The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVEISING, OCTOBER 11, 7860,

but which will be employed in the remaining parts
of the guns as heretofore, the manufacture of the
breech-piece only undergoing the above-named
alteration, and it is expected the change will prove
of great advantage.
The South Durham Militia will assemble at
Barnard Castle on the 16th of this month for 27
days' training. The North Durham Militia will
meet in the city of Durham in the same week for
their 27 days' training.

into battalions. At about half-past 2 o'clock the
arrangements were completed, and the various bat-
talions moved into position in an open piece of
ground of about 15 acres in extent, at the east end
of the park. They were divided into four battalions,
—viz., one of artillery, under the command of
Lieut.-Col. E. Morgan, of the Royal Glamorgan
Artillery, and three of infantry, respectively com-
manded by Lieut.-Col. E. R. Wood, Royal Glamor-
gan Light Infantry ; Major I. P. Traherne, of the
same corps, and Major Hume, Deputy Inspector of
Volunteers. The battalions were formed in con-

tiguous quarter distance columns, right in front,
after which the order was given for " officers com-
manding battalions and companies to the front."
After getting their instructions they rejoined their
respective corps. On the whole, considering that
the Glamorgan companies of Volunteers never have
an opportunity of drilling together, the review
went off well. The ground was kept by parties of
the county militia.
A meeting, signalised by its being the first meet-
ing at which any attempt has been made to extend
the Volunteer movement to purely rural districts,
was held yesterda/ (Wednesday) at the Grand
Stand, Ascot, Sir William Hayter, M.P., in the
chair. Present, Major-General. Seymour, Colo-
nel Loyd Lindsay (Colonel Commandant for
Berks), Hon. Colonel A. N. Hood, Mr. J. Arbuth-
not, Mr. C. C. Ferard, Major Scott, &c. The chair-
man, in his address, stated the object of the meeting
was with a view of establishing rifle corps in the
parishes of Sunninghill, Winkfield, Warfield, Bin-
field, East Hampstead, and places in the neighbour-
hood thereof, who had not already taken part in the
Volunteer Rifle movement. He observed that the
movement had already taken root as far as the
towns might be considered ; he need not go beyond
the boundaries of this county to adduce ample proof
of that; at the same time it must be remembered
that, although their particular movement might be
deemed late, it was to the best of his knowledge the
first effort made to extend this important object, as
far as the purely rural districts were regarded, they
had no doubt that all the districts would second
their efforts, which would unquestionably be at-
tended with success. It had been ascertained that
the effective male population numbered upwards of
400, and if a moderate percentage of than joined
the numbers would meet their anticipations. After
the mreiing wee addressed by Major-General Sey-
mour, the Hon. Colonel Hood, Major Scott, Colonel
Loyd Lind, ,ty, Mr. J. Arbuthnot, and Mr. C. C.
Ferard in favour of the movement, resolutions were
passed appointing a committee to collect subscrip-
tions and to con'er with the future commanding
officer in reference to finances, dress, regulations,
and general movement of the corps. The subscrip-
tion for an effective member was heed at 10s. a-year,
and for an honorary member a duration of .ElO with
1 ennua"y. Severalsabecriptlons ".our both classes
were received before 11-2 e meedng separated. A vote
of thanks 'o the chairman, proposed by the Hon.
Colonel A. N. Head. and seconded by Mr. C. C.
Ferard, brought the proceedings to a close.
Ther:Ele competi ion at York terminated yester-
day rroreing, which was occupied with shooting
cif the " ties" made during 1119 E'x days' shooting,
commencing on TueFd,y week. The first "tie"
was that made by seven competitors for Lady Mary
Thompson's che 'lenge cup. The distance to be
shot was 900 y:rds, at which, in consequence of
the mist end heavy rain which fel at that; time, it
was with some difficulty that the target; could be
distinguished. The competitors all missed the tar-
get the first round. In the second, however, Pri-
vate Bell made the best centre of the meeting, and
won the handsome trophy given by Lady M.
Thompson. The next tie, for Lieu'.,enant- Colonel
Briggs' silver cup, between Sergeant Gibson and
Private J. Thorpe, was won by the former, who, in
accordance with the condition upon which the

pi;ze was given, became disqualified to win Capt.
Meek's cup and the subalterns' (2d Company's) CUD,
for the former of which he had succeeded in making
a tie, ard for the latter the largest number of
points. Capt. Meek's cup consequently became the
property of Private William Robinson, while the
subalterns' cup was shot for by Sergeant Pearson
and Private Oglesby, and won by the former.
With this the whole of the contest had been de-
cided; and in the afternoon the corps mustered
strongly at the Guildhall, when the several prizes
were distributed to the successful competitors—viz.,
Sergeant Gibson, Sergeant Pearson, Corporal J.
Cooper, and Privates F. Bell, W. Robinson, R.
Anderson, Bainbridge, R. Anderson, and G. Whit-
well.

The inauguration of the Ist battalion of the
Somersetshire Rifles (consisting of the Bath, Bath-
wick, Widcombe, Walcot, Keynsham, and Avon-
dale companies), took place at Bath on Monday
last. The proceedings commenced with a review
on the racecourse on Lansdown in the presence of
Colonel Inigo Jones, the lieutenant-colonel of the
battalion, just appointed; Sir William Miles, M.P.,
colonel of the North Somerset Yeomanry; and
several other officers, the Volunteers being under
the command of Captain Randle Ford, the
senior eaptain of the regiment ; Mr. Airey, for-
merly a subaltern in his company, but now of the
21st Foot, acting as his aide-de-camp. The corps
executed the ordinary evolutions of a field day in a
highly creditable manner, the volley firirg and
light infantry movements calling forth especial
commendation from the military men present. In
the evening the Volunteers, with their fellow-
citizens, to the number of near 500, sat down to a
banquet at the Guildhall, under the presidency of
Colonel Jones, who was supported by Mr. The,
M.P., the rector of Bath (Mr. Kemble), Dr. Fal-
coner, Admiral Saumarez, and many other persons
of note in the district. The usual toasts were given
in pithy terms and duly honoured, the Hon. Mr.
Dyng, the veteran Volunteer of 1803, now re-
Enraged in the Queen's Westminsters, responding
for the Volunteers of England.
In the account of the match with the Ist (Hast-
ings) company Cinque Port Rifles and the 3d com-
pany (Rye) it was stated that the men fired " ten
shots at each distance," whereas they only fired
five shots at each distance.

great weight or a powerful battery is such an
enemy to speed and carrying power as not to be
overcome by the judicious application of well-known
principles of naval architecture.

I may ivrther add, in justice to M. Dupuis de
Lome, that the Gloire, although a great success,
must not be considered her builder's chef d'auvre.
She was built to meet the peculiarities of the cir-
cumstances in which a builder in France at that
date inevitably found himself placed. Had be lived
in an iron country like England he would probably
have adopted an entirely different construction, but
like a wise man, he made the best of the materials
he had at hand, and has been rewarded with cor
responding success. I say this much because I have
heard the question mooted of our proceeding to
make imitations of the Gloire.
In conclusion, allow me to say that I am one of
those who highly appreciate the important service
you have rendered to the country by opening up
this discussion, and admire the -daring of those
officers in the navy who have had the courage to
engage in it.