The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-08-03 00:00:00

lOoroet Couttig CAlittrA.

DORCHESTER, JULY 27, 1890.

Donsetsbirt.

THE DORSET VOLUNTEER ENCAMPMENT
AT BURTON ItRAD3TOCK.
Once again we have to record the comp week
"dotage" of the Dorset Volunteers, thli year held
upon thll heathy and pieture-que height.' which
encompses and beautify the skque+tlred ttibge
uf
Burton Braddock. What we have seen up to
going to press., fully justifi s us in adhering to, and
streugthening our late convictious, that the volunteer
forces of England (if D greet lea fair ..ample of them)
have made rapid and pleasing strides tow ads improve-

mut.
Nothing mows down prejudices faeter thou firm con-
victions of reality ! Even faster U.o tho wotdrous
Yankee reaping machines, for we can now say win, abso•
lute certainty. that apart from the fittterina. but r.chly
deserved encomium, passed by lior gricious St 4j !AY,
various officers of the line, tc., wood.rful he been the
advanos in proficiency, made during the put *ix or eigLt

Teen.
In the face of this no one can doubt that in the event
of the "good, old surgirt Isle" being Whiled, the Britbh
Volunteers will be ready to defend their bin I and homes
from the wreck and ravage of the pillsgere—ney. even
should occasion serve. tight on a foreign soil, for bottler,
home, and kindred. Although there are fee countries its
the world, if any, snore secure front (eternal inv mion,
than happy England, yet, the installstion of the solunteur
movement showed that tho leaders 1,1,0 Mimi for
their military and nays, tactics, saw in the far distant
future, a sound and reliable weapon of defewe in the
formation of • volunteer raw re.
It has been hid that ovary war is a blan•le-. enil every
human battle • blot of shame U) fl hitostli n stare and
civilisation. Even so. but then there hive be !n, are, sod
will be, undoubtedly, mitunderstenilmg• which Vs
insulted can only relieve themselves ken, end I solfy br
• force of arrns, at least. until there cm b a mutual dis-
arming of every power in the wori 1.
May the day be long distant wtem Eirglaud Jilin he
agile immersed in mother nor ; tithe Our C tlica, let
those men, who even yet retard Lie volunteers as an
unnecessary bud in and expense upon tlti c iuntry,
remember, that whilst the " brsves th t.o
shedding their life-blood bravely and potriotittlly in
another clime, the volunteers at home e 111 ia,t at al
shrink from acting on the defensive, from t skies. tip AIM
eland oppression, should any power at that tske
advantage of our temporary weakness, by attempting to
spread misery and ruin In our household,. ; for these men,
who are at this moment engaged in an ideal skirmish on
the Burton heights, may yet have to flub gleams of
heroism, not only for themselves and neighbours, but for
Queen and Constitution. Long may it prosper I Many
=deg% when the volunteers were first organised, many
upon it sapolle2hable movement—one which
showed England more wealth than the knee
well what to do with—that she must needs spend it in
teaching civilians to "pl 9 at soldiers. But to whit •
mildewy has this" plang" at 'Didier' reached ; Why,
Within/ more nor less than that we can gracefully boast of
a set of men, the majority of which, by their application
to drill practice and general rules, and • proper spirit id
subordination to superior offleers,—thave made them, whit
• few years ago we could scarcely export—at once
penietic, and if need be—brave. The officers are deserv-
ing mach praise, for both feeling and exhibiting an
interest am trot tows= in every sense of the word.
The Dorset Volunteers were formed in 11350,and held their
first camp in 1851. at West Lot worth. Since then it less
been hold at Aldershot and other places. The first camp
at Burton Bradstook was held in IND, and the next in
1875. This brings no to the third encampment, which we
trust will not be the last on these pleasant grounds, upon
which we are now tithing our stand. Everyone thinks
their own children the prettiest, and no doubt everyone
thinks his native county the prettiest and richest in all
nature's gems which go to make up an English scene.
Here we are, elevated • giddy height above the level of
the beach, and to the south se far as the eye can reach
sons& old Neptune's domain' not tossed and torn as we
have beheld it, but, to-day, as smooth as • polished mirror ;
YOU • " WOO bit" ripple De-attars the reflection of the
scorching orb upon its surface as we write. We turn to
the left, or eastward, and there stretches that wonderful
and stupendous collection of pebbles known as the Chesil
Beach. from our feet to the ancient isle of Portland, on
which the Alexander (East Incliaman) was lost. There, in
mazy distance, can be discerned Wyke Church, in the
Immediate vicinity of Weymouth, and the quaint houses
of Chatl in the island of Portland, appear not snore than
three miles from us. We wiU leave the dizzy view to the
south and move upward; a few steps farther from the
brink of the precipice,to • still higher point beyond. " Id)w
tosautifal" we ejaculate almost instinctively. Every step
Is on romantic ground; and besides new embelliahnsents
and new features premed themselves, turn where you
"The murmuring surge,
That on unnumbetudldle pebbles chafes,

b-4;;;oi-be-h-g;r7 —et) -hi-flit:;;-
The mast picturesque objects the country presents con
scarcely vie with the peculiar wildness which reigns in the
scenery immediately contiguoria and abound. as far as
Start point. The beautiful undulations to lbs west; a
verdant slope covered by • stunted growth of the " germ"
-the golden butterfly blorsoms which the Swedish
botanist so devoutly praised-ready to burst into bloom:
and yet another slope ralsiog from a fertile valley,
pleasantly diversified by fiends of waving c ire. causing
• rapture that almost renders one insensible to fatigue.
The view to the north, though pretty, cannot be com-
pared to the ref rutting_ picture behind us. Not far to the
northeast towers the Hardy Monument, the only feature
which breaks the sameness in the lofty range of hills
from gggerton to the see. Another elevation forming an
angle with the figgerton hi ighte, from Bothenhampton
Hill almost to Burton teems with vegetation but this
amphitheatre of Mlle entirely abuts out the view berond,
but the c onflned view is none the leer into evting. Away
to the north-west the tower of Bride ort can be partially
discerned, and the situation or the remainder ir made
apparent by the thin eery smoke end
.mist that reign
above it. But the southern picture, Howe up of its I fty
cliff., containing geological triesures, heretic ore, ',elem.
Mite, and pyrites- the uglier of a ripple" upon the
bo.ven id the ley, which now gb our w.th the azure of an
It alien lake-the long line of white foam, I eking I.ke en
edging of hoarfrost along the Che3il bank, defka
Lion.
Apart from its beautiful and healthy poeition, the con.
tisuity of the camp ground to the tea affords the volun-
teers the opportunity of a "piens., in the briny deep,"
which always proves • grateful boon to the eisidan
soldiers. The Bridportonians and many other. ileeerve a
word of praise for their exertiono to give the Dorset
Volunteers a right welcome reception jet° the town
Monday last. About a fortnight ego a public or. Cog
was convened by requistion of the Mayor (J. T. Stephens,
fisql. in order to see what ete,d would Le taco for
giving the men • welcome. It was felt en all nider that
they should be cordially receired, and it was unanimously
decided that • substantial luncheon should 1., previ led
for them on the occasion of their entering and leaviug the
town. A "reception" committee was at once formed,
and set willingly to work, and the resultv of their ,x
Lions has ham been that by public subsuiption they hao
raised • fend of upwards of ASS, which woe duly received
by Mr. F. W. Hallett, the hoo. see. Tire luneheens have
cost szo (about), provided by Mr. W. linieht, end the
surTitio handed over to the A.hletic Rents C ousruittee-
me or Williams, Lout. Robins, and Lieut Andrews-Is
being expended in priz la to the men. The arrangement
was considered to he more inati•factory t r the men than
decorating the town, as on a frisie 11C4.6.4 .1,. by p :lobe
subscription, but at the saute time those inhale: live who
kindly decorated their pr mines on their own account
deserve the thanks of the volunteers, as we'll as ill the
Reception Committee, the lion sec., the Mine; aril all
subscribers. The toll 'Wing era among the latt-r t--
_ Subscriber of .130-T. item:sell, E.g.. Wykis Court,

. _ .
Erb:lpm*,
Subscribers of .I.s—Me or.. It. and It. V:11i41414 a.. Co.
(bankers). Charles Weld, Esq. (Chideock Manor). Lord
Alington, J. LOU. 149. tßridPora
Subsenbers of 13—J. P.,. (binary, Esq. 01.idport and
Sydlinak W. W. Dishy, Esq., W. Ihrans.::l, Eel. (Mount.
fields, Bridport).
Subscriber" of £2—John Floyer, Ml'. (Dorcbrs'er),
Captain Still (Bridport), W. Collor, E .q. (Bridpor 0,0. W.
Evans, M.D. (Bridport).
Subscriber of a gulnea—Colonel Di .by.
Subscribers of El—Mrs. M. Gundry (The Hyde, Brid.
Tort). Messrs. F. W. Oundry, Loggin, Nentes, S. W,
etham, Whethani. Captain Whetham, W. It. Circk.
Edmunds sod Co. and A. W. H. Dowers.
In addition to the above the subscription list contain' the
names of a number of gentlemen who have contributed
Weer sums, which are too numerms to mention.
Every attention has been given to comfort and con-
visigenoe on the field. The water 4 the Bridport Water
Company has, under the direction of Mr. James Lowe,
been conducted to the ground. (ruin the large reservoir.
Messrs. W. and li. Trump, of the Cross Keys, Britport,
have been entrusted with the canteen flutes and the
mitering of the officers' well: they are carrying out their
duties well, for we beer the dainty dishes prepared by
Messrs. Trump, who are well-known as efficient caterers,
fully satisfy the epicurean tastes of the worthy officers.
It may not be out of place beret, state • few perticulars
touching the Bridport company, considering their vicinity
has, this year, been hououred by • visit
The Bridport IA Company), was formed en the E' th of
August, IRA but was then, and until lately, known ea
the let ocrpo. In that year all the voluntzer forces in
England were first formed. The lute respected Major
Templar wee its first commanding onion.,
,the following
came in order. all of whom have resigned :-Sir
glpex Nepean. Bart, Cant Edwards, Capt.F. W.
rllite present commander is Capt. W. T. M bather°,
11011 of the ex• Lord Mayor of London. The existing
officers of the company are—Captain Whethean, Acting-
Chaplain Rev. Himelown Assistant-Surgeon W. A. E.
Hay, Lieutenant Hommel!, Sergeant-Major In-tructor
Watts, Bogle-Major Foster. and Quartermaster-Sergeant
fine; Bearalnsiter. sub-division—QuavermaaterSergeant
Roberts, Colour-Sergeant Patten. Sergeants Terry,
Warren, Meech, and Rama Useaminstert, Hounrell,
Knight.
All the companies in the county, via 11, and 1 sob-
division (Beaminster). were formerly known as corp., but
the battalion order issued in June last by Colonel It 0. F.
Steward was to the effect "that Her MaJoity bat ap-
proved of the battalion being formed into a c insolidatad
regiment." Since then they have been designated by
letters (alphabetically) instead o' by figures as formerly.
The regiment now compriser the following Bridport ;
B. Wareham ; C, Dorchester' ; D. Poole ; E. Weymouth ;
Wimberne ;0, Shertiorne: Blandford ;I, Shaftesbury;
J, Sturminster Newton', K, Gillingham ; and &remits:re
division with Bridport. The staff of the entire regiment is
as follows:—! lieut-oolonel. 2 majors, 11 cants., 12 lieu's.,
1 adjutant, 1 quartermaster, and 1 surgeon ; there are
1.159 of all ranks. The rub ir which were made at Alder-
shot in 1877 are now guiding the whole regiment, instead
of • separate rule guiding each company.
After last weeks chariots,' aurishine everyone vs.
anticipating • week of similar favourable weather. On
Sunday afternoon heavy masses of cloud began ti obscure
the heavens, and by eisht o'clock the threatened deluge
came down in all it. force and fury. A stiff wind spmng
up from the south, too well known to be the harbinger of
a "regular damper." Without cessation the rain con-
tinued until Monday morning, when there were slight
indications of improvement. However, between nine and
eleven the remorseless rain again commenced, and with •
wilder fury than before.
This naturally did not heighten the spirit.. of the towns-
people, or the resident volunteer,; but It was useless to
repWe,although the atmospherical disadvantage was much
to beo=tsted. Flsge,banners, and other evidences of an
leper festivity were hoisted, but soon were drenched
with the wet A few of the companies erriverd per early
cud by dinner-time nearly all had salved. The
company met their brethren at the Railway.
where the baggage was delivered, and at once
sided to*, camp per waggons One corporal and
privates were engaged se tomes guard to the camp
'IL "a" atc.ord, having the command of the
infltructid Bugle-major Folder, of the Bridport
7. to form the battalion band of 32 member", to
Abed front several bends in the county. To judge
the style in which thy/ Played the volunteers into
town Mocks well for las bustle-major'. selection of
The
_procession palled down South-street to
' and in an adjoinitut field, kindly lent
of the Bull Hotel, the whol l t
—.um& at luncheon. The " reception eeeitie ree-kl.,°-
em caterer; and very efficient ones they proved, A
it showers and • high wind prevailed, as the men
2. foe the three miler march to the camp On their
, they were bawd singing cheerily and hinrtily.
sheet preliminu7 order for pitching te te
even, and In • short space of time the ground allotted
the tents was completely covered by • mass of spiral
%MIL Dinner wee soon rater served to the men in their
and the officers dined in the mese tont, where *
'S
,collation was served by Mr. W. Trump in right
, and ho thoroughly damned the swootalwas