The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-25 00:00:00

Wimbledon Review and Prize Distribution,

It is the wise practice of those charged with the
conduct of affairs at Wimbledon to celebrate each

year the close of their arduous undertaking by in-
viting metropolitan Volunteers and others from the
adjoining counties to take part in a grand review
held within the limits of their incloenre. Mutual
benefits arise from this custom. Volunteers who
have not leisure or inclination to compete for prizes,

but who yet enjoy field days when opportunities
present themselves, feel in going to Wimbledon

that the National Rfl: Aszoolation is not for them

R purely abstract body, and are much more likely to
appreciate the mill of their comrades who do shoot

when they traverse this enormous area in person,
than when they merely read that Corporal Dash,
of their own corps, made five bull's-eyes at 800
yards. The Association also gains, for not merely
are Volunteers, who have once visited its ground
and seen its arrangements, more likely to return
in another year, but their presence in any large
numbers is sure to attract a corresponding number
of the public, whose shillings, halfcrowns, and half
sovereigns—in the case of those with carriages—
figure very attractively in the prize list for the fol-
lowing year. On Saturday the usual features of
the Volunteer lieview were supplemented, or rather
preceded, by the ceremonial of distributing prizes
wen in all the principal contests of the meeting.

Heretofore the rule was to devote a special day to
this purpose at the Crystal Palace; but it was found
that so many persons who could give up a fortnight
tc, the objects of the meeting scrupled to break in
upon a third week, that so many more were anxious
on account of the time of year to leave town at once,
and that others, whose co-operation was essential,
honestly doubted whether the monster platform at
Sydenham was the arena best fitted for conferring
the degree in Rifle Shooting instituted by her Ma-
jesty and granted by the National Association, and
it was determined in the present instance to act on
a different plan.
In the open air accordingly, and immediately in
front of the marquees and lines of reserved seats
erected for the accommodation of spectators of the
review, the trophies won upon the field were dis-
trbated shortly after 3 o'clock. A large stand
placed at the foot of the flagstaff and covered with
blue cloth, supported a glittering collection of vases.
cups, &c., which would have been even more nume-
rous but for the arrangement introduced by Capt.
Mildmay, Secretary of the Association, enabling
successful competitors from distant parts of the
country to take home with them the prizes in
money or in value which were gained in all the
minor competitions. The prizemen stood about the
table in a semicircle. In the midst of which were
Lord and Lady Elcho, Lord Grosvenor, Col. North,
and one or two other members of the council. The
background was formed by a guard of honour fur-
nished by the London Rifle Brigade, the regiment
carrying off the highest distinction of the year.

The ceremonial was prefaced by some introductory
observations on the part of Lord Eicho, who ex-
plained that Lords de Grey and Elienborough,
having both been prevented from attending, Lady
Eleho had been requested by the council to present
the prizes, believing that it would be acceptable to
the winners to receive them at the hands of a lady,
who, though he said it that should not, was one of
the heartiest and best supporters of the Volunteer
mcvement in the kingdom. If the Council ever
really did entertain a doubt whether men who have
earned any distinction whatever would rather re-
ceive it from the hands of a lady than a gentleman
it is the only tangible ground that has yet been

advanced for reforming the Council. The response
which followed the announcement certainly left no
doubt in anyone's mind as to the satisfaction felt I
both with the request itself and the gracious man-
ner in which it was acceded to. Lord Elcho ad-
verted briefly to the great success and prosperity of
the meeting, which would, he said have been com-
plete but for the accident that occurred two days
ago. Although most grievous in its character, it was
still an accident, not traceable to any fault or mis-
arrangement on the part of the Council, and the deep
sympathy felt for the pcor fellow lying over there
in his tent was not confined to those upon the ground,
for her 3lejesty that very morning had sent a tele-
gram inquiring anxiously after his condition, and
requesting that a daily report of his state might be
made to her. The Sargeon.Major of the Guards
saw him that day, and an opinion was gaining
ground that the poor man might recover from the
severe wound he had received. With: this excep-
tion everything had gone on so smoothly that there
was only one grumbler of whom he had heard. He
had since won a prize ; they had shaken hands,
and were now the best of friends. The Association
had evidently struck its roots deep into the Wim-
bledon soil, ftr people came to see and interest
themselves in the encampment and the shooting
this year who had never done so before. Lord
Elcho, in conclusion, assured Volnnteerß, to what-
ever part of the country they might belong, that
the object of the Council was to do all in its power
for their comfort, happiness, and amusement while
at Wimbledon ; and, if they were only favoured
with fine weather, he hoped and believed that
Volunteers would go away from future meetings as
well satisfied as they had done from the present.
The extra prizes were first distributed. Of these
many had already been taken away by gentlemen
of whom it was humorously said that "they would
not trust the Association." The Association, how-
ever, did not bear malice, for such of the Fin
winners as answered to their name were duly pre.
seated to Lady Elcho and congratulated by her,
those who had already made sure of their trophies.
being, if anything, more at their ease than some
who appeared to feel the honour of shaking hands,
enperadded to the care of a costly vase, rather more
than they were prepared for at one and the same
moment. In the class of extra prizes. Lord Echo
made special reference to the valuable and unique
volume of photographs presented by Mr. Herbert
Watkins. As each Volunteer advanced to the table
his name and the name of the corps to which he
belonged were called out audibly, and accompanied
with a slight running commentary of explanation,
so that the spectators, with the aid of the cfaeial
programme, in which the marks made by each com-
petitor were set out, were enabled thoroughly to
follow and comprehend the scene.
The following was the efficial list of the winners
and their prizes

Mrks.
Extra Prize, First Series—A Bennett gold watch, value
£3l 104—won by Captain Bevan, let Radnor .. 19
Extra Priz Second Series—Mappin Tea Service, £52
104—Mr .;.101iller, Bristol 2O
Extra Pr:z- Series—:Smith Rifle, £.lO—J. G
Parkin
'Extra Prize, Fourth Series Whitworth Rifle, £3B—
11,089 2O
Extra Prize, Fifth Series—Pair o! Statuettes, £2l-
- Leicester
Tel"elPe, All Comers, £2s—First Prize, £lo—Captain
E.
R°ll, 34. Cambridge
Prize, £lOO (for breech loaders)—‘,"Etange A,
First Prize,
(13 shots) . rgeant Brook, 12th Middlesex
31
Ditto, Ran
... . Prize,Xlo—Ensign Hughes,
31 Manchester (9 shots) .................. 24
Henry Peeks, £52 14—£25 10s—Private Bruce, 3d
Kirkcudbright ..... 18
...
"Daily Telegraph"—Cup, .......
Zso—Lieutenant Buf,. lst
.
Warwick .................19
Earl do Grey's Prize, £so—First . £lo—Mrs T.
Turner
Lord Vernon—£•3o—Eden, Inns of Court
44 volunteer Service Gazatte"—Z2s—c aptain
Heaton,
Manchester
" Army and Navy Gazette—£2o—Private Doe, vie-

torus
Albert, Ist Sage—Range A, Ist Priza, £so—privale.
Biker, Ist Glocester
Albcrt, Ist Stage—Range B, Ist Prize, £so—Lieut.-
Colonel Baker, 3d Cambridge 2O
Albert, Ist Stage—Range C, Ist Prize, £so—Gunner
Hansom, Ist Glocester Artillery 2O
Albert, 2d Stage--Cup or money,£ ioO—Hercales Roes,
6!li Kincardine
Alexandra, let Stare—Barba A, £2o—Private Woad.. 18
Alexandra, lat Stage--Range Br Ist Prize, £2o—Pri-
lo

vete Steynes
Alexandra, 2d Stage—Cup or money, £so—Private
Parsons, Hon. Artillery COraP3nY ..
Any Rifle Association Cup— £5O-1-1. M. Ashton,
Liverpool Rifle Brigade ........................ 39
Enfield Association Cup—Es4—Sergeand H. M. Ald-
ridge . ...................... 35
Carbine Prizes-1 prize, £lO —Lieut. Hughes., 6th K ent 16
Mr Dillwyn's Prize—Cup, . C2s—Rev. W. Brown, Ist
Devon