CHAPTER XXVII.
ON AND ABOUT THE RACE-COURSE.
Royalty had scarcely taken up its abode in Brighton, when, according to the Racing Calendar, in 1783, racing commenced its career on the eastern down, better known as White Hawk Down, Brighton. The sports were principally amongst the officers of the Militia Regiments which were then quartered in the town, and they received the patronage of the Prince of Wales. Beyond the authority of the "Oldest Inhabitant," transmitted orally, there is no account of the extent, formation, or the tenure of the course. It is understood to have been about two miles in length, and to have occupied, as at present, the horse shoe shaped ridge of the hill, and was defined, on sufferance, by the clearing away of the furze.
The Race Ground proper consists of 105 acres and 30 perches, over which the right of pasturage has become vested in the Marquis of Bristol, by purchase from Mr. Thomas Read Kemp, who bought it for 780, subject to public rights, as the erection thereon, by the inhabitants, of booths and stalls for the accommodation and recreation of the public during the races. The Course is two miles in length, and what is known as the New Course is one mile long. The counterpart of an alleged lease was in the possession of Mr. Thomas Attree, Queen's Park, bearing date June 24th, 1796, purporting to be a demise of the Race Stand to various inhabitants,--all of whom are now deceased,--for 99 years, at the annual rent of one guinea. The counterpart came into the possession of Mr. Attree in 1822, many years prior to which no rent had been paid or demanded, and no lease could ever be discovered. On the 2nd July, 1846, a committee of the Town Commissioners were informed by Mr. Attree that he claimed the Stand for himself and others who had subscribed 400 for its erection, in eighteen shares, whereof he held nine, and that the sum still remained a charge upon the building; but he offered to sell the Stand for 400 to the Race Committee. The Committee considering that no valid lease was in existence,--inasmuch as in deeds, dated 1822, and to which Mr Attree was a party; whereby the Race Stand was specially granted, no allusion whatever was made to a lease or other incumbrance,--declined the offer. They furthermore considered that the debt alleged to be due and charged thereon ought long since to have been liquidated from the proceeds of the letting, and that the inhabitants beneficially interested therein were exonerated from such debt, charge, or encumbrance.
In 1849 a new Race Committee was formed, and their first step was to purchase the Stand, giving for it, to the surviving shareholders, Mr. T. Attree, Mr. H. Blackman, and Mr. Tamplin, the sum of 360, the London, Brighton, and South-Coast Railway Company liberally presenting to the Committee 100 towards the amount, independent of their annual subscription to the Race Fund of 200. The following six gentlemen also came forward as Trustees: Mr. Alderman Burrows, Mr. Alderman Martin, Mr. Robert Williams, Mr. H. F. Stocken, Mr. Lewis Slight, and Mr. Lewis Slight, jun., and the shabby wooden building, erected in 1798, gave place to the present commodious and handsome structure, the design of Mr. Allan Stickney, the Town Surveyor, at a cost of 5,000, the whole of which has been discharged by the Race Committee, who have likewise increased the public money from 350 given in 1848, to nearly 2,000 annually.
The old Race Stand, built in 1803, succeeded the first building, which was erected in 1788, and destroyed by fire on the 23rd of August, 1796. The fire arose in consequence of the carelessness of the family who had been permitted to occupy the building. Notwithstanding the unfortunate occurrence took place about mid-day, it was distinctly seen at a distance of upwards of thirty miles. Many people from various parts of the county, some on horseback, and some on foot, entered the town during the succeeding night and day, to make enquiries respecting it, as apprehensions prevailed that the enemy had made a descent on that part of the coast, and was evincing his love for the natives by setting fire to their dwellings.
A singular incident occurred during the fire: An officer of the Prince's regiment, attracted to the spot by the volumes of flame and smoke, was reviewing the terrific encroachments of the devouring element, when a cat, dreadfully singed and terrified, sprung through the blaze, and alighted on his shoulders. The officer, somewhat surprised, at first endeavoured to shake her off; but poor puss, firmly fixing her claws in his jacket, was not so easily got rid of. Perceiving, then, her reluctance to leave him, he at length humanely determined, that as she had, in the moment of danger and fear, flown to him for protection, she should accompany him to the Barracks, where she was well taken care of by her new master and his comrades.
A curious circumstance took place on the morning of the Races, August 4th, 1805. The farmer who rented the race ground having explained to the Jockey Club that he had not received the usual compliment of the fourth of a pipe of wine for the previous season, threatened to plough up the course if he was not paid what he conceived to be his due. Accordingly, he set his plough to work, but a press-gang appearing in sight, his ploughman fled, and resigned the course to the gentlemen of the turf, the farmer the while declaring that he would not be jockeyed out of his wine, as he would have a sort of a race for it in Westminster Hall. The cause, however, never came off.
The support given to the Brighton Races by the Prince of Wales and those immediately about him, made the meeting amongst the nobility quite a national feature, as the _elite_ of the turf were always in attendance, and a gaiety prevailed that no other place could boast of. The course was thronged with equestrians and the fashionable equipages of the day, barouches and four, driven by lords and baronets. Conspicuous amongst them was His Royal Highness on his German Waggon--as his barouche was called,--driving his six bays, with Townsend, of Bow Street, as his companion, as well to protect the Prince from insult as from robbery. But it was a position which gave His Royal Highness an opportunity to practise upon his guardian a somewhat unpleasant joke. Turning suddenly towards Townsend, just at the termination of a race, he exclaimed, "By Jove, Townsend, I've been robbed; I had with me some damson tarts, but they are now gone." "Gone?" said Townsend, rising, "impossible!" "Yes," rejoined the Prince, "and you are the purloiner," at the same time taking from the seat whereon the officer had been sitting, the crushed crust of the asserted missing tarts, and adding, "This is a sad blot upon your reputation as a vigilant officer." "Rather, say your Royal Highness, a sad stain upon my escutcheon," added Townsend, raising the gilt buttoned tails of his blue coat and exhibiting the fruit-stained seat of his nankeen inexpressibles.
The Brighton Races are now held on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday following the Goodwood meeting. Thursday is devoted to the racing of the Brighton Race Club, established in 1850. Formerly they were either on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, as shown by the calendar of the Brighton Races, July 28th, 30th, and 31st, 1804, now in the possession of Mr. Alderman Martin; or, as in 1810, on Friday, Saturday, and Monday, August 3rd, 4th, and 6th, when two races a day took place, distinguished in their time of running by "Before Dinner," and "After Dinner." The arrangement of the days was to admit of a fair, termed "White Hawk Fair," being held on the east down on the intervening Sunday. It has now been abolished about forty years. The _Morning Herald_, Sunday, August 2nd, 1807, makes the following mention of this fair:--
White Hawk Fair, as it is termed, has attracted much company to the Race Down to-day, though but few individuals of fashionable note were to be seen in the throng.
Connected with this Down is the
LEGEND OF THE WHITE HAWK LADY.
Less than half a century since, the remnant of a moss-covered unhewn stone marked the spot in Ovingdean churchyard, where, as gossips then said, were deposited the remains of Margaret Ladrone, probably a name conferred on her from the pilfering propensities of the gipsies, a tribe to which she belonged, though she was familiarly spoken of as "Mag Lade," a sybil or fortune-teller of her day, whose visits to Ovingdean were annual in the month of August, on the occasion of White Hawk Fair, a holiday gathering on White Hawk Down, at which the rustics were wont to learn their fate of the wise woman, as she was termed by the unmarried who would know the future through the vista of happiness; but the old crone or witch, by those whose stern thought attributed all the mishaps that befel either themselves or their substance to the influence of an evil one, with whom she was proclaimed to be in league. At other periods of the year she practised her vocation in various places throughout the county, so that she had a regular circuit, through the course of which the burning fervour of youth hailed her advent with earnest anticipations, equalled only by the dread entertained by mature age, that blight and murrain were her attendants. It happened on one occasion, the date whereof is immaterial, that Editha Elmore, the only daughter of the rich squire of Woodingdean, while intent on the palmistry of Mag,--whose hand she had crossed with a broad silver piece,--by chance cast her eyes upon the form of a dark young man of goodly mien, the very type of him whom the gipsey prophetess essayed to be her future husband. In the next country-dance he was her partner, and also the envy of one who, from their childhood, had been her companion, and was looked upon by the parents of each as her intended bridegroom. The festivities of the day closed; the dark stranger bade her adieu; the villagers returned to their homes; and ere the shades of night had gathered over the Downs, not a vestige was left of the scene which had been one of general festivity. Ralph Mascall, the son of the farmer at the Grange, Ovingdean, as had been his custom from a child, accompanied the fair Editha to Woodingdean, where he received the accustomed welcome of her parents; and, before midnight, he was on his way homewards somewhat disturbed in mind that he had a rival. His visits, however, to Squire Elmore's were not the less frequent; nor did the affection shown towards him by Editha in the least appear to wane. And so another year passed on, and the annual festival again arrived. There again was Mag, whom Editha sought once more, to learn her destiny. The Fates had not altered their decree; and there, as twelve months since he stood, was the dark comely stranger. The very type of previous years were the proceedings of the day; the same homely village simplicity, the jocund song, the rustic dance, the same potations of home-brewed and cider; the same greetings, the same partings. Somewhat later than was considered within the bounds of prudence, the handmaid of Editha, accompanied by Giles, her lover, approached the wicket that opened on the lawn before Squire Elmore's mansion, where she was met by the dark stranger of the Fair, who, tendering her a golden coin,--by way of hush money,--bade her convey to her young mistress a note of delicate proportions. Promise of secrecy was exacted; the parting kiss was exchanged between the blushing Abigail and Giles; and the latter accepting the companionship of the stranger, the two bent their steps to Rottingdean, where the honest rustic returned to his home. Where the stranger rested for the night has never transpired. Early the following morning Mag was at the mansion, the domestics of which, anxious to learn how they were ruled by the stars, parted freely with their silver pieces. The Abigail of the previous night's adventure was particularly anxious to learn her destiny; and the truth which was essayed of her Giles, his age, his complexion, his temper, and his prospects, gave full assurance of the marvellousness of Mag's divining skill, to which the fair Editha, with whom she also had an interview, gave implicit credence. Four-and-twenty hours, however, wrought a great change at the mansion, and likewise in the hamlet of Ovingdean. A more than usual oppression and sultriness pervaded the atmosphere throughout the day, and towards nightfall the war of elements commenced, the sharp flashes of lightning increasing in vividness, the artillery of the heavens roaring in awful solemnity, and the massive clouds discharging their drenching cataracts. Such a night had never been previously known in the neighbourhood; and every person anxiously waited the coming dawn to learn the havoc of the dreadful storm. The inmates of the mansion were early stirring, and, much sooner than usual, Mr. and Mrs. Elmore were at breakfast. But they had not been long seated when they were informed that Miss Editha could nowhere be found, and that by the appearance of her bed-chamber she had not retired to rest during the night. The note which had been delivered by the stranger, and was then lying on the dressing table, appointing a midnight interview upon the Downs, was all that could be found to account for her absence. The most diligent search of the premises and the plantation contiguous was immediately made, and a dispatch without delay was sent off to Ovingdean, in the hopes that tidings might be heard of her there; but all was fruitless. Previous, however, to the news reaching that village, upon passing by the church, the sexton discovered, in the south-west corner of the burial ground, the charred remains of a female, which, upon examination of the dress about them, were declared to be those of old Margaret Ladrone. At the place were they were found, there in the course of the day, were they interred, without any funeral rites, and the stone, before referred to, was placed over them to mark the spot. The dark stranger was never afterwards seen.
The story continues, that, every stormy night after, the figure of a lady in white paced the White Hawk Down, and that always on the morning after the figure was seen, a foot-print, cloven like that of an ox, was found at the same particular spot. The _Morning Herald_, of July 17th, 1807, has the following:--"Brighton.--A few days ago were dug up upon the slope of the Downs to the north-east of this place, the bones of a woman, which, from their position, clearly evinced that they had been deposited there many years before, without ceremony. A singular rumour is now afloat of a young person having been ravished and murdered there, by a person of unsuspected character." It may be proper to add that since the finding of these bones the White Hawk Lady has not walked abroad. The Elmore and the Mascall families, after the mysterious disappearance of Editha, removed to Brighton; but it is a very singular fact that the name of Lade is now very common at Ovingdean, it being even that of the Sexton of the parish, who is a descendant of Sir John Lade, spoken of in the last Chapter. As, however, the church register dates back only as far as the year 1700, the genealogy of the family, even if it did come through Old Mag, cannot be more remotely traced.
The death of the Earl of Egremont, who was a great patron of the Brighton sports long after Royalty had abandoned contending on the course, was a severe blow to Brighton Races; added to which, the Duke of Richmond, a warm supporter of the turf, withdrew his influence in favour of Goodwood. Year by year the Races waned, with the prospect of an early dissolution, which, on the withdrawal of the Queen's Plate, in 1849, seemed inevitable. Persons, it is true, continued, as of yore, to journey in from the country to witness them, but there was a continual falling off in the attendance of the aristocracy, and a rage for gambling of a most pernicious character, in thimble-rig, roulette, Brunswick lottery, prick-in-the-garter, &c., having set in, the townspeople with-held the subscriptions which they had been accustomed to grant pretty freely to the races, as they found that instead of having an equivalent for their money in sport, they were only paying a premium for the encouragement and dissemination of vice. Eventually, legislation put a stop to the nefarious proceedings of the gamblers; and, in the very nick of time, the great modern civilizer, the railway, was inducted from London, to give an impetus to the prosperity of the town, which had perceptibly declined when the Queen gave a preference over Brighton to the Isle of Wight, for a marine retreat. The Railway was the turning medium for the resuscitation of the Brighton Races, and the new Race Committee promptly and successfully availed themselves of it, as it opened the prospect of a new class of supporters, in the inhabitants of the metropolis, who were by it within two hours' distance of the course.
At various periods since 1783, when troops were first stationed at Brighton,--in consequence of the Pavilion becoming a Royal residence,--reviews and sham fights of the military have taken place on the Downs contiguous to the Race Course, the spot being admirably adapted for army tactics. The troops upon such occasions have been generally of the line and the militia regiments quartered at the several Infantry Barracks in the town, and at the Cavalry Barracks on the Lewes Road, other regiments at Ringmer, Lewes, and East Blatchington marching in to take part in the evolutions. The Cavalry Barracks were completed in 1795. In 1801 a range of stables was erected, for the reception of 400 horses, immediately in front of the main buildings, and abutting on the east boundary wall contiguous to the Lewes Road; but in 1818 these stables were removed, and the spacious grounds were thrown open to public view. The fives-court, between the wings, in the centre of the back court-yard, was erected in 1810, by the officers of the Prince of Wales's Regiment, the 10th Royal Hussars.
The modern grand military features of the Race Hill have been the sham fights of the Volunteers, and known as the Battle of Ovingdean, Easter Monday, April 1st, 1861, under Lord Ranelagh; and the Battle of White Hawk Down, Easter Monday, April 21st, 1862, under Lord Clyde; both great successes, and affording proofs of the valuable services and admirable efficiency of this noble auxiliary of England's military power. The force present on the first occasion numbered between 7,000 and 8,000 men, thus brigaded:--
ARTILLERY BRIGADE.--Colonel Estridge, commanding. 1st Battalion Brighton Artillery, 4th Cinque Ports, 2nd Hants, and 2nd Sussex.
FIRST BRIGADE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.--Lieutenant Colonel Faunce, commanding; Captain Deedes, Brigade Major. 1st Battalion--Colonel M'Leod, 1st Middlesex Engineers; 32nd Middlesex (Guards). 2nd Battalion--Major Atherley, 2nd South Middlesex. 3rd Battalion--Capt. Ives, 11th Middlesex, (St. George's), 36th Middlesex (Paddington).
SECOND BRIGADE.--Lord Radstock, commanding; Captain Chitty, Brigade Major. 1st Battalion--9th West Middlesex, 2nd Middlesex (A.B.) 2nd Battalion--Colonel Money, 6th Tower Hamlets; 4th Tower Hamlets; 7th Middlesex (Islington). 3rd Battalion--Colonel Colville, 39th Middlesex (Finsbury); Kent Rifles, (Captain Jackson), 4th, 13th, 17th, 21st, and 34th.
THIRD BRIGADE.--Colonel Moorsom, commanding; Major Panton, Brigade Major. 1st Battalion--3rd Sussex (Administrative Battalion). 2nd Battalion--1st Cinque Ports. 3rd Battalion--2nd Sussex (Administrative Battalion).
FOURTH BRIGADE.--Colonel Vallancey, commanding; Major Deedes, Brigade Major. 1st Battalion--Colonel Couran, 1st Hants (Administrative Battalion), Winchester; 3rd Hants (Administrative Battalion); 6th Hants. 2nd Battalion--Major Roupell, 19th Surrey (Lambeth); 10th Surrey (Bermondsey). 3rd Battalion--Sir H. Fletcher, 2nd Surrey (Administrative Battalion); 20th Surrey (Norwood).
RESERVE.--3rd City of London; Brighton Cadets; 11th Tower Hamlets.
The troops were formed in battalions on the Level, from whence they marched by way of Marine Parade, and by the County Hospital to the summit of the hill on the right of the Race Course, along which, past the Grand Stand, they marched in review, before Major General Sir James Scarlett and his staff.
Upon the crown of this hill, during the wars with Napoleon, stood a signal-house and telegraph semaphore communicating along the coast with similar stations at Seaford and Shoreham, and forming a link in the important chain of signals which was in use between Portsmouth and Dover. There is very little doubt, that about that locality at a much earlier date than sporting records hand down to us, racing of some description took place, the Town Book having the following entry:--
Memorandum, that on ye 7th of November, 1713, Henry May, Esq., paid us a half-penny acknowledgmt for carrying the Corpes of his father Sr Richard May, deceased, through the Laine, commonly called the Hilly Laine, from the place were formerly stood a Race post, to the town of Brighthelmston, it being noe high or Common Road, we Say red the Same for sufferance, Per us
RICHARD MASTERS, SIMON WISDEN. JOHN GOLD.
The payment was doubtless exacted under the erroneous notion that the unobstructed conveyance of a corpse gave the public a right to the way or road along which the body was borne; and it is the generally received opinion that the right of road by the footpath or bridle-way from Blatchington, by way of Watts's Laundry to the road on Church Hill, was obtained by a corpse having been conveyed from Blatchington for burial in the church-yard of St. Nicholas, Brighton.
The several corps engaged in the Review having passed up the Course took up heir first position on the ridge of heights overlooking Brighton, and afterwards formed an extended line on the crest of one of the hills running inland and parallel with the race-hill. This long line of about a mile in length was supported by four guns on the extreme left. At the time of commencing operations the furze on the side of the hill was, either by design or accident, set on fire. Huge volumes of smoke rose from the burning gorse, and as the line opened and kept up a heavy firing for some time, the imaginative spectators on the distant eminence might suppose that some quiet hamlet had been set on fire, either by the enemy or by the brave defenders of their hearths and homes. After some very heavy file-firing from right of companies, and two or three well-delivered volleys, the line fell back, protected in its retreat by the guns in position. The enemy was supposed to have followed them, but, like the Spanish fleet, they could not be seen, because they were not in sight. Lord Ranelagh's force was too small to admit of division into two forces; but even had it been larger, it is doubtful whether a Volunteer enemy would submit to be beaten according to orders, with so much cheerfulness, and with so much steadiness, as is the case with the regulars on the field-days of Aldershot and elsewhere. The retreating force next deployed towards the sea, the action became more general, and several battalions were moved up in support of the line. There were more rattles of musketry, and more volleys, and then, wearied out with the persistence of the enemy, two brigades, forming the right, charged down on the enemy's left and drove them over hill and dale. The unseen and flying enemy, however, got some imaginary reinforcements, and returned to the attack and retrieved their laurels. The gallant brigadiers led back their unwilling, but not disheartened men on the left wing; then the centre fell back, and the right, unable to stand alone, followed the example. Lord Ranelagh's eye instantly saw the cloud of dust which told of the approach of horsemen. Quick as lightning there went forth the command--"Form square to receive cavalry," and the order was promptly obeyed; and had there been any cavalry, they would no doubt have been very warmly and heartily received, in obedience to orders. The division took up a fresh position--again advanced--the Battle of Ovingdean was fought and won, and the well-known strains of the "National Anthem" told of the loyalty, as many courageous deeds had told of the valour, of the Volunteers.
At the second Easter Volunteer Field Day there were 19,000 of the following corps present:--
CAVALRY.--18th Hussars, Lieut.-Col. Knox. 1st Hants Light Horse, Capt. Bower.
ARTILLERY.--FIELD BATTERIES.--Lieut.-Col. Ormsby, R.A., commanding Staff: Capt. Tupper, R.A., Capt. Pitt, R.A., Capt. Ward, R.A., Capt. Blackwell, R.A. 1st and 2nd Batteries--Major Dalbiac, 1st Sussex. 3rd Battery--Capt. Darby, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sussex. 4th Battery--Major Harcourt, 4th Cinque Ports.
GARRISON BRIGADE.--Lieut.-Col. Estridge, commanding; Capt. Woodhead, 3rd Middlesex Militia, Aide-de-Camp; Capt. Wolf, R.A., Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Sturdee, 1st Hants. 2nd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Lord Truro, 3rd Middlesex. 3rd Battalion--Major Creed. 3rd Essex, 1 A Cinque Ports, 1st Middlesex, 2nd Middlesex, 1st Tower Hamlets.
INFANTRY.--FIRST DIVISION.--Major-General Crauford, commanding, Staff: Capt. Smith, Grenadier Guards; Lieut. Hon. J. C. Eliot, Grenadier Guards.
FIRST BRIGADE.--Lieut.-Col. the Duke of Wellington, K.G., commanding; Capt. Goff, 50th Foot, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Macleod, 1st Middlesex (Engineer), 1st Tower Hamlets (Engineer), and two companies 16th Middlesex. 2nd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. the Hon. C. Hugh Lindsay, 11th, 18th, and 36th Middlesex. 3rd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. G. Warde, 1st City of London. 4th Battalion--Major Whitehead, 1st Middlesex.
SECOND BRIGADE.--Lieut.-Col. the Marquis of Donegall, G.C.H., commanding; Major Mackenzie, Antrim Militia, Aide-de-Camp; Brevet-Major Shaw, R.A., Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Jeakes, 4th and 37th Middlesex. 2nd Battalion--Major Vernon, 28th Middlesex, and 4th Bucks. 3rd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Lord Enfield, 29th Middlesex. 4th Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Lord Bury, 21st, 30th, 38th, 42nd, 43rd, and 44th Middlesex.
THIRD BRIGADE.--Lieut.-Col. Viscount Ranelagh, commanding; Capt. Templar, Dorset R.V.C., Aide-de-Camp; Brevet-Major Deedes, 60th Foot, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion--Major Atherly, South Middlesex. 2nd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Somerset, 40th Middlesex. 3rd Battalion--Sir John Shelley, 46th Middlesex, 2nd City of London, and 4th City of London. 4th Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Bigge, 20th Middlesex.
FOURTH BRIGADE.--Brigadier-General Haines, C.B., commanding; Lieut. Arbuthnot, 10th Hussars, Aide-de-Camp; Capt. Wovell, 41st Foot, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion--Major Beresford, 2nd, 7th, and 12th Surrey. 2nd Battalion--Capt. Trueman, Acting Major. 10th, 19th, 21st, and 23rd Surrey. 3rd Battalion--Major Farnell, 1st Administrative Battalion of Kent. 4th Battalion--Major Sir H. Fletcher, 5th, 13th, and 14th Surrey, and 2nd Administrative Battalion of Surrey.
FIFTH BRIGADE.--Major-General Taylor, commanding; Capt. Pemberton, Scots Fusilier Guards, Aide-de-Camp; Major the Hon. W. J. Colville, Rifle Brigade, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Capper, 5th and 9th Essex. 2nd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Buxton, 1st Administrative Battalion of Tower Hamlets. 3rd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Money, 4th and 6th Tower Hamlets. 4th Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Walker, 2nd, 8th, 9th, and 12th Tower Hamlets.
SECOND DIVISION.--Major-General Hon. A. Dalzell, commanding; Staff: Colonel Taylor, C.B., Colonel Walker, C.B., and Capt. Carleton, 21st Foot.
FIRST BRIGADE.--Lieut.-Col. Lord Radstock, commanding; Lieut. Peake, Aide-de-Camp; Major Gooch, unattached. Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion--Lieut.-Col, Wilkinson, 2nd Administrative Battalion, Middlesex. 2nd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Bathurst, 19th Middlesex. 3rd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Colvill, 39th Middlesex and 26th Kent. 4th Battalion--Capt. Fenton, 9th Middlesex.
SECOND BRIGADE.--Brigadier-General Brown, commanding; Lieut. Savery, 78th Foot, Aide-de-Camp; Capt. Morgan, 55th Foot, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Grimston, 1st, 2nd, and 16th Hants. 2nd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Conran, 3rd Administrative Battalion, Hants. 3rd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Dunsmore, 1st Administrative Battalion, Isle of Wight. 4th Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Vallancy, 2nd Administrative Battalion, Hants.
THIRD BRIGADE.--Lieut.-Col. Moorsom, commanding; Lieut. Moorsom, Royal Artillery, Aide-de-Camp; Capt. Penton, 3rd Middlesex Militia, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion--Acting-Major Meek, 3rd Sussex Administrative Battalion. 2nd Battalion--Sir Percy Burrell, Bart., M.P., 1st Sussex Administrative Battalion. 3rd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Gage, 1st Cinque Ports Administrative Battalion and 17th Kent. 4th Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Barttelot, 2nd Sussex Administrative Battalion.
FOURTH BRIGADE.--Brigadier-General Garvock, commanding; Hon. Capt. Chetwynd, Aide-de-Camp; Capt. Jones, 20th Foot, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Lord Elcho, 15th Middlesex. 2nd Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Brewster, 23rd Middlesex. 3rd Battalion--Major Richards, 3rd City of London and 32nd Middlesex. 4th Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Lord Grosvenor, 22nd Middlesex, 1st Battalion. 5th Battalion--Lieut.-Col. Lord Gerald Fitzgerald. 22nd Middlesex, 2nd Battalion.
Upon the arrival of the various corps, they were marched to their several places of rendezvous, on the Level, St. Peter's Church and North Steine Enclosures, the Pavilion Grounds, and the Steine, where they partook of refreshments. At 11 o'clock the "assembly" was sounded, and very soon after the whole of the corps were on their march to the Race Hill, by way of the Marine Parade and Elm Grove, the Divisions meeting again in White Hawk Valley, whence they paraded down the Course and passed in Review opposite the Grand Stand, before Lord Clyde, the Earl of Chichester--Lord Lieutenant of the County,--and Lord Cardigan, passing out at the south end of the Course, and then descending to their original position in the Valley. The field evolutions took place principally on White Hawk Down, and were eminently successful, and the whole of the arrangements of the day, civil and military, were a practical demonstration of the facility with which troops might be moved towards a threatened point on the particular railway which would be most likely to be required for such a duty in an actual case of emergency. On the morning of the Review, 6,922 Volunteers were despatched from London Bridge in two hours and 41 minutes, and 5,170 from the Victoria Station in two hours and 20 minutes, without difficulty. They were conveyed in 16 trains, each composed of an engine and tender and 22 vehicles, and each carrying on an average 20 officers and 735 men; and they reached Brighton in an average of 2 hours and 28 minutes from the time of starting. The Brighton Company borrowed on this occasion 72 carriages from three neighbouring companies, and 79 carriages also brought Volunteers over their railway, from other lines; but they had to provide for their ordinary passenger-traffic on that day, as well as for the Easter Monday traffic to the Crystal Palace, which was very considerable, and to convey upwards of 2,000 Volunteers along the south coast from the several stations on their own line. Indeed, the total number of passengers who travelled upon the London, Brighton, and South-Coast Railway on that day was 132,202, including Volunteers and the holders of season and return tickets.
As a proof that the Queen takes a deep interest in the Volunteer movement, Her Majesty, several times during the day, telegraphed to be informed of every special incident in connexion with the military evolutions. Happily no accident happened to mar the general proceedings; but, to meet any casualty that might have arisen, Brigade Surgeon Burrows of the First Sussex Volunteer Artillery, issued a notice that every convenience for temporary hospital purposes was provided in a tent to the west of the Race Stand, in a tent at the south of the battle-field, and at the Industrial Schools.
The Industrial Schools are built upon what is known as the Warren Farm, which occupies an area of ten acres of arable land immediately north-east of the Race Course, and was purchased for 2,000. The project of erecting these Schools for the purpose of training poor children to habits of industry and relieving them of the ban of pauperism, was first entertained by the Board of Guardians, in 1853, but no steps were taken to carry it out till it received the sanction of the Vestry in 1856; and even then, from time to time, numerous impediments arose, in the selection of plans and in borrowing the requisite money of Government, so that the first stone of the building was not laid till the 26th of March, 1859, the plans selected being those of Mr. George Maynard, the Parish Surveyor. Mr. John Fabian, of Brighton, was the builder, at a contract price of 8,223, the sum of 5,269 having previously been expended in forming roads, and necessary incidental work. On the 1st of December, 1859, Mr. Fabian, as stipulated, completed his task, and delivered over the building to the Board of Guardians. Subsequently, Mr. Fabian erected the farm buildings at the cost of 1,514 16s, and Messrs. Patching and Son erected the boundary wall for 560.
An establishment to consist of more than 300 persons would of necessity require a good supply of one of the chief elements of existence, water; it therefore became a question with the Guardians, how that supply was to be obtained, whether by sinking a well, and thus have their own source of the element, or by having pipes laid on from the Brighton Water Works. The Guardians decided upon, the former course, as, having it in contemplation to erect a new Workhouse on a seven acre piece of land, which they had purchased for that purpose, between the Reservoir and the Race Hill, their own well would supply both establishments,--hence was projected the Warren Farm Well, the fame of which has spread to all parts of the civilized world.
This celebrated well was commenced on the 25th of March, 1858; but at the depth of 418 feet 3 inches, where a heading was driven laterally, a contract which had been entered into with Mr. North was abandoned, and the Board, after a consultation, determined to proceed with the work themselves, and commenced by driving another heading opposite the former, at a depth of 421 feet 9 inches, and from this a second perpendicular shaft, four feet in diameter, was dug, the superintendence of the labour being entrusted to Mr. Isaac Huggett, who persevered unremittingly with the work, and eventually, after surmounting innumerable difficulties, found on Sunday, the 16th March, 1862, at a depth of 1,285 feet, so abundant a supply of excellent water, that in a few days there were more than 200,000 gallons of that pure beverage in the well.
To celebrate the success of the undertaking, Mr. Henry Catt, a Guardian, entertained the whole of the members of the Board, with the Vicar, and their Officers, and likewise Mr. Huggett and his men, at a dinner at the Town Hall, 120 guests sitting down to the repast under the presidency of the delighted liberal donor, Mr. Churchwarden Marchant and Mr. Alderman Brigden occupying the vice-chairs. As a memento, also, of the happy event, Mr. Catt had silver medals struck by Mr. Norris, jeweller, West Street, one of which was given to each man who had worked in the Well. The medals bore the inscription: "By the blessing of God, on hard work, patience, and perseverance," and "Warren Farm Well, Brighton. Water found, March 16th, 1862." The medal presented to Mr. Huggett was of gold.
Immediately consequent upon finding water for the establishment, was the completion of the furnishing of the building and obtaining the requisite staff of officers; and on Thursday, August 14th, 1862, the Institution being ready for occupation, the juvenile portion of the inmates of the Workhouse, 77 boys and 65 girls, were removed thither under the care of the Industrial Schools' Committee, many other of the Guardians and their friends taking part in the procession, which was headed by the Industrial School band. Mr. and Mrs. Sattin, the Governor and Matron of the Workhouse, also accompanied them to deliver over their youthful charge to Mr. and Mrs. Hales, the Superintendents of the Schools. The occupation of the Industrial Schools is at present the last public feature of the Race Hill and adjacent Downs.