The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-03 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

VOLUNTEER FIELD -DAY.-0 11 Whit-Monday,
June 9, a volunteer field day and sham fight, in
which several of the metropolitan and suburban
corps will take part, 'will be held in the grounds
of Lord Cowper, near Hertford. In addition to
the local corps, which are expected to muster very
strongly on the occasion, the following corps from
London have already agreed to be present :-2d or
South Middlesex, under the command of Lord
Ranelagh ; the 9th, or West Middlesex, Lord Rad-
stock ; 11th Middlesex (St. George's) Rifles, Lieut.-
Colonel Lindsay ; and the Tower Hamlets. The
field-day has been organised by Lord Ranelagh.
On the same day the 22d Middlesex (Queen's West-
minster) Rifles will also proceed to Bushy Park for
a field-day.
LONDON Scorrisn.—At Richmond, on Saturday
last, as Colonel M'Murdo was riding from the park
he came up to Captain Page, adjutant of the
London Scottish, and said in a loud tone, heard by
many standing near him, " Please take an oppor-
tunity before dismissing the London Scottish, of
telling them that I am glad to have had them
under my command to-day. I am always proud to
command them, they are so steady, so easily
handled, and so soldierlike. That is my opinion,
and the opinion of every soldier who sees them."
LONDON ARTILLERY BRIGADE.—This new and
important corps is rapidly progressing, and it is
understood the drills will shortly commence. A
superior brass band of upwards of 40 performers
has been formed, under the auspices of Mr. Boose
(the bandmaster of the Royal Horse Guards), and
having the efficient aid, as director, of Mr. Tidswell,
a talented member of that band. Altogether the
corps offers great advantages, and under the dis-
tinguished military patronage which it has re-
ceived there can be no doubt of its taking a very
high position in the volunteer organisation. The
uniform appears of a most soldierlike and service-
able character.

THE ROYAL COMMISSION AND THE
VOLUNTEERS.

The following return, embodying a series of 32
questions, has been addressed, by order of the Royal
Commission appointed at the request of Parliament,
to the commanding officers of the Volunteer regi-
ments in the kingdom. The return is accompanied
by a circular from the War Office, requesting that
the return may be duly filled up, and as soon as
possible sent back to the secretary of the Royal
Commission at the War Office :

" 1. What is the authorised establishment of the
corps ? 2. What was the number of members on
the muster roll on the Ist of August, 1860; the lst
of August, 1861: and the Ist of April, 1862 ? 3.
Classify numerically, as far as possible, the present
members of the corps under the following heads—
Artisans, labourers, miners, farmers, tradesmen,
seafaring men, servants, and others—total. 4.
What is the annual subscription per head of en-
rolled members, viz.—Lieutenant colonels, majors,
captains, lieutenants, ensigns, non-commissioned
officers, privates, and honorary members ? 5. What
has been the total amount of subscriptions from the
above sources in each year sine,' the formation of the
corps ? 6. What amount has been received from
other than the above sources in each year since the
formation of the corps ? 7. What is the nature
of these other sources ? 8. Are there any arrears
of subscription, and, if so, to what extent ? 9. Is
any extra allowance, lodging, or salary paid to the
adjutant of the corps in addition to the sums paid
by the Government, and, if so, what is its amount ?
10. Is any extra allowance, lodging, or salary paid
to the sergeant instructor, in addition to the sums
paid by the Government, and, if so, to what amount?
11. What has been the rent or other expenditure
on account of drill places in each year since the for-
mation of the corps ? 12. What has been the ex-
penditure on account of attendance at battalion drill
in each year since the formation of the corps, and
how defrayed ? (N.B.—This question is to be an.
swered in the case of those corps only which com-
pose part of an administrative battalion). 13.
What has been the expenditure on account of at-
tendance at brigade and divisional or other parades
in each year since the formation of the corps, and
how defrayed P 14. What has been the expense
connected with the custody and preservation of
arms ? 15. What has been the expense connected
with the headquarters of the corps, and what has
been the nature of its items ? 16. Has the corps a
rifle range, and, if so, what has been the expendi-
ture on account of making butts, &0., rent of range,
targets (Ist class, 2d class, 3d class), flags, brushes,
paint, &c., and makers—total? 17. What amount
has been paid by the corps for ammunition since the
Government gave an allowance? 18. What other e-
penditure has there been connected with ammuni-
tioni ? 19. Has any portion of the funds of t e
corps been expended on a band ? 20. What has
been the number and cost of buglers ? 21. What
is the length of the rifle range, where situated_,and
what distance from the headquarters ? 22. What
is the estimated annual expenditure of
the rifle
range ? 23. What articles compose the uniform of
the corps, and what is their cost; tunic, trousers,
cap, leggings, great coat, cape—total ? 24. What
is the colour of the uniform, and how many members
find their own uniform and accoutrements ? 25, How
many members are clothed from the funds of the
corps or its companies, wholly, or in part ?
a of
a theirn2 Howo
n
of its
many members are clothed neither
expense nor at that of the corps, or t
companies, and from what fund are they clothe •
d P
27. What is the total amount expended from the
funds of the corps, or any of its (companies,
plying members with uniform and in sup-
accoutrements ?
28. What arrears are due from the funds of the
corps, or any of its companies, for uniform and accru-
trements supplied to its members ? 29. Is there any
provision for renewal of uniforms ? 39. Are recruits
now accepted who are unable to provide their own
uniforms ? 31. What other terms or conditions are
there on which clothing is supplied to members ?
32. What has been the total income and expendi-
ture of the corps in each year since its formation ?
(Signed) cc

INNS OF COURT.—The Reader on Constitutional
Law and Legal History has postponed the delivery of
his first public lecture after the recess to Wednesday,
Juno 11.
A CRIME PREVENTED —A correspondent writes
from Norfolk, Virginia, immediately after the surrender of
the place, "We are just in time to prevent another crime of
slavery. 7he Norfolk Day-look of Saturday, now in my
hands, has the following advertisement in its columns :
Sale of free blacks for city taxes.—Collector's-office, Nor-
folk, May 6, 1862,—Under the provisions of an ordinance
directing the sale of all free blacks who fail to pay their
city taxes, I shall, before the door of the City Hall, on
Monday, May 12, at 12 m., sell the following-named per-
sons for the terra specified by said ordinance.' here follow
the names of 112 males and 204 females. I was at theplace
at the given time, but found no opportunity to buy a slave,
be
had I desired so atrocious a crime. God praised ; slavery
is doomed None welcome so loudly, none so gladly, our
soldiers as the slaves of these two cities. Whether others
be Unionists or not, they surely are."