The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-15 00:00:00

TILE VOLUNTEERS.

The annual distribution of prizes to the tnemhero
of the 48th Middlesex Rifles was held on SaturdaY
evening at the old London Palace, Crosby-hall.
The regimental dinner, which preceded the
bution of the prizes, was served in the hall, Lieut.-
Colonel Vickers presiding. At the conclusion of
the banquet, Mrs. Vicars (wife of Colonel I,ricars),
accompanied by Mrs. and Miss Field and Mrs. d•
Vickers, entered the hall, and were conducted to a
dais, where were artistically arranged a large
number of elegant prizes, consisting of marble, gilt,
and inlaid-wood clocks, silver tankards, cups, &c
The winners of the principal prizes were Sergeant
I'. Brown, Corporal S. E. Bennett, Corporal
Bird, Sergeant Anley, Private R. N. Griffials,
and Colour-Sergeant Rogerson. Upon the con:
elusion of the ceremony, which was performec!
by Mrs. Vickers, the commanding officer 01lil
he had great pleasure in meeting the corps at
,
another annual gathering, and also that he had
the gratification to announce to them the healthy
and satisfactory condition of the regiment. 1:113,,t
time last year they had 624 on the rolls, of whle'
number 467 were efficient. He had then told 001
that he should with vi_ our apply the pruning knife'
as he was determined that he would 66 make er
break" the corps. Ile had now to announce to theta
that he had discharged a total of 191 during the
year, thus leaving 433 of the old hands, while there
had been 71 recruits, thus making the present
strength of the corps 504 men, of which number 411
were efficients. The above 191 included several
officers, as he had determined that every officer
should fully discharge his duties ; several had felled
themselves unable or unwilling to do so, and there-
fore they were no longer in the corps. Ile said he
could not agree to retain useless officers for the sake
of their subscriptions, and that the men were better
under the charge of efficient non-commissioned ofn'
cers than under the nominal care of those who rarely
attended. Ile rejoiced to say that the present offi-
cers of the corps were " good men and true," heln.ig
both earnest and efficient. The Colonel then called
on the lion. secretary to read the financial report,
which was most satisfactory. The ladies then re'
tired amid the hearty cheers of the men, awl the
loyal and other toasts were then proceeded with.
Last evening Lord Truro presented the pr'zcs
won by the West London Rifles during the Past
year to the successful competitors. The cereinoui
was held in Westminster-hall, where the corps were
drawn up, in the presence of a large assemblage'
Ihe prizes, which were very numerous and v"hl-
able, were displayed on tables immediately above
the steps leading to St. Stephen's. In opening the
proceedings Lord Truro expressed his satisfaction
at the attendance of the corps at drill during the
year, and also at their proficiency at the target.
The corps now numbered 617 men, and out of th!g
number 420 were eflicients and 258 " extra" elli‘
cients. The marksmen, besides, numbered 52, aeci,
there had been an addition of 58 recruits. Jr his
subsequent remarks the noble lord referred to the
capitation grant, which he considered should have
been increased to the extent of covering the e'c:.
penses incurred by the Volunteers, and also to thiP
proposed "reorganization" of the force, which, if
carried out, would, he believed, prove a comPle:
failure. The prizes were then distributed. Amen°
the most important were the following :—Battalion
Prizes.—The Challenge Vase, value 30 guineas
presented by Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Truro, at'
a silver medal, the gift of the Shooting Committee'
Colour-Sergeant T. Wood, No. 9 Company ; tbe
Gold Challenge Bad,;e, presented by Major \Vpod-
all,
Colour-Sergeaut T. Wood, No. 2 Company' 5
Challenge V ass, presented by Captain Jacksn
won by the representatives of Messrs.
and Sons' firm ; the Ladies' Challenge Plate, Cal);
Holland's company ; a money prize to the bight's,
score, presented by Captain Holland and Lieutee
ant Cole, Colour-Sergeant T. Wood ; the Chall3
pion Badge, presented by Captain and Adjutn
Jones, Private C. Palmer, No. 4 CompauY ; irsa
Battalion Prize, a cruet-stand, presented by 11),;(1
Truro, Sergeant Ash well, No. 1 Company ;
Battalion Prize, pickle-stand and jars, presented by
Lord Truro, Captain Rolland, No. 2 Company'
a
money prize, value £5, presented by Major Crae!'r
Colour-sergeant T. Wood, No. 2 Company ;
spoons, &c., presented by Mr. W. Miller, Colour,
sergeant T. Wood, No. 2 Company ; a glass flower
stand, presented by Messrs. Phillips and Lucas,
Colour-sergeant Annison, No. 4 Company ; a Prliteio
presented by Mr. Charles Emery, Staines, Prlv,e
Parker, No. 5 Company ; a musical box, prescuLea
by Mr. H. Carter, Sergeant Slocombe, No. 6 C°l;,9
pany. Company Prizes.—No. 1 (Captain Glasi°;,
Company.—A claret jug, presented by Lieutenant
Colonel Lord Truro, Captain Gluier ; the Cere
pany Challenge Cup, presented by Captain GlrisTier:
Colour-sergeant East. No. 2 (Capt „
ain 1;°l
-
laud's), Company.—A timepiece, presented
Lord Truro, Sergeant-Major Burton; the CoulP3l
Challenge Cup, presented by Messrs. Holland fliltd,
Sons, Private G. Metcalfe. No. 3 (Captain Wr°°
all's) Company.—A silver watch, presented ~,
Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Truro, Corporal rfail°r,
the Company Challenge Cup, presented by All
J. F. Woodall, won by Drum-Major Whitehea9'
February, 1869, by Private T. Durrans, May, 186;
and by Captain Woodall, September, 1869. 3"Te,,,f
(Captain Meal's) Company.—A Cup, presented
1437,
Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Truro, Private Es ,0
ker ; the Company Challenge Cup, value -".0
guineas, presented by Mr. George Amery, an
University 7r
University pewters, presented by Capt. Bea', by
the two winners during the current year, WO° 0,
Colour-Sergeant Aunison, May, 1869, by Privatera,
Palmer, Sept., 1869. No. 5 (Capt. Jackson's) CO'
pany.—Six silver spoons, presented by Lieutell3'd .
Colonel Lord Truro, won by Private Hollinshers:
the Firm Challenge Cup, presented by ciao the
G. Jackson and Sons, and a waterproof cape tevri.-
winner, presented by Mr. Rawlings, won by 'd A
vate Chapman ; the Graham Challenge Cup an
u•
ea
University pewter to the winner, presented by r
tenant E. E. Jackson, won by Sergeant Saul- .tig,
6 (Captain Mannoch's) Company—A claret 00
presented by Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Truro, sgo
by Captain Mannoch ; a Challenge Cup, irales
guineas, presented by Mr. E. Mannoch, W°ll ,0)
Private Rookwood. No. 7 (Captain GrahaTTo-
Company—A plated cruetstand, presented 13.1 r.
tenant-Colonel Lord Truro, won by Colellr—e9o
geant Bulstrode; a Challenge Cup, value
guineas, presented by Mr. Peter Graham—this
eticos,
inpti
having been won in three successive competition
becomes the absolute property of Private J. /3 teap
ton ; a Challenge Cup, value 20 guineas, Pr°el3teeo
by Mr. Peter Graham, and two University Pesv, by
to the winners for the current year, presented
ud
Captain Graham, won by Corporal W. Burton
Private F. Morris.

D _TLIIN ~EWELLEIIY.—In no branch of 1.-'
facture has greater changes and in- provements p 1;
!hall in jewelhry. Th) oil and costly proc3ss of 1
lug articles of gold has to a great extent been stejo
seded by machinery, and 110 W such aro the dont
made by fashion, that the precious metal itself h 35
great extent been superseded by the discoveries of 110" re
science. Amongst the latest and best novelties 'lel
those of Mr. John Jelfreys, of Tottenharn-court-N3.:
the inventor of the celebrated crescent studs and solitai:s
who, not content with succeeding in producing 3 °co,
having all the appearance and durability of 18 carat g°ll
has discovered a method of producing a splendid 6°ll' cal
calls "the Stiaussine diamond," and an Opal that bey
bo
the splendid colours of the true stone. These g'ollld'
has set in various forms, such as rings, brooches, stu
&c., which at this particular period are about the
11,1°
elegant Christmas presents that could be Belated.