SCENE IV
SOUTH WESSEX. A RIDGE-LIKE DOWN NEAR THE COAST
[The down commands a wide view over the English Channel in front
of it, including the popular Royal watering-place, with the Isle
of Slingers and its roadstead, where men-of-war and frigates are
anchored. The hour is ten in the morning, and the July sun glows
upon a large military encampment round about the foreground, and
warms the stone field-walls that take the place of hedges here.
Artillery, cavalry, and infantry, English and Hanoverian, are
drawn up for review under the DUKE OF CUMBERLAND and officers
of the staff, forming a vast military array, which extends
three miles, and as far as the downs are visible.
In the centre by the Royal Standard appears KING GEORGE on
horseback, and his suite. In a coach drawn by six cream-
coloured Hanoverian horses, QUEEN CHARLOTTE sits with three
Princesses; in another carriage with four horses are two more
Princesses. There are also present with the Royal Party the
LORD CHANCELLOR, LORD MULGRAVE, COUNT MUNSTER, and many other
luminaries of fashion and influence.
The Review proceeds in dumb show; and the din of many bands
mingles with the cheers. The turf behind the saluting-point
is crowded with carriages and spectators on foot.]
A SPECTATOR
And you’ve come to the sight, like the King and myself? Well, one
fool makes many. What a mampus o’ folk it is here to-day! And what
a time we do live in, between wars and wassailings, the goblin o’
Boney, and King George in flesh and blood!
SECOND SPECTATOR
Yes. I wonder King George is let venture down on this coast, where
he might be snapped up in a moment like a minney by a her’n, so near
as we be to the field of Boney’s vagaries! Begad, he’s as like to
land here as anywhere. Gloucester Lodge could be surrounded, and
George and Charlotte carried off before he could put on his hat, or
she her red cloak and pattens!
THIRD SPECTATOR
’Twould be so such joke to kidnap ’em as you think. Look at the
frigates down there. Every night they are drawn up in a line
across the mouth of the Bay, almost touching each other; and
ashore a double line of sentinels, well primed with beer and
ammunition, one at the water’s edge and the other on the
Esplanade, stretch along the whole front. Then close to the
Lodge a guard is mounted after eight o’clock; there be pickets
on all the hills; at the Harbour mouth is a battery of twenty
four-pounders; and over-right ’em a dozen six-pounders, and
several howitzers. And next look at the size of the camp of
horse and foot up here.
FIRST SPECTATOR
Everybody however was fairly gallied this week when the King went
out yachting, meaning to be back for the theatre; and the eight or
nine o’clock came, and never a sign of him. I don’t know when ’a
did land; but ’twas said by all that it was a foolhardy pleasure
to take.
FOURTH SPECTATOR
He’s a very obstinate and comical old gentleman; and by all account
’a wouldn’t make port when asked to.
SECOND SPECTATOR
Lard, Lard, if ’a were nabbed, it wouldn’t make a deal of difference!
We should have nobody to zing, and play singlestick to, and grin at
through horse-collars, that’s true. And nobody to sign our few
documents. But we should rub along some way, goodnow.
FIRST SPECTATOR
Step up on this barrow; you can see better. The troopers now passing
are the York Hussars—foreigners to a man, except the officers—the
same regiment the two young Germans belonged to who were shot four
years ago. Now come the Light Dragoons; what a time they take to
get all past! Well, well! this day will be recorded in history.
SECOND SPECTATOR
Or another soon to follow it! [He gazes over the Channel.] There’s
not a speck of an enemy upon that shiny water yet; but the Brest
fleet is zaid to have put to sea, to act in concert with the army
crossing from Boulogne; and if so the French will soon be here; when
God save us all! I’ve took to drinking neat, for, say I, one may
as well have innerds burnt out as shot out, and ’tis a good deal
pleasanter for the man that owns ’em. They say that a cannon-ball
knocked poor Jim Popple’s maw right up into the futtock-shrouds at
the Nile, where ’a hung like a nightcap out to dry. Much good to
him his obeying his old mother’s wish and refusing his allowance
o’ rum!
[The bands play and the Review continues till past eleven o’clock.
Then follows a sham fight. At noon precisely the royal carriages
draw off the ground into the highway that leads down to the town
and Gloucester Lodge, followed by other equipages in such numbers
that the road is blocked. A multitude comes after on foot.
Presently the vehicles manage to proceed to the watering-place, and
the troops march away to the various camps as a sea-mist cloaks the
perspective.]