The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-30 00:00:00

The English Volunteers at Brussels.

(From the Correspondent of the Morning Post )

BRUSSELS, Sept. 28.
Amidst the deafening noise proceeding from the
reports of the rifles fired at 35 targets at once,
and whilst the villainous saltpetre was doing its
work in choking the devoted riflemen, English and
Belgian, who had almost from early dawn con•
tinued their practice at the small discs of white
lead in the distance, the fanfere of trumpets was
heard, and it was announced that the King was
approaching. At this time the English volunteers
were collected in two of the shooting compart-
ments which had been devoted to their use, and it
must be confessed that they showed far more desire
to see his Majesty than they did to show him any
proofs of their skill, for as soon as the arrival of
the King was known they ceased all further con-
test, notwithstanding that some of them had been
informed that his Majesty would like to see them
shoot. The King was accompanied by the Count
of Flanders, and was attended by several high
dignitaries of the State and Court. He was received
by the President of the Tir National, M. E. Dailly,
Major de l'Eau, major-commandant of the chasseurs
eclaireurs of Brussels, and M. Dubois (vice presi..
dents),Comte Leon de Robiano, captain commandant
of the garde civique of Brussels; Captain Edward
Stool's, capitaine adjutant-major of the 2d legion of
the garde civique, and other gentlemen. M. Jean
Robyt was also faithful to his charge of looking to
the interests of the Englishmen, and on this occa-
sion many of the wives of the volunteer officers
were also present. On Captain Field, of the Hon.
Artillery Company, as senior officer present, the
command devolved. With him were Captain
Millican, of the 31st Leicester; Captain Styan.
Captain Scrivene, Lieutenant F. W. Barge,
and Lieutenant Starkie, of the Queen's; Captain
Kerr, of the London Scottish ; Lieuteneot J. G.
Clark, Bth Tower Hamlets; Lieutene;at Burt, of the
let `Warwick; Ensign J. L. R.,ynolds, of the 29th
North Middlesex, and about 30 privates and ser-
geants of the variP,as carps represented. As the
King entered 'elae building he was received with
loud cries of " Viva le Roi," and immediately the
Pre'..dent of the Commission read the following
address to his Majesty :
Sir,—The Commission, faithful interpreters, of the
sentiments of patriotism and respect of all the riflemen,
Belgian or foreign, now here united, are happy and proud
of the visit which you have paid to this Tir National.
What enthusiasm would not the civic gu.ird, the civil
population, and the riflemen of other nations feel at the
high honour and the marks of great kindness shown by the
three visits paid here by the Belgian dynasty during the
last tew days. The Count of Flanders, honorary president,
has graciously honoured the opening of the competition of
1864. Tao Duke of Brabant, also a powerful protector of
our institution, has acknowledged the marked progress
which has resulted from year to year in our practice; and
you, sire, the well beloved Sovereign of Belgium, you who
take the first place in the council of kings, you also deign
to accord to us an honour, a favour, a grace, which will ex-
cite our z and N%hich will for a long time leave in our
memories abiding souvenirs of happiness and gratitude.
Sire, again receive our grateful thanks and the aasurance of
the sentiments of patriotism and devotion, which the Bel-
gian p,ople always express by the cry so dear to them of
" V ive le ltoi

Tais cry resounded from all parts of the building,
and the English volunteers heartily joined in the
demonstration. The King replied as follows :
You have addressed me some grateful expressions, and I
thank you for them, I have for a long time appreciated
the zeal and the willing devotion of the committee you
represent, and the excellent results produced by its intelli-
gent perseverance are not unknown to me. I attach the
greatest possible value to the progress made by the civic
guard and the population in the manly exercise of shooting.
Please express to all the riflemen, without exception, how
highly I am satisfied with them.

Walking slowly through the building, he reached
the end, pausing on his way to witness the firing
of the garde civique. On his return he halted
on arriving opposite the detachment of English,
and, pausing for a moment to observe the varied
uniforms, he first addressed Captain Styan, of the
Queen's, and afterwards Captain Scrivener and a
few other officers, kindly inquiring from all if they
had been successful in their shooting. The scarlet
uniform of the Hon. Artillery Company attracted
the King's attention, and he stopped and inquired
of Captain Field to what regiment he belonged,
and also addressed a few inquiries to him anent
the competition and the part the English had
taken in it. Captain Kerr was pointed out to
the King as the volunteer who had made
the " bean blanc" on the preceding day, and
received the royal congratulations on his success.
Perceiving his nationality from the sprig of
heather worn by the captain, the King inquired
from what part he had come ; and being told East
Lothian, his Majesty signified that he knew
it well. The King then walked to the end of
the building, on his way inspecting some of the
curiosities in the way of rifles used by the Belgian
bourgeois marksmen ; and on his return he again
saluted the small body of Englishmen gathered
together. They on their part remained at the
saluting attitude, rigid and immovable, as became
good volunteers; but as soon as the King had
passed, at a signal from Capt. Field, they shouted
in a body, " Three cheers for the King," and gave
three loud hurrahs and " one cheer more," in ad-
mire:, and with an effect which, if it did
not startle, it certainly amused the Belgians pre-
sent. The King immediately left, and the volun-
teers soon fell into an animated conversation, the
burden of which was the courtesy the venerable
King had shown to them.

'the shooting to-day has been still good. Lieu-
tenant Bigge,3lst Leicester Volunteers, has made
four 4's and a 5 with his Enfield. He will be sure
of a prize. Captain Kerea beautiful bull's-eye
still holds good.

Other proofs of kindness on the part of the Bel•
glans still come forth. Each volunteer present has
received the bronze medal of the association, and
Captain Stocfs has kindly undertaken to present a
copy of his carte de visite to each. Photography
has also been called upon to produce a souvenir of
the volunteers visit, and yesterday morning a group
of about 35 was taken, with the vivandiere of the
Chasseurs Eclaireurs in the centre. Copies of this
are to be presented, by the desire of the committee,
to each member of the body, and copies will also
be respectfully offered to many other gentlemen in
Brussels.

Many volunteers have already left, but others
are arriving to fill their places. A visit to Wa.
terloo in force and in uniform will be made to.

morrow.

Mr. Ring King, M.P., on Public Affairs,

At the Led bury Agricultural Dinner on Tuesday, Mr
KING KING, in returning thanks for the toast of his
health, said he was afraid that owing to the extremely
dry season ho could not congratulate them on the very
successful result of their farming operations ; nevertheless,
from what he had seen of the samples of wheat and
barley which had been gathered in, he thought the harvest
had been an expensive one, and this, with the high price of
wool and enormous quantity of fruit, would be found a set-
off against the almost entire failure in certain districts of
the root crops. (No, no.) In that favoured county it gene-
rally happened, it one thing did not answer, something else
did. They had had lately an abundant supply of rain, by
which vegetation had been promoted to an extent perfectly
miraculous, and he thought, generally speaking, however
unpromising a portion of the season had been, it seldom
happened that they as farmers had not to acknowledge with
gratitude in some particulars the plenteousness with which
a bountiful Providence had blessed them. Since he last had
an opportunity of addressing his constituents important and
very stirring events had occurred abroad. The war between
the Northern and SouthernStatcs of America had prevailed,
and still continued to rage with unabated fury ; and it was
perfectly impossible for any man to see or to foretell the
issue of that calamitous war. lle still thought, as he always
had doae, that it was a wise policy n tie part of the Go-
vernment to abstain and hold aloof ti om taking part in the
struggle. There was no doubt Eng'anl suffered great in-
jury in respect of one cf her great ind istrial occupations.
That, difficulty, however, was pass. ng away, and he Was
inclined to think that good would al se o et of evil ; and that
England, instead of depending on oLe state for the supply
of cotton, would be able to get all she might require from
every quarter of the globe. Again, a bloody war had arisen
between Denmark and the German Confederation, which,
though it had annoyed us, did not materially affect our in-
terests—although he did not mean to say that the part we
had taken reflected any credit on this country, but he did
think that the les;on we had learned would teach us that it
would he much better for us in future not to interfere with
the quarrels or affairs of other people. But although a blush
might arise on the cheek of every Englishman to see a small
country bullied by a larger one—at all events, whatever
might be the opinion, of the public in general, he thought all