On this page
-
Text (4)
-
774 THE LEADER. [Saturday,
-
THK CAMP. Saturday was memorable for a d...
-
OUR OWN EASTERN QUESTIONS. From the far ...
-
LETTERS FROM PARIS. [From our own Corres...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
The Nation's Fleet. The Mokning. All Tho...
trast which the sailing-vessels presented to their steamrivnls . The deeper we get committed to the mechanical influences gathering around us , the more do we seem to regret those splendours of the past which we can no longer retain . This was a universal feeling on Thursday as Admiral Fanshawe ' s squadron reared the \ fleet . The shrill whistle of the boatswain resDunded through the enemy ' s ships ; every man was at his post , and over the silence which now reigned among the thousands of spectators , and the throng of vessels , was heard the murmuring of some commanding voice in the enemy ' s ships . The ports of the Queen opened ,
a lurid glare flashed a moment from her broadside , white curling smoke followed , and then the report of one of her largest guns appeared to shake the very fleet io its centre . The report had not died away when the Agamemnon took up the awful thunder , and every vessel of the port division added the roar of its guns to the deafening cannonade . The rattling thunder ran along the line , traversing it , as it were , in a minute , and again beginning at the Other end , main and deck gunseighteens , and thirty-twos , and sixty-fours—hanging and thundering for nearly a quarter of an-hour without intermission . The deep bass of the 68 and 84-pounders , chiming in at intervals with the sharper roar of the lighter guns , could be readily distinguished , and
the observer could even note how these tremendous engines of destruction hurled forth a more projected and larger mass of flame and smoke into the wind's eye . Now the breeze for an instant" aside the shroud of battle cast , " and again the sun for a moment illuminated it , as though it had been a morning ' s mist . It was a most impressive sight to see , phantomlike , through the haze , the figures of the crews of the nearest guns , lugging and struggling at their \ vork > tearing at the tackles , ramming in the sponges , hoisting the mass with levers —all this lasting but for a moment , and then the shivering bang , which seemed to cleave the very ship . But these bangs came thick and three-fold , from bow to stern on both decks , and on bow and stern from fourteen other vessels of three and two . decks , and
heavy frigates . Along the whole line of battle , nearly three miles long , the cannonading was kept up for many minutes with a fury which it is quite impossible to convey any idea of in words . The expedition and facility with which the crews worked their guns in the midst of all this terrible hubbub was a subject of nearer and hardly less interesting observation than the general effect of the battle . The enemy had replied vigorously at the outset to the fire of the fleet , and this was sustained for some time ; but at last the Prince llegent , the Queen , and London began to slacken their lire . During the fight they had kept tip the firing with great spirit . The broadside of the Prince Regent was tremendous—for
regularity and rapidity she could not be excelled . She was followed by her consorts with an effective fire ; but all the roar of their guns was drowned in the crashing cannonade of the Duke , the Agamemnon , and the screw fleet , which vomited forth the fire of their batteries with uninterrupted energy for nearly a quarter of an hour , when the firing ceased and the enemy , maimed and wounded , and crippled , was understood to be defeated . The Amphion and the Admiral imitated the effects of an action most admirably by letting sheets and tucks fly , hauling their yards out of trim , and letting down the yards on the caps , the former particularly contributing to this picturesque effect with remarkable skill .
THE BETUBN HOME . The onomy being thus repulsed , it becamo necessary to chape , not him , but some imaginary 01101113 ' lurking in Spithead ; so the heads of the vessels wero put round , and the whole squadron started off homewards at the best of each ship ' s speed . Wind and tide favoured them , nnd the raco homo whs about the merriest proceeding of the day . Tlio fleot had been fairly out of sight of land ; but presently the high ground at the back of the Islo of Wight began to appear like a blue lino in tho horizon to the loft ; and then , in briof time afterwards , tho low lino of the Hampshire coast , stretching to tho right . Hereabouts tho fillips fell in with tho now returning fleet of yachts and
steamers , and it was all 0110 nice ngninat ono another . To ynchtmen a leading attraction in this part ; of tho review was furnished by tho performances of two bountiful foreign vessels went over to the Rydo Regatta —ono nn Ainorican , tho other a Swede , and both remnrknbly Bwift . Those kept up with tho squadron tho whole day , and accompanied it on its return to Spitliead . This return was made in tho order which each vhip could muin tmn by her Hailing' powers , the Duko of Wellington and tho Agamemnon , however , easily loading . It wub a line irregular raco buck to tho starting point of tho morning , tho otalwnrt and nmrtial-looking war vessels shouldering their way by nennv power through clouds of yachts nnd oteiunora . Far behind ,
under a press of canvas , came the gigantic sail-of-theline—distance and the declining sunlight giving somewhat of a spectral character to their movements .
THE GUN-BOAT BATTLE . At half-past six o ' clock the Admiral made signal for the boats of the squadron to attack an enemy to leeward . ( The hostile force was represented by the Magicienne and the Vulture steamers , which took up a position within a mile of the Southsea beach . ) The rapidity with which the huge launches were cleared away , raised over the side , and lowered into the water , must have surprised those who had not before witnessed the admirable perfection to which the boat service of our navy has been brought . In a few minutes each vessel had its launch floating by its side , a xarronade ( a short , serviceable gun , of heavy metal ) on its slide in the bow , and then poured into her its stream of
seamen , marines , and marine artillery . With 24 oars , double-banked , the marines seated aft , the officer in command standing bdlt-up in the stern sheets , with the yoke lines in his hand , and the jack floating from the tall flag-staff in the stern , each boat was a beautiful object in itself , and formed an engine of war , ^ so to speak , by no means despicable , having all the appliances of attack , defence , and retreat concentrated in a very short compass . A few minutes more , and the words " Give way" sent from the sides of the squadron a flotilla of enormous force and power . The boats might be seen advancing with great velocity from the line of ships , swept along by the long , powerful pull of the stalwart oarsmen , and converging as they advanced in two divisions—one for each of the devoted enemy .
In an instant more the line of boats vomited forth a flood of fire and smoke . The carronades of the launches , served with great . quickness , sounded a rolling bass of thunder to the smart sharp rattle of the musketry ; and the irregular nature of the firing , at one time bursting into a simultaneous roar as the metal of boats and ships spoke in awful unison together , and now subsiding into the discharge of a single gun , diversified the tumult of the uproar , Still more launches kept coming from the fleet , and opened fire as they formed their divisions , the marines all loading and firing as if for life , and the sailors pulling with-the regularity of machinery , till a loud ringing cheer—such a joyous burst of exultation that one might imagine the gallant fellows had won a new Trafalgar- —proclaimed their victory over the enemy , and the firing was over .
THE ENDING . As the wind slowly rolled the clouds to leeward of the flotilla , bringing into view boat after boat and the hulls of the steamers , the coup d ' ceil was one which no language cau convey , for it was instinct with motion , teeming with energetic life . The boats were returning to their respective ships , from which the signal of recall had been hoisted , or with oara aloft were lying-to off the late " enemy ; " on the white beach at Southaea , as far as the eye could reach , thousands of people were gathered in full enjoyment of the spectacle ; every height—every hillock—tho fortifications , the tops of houses—any and
every place , in fact , from which a view of Spithead could be had , were black with a swarm of human beings On tho other side , with the aid of a glass , it could bo perceived that tho whole population had poured down to tho shores of the Islo of Wight , and the pier at Rydo and tho hills towards the seaside were covered with men , women , and children . Tho well-known form of their Sovereign was seen on the deck of her floating palace ; and gentlemanly yachts vailed their topsails ns they camo near , and ungentlemanly ones stood too close in and becume objects of universal abhorrence , for tho timo being , to many
thousands of people . Far away to the cast a thick black background of coal smoke , left behind by the steamers , rested on the horizon , and brought out in fine relief tho snowy canvas of tho hundreds of yachts which were stealing up to their moorings . Tho slower steamers and men-of-war , with company on board , camo hustling through them , each with n long dark trail in the air behind it , and , in tho centre of tho picture , Admiral Fnnshnwo ' s squadron , with every stitch of canvas that could bo set , except studding sails , boro down majestically in line between tho port and starboard divisions of its late assailants . Thus endod this Great Exhibition of the nation ' s fleet .
774 The Leader. [Saturday,
774 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
Thk Camp. Saturday Was Memorable For A D...
THK CAMP . Saturday was memorable for a disgraceful failure . It won intended to blow up a redoubt by means of gunpowder , fired through nn electric who , but tho font could not bo done , and the old-fashioned port fires had to bo used . Tho Queen witnessed tho failure . Tho railway arrangements on tho Bamo day wero very defective ; passengers from London were harassed and delayed . On Monday , tho army " changed kings / ' and fought
their battles over again with fresh success . The Duke of Cambridge was entrusted with the command of the whole division , for the purpose of a grand field day . The fact of the Duke being a most able and active cavalry officer naturally led to the opinion that the movements of that branch of the service would constitute the great feature of theday . While , however , the brigade of cavalry was kept well up to its work , the infantry and artillery
were also fully employed , and upon no occasion was there a more brilliant field day , or one upon which the movements of the day were more equally distributed over the whole division . The enemy , consisting of the usual forces under Colonel Vicars , occupied a concealed position near Burrows-hill , the superior force occupying Flutters-hill and the ground in its neighbourhood . After some most lively manoeuvres the troops returned to the camp , having been under arms more than five
hours . A novelty in the proceedings of Wednesday consisted in the enemy being supplied with two pieces of artillery , which worked with the small force during the day , and gave additional effect to the proceedings . The camp forces were formed with their right resting on the open space opposite Higham Lodge , the present residence of Lord Seaton j the enemy occupied some heights in the immediate vicinity , having the camp in his rear . The whole of the forces were actively employed in driving the enemy from his position ; and having compelled him to seek shelter in the redoubt partially blown up on Saturday last , at length , drove him from it by the advances of the infantry . The Duchess of Kent and the Duchess of Cambridge were
present . It is stated that the camp will break up after the last field-day , which will take place on Thursday next . The two following days , the 19 th and 20 th , will be occupied by the removal of the troops .
Our Own Eastern Questions. From The Far ...
OUR OWN EASTERN QUESTIONS . From the far East we have news of moment , briefly told by the telegraph . , The King of Ava has become more ¦ submissive ; he lias issued orders that the British troops are not to bo molested ; that . Meandel and Tounghou are to remain in our possession , and has released all the prisoners , but will not yet sign a treaty . ( This news is dated the 22 nd of June , fifty days ago . ) There has been a sad and great shipwreck in the Indian seas . The Arab ship Faze Kareem , on her passage from Aden to Bombay , with the Bombay portion of the India mail which left London on the 24 th June , foundered at sea twenty mileB from Aden . The mails , consisting of sixty-eight boxes , were lost , and 179 out of 190 Arabs and Lascars who were on board , and Mr . Nankins , in charge of the mails , perished . From Australia , more gold and much distress make up the intelligence . The Legislative Council of New South Wales has appointed a committee often to prepare the new constitution . The produce of the Victoria gold fields is increasing . There in great destitution among the newly arrived emigrants at Melbourne . Rents are at extravagantly high prices . Tho American steamer Monumental City was wrecked on her passage from Port Philip to Sydney ; thirty-five persons perished . Price of gold at Sydney had risen to 31 . 16 s . per ounce .
The China quarrel may bo one of our own questions in a short time . Tho latest news was , that tho Imperialist army in China was preparing to retake Amoy , but without much chnnco of success . The rebel army was within four days' march from Nankin . Canton has not yet been attacked .
Letters From Paris. [From Our Own Corres...
LETTERS FROM PARIS . [ From our own Correspondent . ] Letter LXXXV . Paris , Thursday Evening , August 11 , 1853 . The wholo interest of this week has centered in the announcement of lust Sunday ' s Moniteur , that tho Czar had accepted tho note of tho Four Powers . A lightning etroke fulling suddenly in tho midst of a vnsfc assembly could scarcely have created a surprise more startling than this . No ono looked for trach a denouement . After nil tho preparations and tho aggressive acts nnd demonstrations of the Czar , tho mere sequence of facts meant war , ami in Franco wo had begun to
make- up our minds to that event . Tho Bourso itself , yielding to tho general movement , had declared steadily for a fall . Sunday last upset all these calculations in a moment , and on Monday tho Threo-per-Conts jumped up thrco francHnnd a half in no time . Nevertheless , thoro was no scarcity of unbelievers . A greater number than might have boon supposed refused , and » t » H refuso , to attuch belief to the words of tho Moniteur . They protend that on tho 5 th iiist . the Emperor of RiiHHia hud not received tho proportions eman ating from tho Conference of Vienna . It is in fact understood that tho Czar only knows , or , rather , only then know * of tho first of these propositions , which was despatched
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 13, 1853, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_13081853/page/6/
-