“From the date of its original formation this corps has been remarkable in the annals of the British army for the scientific attainments of its officers and the practical knowledge of its men, and has justly acquired the confidence and esteem of the army by its skilful arrangements, and by being at all times foremost in the perilous duties of war. In peace upholding its high reputation by the useful labours which it so cheerfully performs. “Viscount Hardinge requests Lord Seaton will convey to Colonel Jones, of the Royal Engineers, who directed the pontoon train, and to Colonel Vicars, in charge of the engineer duties in the camp, and to the officers and men of all ranks of the Royal Sappers and Miners, the Queen’s approbation of their state of discipline and conduct. “By command of General Viscount Hardinge. “(Signed) G. BROWN, _A. G._” The 11th July was another day of field manœuvring appointed expressly to experimentalize with the pontoons. Before the arrival of the troops at the lake, a bridge was quickly formed with twenty-four pontoons, on the same site as that occupied on the 5th instant, and by the same detachment. At eleven o’clock a part of the division under Major-General His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge passed over it in the order of movement detailed below:— 4 companies of the 93rd Highlanders, 13th Light Dragoons, 6 companies of the 93rd, 38th regiment, 17th Lancers, 1st Life Guards, 1 troop of Royal Horse Artillery—six guns, 2 nine-pounder guns; and 4 small ammunition waggons. The time occupied in the passage of the troops was fifty minutes, and on its completion, the bridge was speedily broken up into rafts. These, with the assistance of the India-rubber rafts, manned by the same detachment as on the 5th July, were afterwards employed in ferrying back the 38th and 93rd regiments at a spot 150 yards wide, below where the bridge had been constructed. This duty was also completed in fifty minutes. In all the operations, there appears to have been a remarkable coincidence of duration, which, had the facts not been carefully ascertained and recorded, would seem to be the errors of carelessness or inexperience. In crossing the bridge, many of the horses of the Life Guards became unmanageable. Not a few of them got into a gallop and started off, sometimes as many as three abreast. Several of the artillery horses also were restive. Among so much violence and disorder, the sappers, who lined the bridge as before, had to bear their full share of accident and danger, and before the passage was effected, as many as twenty-five sergeants and rank and file were thrust overboard. All fortunately could swim, and soon made good their places on their respective rafts.