The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-09-23 00:00:00

THE DINNER

which tooleplace at the Pinna.e.Orf—Feathers' was hyd-
rate, consisting of every delicacy of the season, and
served up in excellent style. The chair was occupied
by Captain Bindersley, and the vice-chair by Sere,
Major Newman. Besides the greater portion of the
officers, and a large number of,the members of the corps,
there were J. F. lodges, Esq., and several civilians.
On the removal of the cloth

_
The CHAIRMAN said the first toast he had to introduce
to their notice, as he was sure it was the first in their
affections, was "The Health of their Royal Mistraia,
the Queen." In proposing this toast, he did so under
very different feelings to those which he offered it last
year, when they met on a festive occasion similar to the
present. Since that time the Royal Lady had suffered
the greatest loss she was capable of sustaining, and he
was sure, that throughout the country there was not
one soul who did not feel for her, nor one heart that
did not bleed for her. And if this was so with regard
to the country at largo, he was quite sure it was
especially so with their own cops. He knew that the
pluck and the determination which their own corps
showed in so many respects, was only • sample of the
patriotism which animated the Volunteers throughout
the country; and when he recollected that steadiness to
drill was more attributable to patriotism and a sense of
duty than the ordinary inducements, so to speak, of
novelty or amusement, and that their very sense of duty
was indicative of their loyalty, he thought it might be
fairly argued that no corps in England had shown
greater loyalty and patriotism than their own. (Hear,
hear.) As they all knew, her Majesty was at present
sojourning on the Continent, and he could but fear,
although he had not seen it &lidded to by the ptOdio
press, that her object was in some way connected with
her present state of health. If so, there could be but
one feeling throughout the country, as well as by
themselves—that of deep regret. If tho assistance
of foreign waters or any other aid for the restoration
of health had been the object of Her Majesty's tour,
he was sure that it was the sincere desire of her de-
voted subjects that the means sought might have the
desired effect. He could not but fear that Her
Majesty's health had been mull shaken by the blow
which she bad sustained, and he offered no common
compliment when he proposed they should drink Her
Majesty's Health. (Drunk with 3 times 3, and great
enthusiasm.)
The Cnautmum said before he proposed the next
toast be could not but remind them that in passing
down their list, there was this year the absence of the
lamented Prince Albert, whose loss would not
be easil7 repaired. But his business was
rather' with regard to the future than to the put,
and therefore all that they could do was to trust that
under God's good providence, our rulers might be as
happy and prosperous in the future as they had been
in the past. The toast he had now to offer to their
notice was the "Health of His Ro7al Highness the
Prince of Wales." He might say this with regard to
the future, in connection with the subject of his toast,
that our prospects were satisfactory, and he thought
they might fairly, at least hope, that his Royal High.
nem would be such as the country would wish. He
had received an education, the liberality of which was
, almost unprecedented, and which promised all that
such an education could promise to the people of Eng-
land. He thought that the promise was, that His
Royal Highness would be a man of enlarged and en-
lightened views, and that we might hope, after the
shortly forthcoming marriage which be saw by the papers
had been arranged., they would see him settled down
to the common busloads of life, and that in his time he
' would present the grand specimen of having a well
conducted household in imitation of the present
sovereign. He was sure they would all join him in
willing for His Royal Highness all the happiness he
amid possibly enjoy, in his prospective union with the
Princess of Denmark. He begged to propose the
Health of H. B. H. the Prime of Wales. (The toast
was drank with great enthusiasm.)
The CHAIRMAN next gave "The Health of the Army,
and Navy, and themselves." He knew they would drink
this toast with thorough applause, because they
would be honouring themselves thereby. As to the
Army and Navy, he could only say what he had
over and over again said of them—that when called
upon, they had ever not only dens their duty, but had
astonished the world at large by their deeds of daring,
and their manifest loyalty and patriotism. As for the
Volunteers, he must be more modest as to what he said
respecting them. All the experience they had hitherto
had was against targets, rather than against enemies,
and so far as that went, he thought he might say they
could "pitch it into them" pretty fairly. (Laughter.)
If they could do, should they be called into active
service, as they did with the white-faced gentleman at
Maiden Castle, when they were not under a state of
excitement, he thought it would be said of them that
they had done their duty, and that they then might fairly
look for congratulation from their fellow-countrymen.
As he had said, they were untried in iegard to active
service but in other respects they had shown that the
Volunteer movement throughout the country had been
a great success. The Volunteer movement had become
a great feet, and so far as we could judge of their effi-
ciency in drill, Au., it was all that the most saugaine
could have hoped for or anticipated. All those doubts
which had been so freely indul,red in at the commence-
ment, bad long been silenced, and they stood before
the country 130,000 to 170,1100 strong. This was too
large • body of men for any one to gainsay. Well,
there they were, and what was more, there was no
question but that there had been a great deal of drill
done. The government intruded, he believed, in ac-
cordance with the recommendations it had received to
test the efficiency of the several corps by 9 drills a year.
Whether nine drills would be a fair test of efficiency, or
whether they would be considered by the public at large
sufficient to guarantee the security of the country, and
as ample for tile pay they should receive, he would leave
others to judge. Some corps might probably have an
opinion that the 9 drills were sufficient, but the 3rd
Dorset, he believed, would not consider them to be
enough. (Hear hear.) He believed that so far as their
OMR corps was concerned—whatever might be the
number fixed upon after further consideration by the
government—that nine drills would not suffice for
their own corps. In the meantime he trusted that the
country at large was satisfied with them as they were,
and that the Army and Navy would not think it below '
them to be coupled in this triform toast. (Great
applause.)
Mr. J. F. HODWIS said he was quite sure that the
toast he was about to present to their notice, would not
only be in accordance with their own feelings, but that
it would be drunk with • great deal of pleasure and
enthusiasm. They had met together after another '
year's experience, and he thought he might well con-
gratulate them on their efficiency as a corps. It would 1
be presumptuous in him to pass any remarks of
criticism on their military achievements, although he
might add that in the opinion of those well qualified '
to judge of these matters they had attained to • degree
of proficiency of which they and the borough of
Dorchester might well be proud. They had attained to
their present position through their attention to their
duties and the exertions of their excellent captain. He
was quite sure that he was correct in saying that there
was nothing contributed so much to efficiency as cor-
diality in upholding the discipline of the corps, the
support of authority, and the attention to the instruc-
tions received from time to time from their command-
ing officer. It was the obedience of the British
army that satisfied the coontry of its efficiency
when called out. He was sure he might say
the Dorchester corps had been most fortunate in
securing Captain Kindersley as their commanding
officer. His attention to his duties in working
them up to their present effective state, demanded the
thanks, not only of the members of the corps
themselves, but also of the borough of Dorchester.
(Applause.) The way in which they had received the
mention of his name that night was the beat possible
evidence that they shared with him in their patriotism
and strong sense of duty. He had very great pleasure
In proposing Captain Kindersley's health, with three
times three. (Great cheering.)
Captain KINDERISLIT, in responding to the toast, mid
that Mr. Hodges had spoken of him in a manner that
he must honestly say he did not deserve. ("No, am")
He would not pedantically refuse to admit that he had
not, so far as his small means afforded him, done all he
, could, but when they attributed the success of the
corps to his seal and exertions, they attributed more to
him than he deserved. It was an easy thing to do
one's duty under such circumstances as those which
had accompanied him in the command of this corps.
From the commencement he had met with nothing but
continuous assistance from every member of
, of the corps. He did not recollect that he had met
with a single annoyance—his way had been smooth
, from beginning to end, and if he had not added his own
, attendance at drill, he felt that he might justly be told
, that he had done less than what might have been
, reasonably expected of him. As far as his own exer-
tions went be did not deny that his endeavour was to
. . .

have a good corps, (applause)— to get it up to the greatest
amount of efficiency in his power. Bid he could with
truth say that the position they had attained was
more attributable to the material with which
he had had to deal than to what be himself
had done. He believed it would be impossible
to find a corps throughout the country where more
unanimity, equality, and recpectability, and good honest
spirit composed the corps. They had in this corps very
little difficulty to contend against with respect to at-
tendance at drill, and their shooting had been continu-
ally improving in style. He did not think he exagge-
rated when be said it would be difficult to find a corps
which showed more good average shooting among the
members than theirs showed. Now this was not attri-
butable to him alone,bnt to the kindly spirit and feeling
with which they had hocked him in his efforts to pro-
mote efficiency. He held that it was an especial
characteristic of their corps that any approach to
quarrelling or dissatisfaction was not known among
them. He fancied that they spoiled him in doing so
cordially and heartily whatever he asked them to do.
112 reference to the subject of shooting, he felt that
they could not conceal from themselves the fact that
they had been beaten. He did not think that others
would think unkindly of them, when he said that for
himself be felt the smart severely. He bad persuaded
himaelf that he was a bit of a philosopher—that he
could bear defeat with some equanimity of mind, but
he must now fairly codes., that for two or
fives nights following the contest to which he
referred, bow their defeat haunted him. (Laughter,)
However, he might offer the consolation which
every one else seemed to offer them, "It'll do them
good." He believed the Wareham corps gave them an
opportunity of doubling quits, and he trusted they
would then be able to pay them a compliment in their
own coin. (Applause and laughter.) In conclusion he
expressed his thanks for the honour they bad done
him, and from his heart he trusted that the same feel-
ings that had hitherto subsisted between them might
continue to exist. (Groat applause.)
Captain Hindersley then proceeded to the distribution
of prizes to the successful competitors (for which see
the prize list) and as each man was called in to receive
his prize he was greeted with rounds of cheers, and
received words of kind encouragement and congratula-
tion from the Captain. The gold medal prize, won by
Godwin, zseeiving quite an ovation.
Captain KIIIDEBBLY then proposed the "Health of
the Borough Members—Colonel N. Sturt,and Mr. 8.. B.
-fiffieridan —which was received with much applause as
,tkiese gentlemen have so liberally waisted in presenting
prises.
Mr. ITODOIS then proposed "The Captain,Lientenant,
and Colour-Sergeant Gregory, which was duly respon-
ded to by the first and last-named gentlemen.
The Colour-Sergeant proposed "The Duffers," who
had not been successful, (and this was also duly
to,) and the prosout wiaporp of thy corps

1 rerpouded