The Mosses already indicated are not the only species found on these soils; for, on the Arundel Downs, precisely similar in formation to those of our range, Encalyta vulgaris, Antitrichia curtipendula, Thrudium abietinum and some others may be met with.
In proof of the extreme beauty of the form of these objects and the marvellous design of our Great Creator, a more positive instance of the perfection of vegetable organization could not be adduced than Acoulon Florkeanum. Taking a single plant, radicles are found, corresponding to roots in flowering plants, at the bottom of the stem. Next rise the overlapping leaves, disposed, for instance, as are those of the lettuce. When these leaves are dissected off, the stem is exposed to view, consisting of a pedicle with a capsule at the top, terminating in an oblique apiculus or small point, and covered by a membrane, called a calyptra, or hood. And clustering around the base of the pedicle are the sexual flowers. The whole plant does not exceed the sixteenth of an inch in height and width, the size of a small pin’s head.
Thus, after enumerating most, if not all the Wild Flowers and Mosses which attach themselves to the natural history of Brighton, we may say,
Beautiful children of the glen and dell,—
The dingle deep—the moorland stretching wide,
And of the mossy fountain’s sedgy side,
Ye, o’er my heart have thrown a lovesome spell.
And though the worldling, scorning way deride—
I love ye well.
Chapter XXII.
BRIGHTON CAMP AND THE TRAGEDIES OF GOLDSTONE BOTTOM.
The hills and the vales about Brighton, have more than a natural history in connexion with the animal and vegetable kingdoms, to give them a feature in the nation’s chronicles. Not the least important events have been the Camps, lyrically handed to posterity by one of the most martial and spirit-stirring pieces extant, the “Brighton Camp, or, the Girl I left behind me,” music that seems inherent to drums and fifes.
Although “Brighton Camp” is the familiar term used, it must be understood that there have been several Camps held here. The first was in 1793, and was formed on Tuesday, August 13th. The troops composing it the previous morning at three o’clock, struck their tents on Ashdown Forest, from which they marched at five, and reached Chailey Common at half-past eleven. There they pitched their tents for the night. On the Tuesday morning at four o’clock, they were again on the march, and at noon they arrived on the hills over Brighton. The baggage, part of the heavy artillery, and the corps of artificers, marched by way of Lewes; but the army in general, consisting of about 7,000 men, took their route over the South Downs. By two o’clock the Camp had formed in the presence of the Prince of Wales, who met them as they came over the hill. The left of the encampment was close to the town, in Belle-Vue Field,—now Regency square,—and stretched in a direct line along the coast. The encampment, which increased to 10,000 troops, was composed of regulars and militia, and was continued, on account of some apprehensions of an invasion by the New Republic of France, till the 28th of October.
As a matter of course, during the time of the encampment, there was a Sham Fight. Its plan was, an enemy attacking Brighton and the Camp. The enemy consisted of eight regiments of infantry, with their battalion guns, under General Sir William Howe; while four battalions of infantry, the light horse, and the mounted artillery, defended the country. Brighton was denominated Dunkirk, and was of course taken by the British. But one prisoner was captured, an officer of the East Middlesex, by his own Major, after a stout resistance, for the offence of sitting on a drum, during the inactivity that generally prevails for hours in the field. The officer was put under arrest, but the next day he was liberated.
The Camp of 1794, was formed early in the summer, about a mile and a half to the west of the town. It consisted at first, of 7,000 men; but when the harvest was got in, it was increased to nearly 15,000, as the militia regiments were not called out till the crops were cleared, the men then composing the militia corps being principally agricultural labourers. On the breaking up of this Camp many of the regiments remained in Barracks at Brighton. The Barracks then were in West Street, at the corner of Little Russel Street, afterwards the Custom House; in North Street, on property now known as the Unicorn Yard,—Windsor Street; and in Church Street, the present Infantry Barracks.
Nothing of any particular importance took place during this Camp. But that of the following year will ever be memorable in the history of Brighton, inasmuch as it is connected with the trial and execution of two men and the flogging of several others for mutiny. Not that the mutiny took place here, but Brighton was the military head quarters of the troops, hence the Court Martial was held in the town.