir Archibald Alison , K . C . B . The leading brigades in each division were composed of artillery corps . Away to the right , under Salisbury Crags , we could see large bodies of troops still pouring into the Park , but before three o ' clock the whole of the divisions were in thenplaces ( the second and third being formed in deeper columns than the first ) . The view then from the hill above must have been very fine , although the
continuous rain was blurring sadly the gay picture , which extended nearly a mile in length . Presently a body in strange costume appears by the Palace garden . It is the Royal Body Guard of Scottish Archers , with their ancient dress ancl arms—the uniform , green ancl gold , and the weapons the long ash bow ancl arrows . Commanded by the Duke of Bnccleuch , and composed of noblemen and gentlemen of Scotland , they were fitly stationed near the royal standard on this , as on all such occasions . Meanwhile the Grand Stand has rapidly
filled , and under its shelter the ladies are able to show more variety in costume than the less fortunate spectators on the hill . The rain continues to increase , and everyone feels that the sooner the business of the clay is got over the better for everybody . But a royal review cannot be done hurriedly or otherwise than by plan and precedent . At length the signal is given by flagthat Her Majesty has left the Palace , and immediately a battery of the Royal
Artillery , stationed on the eastern flank of Arthur ' s Seat , fires a royal salute of twenty-one guns , while the royal standard is hoisted at the saluting base , all amid the loud cheers of the waiting multitudes . The mounted volunteers , three small corps , have been drawn up near Holyrood , and are first inspected , after which the Queen , accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge and staff , proceeded up the valley to the extreme left of the linewhere the rear brigade of the
, Third Division was stationed , under Salisbury Crags . The royal carriage was then turned , ancl Her Majesty drove slowly down in front of the troops , receiving the usual salute as she passed each brigade . The pent-up enthusiasm of the volunteers found relief in ringing cheers , which were sent after Her Majesty , and mingled with the abundant demonstrations of loyalty from the crowd on
the hill . From our point of view , the approach of the Queen was heralded b y the sudden display of myriads of pocket handkerchiefs , which li ghted up the dark masses of spectators in a curious way . Driving on to the Parade-ground , Her Majesty completed the inspection by proceeding in front of the First Division to the extreme right of the line . She seemed in capital health ancl spirits , and , wrapped up in a dark waterproof , made very little use of the
umbrella which she bravel y held up all the way . As she drove past the Grand Stand she acknowledged most graciously the cheers of its occupants , and gave her loyal subjects a good opportunity of seeing their Sovereign , and of admirinoher pluck and good nature . The rain was now pitiless in its severity , and the Parade Ground was fast becoming a frightful puddle . The Volunteer Cavalry having taken up position on the ri ght were now ready to lead the army for the march past . The Fife Li ght Horse , in scarlet uniform , led by Colonel A . Thompson , hacl the honour of first passing Her Majesty , followed by two small corps from Forfar and Roxburghshires in grey .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Royal Volunteer Review At Edinburgh, 25th August, 1881.
little colour in the dense masses that occupied every available vising ground , that one conld think of nothing they were like but huge swarms of bees sticking to a branch . By-and-by , when the rain set in , the effect of the many thousand umbrellas close set together was somewhat comical . No one seemed to dream of retreating , if , indeed , that were possible ; but there , in the face of what proved a pitiless storm of rainmenwomenand children patiently stood
, , , watching and waiting . The First Division is meanwhile getting slowly into position on the Parade-ground , immediately in front of us , ancl as regiment after regiment marched up , the blue ancl scarlet uniforms make a pleasing contrast and brilliant foreground to the black masses on the hill behind . . The brigades were drawn up in open columns of companies ancl extended on two sides of the squarethe commanding officers in frontthe whole division being under the
, , command of Major-General Sir Archibald Alison , K . C . B . The leading brigades in each division were composed of artillery corps . Away to the right , under Salisbury Crags , we could see large bodies of troops still pouring into the Park , but before three o ' clock the whole of the divisions were in thenplaces ( the second and third being formed in deeper columns than the first ) . The view then from the hill above must have been very fine , although the
continuous rain was blurring sadly the gay picture , which extended nearly a mile in length . Presently a body in strange costume appears by the Palace garden . It is the Royal Body Guard of Scottish Archers , with their ancient dress ancl arms—the uniform , green ancl gold , and the weapons the long ash bow ancl arrows . Commanded by the Duke of Bnccleuch , and composed of noblemen and gentlemen of Scotland , they were fitly stationed near the royal standard on this , as on all such occasions . Meanwhile the Grand Stand has rapidly
filled , and under its shelter the ladies are able to show more variety in costume than the less fortunate spectators on the hill . The rain continues to increase , and everyone feels that the sooner the business of the clay is got over the better for everybody . But a royal review cannot be done hurriedly or otherwise than by plan and precedent . At length the signal is given by flagthat Her Majesty has left the Palace , and immediately a battery of the Royal
Artillery , stationed on the eastern flank of Arthur ' s Seat , fires a royal salute of twenty-one guns , while the royal standard is hoisted at the saluting base , all amid the loud cheers of the waiting multitudes . The mounted volunteers , three small corps , have been drawn up near Holyrood , and are first inspected , after which the Queen , accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge and staff , proceeded up the valley to the extreme left of the linewhere the rear brigade of the
, Third Division was stationed , under Salisbury Crags . The royal carriage was then turned , ancl Her Majesty drove slowly down in front of the troops , receiving the usual salute as she passed each brigade . The pent-up enthusiasm of the volunteers found relief in ringing cheers , which were sent after Her Majesty , and mingled with the abundant demonstrations of loyalty from the crowd on
the hill . From our point of view , the approach of the Queen was heralded b y the sudden display of myriads of pocket handkerchiefs , which li ghted up the dark masses of spectators in a curious way . Driving on to the Parade-ground , Her Majesty completed the inspection by proceeding in front of the First Division to the extreme right of the line . She seemed in capital health ancl spirits , and , wrapped up in a dark waterproof , made very little use of the
umbrella which she bravel y held up all the way . As she drove past the Grand Stand she acknowledged most graciously the cheers of its occupants , and gave her loyal subjects a good opportunity of seeing their Sovereign , and of admirinoher pluck and good nature . The rain was now pitiless in its severity , and the Parade Ground was fast becoming a frightful puddle . The Volunteer Cavalry having taken up position on the ri ght were now ready to lead the army for the march past . The Fife Li ght Horse , in scarlet uniform , led by Colonel A . Thompson , hacl the honour of first passing Her Majesty , followed by two small corps from Forfar and Roxburghshires in grey .