The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-28 00:00:00

corps, but also because he considered it to age 4dal of
one holding the office which he had the honour to hold in
connexion with the Volunteer force to avail himself of
every opportunity to forward the interests and to encourage
its efforts. A question had been raised as to whether the
distribution of prizes were as conducive to the real interests
of the volunteers as their frequency at this season of the
year would seem to imply they were held to be by the force
at large. For himself, he had no hesitation in saying that
he believed they were beneficial. He was quite aware that
many officers of high standing and long experience in the
military profession were by no means agreed as to the exact
degree of value which should be attached to individual skill
in shooting when considering the efficiency of an army for
actual warfare. Although no one would deny that every
soldier should be able to make the best possible use of the
arms intrusted to him, yet there were persons who laid
much greater stress upon individual skill in musketry than
did others, who maintained that in over-estimating the
value of individual skill there was danger of losing sight of
matters of still greater importance in the training of volun-
teers and of soldiers generally. Ho would not pronounce any
opinion upon the question as it affected the regular army?
but, viewing it in connexion with the volunteers, he bad no
hesitation in saying that his experience led him to the belief
that among all classes of vuluoteers nu part of their train-
ing was so intresting as target practice. Ho theroloro
thought that, in the interest of the volunteer cans° it was
desirable that every encouragement should be giv,:n to the
attainment of skill in rids shooting, He did not mean to
imply that the existence of the volunteer force depended
upon such encouragement, or would be ignoring the admi-
rable patriotic spirit which led to its formation, which still
maintained it in more than its original strength, and which
would vastly increase the number within its ranks if ever
our coasts were threatened with invasion. (Cheers )
With respect to the London Rifle Brigade in par-
ticular, he had that day looked through the returns at
the War-office, and he was glad to find that its enrolled
srrength had been steadily mantained, and of late had been
on the increase. (Cheers.) He found, too, that the general
military efficiency of the corps had Leen well kept up, and
he'said that not upon his own authority, but upon that of
their honorary colonel, his Royal Highness the Commander-.
in-Chief. (Cheers.) He was still more gratified to state
that such a state of things was not peculiar to the London
Rifle Brigade, as the volunteer force generally was increas-
ing in strength and well maintaining its military efficiency.
(Renewed cheers.)
Colonel Mellfunno, who had just arrived, then,rose, and
was greeted with such hearty cheering as indisputably
proved his popularity with the volunteer... The gallant
colonel said he had determined to be present if possible, and
although he had that afternoon inspected a corps at Rich-
mond, and had to inspect another in some, to him, unknown
district in the north-east of London, he had contrived to
reach Sydenham in time to address a few words to them. In
the first place, he must express his gratification at seeing
the London Rifle Brigade once more under arms before he
severed his official connection with them. He thought it
was well that such meetings as this should take place an-
nually, not only to reward the winners of prizes and to
encourage those who had not yet been fortunate, but also
to enable those ladies and gentlemen who were friends
and supporters of the cause to see the volunteers face to
face. It was well that those friends and supporters should
see the volunteers under arms, their soldierly bearing, and
should be made acquainted with the proficiency acquired in
the use of the weapons intrusted to the volunteers, thus
assuring them of the manner in which those arms would be
used should they ever be needed fur the defence of the
country. As he viewed the volunteer movement, he be-
lieved the time was very distant when they would be called
into the field for the defence of the country, because he be-
lieved the very fact of the existence of the volunteer force
was sufficient to deter other nations from making any
attempt upon our shores. (Cheers.) So long as the volunteer
army maintained its numbers—and he regarded it as only
the nucleus of an army—so long as it maintained the effi-
ciency at whieh he could testify it had attained, he was sure
it would of itself preserve our coasts from invasion by
foreign armies. Their gallant colonel had thanked him in
their name for the manner in which he had performed his
duties in connection with the Volunteer force. Ho thanked
them for that expression of their opinion concerning him,
and he could only most truthfully declare that his labourk;
and he had not spared himself—(loud cheers)—his labours
from'first to last were labours of love. (Cheers.) He knew,
as every reflecting soldier must know, that good as was our
regular army, it was not numerous enough for the defence
of our coasts as well as for the protection of our colonies.
They all knew if war were to break out to-morrow we
should not have more than 40,000 regular troops in this
country. They all knew—and none better than the mer-
chants of London—the enormous weight of the Military
Estimates every year. Since the Crimean war the Army
Estimates had unavoidably swelled to a very large amount,
and it was hardly possible to expect that the country
should be taxed for the maintenance of a larger standing
army than we now had. He looked upon this Volunteer
movement, which was begun five years ago, as if the people
had said, " What we cannot do with our regular army we
will do ourselves." (Cheers.) He remembered well that
on the very day in 1859 when he first received instructions
to enter upon the duties of Inspector of Volunteers he met
a body clad in dark green with black cocks' feathers in
their shakoes, whose marching was so good that he had
scarcely ever seen any soldier.; march better. 'Upon inquiry
he;found that those men belonged to the London Rifle Bri-
gade. (Loud cheers.) He then perceived what the Vo-
lunteer force would come to, and he had not been deceived,
and he thanked God that it was in the power of this corm.
try to maintain such an army so cheaply and so efficiently-
Although he was about to leave thew, he should ever re-
tain a vivid recollection of the pleasure he had experienced
in labouring with the Volunteers. (Loud cheers.)
The proceedings were then brought to a close with loyal
cheers and the National Anthem.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

CHERTSE Y STEEPLECHASES—SA.TuunIy,

The Maiden Steeplechase of 3 Bova each, with 25 added,

weight for age, with selling allowances. About three

miles.
Mr Elphick's Gorsehawk, 6 yrs, 10st (£6O) (T. Clement) 1
Mr Fowler's Claurus, aged, lOst 71b (£6o) (Jewell) 2
Mr W. Harman's Remunerator, aged, lOst 71b (£WO)
(Searle) 3
The following also ran:—lrish Boy, Betsy Baker, and
Surbiton.

Betting-6 to 4 agst Remunerator, sto 2 agst Surbiton,
6 to 1 agst Betsy Baker.
Irish Boy made play, and passing the stand was followed
by Gorsehawk and Claurus, Remunerator going on last.
They ran without any particular change till clearing the
brook on the far side. where Betsy Baker came to grief,
after which Gorsehawk took a clear lead. Atter passing the
stand the second time, Surbiton fell at the next fence, and
Gorsehawk went on with Claurus in pursuit, but the former
won without being approached by a distance.
The winner was bought in for 157 guineas.
The Surrey and Middlesex Open Handicap Steeplechase of
50 soya, added to a sweepstakes of 5 soya each, 2 ft; win-
ners extra. About 3i miles.

Mr R. Rowland's Meanwood (12, b), llet 51b .... (Knott) 1
Mr Nugent's Yaller Gal, list 61b (Mr Barry) 2
- - -

The following also ran : Zodiac, Odds or Evens, and
Stays.

Betting-5 to 2on Meanwood, bto 2 apt Yaller Gal, 6
to 1 agat
Meanwood took a strong lead and fencing beautifully,
maintained his advantage to the end and won by a distance ;
Stays cantered in, and nothing else passed the post.
The Open Hunters' Steeplechase of 3 soya each, with 20
added; 12st 71b each, with selling allowances ; profess
sionals, 71b extra. About three miles.
Mr A. Yates's Storm, aged, lOst 71b (L 10) (Knott) 1
Mr J. F. Burkill's Holdersyke, aged, list (£GO) (Owner) 2
Mr Hurman's The Sprat, aged, lOst (Z 10) (Mr Harford) 3

The following also ran :Kitty, Mystery, Sweep, Blair
Athol, Aunt Sally, Confederate, Polly Hopkins, and Irish
Lass.

Betting-2 to 1 agat Storm, sto 2 agst Confederate, sto
1 agst Polly Hopkins, 6 to 1 agat Mystery.
Storm led over the first fence, but was soon passed by
Blair Athol and Heldersyke, the termer of whom carried on:
the running the first time round. Approaching the straight
Storm again came to the front, Blair Athol having gradually
retired amongst the ruck. From this period Storm went on
in advance, and won by eight lengths ; The Sprat was a bad
third, and nothing else passed the post.
The winner was bought in for 95 guineas.
Match, 50sovs, list 71b each—Mr Biddlecombe's Momue
agst Mr Land's Piggy.--off by consent.

ZGeand Military Steeplechase of 5 sous each, with a Cart
added, lOst 71h. each, with penalties and allowances.

About three miles.
Caps. Knox's Puss, list 71b'Owner) 1
Mr F. Grenville's Yaller Gal, 12st 71b (inc. 141 b ex.)
(Ur Harford) 2

Traviata also ran,
Betting-7 to 4on Puss-2 to I agst Yaller Gal,
The favourite made all the running, and won by a length
and a half. Traviata did not pass the post,

AQUATICS.

GENTLEMEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF

THE CAM.
The concluding race for the Colquhoun sculls and cup,
open for competition to the University of Cambridge was
rowed on Friday. It was a time race, and the gentlemen
were started 100 yards apart. The following were the comm
petitors, with their times

M. s.
Mr Redpath, Trinity College 8 43
Mr Watney, St. John's College... 8 48
Mr Griffiths, Trinity College 8 55

Mr Griffith picked up Mr Watney soon atter the start, and
held a good position at " Grassy;" but was unable after-
wards to retain his advautage. Mr Redpath gained consi-
derably to Ditton, and it was thought by his rowing that he
would make a very hollow race of it ; but here Mr Watney
settled well to his work and decreased his lead. It was,
however, evident to all that Mr Redpath must win, and he
arrived first at the goal, beating Mr Watney by five seconds,
and Mr Griffiths by twelve. All the three boats were fine
new specimens of outriggers, and were built expressly for
this occasion by Mr Edward Searle.,