The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-23 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

A court of inquiry, ordered by the Lord Lieutenant of
Hampshire at the instance ofthe Secretary of State for War,
was held at Winchester a few days ago into the circum-
stances upon which he offitial reports were based which
led to the recent disbandment of the 18th Hants, or Basing-
aofphir
stoke corps, for insubordination at the review at Guildford
on Easter Monday. The court was composed of Sir George
Pechell, Colonel-Commandant of the 4th Administrative
Battaliona Capt.
lßLauraton:
Assis-
tant-Inspector ne
3d Hants, and Capt. Brace,as 7thrsilidanentt,
e. c
attended
from the War-office.
It appears that previous to the review on Easter Monday a
general order was issubd by Col. M'Murdo that no company
in any battalion was to consist lase than 24 files. Lieut.-
Col. Humphery, M.P., who commands the let Haute
tt-Is pe oc f t
o Hampshire,
Volunteers,
Administrative Battalion, on arriving at Shalford-common
with his own, the Andover company, found four other com-
panies and one subdivision belonging to his battalion already
on the ground ; two companies from Southampton, under
Lieut.-Col. Pechell, were added to his command,
which thus consisted of seven companies and one subdivi-
sion. The men forming the subdivision were at once dis-
tributed among the seven companies, but Colonel Hum-
phery, in the hope that more men might yet arrive, and
obviate the necessity, of breaking up any of the com-
panies, delayed obeying the general order until the last mo-
ment—until, indeed, a peremptory
command from the
brigade-major compelled him at once to do so. As each
company consisted of less than 24 file, and a's the battalion
could consist of six companies only, one had to be broken
up. He accordingly directed Lieutenant Brooks, who com-
manded the Basingstoke or junior company, and which
numbered only 17i files, to distribute his men in certain
proportions among the rest. Sone of the men, in obedience
to Lieutenant Brooks's order, were marched oil to one of the
companies from Winchester, but others of them, on being
ordered to join some other company, refused to obey. After
in command of the gned his commission, and
the
orneveli eHwuLieutenant
the Brooks
officer
reeers i
bat-
talion, reported the circumstances to the Lord-Lieutenant
of the county, the Marquis of Winchester, who in turn re-
ported to the War-office, and eventually, by the command
of the Queen, the Basingstoke corps was disbanded for in-
subordination. The subject was one of painful interest to
Volunteers in general at the time, and having eince con-
tinued to rankle in the minds of the corps in question and
of the rest of the inhabitants of the town of ?Basingstoke,
an inquiry into the cir-
cLuomrdstdaeneGersey and Ripon ordered

At the court constituted as above Mr Brooks, late lieu-
tenant, was called as a witness. He said he was at the re-
view with the Basingstoke corps, which he commanded. He
formed up the corps, when the Colonel asked him the date
of his commissions, he told him he could not mind the date,
but that Lieutenant Poore was his senior in rank. The
Colonel then said he must break up the 18th, or Basing-
stoke. He replied, " Very well," and asked how many files
were wanted for No, 1 Company. The Colonel said, "Three
files," which were detached and joined it without objection
on their part. He then asked the Colonel how many files
he would require for No. 2, and was told two files, He ac-
cordingly ordered two files to join No. 2. On his so doing
the front rank man of one file said, "I won't go." He also
heard two other men further down the company say they
would not break up, Upon that he turned to Colonel
Humphry, who was close by, and said, "My men refuse
to break up. On this the Colonel said to Adjutant Crofts,
who was near him, "The Basingstoke corps refused to be
broken up." The Adjutant's answer was, " Then we must
break up the battalion." The Colonel then turned to him
(Lieutenant Brooks), and said, " I will have nothing more
to do with you; I will brecik up the Andover corps," He
did so, and brought five files from that corps to the 18th
tt
Hants to make it up to the requisite strength, with an
order that the Andover files should work together. He
then proved the company, and they drilled with the rest of
the battalion. Four men had refused to obey. One
front rank man said he would not go, two others refused
to break off, and a fourth, in the centre of the corps, ad-
dressed the Colonel, saying that the 18th were the strongest
on the ground, and requesting to know why the Colonel
did not break up his own corps. By the expression '6 My
men refuse to break up" witness did not mean to infer the
whole corps was disobedient, nor did ho think it was. He
only intended this expression to apply to four men.
The witness, in cross-examination, said the Colonel ex-
pressed his sorrow at breaking up the company to bring up
the others to the requisite strength, He made use of no
words to the Colonel to imply that there were only four men
disobedient. The Colonel, in a letter, asked him to recon-
sider the resignation of his commission. He did so, and
wrote a letter in reply. The letter was put in, and was to
the effect that he had reconsidered his resignation, and
would not again expose himself to such treatment from his
corps. If a corps would not obey its officers it should either
be disbanded or the officers should resign. He accepted the
latter course, and adhered to his resignation.
Colonel Humphery, M.P., was called, and said, in sub•
stance, he distinctly remembered Mr Brooks reporting to
him that his men refused to break up.
He replied, "Not
break up? They meat 1" elr Brooks said, " Well, they
won't do it, and I can't make them."
He (Colonel Hum•
phery) then turned to Adjutant Crofts, and, remarking that
the Basingstoke corps refused to be broken up, asked what
he was to do. The Adjutant replied, "I know what we
should do in the regulars. I should order the companies in
front and rear to fix bayonets and march the offending com-
panies off the ground under erred. He (Lhe Colonel) said
he could not do that in this case, and he did then hear some
man in the Basingstoke corps ask bins why he did not break
own Upon
up his company.
that he went to the Andover
company, and said loudly the 18th must have heard—" Do
you hear the Basingstoke men refuse to obey the commands
of their officer ? Now, you show them that if you under-
take a soldier's duties you know how to discharge them by
They did so, and he sent five files to
the 18th, or Basingstoke, which were five files short, al-
though they
rebuked
sa
said they were the strongest company. His
company, the 13th, was one file stronger than theirs. When
the battalion was equalised he formed square, and, riding
obeying
up
when your officers, and set them an example by breaking
required."
Basingstoke corps for their
d
voice
sufficiently loud for all the
men
tn o remonstrance from the Basing-
stoke o hear
in reference
he
o t. did
to the rebuke ; nor had ho any rea-
sono
H ein
h
toa d
herwise than that Lieut. Brooks meant that
all
were disobedient. lie received every aid
intoferoonhismut
the believethecentre,
Hernsion
hommissioned officers of the corps, and so he
stated in his official report. It was never said in his hearing
company_c
that it was the conduct of a few men. He expected every
day to receive some expression of regret on the part of some
body, but in vain, and as far as he was concerned he was
to allow the matter to
matter w
reeeived the resignation
f Llinteegun, t .
to
hat
Brooks;
he
irebukedi the3
from
beforeo h corps
was sent to the Lord
en April Bth, a letter
calling for a report of the facts of the case. Up to that time
Ijo iielu i a n
rest.
v n
r OneeevMarchedbut
Earle,
he
ha t
he had said nothing about what had taken place at Shalford.
He sent in his report on 9th April, the day he received Mr
Earle'e letter. The Basingstoke corps felt it was hard for
them to suffer for the foolery of 4 few men. He (Colonel
Humphery) had done all he could to get them a court of in-
quiry. There, as far as he was concerns, the matter rested.
He believed the disobedience was general till he received a
copy of a letter from Mr Brooks aucueng bur men. He
then did all he could to obtain a court of inquiry.
The Court asked if more than fottr roe_u expressed their
disapproval at being broken up.
Colonel Humphery replied he knew aothing of that, ex-
cept by hearsay. He did not personalty observe any dis-
affection, except as to the man who addressed him.
Mr Brooks asked the Colonel if it world have been in ac-
cordance with discipline if any of then had remonstrated
when he addressed the men in square.

and easy, and he did not
Colonel Bumphery said it would not have been in accord-
ance with discipline, but in accordance with his knowledge
of
itt Ile
These were substantially the circumstances elicited at the
court of inquiry, which lasted four hours. They will be
they stick
reported to the War-office, and the result will afterwards
Theayt wereremonstrance. free
be made known.

The Ist corps of the Administrative Brigade of Kent
Artillery Volunteers, consisting of two batteries, under the
command of Captain-Commandant G, E. Sharland, were
h
in-
spectedon
te Wednesday
by Colonel C. J. B. Riddell, C. 8.,
commandingßoyal Artillery stationed in the Chatham
district. After the inspection of Volunteers on the parade
ground, which was in every respect satisfactory, both as
regards equipment, arms, clothing, and accoutrements, as
well as the manner in which the parade mancouvres were
effected, the corps commenced the more important portion
of their duties by manning the batteries commanding the
entrance to Chatham Harbour. They did so to practise with
the 68-pounder and 32-pounder smooth-bore guns, and to
expend their annual allowance of garrison gun ammunition.
The projectiles fired on the occasion consisted of 68-pounder
and 32-pounder solid shot and common shell, the target
being moored to seaward, at a range of about 1,800 yards.
Notwitptanding the, Eornewhiat untoward circumstance of

a stiff breeze blowing at right angles across the line of fire,
causing the target to have a very unsteady motion, the guns
were laid and pointed with remarkable accuracy, nearly
every shot and shell alighting in close proximity to the
target. During the practice every precaution was taken by
the commandant of the garrison to guard against the possi-
bility of an accident.
The annual inspection of the Rifle Volunteer corps com-
prising the 3d Administrative Battalion of Kent Volun •
teers took place at Chatham on Thursday last by Lieutenant-
Colonel R. G. A. Luard. The companies present con-
sisted of the 19th and 45th (City of Rochester), 9th (Chat-
ham), 23nd (Sheerness), 39th (West Mailing), 20th (North-
fleet), ancitl2th (Dartford). On the assembling of the sevo-
nd corps they were marched to the Government grounds in
the vicinity of Fort Pitt, when they were rut through the
customary manoeuvres by Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, who
commanded the battalion, Captain Coroyn, of the 22nd, and
Lieutenant Marsh, of the 19th Kent, exercising the battalion
in the manual and platoon exercises. At the termination
of the inspection, Col. Luard briefly addressed the volun-
teers, and stated that he was pleased to see an improvement
on last year's drill. He added that although the move-
ments had not been performed so steadily as they might
have been, yet on the whole the battalion had done pretty
fairly.
In Suffolk, the Lowestoft battery paraded at the drill-
shed on Thursday evening, when the prizes for great gun
firing were distributed as follows :—The left subdivision
took Capt. Morse's prize of £5, offered for the subdivision
making the best shots; Gunner C. R. Tymms, Mr T. R.
Wood's prize of £1 ls,, offered to the best shot of the bat-
tery ; Sergeant Madison and Gunner Roberts, Lieut. Garn-
ham's prize of a spade guinea and half guinea for the first
and second best shots of the right subdivision; Gunner A.
Cooper and Gunner C. R. Tymms, Lieut. Seppings's prize
of the same character, offered to the left subdivision ; and
Sergeant-Major Youngman and Sergeant Steward, two
prizes of 10s., offered to the third best shots in the two
divisions by Mr Brackenbury. The volunteers, after the
distribution of the prizes, were entertained by Mr Woods,
at his residence, Park-hill, Oulton.
Several movements may be noted in Lincolnshire. A
party of about 30 of the Lincoln corps proceeded last week
to Gaiasborough to complete their class firing at 890 and 900
yards, and only two of them failed to obtain a sufficient
number of marks to entitle them to become marksmen.
Colour-Sergt. Bourne, of No. 3 company, made the highest
score (19 marks), and has consequently become the holder
for one year of Mr Clayton's challenge cup ; he receives in ,
addition a prize of £5 from the funds of the corps. At the
annual competition for prizes by the Louth corps the com-
mittee offered prizes to be shot for by the first, second, and
third classes. In the first class the first prize of £3 was won
by Sergeant Mason, who made 30 marks at 200 and 500
yards; in the second class the first prize of £1 was won by
Captain Robson, who made 28 marks at 200 and 500 yards ;
and in the third class the first prize was won by Sergeant
Waite, who made 17 marks at 150 and 200 yards. A prize
of £2 2s, given by Mr Blathwayt, was shot for by the first-
class men, second period, at 500 and 600 yards, and was won
by Lance-Corporal Brady.
The Shepton Mallet (15th Somerset) Volunteers have
had another friendly contest with the Bath (2d Somerset)
Company, and the latter were again defeated. The Shep-
ton Company shot for their challenge cup on Wednesday,
at 200, 400, and 500 yards. Private John Allen was the
winner with 42 marks; and the cup passed to him from
Sergeant Cook, the previous winner.
In Wiltshire the coming contests are attracting much
attention among the Volunteers. An interesting contest
took place last week between the Chippenham and Melks-
, ham corps, on the ground of the latter. The ranges were
200, 500; and GOO yards, Hythe position, and Wimbledon
scoring. At 200 the Chippenham men headed their oppo-
nents uy 20 points; but at the next ranges the luelksham
made superior scoring, and succeeded in heading the Chip-
henham men by 12 points. This was the return match.
A return match between 10 members of the Loughborough
and 10 of the Melton company has just been decided at the
Melton range. Sides of 10 each were formed, and the
shooting was at 200. 500, and 600 yards. The scores made
were as follows :—Melton, 326; Loughborough, 307. The
Melton 10 accordingly won. In a match between 20 of the
Melton company and 20 of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch com-
pany, shooting at 200, 500, and 600 yards, the scores made
were—Melton, 553; Ashby, 629.
Mr Charles Mczley, the mayor of Liverpool, following
the example of Mr Hutchinson (the late mayor), invited the
volunteers of Liverpool to a grand gathering at the Aintree
race course on Saturday. The weather was beautifully fine,
and about 5,000 volunteers were on the ground, while at
least 30,000 spectators were assembled on the Grand Stand
and in the neighbourhood of the course. The military
arrangements included a review and sham fight, the details
and organisation of which were, of course, left to the chief
local volunteer officers. There were in all 12 battalions on
the ground, five of these being artillery, one engineers, and
the remainder rifles. The men came on the ground about
4 o'clock, and on the plain in front of the Grand Stand took
up their position in close column of battalions, while the
inspecting officers went slowly along the line. Col.M'Murdo
was the reviewing officer, and the staff comprised Col. Man-
ners and Col. Bruce (inspectors of districts), and Col.
Lovett, of the 2d Shropshire Battalion. The marching past
was upon the whole gone through with great regularity.
At the close of the day Col. M'Murdo addressed the officers
and men, commending their appearance and the condition
of their arms, and the steadiness which was apparent in the
ranks. Alluding to the Press Guard, and to their adoption
(by special permission) of the practice of carrying their arms,
he said that it was an antiquated and cumbersome fashion,
and that the men did not do it well. The arms were too
much at the slop. He recommended, therefore, if they
adhered to the practice, a special drill in this branch.
It was not merely red coats and bearskins, and having the
fixed bayonet, that made the soldier, but good hard drill.
In conclusion, Colonel 111'111urdo said that this would be the
last occasion on which he should have the opportunity of
seeing the Volunteers in any considerable numbers. He
should lay down his office, however, with the gratifying
knowledge that during the last five years the Volunteer
force had greatly increased in numbers and improved in
efficiency. He was convinced that the existence of this
force had saved England from much insult and perhaps
from positive attack. It was not an aggressive force, but
one intended to keep aggression from the country ; and so
long as nations chose to go to war, so long would the
Volunteer force preserve this country safe from foreign
attack, and contribute to the happiness and contentment of
the people. The Volunteers then broke up for refreshment.
On the invitation of the Earl of Zetland, a porticn of the
first battalion of North Riding Volunteers, comprisiog the
4th, sth, and 15th North York Corps, under the command
of Lieut. Colonel Earl Cathcart, assembled in the beautiful
grounds of Aske Hall for review ea Thursday. The Volun-
teers were nearly 300 strong. The day was observed as a close
holiday in Richmond, by the Mayor's orders, and vast num-
bers of people repaired to the park and grounds, the whole
of which were thrown open for the occasion. The Volun-
teers were drawn up in line before the hall, to receive the
Earl of Zetland, who, in hie Lord Lieutenant's uniform,
rode past the ranks, minutely inspecting the men. Earl
Cathcart then put the Volunteers through the varied move-
ments of battalion drill, at the close of which they were
marched to the Riding School, where a banquet had been
spread. Here the men were joined by Lord Zetland, Earl
and Countess Cathcart, Lord and Lady Teignmouth, Lord
and Lady Stratford de Redcliffe, the Misses Canning, the
Hon. T. 0. Powlett, Count Corvell, and others forming
Lord Zetland's party. Daring the after-dinner speeches
which followed, it was made a matter of congratulation that
Earl Cathcart had reconsidered his intention to resign the
command of the battalion and would remain at their head
as at present. The Volunteers were very much praised for
their efficiency.

A LADY PREACHER AND THE POLICE.. .Most of
our readers (says the Carmarthen Journal) have
doubtless heard of Mrs Colonel Bell, a lady who is (perhaps
somewhat indiscreetly) fnigrating from town to town
throughout the principality for the purpose of preaching
and selling copies of the Scriptures. Whether Mrs Bell
considers Swansea more depraved than other towns we know
not, but her stay here has now been prolonged for several
months, and the way in which she fulfills her mission has
repeatedly brought her into antagonism with the police.
Some few weeks ago Mrs Bell was summoned before the
bench for causing obstruction in the streets, and the case
beiag proved she was ordered to pay 6s 6d costs, On Mon-
day last Mrs Bell was again summoned for a similar offence,
and on this occasion Mr Robert Sutherland. tho town mis-
sionary, was also summoned. The case was proved by p.c.
26, who swore that on Sunday evening both defendants were
preaching in Castle-square, that a very large crowd of per-
sons congregated around them, and the thoroughfare was
consequently obstructed. The defendants brought forward
three or four respectable civilians, who deposed that they
were present daring the whole of the Sunday evening ser-
vice, and that there was no obstruction—pedestrians passed
and repassed on either side of the street. The magistrates,
however, believed the case proved, and fined each of the
defendants 20s, or 44 days' imprisonment. The defendants
refused to pay, stating they had no money, and Mrs Bell
adding that the apostles went to gaol for the cause of Christ
in days of old, and she would follow their example. Ulti-
mately, however, a gentleman in court paid the money for
both the defendants, who were then liberated. Mrs 801 l
left a Bible with the head constable as a gift to the officer
who had proved the case against her.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER,—On Friday
evening, Mr. Arthur Priest, of Plutnetoad New Town,
with a party of friends, left the pier at North Woolwich
in a waterman's boat for the purpose of crossing the river
on their return from the gardens, when at starting the
craft came in collision with a steamer and w-as upset. The
whole of the party were saved with the exception of
Mr Priest,

HOP INTELLIGENCE.

(From the Mari Lane Express.)
EAST RENT.

CANTERBURY, Aug. 21 —As the time for picking ap-
proaches, the interest with regard to a crop so precarious
and uncertain as that of hops increases. I made numerous
inquiries among the farmers at our market yesterday, and
this morning I have received communications from planters
in upwards of twenty parishes in different parts of East
Kent. Taken singly, the reports are to some extent con-
flicting; but, as a whole, they are very favourable. The
weather has been ungenial since the date of my last report ;
easterly winds, with cold nights. The forward hops, espe-
cially those on the southern and western sides of the poies,
near the tops, have continued to grow fast, and are now fast
approaching maturity; but those which are still in a tran-
sition state, Letween burr and fruit, have been checked.
Last night the wind got round to the west, and a gentle rain
fell for several hours, from which a great deal of good is
expected, especially should the weather be fine during the
next five or six days. Mould to a greater or less extent is
found in many plantations ; but, except in four or five in-
stances, my correspondents report that it rather decreased
than increased since last week. Sulphur has been applied
successfully in several cases to prevent the spread of mould,
but the necessity to resort to this deterring agent has been
exceptional. Where mould has increased, the prospects of
a crop are impaired to the extent of several hundredweights
per acre. The leaves of even the best •looking hops, in
mouldy grounds, instead of being crisp and closely over-
lapping each other, open out, and the hops are soft and
"fluffy," and have lost their condition. The backward hops
are prevented from coming to maturity. Not only is the
yield curtailed, but the quality is greatly impaired. But I
am glad to report that mould does not at present prevail to
an extent to greatly prejudice either the yield or the qua-
lity of the East Kent hop crop as a whole. The infection is
exceptional, and, where found, is only partial. On the
whole, there is now the almost certainty of a good crop.
Should the weather be favourable, picking will be from a
week to ten days earlier than usual; and, if mould should
spread, a commencement will be made before the end of the
month. The estimates with regard to the crop are various,
but even the lowest are not unsatisfactory. There are some
grounds the yield of which will not be less than 17 or 18
cwts. per acre, and there are very few indeed which will
give less than 5 or 6 cwts. per acre. The prevailing opinion
is that the average growth for East Kent will not be less
than 11 to 12 cwts. per acre.
NEW YORK, Aug. 10.—The accounts from the planta-
tions come daily worse. From every section the reports are
of the most discouraging character. It is now generally con-
ceded that there will not be more than half a crop, and some
experienced planters put it down at one-third; and what
renders the case much worse is that not more than one-
tenth of this deficient crop will be of choice quality. The
consequence is that all will be required for home consump-
tion, and exports entirely cut off. Prices have rallied here
considerably, and the few fine hops on hand withdrawn from
sale. Half a dollar per lb is fully anticipated as the future
value of choice quality.
NUREMBERG, Aug. 13.—The reports respecting the forth-
coming crop in this neighbourhood are most favourable, and
similar intelligence reaches us from other parts; but from
Alsace we hear a different version. No bargains are made
there at less than 110 f to 130 f, although it has been stated
that prospective sales had taken place at SOL Spelt hops
to be delivered in October have been dealt in at 75f1. From
Poland and the Altmark reports as favourable as our own
have been received, and about three-fourths of a crop are
expected.
SPALT, Aug. 14.—1 t is now considered certain that Spelt
and its neighbourhood will produce generally a good half-
crop, while here and there three-fourths may be looked. for.
We have had some cold nights even in wa11• sheltered places,
and should no favourable change take place our prospects
would much change.
BOTH (MIDDLE FEANDosnA), Aug. 16.—As the picking
time approaches many places promise well, but a great
variation is observable in other districts. Warm weather
only is wanting for the complete development of the bunches,
as we have plenty of moisture. From some parts of Middle
Francenia no reports are issued, and the presumption there-
fore is that the prospects are bad.
THE REZAT (BAVARIA), Aug. 16.—The cold nights of
late have exercised no very beneficial effects on our gardens,
and some have suffered to some extent; but the plants are
clean, and show little indications of insects or discoloration,
so that an excellent quality is looked for. Sunshine and
warm days and nights aro only wanted for the development
of so promising a crop ; and as an earnest of good weather
to come, to-day is bright and hot. The greater portion of
the growers are satisfied with► their prospects, but others
still entertain unfavourable opinions. Picking will begin in
about three weeks.

STOCKAC/i (SUABrA), Aug. 12.—A1l grounds which are
free from insects and rust—about two-thirds of the whole—
present a splendid appearance, while others, which are
troubled with the plagues indiested, promise but a very
poor crop. On the whole, we look for about half a growth.
TUBINGEN (BAVARIA), Aug. 15.—The time for the de-
velopment of the Parr and for the bunches passed over favour-
ably and quickly, so that we may soon expect to bring our
produce to market. Picking will begin next week with the
younger sorts. The blackness perceptible has made no pro-
gress of late ; and even from those parts where honey-dew
was most prevalent some sort of a crop is expected.
SAATZ ( BouEmiA.), Aug. 11.—The rain looked for during
so long a period has not yet fallen, so that the hops in dry
situations have suffered very much, and not only have retro-
graded so far as the development of bunches is concerned,
but even the blossom has perished. It is to be feared that,
even in moist situations, the hops will suffer severely, espe-
cially as picking ought soon to begin.
BISCHWEILER (LOWER RIIINE), Aug. 13.—Some im-
provement has taken place with us, for the hops look ranch
better than during the previous week, as they have been
much cleansed by the rain which has fallen. Those grounds
which have been cultivated will produce the usual crop, but
those which suffered early hold out but poor prospects of an
improvement,

PRAGUE, Aug. 12.—Oar hops look exceedingly well, and
promise to be a good crop. In old goods but little is done,
as the stocks are nearly exhausted. Prices are nominal.
HEEZBROUCK, Aug. 11.—Rain has fallen abundantly
here, and the effect on the growth has been marvellous.
TETTNANG (ON THE LAKE OF CONSTANCE), Aug. 9.
Picking will begin this week with the young hops, and thus
the greater portion of the crop will soon be ready for the
market. The crop promises well both as to quantity had
quality,