Grand Reviews in 1660-1661-1668, 1682-1695-1699--Camps in
1715-1716-1722--Poem on the latter--Reviews in 1755-1759-1760.
A few weeks before the restoration of Charles II. Hyde Park was the
scene of a very grand review, which is thus described in _The
Parliamentary Intelligencer_, April 23-30, 1660. “On Tuesday, April 24,
the Militia forces of the City Trained Bands and Auxiliaries, according
to an Order of the council, marched into Hide-Park, the Maior in his
Collar of S’s, with the Mace, Sword, Cap of Maintenance, the Aldermen in
Scarlet, and the Commissioners of the Militia in handsome equipage going
before them to a place erected for their entertainment. Each _Colonel_
had his Tent and their Regiments very full, several of the Nobility and
Gentry of great quality going as Volunteers. In Alderman _Robinson’s_
Regiment were 250, the rest very many. The Regiments were all so
numerous and so gallantly accoutred, as did sufficiently speak the
strength and riches of the City, there being very little visible
difference betwixt the Trained Bands and Auxiliaries, but only in their
age.”
Strype, in his Continuation of Stow’s Survey, tells us that at this
review there were six Regiments of Trained Bands, six of Auxiliaries,
and one Regiment of Horse. The twelve Regiments of Foot consisted of 80
Companies, and each Company consisted of not less than 250 men--which
would give a total of 18,000 men; and the Regiment of Horse numbered
600.
On March 21, 1661, there was a parade in Hyde Park of 400 archers, and,
on Sept. 27, 1662, Charles II. here reviewed his Life Guards. The 4th
July, 1663, saw another muster of the King’s Guards, which Pepys, who
was present, thus records:--“Thence with Creed to hire a coach to carry
us to Hyde Parke to-day, there being a general muster of the King’s
Guards, horse and foot; but they demand so high, that I, spying Mr.
Cutler, the merchant, did take notice of him, and he, going into his
coach, and telling me that he was going to the muster, I asked, and went
along with him; where a goodly sight to see so many fine horses and
officers, and the King, Duke and others came a-horse-back, and the two
Queens in the Queene-Mother’s coach, My Lady Castlemaine not being
there. After a long time being there, I light, and walk to the place
where the King, Duke, etc. did stand to see the horse and foot march by,
and discharge their guns, to show a French Marquisse (for whom this
muster was caused,) the goodness of our firemen, which, indeed, was very
good, though not without a slip now and then; and one broadside close to
our coach we had going out of the Park, even to the nearnesse as to be
ready to burn our hairs. Yet, methought, all these gay men are not the
Soldiers that must do the King’s business, it being such as these that
lost the old King all he had, and were beat by the most ordinary fellows
that could be.”
We have seen how, in the year of the Great Plague, the Guards were
encamped in Hyde Park, and how miserably some of them died there: and it
does not seem to have been again used for military display till Sept.
16, 1668, which Pepys saw. “When I come to St. James’s I find the Duke
of York gone with the King to see the muster of the Guards in Hyde Park;
and their Colonel, the Duke of Monmouth to take his command this day, of
the King’s Life Guard, by surrender of my Lord Gerard. So I took a
hackney coach, and saw it all; and, indeed, it was mighty noble, and
their firing mighty fine, and the Duke of Monmouth in mighty rich
clothes; but the well ordering of the men I understand not.” Evelyn,
also, speaks of these reviews.
On Jan. 28, 1682, the Guards were again reviewed in Hyde Park, this time
for the gratification, and in honour of the Ambassadors of the Sultan of
Morocco, whose followers afterwards performed a _fantasia_, after the
manner of their country. Queen Mary reviewed troops in the Park on the
9th and 10th of May, 1692, and there was a very grand parade of troops
previous to their departure for Flanders on Dec. 23, 1695. _The London
Post_, Nov. 8-10, 1699, says that on Nov. 9 “The King reviewed the 3
Troops of Guards in Hide-Park. They appeared all in their new Cloaths,
and fine accoutrements, with Feathers in their Hats, and made an
extraordinary show. His Majesty rid through every Rank, and was very
well pleased to see them in so good an Appearance; after which, he
placed himself on the left of the Front, till the whole marched by him
in File; then they took their ground again, and afterwards were ordered
to pass Man by Man before his Majesty; and a detachment was made out of
all the 3 Troops, for His Majesty’s Guards, who attended His Majesty to
Kensington. There was an incredible Crowd in the Park to see the Show,
some computing that there could not be less than 10,000 People, and 600
Coaches.”
In 1715, King George I. being newly set upon the throne, there were
Jacobite riots in many parts of England, and, in July of that year, a
camp was formed in Hyde Park, for the protection of London, of a very
strong body of troops, together with twelve pieces of artillery. The
camp occupied the site of the Exhibition of 1851, and, according to the
_St. James’s Evening Post_, July 23-26, 1715, “The three Battalions of
Foot Guards on 23rd July marched to their Encampment in Hyde Park, and
the Horse and Grenadier Guards took their Post there next day, and the
Regiment of the Duke of Argyle is expected there this day.” The same
paper says that “This Day His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales went to
view the Camp in Hyde Park.” In the copy for July 30-Aug. 2 we read that
on the anniversary of the King’s accession, Aug. 1, “There were likewise
Rejoycings in the Camp at Hyde Park, where the King’s and other loyal
healths were drank by the Officer and Soldiers, and a Discharge was made
of their Artillery and Small-Arms. The first Regiment of Guards received
their new cloathing, and made a very fine appearance.” The King, on Aug.
8th, “went to Kensington, view’d the Camp on his way, and return’d at
Night to St. James’s.” _The Flying Post, or The Postmaster_, Nov. 1-3,
1715, gives an account of the celebration of the birthday of the Prince
of Wales (Oct. 30) in the camp. It says: “It was solemnized with
extraordinary Demonstrations of Joy, the Army being wonderfully pleas’d
with his Royal Highness, because he inherits the Military, as well as
the other Virtues of his Royal Father and other Great Ancestors. His
Grace the Duke of Montague signaliz’d his Bounty on that Occasion, by
giving an Ox to his Troop, which was roasted whole at the head of the
Standard. His Grace gave them, likewise, 50 lbs. weight of Pudding, a
Hogshead of Wine, and 2 of Strong Beer, with which they drank the
Healths of His Majesty, their Highnesses the Prince and Princess, and of
their Royal Issue, with those of the Dukes of Marlborough and Montague,
and other loyal Healths. They had, also, Illuminations in Circles,
throughout the Camp, and there were incredible Numbers of People, who
came to see those Novelties, without committing any Disorder.”
Another newspaper, the _St. James’s Evening Post_, Nov. 1-3, 1715,
supplements this account thus: “After the triple Salvo of the Artillery
and Small Arms that was made in the Evening, Col. Oughton, one of the
Grooms of His Royal Highness’s Bed Chamber, and Major of the first
Regiment of Guards, invited all the Foot Officers to an Entertainment in
his Tent; and, that the Soldiers might Share in the Universal Joy on
this Occasion, distributed a Guinea per Company among the private Men,
to drink the Prince’s Health, etc., which they did with repeated Huzzahs
and Acclamations of Joy, under great illuminated Circles erected for
that purpose at the head of every Company.” The same paper, of Dec.
10-13, tells us that on Dec. 10, “the Army decamped from Hyde Park, and
the Artillery, etc., were sent back to the Tower.”
There was another camp in the Park next year, when the Prince of Wales
reviewed the troops, and yet another in 1722, of which _The Daily Post_
of May 9 records: “Yesterday, all the Foot Guards that were not upon
duty, march’d to the Camp mark’d out in Hide Park; his Majesty and Royal
Highness view’d them from the Terrass Walk in the Privy Garden at St.
James’s as they passed by.” Every newspaper of the day had an account of
the Royal Review of the troops in camp on June 11, 1722, but the best
was in _The Flying Post_, June 12-14. “The Forces which were review’d by
the King last Monday in Hyde Park, were only the three Regiments of Foot
Guards, the Horse being to be review’d another time. His Majesty having
rode round the three Regiments, the first of which was on the Right, the
Second on the Left (the Posts of Honour), and the Scots Regiment in the
center; his Majesty made a stand, afterwards, near the Ring, the Prince
at some small distance from him, where all the Regiments passed by in
review, Earl Cadogan standing on his Right, and General Withers on his
Left, with each his half-pike.
“His Majesty and his Royal Highness, after having dined in one of the
Earl of Cadogan’s tents, went into another, which Prince Eugene took
from the Prime Vizier of the Turks, who presented it to the Duke of
Marlborough, who afterwards made a present of it to my Lord Cadogan.
There was an appearance of about sixty Dukes and other Peers, besides
abundance of other persons of distinction, particularly the Bishop of
Durham, who was finely mounted, in a lay habit of purple,[43] with
jack-boots, and hat cock’d, and black wig ty’d behind him, like a
militant officer. But, above all, the eyes of the numerous spectators
were on his Majesty, whom they admired for that graceful, easy mien with
which he sat on horseback and returned the salutes of the officers, and
for the wonderful agility with which he dismounted.”
This camp was so famous, that there was a long poem published about
it,[44] of which I extract some short portions, as it brings the place,
its times and manners, very vividly before us.
“Before the Camp, the Cannon find a Place,
(Ready to stare the Enemy in the Face,)
Mounted, Charg’d, Prim’d, and all things _Toujours Prêt_,
To give the daring Rebels an _Arrêt_.
Where watchfull Centinells stand (full of Ire,)
With Match or Halberts, ready to give Fire.
The Warning-Piece, too, stands not far before,
Whose harsh Report is watch’d by many a Score,
Not only of Drums and Trumpets, for _Tattou_,
But of the Mobb, who come to see this Show:
And gaping, stand in Crowds on either side,
And, in the Firing it, take a mighty Pride.
Behind, are plac’d the _Powder-Carriages_,
The Cannon’s necessary Equipages;
T’ th’ Right is Pitch’d the Master-Gunner’s Tent,
Set out with Match, for Use, or Ornament.
Facing the Front, are set the Quarter Guard,
To give th’ Alarm, in case they shou’d be scar’d.
Whose constant Watch, for some strange Enterprize}
Does (tho’ the Rest are all at play) suffice,}
And takes away all fear of a Surprise.}
The Right and the Left wings, are form’d by th’ Horse,
And in the centre, stand the Foot, of course.
The Field-Colours, each Squadron’s Ground mark out,
The Gay _Bell-tents_ are plac’d before the Foot;
In Gaudy Line, they’re ranged along the Plain,
To keep their Arms from Rust, by Dew or Rain.
At either regiments Head of Horse are rear’d,
Their several Standards, with their careful Guard:
Betwixt the Horse, are stretched the _Picket Ropes_,
Where the Horses stand, to fill their Hungry Chops;
Some of which sure, find Provender but scanty,
They look so near akin to _Rosinante_.
I’ th’ Rear, (and that, indeed’s, the fittest for ’em,)
Are plac’d the Officers, in nice Decorum.
* * * * *
Their airy Tents are sprucely Neat and Clean,
And all is there disposed with a _Bonne Mine_,
Each strives to shew his Genius to be _Brilliant_,
In the Composure of his gay Pavillion.
The spacious Avenue that leads to th’ Door,
Is with red Gravel (rolled) all cover’d o’er;
A Grassy Turf each Walk emborders round,
And greatly beautifies the golden Ground;
In various Forms their Fancies are exprest,
One Walk, on either side, with Flowers is drest:
Another entrench’d, some strew’d with Cockle-Shells,
(And each think, doubtless, that his own excels.)
While others, who’re, perhaps, more negligent,
Have nought but rugged Earth before their Tent.
The noble H----’s Pavilion’s in the Centre,
A Guard is at the Door, that none should enter
But whom he bids, and lest it be expos’d,
With platted Boughs ’tis all round enclosed:
So thick they stand, so loftily they rise,
Secure he’s kept from view of Vulgar Eyes.
“The Tops o’ th’ Tents and Borders differ too,
Some are adorn’d with Red, and some with Blue;
This, has its flaming Swords, and that, its Arms,
And each the Eye with various Figures charms.
But leave we this, my Muse, and let’s begin,
To shew what Furniture’s contain’d within.
(Lest they take Cold) Some boarded are all o’er, }
Others have only Two, that lead to th’ Door, }
But most have painted Cloths[45] upon the Floor. }
Facing the Entrance is set up the Bed,
Of what’s lik’d best, of Green, or Blue, or Red:
Some, too, are lac’d, some wrought, others are plain,
And, from the Bed, there is a kind of Train,
Of the same sort, stretch’d out on either side, }
Which Masters’ and the Valets’ Rooms divide, }
And does the necessary Lumber hide. }
* * * * *
The Table and the Chairs are some o’ th’ rest,
Set to accommodate th’ expected Guest;
Near the Bed, hangs (in a convenient Place,) }
That necessary Utensil, the Looking Glass, }
Where Mr. _Smart_ may see his Monkey Face. }
But, hold, let not the Tea-Table be forgot,
O’er which they hold many a luscious Chat,
With Generous She’s; and make a _Prose Lampoon_,
(By way of Dialogue) upon half the Town.
An useful Copper Kitchin stands just by, }
From whence whene’er the Tea-pot’s almost dry, }
Of Boiling Water they’ve a fresh Supply.” }
In 1755, the King several times reviewed his Light Horse Cavalry in Hyde
Park. _Read’s Weekly Journal_ tells us how on 17th July, 1759, “the
regiment of Norfolk Militia march’d to Kensington, where His Majesty
stood under the Piazza in front of the Palace, and saw them file off in
ranks of eight deep; the Earl of Orford, Colonel, march’d at the head of
the first battalion, with drums beating and fifes playing; the second
battalion had Sir Armine Woodhouse, Bart., Lieut.-Col., at their head,
and were look’d on as a fine corps. His Majesty seem’d greatly pleas’d
with their appearance. Their uniform is scarlet turn’d up with black.
They march’d on Kingston, and other towns contiguous, on their way to
Portsmouth.” Walpole, in his letters (19th July, 1759), says, “The
crowds in Hyde Park, when the King reviewed them, were unimaginable.”
On 20th November, 1760, George II. held his last review in Hyde Park,
for he died suddenly on the 26th. The following account of it is given
in _Read’s Weekly Journal_, of 25th November. “Exactly at a quarter
before ten, at the review of Colonel Burgoyne’s regiment of Light Horse,
in Hyde Park, his Majesty entered the grand pavillion or tent, erected
under the garden wall, where were likewise present their Royal
Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke of York, Princess
Augusta, and some other of the young princes and princesses; Lord
Viscount Ligonier, Lord Anson, and a great number of other noblemen,
etc. As soon as his Majesty entered the pavillion, the whole regiment,
before they began their exercise, passed before him, four in a rank;
after which they all dismounted, and drew up before the tent. His
Majesty expressed the greatest satisfaction at seeing their manner of
exercising, and retired at half-past ten; there were near 20,000
spectators present. As soon as the review was over, some pieces of a new
construction, and of a globular form, were set on fire, which occasioned
such a smoke, as to render all persons within a considerable distance
invisible, and thereby, the better enabled, in time of action, to secure
a retreat.”
[Illustration]
[Illustration]