The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-17 00:00:00

WIMBLEDON PRIZE MEETING.

The event of the day yesterday was the Internationa
Match between and Scotland. In modern times the ballad
of " Chevy Chase" and the deeds which inspired it have
both pass ed much out of recollection. We have no longer
border feuds to maintain the distinctly national feelings of
the two countries. But for all there werei ndications yes-
terday that the old rivalry has not altogether died out, and
that when a legitimate occasion presents itself for exhibit-
ing that spirit in its better and more patriotic form, it ceases
to be latent, and springs into full activity in the breast of
every Celt and Southron. The groups round the firing
points yesterday may not have been as numerous as those
which assembled to witness the match between the
Lords and Commons, but they were certainly more
enthusiastic. Every bull's-eye or miss—and of the latter
there were very few—might almost have been scored
from the faces of the spectators carrying telescopes,
before the marker put up the signal disc. The regulations
for the contest, framed by Lord Bury and Mr. Horatio Ross,
and sanctioned by the Council of the Association, provided
that every competitor should fire 15 shots at each of three
ranges-800, 900, and 1,000 yards. It was consequently
difficulty, if not impossible, to complete the match in one
day. For convenience of shooting it was arranged that the
eight at either side should be divided into two squads of
four each, and upon this system the match began at a very
early hour. In nearly every case the Whitworth rifle was
used, and the recumbent position in firing was chosen by
the competitors. There were, however, some exceptions.
Lord Elcho and Major Halford preferr ed the sitting posture,
and Mr. Farquharson fired in the peculiar attitude in which
he is so much at home that while in the act of assuming it
he seems to be dropping off to sleep and forgetting all
about the match. A novice trying to imitate it for the
first time would probably find the position provoca-
tive of cramp rather than comfort. It was observed
throughout the day that the Scotch Eight were slower in
taking aim, as well as more deliberate in all their move-
ments, than their English rivals. The latter shot through
the 800 yards' distance in a shorter time, and when they
had finished the next stage, and removed to the 1,000 yards'
firing point, the Scotch Eight had not much more than half
accomplished their proper number of shots at the 900 yards'
range. The fortunes of the day were variable, and this in-
creased the interest felt by the spectators in the ultimate re-
sult. At the end of the first stage the Scotch were three ahead.
A proposition was made to discontinue the match at this
point, owing, as was understood, to indisposition on the part
of one of the sons of Mr. Ross. But after formal envoys
had gone backwards and forwards between the respective
Eights, the English side declined to acquiesce in the pro-
posal, there having been a preliminary agreement between
the captains that the match should be shot out, under what.
ever circumstances. By the time that the 900 yards'
range had been half shot through the Scotch added three to
their former majority; but after this period their shooting
fell off so decidedly that, when the 15 shots apiece had been
fired on both sides, England was in a majority of 32, or, de-
ducting the balance of 3 remaining from the 800 yards'
range, in a majority of 29 upon the aggregate score. It is
difficult to account for this sudden deterioration in the
shooting of the Scotch Eight, but it is said that they ex-
perienced the full disadvantage of a change of wind, which
their opponents being about to begin at a new distance did
not feel so detrementally. There was a possibility though
not a probability, that the English Eight would beableto
complete all their ranges before gunfire, .and as they
had
fire 10 rounds out of the
beta shooting so successfully at the prey: us distance they
falling, but having added
determined to persevere as long as they could at the 1,000
ItY'were then forced to desist.
would clearly not have
considerable
time apparently spent in preparaeons, they sent word to
the Captain of the English Eight that they did not mean to
t
they
nihbeltmrorhooacisueteglntceighhgrathatreope, figeeh: previous
theirgueo hysn dwti
hldaess score,
contrary,ri rnoatuPhf naiedy !Ind after a
as b rtnoi nr
enter upon the 1,000-yards ranmgeighutntbile tehni
Havinge-
advantage fhea vantage of sighting shots to begin with, and
raottiornnid.ngßlitigthto,
course,fthe3,
Must take their
chance of encountering wind or r • •
fine weather, with the wind to a great extent
rain, either of which would
tell in favour of the English Eight, whose shooting was
re y down the range. The following are the details of
madedi
ct
the shooting in the first two stages :
colT2hl.of4saahs
.'2redatrelsoste,'