The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-07 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS,

The distribution of prizes which have been corn-
Peted for during the year by the members of the
37th Middlesex (Bloomsbury) Volunteers took place
00 Saturday evening at the Music-hall, Store-
street. Colonel M'Murdo, the Inspector-General of
Volunteers, who presided, opened the proceedings
by a brief address. After expressing the pleasure
which he felt in attending upon such occasions as
the present, the gallant colonel observed that the
vast year had been marked by several events of
much importance to the Volunteer cause. A Royal
Commission had been appointed to inquire into the
condition of the Volunteer force, Parliament had de-
liberated upon the report of that Commission, and
had come to the determination of voting a certain
sum of money in aid of the Volunteer force. Those
Were in error who supposed that the acceptance of
a Parliamentary grant would deprive the force of
its volunteer character, for the unpaid services and
time of officers and men 'would still be given for the
public benefit. It was not to be expected that the
largo tazpenses for drill grounds, ranges, end other
necessary arrangements, could continue to be borne
exelvsively by the Volunteers and their private
friends. The Government, acting upon the report
IA the Commission, obtained power to make cer-
taie grants in aid, and the creation of that power
was followed by the passing of a new Act of Par-
lisanent, under which all Volunteers were now serv-
ing. There were also new Orders in Council de-
fining the degree of efficiency to be required to
entitle the various corps to receive the public grants,
and then came eertein regulations by means of
which the Government had reason to expect that
the public money would be well and profitably
expended. (Hear, hear.) Speaking of the :force
itself, he could say that although had not yet
received the annual returns he believed it was
maintaining its strength, and it certainly was pro-
gressing in efficiency. (Cheers.) During the
year he had, as Inspector-General, attended
county musters of the Volunteers of Essex, Suf-
folk, Devonshire, Dorsetshire, Lancashire, Durham,
Worcestershire, and many other counties at which
the various corps in each respective county had been
brigaded ; and he was gratified to find that in bat-
talion, in brigade, and in divisions of brigade, the
Volunteers worked together efficiently as armed and
disciplined men should do. (Cheers.) With respect
to the 37th Middlesex, he had had the pleasure of
hearing from the commanding officer that their
bllell'ers were increasing, and he could himself
a ,Pettk of their state of efficiency as highly satisfac-
tory,
(lieiter, hear.) Upon the subject of shooting,
for whims '
been
tieveeire prizes about to be distributed
.had
for skill inithe wished to say a few words. Prizes
times beta): use
of
weapons had been given in
had their Olythe
mpic games, in which the vic-
tors were crowned
marksmen
eith a laurel wreath ; but the
successful
of the present day would,
doubtless, prefer a
er Cup to the wreath of laurel.
(Laughter.) Voltesteve
_ should remember that the
beautiful weapons
:sield h
if
they were armed
were intended to be
t the occasion should ever
arise against an enemy Invading our island ; and
when men practisedshooting at a target they should
bear in mind that they ,sight be called upon to
shoot at living targets, in in the shape of men equally
well armed as therasek had sometimes gone
to see the firing of the crack shot of
good shooting
corps ; but it frequently happened uently that the fact of
the Inspector-General being Present caused such
nervousness that no hits at all were made-
(Laugh-
ter.)eehould recollect n, But Volunteers their
practice that it might happen to them to have Q
have
to
shoot not only in the presence of the Inspector,
General, but of an armed enemy, and if they
would not do Were
nervous at a friendly visit, it you. to
so with well-armed foes aiming at them. (Rear,
hear.) As an old soldier, he would advise them
when practising to consider that the target was
in
g
an enemy armed like themselves and advancing
upon them ; and if ever it should happen that they
were actually in the presence of armed and
advancing enemies he would recommend Volun-
teers to regard them as so many targets at which
to take good aim, (Cheers, and laughter.) In the
present day the use of marksmen was to keep down
the fire of long-range cannon and to resist cavalry.
They were aware' that to meet a charge of cavalry
infantry was usually formed in square, but by that
formation a very large proportion of the fire of a
regiment was lost. Troops formed in line to resist
cavalry attacks could deal farmore destruction to the
enemy; but such a formation required very steady
soldiers. At Balaklava the late Lord Clyde, with a
Riehlso d regiment in line, met and repelled the
Russian Cavalry ; but that gallant general knew
that he could rely upon his men. Volunteers must
bear in mind that good shooting was not the only
thing required from a good
soldier.
Discipline and
drill were very
important to
give the commander
confidence to use his
i
men to the utmost advantage.
(Hear, hear.) The gallant colonel then proceeded
to distribute the p tt
'l2e "
Which were of a most varied
description, including, besides hard cash, a rifle, a
Bible, cups, tankards, engravings, tea services, cruet
stands, and other articles. The utmost good feeling
prevail among
of the
seemed tothe non-winners
cheering the recipients
.priees as heartily as
awards had been in their
though the own favour.
then proposed votes
Lieut.-Col. of thanks to
thanks to the donors of prizes, and to Col. at Murdo
for presiding, which were adopted by acclamation,
ii-L c cap pic.euted to
The biluu+.l:-g fort e g