The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-08-06 00:00:00

PRVICiTATION TO COLONEL M•MIIIL.

Immediately after the review an incident of • mast
grattfying nature occurred, viz , the presentation of •
handsome testimonisl, consisting of a magnificent salver
•nd • pair of claret ceps, to Colonel Mensal, subscribed
for by every officer and man in the battalion—• foci
which only represents the universal e-teem with which
brie by them all regarded. The battalion was marched to
the south front of the mansion, where they were formed
into three aides of • square, fate inwards, and, the
officers haring been called to the front,
Lieut.-Colonel Steward said, that in the unavoidable
absence of the Honorary Colonel, the Earl of Eldon,
who was detained in London by important panic
mentary duties, it became his pleasing privilege, on
behalf of the battalion of Dorset Rifle Volunteers, to
beg the acceptance by Colonel Mansel of the Plate before
hie,. Knowing what his wish would bi, they had .o
limited the subscription that no one could have been
inconvenienced in Itratifyiug his wish to join in it. It
had been joined in by every officer, non-commissioned
officer, and man in the battalion. The value, therefore,
was not in the intrinsic worth of thy gift, hut in the
feeling which prompted the making of it. Happily
they had not been called to active service, but they
knew that Colonel Ifamel had done all that could be
done to make them efficient should need arise. When
the scattered companies were formed in the county,
they bad no hops. of being brought together to work.
The *hole thing was new—officers and men were alike
untried, and many thought that they would soon tire
of their well meaning efforta. They felt that it had
been in the highest degree owing to the enerry, the
courteous tact, the unvarying good temper and kindness
which Mr. Hansel,as their Colonel,hed shown, that they
had been brought and kept together, and that not only
had they avoided jealousy, but had'won (they trusted) the
good opinion of their native county. They prayed that
Colonel Manisa noght long continue to lead them, and
to see the battalion prosper and they felt confident
he would value their present as a token of their regard
and affeetion—(cheers).

Colonel Marcel, in acknowledging the testimonial,
said he thanked them for the kindnem which had in.
dined them to present him with that token of their
regard and esteem, and he thanked them for the kind
and affectionate eantimenta expressed in the address.
He received them with gratification far greater than any
words or Ma scald sufficiently mere... Re could assure
them that he wan never so suipriaed in hie life than
when he was told in the ant place, by his good friend
Captain Farrer, that such an idea was in riontemplation,
and he begged of him that it might be put a stop to. Re
had, what he valued far more than anything el.e, the
living affection of three 800 Dorset volunteers, with
whom he had been aesoeiated these eight years—(ap.
please.) He required nothing tangible to remind him
of that, which be so much valued. Moreover, he bad
set hie fade against any extraneous expense, which would
fall on either the officers or men of the battalion ; and
he was very sorry that it had been broken through on
his behalf. But Captain Ferrer, with his usual forte of
argument, soon convinced him that his appeal would be
of no avail : he told him that it was their wish the pre-
sentation should be made, that the subscription was
limited to • small sum, and that the gift was not to be
looked upon as • testimonial, but simply as a token of
their esteem. He mended the position, and from that
time he had felt groat pride—and be felt sure it woe
pardonable pride—that what he had hoped and believed
as to the affection entertained by the battalion for
him wan really the case—(applause). It would be idle
and hypocritical for him to say that he had done nothing
for the volunteen sines he had been plaited in the noble
position of commander of the battalion. Elia great
ambition Lad been to have this one of the beet drilled
and best disciplined battalions in the wintry, and he had
been greatly successful, through his exertions being
supported by every officer, non-commissioned officer,
and man in the battalion. They had remembered and
acted upon the motto of the badge on their breasts,
"Unity is strength." They had worked another an
one man. He accepted theii handsome present with
the deepest gratitude, and he should prize it with pride
far greater than he «odd dosatibm Mra. Manse
would share with him those feelings of gratification,
and she would rejoice that he was associated with •
body of men who showed such considerate kindness and
good fetling,adding tothe happiness of their lives. Their
children also would share his pride, and when they
saw the present, they would be reminded that by cloths
their duty in that station of life in which it had pleased
God to place them, they would gain the regard of them
amongst whom they were thrown—(4,omm). He
returned them sincere thanks lapin and again, and he
prayed that the bond of union which joined them
together might last as long as the existence of the
let Battalion of Dorset Ride Volunteers—(great
cheering).
The salver was of great weight and handsomely chased,
and it bore in the centre the Colonel's mat of arms, and
this Inscription neatly engraved :—" The Adatiaii•

*afire Battalion of Dorset Rifle Volunteers, to their
Lieutenant-Colonel, George Pleydell Manse!, 1867.
The claret cups were risibly embossed.
When the cheers bad subsided, Colonel Hansel said
he thanked them for thou cheers. He should like
everybody in Dorset to know whet praise the battalion
had received from the reviewing °Meer that day. It
bad doubled the pride be felt in commanding the
battalion Se saw before him. He hoped that the next
time they met it would be in as great number., and he
prayed God would bless them all in this world and the
next—(epplause). lie this referred to the kindness
and liberality of Baron Hambro, through which they
had been enabled to spend • plevant and proliteble
week, and proposed three cheers for Baron Hambro and
his family—(cheers). The colonel then remarked that •
lady (Mrs. ilambro) was so anxious to mei.e them
that she gave up • pleasant journey to Norway,
and again, when the time of the encluntment woe
changed, she withdrew from a party arranged to
go to Goodwood in order to welcnme them. He pro-
posed three cheers for Mri. Flambro—(cheera).
Captaic Hunbro briefly acknowledged the kind
eapreuions made on behalf of his father, himself, and
his wife.
Thl battalion was then dismissed.

The ground was admirably kept during the review
by aboutsixty of the Q.0.R.Y.C., from the Blandford,
Dorchester, and Melbury troops, under Captain Mansell.
Adjutant Griffis, Lieutenant Celcraft, and Cornet Smith
Marriott. The yeomanry were subsequently entertained
at an elegant luncheon at the hall.
_ - .

The following is the " field state" on Thursday, nuat•
bering two of all nudes

_
Srarr.--Colonal Hansel (commandant), Lieut... Colonel
Steward, Moine Templer, Major Kinderaley, Capt. and
Adjutant Barrett, Quarter-Master Bergman, Surgeon
Rode, Assistant-Surgeons Tizard an I Long, Sergeant-
Major Abbott, and twelve sergeant-instructors.
BRIT/Ton (ha) Count- -Capt. H. S. Edwards,
Lieut. Loggin, Hon. Chaplain the Rev. Melville L Let,
7 sergeants. 1 bugler, 34 rank and file; total, 45.
WARSHAW (2s)M D; .
CORM-Capt. 0. W. Ferrer,
Lieut. N. Bond. Ensign .1. Penton, 4 sergeants, 1
bugler, 47 rank and file ; total. 55.
DOHCHILSTEM (31D) CORPS.-Cmpt. T. Coombs,
Lieut. J. F. Hodges, Ensign R. Williams, 5 sergeant+,
2 buglers, 50 rank and file ; total, 60.
lloote (4711) COMPa.-Calt. F. J. Butt., Lieut. 0. B.
Aldridge, Ensign J. Tin;, 7 sergeants, 40 rank and file;
tots', 50.
WITMOIITH (STIG CoIITS.-Capt. J. Thresher, Lieut.
J. Tissrd, thou, staff °Moor, 4 sergeants, 28 rank and file;
total. 35.
WIMBORNP (6th) CORPS.-Lieut. Weld Taylor,
Resign Albert Banked (who was acting commandant), 5
sergeants, 2 borderer:ft ruk and file total, 46.
SHmalloalNi (IMM) COMPS..-Capt. J. F. F,lsrauer,
1 lieutenant, 4 sergeants, 1 bugler, 41 rank and
file; total 48.
13 L•enroito (8•11) Coles.- Capt. C. J. T. Flambe.%
Lieut. F. T. Johns, Ensign E. A. H. Castleman, 5
sergeants, 1 bugler 38 rank and file: total. 47.
finarresnonr ()ih) Conre.-Capt. Lyon, 1 lieut.,
Ensign Bennett, 5 sergeants, 1 bugler, 45 rank and
file: total,s 4.
S•reafiterrriti New'red (10th) CORPS.-Lieut. M.
Williams, Ensign H. C. Dashwood, 2 sergeants, 25 rank
and file: total, 21
GILLINGHAM ( lltb )coera-Papt. Matthews, Ensign
H. Raines. 1 hon. muff offleer, 3 sergeants, I. bugler, 37
rank and file: total. 44.
MTALBaIDGI (12,5) comm-Lieut. Long. Ensign
Peek, 4 sergeants, 1 Sigler, 48 rank and file, total. 55.
In the course of the evening the following foot races
and athletic sports came off, under the direction of
Msjor Templer, and Captains Hambro, Matthews,
Thresher, and Lyon. The prizes consisted of silver
tankards, snuff boxes, pocket flasks, kc.
Hurdle race, 400 yards, over ten Bight of hurdles.-
There were ten competitor., and the prizes fell to
Nesbit (Bth) and Bktliam (12th).
High jump. -Three competed, and the successful ones
were Quirk (Bth) and Clough (12th).
Flat race of halta-mile.-There were Ave entries in
this race, and if ter a emart contest the winner was
Beefing (11th), with Quirk (Bth) second.
Sack Tem.-Nine competed in this amusing contest.
and the successful ores were Ensign Kaines (11th) and
R. Meader (3rd).
Flat race, 100 yards.-No less than ten started in
this race, when Nesbit (Bth` again proved the swiftest
runner, and Allude' (Ist) took second honour'.
One mile reee.-For the long distance eight entered,
and the winners were Bealing (11th), Kent (9th), and
Terrett (11th).
Flat race in couples.-Seven competed in this rue,
and the prizes fell to Oliver and Wills (11th) W. and
Muter (3rd).
Throwing the criecet belt -H. Meader (3rd) was the
beat at this feat, sae Blandford (Bth) second.
Before the mushz on Thursday there wan a contest
amongst the bugler* for £$ in three prises. There
were nine competitor*, and the result was that Bugler
George Wellspring. of the 3rd corps took the first prize
of £3, with all the honour attaching to it; Bngler
Menai, of the Wareham corps, £2; and Bugular Kent,
of the Sherborne eorps, tl.
The afternoon in tamp was one of the most enjoy-
able during the week, The lines were thronged with
visitor', and the volunteers were right hospitable,
inviting all to share their tents and the good things
they had reserved for the occasion. Remarkable
buoyancy of spirits and gaiety were every apparent.
and the utmost jollity prevailed. In the evening, the
Ohio Minstrels, of whom wit have often had occasion to
speak in terms of approbation, gave perfot manors both
at Baron tfarzbro's mansion and in the camp, before
delighted audiences. Soon after "lighte-out" was
sounded, the camp was illuminated with the magnesium
light, and it had • remarkably brilliant and striking
sleet.
Early on Friday morning the tramp was astir, and in •
very short tune the whole of the tents were struck, and
the baggage was placed in the wagenns to the lines
ready to be the transported to the head-quarter" of the
various coma, At • clock the men mustered on psrdle
for the last time, andCoL Mansel addressed them, saying
he felt that the great success of the camp was
a cause for much congratulation, and he considered that
their thanks were due to Baron Hambro, who had so
kindly invited them to that place, and, in the name of
the battalion-in the name of every offloer and man-he
intended to convey their thanks to the Aaron for what
he had done for them during the encampment-
(applause). He hoped that the advice Colonel Bruce
gave them yesterday with regard to their drill would be
followed, and if he might add • little it was this ;-Fle
considered they lied cow come to such • state that if
every member would make it a point of honour to most
his company every month-and ff every man determined
I he °fluid do it-when they went intocampnezt year they
would be in a for better state even then they now were
-(applause). That was a great truth. If they did no,
there would not he found ten or twelve men at drill,
with offiaers who had come a great distanee, dietressed
to find such small numbers. He congratulated them
having, in forming the battalion, put aside every little
local prejudice. Fusing to other matters, he thanked
the farmers of the neighbourhood for what they had
done for the battalion ; he thought their thanks were
also due to Sergeant Drew for the admirable way in
which he had provided for them ; and likewise they
ought to thank Mr. Wellspring and the than:theater band
-(applause). They had come to the camp u one band,
and whenever, or wherever required-in the morning,
in the afternoon for the ladies, or on parade-they
were always willing to play, and they took their part in
the most admirable manner -(applause). He then
proposed three cheersfor Baron Flambeo and h;s family,
whioh were given right heartily, with several for the
Captain.
The battalion then cheered long and loudly for Cot
Manse!, followed by cheers for Adjutant Barrett.
The period in camp passed without anything occurr-
ing to sully the good name of the Dorset battalion, and
they weld return to their homes with the proud eon-
scioneness of having acted • patriotic and manly part.
The volunteers journeying to the westward were enter-
tained on the route at Beebe, farm and at Mr. George
Groveies, the latter of whom displayed on the arch he
had erected across the road this parting salute,
"Volunteers, defenders of our homes, good bye!" At
Druce farm also, Mr. Hull had made preparations for
the refreshment of the volunteers, but the Dorchester
corps, at any rate, did not take that route. but jonrnied
via Puddlerown, and arrived at Dorchester about four
o'clock dusty and weary.
The camp at Milton Abbey has been attended with
gratifying soonest, bat the feeling of the volunteers
generally seems to be more favourable to Lalworth sea
camping ground on any future occasion.