The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-05 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of this association
was held yesterday afternoon in Willis's Rooms.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge

presided.
The report of the association, which had been for
some time printed and circulated, was held as read.

The CHAIRMAN, who on entering was received
with great applause, said—l have, according to
usual custom—for I think I may say the usual

custom, after the association has met for several
successive years—l have upon this occasion to state
shortly and generally what has taken place in the
affairs of the association during the last year, and
the prospects of the year upon which we are now
entering. But, previous to entering on that quee-
tion, it becomes my duty to state to you generally

that, according to the rules of the society, the
president has to be eltcted annually. I had the
honour to be president of the association the second
year of its existence, and I was requested this time
last year to continue that presidency another year.
That year expires on this occasion, and it remains
for me now to place in your hands the honours
which you did me the honour of requesting me to
hold up to the present period. I can only say that
I feel greatly flattered by the confidence you placed
in me in desiring that I should continue in the pre-
sidency another year. I hope for the society's
success in the future, but all I can now do is to
resign the presidency into your hands to be filled
up as may seem to you desirable. (Cheers.) lam
happy to state generally that the finances are
flourishing. I say flourishing, because there is a
very considerable amount in the hands of the
society's bankers—about £3,308, At the same
time we have invested a sum of up wards of £2,000,
making a total of £3,869. So far we may say
that the finances of the association are flourish-
ing. On the other hand, we cannot disguise
from you that the number of subscribers is not
so great as I hoped, and as you thought would be
the case. The number of subscribers is only
about a thousand, and I think for a national asso-
ciation such as this, the success of which we:may
consider as so decided, the increase has not been so
great as one might have expected. I think I am
in a position to state that perhaps the end of the
association is not understood generally by the pub-
lic, but there are great advantages, particularly for
officers, who are more interested in the general suc-
cess of such an association. I therefore make an
appeal to officers generally in the volunteer service
that they should come forward and be subscribers.
Perhaps I may as well state that these advantages
are, free admission to the ground during the whole
period of prize shooting and to the review, and also
free admission to the distribution of prizes at the
Crystal Palace, so that there is full value given for
the subscriptions. Perhaps these may not be thought
much of, but I think they are sufficient, particularly
as officers, to induce them to become annual sub-
scribers to the association. There arc other subjects
which I may mention which I think will tend to
the advantage of the society. Twelve colonial rifle
associations, and 28 county associations, making in