The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-22 00:00:00

Lord Palmerston and the Wilts Volunteers.

The fourth annual meeting of the Wilts Rifle
Association was brought to a most successful ter
minationlyesterday by a grand fete in Wilton-park,
under the auspices of the youthful Earl of Pem.
broke and his noble mother, Lady Herbert, in the
presence of the Premier and Lady Palmerston,
After the great meeting of the National Rifle Asso-
ciation, that of the county of Wilts commands the
first place amid the local gatherings, both from the
number of competitors, and the amount and value
of the prizes offered—a result entirely owing to the
liberality of the landed proprietors and gentry of
the county, for, in addition to local prizes to the
value of £390, a further sum of £3OO was given for
general competition, which attracted the large num-
ber of 250 candidates.
The shooting commenced on Thursday last, at the
butts near the ancient city of Salisbury, and so close
was the competition that it was not brought to a
close until late yesterday, owing to the great num.
ber of ties which had to be shot off.

The chief prize was a challenge cup, to become
the absolute property of the winner for three con-
secutive years. To this the mayor and corporation
of Salisbury add a silver vase for the winner each
year. The previous holders have been Sergeant
Butler,Salisbury, 1861; Sergeant Wilton, Salisbury,
1852; Lieut. Hitchcock, Market Lavington, 1863.
This year it has been won by Sergeant Jeffries, of
the 6th Wilts. Lady Herbert and Lady H. Wat.
son Taylor presented two claret jugs as ladies'
prizes,
and the ladies of Salisbury gave a silver
coffee pot to be competed for by marksmen. Other
prizes were given by Mr T. H. R. Poynder, Mr S.
Watson Taylor, General Buckley, Col. Bathurst,
M.P., Mr Marsh, M.P., Mr Sothern-Estcourt, M.P.,
Lord H. Thynne, M.P., Mr T. F. Grove, Mr E.
Hamilton, &c.

Lady Herbert gave a grand luncheon to her
guests and about 600 of the elite of the county, after
which the priz.is were distributed on a platform
Erected on the lawn in front of Wilton House.
Among the compiny present were Lord and Lady
Palmerston, the Marquis of Bath, Earl Nelson, Lord
Arundell, Earl Grosvenor, Lord H. Thynne, M.P.,
the Earl of Carnarvon, Sir F. Bathurst, Colonel
Bathurst, M.P., Mr Bouverie, M.P., Mr Antrobus,
MX., Mr Marsh, M.P., Mr Danby Seymour, M.P.,
Lord and Lady fleyteabury, General Buckley, the
Marquis and Marchioness of Winchester, Count
Strzelecki, Sze. _ . .

Lady HERBERT, who was received with a warm
burst of cheering, came forward and said—" In the
absence of the Marquis of Ailesbury, who is nnfor.
tughately detained in Yorkshire, the Earl of earner.
von, as the nearest relative of the family, has kindly
undertaken to speak on my behalf."
The Earl of CARNARTON, after briefly reviewing
the use and progress of the Volunteer rrovement,
and bearing testimony to the public spirit and
efficiency of the Wilts Volunteer corps, called upon
the hon. secretary, Mr. E. P. Kelsey, to read out
the list of the winners of prizes. The successful
candidates, who each came forward as his name
was called and received his prize from the hands of
Lady Herbert were:—Sergeant Wilton, Ist Wilts—
sergeant Coombee, 4th Wits—Private Phillips, 4th
Wilts—Corporal Baker, 7th Wilts—Private Darley
and Sergeant Rees, 4th Wilts—Corporal Thomas,
2d Wilts—Private S. Chivers, sth Wilts—Sergeant
Butler, Ist Wilts—Private O'Reilly, sth Wilts—
Sergeant Ward, 5.11 Wilts—Corporal Allen, 14. h
Wilts—Corporal Pike, sth Wilts—Private Hobbs,
7th Wilts—Sergeant Allen, 14th Wilts—Corporal
Davis, 901 Wilts—Private J. Chivers, sth Wilts—
Private Hobbs and Corporal Baker, Ist Wilts—
Lieut. Hitchcock, 7th Wilts—Corporal Sloper,
Wilts Yeomanry—Sergeant Butler and Ensign
Hitchcock, 7th Wilts—Private Watson, Ist Wilts
—Sergeant Till, 14th Wilts— Sergeant Butler and
Sergeant Neate, 7th Wilts—Hon. Member Hum-
phries and Corporal Fidler, 14th Wilts—Private
Watson and Corporal Marshman, 2d Wilts—Pri-
vate O'Reilly and Corporal Wild, Wilts Yeomanry
—Private Redropp, 2d Wilts.
Lord PALMERS..TON then presented the challenge

cup to the winner, Sergeant Jeffries, of the 6th

Wilts. The noble lord, who met with a most enthu-
eie.stic welcome, acid—Gentlemen Volunteers—l
dress those who are volunteers, and theft who mean

to be Volunteers. (Cheers.) It has afforded me glee'

pleasure to obey the commands of Lady Herbert in
presenting to this good shot and excellent soldier the
challenge cup which I have just put in his hands, for
this cup embodies that principle which leads to dis.
tinction in every career—l mean the principle of hon-
ourable emulation. It is not only won by successful
emulation, but it must be annually kept by success-