The Prince of Wales is on the broad Atlantic steaming
for the American continent. Accompanied by the Prince Consort to Plymouth, he embarked on board the Hero on Monday evening and sailed on Tuesday morning, convoyed by the Channel fleet ; an honour due to the eldest son of Britaratia. The loyal colo- nists are making ample preparations to receive him, and-his sub- sequent progress through the United States will no dbubt be almost as gratifying in its incidents as his progress through the British provinces. The Wimbledon meeting had a worthy termination at the Crystal Palace on Monday, when Lord de Grey and Ripon dis- tributed the prizes to the victorious competitors. The President's speech was in admirable keeping with the occasion, and the Vo- lunteers will fuld no more trustworthy adviser than Lord de Grey. The scene was very gratifying, and nobody rejoices more in the success of the victors than their competitors. The Swiss also have been made heartily welcome, and they have shown that they appreciate and reciprocate the feelings they excited.
Today a sham fight will come off near Bromley. It is to be regretted that the prominent Volunteer Colonels of the metropolis did not consult the War Department before they entered in this undertaking. Then it seems doubtful policy to make a raree show of the Volunteers and admit the public to the spectacle at so much per head. The War Department have &endive(' the pro- ceedings, and sent a general to prevent the VolunteeTh from blow- ing themselves to pieces, and from executing absurd manoeuvres that have no military meaning. To us it appears that a far wiser course might have been pursued by the colonels. It would have been better had they compelled the company officers to learn their drill before the men were taken out, and better also had each colonel endeavoured to make his battalion tolerably efficient, be- fore he led it into sham battles. Very little will be learned by the sham fight ; much might have been learned by the skirmish- ing of two battalions against each other, simply as a matter of instruction and not of show. In a sham fight on a grand scale you cannot stop to point out errors ; but two battalions might be manoeuvred against each other with profit. The wisdom of these sham fights is very questionable.
