The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-08 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.

PRESENTA I lON TO CAPTAIN RATCLIFF.
A very graceful compliment was yesterday paid by the
members of No. 7 Company of Birmingham Volunteers to
their commanding officer, Captain Ratcliff. It may pro-
bably be remembered that whilst the battalion was in the
course of formation during the earliest stage of the Rifle
Volunteer movement, this company was established
through the activity and liberality of Captain Ratcliff, and
not only was it fully equipped at his own cost, but he
has spared no time, expense, or zeal in his endeavours to
render it efficient in drill and discipline. So well did the
men respond to the manifest desires of the captain, that
by the greatest assiduity in their attention to duty they
speedily rendered themselves one of the best companies in
the battalion, and it is but due to them to say that they
have maintained their position in this respect ever since,
In order to testify their appreciation of his exertions, and at
the sane time their esteem for him, they, some few months
ago, entered into a subscription for the purpose of present-
ing to him some testimonial—and as the fund promisbd
was a c editable one, it was determined to purchase a
sword. The weapon, which is of the ordinary regulation
pattern, but of superior quality of material, was manufac-
tured by Messrs. Aston, of the Town Hall Works, and
she ornamentation of it was entrusted to the skilful hands
of Mr. J. J. Allen. This gentleman has succeeded in turn-
ing out an exquisitely finished specimen of workmanship.
The design was prepared by himself, and the " sculpture "
was also his own manipulation. The hilt guard is elabo-
rately wrought in dead and burnished steel, the regula-
tion ornamentation of the rose, shamrock, and thistle, the
Royal monogram, &0., being introduced in a new and
elegant manner, and being " tooled" into relief instead of
being merely " chased." At the back of the hilt are the ,

captain's crest and monogram, also in relief. The blade is
also richly worked after Mr. Allen's design, and bears an
inscription recording the motive of the gift. Altogether the
sword is creditable to the good taste of those concerned

in its getting up. The cost of it we believe is fifty
guineas. An illuminated address, beautifully executed by
air. Newey, of New-street, formerly a leading member of
the company, was prepared to accompany the present.
The contents of it are as follows :—" To Captain Charles
Ratcliff: Dear sir, The volunteers comprising the com-
pany under your command beg your acceptance of the
sword presented herewith in token of their high esteem
for you as their captain, and their hearty appreciation of
the unremitting kindness, courtesy, and zeal which you
have displayed towards them on so many occasions since
the formation of the company. They fervently hope
that the Mighty Ruler who sways the destinies of all na-
tions may so continue to bless this our country that the
day may be far distant ere it shall be needful to draw
the sword, now given to you, in defence of the hearths
and homes of old England. They wish you long life and
happiness." The address was signed by the members of
the Presentation Committee on behalf of the company.
The company mustered in pretty fair strength, and in
full-dress uniform, at the Ist Division Police Station, New-
street, and, several rounds of blank ammunition having been
supplied to them, they, at about 2 o'clock yesterday after-
noon, marched out to the music of the regimental fife and
drums, their destination being Aston Park, where it had
been arranged the presentation should be made. On the
ground they were met by Capt. Ratcliff and by Lieut. and
Adjutant M'lnnis. There were not many persons in the
Park, but they included Alderman Sir John Ratcliff and
three or four friends. After executing a variety of manoeu-
vres in a smart and effective style, under the command of
the Adjutant, and after advancing in review order and salut-
ing the captain, the direction was given to form a hollow
square in the centre of the spacious yard adjoining the hall.
Mr. D. J. O'Neile, now a private but formerly a quarter-
master-sergeant of the company, advanced, and in a few
appropriate remarks made the presentation. He said that
the very pleasing though onerous and important duty had
devolved upon him of presenting to Captain Ratcliff, on
behalf of No. 7 Company, a sword, as a token of their
respect and esteem. He might first of all say that he
had received letters from the lieutenant and the ensign,
both regretting their unavoidable absence on that occasion,
and their being unable to participate in rendering honour
where honour was due. This matter had been in hand
for several months, but delays had occurred which prevented
the presentation being made earlier. The sword, he was
happy to say, was well worthy of the designer, and Mr.
Allen had remarked of it that it was the handsomest he had
ever executed. He (Mr. O'Neile) held in his hand an ad-
dress, which he would read, and he was sure every member
of the company present would coincide with every sentence
it contained. They could all bear testimony to the perseve-
rance, energy, liberality, courtesy, and punctuality which,
as an officer, Capt. Ratcliff had displayed from the first for-
mation of the company. At the outset, when very hard
drills had to be gone through, the [captain was one of the
hardest workers amongst them, and he used to shoulder his
rifle, and stimulate them by his good example, and all
along since that time he bad been foremost in doing his
duty as an officer, and studying the good displicine and
comfort of the company. Mr. O'Neile concluded by
reading the address above given, and presenting it toge-
ther with the sword to Captain Ratcliff, Capt. Ratcliff,
in addressing the donors, said it was impossible for him
adequately to express the feelings which at that
moment he experienced, when he thought of the
kindness on their part which had prompted the handsome
gift he had just had the honour of receiving. If he had
done his duty in connection with the corps in a manner to
warrant its appreciation in so substantial a form, all he
could say was that it would be a stimulant to him on all
future occasions, not only to be present with them on the
drill ground, but to do all he could by exam ple and by work
to encourage them to maintain their efficiency. He thanked
them from his heart for the gift,and he thanked those whom
he saw around him—and many of them were amongst the
first to inscribe their names on the roll of his company—
for their faithful attention to duty, for the constancy with
which they had attended drill from the first—so much so as
to render it necessary that two extra drill instructors should
be attached to his company, and also for the good order and
obedience they had uniformly displayed. Indeed, he knew
of no company in the battalion which had shown a greater
desire to perfect themselves in drill than No. 7, and he did
not wish to flatter them when he said he regarded them as a
company equal to any other in the let Warwickshire Corps.
After noticing with satisfaction that the company had taken
some of the first prizes at the regimental shooting at Bourn-
brook,Capt. Ratcliff expressed a hope that this would induce
them to acquire still greater efficiency,and again tendered his
thanks for the gift presented to him. He said he should ever
prize it and look on it with pride, and if it should ever happen
that his active exertions in the field should be required in
the defence of his country, he hoped they would all stand
by him, and that would be the sword he should use to lead
them. (Applause.) Three cheers were then given for Capt.
Ratcliff, and on his proposition, three more for the Adju-
tant, who, in his acknowledgment, offered a few practical
remarks to the company, and announced that Sir John Rat-
cliff had inviked the company to partake of refreshments at
the hall. Three cheers for Sir John were given and
brought the proceedings to a close. After the refreshments
in question had been disposed of, the ranks were re-formed
and the company returned to town.

MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE AT SEA.

About half an hour after the steamer Tyne had left (From the North Briti.fh Daily Mail.)
Per-
nambuco, on Friday the 28th Nov., on her outward trip to
Rio, a melancholy and fatal accident took place which cast
a gloom over all on board, and marred the pleasure of an
unusually agreeable passage. About half-past five o'clock
that afternoon the cry was raised a man overboard. The
man at the wheel instantly threw a life-buoy over, which
must have lighted near the struggling person in the water.
A. boat was immediately lowered, and gallantly manned by
two of the officers and four hands, who pulled swiftly and
vigorously to the spot where the sad event occurred. By
this time the ship, though slowed, had got a considerable
way off, but it was steered round, and when it came up to
the boat the second officer, Mr. Bruce, who was in charge,
called out the sad tidings to Capt. Jellicoe, " We've got the
buoy, sir; but no one on it." Every one heard the mourn-
ful intelligenos with feelings full of deepest regret. Hope,
however, again revived when the boat was brought along-
side the ship, and the cry was raised on board " We hear
some one shouting." Again the boat put coffin the direction
whence the shouting was said to come, and what appeared
strange, a lusty cheer was raised by the men in the
b
o
iha
att
.
This was at once regarded by the passengers as a sign that
__-
the person was found, and they with joyous vehemenceto at-
tract
discovered that
turned the cheer. It turned out that this Wee only
he be
tract the attention of the unfortunate
iron staunchions at
:Late answer from
there still struggling in the waters, but
the deep. When search was made,
aminsing. It appears
the poor carpenter, John Motte, g
that he was at his post, re P 1 .
aind„k for he sea e
pmen,, baggage,
the opening on the tu
and that he must have his balance and thus fell over,
jest
and soon sank to a watery grave. It may have been that
he became the prey
of ome of these voracious sharks
which are said to abound in these tropical waters ; or
that, as a drowning man will clutch at a straw, he re-
tained his grasp of the iron staunehions which had also
gone. The carpenter was a quiet, steady man, and a gene-
ral favourite ; and as he was married, with a wife and four
children, the liveliest feelings of sympathy and regret were
awakened in the breasts of passengers and crew. These
feelings found expression in a handsome subscription in
behalf of the poor widow and orphans. It is much to the
credit of the passengers, both first and second-class—for the
working man was as ready as the rich merchant to subscribe
—that the goodly sum of £76 was raised among the passen-
gers, the Marquis of Sligo, who happened to be on board,
heading the list with £lO. This, with about £2O raised by
the officers and crew among themselves, will, it is hoped, in
some measure, in a spirit of Christian resignation, mitigate
the sad and irreparable loss which the family have sustained.
It is right to mention that whenever the alarm was raised
of a man overboard. a young Scotch gentleman named Mr.
Anderson was about to gallantly plunge after him, but he
was restrained by some friends near from his rash but noble
design. It reflects credit on the Royal Mail Steam packet
Co. that they make provision for these bereaved of their
support in this service,