The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-31 00:00:00

47:;
tie
t
• _ _
'Eal+it.'
•
1
. 7 FE"PApEib
.•
114111 dr 10(..._ -•
<s<;

[STAMPED, H. ADDITIONAL]

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

[TWOPENCE

The general meeting of this association was held
yesterday at Willis's Rooms. The Duke of CAUBRIDGI4
who presided, said the council had decided that the Wim.
bled= meeting should be held on Monday, the Bth of
July. Since the last meeting Lord Elchu had resigned
the chairmanship of the council, and the Earl Spencer had
accepted the post. While the association must congratu.
late themselves upon the acquisition of Lord Spencer,
they could not but regret the retirement of the late
chairman. Whatever little differences there might have
been from time to time, nobody could gainsay that Lord
Elcho had from the first shown an amount of seal, energy
and anxiety to put the association on • distinguished and
'sable footing that could not be equalled. There was no
material change in the prize list of the July meet-
ing, but there was • larger amount to be shot
for than ever was known before. The aggregate
amount would be nearly 10,0001. About 41e.1. had
been promised for extra prises. When the conversion of
the Enfield rifle took pleas, there was a disposition to
blame the authorities for adopting the Snider, which was
said to be • failure. No doubt at first, owing to imperfect
ammunition, the arm did not answer well ; but with a
little time and patience the difficulties were entirely over-
come, and the Snider must now be looked upon as the
most perfect weapon. The unanimous feeling in the army
was that the Snider wee a better arm in every respect
for shooting than the unconverted Enfield. In-
stead of being blamed, the authorities, therefore,
should be complimented for having firmly adhered
to the decision originally made to alter the Enfield. A
few remarks were necessary respecting the coming visit of
the Belgian volunteers. Last year a large number of Eng-
lish volunteers were most hospitably received in Belgium,
and of course it was impossible to avoid a similar friendly
reception to the Belgians who chose to come to Wimbledon
this year. The difficulty the emaciation was placed in was
that the money subscribed to its funds was given for
special purposes, the carrying out of which demanded the
watchful attention of the council. They were now accord-
ingly placed in the awkward position of having received
much attention in • friendly country, of being bound to
show corresponding murk'', and of feeling at the
same time that it was out of the province, and in fact
quite impossible to expend the funds of the association in
any public demonstration like that shown to our volun-
teers in Belgium. The council at the same time consi-
dered the occasion demanded marked liberality in the
matter of prizes, which was • legitimate object for the
funds of the association. As far as it was known, about
1,000 Belgian volunteers were expected, and the associa-
tion had decided to devote 2501., to be spent in prises to be
shot for by Belgian volunteers. It would be for the public
to look after the entertainment of their foreign visitors.
While it should be impressed upon those who wished to
show a friendly spirit to the Belgian volunteers, that sub-
scriptions were necessary, it must be clearly understood
that the association had confined its liberality in • pecu-
niary point of view to the 2501. to be shot for in
CeLThe camp at Wimbledon was extremely popu-
last year. As many as 1,870 volunteers
were generally under canvass, and at times there were
2,250. The very fact of so many being brought together
indicated the necessity of having stringent regulations, in
order to avoid the dangers which laxity of discipline
would render imminent, No doubt it was desirable that
the camp should be continued, but it must be clearly
understood that the volunteers who intended to partici-
pate in the conveniences and enjoyments of the camp
must make up their minds to submit to such rules and
regulations as the council might think necessary. Although
volunteers were accustomed to great freedom in civil life,
they should be prepared to adhere to strict regulations
while in camp. He called attention to this matter because
last year it was thought at one time that the restrictions
imposed were rather too severe. Camp festivities, too,
might be carried to an inconvenient extent, causing die-
comfort to those who did not care to join in them,
and incurring a certain amount of risk. Some
gentlemen last year actually thought of having fire-
works. Unless conducted under very stringent regula.
tions, this was a dangerous amusement in a camp, and it
was objectionable also because it attracted • floating popu-
lation, not very desirable to be found at night at such
plain as Wimbledon. The camp expenses last year were
heavy, amounting to 7001.—• very large item out of the
funds. Under them circumstances, the council bad de-
cided to add 6cL per day to the camp charges. This was
en absolutely essential provision. Some speeches having
been made respecting the changes in shooting Colonel
Loyd-Lindsay, M.P., thanked the chairman for his refer-
ence to the visit of the Belgian volunteers, and stated that
several special prizes would be added to those given by
the sesoinatima. His Royal Ilighoms, zeta
the vett of tluiski poised 17 the metiag,
be happy, as usual, to review the volunteers on the con-
cluding day of the Wimbledon meeting.