The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-11-14 00:00:00

DORCHESTER RIFLE CORPS.

The annual dinner of the 3rd Dorsut rids volunteei a
took place at the Plume of Feathers inn, last Friday evening,
and agreeably brought to a elute soother see- :ode' meson. ,
Previous ti the dinner the corps mustered in (WI dress tar '
inspection by Adjutant Ifarrett, and this part of the proceed-
ings passed off with the usual satisfaction. Soon after seven
the large hall attached to Corpora Taylor's famed inn, was
Stied by the volunteers anti friends of the cm«). In anticipa-
tion of a good dinner and a pleasant postprandial pnigramme.
In neither were they diaappointel But we Mould first nit:e
that the dining.riom hail been decorated with no end of pai•is
and con.idera),le skill in honour of the occasi 0:1 the Wall
behind the Preildent's chair were arranged the camp banners
of the i fibers, immediately under a string course of Siren
Intermixed with greenery (which WAS extended across the rod
of the room), aoti above them, unclosed In • panel marked
out with a delicate edging of evergreen was the volunteer-
hnnourol HAW of " Mrs. Pettison," foraol in rot letters,
with • leafy ornament under it, emblematic. no doubt, of the
appreciation by the corps of the consttntly renewed kindness
of that estimable lady. Mottoes on the walls re-called the
1110 exploits of the volunteeng in liampihire, " Woulma and
the 100th"—the sato of their first experience with the regulars,
and the name of the regiment that so kindly put up their
tents in readiness for them when they marched to their
camping-ground at night fall : " Toursley "and " Fretashuu."
recalling "glorious" Nate of arias and the sweetest of com-
pliment. : the 0 4th-6/Us," Calonel Hawley's fans ms cab-
men for whom the D,rset battalion were no persistently
, mistaken " WoaVer'S Boris" and "Huge Back," the scenes
of doughty deeds that have shod lustre on the battali in.
I Wreathing* and devices in the way of decoretion were freely
i displayed In different parte of the room, and the tables were
I adorned with choice flowers. For these last the company
I were indebted to Mrs. Coombs (who kindly sent o magnificent
I pyramid bouquet that graced the headlof the tab:e) and to Mrs
I W. Burden, and Mr T. Walden. Mr. and Mrs Taylor provided
a first-clam repast, Colonel N. Sturt, M.P., kindly added a
, supply of game, and Mrs. Pettison, of Wracklrford sent a
splendid dessert.. Captain Cmmbs presided, and there were
present—Adjutant iltrrett. Lieutenant Hodge+. Hon.Cioplain
the Rev. 11. Everett, Hon Surgeon A. Bream', adour-Sergeant
i Gregory. Sergeant.. Gorden, 01.041. Burney, and Oremlnglilr.
i Herbert Hodges, Mr. U. U. Davis, Mr. T. C. Saunders, Mr. J.
T. ssew, Mr. E Beau (Wraikleford). Mr. Frost (King's Arun),
, Mr I'. Walden (Case), Mr C. Pawner, Mr Jones nt, Br it.
Case. Mr 8. Martin, Mr C. E. Matter, Mr U. Taylor, Mr. Eakins,
Mr Laughton, Mr Hlteheok (Wellingtona, Mr J. Web nit, Mr
J. B. Curtis, Mr A. Elward., Mr Se At, do. Tno vice-chair
wan occupied by Battalion quartermaster-sergestit Newman.
After dinner . . . . .

posed,* po the health of " Her lisissty the
Queen," and then "the Prince and Princess of Wale, and the
rest of the Royal family," mentioning that this county iv about
to be honoured by a visit from the Prins° of Wales, sail he
remarked that if H.R.H. should corno to me his property at
irchciter, he trat sure there would be no difficulty in getting
them all to turn out al a guard of honeur—(applaule) Whether
that ware so or not, he wee pleated to be able to tell them that
the DonMoster ride band was *dog to endst at the rceeption
or the 'niece and Princem at Winiborno—(applause).
In giving "the army, navy, rind the auxiliary forum," Capt.
Cowin remarked that last autumn sinus of them had an
opp irtunLy of meeting a portion of the army on its own
ground, and acting with It lu something like earnest service,
so that now they knew a little more about the regulars and
could wanly how civilly and kindly they were receive I an I
, treated by all rank.. 4 the regiments with whieli they were
associated—(applause). Therefore he thought they wool
drink the toast of the army with in ire zest than before. He
wee afraid they bad not pes•ent • repreoentative of either the
army Or the navy, but he warn sure they would cordially receive
the toast-4applauee).
Mr. George Tsylor, of the Q.0.Y.C., returned thank..
The Cllallhall proposed ''flee Bishop and Clergy of the
Diocese," and mid they were very happy on that °cc' don to
I have the presence of their chaplain—the Rev. H. Everett—
(applause). At all time, they were very glad to see hire
=wept them; the orders prevented chaplains going to camp
I with them, or be had no doubt there would have beau but
few of the Dorset battalion wh o would not have been present.
Ha gave them the Bishop and Clergy, and the health of Hr.
liverett—(applause).
The Rev. H. Vaunt said he was execiodlngly obliged to
. .

tb;c:hTfor t.he.kind way mwhich thoy himphtcelied

and the mention of hi. name. I,could say honestly that
attar • year's experienee of his duties as their chaplain, he was
afraid they were rather mare nominal tour real. Ile should cer-
tainly haye liked to have been with them in their recent
campaign, especially that engagement at Hoes Back, which
had not only brought distinctive honour oil their friend
?..nfre 11').eaet,1;i6t.11 h-eutrougeellbrultbmiemb:rl be
:ale-
thing else that has taken place for • long time to raise the
volunteers in the estimation of the nation. Beetute, Ili they
all knew, a great many bard things had been said about the
volunteers (whether tight or wrong he would leave others to
say), but the way in which the volunteera carried themselvm
in that campaign had elicited irom their most adverse
the •dmissi on that they did their work far better and in ire
efficiently than they ever expected —(applause). So,
he considered, the encampment • capital thing ;
and he should have liked to have been present.
because be believed that in one week mixing with
them in that way he thould get • more friendly knowledge
of the members of the corps than perhaps in • year living in
the ordinary course : and he thought what all were anxious
for wee that the clergy should be known not only In their
public ministrations:but also In the kind and friendly Inter-
course which ought begiat between the clergy and laity. They
did hope to sue that feeling amongst them. They did nut want
him to tell them that there was a strung suint abroad In tuen's
minds, expressing-Itself very vicar) end distiuctly, loCputting
on trial all our institutions. They saw it everywhere. and It
made than anxious to see that our institutions were really
performing their work and doing that for which they were
called into existence. The Church of England was being
tried,but he said this • that while her clergy are earnest, xmlous,
hard-working, mvi devoted, he did not think them need be :
any fear for that church. The volunteers had also been put
upon their trial. More had been learnt in the last eighteen
months of the art of war than probably in the thirty years
before, and they had awoke be the necessity of re-casting and
reorganising the military forme The era of vast human
machines had passed away, and In the future they must look
rather to the trained skill ot individuals and the experience and
knowledge of the subordinate officers than anything else. But
he would keys taus subject to others who were more compe-
tent to discuss it. However, the (thumb and the army, the
tia./. end the volunteers, and every other service was on Da
Lna'; 164 If they were win they would make the most of
their oppottualtles. This the volunteers had done, and he
believed the movement would yet spread very considerably in
England; and let them all, never mind to what breach of
service they belonged, do their utmost to make that an
honour and glory in the laud, and an honour and glory it
would become--(applause).
The Quitman next pm the health of Colonel Bturt, the
member for the borough, who was a good friend of the corps
In several ways, He whit almost in hopes that they might
have seen CoL fiturt then, but it seemed he was on duty with
his regiment at Dublin. However, he proposed his health
with thanks to him for the emisthum he had Worded them—

(applause.)
ma Cumulus! neat gate " the lleyor and Cormutlon of
Dorchester," ea Aug how plumed they would hare been to tee
thew all present.
)12. 09W301/10r GAZOOILT acknowledged tbe 000mennent, ski
wild It wee the deans of the Couutd to do whaA they could to
promote/ the latersda of the borough.
The Cietaitas the. pee "The health of Colonel Meant
sod tbe other mounted Marl al tbe Haitelion,*rderring be