The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-05 00:00:00

NATIONAL ARTILLERY ASSOCIATION.

The meeting of this association closed on Satur-
day with the presentation of the prizes by Lord Longford,
LI.P., Under Secretary of State for War, as repre-
senting the War Department. The ceremony took place
in a commodious building near the sea-side known as the
Armstrong Gun Shed," which had been titled up in
gal.. fashion for the occasion by the Royal Al tillery. A
large platform had been erected and decorated with great
tare with various coloured flags, and both sides were
flanked by an Armstrong gun pointing at the winner,
who were drawn up in full marching order, and attended
by their officers, the Royal Artillery officers and men, and
pretty well all the inhabitants of Sboebury. Of course •
prominent feature on the platform was the array of praxes,
which made • handsome display, arranged by the Messrs.
Elkington. Lord Longford having taken his place on the
platform,
Colonel HARCOURT. t'resident of the Council, said—
My lord, lam happy to say, on behalf of the National
Artillery Association, that this year we have a brighter
picture to present than we have ever presented befere—
brighter in weather, and brighter in promises of futeve
support, Your lordship will remember that some short
time ago a deputation, consisting of the council
of this association, waited upon you at the War-office,
with a view of obtaining the remission of certain
c'.:arges which we considered to be unduly pressed
upon us, namely, for fair wear and tear, and for the
carriage of stores, and we further asked that volunteer
adjutants, with certain limitation, might be allowed the
same advantages which they obtain when on duty with
their own corps. Your lordship very kindly undertook
to make favourable representations to the Secretary
of State for War; but the effect of those repro-
sentatioos. I am very sorry to say, resulted in the
promise from the War Department to give 10s, to our
camp adjutants—(a laugh)---mid a refusal of our other re-
questa. My lord, the policy of the War Department to-
, wards our association reminds me of the cabman who went
out to buy a hone. The first question he asked, on seeing
• lively animal, was, "Do he eat hay-bands r (A laugh.)
! " Aye, he do," was the answer. " Then he'll suit me,"'
said the cabman. I would humbly suggest, my lord,
that having made the animal your own, a little change of
diet would be advisable, and that four feeds of corn and
a few old War-offiee beans should in future be substi-
tuted for the hay-bands. (Laughter and cheers.) We
have to thank your lordship most sincerely for your kind-
ness in coming down a second time to give sway our
prfzes. Our thanks are duo to the officers, non-oom-
summoned officers, and gunners of the Royal Artillery,
for the cordial welcome they have given us here. While lam
on this subject I must not forget to acknowledge
the very great debt of gratitude we owe to the National
Ride Association for the assistance they have afforded us
in every respect. (Hear.) And now to turn to our own
private attains the members of cmr council have learnt
from a generally expressed opinion at this meeting two
points which must he considered another year; namely,
bow to compress all the work of the meeting into one week,
and to give more than one prize for ea chcompetition. The
galla^t officer then stated that the association had re-
ceived many promises of support.
Viscount HAIIIIINGE rid he addressed the meeting as
one of the vice-presidanta of the association. He ex-
pressed himself as very pleased to hear that the volunteer
and the regulars bad worked so cordially together, and he
congratulated all upon the excellent understanding pre-
vailing among them. _ _ _

Lori! Ltieeitea said he also had intended to be present
at the practice, but was prevented by the same business as
prevented Lord Harding. from coming. The reason, he said,
why there were not more volunteer artillerymen at the
meeting was the enornions expense that branch of the ser-
vie, was put to beyond the capitation grant, and they
could not afford to con.. here at present. He expressed
the opinion that if the government were wise they would
at once increase the capitation grant to the whole force.
Colonel Sir James Baird, Colonel Gordon, and Colonel
Wilmot then made brief addressee.
_ _

Lord Lotvoroan said be I;as exceedingly pleased to have
to spend a holiday in coming here on this pleasant occa-
sion, and regretted that other occupations had prevented
him from witnessing the practice. He bad, however, fol
lowed the daily course of the volunteers through the
I press, and he could assure them he sympathised with the
wetting they get on the first sight, which seemed to pro-
.
same a renewal of the last two years' inclement weather
' during the association's meeting. The volunteers bad
learned by being here that there was no occasion for the
outcry which was raised by some people, that we were be-
hind other nations, and they would see that there
was much to be learnt before a perfect artillery-
man was made. Such had been the progress of science
in warfare, and such was the attention given now to
military metters that about one hundred and fifty
patents bad been taken out in connexion with arms
and ammunition within the year; and if the volunteers
still came down here they might hope to shoot for the
Queen's with " P.ig Wills' at ti 000 yards. People were
continually Paying we should copy the American ordnance,
but the volunteers bad doubtless seen an American gun
here of which, however, our artillerists were not afraid.
Strange to say, the same complaint was made by the
American people against the American government, that
they did not copy ours. The noble lord acknowledged the
value of the volunteer force, which be said had extended
beyond all the expectations which had been formed of it,
and expressed his opinion that the government would care-
fully consider the claims which the force had upon the
public purse.
The prime were then distributed in the order in which
they were won.

HOSPITAL FOR DUMAS'S OP THE CREST, V ICTORIA-
PARIL—The number of patients relieved it this institution
daring last week was 1,121, et which 292 were new OW&