The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-12 00:00:00

the old fable, ANTZUs, while fighting
for his life, acquired new strength and vigour every
time he touched his mother-earth. In his own
vicissitudes NAPOLEON 111. has experienced a
similar result. At each successive appeal to the
people he found his power augmented and his
strength of position increased. So now would he
find it, if he took the bold resolve, not of appealing to
the people, but of recognising the rights of that
people who have been so ready to recognise him.

If he would frankly, loyally, of his own free will,
without coercion or constraint, give a wider basis to
the popular representation, and a freer utterance
to the Parliamentary debates, he would acquire a
far greater accession of power and of world-wide
applause than attended upon him on hia return from
the victorious fields of Magenta and Solferino.

The Volunteers are now an established institu-

tion, and recognised by all, and warmly welcomed
whenever mention is made of them in a public

assembly or at a social meeting. This is as it
should be; but still it is of paramount importance
that due attention should be paid to the require-

ments of the force, so that efficiency should be

kept up. This cannot be done without strenuous

exertion and constant watchfulness. On these

grounds, then, it is most gratifying to note the
brilliant gathering that took place on Saturday
evening at Westminster Hall. Rank, fashion, and
beauty united to grace the assemblage, and add

honour to the occasion. The distribution of prizes

,n a public form is always a desirable thing—it

stimulates the exertions and gives a fitting crown

to past toils. In all countries and in all ages such
awards of merit, and trophies of renown, have

exercised a peculiar spell and exerted an irresistible
fascination. The poet has immortalised the de-
lights of such honours, and celebrated the attrac-

tiuns of public recognition of gallant exploits and

glorious services in these well known lines :

The festal blazes, the triumphal show,
The ravished standard, and the captive foe,
The senate's thanks, the gazette's pompous tale,
With force resistless o'er the brave prevail—
For such the rapid Greeks o'er Asia whirled,
For such the steady Romans shook the world.
Earl GROSVENOR has distinguished himself at all
Imes for the zeal and energy with which he has

conducted the affairs of his corps, and it must be

especially gratifying to him to exhibit the profi
ciency of those under his command, while the sue.

cessful candidates cannot but rejoice at the happy
issue of their arduous toils, and the honour paid

:o them by the presence of a distinguished circle
:o witness their receipt of prizes at the

hands of Lady CONSTANCE GROSVENOR.
The prizes were of great value, and the donors of
them are most deserving of the recognition made

by Earl GROSVENOR in his brief but appropriate
address, for the sums thus expended are not use-

lessly lavished, but are invested in a good cause, and
tend to elevate the standard of efficiency to which
all more or less aspire, and to gain which end no
efforts should be spared. His lordship's speech was
not a mere complimentary form of address, bat it
was an exposition of the state of the regiment. The
number of marks has increased, and satisfactory
proof is given as to the improvement in the shoot-
ing. Among others who gained honourable men-
tion the 13th Company of the QUEEN'S Westmin-
sters were most conspicuous, they having, to use
the words of their commander, " WO-a and held ten
times against all corners the Inland Revenue Chal-

lenge Cup of the Civil Service Rifle Volunteers."
It is important that these achievements should be
cited, as they afford landmarks of progress, and en-
courage the doubting, confirm the wavering, and
present a wholesome reproof to the careless or over-
sufficient. After Earl GRosVENOR had concluded
his very telling speech, and Lady CONSTANCE had
distributed the prizes, Colonel 111‘.111uRpo came for-
ward and delivered a most instructive and interest-
ing address. His remarks were most appropriate,
and effectively set forth the nature of Volunteer
service generally, and the advantages that might
thereby be gained to the community. He said
very truly that it was idle to expect a Volunteer
force to compete in excellence with regular troops
in enduring the hardships of a campaign. There is
no cause to be disheartened at this announcement,
because it was not for campaign work that
Volunteers were designed, and they have
other, and equally important and honourable
duties to perform. Colonel NI'111t;RD0 spoke with
the authority of his position as Inspector-General
of Volunteers, when he declared it as his opinion
that the " efficiency of the rifle volunteer force has
in fact vastly increased." This is cheering intelli-
gence, and it is to be trusted that it will have its
due effect in affording that agreeable stimulus
which is necessary for the successful termination of
all results, and which all volunteer efforts pre-
eminently demand. The communication that in-
creased strictness was now the rule with all the
officers in command of corps, also testified most sa-
tisfactorily as to the present working and future
prospects of the Volunteer establishment. If, un-
happily, the blast of war should sound in our ear,
and call forth the scans of England to do their duty
in the eventful struggle, there is no cause to dread
that this generation will be unmindful of past times
of enterprise, and prove unworthy of the sires before
them. It is now some years since, in the midst of
discouragement, this enterprise was begun, and
more peaceful times have seen it securely fixed and
highly honoured as a national institution, And
honour is due to those who originated the scheme
of the Volunteers, and just praise should be awarded
to all whose efforts have enabled it to attain itP.,
present degree of brilliant success, May the earliest
efforts of the members of the forces, and tb.ta stead-
fast support of the nation, be never found wanting
to carry it on to a triumphant goal, and render it a
rook of defence to the country in the hour of peril,
and an unfailing shield of defence against all
enemies, near or far; and if war should intervene to
dispel the smiles of peace—when oar armaments
are preparing and our fleets weigh anchor—
" A virtuous populace may rise the while,
And stand a wall of fire around their much loved isle 1"

The correspondence respecting the European-
Chinese Navy has just been published, and will be
read with some interest and curiosity. Whatever
may be the result of the affair there will be few Eng-
lishmen who will not acknowledge that Captain
OSBORN acted with commendable spirit and reso-
lution in refusing to undertake the command of the
force on the terms proposed by the Chinese, and in
refraining from surrendering possession of the ves-
sels until he had consulted the English Ambassador
as to the propriety of doing so. According to the
information contained in this correspondence,
Prince KUNG, the Regent, on the 24th October,
1862, addressed & letter of instructions to Mr. LAY,
the Inspector-General on this subject, in which the
Prince states that the acting Inspector had assured
him that in order to render the Imperial navy
efficient " it was necesssary that foreign vessels and
foreign guns should be procured.' After giving
farther directions and investing Mr. LAY with the
sole responsibility of the disbursement of the funds
appointed for the purpose—the Regent remarks
that China being is urgent need of th- vessels and
guns, which should both be of first-rate quality,
therefore no time should be lost in completing
them to Shanghai. Upon these Wilke proceeding