The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-08-30 00:00:00

RIFLE CORPS MOVEMENT.

Lo:mos RIFLE RHIGADIL—Lord Grovesnor, M.P.,
and Alderman Sir Peter Laurie have joined the council.
Lord Mello and Captain George Montague Hicks (Lieu-
tenant-Colonel elect) had an interview on Tuesday with
the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, M.P., at the War-
office, on various subjects connected with the brigade.
The tunic, of rifle-green cloth, is cut in the shape of the
Rifle Brigade, and braided in the fashion of the Victoria
Rifles. The trousers, too, are of rifle-green cloth, with
• black mohair braid. The corps wear a cloth shako
a hi Suritaigne, with plume and the plate of the brigade,
which also distinguishes the patent leather shoulder-belt,
while the pouch, which is also of latent leather, displays
the bugle and crown. The forage cap is of cloth, with
square peak, black mohair band, and badge of the
brigade; this badge (of bronze) has on it the Royal arms
encircled by a garter em' !wined with the words,
" London Rifle Brigade" in silver, and resting in relieve
on the city sword and mace entwined with oak leaves ;
it is surmounted by a crown, and dependant from it are
the city arms, with the motto "leA Dicta" in silver
einblazonary. The total cost is £5 55., the contractors
being S. W. Silver and Co., of Cornbill and Bishops-
gate-street. The plates are designed and executed by
Firmin and Son, of the Strand. The Royal Exchange
Assurance Corporation have presented to this brigade
.E 25 The Corporation of London Assurance 4.15.
The London Life Association, 1.15. The Sun Fire-
office, Ell/ 10s.

VOLUNTERR RIFLE CORPS.—A piece of land has
been selected as a practising ground fur the King's Lynn
Rifle Corps, and has been approved by Captain Coles,
of the lit Royals. The site adjoins the eastern bank of
the estuary cut. The Colchester and East Essex Corps,
at present numbers 30 members, and the committee have
decided that the colour of the uniform shall be dark
green with the usual facings, and that the short Enfield
rifle, with sword bayonet, shall be used. The collective
oust of arms and uniform is estimated at ES 14s. The
spot selected as a practising ground for the Brentwood
corps is from Shenfield common to the railway embank.
ment. The members have been measured for their
uniform. Ride practice takes place almost daily at
Languard Fort, on the Suffolk coast, opposite Harwich.
On Tuesday another draught of men left Colchester
camp for the Fort. Some of the target shooting has
been most excellent. The Ipswich Ride Corps has
been under active drill four times • week, at the militia
dep6t. The corps is not so well supported as might
have been expected out of a population of nearly 40,000.

NOTTINGHAM Ring CoRPB.-013 Tuesday, the 23rd
inst., his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, after having in-
spected the Nottingham Volunteer Ride Corps, at Map-
perley, near Nottingham, briefly addressed the men,
and expressed his satisfaction at the progress they had
made in drill and discipline, and at the feeling of
patziotisin which they had evinced by their enrolment.
He had not, be said, looked with any distrust on the
formation of rifle corps, and had always considered the
objections raised against them as by no means insur-
inountaale. It had been suggested that the services of
rifle corps since the peace would no longer be re-
quired, but, although no alarmist, he thought that the
sooner they were formed the better. Such formations
were not the result of a war panic, but were necessary
in order that, in ease of need, their services might be
effective when required. He could not agree with
those who thought that volunteer rifle corps and •
standing army were necessarily antagonistic, for he was
sure that the regular troops would not be unwilling to
fight side by side of the volunteers. As soon as the
corps numbered KO men he should be happy to recom-
mend it to be received by her Majesty. After exhort-
ing them to be careful that the individuals admitted
were gentlemen—by which term be included all men
from the nobleman to the artisan if they conducted
themselves properly—he informed them that although '
as Lord Lieutenant of the county he had the right of
appointing their officers, lie should in every case pre-
viously consult the wishes of the corps on the subject.
He looked upon their organisation as democratic, but
democratic in the highest and most honourable point of
view. It was subsequently announced by the Mayor
that his Grace had offered a silver-mounted rifle to the
best marksman next year, and had also subscribed fifty
guineas.
HALLAMMIIIIII RIFLES.- The volunteer movement in
Sheffield is producing very satisfactory results. The
rifle corps now numbers about 240 members, and offi-
cers hare been appointed for three companies. Serjeant-
Major Levi, late of the 23rd Regiment, has been en-
gaged, and the members of the corps muster for drill six
evenings in the week in considerable numbers. A hand-
some grey uniform with black and scarlet facings has
been adopted, and a considerable proportion of the corps
now assemble in uniform for drill. The committee of
management have selected the Lancaster rifle in prefer-
ence to the Enfield, and have already obtained 2.1 rifles
at the expense of the corps. The progress of the corps
in drill is reported to be highly satisfactory, and home
are enterteined that a somewhat strung corps will even-
tually be established, frequent accessions being re-
ceived.

Soura DEVON VOLUNTEER RIFLE Coups.—This
corps was reviewed on Monday night at Exeter by the
commanding officer, Sir E. S. Prideaux. This was the
first ride wrist formed in the kingdom, and it is now
becoming an extremely efficient body. They have a
very neat uniform, and have a very soldierlike beating.
The rides were sapplled a short time since, and the
members are now drilled with them. There are four
drills each week, two early in the morning and two in
the evening. The members muster with great regu-
Imity and bestow much attention upon their practice.
At the inspection on Monday evening they were nearly
all present, and they went through the various manioc-
Tres with considerable precision. eliciting Us* commend-
ation of the inspecting officer. The band of the Ist Devon
Militia was present.