The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-21 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The Volunteer field day at Ascot is fixed for Sa-
turday, the 2d of August next. The forces on the
occasion will he commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Sir John
Pennefuther, K.C.8., commanding the troops at
Aldetshott, who, it is expected, will associate with
the Volunteers a force of regulars, consisting of
artillery, cavalry, and infantry:. The district chosen
for the military movements is that in the immediate
neighbourhoad of the Grand Stand at Ascot. The
field-day will commence as near 5 p.m. as possible,
and trains will leave the Waterloo-station for Ascot
at 3 p.m., 3 15, 3 30, 3 45, 4. Commanding officers
of corps proposing to take part in the field -day are
requested to signify their intention to Lieut.-Col.
Robert Loyd Lindsay, commanding the Berks Ad-
ministrative Battalion of Rifle Volunteers, Abbey, -
gateway, Reading.
The annual official inspection of the Ist Middle-
sex Artillery Volunteer Corps by Col. Smith, C. 8.,
Royal Artillery, took place on Saturday evening,
on the parade-ground of the Wellington Barracks
St. James's, where also the 18-pounder field guns
which attracted such attention at the Wimbledon
review had been placed. Previously to the arrival
of the inspecting officers 16 powerful horses from
Messrs. Pickford and Co.'s., carriers, were attached
to the guns by the drivers. The latter are com-
posed of Messrs. Pickford's head men, and have
been appropriately accoutred at the expense of the
corps. Colonel Smith arrived on the ground
shortly before seven o'clock, and was received with
the usual salute, the corps presenting armHseanirndnithee_
band playing the National Anthem.
diately proceeded to examine the arms and accoutre..
ments of the members, and was accompanied by
Major Creed, the Commandant (late of Her Ma-
jesty's Indian Artillery), and Captain and Adjutant
Adams. The marching past was steadily performed
to the music of the band, though more attention
should have been paid to the markers. At the ter-
mination of the manual and platoon exercises, four
detachments took their assigned positions at the
guns, and the most interesting part of the inspec-
tion commenced. Captain Adams put the gunners
through various manoeuvres, such as detaching the
guns from the ammunition waggons, limbering,
elevating and firing them. This was not an easy
task considering their heavy calibre. The move-
ments were brought to a close about half-past 7
o'clock, when a hollow square having been formed
Colonel Smith briefly addressed the corps, compli-
menting them on the dexterous manner in which
they handled their guns, and the high state of
efficiency to which they had attained. The inspec-
tion terminated with three cheers for the inspecting
officer.

A contest for the Harrow Challenge Cup, between
ten men of the Victoria and ten of the Admiralty
Company (Civil Service) Rifles took place at Har-
row on Saturday, and resulted in a victory for the
Victorias by 17 points. The ranges were 300, 500,
and 600 yards. The Victoria Rifles scored 135
points, but a bull's eye at 300 and an outer at score
500 yards being disallowed reduced it to 131. The
highest score (17 points) was made by Sergeant
Pixley, the winner of the Queen's prize at Wim-
bledon.

An assault of arms and a variety of field sports
took place at the head-quarters of the Hon. Artil-
lery Company, City-road, on Saturday, in which
the members of the Athletic Sports Club and their
instructors took part. Tents with amusements and
refreshments were pitched upon the ground, and
the course for the foot races were parted off from
the rest of the enclosure by cords. The whole affair
was rendered gay and attractive by the number of
flags which were displayed. About half-past one
o'clock the foot racing commenced. The most
interesting race was the last on the list, being a
walking race (heavy marching order) of one mile.
Five entered the lists, Messrs. Ainslie (151 b. extra)
Finlason, Jackson, Lovejoy, and Hodgson. After
the start was made Ainslie and Finlason got ahead
of the rest, and kept together to the close. Finla-
son came in first, though only slightly ahead of
Ainslie, the time occupied being 11 min. 45 secs.
The assault of arms was then commenced with
fencing, in which Messrs. Jay, Ellis, Dollroan,
Pascoe, and Fontaine took part, the first four being
mounted, and exhibiting their skill with sticks and
sabres, and the latter engaging one of the troopers
with the bayonet. Riding at the ring followed, in
which Mr. Jay showed much skill in parrying and
thrusting. The gun dismounting, from its practical
usefulness, was certainly the most interesting per-
formance during the day. A gun and limber were
dismounted, remounted, and fired three times, under
the direction of Lieut. Dawes, in the short space of
2 min. 24 secs.

The official inspection of the 29th North 'Middle-
sex Rifles, under command of Lieut.-Colonel 'White-
head (late of the Victorias), by Colonel Morris,
Government Inspector of Volunteers, is appointed to
take place on Wednesday evening next in the
Regent's Park at 7 o'clock. The South Middlesex
Rifles, under command of Lord Ranelagb, and the
Ist Surrey Light Horse, under Captain Meller, have
vclunteered to keep the ground on the occasion.
The annual prize competition of the Essex County
Rifle Association commences to-morrow at South-
end, when prizes exceeding the collective value of
£3OO will be competed for. The proceedings will
altogether extend over three days, and will close
with a dinner, at which Mr. T. W. Bramston, M.P.,
will preside. The prizes will be distributed on Fri-
day by Mr. Bramston in front of the Council tent.
On Thursday an all-comers' prize will be competed
for. Several movements of interest took place
among the various corps of Essex in the course of
last week. The sth and 6th companies of " the
Beacontree" were entertained by Captain S. L.
Howard, and Captain C. R. Pelly, in Plashet-park,
while the 0 ngar corps enjoyed the hospitality of
Private Sir C. C. Smith, of Suttons. A shooting
match also took place at Wyvenhoe between sides
of 10 each, selected from the Colchester corps and
the Harwich battery of artillery ; the latter use a
carbines. The ranges were 200, 400, and 600 yards,
five shots each ; and the scores made were—Col-
chester, 247 ; Harwich, 192.
A
an
candelabrum shot
for by the Tendring Hundred co
Sergeant Rout, who made 25 pointsrps ta s r
won
es
ofy
200, 400, and 600 yards, five ots each. gb
shots
The Lincolnshire County Rifle Association Will
hold its annual competion at Lincoln on _Monday
and Tuesday, August 4 and 5. The value of the'
prizes to be shot for amounts altogether to about
£lOO. The three batteries
comprised in the Ist
Lincolnshire Artillery Brigade assembled
at Grimsy
in the course of last week for the purpose of com-
peting for three prizes presented by the Dowager
Countess of Yarborough. Some very fair practice
was made, and the arc:- prize silver cup of the
value of 30 guineas—was awarded to Corporal Lid-
dell, of the Boston battery; the second prize, a field
glass, to gunner Chapman, of the Grimsby battery ;
and the third prize, a silver medal, to a member of
the Louth battery. A review also took place at
Louth last week, at which about 800 Volunteers
were collected from Boston, Grimsby, Barton,
spilsby, Horncastle, and Louth. The whole
Alford,
were placed under the command of Major Amcotts,
of the Lindsey battalion. The troops dined at
Eikiegton, the Rev. W. Smyth having thrown open
his grounds on the occasion. Major Hutton has
just assumed the command of the Lincolnshire Ar-
tillery brigade.
The 3d Hants Artillery Volunteers (Portsmouth
Dockyard corps), under the command of Major A.
Sturdee, underwent their annual inspection at Ports-
mouth on Saturday. Colonel Longden, R.A., was
the inspecting officer. The usual marching past
took place before the inspecting officer, after which
the men went to two 24-pounder guns at the north
end of the yard, and practice was made at fioatir g
targets. Carbine practice was carried out at the
' same time, and the results in both cases were very
' satisfactory. The Ist Hants Artillery will receive
their annual inspection at Bittern to-day, and the
2d Hants at Southsea, on the 4th proximo.

NEW ACT ON THE SALE OF SPIRITS.—On Sala:-
day the new act relating to the `sale of spirits was printed.
It only partially repeals the Tippling Act. ForraeriiY n
r
debt under 20s. at one time could be recovered for spirits -
, so
it is now provided that the same shall
belvrecpeaonsumed
far only as relates to spirituous liquors
elsewhere than on the premises wher©
an"itities not lees at
in cla•
at the residence of the purchaser i
i any time than a reputed quart. B°lcidt°ancl delivered