The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-28 00:00:00

TILE VOLUNTEERS.

At the annual meeting of the members of the
First Warwickshire (Birmingham) Rifle Volun-
teer Corps, Colonel Reactire iu moving the
adoption of the report congratulated the corps on
their efficiency. He then said he had to refer par-
ticularly to a circular letter from the War-office,
which had been sent to him early in March, by
Colonel Sir Edward Campbell. This officer said
that the Inspector-General had intimated that it
was desirable, whenever practicable, that Volunteer
battalions should be brought together once or twice
during the summer months for the purpose of re-
ceiving instruction in brigade drill. Upon receiv-
ing this circular, Colonel Ratcliff had communi-
cated with the colonel of the administrative batta-
lion, and it was arranged to have a brigade
drill. But the question was, how was the ex-
pense to be met ? Calthorpe Park was men-
eared several times, but it was found to be im-
possible for two battalions to be manoeuvred in
so small a space. Colonel Ratcliff had then
gone to London, to see the authorities at the War-
office upon the subject. In an interview which he
had the Head Inspector expressed himself as deeply
interested in the subject, but was sorry that he had
no power to assist him in moving the battalion. He.
bad, therefore, to report that his journey to Lon-
don had been of no avail ; and if they required a
brigade drill they must raise the money amongst
themselves. After some consideration they had de-
cided to have this drill, and it had accordingly taken
pl ice at Stoneleigh ; and it was one of the most
gratifying proofs of the earnestness of the Volun-
teers, that upwards of 700 of them had .issembled,
and although they were wet through, they mare:heel
from Coventry to Stoneleigh, some of them being
no to their knc_s iu water. They went through
the day's evolutions in the most satisfactory man-
ner ; and upon their return to the station they
marched back to Bingley Hall, and were dismissed
in a proper and soldier•like fashion. (Applause.)
Referring next to the competition for the Elkington
shield, the Colonel remarked that they had now won
it upon two occasions, and he was gratified to know
that they had only the competition of this year to
g,) through, and to be again successful to claim
`let valuable work of art as their own. Ile
would be heartily glad if next year he should be
abe to report that the battalion had again been
the successful winners of the shield. (Ip-
plausl.) In the competition at Wimbledon twenty-
five prges had been gained by the members of the
battalion; and it was very gratifying to know that
when they came into competition with the whole of
the Volumeers of the country they could claim
£l5O as the prizes won by the Birmingham Volun-
teers. (Applause.) In addition to that there were
four silver jewels, which showed that whatever Bir-
mingham might be it did claim for itself a pre-emi-
nence as regarded the marksmen who were the re-
presentatives of the battalion. (Applause.) They
had also had a very kind invitation from the King
of the Belgians to attend the 'fir National. They
had not many representatives at that contest, but
these who went brought back two prizes. (Hear,
hear.) Colonel Ratcliff had the honour of speak-
ing to the King of the Belgians personally about
the Birmingham Volunteers, and his Majesty
had said that if an opportunity was ever pre-
sented to him of visiting Birmingham it
would give him the greatest pleasure to see
the Birmingham Volunteers on one of their
field days. (Applause.) During the year 1869
77,250 rounds of ammunition had been fired at
Bournebrook, and this without a single accident
having occurred. This brought him to the question
of what the Government required from them. '1 he
War Office in May lest had issued a circular stat-
ing that after the Ist of December, 1869, the num-
ber of points for passing from the 3,1 to the second
class would be altered from 30 to 36; and the
number of points for passing into the let class from
20 to 22 with the Enfield, and from 30 to 33 with
the Whitworth rifle. The prize shouting during
the past year had been atteudt d t.y upwards of 200
members of the battalion, and vii ioes contests had
taken place. As regarded the strength of the bat-
talion, since its formation eleven years ago, 3,586
members altogether had j'dued it, awl the strength
at the time when the roll was clo-ed at the end of
the battalion year was 1,105. The efficiency of
the twelve companies was as follows :—Extra effec-
tives, 918 ; tffectives, 124 ; and non-effectives, 63.
Speaking next of the prizes that had been distri-
buted to the battalion by Lord Napier of Magdala,
he said that his lordship had repeatedly assured
him that he was delighted to see the battalion as-
sembled in the Town Ilall. Ilis lordship said that
be had never seen a more intelligent and soldier-
like class of men, and on some future occasion he
hoped to have the pleasure of seeing them in the
-field. (Applause.) Colonel Ratcliff concluded by
highly complimenting the officers, and especially
Adjutant M'lnnes, for the zeal and assiduity with
which they discharged their duties, and the constant
in'erest they manifested in the welfare of the bat-
telion. (Applause).
The balance-sheet was then unanimously adopted.
On the motion of Sergeant PERKINS, seconded by
Sergeant LLOYD, a vote of thanks was given to
Lieut.-Colonel Ratcliff for his prize of £5O to the
colour-sergeants.
Captain MOLE then proposed a vote of thanks to
Colonel Rat cliff for presiding on that occasion, and
also for his energetic services during the year.
The res)lution was carried eothueiestie illy.
Colonel Reteliff having eeknowledgiel the cottl-
p!i mer.t., the mettine s-parated.

BRFAKFA ST.— Erps's Coco.a..— RATFITL AND CoM-
Far:TlSG,—The Tory a.,7,reeatile character of thia prcparation ha'a
v.2ndered it a general favourite. 'the 'Civil Servica Gazette' re
marks :—" The singular success which Mr. Epps attained by his
onceoptithle preparation of cocoa has never been surpassed by
y experimentalist. By a thorough knowledge of the natural
yrs which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition,
by a careful application of the line properties of well-selected

coa, Mr Epps Las
.prov:ded our breakfast tables with a deli-
tely flavoured beverage which may sage us many heavy doe-
rs' .Made simply with boiling water er milk. Sold
n'y in Ain-Tilled packets, labelled r•JAitE3 LFFS & Co., Hem
sthicCtiemisto, Londb:l2.