The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-15 00:00:00

DISTRIBUTION OF THE WIMBLEDON
PRIZES AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

The ceremonial distribution of the prizes won at
the late rifle shooting match on Wimbledon-com-
mon, took piece yesterday at the Crystal Palace.
The weather was exceptionally fine, and conse-
quently the Palace and grounds had put on their
best aspect for the occasion. The most popular of
royal dukes had consented to distribute the prizes,
and the Prime Minister had promised his presence
at the distribution. he interior of the Palace had,
under the tasteful care of Mr. Wood, assumed a most
martial and striking appearance. The cornices of
the Handel orchestra were covered with inscriptions
recording the names of the various corps in England
and Scotland, and in the front under the proscenium
banners drooped down in which were emblazoned
the names of the heroes of the day's distribution.
In the front was a platform covered with crimson
cloth, upon which were to stand H.R.H. the Duke
of Cambridge, the more distinguished guests, and
the heads of the Volunteer institution ; and on a
table close at hand Were spread out the most splen-
did of the prizes, conspicuously arranged so as to
be seen, and to serve as a stimulus to the marksmen
of future rifle matches. This table was an extra-
ordinary centre of attraction for the visitors who
had obtained tickets for the platform, and every one
concurred in applauding the richness and artistic
design of the various articles. There was the As-
sociation Cup, in silver-gilt, of elaborate cinque-
cento design, which was to be carried off by Major
Moir; the Queen's Prize, which fell to the fortu-
nate Mr. Pixley, of the Victoria Rifles, having been
originally £250 in money, the gold medal of the
Association, and a Whitworth, but the money por-
tion of which the winner had invested in two ele-
gant claret cups ; the Eton Cup, which was won by
Lord Eldon ; the Ashburton challenge shield ; and
last, though not least in beauty of design or work-
manship, the Albert shield and vase, which the com-
pany were most anxious to see and to touch, in affec-
tionate recollection of the illustrious name with
which it was: associated. The shield is a fac-simile of
the table in oxydised siiver,and covered with the most
elaborate repousse work, which was made for the
Queen in 1851 by Messrs. Elkington, who had also
furnished the other articles previously enumerated.
Close to the table a row of seats had been placed,
which were occupied by Lady Palmerston, the
Duchess of Wellington, Ladies Bury and Elcho, and
several other ladies of rank. Among the male oc-
cupants of the platform were his Royal Highness
the Duke of Cambridge, president of the day ; Vis-
count Palmerston, the Duke of Cleveland, Lords
Elcho and Bury, Lord Powerscourt, Sir Joseph
Paxton, Mr. Farquhar, chairman of the Crystal
Palace Company; several French generals, and one
or two members of the foreign diplomatic body. The
whole of the orchestra was densely crowded, as was
also the transept area, whilst the galleries down as
far as any view of the proceedings could be obtain-
ed, presented a brilliant array of beauty and fashion.
The Duke of Cambridge was loudly cheered, both
on entering and leaving the building; and Lord
Palmerston had also a very warm and hearty recep-
tion, Besides the table before mentioned, upon
which the most valuable prizes were arranged, there
were one or two stands covered with the awards
of lesser value, and about the edges of the platform
stood the rifles, field glasses, and other articles with
which the less fortunate of the marksmen were to
be satisfied.
The formal proceedings of the day ware opened by
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge with a
few preliminary observations to the Volunteers, who
were drawn up in line in front of the platform, but
which were quite inaudible to every one in the rear,
and the delivery of prizes was proceeded with by
Lord Elcho. A printed programme had been cir-
culated of the order of presentation, but at the last
moment the public, wno had invested largely in the
purchase of copies, found that it was of not
the slightest use in following the speaker, who
could only be heard with the greatest difficulty.
The full prize list will be found at the end of this
report, but we shall here endeavour to note such as
were most remarkable or attracted most notice from
the company. The Messrs. Ross, father and son,
received rifles and a prize of £lO5 amidst tremend-
ous cheering, and the Master of Lovat also took a
prize under a gratifying salvo of applause, and Mr.
De Gendre, a Swiss gentleman, had quite an ovation
as he accepted his £5O. Major Halford, 31st
Leicester, had quite an tirmoury of rifles presented
to him amid tremendous cheering, and Sergeant
Dillon, of the School of Musketry, was presented
with an engraving which we are sure would be
quite large enough to paper the walls of his quar-.
tars at Hythe. This very successful marksman
received two other prizes--a Calisher and Terry
rifle, and a field glass, Lord Elcho informing the
company, amid much laughter, as he called out the
last, that " This was the third time of asking." We
may hero observe of these field glasses, that being
all mounted on tall tripods, they were mistaken by
many for surveyors' theodolites, and did not seem
to be very suitable or attractive prizes for riflemen.
Some got gold watches, which seemed to suit ad-
mirably. Lord Eldon was called, but did not
answer, for the Eton cup, but the two Harrow boys
took away their prize amid the most vociferous
applause. Major Halford received the Albert shield
and vase, with a few appropriate observations from
his royal highness ; and Lord Bury also, who got a
field-glass, had a gracious reception. Lieut. Lacy,
12th Foot, received a silver cup, presented by Mr.
Hancock, and various other prizes were presented,
including a peat number of rifles by various
makers, the presentation being accompanied in
each case by some appropriate observations from
the royal president of the day. The sympathy of
the public with the successful marksmen was
most marked and enthusiastic, the ladies rising
and waving their handkerchiefs, whilst the men
cheered as each more than ordinarily successful
marksman took his place upon the platform. Mr.
Pixley, of the Victories, was of course the hero of
the day, and next to him the Messrs. Ross, Major
Halford, and Sergeant Dillon seemed to obtain the
largest amount of favourable notice from the
audience.

At the :conclusion of the presentations, which
occupied about an hour and a half,
Lord PALMLRSTON advanced to the front of the
orchestra, and amidst loud cheering said—Ladies
gentleman, I am afraid in speaking to this vast as-

sembly in this great and spacious building that my
voice will not be sufficient to express to all who
are present the full meaning of the words I intend
to address to you; but I think that which I beg to
propose is so pre-eminent in the heart and mind of

all those here, that your own feelings will stand in
lieu of the words from me. You will concur, I
am sure, with me in heartily returning thanks to
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and to
the noble volunteers of the land. Your thanks are
justly due to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge, for in his exalted rank and the high p3Si-
tion which he holds he has been enabled to confer

the greatest benefits on the valiant army of the
country and to encourage that noble volunteer
(
movement which so eminently distinguishes this
country. (Hear, hear.) His Royal Highness is no
holiday soldier—(hear, hear)—his experience is not
confined to administration at home ; he has shared
with the soldiers of the country the dangers and
privati)ns of war, and in the Crimea at the head
of his troops he has nobly faced the foes of his
country. (Cheers.) He does not confine his care
to the force which is more particularly under his
command, but he takes the most lively interest in
the welfare, the prosperity, and the efficiency of
the volunteer force of the country. (Cheers.) When
I say that I wish to propose to you a vote of
thanks to the volunteers, I feel that I am
but an inadequate organ of that na-
tional sentiment which glows in the bosom of
every Englishman and of every Englishwoman ;
but if my expressions are feeble, I refer the volun-
teers to the applauding hands of the men who are
present, and to the smiles and the beaining eyes of
the ladies who have been looking on. (Cheers.) To
call that force the volunteers of England is in truth
any distinguishing appellation.
not to give them
If it is the pride of our country that all who serve
their country in arms are volunteers—we have here

no kind of conscription—(hear)—every man who
handles a musket, who brandishes a lance, or who