The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-10-02 00:00:00

Sill KITING.

; 00 Wednesday evening, Captain Hens Etna, of the
Victoria Rifles. gave a very interesting lecture in the
Tow-Mien, illustrated by numerous diagrams and rifles.
('aptsia Parr (4th Dorset Rifles), intreluceel Captsiu
Busk, as the founder and promoter of the idle
volunteer ineevement.
C.eptsiu Ham commented bi. lecture by atating
that the ride movement was one of very recent date,
and that the nation did not Kee the utility of arming
itself in its own defence, till about 16 menthe ago.
Sonic years before that, lie submitted • pion for the
orgamig•tion of a Ride Club to Her Majesty's govern-
ment, but met with nothing but repulse. Ile after-
wards organized a small corps on the halm plan at Cam-
bridge, being at that time all undnr.eaduate ; the gallant
Hobson was one of them, and seven of them had died
I gloriously on the battle field ; but for want if encourage-
; ment this cone soon broke up. Lest year he tra•
I veiled a distance of 9,600 miles, between May and
December, to asaist in the formation of corps, and to
select ground for drill and target perseetiee ; Ise received
700 ea- MOO letters a week, relative to every imaginary
branch of the rifle end rifle Ale-outing. There Are at Ire-
-cot 131 700 St 1.0111) or 169,000 of when' are
years
,ocex.foorutsetuatlluse.yrerni,e,e.. :
have, 34) nillbsum,. at°
money would lace been saved out of the expeniliture of
the country. Ile went a few months ago to visit the
I ports of France. Anti look At the French navy ; when he
I found they had increased to au enorn 1111 l a extent. He was
I requested to ask some of the students there anv eiucations
I let pleased. and he aenerdingly einettioned a young
man. 17 years Ohl, in the practicability of their nation
invading Ea*lssul. The young gentleman regarded the
invseinn of Lngland as being quite practicable, it might
! be postponed for a time, hut notwithstanding, it will
moat assuredly occur; and wheie atked at what points
he would land an army on our shores, lie answered, at
1 several points on the Isle of Wight. and 10 or 12 points
in Kent, :hisses, and Hampshire. On being asked at
what point on the crest of Hampudeire lie would
make the attempt, lie unhesitatingly replied, just
between Chriatehurch Head and Hurst Castle.
fle stated this to cause no uneasiness or alarm, for let
! England rely on her rifle and artillery corps, and she
ill be mike secure. Fifty-seven veers ago. with only
half the 'emulation there is at the preterit day, there
were aso,ouo volunteers ; now that there is double the
number of inhabitants, should not many mure true
hearts epring up. The lecturer then proceeded to enlarge
ou drill. 'winging out that the more complicated parts
are useless to volunteers ; but let them become good
shots, pluck they have in abundance, and they may
then defy the world in arms. He next spoke on the
theory and practice of musketry. The Jacob ride, in-
vented by the renowned General Jacob, wax the best lie
knew of. The barrel was only two feet lung, deep
groove, and one tam from the breach to the 'mule.
General Jacob used frequently to fire at a target 2,000
yards off, the rifle being loaded with 70 grains of powder
and the bullet 350 grains. One day lie shot 14 times,
one shut hit the MIN eye, whilst the others were all on
the target. A ride with Goer grooves is beat of all. He
then alluded to an incident in the Russian war, before
Sebastopol, when a sergeant of the 19th regiment,
knocked over 16 Russians one morning, which was
observed by an officer lying on the field, who procured
the gallant fellow a commission. This showed what a
deadly weapon the rifle was, when in the bands of one
that knew how to use it. Napoleon I. thought that the
musket was the best weapon that could be invented,
but rifles had superseded them. Captain Hans Bask
nest spoke of the value of Volunteer Corps. Three of
the greatest disaster' that betel British troops, was
when they were confroited with Volunteers. At Agra
much daring was displayed ; 13 civilians maintaining
their place within the walls of a small cottage against
5.000 or 6,000 sepoys. Garibaldi agAin,in Sicily, against
i 4.000 strung, vanquishing them, and hurling • ,
tyrantlic.o despot from his throne. He stated as his ;
opinion that the volunteers would never be vanquished
till destroyed; another and another baud of noble-
hearted and brave men will arise with hearts as true as
the steel they beer, to fight for their country,
and defend their sovereigns. The present volun-
teers have already disregarded the sneers of
fools, and silenced every voic.a but that of
applause. I. any one tloubted the utility of the ride
movement. his reply SW "At any rate it is combining
healthful recreation with important duty." Man's
lightest and noblest duty, is living, fighting, and dying
for Isis country. Albion 's ssms have not degenerated.
What the archers of olden time were,the riflemen of the
present day are. Captain flans Busk concluded his
very entertaining lecture amidst great applause.
Captain Parr called for in vote of thanks, and three
cheers for Captain Hans Buck. which was duly responded
to.

A number of volunteers from Bournemouth attended
the lecture, an omnibus being placed at the.r diaposal by
the kindui•as of Mr. Henry Ledgard, their ensign, who
also regaled them with a supper at the London Hotel.