The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-07 00:00:00

THE GRAND NATIONAL RIFLE CONTEST.

Saturday's programme wan of a more varied
character than that of any of the four preceding days, and
was, in feet, the only one offering any strong indunement
to the rowel public to visit Wimbltdom-oommou for the
purpose of witnessing those competitive struggles for
superiority in rifle practice, which the institution of this
Animal national contest was originally designed to
promote among our volunteers. Not only were the
different competitions of the week—vix., those for the
Quesa's Prise (first stage), the Association Cup, the
Allotment, and the extra priam—to say nothing of the
sighting targets, pool practice, and the Running Deer, con-
tinued ; but there were also introduced the contests for the
St. George's Vase and the Harold Cup, the still more in-
teresting contest for the Ashburtoo Challenge Shield
among the public schools ; and, above all, toe exciting and
novel match between the two houses of parliament.
With such a diversified and interesting programme •
large attendance of spectators bad been confidently anti-
cipated ; and this anticipation would doubtless have been
fulfilled but for the unpropitious state of the weather.
Gun-fire, at half-past nine, found the sky clear and the
atmosphere dry, bet soon the clouds began to gather over
; and after a few brief showers, the rain set in in
earnest about twelve o'clock, pouring down as if with a fall

determination to spoil the sport of the day
for more than an hour, and with an ap.
parent probability of a prolonged continuance. This
led to vague suspicions that the parliamentary contest,
the great event of the day, might possibly be postponed.
for there were many who wondered whether oar hereditary
and representative legislators would be equal to the effort
of 'landing 'to their arms and to their targets amid the
pelting of the pitiless storm. But just before one o'clock,
and while the rain was coming down with relentless energy,
the champions of the Upper Howe drove on to the ground
in grand style, in three four -in-haDd; and their opponents
of the Lower House were not long behind them. Then, in
a few minutes, the rain visaed, the clouds dispersed, sod
the sun, shining out warm and pleasantly, soon licked up
the greater portion of that super-abundant moisture
which the porous soil bad failed to absorb.
Soon after came the different representatives of
the public schools, the Etonians (mustering with
their companions some 405trong), the Harrovian, the Rug-
byites, and the Marlboroughiudi, while carriage*, filled with
fashionably-attired ladies, rapidly racceeded each other,
and gallant equestrian. galloped about the plain in 'cores.
Numerous also care the visitors on foot, so that, although
the attendance did not quite come up to the anticipated
point, the greyed at half-put two, when the rival cham-
pions were paraded before the tent appropriated to the use
of the council, wore an air of animation, and even of gaiety,
Those to whom the forma and face of our legialaton are
not familia:pressed closely in for the papas of studying
the ecienoe of parliamentary physiognomy, and making them-
selves acquainted with parliamentary men and manners
under circumstances so novel and exciting. Strange re-
marks were made occasionally, not unfavourable, nor alto-
gether uncomplimentary ; but it was looted by keen eyes
that my Lord So-and-So had come to Wimbledon with a
shabby coat, and that Mr. This-or-That wore a shocking
bad hat—which was true—but then it was generally ad.
milted that anything was good enough for Wimbledon on a
rainy day, and it was surmised that those of the competi •
tors who were not in volunteer uniform were attired as on
their actual days of partridge shooting or doer stalking.
To set at rest all questioes of precedence, or more pro-
bably to preclude the possibility of any such question
arising, the names were called alphabetically, and it was
arranged that die ftring should be in that order; and thus
rat the list of the eleven chosen marksmen of the
Howe of Lords—via., the Marquis of Abrams,
Earl of Akin, Lard Bolton, Earl of Ducies, Lord Lades-
borough, Lord Lova, Duke of Marlborough, Earl Bowen,
Lord Suffield, Lord Vernon, and Lord Wharocliffe. And
thus the list of the meek shoes of the Haase of Commons—
viz., Lord Bury, Mr. Dillwye, Lord Maio, Mr. Forster
(Bradford), Load Greg de Wiliam, Earl Grosvenor, Mr.
Leslie, Mr. Has Boasell, Mr. Tiiat Mr. H. Vivian,
and the Hoe. H. Wyndhani. The public looking at
the two squads were at a complete as to their resew-
tin merits ; bat the knowing ones backed the Lords, freely
offering three and even five to one, and ruling decisively
that the Candor had not the ghost of a chance.
The uncial return in coenexion with this match was as
follows:

LORDS.
200 yds. 500 yds. Ores
Ks His. Pia. All. Total
.. 14 7
.. 11 0
... 12 7
... 12 6
9 6
6 I
16 7
II
1 4
16 7
17 1

Marquis of Aboroirm..
taut 01 Aulir
Lord Bolton
Earl of Dodo
Lord Loodroborousb ,
Lord Loyal
Duke of Marlborough
Earl Somers
Loral fkalfeld
Lord Vernon
Load Whamll/0

Lord envy
Mr. Dillerya
Lard Llebo
Mr. Forster. Bradford
Lord Grey do W Moo.
Bart Grosvenor

COMM&
117 l7l
14 7
14 7
T S
9 5
_ . _ 0 9

14 7
/Ir. Les 36 7 7
Mr. almalnp/Illaall U I
Mr. Talbot U 7
Mir. IL Vniati ll 7
Hon. H. Wyudbm6

... s
... b

... 76
14
Si
... u

When the numbers were finally announced the Commons
looked for a moment rather blank, but then, said Lord
Elcho, " Well, let's give three chem. for the Lords ;" and
three hearty cheers ware given, to which the victors mad* •
respousive echo. "And now," said Lord Echo, "Let's
give oue cheer more fur the halm we mesa to give 'em next
year." The Commons cheered accordingly ; the Lords again
responded, but this time • little derisively, and then they
passed away from the firing posts, Lord Elcho in a semi-
comic tune, remarking, Sic transit glories —.
Joist a: that momenta mighty cheer arose from the targets
immediately to the left, and • glance told the spectators
that Harrow had prevailed in the contest of the public
schools. later in the evening, when the Harrow boys were
on the point of taking their departure, the unsuccessful
Etonian.. surrounded them, and cheered them off the
ground with the beartinees of good will, and an utter
freedom from the pangs of jealous ambition ; owing pro-
bably to the fact, as much se anything else, that in the
competition which followed, that for the Ashburton shield,
and which was confined to the beet shot of each eleven of
the four schools, Eton bore off the prize.
The programme for today, io addition to the Aasociatioo
cup, the All Comers, the extra prizes, the running deer, and
poub embraces the competition between Oxford and Cam-
bridge, commencing at three o'clocx ; Lord Vernon's prize,
Vern. lily's prize, and the Oaks.

THE PROPOSED ROMAN CATHOLIC
UNIVERSITY IN IRELAND.

A deputation of members of parliament and
other gentlemen, including the mayors of several corporate
towns, waited on Lord Palmerston at Cambridge-house on
Saturday, at 12 o'clock, to present memorials and make re-
presentations to the noble lord, in favour of granting a
charter to a university for the education of Roman catholic'.
Lord PALMERSTON, after some preliminary remarks,
said the representations would receive from ber Majesty's
government the consideration to which they ware entitled;
but whatever might be the ostensible character of the uni-
versity there could he no doubt that it■ real object was to
introduce into Ireland the principle of denominational edu-
cation. His opinion was that the system of mixed educa-
tion prevail is Ireland. It was on the principle of
that educ.itiou the government had acted heretofore. The
establchnieut of institutions such as theCathulic University
would he directly subversive of that principle. As he bad
before observed, the representations made by so many gentle-
men, members of parliament and puhlic bodies were deserving
of every consideration, but on his own pert and that of her
Majesty's government he could hold out no hope or expec-
tation that they would consent to sink principle in deference
to the feelings of parties, however respectable and however
worthy of having their wishes eassidersd by the government.
After some onevenation the noble lord repeated that he
could hold out no expectation that the request of the depu-
tation would be complied with.
The deputation thanked the noble lord for the courteous
manner in which he had received them, and withdrew.

THE WORK 07 Till SIMISION.—Up to Saturday
lid) public acts sad 116 local acts bed received the royal
assent.

T:ir Ex-Kino or NAPLID. —The Press of Vienna
Mateo that Prince Petrol s, the envoy of Francis IL, has
definitively given:in his resignation. The Prince had long
since requested to be removed, and lately urged his applica-
tion more strongly. In reply he received a telegram from
Rome announcing that an indeterminate leave of shoelace,
and not his retirement, was accorded. The Ling added,
that when the Prince's health should be reestablished his
efiplomatic services would again be called for. Am this reply
de not at all suit the Prince's resolution. he seat a telegram
toßorne. respectfully insisting cm his format request to re-
d the resignetion wee at last accepted "Them
facts may be considered," says the above-named journal, "se
*bowing that the cense of Francis IL is regarded, even by '
Ixis meet devoted partisan, as lost.*
.• Crn 07 LONDON Hoerrem, ron DDRANIII or rH=
ONIChT, VIRORTA-PARR.—The number of patients relieved
at thin iniCtution during last week was 1,167, of which 171
were new OHM