The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-30 00:00:00

:-4rd Manchester

Inspection of the IL._
Volunteers.

On Saturday, the 3d Manchester (40th Lanca-
shire) regiment of rifle volunteers underwent
annttal inspection at the Infantry Barracks, Salford.
At three o'clock the men assembled in the Chatham
College Yard, under the commend of Lieut. Colonel
the Hon. Algernon Egerton, M.P., and headed by
an efficient band, were marched through some of the
principal streets of the city to the parade ground.
There was a strong muster in ell the companies,
and the following was the return mstie In the ins
speeting officer—Field officers present, 2; absent on
leave, 1 ; Captains present, 8; absent on leave, 2.
Subalterns present, 12 ; absent on leave, 3. Ser-
geants present, 48 ; absent on leave, 4. Band and
buglers 'resent, 45. Privates present, 445 ; absent
on leave, 201 ; absent without leave, 12. Strength
of battalion : present, 563 ; absent with leave, 211;
absent without leave, 12; total, 786. In the absence
of Lieutenant Colonel R. Bruce, the inspector of
volunteers for Lancashire, who had been called
away to attend the review in Hyde Park, Lieu-
tenant Colonel Cadwallder Adams, of the 49:h
Regiment, performed the duties of inspecting
officer. The regiment was drawn up in line, and
received Colonel Adams with a general salute.
The men then marched past in open column, a
movement specially adapted to show tho relative
steadiness and marching capabilities of the com-
panies severally. Viewed with a critical eye
at the point of passing the saluting flag, there
was a manifest superiority shown by some of the
companies, especially in the rear and supernumary
ranks ; but considering that the number of
recruits in the regiment is about 200, it is more
gracious to avoid invidious comparisons, and to be
able to say that on the whole the men moved with
great regularity and precision. The next movement
was to march past in quarter-distance column. In
this more compact form they wheeled well togsther,
and moved on in a united mass. In the same form
they came a third time round, but now in double
quick time, stepping briskly to the tune of Pop
goes the weasel." The regiment was next put
through the manual and platoon exercises, by
Major Brooks, and the bayonet exercise by the
Adjutant, Captain Heaton. The advance in line,
stretching the whole width of the barrack yard, the
straight line being kept with mathematical accu-
racy, was much admired. Whilst on the move the
several companies wheeled to the right, and formed
square on the leading company, and in this form,
wish fixed baronets, they were moved en masse to
the centre of the ground. This, the echelon advance,
and the rapid formation of company squares, were
among the subsequent movements which did the
regiment much credit. In the skirmishing, the
men showed a want of ear for the music of the bugle
calls, which had to be interpreted and supplemented
by loud shouts from the non-commissioned officers.
After minutely examining the arms and appoint-
ments of the men, Colonel Adams, who had dis-
mounted, took his stand between the centre com-
panies, the remaining companies facing inwards.
Addressing Col. Egerton and the regiment, he said
that their parade had been very creditable indeed,
and he felt well satisfied with the way in which they
had gone through their various manoeuvres.
Same of the movements had been performed very
steadily. The great point which all volunteers
should recollect was that, in order to preserve
steadiness upon parade, there must be a regular
attendance at company drill. Ha had heard both
from their colonel and their adjutant that; with the
31 Manchester Regiment this was generally the
case, and that they were on the whole very atten-
tive to drill. They must continue to be so, end
every year there would be a marked improvement
in their performances. It was only by paying
attention to such matters that they could possibly
hope to be able to work in the field; and they all
naturally felt, when they got into the field, that
they should like t be able to do as well as other
men. He had remarked that some of the arms were
not quite the thing. They could not possibly keep
their arms in order unless they constantly looked
after them, and if not kept in order they were o
little or no use when wanted for prize shooting or for
work in the field of any description. Those men
who were in trade, or who es mechanics were
accustomed to work with tools of any description
made from iron or steel, knew well that when a
little rust got upon them, it ruined them in a very
short time. It was, in like manner, a matter of
necessity that their arms should be kept thoroughly
clean and in proper order, or else when wanted the
chances wb:e they would be of no use at all, If they
recol acted this ;advice they would find it, generally
speaking, of great r. ;vantage. He should be happy
ort of what he had seen of
to make a favourable rek.'
the corps.—This terminatea the proceedings, and
the regiment immediately afterN,7ards marched out
of the barracks, and were dismissed on their arrival
in St. Ann's-square.