The Express.
London, England, 1863-06-25 00:00:00

ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY, WOOLWICH.

The half-yearly award of commissions and distri-
bution of prizes to the gentlemen cadets of the Royal
Military Academy, by the Uuke of Cambridge (in accord-
ance with previous examination by the Council of Military
Education), took place yeeteeday afternoon in the Gymna-
sium at the rear of the institution, In the presence of a large
number of military officers, professors, and masters of the
academy, and relatives and friends of the students. The
several clauses of cadets assembled on the lawn fronting
the building at half-put two o'clock, with the Royal Artil-
exband, and carried out a series of manual and platoon
exercises in a highly creditable manner. At half-past three
o'clock a salute from a battery of artillery announced the
arrival of his royal highness and his staff. The line of
gentlemen cadets having been inspected front and rear, they
marched past at slow sod quick time, and subsequently
carried out various evolutions. The cadets then marched in
companies to the Gymnasium, and formed into square near
the table which contained the numerous prizes for presenta-
tion. The proceedinp commenced by Major-General Hamil-
ton reading the report of the Council of Military Education,
which stated that of 44 cadets of the first class, 42 bad been
found qualified for commissions in the Royal Artillery and
Royal Engineers. 12 commission. in the Royal Engineers
had been announced ; the 12 senior cadets on the list having
elected for that service, the remainder were recommended
for commissions in the Royal Artillery. In the first class,
the examiner in fortifications, held works, and bridges, con-
sidered the result very satisfactory, every one of the cadets
having obtained a higher credit than half the total number
in the minimum course, and the nature of the answers
showed that the subject, had been carefully studied. The
examiner in chemistry reported the results to be on the
whole satisfactory. In the second class, the progress in
German and other subjects of study bad been satisfactory.
In the third class, the progress bad also been very satis-
factory. In Hiodostuoi, the grammatical questions bad
been fairly answered, and considerable prugreas had bees
made in dewing. Colonel Yorke, &E., than read • re-
port from Major-General &odium, Lieutenant-uovernor
of the Academy, which stated that the whole of
the first class, who had just been under ex-
amination, were fully qualified for commissions, as regards
conduct, discipline, and proficiency io military exercises.
The number of marks gained by each cadet for fortifications,
mathematics, and other branches of study, as certified by
the Council of Military Education, were then read over, and
the successful candidates were caned to the front by his
royal highness, and informed that they would receive com-
missions. His royal highness, who was surrounded by a
brilliant staff of field officers, then proceeded to address the
cadets in appropriate terms. His Royal Highness after-
! wards distributed the prizes.

VOLUNTEER GATHERING AT WEBTININSTER ABBEY.
—Yesterday evening there was a great gathering of volun-
teers in the nave of Westmioster Abbey, for the purpose of
joining In the glorious choral service of the church, and
hearing an address from the Archbishop of York. It is uu-
derstood that the invitation to the volunteers generally
proceeded from the lone of Court Corps, to which his grace
IS chaplain, having accepted that office when be was preacher
of Liocoln's-inn. The spacious nave wax well filled, officers
and men, electives, honorary members, and civilians being
mixed up together, with here and there a few ladies. The
uniforms were of all possible descriptions, of almost every
intoned in sad about London.