The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-16 00:00:00

THE PRESENT DISTRESS IN TRADE
fully explained in J. GIIOSSMITH'S
" GOVERNMENT UPON FIRST PRINCIPLES."
The cause is there predicated of the monetary difficulties ex-
perienced in 1860. The Crisis is at hand. Anxiety in busi-
ness has now become the grim torture. Purity of motive,
intelligently exercised, must animate all Governments, or all
Is lost, All denominations of Constitutions are carefully
examined in J. Grossmith's "Government upon First Prin-
ciples."

The Meeanee, 81, 400 horse power, belonging to
the first division of the Chatham steam reserve in
the Medway, has been removed to Sheerness, where
she is to be brought forward for service as a Coast-
guard ship. She is intended to take the place of
the Edinburgh, 60, screw steamer, at Leith, and
the officers and crew of that vessel will be turned
over to her. The screw gunboats, Herring and Mis-
tletoe, are also being fitted for service as tenders to
the Edinburgh, 60, in lieu of the Erne and the
Louisa. Both gunboats are to be completed by the
4th July, when the crews will turn over to them.
The Chesapeake, 51, 500 horse power, has had
the whole of her machinery removed, and is now
having only such repairs effected as are absolutely
necessary to float her until she can be taken in hand
for a thorough repair.
The Rattler, 17, 950 tons, 200 horse power, re-
cently launched at Deptford, and the Eclipse, 4,
200 horse power, are being brought forward for the
first division of the Chatham steam reserve, in lien
of the Zebra, 17, 200 horse power, and the Cormo-
rant, 4,200 horse powet, lately commissioned.
The Dutch corvette having on board the Japanese
Ambassadors was saluted by the flagship Formi-
dable, 84, on passing the Nore on Saturday, and also
by the field guns of the Royal Artillery at the
Camber battery, both of which were acknowledged.
The Sultan target ship has been brought down
from her moorings in Dorchester Lake and berthed
alongside Portsmouth Dockyard to have a number
of new armour plates affixed to her sides for testing
by the Stork's 68-pounder.
The trial of the Shannon's six-bladed screw at

THE SOUTHEND SHAM FIGHT.
It is really high time that something were done
to prevent the volunteer sham fights and demon-
strations from becoming ridiculous. The hoax
played off on Saturday upon the visitors to South-
end is, or should be, the last feather on the back of
that long-suffering animal, the British public.
Never was there a more complete fiasco than the
long-announced " Grand Volunteer Demonstration
and Naval Attack," which was fixed for Saturday
afternoon. The weather was as usual volunteer wea-
ther, that is to say, as bad as possible, but we cannot
lay on the weather the blame of the hoax of which
we complain. We do not know who is to blame,
or whether there is anybody in particular. Some
persons, carried away by vivid imagination,
doubtless, informed the public that an attack
upon Southend was to be made by two
yacht squadrons, consisting of about fifty sail,
"many of them armed with Armstrongs," and the
attack was to be repelled by we do not know what
multitudes of volunteers. The getters-up of the
thing probably meant to show England how fruit-
less would be the attempt of an enemy to land at
the mouth of the Thames, but they failed. We are
all the creatures of circumstances. In this instance,
however, they were the masters of circumstance;
and they must be content to answer to the public
for the shameful hoax of which the visitors, the
volunteers, and the residents were the victims.
When we reached Southend we were naturally
anxious to see the magnificent fleet of fifty yachts
which were to make the attack under the command
of Commodore Lord Alfred Paget. We found but
eleven yachts, including a Government steamer,
which had brought over the commodore in command
at Sheerness. These yachts lay off the end of the
long pier which adorns Southend, but they did not
appear to be, and as matters turned out they were
not, even thinking of an attack. We then looked
for the volunteer army, and found that it consisted
in the gross of about half a regiment made up of
odds and ends from various corps. We walked
about the town and found that nearly all the
bandsmen, a goodly number of the artillery, and a
host of riflemen, were taking their ease at their inn
or sauntering along the mile and quarter of pier, or
recreating themselves with excursions in ricketty
boats on the briny ocean, which, as if ashamed of
the naval part of the affair, was retreating from the
shore as quickly as it could. In front of the Royal
Hotel the cavalry mustered. The regiment of Essex
Yeomanry was represented by a colonel, a subal-
tern, a sergeant-major, and two full privates,
gorgeous creatures, resembling nothing so much
as Prussian general officers. Following them to
the scene of action, we discovered the concealed
batteries, which were pouring on the enemy a
fire which would doubtless have been deadly—to
stray shoals of whitebait or mackerel—only that the
charges went off with a " pluff," testifying to the
careless manner in which the powder was rammed
home. The batteries consisted of sundry old boxes,
crates, baskets, &c., mounted with a gun the size of
a blunderbuss, and two or three six-pounders, which
were fired "anyhow," and from which powder was
wasted in a fashion perfectly reckless. We asked
for a programme, and were informed that the line
of battle would extend for two miles along the sea
front, that the yachts would make the attack, and
that the following regiments would defend " the white
cliffs of Albion," in this instance represented by an
aggregate of mud banks :—The 2d battalion of
Essex Volunteers, under Lieut.-Colonel Capper, con-
sisting of the West Ham Rifles ; the sth Essex, Cap-
tain Cordy ; the 9th Essex, Major Silver ; the Bth
Essex, Major Lowe—in all 600 men. The 3d Bat-
talion of Essex Rifles, Colonel Davis, 300 ; the West
Essex Yeomanry Artillery, Colonel Palmer, 120 ;
the 2d Essex Artillery, Captain Wingfield Baker,
50 ; the Waltham Abbey, 30 ; the 20th Middlesex,
-Lieut.-Colonel Bigge, 300 ; the 37th Bloomsbury,
200; the 41st Middlesex, Enfield Lock, under Major
Taylor; and Spottiswoode's, 2d City of London—in
all, 2,400 men. The artillery, it was added, would
consist of a battery of 32 p )unders, and another of
18-pounders ; nine guns of Yeomanry Artillery. and
a battery from Shoeburyness. We have already
stated the force of artillery actually on the ground ;
the promised line was equally distinguished by its
absence. Sundry corps were there, but the 37th
Middlesex and the 2d City were not. Of those that
were present not one brought anything like the
number placed to its credit, and the entire force
did not amount to more than 600 men. When
we asked " the reason why," we were told of the
weather ; but, this being scouted, our informant
was good enough to lay the blame upon
Col. Ibbetson, the Government inspector, who had
arrived on the ground, and who it was stated had
disarranged the entire affair. But it was clearly
impossible that Col. Ibbetson's advent should have
diminisk. 3 the contemplated force by three.fourths,
Cr reduced the number of yachts from 50 to 10, so
that this explanation was no more satisfactory than
the other. At any rate the battle had begun. The
guns puffed away, and the troops formerly in column
now deployed into line in support of the artillery,
with the exception of one-third of the " army," and
this third did nothing all day except march on the
ground and off it again. But where was the enemy?
The yachts did not seem at all anxious to be in the
scrimmage, though two of them fired shots from
their one-pounder as a sort of testimony that they
had not on board any of the Armstrongs of which
the public had been informed. But there was an
enemy, and it appeared in a little yawl, in which
were three persons armed with fowling pieces, from
which theydischarged loose powder everyfive minutes
or so. This was the naval attack on Southend !
Ashore the line of defence did not extend two
omiles,rso, aonr
da nayl
along
ho ign gt
hliisk ef
riot
o. t
olft dliodo eyxatrednsdt
hloeovyoar d l
oo s-
teers discharged ever so many blank cartridges at
the impudent little boat over the heads of about half
of the spectators, who naturally considered that the
front was the best place to see. Nobody in particu-
lar appeared to have the direction of the movements.
The captains of companies did unto their men, in the
way of manoeuvres, whatever seemed right in their
eyes, and the consequence was an amount of club-
bing, from which the men relieved themselves in
any way they could—not at all particular whether
in the process they broke line or not. At length, to
everybody's relief, the little boat retired, probably
because the powder on board was expended, and
having fired some more blank cartridges over the
place where the boat had been, the volunteers re-
tired too, leaving the cheap jacks, fruitsellers, and
gambling-stand keepers nominally as they had been
all the day masters of the field.
There was to have been an encampment for the
volunteers, and there was ; but unfortunately its
extent was limited, as it consisted of only four
booths over which sentries kept careless guard,
There was to have been a grand dinner at the Royal
Hotel in the evening, but this we did not stop to
see. There was to have been a- church parade yes-
terday, but it must have been thinly attended. And
there is to be to-day a grand regatta, with a grand
ball in the evening, both of which we hope, for the
sake
grandthen volunteerder,will abe greater success
that
was the
the Se a
demonstration and
naval attack. We are informed that the Admiralty
prohibited the naval attack. Whether this be or be
not true makes no difference. The demonstration
was a hoax, if not in intent, certainly in reality.
Any more demonstrations of this sort will go farther
to kill the volunteer force than all the sneers of its
enemies. Ridicule such as is sure to be engendered
by demonstrations of the outhend kidney the
volunteer force cannot surviSve and although the
public may remember with gratitude and respect
the sham fights of Brighton both in 1861 and this
year, though it may look back with pleasure on the
reviews at Hyde-park and at Wimbledon, half a
dozen ouch fiascos as that of Saturday at the mouth

The prizes which were not competed for on the
first day (Thursday) in consequence of the weather,
were shot for on Saturday, and there were also
some additional prizes provided. Heavy showers
at intervals during the day prevented a large, we
may almost say any, attendance of visitors; but the
shooting was good throughout, and in many cases
almost unprecedented. The first prize was a Kerr
rifle, value £7 Is., five shots at 300 yards, open to
all comers, standing position. There were 60 entries,
and the best scores made were the first-named, being
the winner :

Points. -Hits. Total.
Rev. Wilse Brown, Ist Exeter ll .. 5 • • 16
Martin Smith, Victoria
Luxmore, St. George's
Sergt. Wilson, School of Musketry,
Fleetwood
The next prize was a Whitworth or Henry rifle,
value £25, with £5 for the second best; five shots
at 500 yards; for all comers; any position allowed.
There were 60 competitors, and the chief scorers
were—

Points. Hits. Total.
Hill, 3d Essex
Ensign Padwick, 7th Sussex
Lieut. Marriner,WestMiddleses 9 .. 5 .. 14
Major Halford, 31st Leicester ,. 5 13
Fellowes, Victoria 8 .. 5 •. 13
Blaise, St. George's ..
E. Ross, Cambridge University 8 5 .. 13
T. H. Robinson, 16th Middlesex 8 5.. 13
The three men who tied at 14 points shot off. Hill
won. Padwick defeated Marriner after several ties.
It is only fair to state that Marriner accidentally
broke the hammer of his own " Henry," and was
obliged to shoot off the ties with a strange weapon.
The succeeding prize was a Turner rifle, value £8
Bs., with a London Armoury rifle for the next best
shot. There were 58 competitors, and the following
were the top scores, the conditions being five shots
at 500 yards, for volunteers only. Hy the position :
Points. Hits. Total.
Sergeant, Millard, St. George's 7 .. 5 • . 12
F. B. Wells, West Middlesex .... 7 .. 5 .. 12
Vigor, Inns of Court .. 7 5.. 12
Ballard, Queens Westminster •
7 5 .. 12
In shooting off the ties the two prizes were won
by Millard and Wells, who became respectively
first and second.
A sweepstakes was next on the list, of which the
winner took two-thirds and the second best shot
received the residue ; five shots each at 500 yards;
open to all comers ; any position ; ss. entrance, 66
entries. Halford, 31st Leicester; and Radcliffe,
South Middlesex, each scored 9 points with 5 hits—
total, 14 ; and in shooting off the tie the " long-
woolled" one beat the " lamb," and the prizes were
alloted accordingly.
The next prize was a silver cup, value £lO, to be
shot for by all corners, any position. Five shots at
6(1) yards. The best scores were
Points. Hits. Total.
Serjeant Kemp, 3d Manchester 9 5 14
Cade, 'Victoria.. .. 9 5.. 14
E. Ross, Cambridge University .. 8 5.. 13
Hon. Major Talbot, Unattached .. 7 12
Lieut. Marriner, West Middlesex 7 5.• 12
Lieut. Austin, Queen's, Westminster 7 .. 5 .. 12
Kerr, London Scottish .. 7 5.. 12
The tie for this prize was won by Serjeant Kemp
The next was an extra prize, a small bore rifle,
presented by Mr. Purday. Five shots at 600 yards,
open to all comers, any position. There were 32
entries, and Serjeant Kemp repeated his previous
victory by again making the same score. This
gentleman accomplished the great feat of making
eight entree in eight successive shots at 600 yards,
a result which, we understand, has not before been
achieved at any prize shooting. Hall (West
Middlesex), Porter (Queen's Westminster), and
Padwick (7th Sussex) tied at seven points, with
five hits, total twelve; and Hall shot off the tie, and
became, as the winner, entitled to the entrance

money.
Several volunteers represented to the committee
that only two prizes had been given at a long range
confined exclusively to them, and an extra prize was
immediately given, in the form of a sweepstakes, at
500 yards, for volunteers only. There were 29
entries. Serjeant Chisholm, Ist Surrey, and Lieu-
tenant Marriner, West Middlesex, tied, making six
points, five hits, total, 11; and on shooting off,
Serjeant Chisholm won.
In concluding our record of this contest we feel
bound to acknowledge the courtesy of the gentlemen
who undertook the executive duties, and the regis-
ters being given over to the members of the press
immediately on being sent in considerably facili-
tated the performance of their duties. The
exertions of Captain Fenton, Captain Bridgman,
Lieutenant Homfray, Ensign Hawkins, and Mr.
Harris deserved a better reward than was to
be found in the paucity of attendance by the general
public ; but when a station is made on the adjacent
railway, and the means of access to the locality
thereby increased, we doubt not that this annual
contest will become one of the largest and most
successful rifle competitions in the kingdom.

THE LONDON SCOTTISH RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.—
On Saturday evening about 350 effective members
of this corps assembled at Wellington Barracks to
undergo their annual inspection in Hyde-park by
ColonelM‘Murdo, the inspector general of volunteers.
The officers present were Lord Elcho, the colonel
commandant; Capts. Page, Sir David Baird, Bart.,
the Marquis of Abercorn, M'Gregor, Mackenzie,
Lumsden, Mitchell, Sandiman, and Pender ; Lieu-
tenants Notman, Sutherland, Fisher, Puckle, Fer,
guson, and Scott ; and Ensigns Trotter and S.
Puckle. When the ammunition was being served
out to the men a letter was received from his Royal
Highness the Duko of Cambridge stating that no
firing would be allowed in Hyde-park, and the sup-
ply of ammunition was at once stopped. The men
then fell into line, a note was read by Capt. Page
i from Colonel 11I'Murdo expressing his regret the
he did not
day was so unfavourable ; wish to expose
them to the inclemency of the weather, and there-
fore would not be present. A few minutes after,
however, the gallant colonel rode up, and the men
were formed into quarter distance columns. Colonel I
‘Murdo then inspected them, and said he had
Al
always been much pleased with the progress they
had made, but from whathe had witnessed that day
he considered them equal to any regiment of the
line. The state of the weather rendering it impos-
sible for them to have a review in Hyde-park, the
corps marched off to headquarters, preceded by its
band, and was there dismissed.
3D CITY OF LONDON RIFLES
CORPS.—On Thursday evening about
Cit -road,
weather, at the Cowper-street Institute, City "road,
of this regiment assembled, in
"ail on them the necessity,
in obedience to a summons from
officer, Major Richards.
Ttrroughout, addressed
thusiastically cheered
ciai (IV"4loriciafeMmEbNer'Ss
in
aatyhffdoeareiir:r
swac:oht ncoemowraoanfsd tietnhhnge:
them, on the
regiment,unless
preventedan
dental loss, of PaYillg
"ckness, wilit of work, or acci-
aimbyPrse'sse' .
up their subsciiptions, lie
alluded to a cabal against himself on the pa.rt of one
or two officers, who, in the most unmilitary manner,
sought to dictate to him to nominate a military com-
mander. He held his position by the support and
recommendation of veteran soldiers—such as Cols,
Sir D. MiDougall and Sir W. De Bathe—and he
was strengthened by the advice of Col. M'Murdo,
their respected head, and that gallant officer, Major
Laurie, who they knew had done him the high
honour to write that he was especially willing to
serve under him ; and now those who knew nothing
of their own duties sought, for their own private
reasons, to injure his authority. He could tell them
that he was more than ready to give up the com-
mand to an officer who would, be likely to carry on
the regiment well, and if he could find a military
officer likely to give them his time, money, and at-
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