The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-14 00:00:00

Confederate Enlistment in Liverpool.

The Liverpool magistrates, we are informed, have
u
of
againstthree persons in this
town making enlistments for the
v a ed
lv
on
theee summonses
of
the Confederate States, contrary to
theu m p
n Enlistment Act. The
m
insas sservice
i charge
nted on the information
of Mr.r oo
Iveiseiilep havei
as m f
Grandy
%teem, local agent of the
E:irdVa:rnnext before the borough
London, and are re-
turnablesolicitors
at
to
noon
on Fa
justices. Two of the defendants are gentlemen who
carry on business as ship-store dealers and chan-
dlers, and the third is a clerk in their employment.
The information we believe charge the defendants
in various forms with violation of the statute of
52th of George 111., cap. 69, (IQ the case will most
probably lead to interesting revelations as to the
means by which the different Confederate cruisers
have obtained their crews; but We will not at pre-
sent publish any statements on the subject, lest they
should prejupice the administratioa of justice. We
will therefore merely add that the three defendants
are charged with having, in M _ arcb, 1863, in Liver-
pool and elsewhere, endeavoured to procure John
Stanley, Francis Glassbrook (er Francis Rivers,
and Benjamin Conolly, or one or more of them, to
be engaged in the sea service of the so-called Con-
federate States of America, contrary to the prohibi-
tion contained in the statute 59th George 111., cap.
69. In another form the defendants are charged
with having endeavoured to procure the above men
to go and embark from Liverpool for the purpose
of being engaged or employed 118 aforesaid, con-
trary to the statute. A third information alleges
that one of the defendants did is April, 1863, on
board the British ship japo, endeavour to procure
Jon Stanley, Francis Glassbrook (or Rivers), and
Benjamin Conolly, or one or more of them, to be
engaged as aforesaid; and A fourth that the parties
summoned had conspired to Procure the men men-
tioned fore the aforesaid service. The whole case
will be heard at the public court on Friday nest,
and it is scarcely necessary to add that much public
interest will attach to the investigation.--Liverpool
Cormier.

The second sitting of this conference was held
yesterday at King's College, and was attended by a
large number of Volunteers. Lieutenant-Colonel
garde, of the London Rifle Brigade, presided. The
first paper was read by Lieutenant Scott, who con-
demned the present system of angular targets and
square centres, and recommended a reduction in the
❑umber of ranges, with some modifications on the
present plan of scoring. Captain Macgregor next
read a paper advocating the adoption of targets
made of pasteboard, iron targets being, in his
opinion, comparatively dangerous and expensive.
Canvas as a material for targets was objectionable
as apt to get loose and warped in the frames. A
pasteboard target had been in use at the range of
the Scottish Rifles, and had been found to answer
well. The target was suspended from a beam, and
could be drawn into the mantlet by the marker
without exposing himself to any danger from chance
shots. Captain Macgregor also propounded a plan
whereby several targets could be used at one time
without confusing the competitors at each by adopt-
ing a series of intervening small screens between
the targets and the shooters. Mr. Hemming
proposed that in competing scores the least
average deviation should be made the test of
success. He also suggested that the size of tar-
gets should be increased, and that a number—
say six—of concentric rings should be marked.
Captain Fyfe, of the Berkshire Volunteers, exhibited
a model of a truck upon which targets could be
easily lowered without the dangers now attendant
upon the removal of such cumbersome erections.
Captain Bland proposed an iron target with con-
centric rings, the rims of each ring to be slightly
raised above the surface to prevent splashing of the
bullets, and also exhibited a design for raising
targets upon iron brackets. The Comte de Gendre
exhibited a model of an apparatus whereby the offi-
cer in command of a shooting squad rang an electric
bell in the mantlet to call the attention of the mar-
ker to an impending slut. Lieut. Goodliffe, on
behalf of an absent member, read a paper recom-
mending a new demarcation of the square target,
and dividing it into nine squares, whereby the ele-
vation and direction of each shot would be more
marked. Dr. Stevens, of the St. George's Volun-
teers, exhibited a medical case in use in that corps,
containing all the appliances that would be neces-
sary in case of accidents upon the shooting ground.
Mr, Hart explained bis automaton semaphore target
by means of which every shot telegraphed its own
position upon the target. In the general discussion
which followed, pasteboard, as a material for tar-
gets, was spoken of with much favour, although
objections were made that such targets afford no
check upon careless markers, as giving out no sound
when struck, and the bullet marks not being visible
at long ranges. Capt. Macgregor, however, stated
that a ball striking those targets did give out a
sound. The cost of the targets would be in a great
measure repaid by the lead of the bullets, which
could be received in a box placed behind the targets.
The best system of marking was a subject upon
which a difference of opinion prevailed, but it was
agreed that it was desirable that a corps of pro-
fessed markers ought to be organised. Circular
targets were also unanimously preferred to equare
targets. The propriety of scoring ricochets was
much discussed, but the balance of opinion appeared
to be adverse to any alteration of the present system
in that respect. It was also announced that a
museum would be shortly opened for the reception
of models and objects connected with rifle shooting.
At 6 o'clock the sitting was suspended, and the con-
ference will hold its final sitting this day.