The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-22 00:00:00

Ford Palmerston and the Wilts Volunteers.

The fourth annual meeting of the Wilts Rifle
Association was brought to a most successful ter-
mination'yeei.erday by a grand fete in Wilton-Pak,
under the auspices of the youthful Earl of rem.
broke and his noble mother, Lady Herbert, in the
presence of the Premier and Lady Palmerston..
After the great meeting of the National Rifle Asso-
ciation, that of the county of -Wilts commands the
first place amid the local gatherings, both from the
number of competitors, and the amount and value
of the prizes offered—a result entirely owing to the
liberality of the landed proprietors and gentry of
the county, for, in addition to local prizes to the
value of £390, a further sum of £3OO was given for
general competition, which attracted the large num-
ber of 250 candidates.
The shooting commenced on Thursday last, at the
butts near the ancient city of Salisbury, and so close
was the competition that it was not brought to a
close until late yesterday, owing to the great num•
ber of ties which had to be shot off.
The chief prize was a challenge cup, to become
the absolute property of the winner for three con-
secutive years. To this the mayor and corporation
of Salisbury add a silver vase for the winner each
year. The previous holders have been Sergeant
Butler,Selisbury, 1861; Sergeant Wilton, Salisbury,
1852 ; Lieut. Hitchcock, Market Lavington, 1863.
This year it has been won by Sergeant Jeffries, of
the 6th Wilts. Lady Herbert and Lady H. Wat.
son Taylor presented two claret jugs as ladies'
prizes, and the ladies of Salisbury gave a silver
coffee pot to be competed for by marksmen. Other
prizes were given by Mr T. H. R. Poynder, Mr S.
Watson Taylor, General Buckley, Col. Bathurst,
M.P., Mr Marsh, M.P., Mr Sothern-Estcourt, M.P.,
Lord H, Thynne, M.P., Mr T. F. Grove, Mr E.
Hamilton, Bec.
Lady Herbert gave a grand luncheon to her
guests and about 600 of the elite of the county, after
which the prizes were distributed on a platform
erected on the lawn in front of Wilton House.
Among the company present were Lord and Lady
Palmerston, the Marquis of Bath, Earl Nelson, Lord
Arundeil, Earl Grosvenor, Lord H. Thynne, M.P.,
the Earl of Carnarvon, Sir F. Bathurst, Colonel
Bathurst, MY., Mr Bouverie, M.P., Mr Antrobus,
MP., Mr Marsh, NI.P., Mr Denby Seymour, M.P.,
Lord and Lady Heytesbury, General Buckley, the
Marquis and Marchioness of 'Winchester, Count
Strzelecki, &c.
Lady HERBERT, who was received with a warm
burst of cheering, came forward and said—" In the
absence of the Marquis of Ailesbury, who is unfore
tu.nately detained in Yorkshire, the Earl of earner.
von, as the nearest relative of the family, has kindly
undertaken to speak on my behalf."
The Earl of CAitNARVON, after briefly reviewing
the use and progress of the Volunteer movement,
and bearing testimony to the public spirit and
efficiency of the Wilts Vulunteer corps, called upon
the hon. secretary, Mr. E. P. Kelsey, to read out
the list of the winners of prizes. The successful
candidates, who each came forward as his name
was called and received his prize from the hands of
Lerl.y Herbert were :—S erg eant -Wilton, Ist Wilts—
sergeant Coombes, 4th WI ts—Private Phillips, 4th
Wilts—Corporal Baker, 7th Wilts—Private Darley
and Sergeant Rees, 4th -Wilts—Corporal Thomas,
2d Wilts—Private S. Myers, sth Wilts—Sergeant
Butler, let Wilts—Private O'Reilly, 5111 Wiita—
Sergeant Ward, 5,h Wilts—Corporal Allen, 14th
Wilts—Corporal Pike, sth Wilts—Private Hobbs,
7th Wilts—Sergeant Allen, 14th Wilts—Corporal
Davis, 9th Wilts—Private J. Chivera, sth Wilts—
Private Hobbs and Corporal Baker, Ist Wilts—
Lieut. Hitchcock, 7:h Wilts—Corporal Sioper,
Wilts Yeomanry—Sergeant Butler and Ensign
Hitchcock, 7th Wilts—Private Watson, Ist Wilts
—Sergeant Till, 14th Wilts— Sergeant Butler and
Sergeant Neate, 7th Wilts—Hon. Member Hum-
phries and Corporal Fidler, 14th Wiltis—Private
Watson and Corporal Marshman, 2d Wilts—Pri-
vate O'Reilly and Corporal Wild, W:lts Yeomanry
._
—Private Redropp, 2d Wilts.
Lord PALMERSTON then presented the challenge
cup to the winner, Sergeant Jeffries, of the 6th
Wilts. The noble lord, who met with a most enthu-
siastic welcome, said—Gentlemen Volunteers—l ad-
dress these who are volunteers, and those who mean
to be Volunteers. (Cheers.) It has afforded me great
pleasure to obey the commands of Lady Herbert in
presenting to this good shot and excellent soldier the
challenge cup which I have just put in his hands, for
this cup embodies that principle which leads to dis-
tinction in every career—l mean the principle of hon-
ourable emulation. It is not only won by successful
emulation, but it must be annually kept by success-
fulemulation, and without disparagement to the gal-
lant soldier who has so well won it, I may express a
hope that next year it may be won by a better
shot—(laughter)—than he who has now become
the holder of this valuable trophy. My noble friend
has eloquently and truly dilated on the causes
which led to the original establishment of the Vo-
lunteer system of this country, and I must say that
a nobler display of national feeling, of sagacious
patriotism, and of persevering courage was never
exhibited by any nation. (Cheers.) Its original
cause was, as my noble friend stated, temporary,
but I trust that its effects will be permanent, and
that this institution so valuable and so important
to ,the best interest of the country, will continue
for all ages to come to be a great national institu-
tion. It is quite true that some few years ago, cir-
cumstances to which it is unnecessary to advert led
the people of this country to reflect that the ordi-
nary and established means of defence were not
sufficient to keep away the dangers which it fore-
saw might at all events be possible. We differ in
many things from the great Powers of the Conti.
nent. We live on an island accessible to any invader
who might chance to land on our shores at almost
every point of our large maritime circumference.
We therefore cannot pretend to defend ourselves as
continental States may do, which, being accessible
in only one avenue of atteck, by one valley or by
one pass, may sufficiently fortify their vulnerable
points, and by stationing there a military force
may think themselves secure from the invading
enemy. We have not thought it possible, and it
would be idle and foolish to attempt to fortify the
whole of the extensive shores which begirt these
islands, 'We have done that which is within our
means and which is sufficient for our purpose. We
have begun and carried cut to a great extent these
works which are necessary to protect from sudden
attack those naval dockyards and arsenals which
are the cradles of our maritime power and the
defenders of the best interest of the country ; for
it is needless for me to point out that if we lost
the command of the seas which surround our
shores end a hostile squadron was allowed to
blockade our ports, our commerce, ouc industry,
and our independence would be seriously endan-
gered. (Cheers.) This work was begun by the
late noble occupant of these estates who devoted his
best energies to commence these operations. His
plans have been followed out, and I trust they will
soon be successfully completed. Weil, although the
defence of England,if she is ever attacked, must be
by armies on the. field, it is not, our habit, it does
not suit our constitution nor our interest to assema
ble permanently under arms those hundreds of
thousands of soldiers who rney be found in every
country of Europe. We think that it would be an
unnecessary pressure on our own resources to keep
and maintain such a force in time of peace. 11' e
think that it would draw away a valuable portion
of the people from the pursuits of industry, and be
a drain on the wealth and re. ources of the country
for a time of emergency. We have, however, the
Militia—an admirable force, well disciplined, ably
officered, and animated with the beat spirit. 'We
have thus a force of some 112,000 men ready, if the
occation be required, to take its place in line be•
side the regular arV. Weil, then, gentlemen, the
volunteers of England come forward to make up
the deficiency, you forward with courage,
patriotism, ands
praise,which dev
his
to the public service be-
yond all
,and
which s
has
the admiration
of all the world
as entitled you to the
country,
warmest thanks of the
that at
I am not
the present
overstating the case when I sayo moment there arefriopmlso,ooo to ,
i a
6to h
volun-
teers organised eciuped, trained, , and'o
disciplined
with offle,n's who ti,:ve made themselves acquainted
wi'h their dUti.s: and w', thlt wheritZted

corps have assembled in considerable numbers, and
joined in the movements which do not belong sim.
ply to battalions, but also to divisional operations,
they have excited the admiration of military men,
and the astonishment of the strangers who have
visited this country. (Cheers.) You k ,ow, gentlemen
volunteers of England, you well know that numbers
alone do not constitute strength; that large assem-
blies of men, although in uniform and with the best
of weapons, are not by their numbers alone eompe•
tent to meet with success an enemy disciplined
and trained ; and, therefore, you have at a great
sacrifice of private occupation, at a great devotion
of time, which in this country is money, you have
made these sacrifices in order to become thoroughly
acquainted with the duties of your profession—your
honourable profession, for so I will call it. (Cheers.)
Well, gentlemen, you have by y cat perseverance,
by your constant attention to your duties, made
yourselves masters of all those movements which
belong to separate battalions, and also to collections
of battalions in brigades and divisions. You have
also well thought that it is one thing to meet and
another to kill an enemy. To move to meet an
enemy without being able to bring him down is
only getting nearer to danger yourselves. There

is, however, no fear that those who have so well
exhibited their skill to-day and yesterday will ne-
&eat a practice as necessary almost as your drill,
and even your battalion and divisional exercises.
The people of this island have in all times been
famous as marksmen, and in the days of old when
war was carried on, I will not say with less deadly,
but with more clumsy weapons, such as bows and
arrows, the British archer was celebrated in every
battlefield of Europe in which he was engaged, and
his skill was shown from the slaughter which he
made of his opponents. (Cheers.) Well, gentle-
men, that keen eye, that strong arm which so dis.
tinguished your ancestors is not wanting to you.
(Cheers.) Tnis day you have given ample proofs
of your skill in the weapon which is placed in your
hands. You have proved yourselves worthy descen-
dants of worthy ancestors, equally ready to defend
your shores from attack, and, if need be, to vindi-
cate the honour of your country wherever your ser-
vices may be required. I congratulate you on the
assemblage here to-day. I congratulate you, in the
first place, on your success and the interest which
the vast crowd I see here, not merely the accumula-
tion of our own sex, but of the beauty of the other sex,

takes in that success, and I trust that this interest
which your fellow men and women take in your
success will serve as an additional encouragement
to you to persevere in this meeting on the ground
on which we now stand—on a territory which has
been for generations occupied by a family honoura-
bly distinguished in the annals and history of the
country, which has always maintained that charac-
ter which beloygs to a❑ old aristocratic family, and
those traditional ties of duty on one side, and of
gratitude and affection on the other. (Cheers.) I
congratulate you on having had your prizes distri-
buted by the noble lady who represents this family,
who combines with all the graces of her sex quali-
ties of her own—warmth of heart and benevolence
of character, energy of purpose and application to
business exclusively her own. (Cheers.) I congra-
tulate you also that this ceremony has taken
place under the auspices of the youthful heir
to this vast estate, who, I trust, as I am sure he

will, will prove himself a worthy representative of
the ancient and illustrious house of Pembroke.
On the motion of the Marquis of BATH, three
cheers were given for Lord and Lady Palmerston,
Lady iLrbert, and the Earl of Pembroke, and the
proceedings were brought to a close.

sinking the necessary foundations for the tramways
along the wharves at the dockyard, where it is pro-
posed to place the portable steam cranes to be used
in loading and unloading the various vessels arriving

at and departing from the establishment. The steam
cranes to be employed in this work are similar to
those which have been for some time in use alongside

the docks in which the ironclads Achilles, Royal
Oak, and Bellerophon have been under construction.
The second squadron of the 3d Battalion of the
Military Train arrived at Liverpool yesterday, from
Quebec, in the steamer Jura. The detachment con-

sisted of 4 officers, 2 staff sergeants, 123 non-com-
missioned officers and men, 25 women, and 36 chil-
dren. They remained on board the Jura during the
night, and will leave for Woolwich this morning.
On Tuesday a preliminary inspection took place
of the troops of the 16th Lancers stationed at Col-

cheater, preparatory to the annual visit of the In-
spector General of Cavalry, which is expected to
place at the latter end of the present week.
Prince Humbert of Italy yesterday went down
to Woolwich and witnessed the maEoauvres of•ft

brigade fi..3ld.day. The proceedings commenced at
11 a.m., and were conducted by Mejor-Gen. Warde,
C. 8., Commandant. The Prince was attended by
Lieut.. Col. Du Plat, Equerry to the Household, and
was accompanied by the Marquis d'Azeglio, the
Italian ambassador, and two attachei—viz., the
Dacca di Somma and Capt. Cagni ; Gen. have',
aide-de-camp to the King; the Marquis Baibi and
Count Maffei, officers of the Etat Major. The
troops were paraded at 10.16 on Woolwich-common

in two lines, as follows—The first line, consisting
of three batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery, in
command of Col. the Hon. E. T. Gage, Col. Price,
C. 8., and Major Paget, and stationed at full inter-
vals ; the Ist battalion sth Fusiliers, in command
of Major Lyons; Royal Marine Light Infantry, in
the centre in two brigades, commanded by Captain
Bunce and Lieut.-Col. Marriott, in quarter distance