The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-10 00:00:00

The Volunteers.

The Victoria Rifle Volunteer Corps (the let Middlesex),
which was an organised body of riflemen long before the
present Volunteer movement, and has supplied officers to
many of the metropolitan regiments, was officially inspected
on Thursday evening by Colonel Erskine, the Inspector-
General, at the Kilburn rifle range. There were four com-
panies present, under the command of the Duke of Wel-
lington, Major Greenhill being the second in command.
Tho regiment performed the usual exercises of an inspection
during a heavy fall of rain, and the Inspector-General said
with regard to the drill that he bad seen but few faults, and
much which he approved. The officers did their work
quickly, their orders were remarkably distinct, and in
fact the soldierly bearing and smartness of the regiment
loft nothing to be desired. A company of the Harrow Vo
lunteer corps kept the ground. On Friday last the officers
of the Victoria Rifles dined with their Lieutenant-Colonel
the Duko of Wellington, to meet Colonel Erskine. In the
course of the evening they were joined by many members
of the corps, for whom supper was laid out in the banquet-
hall and adjoining rooms. Several well-chosen songs were
sung in the Waterloo Gallery by Mr. Wighton, accom-
panied by Mr. Aspa, Captains Templer and Bridgewater,
and Lieut. Cunningham, of the 18th Middlesex (Harrows),
having with a detachment of their men kept the ground
during the inspection, also received an invitation to the
dinner. On the following morning, at an early hour, four
baggage waggons, laden with all requisite materiel for the
Victoria camp at Wimbledon, loft the head-quarters at Kil-
burn, escorted by a party of 40 men. Tho camp, as it was
last year, will be in charge of Lieut. Tomkins, an officer
well and favourably known to all frequenters of Wimbledon.
The Paddington Rifle Volunteer corps was inspected on
Wednesday evening, in Regent's-park, by Colonel Wright,
the deputy Inspector-General of Volunteers, the 29th Mid-
dlesex keeping the ground. There was a fair muster of the
regiment, which was under the command of Capt. Lochner,
the commandant being absent through illness. After the
evolutions, Colonel Wright expressed his gratification with
the manner in which the corps had drilled, and specially
remarked the smartness of the officers, which he said had
saved the regiment from being at a loss through the absence
of its commanding officer.
The Middlesex Ten to represent the county in the county
matches at Wimbledon, and to shoot for the China Cup,
have been selected by a certain number of the best shots
being chosen to shoot through two competitions. The result
has been that the following gentlemen will represent the
county under Captain Field :—Mr. Little, West Middlesex;
Mr. Hamerton, 12th Middlesex; Lieut. Marriner, West
Middlesex; Ensign Pixley, Victories; Sergeant Gould,
Bloomsbury ; Mr. Thornbury, Victories ; Mr. Dawo, Vic-
tories ; Captain Morris, West Middlesex ; Mr. Leete,
Queen's Westminster ; and Mr. Hooper, of the same regi-
ment.

On Saturday evening the let Surrey Rifles had a grand
fete in their new and commodious head-quarters at Camber-
well, which were opened a week since by the Lord-Lieuten-
ant of the county. There were spirited athletic exercises
and various amusements. The visitors had full opportu-
nities of inspecting the unique head-quarters, which com-
prise a drill-shed 150 ft. by 52ft. open drill ground, armoury,
canteen, lockers for the members, and every requirement
for a good regiment, which the let Surrey certainly is.
The official inspection by Colonel Erskine, Inspector-
General of Volunteers, of the 26th Middlesex Rifle Volun-
teers, being a consolidated battalion formed of her Majesty's
Customs, and St. Katharine and London Dock Company's
Rifle Corps, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Gray, with Lieutenant-Colonel Manning and Major Collet
as field officers, and Captain Elliot, the adjutant, took place
on Wednesday at Battersea Park. The regiment, which
mustered upwards of 700 of all ranks, was paraded on the
Custom-house quay, and proceeded thence by steamboats.
The battalion having been drawn up in review order to re-
ceive the inspecting officer, he minutely inspected the
ranks, and the regiment having efficiently gone through
the manual and platoon exercises, taking the word of
command from Lieut.-Col. Manning, the usual movements
of an inspection were proceeded with, including forming
open column from line, marching past, which was most cre-
ditably done ; aploying on front, centre, and rear compa-
nies advancing in line, volley firing by companies from
right to left, file firing from right of companies, and a volley
of whole line, advancing in direct echelon of companies
from the right, changing front to the left, reformiug line,
a change of front on the left company, right thrown back,
forming quarter distance column on centre company, form-
ing square, &c. At the conclusion of the inspection Colonel
Erskine addressed the regiment on its appearance and effi-
ciency, and made various suggestions. He said he was well
satisfied, and should make a favourable report of the regi-
ment to the War-office. The ground was kept by a detach-
ment of the 2d Middlesex Artillery Volunteers, commanded
by Capt. Harold Engelbach. Lieut.-Gen. Sir Hugh Rose,
G.C.8., K. 5.1., has been pleased to accept the honorary
colonelcy of the 26th Middlesex—an honour that is most
gratifying to the members of tho corps. He was unavoid-
baly absent from the inspection, having boon obliged to
leave London for Dublin, to take command of the forces in
Ireland.

The fifth annual meeting of the Edinburgh and Mid-
lothian Rifle Association took place last week in the Hun-
ters' Bog, llolyrood-park. It was resolved, on account of
the difficulty of procuring long ranges, and the attendant
expense, to confine tho rifle competition to Volunteers,
using the Enfield rifle in Hythe position. The extreme
rango available was 600 yards. The meeting began on
Monday and closed on Saturday. The gathering was
numerous and the shooting was highly satisfactory. The
prize, entitling the winner to compete at Wimbledon for
the Prince of Wales prize, was shot for at 500 yards,
seven rounds, and won by Mr. G. Gray in 24 points
and hits. The first of the city prizes, open to all Volun-
teers, was shot for at 600 yards, seven rounds, and
taken by Sergeant Clews, 3d Renfrew, on a score of
21. The Association Cup was gained by Mr. J. D.
Bruce, Edinburgh Rifles (200 yards, seven rounds) in a
score of 25, and the Lord Provost's cup, value 200, was
taken by the same gentleman in a score of 24,at 500 yards,
seven rounds. The Writers to the Signet prize was won by
Ensign Menzies in a score of 24, at 600 yards, seven rounds.