The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-21 00:00:00

and success are alike admitted by all, and yet the number
of annual subscribers amounts only to 1,000. Our financial
position therefore is anything but satisfactory, and we feel
confident that it is only necessary to call attention to it to
induce all who approve of the objects of the association, and
whose means enable them to do so, to become subscribing
members. In that cßse we should number our members by
thousands instead of hundreds—our income would be ample,
well-assured, and independent of the many chances of the
prize meeting, where success or failure depend upon the acci-
dent of weather, and we should then be able to deal more
liberally with the volunteers and the shooting public, and
carry more fully into effect the objects for which the asso-
cia ion was founded.

ELciro (Chairman). JOHN LAIRD.
SPENCER. RADSTOCK.
HORATIO Ross. BURY, Lieut.-Col.
G. RUSSELL. DE GREY and RIPON.
H. A. TEMPLER, Major. J. S. NORTH, COl.
W. WELLS. JOSEPH PAXTON.
THOMAS FAIRDAIRN. DUCIE.
M. M'MURDO. W. C. BEWES, Lt.-Col.
THOS. STEELE, Co!. &FRASER, Master of Lovat.
GROSVENOR. C. H. LINDSAY, Lt.-Col.
C. HAY, Major-General. COLVILLE.
J. C. KENNEDY, COl. ALGERNON EGERTON.
LICHFIELD. L. LINDSAY, Lt.-Lol.
A. KINNAIRD, Treasurer.
EDMOND ST. JOHN MILDMAY, Secretary.

P.S,—Twenty-five of the banking houses of London have
within the last fortnight kindly agreed to open an account
with the association for receiving subscribers' names and
subscriptions, and it is confidently expected that their ex-
ample will be followed by the othet banking establishments
in London and throughout the country.
It is only due to Messrs. Coutts and Co. to mention that
at the formation of the association they opened an account
for subscriptions, and have themselves given an annual do-
nation of 20 guineas. We may also state that although the
annual subscription is only £1 Is., there are 28 members
who subscribe sums varying from two to 20 guineas; and
Sir W. Martins, Lady Martins, and Miss Martins have given
as donations to the association the very large sum of £375.

COMPETITIVE TRIAL OF SMALL-BORE RIFLES,

1864.

The annual competitive trial of small .bore rifles will, by
permission, take place at Woolwich in tho month of Feb.
next.

Minimum bore '451, maximum weight 91 lbs, minimum
pull of trigger 6 lbs.

Each gunmaker will have to bring 6 rifles of the same de-
scription and quality. The rifles swill be fired from fixed
mechanical rests ; and the description of rifle that giv:s the
nest fhture of merit will, as heretofore, be selected as the
one with which the Queen's Prize shall be crmpeted for at
the ensuing prize meeting of the association, subject to the
conditions of the manufacturer undertaking to supply the
number of rifles required by the council within a specified
time, of their being in every respect equal to the one chosen,
and of the price not exceeding £l5 per rifle.
The mean figure of merit of all the rifles of each set that
may be tried shall decide the position to be assigned to the
particular description of rifle.
In order to test to a certain extent the amount of recoil,

it may be found desirable to try the shooting from the
shoulder, but the shooting to determine the figure of merit
will be made from the fixed rest.

Resta similar to those used at the last competitive trial
will be provided by the association. Gunmakers can, how-
ever, if they prefer it, bring their own mechanical rests.
Competitors desirous of availing themselves of the rests pro-
vided by the association may, at auy time previous to the
trial, go to Woolwich Arsenal fur the purpose of seeing that
their rifles are properly fitted to the slides and rests.
Gunmakers intending to compete will be charged an en-
trance fee of £lO, and must send in their names to the
secretary of the association (.n or before the Ist of January
next, after which date the entries will be closed.
An early application for elide-bars must be made by those
competitors who intend to use the association rest.
By order, E. ST. JOIIN MILDMAY.
11, Pall-mall East.