The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-23 00:00:00

Inspection of the Victoria Rifle Brigade.

Yesterday evening the Victoria Rifle Brigade
were inspected on their parade-ground at Kilburn
by Colonel M‘Murdo, U.B. Lieutenant-Colonel
his Grace the Duke of Wellington was unable to be
present owing to severe illness, and the corps Mlle.
tered under the command of Capt. Greenhill. The'
number on the ground was about 250 men, com-
manded by the following officers :—Captains Green-
hill (commanding), Lollins, and Dickenson; Lieute-
nants Ewings, Haworth, Wilmott, Keeson, and
Saunders; and Ensigns Mitchell, Hay, and Robert-
son. The adjutant, Capt. Trew, was at his post, as
were the chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Hawker, and the
doctors, Croft and Stewart, whose posts have been
perfect sinecures, owing to the care exercised by the
men of this corps to guard against accidents. The
ground was kept by a a umber of the Surrey Light
Horse, under Captain Meller, assisted by some of
the Metropolitan Light Cavalry. On the arrival of
Colonel M•Murdo the corps formed into line three
deep, and received him with a general salute, after
which the gallant colonel rode along the line,
minutely inspecting the rifles. The corps were
then put through the platoon manual exercises, in
the performance of which they were frequently
commanded by the Colonel.
At the conclusion of the inspection the corps
formed a square, and Colonel M•Murdo addressed
them in a short speech, in which he said that his
being there on this occasion was an accident, but he
esteemed it a fortunate accident, as it had given
him the pleasure to inspect the Victoria Rifles. They
had greatly improved since he had last done so (two
years since). Every movement they had performed.
had been done extremely well. He could not wish to
see a better or more efficient Volunteer corps, and
would have been satisfied with one less so. Their
arms were also in a good, serviceable state ; and,
from the excellence of their drill, which did Capt.
Greenhill extraordinary credit, he was led to look
upon each man of them as an officer to be employed
in training Volunteers, should a war ever give
occasion for their services. He would have the
greatest pleasure in reporting them most favour-
ably to the Secretary of State.

HOLYHEAD HARBOUR.—The Commons' select
committee on the state of this harbour report that
the wooden jetty does not give sufficient accommodation for
landing either mails or passengers. In strong northerly
winds there is considerable difficulty and delay in bringing
vessels of the length of the mail packets alongside; and in
bad weather the discomfort to passengers landing on so ex-
posed a situation as this jetty is severely felt. The Govern-
ment engineer has hesitated to erect a shed on so frail a
structure. When the contract was made for the conveyance
of the mails between Kingston and Euston-square in 11
hours, the Government had determined to erect piers at a
cost of £425,000, but the cost led to the abandonment of the
scheme, and the penalties for being after time have never
boen enforced. Two causes have been suggested to the
committee—the one to construct a breakwater, at a cost of
about £50,000, protecting the head of the jetty, and enabling
it, when strengthened to Lear a shed ; the other to
deepen the water and put a shed on the stone pier, at a cost
(with some other works) of £33,000. The committee state
that the daty of the Government to facilitate the passenger
traffic, as well as the postal service, has always been recog-
nised, and the Government are entitled under their con-
tract to half of any sum over £35,000 received from peestn-
gers. The committee consider that additional accommoda-
tion should be afforded with as little delay as possible, an
After
that the penalties should then be enforced fur being
time unnecessarily,

ITONEY MARKET

AND