The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-18 00:00:00

The Volunteers.

On Thursday evening the prize distribution of the West
(9th) Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps took place at the
Eyre Arms Assembly-rooms, St. John's-wood, before alarge
and fashionable company. Col. M'Murdo, the Inspector-
General of the Volunteer force, presided, and with himwere
Lieut.-Col. Lord Radstock, the commandant of the regi-
ment, Sir J. Hamilton, and others interested in the move-
ment. There was a handsome display of prizes, the chief
of which had been presented by firms and gentlemen con-
nected with the regiment and neighbourhood, as Messrs.
Marshall and Snellgrove, Messrs. Silver, Lord Radstock,
Mr. Thomas Hughes, Mr. E, Armitage, Mr. Bass, Mr.
Davies, and Mr. H. Bridgman. Prominent among the dis-
play of silver was the Fitzwilliam Cup, presented by Earl
Fitzwilliam, which has been competed for at the long ranges
among seven metropolitan regiments, and has been won
twice by Lieut. Marriner. Another prominent prize was
the Borough Members' Challenge Cup, given by Lord Fer-
moy, M.P., and Mr. Harvey Lewis, M.P. Lieut. Marriner,
Private Armitage, Sergeant Garner, and Ensign Barber
were the chief prize winners. After the distribution,
Colonel M'MuuDo rose to address the meeting, and was
received with loud applause. He congratulated the regi-
ment and its friends upon the recurrence of the annual fes-

tive meeting, which was held, he said, not only for the pur-
pose of giving prizes, and as a reunion of the Volunteers
and their friends, but that they might have a kind of stock-

taking of the regiment and the force, and so ascertain if
there had been. any falling off in the great usefulness of the
movement. From the returns of the 9th Middlesex he found
the strength of the regiment to be 442 ; of these, 276 com-
menced class-firing, 248 completed the course, of which
number the final classification showed that there were in
the first class 136 (64 of whom are marksmen), in the second
class 90, and in the third 22. This was a most satisfactory
statement, and he could say that as one whohad seen a great
deal of this sort of thing. (Cheers.) Upon a hint from the
noble commander of the regiment he had made a compari-
son of the shooting of the 9th with the shooting of the other
regiments of the metropolis, and this comparison showed
some facts interesting to Volunteers and their friends.
There were 20,000 Volunteers in the metropolis, and the
average of the corps was 59 per cent. efficient—that was to
say, of every 100 men 59 were certificated as efficient and
good soldiers, and the average of men who had earned the
extra 10s. as good shots was 22 per cent. of the enrolled men
of these regiments. Now, the West Middlesex had attained
an average of 66 per cent. of efficients, or 7 per cent above
the average, and a percentage of 49 shooting men, or 27
above the average. (Cheers). The regiments which stood
highest in these averages—and it was just to say that the
smallest corps were more likely to have a higher average
than the larger ones—he could show from the data in the
archives of the War-office. The corps which stood highest
in the metropolis was the 7th Surrey, which showed an
average of 90 per cent. of efficients, and 59 per cent. of
shooting men. The second was the 26th Middlesex (the
Custom House Volunteers), who showed an average of
efficients of 69 per cent., and 60 per cent. of men who had
earned the extra 10s., and the third best was the
West Middlesex, with the figures he had given.
(Cheers.) ' This must be extremely satisfactory to
the members of the 9th, and the per tentage showed that
they had attained excellence in shooting. Excellence in
shooting was an important thing for Volunteers, but
he was not one of those who said that shooting was to be
preferred before drill. He held that good shooting, ac-
companied by good drill, made a regiment almost invin-
cible. He then went on to remark upon the occasions
when he had seen the 9th under arms, and praised the
readiness' which the noble lord commanding them had
shown under difficulties in the field, and the smart manner
in which the corps had moved. He showed the advantages
which would result from an organisation of the railway
power, and congratulated the Volunteers that this organi-
sation had been accomplished. He alluded to his retirement
from the Inspector-Generalship of the Force, and concluded
amid loud cheers by expressing his best wishes for their
progress.

Sir JAMES HAMILTON moved a vote of thanks to the
prize donors, and, after commenting upon the deep debt
which the country owed to the Volunteers, announced his
intention to hand a check to Lord Radstock for 201. to be
given in prizes. (Cheers.)

Lord RADSTOCX, who was warmly received, acknowledged
the kindness of the last speaker, and in noticing what the
chairman had been pleased to say as to the efficiency of
the regiment, said that it had ever been his pride to have a
regiment out of which some work could be got if a day of
danger should come to England ; and though he knew no
Volunteer force could compete with a Line regiment in
finish, he did trust that the 9th would provide materiel which
in the hour of danger would provide substantial aid to the
country. (Cheers.) He was glad to say that there had been
a steady increase in the number of men of the regiment
who had gone to the targets, and he stated that every man
in the regiment could fire ball cartridge. He thought it ought
to be exacted from every Volunteer that he should know
how to fire off his rifle, so that if a man could not make
good practice in picking off individuals, he would be able,
when they were not far off a column, to do some execution.
(A laugh.) He (the noble lord) thought that, in however
satisfactory a state the Volunteer force was at the present
time, at least 100,000 more men should be added to its num-
bers, and he urged upon young men that they should con-
sider the position which this country would be placed in if
30,000 out of the 40,000 soldiers in this country had to be
sent in haste to protect the Canadas in case of any quarrel
arising between England and America. He showed the
low cost of joining a corps and the advantages immedi-
ately resulting to young men from the healthful exercise,
and concluded by calling for cheers for Col. M'Murdo.
Three cheers were most heartily given, as were others
for the Queen, and the proceedings terminated.

A meeting of the officers commanding metropolitan Vo-
lunteer Corps was held a few days since, at the offices of
the National Rifle Association, to consider the unsatisfactory
condition of, the law relating to rifle ranges. It was re-
solved that Lieut.-Col. Lord Elcho, Lieut.-Col. Hughes,
and Lieut.-Col. Wilkinson should form a committee, and
the following motion was agreed to :—" That each com-
manding officer who is cognizant of legal proceedings taken
or to be taken with a view to close his range be requested
to put his case in writing and submit it to the committee."
The following resolutions were carried unanimously :
" That in the opinion of the meeting ample facilities are
absolutely essential to the continued existence of the Vo-
lunteer force ; that it appears from the evidence laid before
this meeting that some corps have already had their ranges
closed by injunction, and that others are threatened; that
under the present state of the law no range is safe from in-
terference ; and that it is the deliberate opinion of the com-
manding officers present that corps deprived of their ranges
will, if the prohibition be permanent, cease to exist." The
committee abovenamed were requested to prepare a state-
ment of the evidence sent in to them, and to submit it, with
the resolutions, to the Secretary of State for War.

On Saturday evening there was a special parade of the 3d
City of London Rifle Volunteer Corps in the Guildhall for
the purpose of distributing the prizes won at the butts.
The regiment, of much there was a very good muster, was
drilled for a considerable time, and then, being formed into
three sides of a square, was addressed by the commandant,
Lieut.-Col. Richards. He said he was very sorry that the
prizes to be distributed were of little value, considering the
large regiment they were given to, but this, he added, was
no fault of the officers, who had done all that could be ex-
pected of them, and was to be attributed partly to the little
interest taken in the corps by those outside, and partly to
the peculiar circumstances of the regiment, the working
men of whom it was composed having little time to go out
practising. In addition to other drawbacks the range taken
by ,the corps at the beginning of the last season was early
closed against them, and they had to fall back upon the
Government range at Plumstead, with all the vexations,
delays, and disappointments so well known to all Volun-
teers. He was in hopes that other range convenience would
be found, and he then went on to remark that the corps
had not had the same compliment paid to it in the way of
prizes other corps received, and steps, he said, had been taken
to get an adequate shooting fund for next year. He urged
the members of the 3d City to make themselves worthy of
these prospective prizes, and he was sure the working men
of London would prove they had as steady nerves as any
class of men in the world. He then distributed the prizes,
the chief of which, a silver cup, given by Major Laurie,
was taken by Capt. Clark. The other prizes were taken by
Corporal Gardener, Sergeant Raymond, Colour-sergeant
White, Private Royston, Sergeant Dunn (the Hythe In-
structor), Sergeant Cradduck, and Sergeant Clifford.
Other prizes were given, and after one or two complimen-
tary speeches, and the usual cheers for the officers, the
corps marched to the head-quarters. The following was
given as the state of the regiment :—On the rolls, after
striking off 300 members for non-attendance, 1,450 ; effi-
cients by last return, 789. The amount of the Government
grant exceeds 8001.
The Ist City of London Artillery Volunteers were
in-
spected by Lieut.-Col. Rotton, R.A., under orderso.ftre:
Bar_
War-office, on Saturday, in gun drill at
After the
racks, and in battalion drill at Westminsterl
• and double,
brigade had marched past at the slow,
venal column formations and deployemreeinsai
se-
inspection of arms, manual, and platoongts,:xtee
salute, the inspect-
an advance in review order and general
favourable terms of
rr
ne ei
:a tai nngd bying officer expressed himselftne
flicie
ney generalof
f s
theol dwi e
non-commisr 1 i
sku
se etbl e
member attention to
appear-
the-gun drill, the marchinge,
ance of the men, the
grseeartviceable state of the arms. He,
from artillerymen,
and sioned officers,
He knew the
drill and discipline. M
however, suggested
esniugegnet:snteediciltliartigtidhwudpacsmellxtgpeheenetemerdaelmil
metropolitangreat
cdifficulties,
t iceos,r ps.
but
rlYth.efenrrocerdwas nothing to prevent this corp re
they had been
ocaornverdepsrescPaoabtTrtianedigc,eua't'lnhaPdreel artillery service of London, from attaining
approximately perfection both in drill, discipline, and
strength, and from being worthy that city and the efforts of
their lieutenant-colonel and the officers and adjutant of the
brigade. The commanding officer then expressed the
thanks of the brigade to Col. Rotton for his suggestions,
and assured him they would receive the especial attentlon
of the members. The corps afterwards proceeded to the
Orderly-room, where a supper had been provided for them
by the lieutenant-Colonel and the officers.

THIRD EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, 6 o'CLocK

AUSTRIA.

A Vienna letter in the Cologne Gazette states that
a Council of Ministers on the Hungarian question
was held three days back, and a resolution come to
that the Hungarian Diet should be convoked about
the middle of August.

The Fatal Railway Accident n ear
Southampton,
o

SouTuAmrToN, Tuesday Evening.

This afternoon Mr. Colwell, the coroner for the borough
and county of Southampton, resumed the inquiry at the
Portswood Hotel into the circumstances of the death of
Wm. Harvey, who was killed at the St. Denis level cross-
ing of the South-Western Railway on the night of Satur-
day, the 7th inst. _ _

The evidence adduced at the first hearing showed that
the deceased was in a donkey-cart, and crossed the line
about half-past 11 o'clock at night in front of the down
mail train, which smashed the cart, killed the man Harvey,
and most seriously injured the woman, who is, however,
happpily recovering.

At hearing to-day evidence was given to show that
the gatekeeper called out to Harvey to " Hold hard !" as
he was passing on to the line.
Mr. Godson, superintendent of the line, being called on
by the coroner, produced "the instructions to gatekeepers at
level crossings, which stated that " unless a written notice
is given to the contrary, gates must always be kept closed
across a road, except when required to be opened to allow
the railwaY to be crossed, and then opened for the shortest
possible time."
The Coroner said he would take the statement of Un-
derwood, the gateman, if he thought fit to make any, but
it would only be after giving him due caution that what he
said might be used hereafter as evidence.

Underwood,it°bofSaturday,
on being
o 7 hof January,
swornt at his own request,
had uest,said
—On thet night th occa-
sion to retire for a few minutes to the watercloset, which
is situate within twenty yards of the gates, on the western
up-side line. I came out and saw the 11.30 mail
train just passing under the bridge at the Portwood-
station. lat once started to the box to get my lamp. The
lamp being out of reach from the outside I had to unbuckle
the door, but in the hurry of the moment I turned the
button too far, and so hindered myself. On turning round
to show my light I perceived the man Harvey and his wife
in the donkey cart. The donkey was just advancing on
the up-line outside rail. I thereupon shouted to Harvey,
" Hold hard ; for God's sake, Harvey. stop !" He, how-
ever, urged the donkey forward with blows. The donkey
cleared the down line, but the engine struck the cart, killing
the man Harvey, and hurling the body with that, of his
wife into the adjoining ditch. When I saw the man
Harvey persist in endeavouring to cross the down line
it would have been impossible for me to interfere, except at
the cost of my own life. I solemnly swear that I was not
away from my post at the time of the accident, as is proved
by the fact of my obtaining and showing my lamp as the
train passed, although I acknowledge, with bitter regret,
that I did not first wait to close the gate when I went to
the closet. Not having a timepiece, I was not aware it was
so close upon the time of the mail train being due ; at the
same time I am confident that, had Harvey stopped, the
accident could not possibly have occurred.
The coroner having summed up,

The jury returned a verdict—" That the death of the de-
ceased was caused by the neglect of the gate-keeper."
The Coroner—That is, gentlemen, a verdict of man-
slaughter against Robert Underwood.
The foreman of the jury said that his brethren wished to
express a hope that the company would make an alteration
in the present arrangements of the crossing.

Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day.

Market quiet. Sales, about 4,000 or 5,000 bales.

LONDON GAZETTE—Last Evening

The following are the only bankrupts of commercial im-
portance in the Gazette :
Henry Chapman, commission agent, Cheapside
Frederick James' builder, Camden-town
William Twigg, button aker, Birmingham
Alexander Graham, cooper, Birmingham
James Biss, chandler's-shop keeper, Long-acre
James Mason, glazier, Hammersmith .
Thomas Downing, shoemaker, Stoney Stratford
Nathaniel D. Norris, hop merchant, Hereford
John Rice, builder, Wellington, Somerset
John Haine, butcher, Liskeard, Cornwall
John Beddows, farmer, Bronheulog, Salop
Peter Bevan, farmer, Suckley, Worcestershire
James C. Dix, engraver, St. Anne's-lane, City

BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED.
Wm. Spenseley, silk broker, Alderman's-walk, Ciiy.

H. B. Webb andGOCoT.,CpHroBduAceNERokUePrsTS.
Glasgow
James Wilson, sugar refiner, Glasgow
Thomas M'Culloch, plumber, Edinburgh
lames Lawson, miller, Edinburgh
James Young, farmer, Aboyne.
Niven and Co., merchants, Glasgow.
John Gillan, metal refiner, Glasgow.

COURSE OF EXCHANGE—Last Evening.

Amsterdam Short. 11 14
Ditto 3 Months. 11 17i
Rotterdam
Antwerp — 25 47t
Brussels

11 15
11 174
11 18
25 55
25 55

Hamburgh — 13 7
Paris Short. 25 15

13 ii
25 25

Ditto 3 Months. 25 47+ 25 52+
Marseilles
Frankfort on the Maine —119 f
Vienna . 11 80 11 85
Trieste — 11 75 11 85
Petersburgh
Berlin
Madrid —
Cadiz
—46 f
Leghorn
Milan
Genoa
Naples — 25 65 25 70
Palermo
Messina
Lisbon — 511 511
Oporto — 51+ 511
Foreign Gold in bars (standard).....£3 17s. 9d. per oz.

The report of the London, Italian, and Adriatic
Steam Company, to be presented on the 24th inst.,
stags the profit on working account to have been
£5,406, and recommends the payment of interest at
the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, which will absorb
£l,lOl.
It is understood that the English and Foreign
Credit Company will pay a dividend of ss. per share,
being at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum, and
will carry forward nearly £3,000.
At a meeting yesterday of the creditors of Messrs.
Cuadra, Enciso, and Co., of Swithin's-lane, the ac-
countants, Messrs. Hart Brothers and Hayles, pre-
sented a balance-sheet which showed liabilities esti-
mated at £93,133 and assets at £99,800. It was
stated that it was thought the creditors would ulti-
Gazetteeosebfelfateorsate
mately receive 20s. in the pound, and it was resolved
to wind up the estate uuder inspection.
The Cape of Good Hope Government 5 per Cent.
Loan of £234,000 was disposed of by public tender
1 yesterday at the offices of the Crown agents for
the colonies, at an average rate of £9l 12s. 3d. per
cent. The total amount applied for was £3O
minimum,o
The
at prices varying from 81 to 105.
was fixed at 90.
eveningTHE eSeTnlltaANDins
aAnieUtiSeleC
been
pre
for
to the Lord Chancellor by Mr. John
.6 lia
the winding-up of the above
riireconitepdantye by
e btheeerdCourt of
Chancery. The petition is --:- -
°LATE MR JR • . Al‘CuL-
thriatAaLpel"t—itioTahheas be
THE LIBRARY OF THE R. :le 27th inst.
both parties. Mr. M'Culloch had
the eminent political
Vice-ChancellorL
O II .-- It i s
sicea,nwaedlid-isteiloencatel
just been sold to Lord Overstone for the
sum of X 5,000. One who knows the library well avers that
collector ; every book
iebtcysevna thee:la i
sglzotoebdahrsb
arr.
gJa.i
forn
ll .
been for thirty years an indefatigable
Well-selected
throughof
einditiesnl.ibrTarybeNlvibasrearychhao
fact that Mr. M'Culloch had made a very excellent cata-
logue of the collection, under the title, " A Catalogue of
Books, the property of a Political Economist, with Critical
and Bibliographical Notices, royal Bvo., VIII., pp. 390,
London, 1862." Only a few privileged friends had the
honour of receiving a copy from Mr. M'Culloch, and with
the following injunction—" It is particularly requested that
this book be not lent, nor leave given to make extracts
from it."—London Review.
DEATH OF A RAILWAY GUARD.—Yesterday after-
noon Mr. William Carter, the East Surrey
coroner, held an inquest on the body of Thomas }lumpily,
who died at St. Thomas's Hospital on the 13th inst. From
the evidence it appeared that on the evening of the sth the
deceased left the Nine Elms station to find Inspector Moun-
tain, and went down the line for that purpose. On getting
below the station, just where the points met, some trucks
were standing still on one set of metals, and the deceased
got too close to the junction of the rails, so that a train
coming up caught him and threw him down, one of the
wheels cutting off his left arm, from the effect of which in-
jury he died. The deceased bad been in the service of the
company for a lengthened period, and during his stay at
the hospital he repeatedly exonerated everyone from blame,he
and attributed the accident to his own want of care- The
jury returned a verdict of accidental death.