Cold, however, was soon forgotten in the animation and interest of the scene. Even before the troops had formed their line there was much to amuse the observer in the fast increasing throng of idlers. Those English otficers, of various arms and departments, whom duty did not call out or keep in, flocked in huudi-eds to witness the first review of a larger number of British troops than has been held for forty years. I should think very few were absent whom duty or illness did not detain m camp, and one officer, the Hon. Percy Fieldhig, still suffering from a severe accident which occurred to him some weeks ago, was driven to the ground in a cart. There were a great many artillery oflacers, a very few of cavahy, a multitude of commissariat and medical officers, Army Works Corps, &c., some in full dress, some in undress, many in nondescript attire.
The foreigners also mustered in great strength. There was every variety of French and Sarduiian military costume, and even the Spanish uniforai was there, to augment the motley of the gathering, four officers of that nation being attached to the French head-quarters. Marshal Pelissier came on the ground in his carriage and four, by which is not to be understood a handsome vehicle and showy team, with well-kept harness and neat postillions — but a very rough, nearly paintless, Crimean-looking drag, with harness partly of rope, horses that match the carriage as regards roughness, and soldiers in artillery saddles, on the near wheeler and leader. The Marshal is somewhat obese, and not much of an equestrian, and he rarely crosses a horse. His little escort of Chasseurs contrasted with the English Hussars who followed Sir William Codrington and kept the ground, and many of wliom, as regarded both men and horses, needed only some slight changes in uniform and equipment to become extremely heavy cavalry.
Mai-shal Pelissier alighted from his carriage, and took his station at the foot of a hillock, opposite the centre of the line, of the whole of which he then commanded a good view. The array of the troops was nearly completed Avheu a shell, sent in their direction, was seen to burst high in the aii' above the valley of the Tchernaya. Our Russian friends politely informed us that they were present and attentive, reckoning that we should see their messenger, though they could not expect him to reach us. The line was formed of continuous columns of companies, that is to say, it was eight companies or sixteen rank and file deep, with intervals of six paces between each regiment. Its face was towards the Russian positions beyond the valley.
On the right were the Guards and the other regiments forming the Krst Division; then came the Highlanders; then the Second, Thii-d, and Foiu'th; and finally the Light Division. Do^vn this imposing and massive line, brilliant with scarlet and fringed with steel. General Codringtou rode, followed by his staff and by a large number of English and foreign officers. Hussar sentries at first attempted to keep mere spectators at a certain distance from the front of the ai-my, but, amidst the perplexing variety of costumes, it was impossible for them to tell T\^ho had or who had not a right to join the General's cortege, and soon the whole mass of horsemen swept after him down the line. When the inspection was completed, he took up his station in front, and to the right of the knoll where Marshal Pelissier was posted, and the troops marched past in open column, each General of Division posting himself beside General Codi-ington during its passage.
As soon as the band of each brigade arrived opposite the General it faced to the left, cleared the line of march, fronted, and played until its brigade had completely gone by, when it followed in rear, and its place was taken by the next band. These bands were formed by au amalgamation of the regimental bands, and some of them played veiy well, but generally speaking their music was iUchosen and bad. The Guards came by, of course with their own favourite tune, the British Grenadiers; the pipes of the Highlanders squaked, squealed, and droned forth that strange combination of sounds so dear to Scotch ears, and so discordant to those of Saxon or Gaul; and one brigade played Partant pour la Sj/rie, in compliment to Marshal Pelissier and the French present.