The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-02-19 00:00:00

PRESENTATION OF A SILVER RI'OLE TO THE
SALISBURY RIFLE CORPS.

On Wednesday week the Salisbury Rifle Corps had
the honour of receiving the silver bugle recently pur-
chased by the ladies of Salisbury and its neighbour.
hiss!, at the hands of Lady Ciroline Beckley, who hail
kindly acceded to the wiellea of the subacrilars to make
the presentation im their behalf. The ceremony took
place within the railed space in front of the Council
House, and attracted a larger gathering than has been
witnessed in the market place since the Clireedun
Review.
The corps assembled in two companies at the market •
house, about half-past three o'clock, and, after march'
log down llinater-street. preceded by their excellent
band, were drawn up in trout of the Council house,
and facing • dais which had been erected for the
occasion.
Having taken her place on the dais, surrounded by a
number of the subscribere, Lady Catherine alibi :
Captain Jacob, and gentlemen of time Salisbury Rifle
Volunteers,—The ladies of Salisbury and of its neigh-
bourhood have been desirous of testifying the interest
which they take in your corps and in its welfare, and
they have requested me to give expression to their
feeling. I ant much flattered by their having selected
me to do so. It gives tnc much pleasure to be able to
assure you of our cordial good-will, and of the gratitude
which wo ana all Englishwomen most feel towards
those gallant volunteers who, throughout the land,
have cent, rorwaril so listrioticall7 to offer they ner-
eiees, should they he required for the defence of the
country. As a token of our regard the ladies of Saha-
bury hope you will accept of this silver bugle, which I
now beg to place in your hands, with our very best
I wishes for the prosperity of your corps and of all its
we ober,. (Ilieers.)
l'aptain J received the bugle amid the renewed
cheers of those around. He then maid :-I.ady Cathe-
rine Buckley and ladies of Salisbury,—lt is no easy
task to return thanks, in anything uk. adequate terms
for the kindness aunt generosity, and the high public
! spirit which has pr ttttt idea you to bestow upon us in
beautiful a present as I now 1141 in iny bend. All that
I eau say is that our endeavour from the first list been
to ao credit to the city of Salisbury, mid l am bold to
' sold that there is nut a mail unwept us wales heart is
nut touched by your knit' approval, wlmse zeal will
hot be stimulated by your words, and whose sense of
duty will not be renew,' awl deepened by the very nature
the gift so intmiticiently beatowed. For of what is
this bugle the emblem, and what will its silver notes
call upon us to do? Why, not alone to remember those
nearest awl dearest to us, who have so lionnurea
but to ilischatge the duties which We maw. undertaken
to perform. We have voluntarily iirofessed to defend
our queen and country, our homes and your booms, our
honour and yOUla honour. (Cheers.)
The bugler (Sutton) then advanced and received the
bugle, and having souinled a call,
Lieutenant-General BUCKLET said : I take this op-
portunity of expressing nay great pleasure at having
'wee appointed to the commend of the First ‘Viltaliire
Battalion of Rifle V:dunteers. That eummand had
devolved upon use by the favour of my Sovereign, and
I foul ,mite sure that I shall receive your cordial support
and co-operetion under all circumstances. lam happy
to find that the S aisbury and South Wilts will be the
First Battalion of Wiltshire Volunteers ; and I am
isle that with a proper attention to their duties, they
will benume as efficient a body of men as any in the
country. I am glad to have this opportunity of expreas-
nig my fee-lints, and I beg to thank you very much for
the kind reception which you have given to Lady
Catherine Buckley and myself. (Cheers.)
I;heers were then given for Lieut.. General and Lady
Catherine Buckley, and a like complinieut having been
awarded to "the subscribers," this band struck up •
lively air, ana the corps returned to the market house.
The riflemen's Ball, in the evening, at the Assembly
Rooms, was a decided IHICOalla. there being about 250
ladies and ,gentlemen premint, including many leading
families of able day and neighbourhood. The company

began to arrive about half-past nine, and dancing was
l:cpt or with great spirit until four in the morning.
rargetee Quadfille baud was in attendance, and Mr.
c.,lk in ofticiated an Ilioder of the Ceremonies. The
efficient manner in which he discharged the duties of
th:it office W 54 the subject of general remark. The
refreshments, iirovided by Mr. Brown, of Catherine-
street, were everything that could be desired : and a
hope sees ‘enerally expressed that " the rifteinan's ball"
i14t4(455 an annual affair.