The third visit of the Queen to Chobham Camp was
made on Satur- day : her Majesty was accompanied by Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and Prince Alfred. The Common was crowded with visitors of all ranks.
The chief novelty in the movements of the day was, that Colonel Vicars held a position in defence of the camp, the stronghold of which was the redoubt. The main body of the troops attacked and stormed this at a charge, and then retired until it blew up. The blowing-up was to have been effected by the Queen, and wires were laid from the powder under the earthworks to the Royal tent, communicating there with a gal- vanic battery : but something went amiss, the apparatus failed, and after some delay, two or three Sappers dashed up to the redoubt, fired the charge in the oldfashioned way, and destroyed the works. At the termi- nation of the evolutions, the troops marched past the Queen, who was in her carriage, and did not mount on horseback at any time : the cavalry cantered and the artillery galloped past. Her Majesty returned to town after taking luncheon at the Magnet Hill pavilion.
On Monday, the Duke of Cambridge took the command of the whole division ; and report speaks well of his mode of handling the troops. Similar field-day exercise was performed on Wednesday, also under the Duke of Cambridge, who seems now to have the command permanently. The evolutions did not materially differ from those so frequently de- scribed. Colonel Vicars and the Sappers again defended the camp, this time with some horse and two guns : be was utterly routed at the close of a varying conflict. Lord Alfred Paget led the cavalry. The troops marched past the Duchess of Kent and the Duchess of Cambridge, who were on the ground.
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