The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-11 00:00:00

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Last evening, after the ordinary business of the day WA
concluded, Mr. Townsend (officially appointed by the Na-
tional Rifle Association) and Mr. Doll, of the London
Scottish, accompanied the members of the Belgian depu-
tation round the c4inp, and finally saw them to their
quarters.
Yesterday morning the Belgian officers in camp and the
Chasseurs Folaireurs, partook of breakfast in the mess
tent of the London Scottish, and were most liberally
entertained by that corps. It has been arranged that a ban-
quet shall be given toour Belgian visitors to-morrow (Thurs.
day) evening in the camp, on which occasion Lord Elaho
will take the chair, and the stewards consist of Captain
Styan, of the Queen's Westminster; Colonel Lindsay, of
the St. George's ; Captain Flood Page, of the London
Scottish ; Lieutenant Furley, of Kent ; Ensign Pexley, of
the Victories ; and quartermaster Weir, of the Ist Surrey.
It has been determined to give our foreign brethren a
hearty welcome, and the tickets, of which only a limited
number will be issued, are 104. each. In the tents of the
Ist Surrey flowers and flags have been introduced. and
Lieutenant Harrison Weir has been most unremitting in
his exertions to do honour to the distinguished visitors.
. . .

The next principal prize upon which public opinion was
concentrated this day was that given by the Prince of
Wales, consisting of a cup value 1001. or 100 f. in money at
the option of the winner, with 1001. added by the National
Rifle Association, and divided into twenty prizes,restrieted
to the winners of all silver and bronze medals given
by the National Rifle Association, and won since the last
Wimbledon meeting. The competitors for this prize
therefore are extremely limited, and there is the additional
temptation that whoever enters tor it, and makes the
highest score, receives a prize of 1001., and each of the
next best shots receives a prize of 5/. This prize excited
a very lively competition, but the chief prize was wun by
Sergeant Livesay, of the Sussex Corps, by 48 points. The
winners of the minor prizes will be found enumerated in
the official return.

In the present day, when the great question among
military men, and especially the heads of the War
Department, as to the t-ansition which will take place in
the conversion of muzzle to breech-loading rifles, the con-
test for the Duke of Cambridge's prize of 50/. possessed
more than an ordinary amount of interest, inasmuch as it
is stipulated that it shall be fired for with breech-loading
rifles. That such a stipulation should have been insti-
tuted by the Commander-in-Chief for the competition for
his own prize shows how favourably his royal highness hes
been impressed with the merits of breech-loading over
muzzle-loading rifles. Nothing, however, is more difficult
to induce some persons to depart from an accustomed
practice they base pursued for years than it has been
found to persuade the War Department to take up this
question and deal with it in the same way as the
public have come to a conclusion upon it years
ago. Scarcely any one is now found to dispute
the merits of breech-loading over muzzle-loading rifles, but
the only question which was really left to be disposed of
was the best plan which was offered for the purpose.
This, however. now appears to be tolerably well settled,
and in a short time the British army will be supplied with
an instalment of that arm, which will he permanently em-
ployed. The details of this contest, as far as it has gone,
will be found below.

The Belgian volunteers contended for their prize of 50f.,
and the contest naturally excited a great number of spec-
tators, but as they shot at the northern ranges, the aitend-
mice was not so great as it would have been if carried on
in a more central part of the common. Sub-Lieutenant
Heersn won the principal prize of 20f.
To-morrow evening the first theatrical performance by
the Dramatic Society of the St. George's Rifles will take
place, and it is expected to be numerously and fashionably
attended.

THE WORR OF THE SESSION. —About 300 out of
CM local bills, it is anticipated, will be passed in the pre-
sent seslion ; and of public acts the number will fall under
the usual average ; only 4$ have as yet been passed.
THE REFORM MOVEMENT AT BIRMINGHA7d.—A
second open air reform demonstration was held at Bir-
mingham on Monday night. The proceedings were of
much the same character as those of the meeting in the
previous week. At the commencement the attendance
was small, but it gradually rose to six or seven Blot sand,
and the tone was perfectly orderly but enthusiastic. Mr.
W. Wright presided ; the speakers were principally work-
ing men, and the following resolutions were unanimously
passed: "That this meeting regards with contempt and dis-
gust the hypocrisy and deceit of the majority of the present
Howie of Commons in rejecting the moderate proposition of
the late government for the enfranchisement of the people,
and feels impelled to carry on with increased earnestness
end zeal the agitation for the principles of registered resi-
dential manhood suffrage and vote by ballot." " That this
meeting protests against the maladministration of the
affairs of this country by the tories at any time—(load
cheersl and especially in the present complicated state of
affairs upon the continent of Europe, and urges all true
liberals, each in his own constituency, to prepare for the
dissolution of parliament which must shortly ensue."
"That this meeting desires to tender its thanks to Mr. W.
B. Gladstone, M.P., for his manly defence of the people's
cause--(cheers)—in his place in the House of Commons ;
and to express its perfect confidence in him as the leader of
the people."
BREAIEFART.—Eppe's Cocoa (more commonly
sailed Eppe's Homeopathic Cocoa, as being prepared and intro-
duced by Ise Epps, the Homeopethis Chemist first establhhed
in England . The very agreeable character of tbis preparation
etas rendered it a general favourite. The fine natural flavour of
high-class Cocoa is refined and made extremely delicate and
grateful. For breakfast no other beverage Is equally invigorat,
kg and sustaining. This Cocoa is used
coffee;
who never
teed Cocoa before. " Cocoa stands tar Other than tee or ffee,'
lassme
Dr. Hank
J' asps—gold la lob.. lib. packets.—ladver-
nt.