The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-09 00:00:00

HIE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, jANFJARY 9, 1865.

been made at the Admiralty .-‘--Lieut. Herbert F.

Campbell to be flag lieutenant to the Hibernia ;
Lieut. Harcourt T. Gammell to the Victory.; Ed-
mund Swain, master, to the Orlando ; W. H. Pan-
ter, master, to the Wanderer ; W. Brown, of the
Victoria and Albert, promoted to be chief engineer;
and W. Powell, of the Dromedary, promoted to be
acting engineer ; J. Sharp, of the Asia, and W.
Green, of the Irresistible, for the Argus ; James
Brough, of the Aurora, and George Edwards, of the
Edgar, for the Trinculo, promoted to first-class
engineers ; Thomas Pattison and George J. Barber,
of the Asia, confirmed as first-class assistant engi-
neers.

The Volunteers.

PRESENTATION OP PRIZES TO THE QUEEN'S (WESTMINSTER)
RIFLES IN WESTMINSTER HALL.
On Saturday evening the fifth annual distribution of
prizes to the successful competitors in rifle shooting during
the past year of the Queen's (Westminster) Rifles took
place in Westminster-hall, in the presence of a crowded
and fashionable auditory.
The Hall was additionally and magnificently lighted for
the oecasion, upon the principle adopted at the Social Science
meeting. A large dais, covered with crimson cloth, and
ornamented with banners bearing the crown and portcullis
(the arms of Westminster), was erected in front of the recess
forming the entrance to the House of Commons. Opposite
this the hall was carpeted, and reserved seats provided for
500 ladies. Tickets had also been issued for 2,600 general
visitors. The Corps, under the direction of Major and
Adjutant Charter, were drawn up, forming three sides of a
square, whilst the band was stationed at the northern
entrance. The regiment presented a very imposing ap-
pearance.
Lady Constance Grosvenor, who had undertaken the pre-
sentation, occupied a seat on the dais, and was supported by
the noble colonel of the regiment, Earl Grosvenor ; Colonel
M'Murdo, C. 8., Inspector-General of Volunteers ; Colonel
Erskine, Inspector-General elect ; Captain Mildmay, Secre-
tary of the National Rifle Association ; Lord Gerald Fitz-
gerald, lieutenant-colonel of the 2d battalion; Majors
Russell and Bushby, &c.
Earl GROSVENOR, in opening the business of the evening,
expressed the sincere gratitude of the Queen's (Westmin-
ster) to those ladies and gentlemen of the district who had
contributed so largely to the excellent show of prizes which
was before them, and he trusted that the members would
prove their gratitude by becoming still more efficient than
they were at present, and still better shots. He congratu-
lated the regiment upon having this year won the noble
silver shield which graced the centre of their display
of prizes, "The Scrubbs Plate," a prize subscribed and
contested for by the Queen's, the Victoria; the West
Middlesex, and St. George's, and then went on to express
his-regret that there had been a slight falling off in the
number of marksmen as compared with 1863, and hoped
that next year the numbers would be greatly increased.
The best shot of the regiment this year was a foreigner,
and he felt assured that the corps would not view such an
event with any feelings of jealousy, but rather with satis-
faction that a foreigner had been able to wrest the laurel
from them. The best shooting company was the 13th
(Captain Styan's), and he might also mention that several
members of the corps had won various prizes at meetings
in different parts of the country. The St. James's-Com-
pany had also this year become the winners of the Inland
Revenue Cup. The number of marksmen this year had
been 214, against 235 last year. The total number of men
who had fired through their classes this year had been
346 against 415 last year, showing a slight falling off, but
the average of the shooting had been somewhat higher,
being 44.30 against 42.39 last year. He thanked the shoot-
ing committee for the exertions they had made, and he was
happy to say that they had now an acquisition to their rank
in Lieut. Tyler, who had undertaken the charge of the mus-
ketry department, and who, although he only came last
September, had already effected much improvement, and he
was happy to say the burgesses of Westminster had pro-
mised to knock up a cup of the value of 501. as a prize for
next year's shooting. After referring to the advantages and
the propriety of members joining the school of arms, the
noble lord referred to the misfortune which had happened
to the regiment in the death of Mr. Erie last Easter at Guild-
ford, but remarked that he was happy to say the regiment
had succeeded in raising a sum of 3001., which they had pre-
sented to that gentleman's widow, who had unfortunately
been left in straitened circumstances. Arrangements were
being made to place the organisation with regard to the band
on a more satisfactory footing. He was delighted to see the
gallant Inspector, Colonel Mllurdo, present on this occasion
(cheers)—and as it was probably the last time they should
have the honour of seeing him before his retirement from
the office of Inspector-General of Volunteers, he was sure
they would all join him in expressiug their wish for his
health and long life in whatever'position he might be placdd.
(Loud cheers.)
Lady CONSTANCE GROSVENOR then came forward to pre-
sent the prizes, and was received with loud and continued
applause. They amounted to several hundreds, and the
aggregate value was represented to be between 1,4001. and
1,5001. Her ladyship addressed congratulatory remarks to
the recipients as they ascended the platform to receive the
reward of their efficiency, and during the proceedings the
excellent band of the regiment played a variety of music,
including grand march, Puritani (Bellini) ; overture, Tan-
credi (Rossini); selection from Faust (Gounod) ; quadrille,
FS°rawneairs (Toaolftee)), &.
polka,
c Eclipse (Kcenig) ; waltz, Corn
Amongst the principal prizes were the following : " The
Scrubbs•Plate," value 100 guineas, competed for by the
Queen's, the Victorias, West Middlesex, and St. George's
on the Bth August last, and won by the Queen's, who are
entitled to hold the plate till the next competition. The fol-
lowing were the scores :—Queen's, 637 ; Victoria; 631 ;
Flowers
West Middlesex, 623 ; and St. George's 531. Earl Grosve-
nor's silver Challenge Cup, value 501., to the company
whose figure of merit is the highest, won by No. 13 Com-
pany. A Silver Challenge Cup, value 201., presented by
Major Russell. and won by Sergeant Jas. Clothier, No. 2
Company. A Drawing-room Clock, value 101. 10s., pre-
sented by Major Bushby, competed for by marksmen, and
won by Private E. Richardson, No. 2 Company. The first
prize for highest aggregate scores :—A Diamond Ring,
value 121., C. A. Bonnetto, No. 13 Company. A Drawing_
room Timepiece value 101., won *by Corporal E. G. Lay-
bourne, No. 2 Company, &c. With regard to regimental
contests the whole of the prizes appear to be carried off by
the Second Battalion, Ensign Starkie and Serg. Anderson,
No. 8 Company, making the highest scores. The regimen-
tal badges—consisting of chevron; portcullis (arms of
Westminster), rifles and star; &c.—and the companies'
prizes were of the most elaborate and many of a costly de-
scription, among the most prominent of which were—For
No. 1 Company—the Ladies' Challenge Cup and Silver
Medal, with rifle and stars, value 311.105., won by Private
A. Austin. In No. 2 'Company there were two challenge
vase; of the value of 21/. each; the first for the Pimlico
division, with portcullis, cross, rifles (highest grade), and
two chevron; won by Corporal E. G. Laybourne ; the se-
cond, with gold badge, card-trap, timepiece,and cross rifle;
won by Private E. G. Pridmore. No. 3 -Company—the first
prize, a portcullis and rifle and star; with prize value 6/.,
won by Sergeant R. Oxley. No. 4 Company—port-
cullis, rifle and stars, and prize of 51. 55., to
Captain C. Vacher. No. 7 Company—portcullis, rifle
and stars, field-glass, and prize of Si. 55., to Private T.
Oxen. No. 8 Company (Broadwood's) had no less than 54
prizes to be presented, which were equally divided. Ser-
geants A. Anderson and H. S. Walmsley carrying off the
two highest. No. 9 Company—Memorial Challenge Cup,
from representatives of the late Corporal Trigg, value 104
with portcullis, rifle, and stars, won by Corporal J. Sarsons.
No. 10 Company—Challenge Cup, value 161.165., and purse,
51.55., won by Private C. Connor. No. 11 Company (St.
Covent-garden)—Ladies' Challenge Cup, value
731. 10s., with Silver Medal, rifle and stars, &c., won by
Private G. Seymour. N 0.12 (S t. James's) Company—Silver
Challenge Cup, value 21/. ; the Bidgood Challenge Cup,
value 151. 155., and a purse of Si., with rifle and stars, won
by Private G. James. 13th Company (St. Martin's Divi-
sion)—The Ladies' Challenge Cup, value 521.105., won 'by
Sergeant W. Hooper. No. 14 Company—First prize of
71. 75., won by Private C. Godfrey. No. 15 Company—A
Gold Watch,. value 191., with portcullis, rifle, and stars,
won by Private Brown. No. 16 (St Ann's) Company—
The Ladies' Challenge Cup, value 311. 10s, &c., won by
Captain C. Nightingale. No. 17 Company (St Clement
Danes)—The Challenge Cup, by the parishioners, value
631., with a gold pin, a miniature billiard-table, a purse,
with rifle and star; and portcullis, won by Capt. Scrivener.
No. 18 (King's College) Company—The first prize, value
71. 7; won by Colour-Sergeant W. H. Kensitt.
At the conclusion of the presentation,
Col. MliftraDo, who was received with loud applause,
addressed the vast assembly. He observed that he had
great pleasure in being present to witness the renewed
fruits of the high appreciation in which the 22d Middlesex
Regiment was still held by numerous friends. It was the
duty of an inspecting officer to report to his Government
the efficiency of a regiment under arms where he found it
so ; but it was a still more gratifying duty to report to the
Government the proceedings of such a meeting as the pre-
sent, when so large an assembly was congregated to wit-
ness the presentation of the valuable prizes before them,
because it constituted the real foundation of the movement.
(Hear.) He regretted to find there had been a slight falling
off in the number of men who had gone to the targets this
year as compared with last. He attributed this not so much
to the indisposition of the men, but to the difficulties they
had to encounter in getting to the ranges, and to the diffi-
culty of finding ranges for volunteer corps, more especially
for corps connected with the metropolis. On this subject it
was to be regretted that persons who were in possession of
land in the vicinity of the ranges proved themselves such
great opponents to the volunteer force, and took the steps
they did for obstructing the progress of the volunteer
movement, through the medium of the law. It was to be
regretted that through a misapprehension Parliament had
not adopted certain clauses in a bill to protect volunteers
in discharging their duties as efficients, and which would
have prevented the wholesale destruction of ranges. Range
after range, either through foolish fear or the malicious
fooling of iudiyidualo, had boon done away with, but he