The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-01 00:00:00

THE QUEEN'S (WESTMINSTER) RIFLES.

On Saturday evening the second annual distribu-
tion of prime to the suorsisful comtitor in rifle shoot-
ingpe
of the Queen's (Westminster) Volunteers took phioe
in Westminster-hall, in the preemie of an auditory which
completely crowded the building in every pert. Led Con-
stance Grosvenor, acoomponied by the Dowager
of Sutherland, the Lieutenant-Co looel Commandant of the
Regiment, Fad Grosvenor, M.P. ; Lord Gerakl-Pltegarakl,
Lieutriant Colonel of the Second Battalion ; and a anniber
of the principal officers of the Queen's, took their please on
the dais which bad been erected in the centre of the ball,
shortly after 5.30 p.m. Amongst the other noblemen,
ladies sod gentlemen by whom her ladyship was surrounded
were Prince Edward of Sale-Weimer, Lord Lianover, Lord
and lady Chelmdord, Lord and Lady Raidatock, Lord
Echo, ILP., Colonel Erskine, Colonel and Mrs. Illiurdo,
the lice. Mm. Higgins, Coloeel Thesiger, Captain St. John
Mildmay, tea The prises—the gross value of which, in-
cluding the challenge cups, held for the time being by the
regiment, were estimated to value LOOM—were tastefully
arranged at the back of the "WS, in the rears of the en-
trance to the House of Commons, and consisted of rifles and
guns, 23 ; cups and other articles in silver, 57 ; watches,
purses, &c., 37 ; field glasses and telescopes, 15—total, 132.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Grosvenor, M.P., in opening the
proceedings, said the number who had passed through
their clan firing in 1861 had been 627, and in 1862, 549.
The total number who bad attended the butts aim, the Ist
' of January this year had been 1,092, which he thought, out
of 1,450 members, was highly creditable to the regiment.
The highest figure of merit of firing for the battalion was
34.8 in 1861, and in 1862 39.67, being an improvement in
the latter year of 5.5 N. The number of members who
pared through an marksmen in 1861 was 82, and in
1862, 130. This, he tli ht, was very gratifying. The
average attendance at drill during the present year had
been quite 600. They had 1,0001 at Brighton, 945 at their
inspection, and at &moot the Qtr en's were quite equal in
number to any other two battalions on the ground.
Lady Constance Grosvenor, having briefly addressed the
assemblage, proceeded to distribute the prises. The first in
rotation were the marksmen's badges, every and the whole
130 being preent, and wearing a laurel leaf in his cep. The
more prominent mid popular as they reached the point
, where they received their mark of distinction were greeted
with more or leas cheering, Sod the enthusiasm was con-
tinued in particular asses throughout the whole process of
the presentation. At the conclusion of the presentation of
the p addreeses were delivered by Colonel Willurdo
and Lord •

SHIPMENT OP GUNPOWDER PO THE CONFEDERATE
Ocovarriarr.—There into doubt that a ship left Cardiff
last weak having on board a considerable quantity of run.
powder intended for the Confederate government. The
ship in question was partly loaded with coal, and received,
Doe day-lest week, a consignment of 7.211 tons of gunpowder,
which was shipped from alongside. The Bote Dock &nth*.
rities, knowing the danger of such a large quantity of
combustible matter being near the shipping, urged the
immediate departure of the vessel. Application was made
I to the Customs for a clearance to Nassau, but on the con-
tents of the cargo being known it was refused. In the
meantime the ship bad obtained the dock clearance, and
had put out of Penarth Rada. The ship soon afterwards
riled, and nothing more lies been heard of her, although
she was minus the usual Custom house papas. The puma
who was is command of the aura was an unqualified cap.
ter.— Wester* Daily Press.