The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-12 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

A match has just taken place at Althorp between
11 men from the London Scottish and the same
number from the Northamptonshire corps. Each
squad also included the adjutant. Much interest
was excited by the contest, which was fixed for the
7th. The conditions were ranges of 200, 500, and
600 yards, seven shots at each. Northamptonshire
won by 51 marks. The following are the scores ;
Northamptonshire—Corporal Rushton, 64 marks ;
Private Phipps, 44; Sergeant Roger, t 52; Ser-
geant Peasland, 57; Sergeant Hamsham, 51 ;
Corporal Brayfield, 52 ; Private Adait, 49 ;
Corporal Cowley, 52 ; Sergeant Craig, 58 ; Cor-
poral Oswin, 48 ; and Capt. Landon, 43 ; in all, 570.
London Scottish—Lieut.-Col. Lord Etch°, 51; Capt.
Macgregor, 51; Lieut. Fisher, 55; Lieut. Scott, 51;
Private Cree, 45; Private W. J. Taylor, 33; Private
A. G. Mackenzie, 36 ; Quartermaster Sergeant
Murray, 51; Private Anderson, 52 ; Lieut. Suther-
land, 52; Capt. Page, 42; in all, 519 marks.
The annual inspection of the Staffordshire Volun-
teers, with the Etruria Artillery corps, took place
at Ingestre-park, the seat of the Earl of Shrewsbury
and Talbot, on Monday. The Volunteers were
divided into five battalions, and there were about
3,000 Volunteers present. The men having been
formed into line, Col. M'Murdo and staff, escorted
by Lord Ingestre's troop of Stafford Yeomanry,
rode upon the ground. Among the company pre-
sent were the Earl and Countess of Lichfield, Lord
Hatherton, the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot and
party, the Earl of Harrowby, the Marquis and
Marchioness of Abercorn, Lord Vernon, Lord Anson,
Lady Mount-Edgcumbe, and Lady Georgiana
Hamilton. Colonel M'Murdo's staff consisted of
Colonel Dick and Colonel Erskine, Assistant-In-
spectors of Volunteers, the Earl of Lichfield, Lord
Hatherton, Colonel Manners, the Hon. Reginald
Talbot, and Lord Ingestre. After the marching past
the battalions were formed into a brigade, and under
the command of Col. M'Murdo were put through a
number of evolutions, which they performed in a
manner to elicit the commendation of the inspecting
officer. After the review the prizes won at the recent
shooting match of the County Rifle Association were
distributed by Lady Lichfield, Mrs. Adderley, Mrs.
Willoughby Wood, Lady Adelaide Talbot, Lady Ger-
trude Talbot, Mrs. Bagnall, wife of the High Sheriff,
the Marchioness of Abercorn and Lady Georgians
Hamilton. The first prize at 200 yards was
won by Sergt. Nicholls ; the second by Private
Patrick; the third by Sergt. I. Edwards. The first
prize at 400 yards was won by Sergt. H. Palmer,
winner also of the Countess of Lichfield's prize of
£5O, and the bronze medal of the National Rifle
Association; the second prize by Lieut. Brougham;
the third by Capt. Budgwood. The first prize at
600 yards was won by Private G. Hodgkinson ; the
second by Sergt. Tate ; and the third by Private
Winzer. Of the battalion prizes the first prize was
won at 200 and 400 yards by Private R. Johnson;
the second by Private J. Adams ; and the third by
Private Baggaley. Prizes also fell to Private N.
Johnson and Private J. Adams. The artillery first
prize was awarded to Bombardier Darling; the
second to Gunner T. Jones. The proceedings of
the day were wound up by an address from the
Earl of Lichfield.

Major Hicks is at present making an inspection
of the Volunteer Artillery regiments in the North,
On Saturday he inspected the Ist Newcastle Artil-
lery Volunteers, under the command of Lieut.-Col.
Alhusen. The corps mustered in full force upon
the Town Moor, and took with them to the review-
ground a heavy or seige battery of four 18-pounders
and a light field battery of four Armstrong guns.
The latter, which are muzzle-loaders, have been
provided by Lieut.-Col. Alhusen. The guns were
very well horsed. The men went through the in-
spection in an admirable manner. At the conclu-
sion Major Hicks, in addressing the officers and
men, said their light and heavy gun drill was almost
as perfect as any officer could wish or expect to
have it under the circumstances in which they were
pieced. Their manual and platoon exercise was
also very creditable. On Mon day evening the
Ist Northumberland Brigade of Artillery Vo-
lunteers, under the command of Lieutenant-
Colonel Potter, were inspected by Major
Hicks, in the Castle-yard, Tyneworth. The corps
were put through the usual evolutions and manual
and platoon exercise, and afterwards had some ex-
cellent shot and shell practice with the great guns
firing at a target moored out at sea. At the con-
clusion of the inspection, Major Hicks congratu-
lated the officers and men on the admirable manner
in which the regiment had acquitted itself, both
while going through the revolutions and in hand-
ling the large guns. He said the men had a
soldier-like appearance under arms, and had evi-
dently made very considerable progress in artillery
practice.

The Angus and Mearns Rifle Association—" the
Wimbledon of Scotland"—commenced their fourth
annual meeting on the links of Montrose on Wed-
nesday last, the proceedings terminating on Satur-
day. Prizes amounting to £166 in money and
£95 in cups were given by the Association,
these being supplemented by prizes from Lord Dal-
housie, Major Moir, Capt. Horatio Ross, Messrs.
Mappin, Ludon, &c. Tile following are the results
of the principal contests :—The bronze medal of the
National Association for Forfarshire was won by
Private Will, and for Kincardineshire, by Ensign
Walker. Private Walker, Fetteresso, carried off the
Montrose Corporation Challenge Cup, and Private
Ritchie, Laurence Kirk, stood highest for the Coun-
ties' Cup for Skirmishers. Colour-Sergeant Smith,
Kincardine, took the Angus and Mearns Cup, value
£2O, with a score of 29 points, the conditions being
five shots at 200 yards, standing ; five shots at 300
yards, kneeling. For the Strangers' Cup, open to
all comers, there was a keen competition, the
best shots in Scotland having entered for
the prize. The conditions were any description
of rifle not exceeding 101 b., ten shots at 900 yards,
and the same number at 1,000 yards. The follow-
ing were the highest scorers :—Mr. J. Farquhar-
son, Rosebery (Henry rifle), 53 ; Captain Mitchell,
Alloa (Whitworth), 51 ; Captain H. Ross (Whit-
worth), 48 ; Master of Lovat (Whitworth), 45. Mr.
Farquharson, therefore, won with the fine score of
53. " Scotland's Cup," value £25, brought out a
strong array of celebrated marksmen, the prize en-
titling the hole er to the title of "Champion Shot of
Scotland " for the year. The conditions were seven
shots at 700, seven at 800, and seven at 900 yards ;
to be shot for with any description of rifte not ex.
ceeding 101 b. in weight. Second prize, £7 ; third,
£5 ; fourth, £3 ; to be given in cash. The follow-
ing were the chief scores :—Lord Haddo, Aber-
deer], 74 ; Captain M‘Gibbon, Edinburgh, 74 ; J.
Farquharson, Rosebery, 73 ; A. Farquharson,
Blairgowrie, 73 ; Captain Mitchell, Alloa, 71 ;
J. G. Peterkin, Cambridge, i 0; Master of Lovat,
70 ; Corporal Ferguson, Inverness, 69 ; Mr.
Milne, Marie, 69; Harvey Hall, Aberdeen, 69;
Captain H. Ross, 67 ; Ensign Crum, Glasgow, 67.
In shooting off the tie on Saturday between Lord
Haddo and Captain M'Gibbon the latter made the
winning points, and so earned the championship.