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.”
CHAPTER XIII.
Reviews in 1763-1764—Shooting-butts in 1778—Camp in 1780—Severe Sentence of a Court-martial—Volunteer reviews, 1799-1800—The rain at the latter.