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

THE ARMY.

Sir G. Le Merchant delivered the following ad-
dress on the recent departure of the 21 battalion of
the Buffs from Malta to Gibraltar. Its compli-
mentary terms will be fully appreciated by those
who know how chary this officer is in bestowing
words of praise. Addressing the majors, the offi-
cers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the
Buffs, Sir Gaspard said—
" The exigencies of the service have caused your removal
to another command. I attend this parade previous to
your embarkation in her Majesty's ship
Himalaya to
express the regret I feel at your departure. Four years
back you arrived in this garrison a body of recruits ; you
now quit it as efficient a body of soldiers as the service can
show. You are admirably appointed; your movements in
the field combine celerity with perfect steadiness under
arms, and you have attained that.high degree of drill which
bespeaks at every step the marked attention of your
officers, and the careful performance of their duties by
your non-commissioned :officers in their respective com-
mands. No regiment can attain a high point of excellence
that neglects its moral obligations, and I have much
gratification in thus publicly stating that, while crime has
decreased in your ranks, you have advanced in your duties
as soldiers. Your conduct in and out of quarters has been
such as to merit my full approbation. Persevere in the per-
formance of these high obligations, and you cannot fail to
acquire the good opinion of your future General, as you
have won from me my confidence and esteem. Ido
rot know what corps you may meet; doubtless you
will meet many corps in a high state of discipline ; but
recollect you will disappoint me if I do not hear that you
have taken a feather out of more than one cap of those who
stand beside you on parade, and thereby prove that you are
worthy of the high opinion I this day express of your
merits. I regret that Lieut.-Col. Sargent is not this day
on parade. He commands my full confidence. Obey barn:
as you have hitherto done ; 5 ou cannot follow a better chief.
But forget not the obligations you owe to y our former
gallant leader, Col. Maude. Soldiers, I shall watch your
career with interest and with pleasure, and believe me
when I say I wish you happiness, in whatever part of the
world you may be called upon to serve by our Queen and
country. Should the tide of war again pass over Europe,
I should be proud indeed to see your colours unfurled
under my command. Major Buke, officers, non-commis-
sioned officers, and soldiers, God bless you and good bye !
Yoncalsecui,y ana sincere prayers for your
honour and prosperity.,"
The troops of the Maidstone Cavalry Depot, com-
prising men from every cavalry regiment on the
home establishment, have been twice inspected
during the past week, on Tuesday by General
Laurenson (Inspector-General of Cavalry), and on
Saturday by the Duke of Cambridge, General Com-
manding-in-Chief; the object of the latter inspec-
tion was the dismissal of the various " Rides " to
join their respective regiments. His Royal High-
ness was accompanied by General Laurenson,
General the Hon. Yorke Scarlett (Adjt.-General),
General Sir De Lacy Evans, and Col. Henry, of the
riding establishment, Royal Horse Artillery, Wool-
wich. Col. Gibson escorted the Duke of Cambridge
to the barracks, where he inspected the troops in
complete marching order. The men then went
through various evolutions under the command
of Captain and Adjutant Miller, and afterwards
the "Rides " of men and officers attached to

the garrison were inspected. The riding establish-
ment then formed up in the field attached to the
barracks, and went through practice at heads and
posts, the sword, lance, leaping, and pursuing
exercises, and the attacking and capturing
guns with the lasso. The men were then formed
into line, and advanced to the front, when the Gene-
ral Commanding-in-Chief expressed his warm ap-
probation of the skill and efficiency they had that
day manifested. The garrison at Maidstone was
in a state of the highest efficiency. From this he
trusted he should never see it recede. The men
were then dismissed for a time, but in a few minutes
they again assembled on the parade in full dress,
marched past the General in slow and quick time,
went through the sword exercise, and gave a Royal
salute. His Royal Highness said that the disci-
pline of the men reflected the highest credit upon
the officers. After the plans of the projected new

barracks had been shown and explained by Cap
Lynch, R.E., the Duke and his suite left the garri
son and returned to town.

In consequence of the Royal Marine Artillery
being considerably below its proper strength, an
order was on Friday received by Col. T. Lemon,
C. 8., commandant at Chatham, from the Admiralty,
directing volunteering to be at once commenced
Clam, alyloluu ur I.uyal;lVlttrlueti. lumieCUALUly uu
the announcement that volunteering was opened
upwards of 200 men offered themselves, but only a

porton of that number will be selected, and the
names forwarded to the Marine-office for approval.
The qualifications required of volunteers for the
Royal Marine Artillery are that they shall be at
least sf. Bin, in height, of strong muscular frame,
with a good character, and able to read and write,
with ease. The strength of the Marine Artillery
is kept up entirely by volunteering from the light
infantry companies, recruiting for that division
not being resorted to.

THE GRAND NATIONAL RIFLE

CONTEST.

Saturday's programme was of a more varied cha-
racter than that of any of the four preceding days,
and was, in fact, the only one offering any strong
inducement to the general public to visit Wimble-
don-common for the purpose of witnessing those
competitive struggles for the superiority of rifle
practice, which the institution of this annual na-
tional contest was originally designed to promote
among our volunteers. Not only were the different
competitions of the week, viz., those for the Queen's
Prize (first stage), the Association Cup, the All-
corners, and the extra prizes—to say nothing
of the sighting targets, pool practice, and the Run-
ning Deer, continued ; but there were also intro-
duced the contests for the St. George's Vase and
and the Harold Cup, the still more interest-
ing contest for the Ashburton Challenge Shield
among the public schools ; and, above all, the excit-
, ing and novel match between the two houses of
parliament.

With such a diversified and interesting pro-
gramme a large attendance of spectators had been
confidently anticipated ; and this anticipation
would doubtless have been fulfilled but for the un-
propitious state of the weather. Gun-fire, at half-
past nine, found the sky clear and the atmosphere
dry, but soon the clouds began to gather overhead ;
and after a few brief showers the rain set in in ear-
nest about 12 o'clock, pouring down as if with a
fell determination to spoil the sport of the day for
wore then an hour, End with an apparent probabi-
lity of a prolonged continuance. This led to vague
suspicions that the parliamentary contest, the great
event of the day, might possibly be postponed, for
there were many who wondered whether our here-
ditary and representative legislators would be equal
to the effort of standing to their arms and their
targets amid the pelting of the pitiless storm. But
just before one o'clock, and while the rain was com-
ing down with relentless energy, the champions of
the Upper House drove on to the ground in grand
etYle;in three fours-in-hand, and their opponenis of
the Lower House were not long behind them. Then
in a few
minutes the rain ceased, the clouds dis-
persed, 'and the 131111, shining out warm and plea-
santly, soon licked up the greater portion of that
superabundant moisture
which the porous soil had
failed to absorb. soon after came the different re-
presentatives of the
public schools, the Etonians
(mustering with their companions some 40 strong)
the Harrovians, the Rurapidly succeeded each other, and
m, •371 t
es,
withas andt
hftaahts e,h
tlnhaaorbul bl
although
while carriages filled
up
to the antici-
roughians,
rians galloped about in scores. Nume-
gatatlilraendt
el aciduieesst,
iedvni soitt ors
quiteon cf oo omt ,e
Nume-
rous
attendance
t dh
at half-past two, h
pated point, the ground when the
rival champions were paraded before the tent ap-
propriated to the use of the council, wore an air of
the
forms and even of gaiety. Those to whom
forms and faces of our legislators are not familiar
pressed closely in for the purpose of studying
fie science of parliamentary physiognomy, and
snaking themselves acquainted with parliamentary
men and manners under circumstances so novel and
exciting. Strange remarks Were made occasionally,
not unfavourable, nor altogether uncomplementary;
but it was noted by keen eyes that my Lord So,-
and-So had come to Wimbledon with a shabby
coat, and that Mr. This-or-That wore a shocking
had hat—which was true—but then it was gene-
rally admitted that anything Was good enough for