The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-04 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS,

On Wednesday last the commanding officer of the North
East London Rifles, Lieut.-Colonel G. H. Money. gave a
dinner at the Eagle Tavern, in the City-road, to 200 mem-
bers of the regiment. Each guest was provided, not only
with an excellent dinner, with ale and stout, but also with a
pint bottle of champagne, and after• dinner grog, cigars, and
tobacco were supplied ad libitum. Several civilians were
present, as well as officers of other corps. During the dinner
a separate band, hired for the occasion, played some excel-
lent music ; but after dinner all the music was played by
the band of the regiment, which under bandmaster Connor
(for 20 years a bandmaster in the army) has attained a high
degree of efficienby. On the removal of the cloth, Lieut. •
Colonel Money, who on rising was received with loud and
long-continued cheering, gave the customary loyal toasts,
which were drunk with the usual honours. Lieut -Colonel
Wilkinson, of the sth Administrative Middlesex Battalion,
in returning thanks for the Volunteers, said he had great
pleasure in being present on that occasion, knowing Colonel
Money as he did to be a high-minded gentleman and an ex-
cellent officer. He exemplified the present condition of the
Volunteer force by the state of his own regiment, in which
he said he should receive £1 each from the Government for
780 men. Captain St. Aubyn then proposed the health of
Lieutenant-Colonel Money in the most flattering terms.
Colonel Money had been recommended for their lieutenant-
colonel to a commit tee of the regiment as a perfect gentle-
man and an able officer, and there was not a man in the
regiment who had not found him to be such in every respect,
and who would not endorse that opinion. The toast was
drunk with the most enthusiastic cheering, and a complete
ovation was given to the gallant colonel, which was re-
peated again and again on his rising to respond. Colonel
Money made an eloquent speech in reply, in which he al-
luded to the good feeling existing in the corps, which he
was sure would continue unabated. His speech evidently
pleased his hearers, and was much applauded throughout.
The next and most pleasing incident of the evtning was
the presentation of a beautiful sword to Colonel Money,
subscribed for by the non-commissioned officers and pri-
vates of the regiment. A deputation of colour-sergeants
was appointed to make the presentation. Colour-Sergeant
Partrick was the spokesman, In the course of a really
touching and eloquent address he referred to the high
esteem the Colonel was held in by the regiment, both as
an officer and a gentleman. He spoke of the earnest manner
in which he was always willing to enter into any question
having for its object the good of the regiment, his zealous
attention to his duties, his personal kindness and condescen-
sion to every man in the corps, and his readiness to give
pecuniary aid under any circumstances in which it was re-
quired. He then handed the sword to the gallant colonel,
and with it the following written address :—" We, the non-
commissioned officers and privates of the North-East Lon-
don Rifles have great pleasure in offering for your accept-
ance this sword, as a token of our confidence in you as a
commanding officer, and our gratitude to you as a friend.
May you long live to wear it 1 If at a future period an alarm
should sound and the aid of the Volunteers be required, we
are convinced that this sword shall not be sheathed until it
has led the North-East London Rifles to do their duty."
(Great cheering.) Col. Money, on rising, appeared much
affected by this unexpected mark of his regiment's attach-
ment. He said—" Gentlemen, what can I say? I read on
this sword, "Presented to Lieut.-Col, Money by the non-
commissioned officers and privates of the North-East Lon-
don Rifles in testimony of their very great respect and es-
teem for him as their commanding officer, Dec. 30, 1863."
Gentlemen, from my very heart I thank you. Your present
has been kindly thought of and graciously bestowed. In
buckling it, as I now do, to my side, I am girding myself
with the best weapon in the world, the love of hundreds of
earnest and grateful hearts. This sword, a symbol of your
kind feeling towards me, I will wear, please God, as long as
I live. Never have I had a brighter moment than this,
when those in whom I feel so deep an interest prove that
they feel a like interest in me, and present me with a sword
which, should our services ever be required, shall lead the
North-East London Rifles wherever they will, so long as it
is forward. Several other toasts were given, a5O guinea
cup was promised as a prize in 1864 by Messrs. F. Till and
J. Bacon, as well as three smaller cups by other gentle-
men, and it was nearly four in the morning before the
assembly broke up, which they did with many expressions
of pleasure at an entertainment which will long be remem-
bered by the North-East London Rifles.