The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-28 00:00:00

with molten iron, liquid tire, &e. but, above all, to
possess weight sufficient to sini any line-of-battle
ship or iron-cased vessel by concussion or blow ?
This last quality is incomparably the most formid--.
able and the most important: If, then, such a
vessel,- pessesginr-altlh-o—qialities above enume-
rated, can be constructed, it is evident that no
number of_timber,built vessels-could- le--safely-op-
posed even to a single steam-ram, because by its
superior swiftness and quickness it can force on or-
avoid an action at its convenience, it can burn and
destroy timber ships by shot or ineetiaiirY 'projec
tiles when at A distance, or by her beak, when near
enough. Against her apparently more formidable
opponent, the iron-cased ship, the latter is ((Daily
helpless. Shot and shell against each others hulls
must be harmless, but the shot and shell from the
comparative mastless steam ram could soon knock
away the masts or bowsprit of the ship, or disable
the rudder, so that the screw, fouled by the wrecks
of masts and rigging, or the ship, helpless from her
dam2ged rudder, a blow from the steam ram sends
her to the bottom.
The limits of a letter prevent me from entering
into those details which are necessary to prove to
non-professional men, but what must be sufficiently
evident to a sailor, the fact that a steam-ram, with-
la the protection of iron casing, but merely by the
power of being able to sink by concussion, and
pursuing more cautious tactics,—attacking, for
instance, at night—can be equally destructive with
the shot-proof steam-ram against all opponents.
The " observations" I have alluded to I must leave
,o another opportunity.

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

REVIEW OF THE NORTHAMTONSHIRE
VOLUNTEERS.
The Northamptonshire Rifle Association held
their first meeting yesterday in Althorp Park, the
seat of Earl Spencer, on which occasion the first
competition for the prizes for rifle shooting and a
grand review of the whole of the corps in the county
by the Earl of Euston took place. The association
is the result of the extensive support which the
Volunteer movement has receiveU in the county, and
is founded on the pla►r of the National Rifle Asso-
ciation, most of the regulations of which they have
copied. Earl Spencer was the first to recommend
the adoption of the movement by the county, and
to establish a corps, of which he is the:captain. his
example was followed by Earl Pomfret, who raised
a corps at Towcester ;- and by Lieut.-Colonel Loyd
Lindsay, son-in-law of Lord Overstone.
The wet weather On Tuesday and Wednesday
considerably lowered the great expectations which
had been formed with .regard to the number of visi-
tors ; but the rain cased About 5 yesterday morn-
ing, and- thcesun -e emißfaiut soon drove away the
fog which hung oven the-country, and the ride to
' Althorp Park, which is between 5 and-6 miles from
Northampton, was a pleasant one. The number
of competitors had been originally fixed at five
men, distinguished for; proficiency in the use of
the rifle, from each, of six corps ; but as one of the
corps declined to compete, their number was equally
distributed throughout the other five corps. These,
and the 36 who had been chosen as competitors for
an "all-comers" prize, assembled at half-past eight
o'clock in front of Althorp house,and were arranged
in firing parties. They were then addressed by
Col. Kennedy, the Government Inspector, in expla-
nation of the regulations by which they were to
fire. They were then marched off to their respec-
tive butts at various parts of the park.
The shooting was continued throughout the
morning until one o'clock, when the whole of the
volunteers assembled to dine in a large tent, the
Marquis of Exeter, Earl Spencer, and several other
noblemen and officers dining with the men. In the
afternoon the shooting was resumed, and was con-
cluded about three o'clock. The challenge cup,
value £25, and several other prizes, were won by
Sergeant Presland, of the Towcester corps. This
cup, however, will not be retained by the winner
permanently, but is open to annual competition.
A cup, value £lO, was also offered as a prize to all
comers, and was won by Mr. J. Biggs, of Elking-
, ton. The shooting of the successful competitors
was remarkable for steadiness, bat many others,
who are accounted good shots at ordinary practice,
appeared to have lost some of their self-possession.
As the time that could be given to shooting was
necessarily short, the number of competitors was
limited, and to furnish amusement for all, the com-
mittee of management had organised athletic
games, such as running, leaping, &c. Earl Spencer
entered the lists for some of these, and won a second
prize for a running jump. There was also some
archery, the prizes for which were well contested.
The review was held in a very suitable portion
of the park, the Volunteers being in a valley formed
by extensive and gently descending slopes on either
side, and was witnessed by about 15,000 people. A
platform was erected for the ladies who were visit-
ing at Althorp-house. Among those present at the
review were Lord Overstone, Lord Lyveden, Mr.
Ward Hunt, M.P., Mr. Knightley, M.P., General
Ses mour, the Countess Spencer, Lady Sarah Spen-
cer, Lady Overstone, Mrs. Loyd Lindsay, Miss
Agnes Strickland, &c.
When the review commenced the battalion was
formed in the open column, right in front, facing
the Brighton road. They then wheeled into line;
and received the reviewing officer with a general
salute, after which they formed in open column,
right in front, marched past in quick tune, and re-
formed on the original ground. They again wheeled
into line, and advancedby the centre. After halt-
ing they performed the manual and platoon exer-
cise. The field-day then commenced by firing one
round by companies from .right to left, the bugle
sounding for firing. The line then retired, halted;
fronted, and commenced file-firing from the right
of company. They then re-formed quarter distance,
column right in front on No. 3. The battalion
afterwards . skirmished, throwing out companies
Nos. 1 and 2 as skirmishers, companies Nos. 3 and
4as supports, companies Nos. 5 and 6 forming the
reserve. After advancing some distance and fir-
ing, the bugle sounded for cavalry, when they
formed rallying squares and commenced to fire. On
the word being given to cease firing, the kneeling
rank fired a volley. They dispersed and reformed
on the coverir, sergeants on their original ground
and wheeled into line. The line then advanced in
review order and gave a general salute. The men-
were then formed into three aides of a square, and,
the officers having advanced,
The Marquis of EXETER addressed them and
said :—My Lord Euston, my lords and gentlemen,-1
beg in the first place to congratulate you on the
happy manner in which the proceedings of this day
have gone off, and in doing so I must express my
thanks to my noble friend, Earl Spencer (who has
taken a great interest in the promotion of the Vee
lunteer corps of this county from the commencement)
for his kindness and liberality in lending us his
park on the present occasion. I beg to thank him
in my own name and in the name of the county of
Northampton for his kindness. With regard to
those gentlemen wh►o have been so fortunate as to
win prizes to-day, I may say that the practice has
exceeded my expectations, considering the short
time during which they have had an opportunity'
of acquiring the different ranges. My remarks
apply especially to the long-range shooting for the
challenge cup. The competition for that and the
good shooting was- far beyond my expectations.
Still, I deem it right to say that there is great room
for improvement, and I trust you will not relax
your efflots to become thoroughly proficient by
another season. But, my lords and gentlemen, the
country is greatly indebted to the Volunteers for their
services. They Came forward iu a liberal, patriotic
manner on the first alarm of a possible attack upon
our shores, and they have rendered the country as
treat a service as it. they had attacked the enemy
themselves, and driven them from our shores.
They have taught foreign nations that however
large their armies and their naval equ►p►nents may
be, if ever they should attempt an invasion of our
shores, the whole population of England would in-
st mtly rise to defend their homes and their liber-
ties. It, is for this reason that I say, gentlemen,
that the Volunteer forces have rendered the country
so great a service, for they have secured for us a
continuance of the blessings of peace. I beg to ex-
press the gratification which I have felt iri witness-
ing
the manner in which you have performed the
different evolutions this day. The precision with
which you marched and performed the various
movements exceeded my expectations, and I con-
gratulate you upon the proficiency to which you
have attained. I hope, as I have before remarked,
that you will not relax your efforts to make your•
selves as perfect as any regiment in her Majesty's
service." The Lord-Lieutenant then proceeded
to distribute the prizes, each gentleman as he
stepped forward to receive his reward being "
greeted with much applause. Cheers were
given for the Queen and for several noble lords
who had taken part in the proceedings, and the
corps with the multitude dispersed. The weather
had been fine throughout, with the exception of one
slight shower about noon.

---
inspection of the first battalion of Stafford-
shire Ewe Volunteers by Lord Ihtherton and the
Trentham on
Inspector- Geovriii
.\vtaof the
,district, took pace at
last. The ground was
kept by tho NewcastlenesdiY
Queen's own yt,othan ,rll9 Pottery troop of the
Volunteers present 4iTe thstfolldwing—namely
The companies of Rife
Longton, Hanley lit;Aikiv 11:imstall, Stoke-
upon7Tketit, Kidsgrovoiewe in'
The Lord-LieutenLnt, aeconiapsatni(i*lntivilanley 2d.
when the
his staff,
arrived ou the ground about 4 o'clock,e
inspection comnfeneed. When the inspection had
been about half gone through the sun suddenly dis.