Up, and to St. James's Park, to see on the Parade Ground, the
Inspection, as usual upon the Queen's Birthday, appointed to be
celebrated beforehand this Day, of a Battalion of the Coldstream and
Grenadier Guards, and a Troop of the Royal Horse Guards they call the
Blues. Through a Friend at Court, got, with a choice Few, a good Place,
nigh the Sentry with the Colours, where he stood to keep the Ground, and
the Publique at a Distance, where I also wish always to keep yet pleased
to see them. The Troops reviewed by the Commander in Chief, Field
Marshal the DUKE of WELLINGTON, and with him the other Field Marshals,
Prince ALBERT and the DUKE of CAMBRIDGE, made Field Marshals I suppose
for the martial Deeds they would no doubt have done, if they had ever
had the chance in the Field. Field Marshal the PRINCE, the Colonel of
the Scots Fusiliers, and Field Marshal the Royal DUKE of the
Coldstream, and the great Field Marshal the DUKE of WELLINGTON, Colonel
of the Grenadier Guards. Besides the Field Marshals, at their Heels a
great Staff of Officers, of Lancers and Hussars, and the EARL of
CARDIGAN among them, looking mighty fierce. The DUKE of WELLINGTON at
their Head riding gently along inspecting his Regiment standing in their
big Caps of Bearskin, which do seem much too big for them though they
mostly six feet high, a mighty brave sight, yet a comical, as the men
stood shouldering Arms with their Heels together, and their Toes turned
out like the little Girls and Boys I did see dance at a Children's
Party. Glad to get so good a View as I had of the Duke, and wonderful to
see how well and firm he sits his horse, and he now fourscore-and-two
Years old, and to think what a great General he is and do look, and with
his Eagle Nose, very much resemble _Mr. Punch_. The Officers of the
Staff bestriding their Horses very gallant, and the Horses most noble
Animals and their prancing very pretty. Good Sport to see a Dragoon ride
keeping Order, flourish and point drawn Sword at a fat old Woman who
with a cotton Umbrella and Arms spread all abroad in Terror, run out of
his Way, and Policemen with their Staves closing in as it were to catch
the old Woman. Other Policemen rushing to and fro, help the Soldiers
keep the Ground, and the British Publique back, and beat back them that
would fain press too forward with their staves. Pleasant in a Place
where plenty of Elbow-Room, to behold the British Publique, around one
in the Midst the Likeness of JOHN BULL, perched on a Barrel, jostled one
against the other, push and scramble and tread upon one another's Toes,
and tumble topsy-turvy some of them and Head over Heels; when I had got
comfortable Standing in the meanwhile with a Dozen or so of the Better
Sort, and two or three Poodle and Terrier Dogs, in the Middle of the
Parade where the Troops were inspected, got in I suppose by Favour, like
me. But, good Lack, to think what playing at Soldiers now a holiday
Review like this do seem, and think at the same time what serious Work
the DUKE of WELLINGTON hath seen and done in his Day, which how many
seem to forget, and almost think him a Humbug, and if ever and how soon
we shall have the like to do again, and find another such a Man, to do
it.
[Illustration: _A PIC-NIC._