The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-22 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER MOTEMENT.

On Saturday Miss Burdett Coutts presented a
costly silver bugle, a gift from the ladies of High-
gate to the 14th Middlesex or Highgate Rifle Vo-
lunteers, in the presence of some 6,000 people. The
ceremony took place in the grounds attached to
Holly Lodge, the present residence of Miss Coutts,
and once that of the late Duchess of St. Albans,
situated at Highgate, and commanding a picturesqu e
view of the landscape stretching away towards the
metropolis. The day was charming, and all things
concurred to lend interest to the occasion. Miss
Coutts was accompanied by the Lord Mayor and
Lady Mayoress, Mr. W. H. Bodkin, who wore the
uniform of a deputy-lieutenant of Middlesex, in
which capacity the learned assistant-judge as as
present ; Archdeacon Sinclair, the Rev, Mr. Dalton,
the Rector of Highgate, Mr. Willes, and a large
concourse of the gentry, with their families, of the
whole surrounding neighbourhood. The spot
selected for the ceremony was a piece of undulating
ground sloping southwards towards the Vale, and
there the Highgate Volunteers, under the command
of Capt. Williamson and Capt. Langdale, the
second senior officer, mustered in review order
about 3 o'clock, accompanied by the Hornsey Corps,
under Capt. Walker, and the Hampstead, under
Capt. M'lnnes, the three corps forming a battalion
under the command of Capt.. Wilkinson. The
ground was kept by the 29th North Middlesex,
commanded by Capt. Ross. Miss Coutts, accom-
panied by many of her private fi iends, walked from
her residence preceded by the band of the Cold-
stream Guards to a marquee erected on the brow
of a hill, and over which the national flag floated,
and on her arrival the crowd raised an enthusiastic
cheer. The Hampstead and Hornsey companies
then formed two sides of a square, with the High-
gate Corps in the centre, the band of the North
Middlesex Rifles playing "Rule Britannia," and
the ceremony of presentation commenced. Leaning
on the arm of Mr. Bodkin, deputy-lieutenant of the
county, and advancing to the front of a dais, Miss
Coutts said—" Captain Wilkinson and Gentlemen,
—The ladies of Highgate have honoured me by
the request that I should be their spokeswoman on
the present occasion. We feel that this local ga
thering is but the faithful exponent of those senti-
ments of gratitude and respect which the far-
sighted and sensitive patriotism indicated by the
Volunteer movement calls forth among the whole
body of your countrywomen. It has allayed those
fears, excited by repeated warnings, of the unpro-
tected state of the country in the event of a general
European war, or whenever the exigencies of her
Majesty's service required the presence of the
army in distant parts of her empire, or in the ab-
sence from our shores of that fleet of ours through
which—under God—l believe no enemy will ever
force his way. These warnings, apparently un-
heeded, sank deep into the national heart, and we
see to-day the result, as we may see it through the
length and breadth of the land, in the presence of a
force whom no gold could purchase, willing and
able
troops,tostan stand
side by side with trained and disci-
plined We owe this—and deeply and grate-
fully do we acknowledge it—not to the sudden im-
pulse merely of brave men under the pressure of im-
mediate danger,but to the quiet determination of men
ready to make sacrifices in time, t
as disaster from all dear to them.o avert
yi insult uearnestly
well
pray that Europe may be long spared the calamity
of war. May the sweet music of this silver bugle,
which I now have the honour to present to you, as a
token of our esteem and of the interest we feel in
this corps, only mingle with the peaceful sounds and
occupations of the neighbourhood, carrying a sense
of security to every heart. But if, indeed, it must
sound a harsher note, then we feel that the defence-
less condition of its donors will stimulate your cou-
rage to endurance and resistance, and I doubt not
that these fields would soon echo to its blast of vic-
tory, for you will fight in a united people's most

righteous cause—the defence of their Sovereign,
their liberties, and their homes." (Loud cheers.)
Miss Coutts then presented the bugle to Captain
Wilkinson in the name of the ladies of Highgate.

It was a massive instrument, elegantly chased, and
bore an appropriate inscription. A bugler, called
from the ranks to the front, sounded a blast upon
it in token of the appreciation of the compli-

meat by the corps. Captain Wilkinson, as com-
manding-officer, addressing Miss Coutts and the
rest of the donors, also expressed the grateful ac-
knowledgments of the corps. From the first, ho
said, it had been the ruling principle of his corps
to avoid as much as possible all affectation of the
pomp and pageantry of soldiering. They had pre-

- -
ferred simplicity both in uniform and accoutre-
ments. They valued the handsome present which
had just been made them as the exponent of senti-
ments of affectionate approval of their exertions,
and of sympathy with their cause. Their motto was
"Defence, not defiance;" their rallying cry " Hearths
and Homes." They aspired to no higher glory than
the esteem and support of those who were the light
and life of their hearth s, an d whom they were banded

together to defend. In the time of war, should that
sad calamity arise, the tones of the bugle would
remind them of the responsibilities to which
they had pledged themselves ; and remembering
the givers, they would bear also in mind that of
all men the Volunteers were bound to maintain
and illustrate the character of the Christian and
the gentleman. The lady from whose hands they
had received so handsome a compliment had been
so long and so prominently at the head of all that
was good and noble, and had so illustrated her name
by deeds of pious charity and munificent liberality,
that she had become as it were public property.
Her name was known throughout the kingdom, and
loved and honoured wherever it was known. Next
to the Queen, there was no lady in the land from
whom they should have considered it a greater pri-
vilege to receive such a gift, and the donors had
greatly enhanced its value by permitting the corps
to associate with it the name of Miss Coutts. (Loud
cheers.) The whole of the volunteers were after-
wards regaled by an abundance of good cheer, pro-
vided in a large tent on the ground, while the
officers and most of the persons of distinction pre-
sent were entertained at the residence of Miss
Coutts. At the conclusion of the day Mr. Bodkin,
in the name of Miss Coutts, thanked the Volun-
teers for their attendance, and for the great de-
light she had experienced on the occasion, adding
that it was her intention to give two silver cups to be
shot for by the members of the Highgate Corps—
an announcement which was received with cheers.
The members of the 7th Surrey assembled at the
Sessions House, Newington-causeway, on Saturday,
at half-past 4 o'clock ; they consisted of five com-
panies, under the command of Major Beresford and
several other officers. They started at a quarter to
5, and proceeded to their drill-ground in Kenning-
ton-lane, headed by the band of the 3d Surrey Mili-
tia and their own Volunteer bugle band, where they
were put through some very intricate and difficult
manoeuvres, all of which were performed in a very
soldierlike manner. Before starting each man was
served with 10 rounds of blank ammunition, which
was expended in light infantry drill.
On Thursday evening the officers of the East
London Rifle Brigade (6th Tower Hamlet Rifles)
gave a dinner to the members of the corps at the
Rosemary Branch tavern, Mildmay-park ; Captain
Hemming presided. Captain Ogilvie, Captain
Cameron, Captain Stubbs, Captain Aubin, Captain
Roberts, R.A., Mr. J. P. Murrough, late M.P. for
Bridport ; Rev. Mr. Rogers, the chaplain of the
corps; and others, were present. The usual loyal
and patriotic toasts having been duly honoured,
Capt. Cameron, in the course of a short address,
said he had great satisfaction in congratulating the
members of the corps upon the efficiency they had
attained both in military tactics and in numbers,
the corps at present numbering 600 effectives. The
health of Capt. Cameron was proposed by the chair-
man in flattering terms, and drunk with great cheer-
ing. About 400 sat down to dinner. During the
evening the Volunteer band of the regiment at-
tended and played various airs with good effect.
The affair passed off satisfactorily.
The first prize competition of the Bradford Volun-
teer Rifle Corps took place on Friday and Saturday
last, on the shooting ground of the corps, at Bow-
ling. The weather on both days was very unfavour-
able, the wind blowing boisterously and occasional
showers of rain falling, while under foot all was
soft and uncomfortable. A refreshment tent had
been erected on the ground, but the gale demolished
it, and the necessary work of refection had to be
done in the open air. Notwithstanding these
drawbacks the contest was conducted with spirit
and cordiality, and is likely to have an excellent
effect in stimulating the members of the corps to
exertion with a view to become good marksmen.
In the first match there were three regimental
prizes, the first £lO, the second £5, and the third
a quantity of ammunition. For these prizes there
were 57 competitors, who fired five rounds per man,
at 300 yards' range, standing. The highest scorers
and ties were Captains Ferrer and Hirst, Corporal
Shuttleworth, and Private Charles Crowther, each
of whom made six points. In shooting off the ties
with two rounds each at the same distance, Corpo-
ral Shuttleworth scored 2, and Private Crowther
1, the others missing with both shots ; consequently
Corporal Shuttleworth won the £lO, and Private
Crowther the £5 prize. Captains Ferrer and
Hirst fired again for the third, one round each, and
the former won with a score of 1. In the second
match two ammunition prizes were offered,
and were competed for by 20 of the
highest scorers in the preceding match. The
range was 200 yards, standing. Privates Branson
James Dean, and Ephraim Wright, with five rounds,
scored six points each, and were the highest and
ties. In shooting off the ties, the first prize was
won by Private Wright, and the second by Private
Branson. After the first and second matches were
over on Friday, a sweepstakes was shot for by 37
competitors, when some first-rate shooting took
place. Private Ching won the first prize, making
four points in two shots at 200 yards. The second
prize was won by Private Armitstead, who made
three points in two shots. On Saturday morning
the companies' prizes were shot for. These con-
sisted of £3 in money and a silver medal for the
best shot in each company (the medal to be kept by
tho winner so long its he ieniuius the best shot of
his company), and were competed for by five men I
selected by each company as their best shots;
range, 300 yards, standing ; rounds, five each man.
The winners of these prizes were Corporal J enkin-
son, No. 1 Company ; Corporal Cooke, No. 2 Com-
pany ; Private Horne, No. 3 Company ; Private
Wilson, No. 4 Company; Private J. Collinson, No.
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and sword bayonet; range,
kneeling; number of rounds, five per man. There
were 74 competitors for these prizes, and the
strangers, of whom there were about 20, from Leeds,
Halifax, Huddersfield, and Gornersal, had prece-
dence given them. Private J. A. Whalley (Leeds
rifle corps), Corporal Shuttleworth (Bradford), and
Assistant-Surgeon Beach (Bradford), tied with five
points each. On shooting off the ties, with two
rounds each, Private Whalley scored a centre (two
points) and an outer, making three points in all;
Corporal Shuttleworth missed with his first shot,
and got one point with his second ; and Assistant-
Surgeon Beach missed with both shots. The £lO
strangers' prize was therefore won by Private
Whalley (Leeds), and the second prize by Corporal
Shuttleworth. The regimental prizes will be pre-
sented by Mrs. Lister, wife of Lieut.-Col. Lister, at
Manningham-hall, in the presence of the battalion,
on Saturday afternoon next.
On Friday the Wrentham and illalesworth Vo-
lunteers were reviewed in the grounds of Holton-
hall, the seat of Mr. Andrew Johnston. Various
evolutions which it is not necessary to recapitu
tate having been executed, the Earl of Strad
broke, Lord-Lieutenant of the county, addressed
a few words to the Volunteers, and expressed his
high satisfaction with the manner in which the
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