The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-30 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

On Friday a field-day among several of the metropolitan
corps took place on the downs at Caterham, about 17 miles
from London. The ground selected for the movements is
distant about five miles from the Caterham junction, on a
declivity of the downs, near the clubhouse and rifle range
of the South Middlesex Rifles, and is well adapted for
testing the progress made by each corps in battalion move-
ments. The corps engaged consisted of the 2d, or South
Middlesex Rifles, the 3d City of London (Working Men's),
the North-East London Rifle Brigade, and the 4th Tower
Hamlets Rifles. Major Richards was in command of the
3d City, and the chief command was taken by Lord Rate-
lagh, whose regiment (the South Middlesex) mustered
more strongly than any of the others. The North-East
London Rifle Brigade and the 4th Tower Hamlets took up
position to the north of the downs on a high eminence, and
represented the enemy, while their opponents formed in line
at the bottom of the undulation. Shortly after 3 o'clock
the enemy threw out skirmishers to dislodge Lord Rane-
high's small force, and steadily advancing down the hill
kept up a well-sustained fire on their opponents. The
latter, notwithstanding the apparent advantage the enemy
had over them in firing from the heights, replied with equal
vigour, and though retiring kept pouring in a galling fire,
till the enemy had taken possession of the position pre-
viously occupied by their adversaries. Here, however, the
good fortune of the enemy seemed to forsake them, for they
retired, and Lord Ranelagb, fully alive to the supposed
defeat, formed his men in column, and they poured in a
tremendous volley, which reverberated over the hills and
dales, and as a matter of course put their foes hors de
comble. A few other movements brought the field• day to
a close. The weather was all that could be desired, and
the majority of the movements were well executed, the
steadiness with which the South Middlesex and 3d City
marched in line being especially commendable. The
manoeuvres of the Tower Hamlets are also entitled to
similar praise; but it was evident to the most casual ob-
server that they have yet much to learn in skirmishing
drill.

On the 26th inst. the members of the 2d (South Bel-
gravia) company of the London and Westminster Rifles
(46th Middlesex) competed for a rifle presented by Mr.
George Cubitt, M.P. The ranges were 200, 300, and 400
yards. Regnlation targets; hits and points added. Cor-
poral Parsons won the prize with 33 marks. The wind
was very strong and gusty from the right rear.

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' SCHOOLS. —The half-
yearly meeting and election of this institution was
held yesterday at the London Tavern, Mr. Wilcoxou in the
chair. There were 14 children to be elected-7 boys and 7
girls. Mr. Foster, the secretary, read the report, of which
the following is an abstract :—lt congratulates the friends
of the institution on the steady increase in the different
branches of income ; the renewed subscriptions for the past
year showed an increase over the previous year of £126, as
well of a proportionate improvement in donations and new
subscriptions. The health of the children was generally,
at the present time, satisfactory, although hi November
last there had been some cases of malignant sore throat,
and ono boy had died from diphtheria within four weeks
after his admission by purchase. The financial statement
showed the gross receipts for the past half-year ending
September 30, were £3,157 4s. 11d. ; and the expenditure,
£3,085 14s. 41 ; leaving a balance in favour of £7l 10s.
7d. The amout of stock at present invested is £14,300.
Value of the live and dead stock at farms, £452 10s. Lia-
bilities on bills owing, £459 4s. 2d. The report having
been received and adopted, some alterations were made
in the rule respecting the voting at elections, and the board
of management and other officers for the ensuing year were
appointed. Scrutineers were then selected and the elec-
tion proceeded with. There were 26 candidates.
RAILWAY PASSENGERS.—Of 173,721,139 passen-
gers conveyed last year on British railways, the
Caledonian carried 3,573,609 ; the Great Eastern, 9,866,232 ;
the Great Northern, 4,573,423; the Great Western and its
allies, 12,385,166; the Lancashire and Yorkshire, 16,205,019 ;
the London and South Western, 7,655,487 ; the London and
North Western, 16,8`23,706; the London, Brighton, and
South Coast, 10,593,655; the Manchester, Sheffield, and
Lincolnshire, 3,015,961; the Midland, 9,133,118 ; the North
Eastern, 8,716,027; and tho South Eastern, 9)086)903.