The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-18 00:00:00

his chief guests, he was dressed in black, though
not in full dress—a sort of male dem-toilette, which
was quite sufficient for the occasion. People passed
in, gazed at the Prince, bowed to him and the
President, and then passed out. In fact, it seemed
less a reception than a mixed deputation, from
which ladies were not excltided. It was not a good
time of the year in which to give such a levee, for
Washington is almost empty now compared to what
it generally is. There was a total absence of for-
mality or restriction either as to dress or persons of
any kind, and yet as a rule there *as a quiet deco-
rum in manners, which, considering that all who
chose to come might do so, would have done honour
to any general assemblage in Europe. Here and
there could be seen something very outre, and as I
have intimated, even offensive ; but these were the
rare exceptions as to conduct. The dresses of very
many certainly showed an utter disregard of the
ordinary usages of society on these occasions,
but mere dress makes very little difference, and
after all it must be remembered that it was early
in the day.

To-night there is another banquet at the White
House, with a kind of soiree in the evening, to
which only those go who receive cards. To-morrow
the Prince visits Mount Vernon and the grave of
Washington, and dines with Lord Lyons in the
evening.

THE VOLUNIEER MOVEMENT.

THE ASIIBRIDGE VOLUNTEER RIFLE
SHOOTING PRIZE.
After the distribution of the prizes by Lady Marian
Alford, on Friday last, the Volunteers marched to
Ashbridge House, and sat down to a cold collation.
The Earl of Brownlow presided. On the removal
of the cloth, after the usual loyal toast had been
drank,
LordISIDNEY proposed the toast of "The Church."
In doing so he observed that any man who had
taken any interest in the Volunteer movement must
have observed with pleasure the cordial support
which the clergy had given to it. (Cheers.) In the
county to which he belonged he was proud to say a
clergyman held the commission of ensign. He felt
confident that the clergy could not promote the in-
terestsof peace in a more efficient degree than by
rendering assistance to that movement, which, he
trusted, would become one of the permanent insti•
tutions of the country. (Loud cheep.)
The Rev. Lord COMPTON, in returning thanks,
said there was a saying handed down to them from
the old times of fierceness and war, "If you seek
for peace prepare for war." They had found a better
reading of that saying—" If you wish for peace
prepare for defence." (Cheers.) Looking at it in
that light he and his brother clergymen had the
greatest satisfaction in giving the Volunteer move-
ment in every form their cordial support, some few
of them by shouldering the rifle, and all of them by
their.influence and exertions. (Cheers.)
Sir A. P. COOPER proposed " the Army, the
Navy, and the Rifle Corps." He said he had heard
it affirmed, perhaps without any truth, that there
was a great fear that the ardour and spirit which
had been shown up to this period by the Volunteers
and others would speedily decrease unless great
prudence and caution were shown by those who
were the leaders of the movement, and that there
was a feeling on the part of some young Volunteers
that, by merely entering the service and attending
drill a few times, they would equal in drill and
efficiency to the regular army—of men who for a
long period have given their constant and undivided
attention to the profession. (Cries of "No, no.")
Admiral DRUMMOND, in returning thanks for the
navy, said it had for a very long period been known
as the strongest bulwark of England ; but on what
had been known to them as the " wooden walls of
old England," they were about to adopt a protec-
tion against the bullets of the enemy by sheathing
these wooden walls with iron.
Colonel KENNEDY, C. 8., returned thanks for the
Army. He said that now the Volunteers had taken
upon themselves the duties of soldiers, they of the
Army were proud to welcome them as brothers-in-
arms. (Loud cheers.) No jealousy ever had existed,
and it was certain it never could exist between
the Army and the Volunteers of Great Britain.
(Cheers.) He had had the honour of being the
umpire in the rifle competition of that day, and,
although he was perfectly satisfied with the day's
shooting, he trusted they were not; that though
they had shot well that day, on a future occasion
they would shoot much better. No theory, nothing
but actual practice, would enable them to do this.
(Hear, hear.) He trusted that at the great rifle
competition the Hertfordshire Volunteers would
come to the front. (Loud cheers.)
The Marquis of SALISBURY proposed, in highly
eulogistic terms, the health of Lord Brownlow.
The noble Lord having returned thanks,
The Earl of CLARENDON proposed the health of
Lady Marian Alford, and dwelt on the many public
and private virtues manifested by her Ladyship.

said,—" Just coming from abroad I speak know-
ingly when I say that the volunteer movement forms
a great subject of conversation on the continent, that
its progress is anxiously watched, and that it has
increased the admiration for England which we all
know she deserves, and which we desire she shall
obtain among the nations of the world." (Loud
cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN acknowledged the toast on behalf
of Lady Marian.
The toast of the " Volunteers of England" was
proposed by the Hon. Sir Frederick Lucien, and
was acknowledged by
Lord SPENCER, who said he felt that the Volun-
teers of England had become a permanent institu-
tion of the country, and that all the doubts which
had been formerly expressed as to its stability might
now be put one side. (Cheers.) He looked on
the movement as an enormous increase to the
strength and power of the country. The Volun-
teers were continually increasing in numbers, in
discipline, and in the skill with which they
used their weapons. But they must all remem-
ber that they were entirely dependent on the army
and navy, and were not to act as an independen-
dent force, but as an auxiliary. They must look
to the officers of the army as the instructors of the
Volunteers. This movement did not interfere with
the army. The Volunteer force consisted princi-
pally of those who belonged to the middle-classes
of England, which had not hitherto contributed
much to its military strength. He was very glad
to see all classes join the movement, particularly
the mechanic class ; but he thought we should be
very careful not to interfere with the recruiting for
the army. He considered it very important that
the different classes should not be kept distinct, but
that they should all meet and work together for the
defence of our country. (Cheers.)
Earl COWPER proposed the health of the success-
ful competitors, and in doing so said the perma-
nency of the Volunteer movement was the theme of
every speech, and for it to be permafient it was ne-
cessary it should take deep root in the agricultural
populations of the country and the small towns—
(hear)—so that if, as might be the case, the more
volatile populations of our large towns should leave
the Volunteer force and take to something else they
should still all be firing at their butts and drilling
on their grounds. (Hear, hear.) Lord Spencer
had alluded to a body of men from whom he hoped
they might be able to draw largely for recruits—he
meant those who depended for their sustenance
upon the work of their hands ; but they must be
particularly careful not to make the slightest diffe-
rence between those and themselves. They must
give them exactly the same uniform. If these con-
ditions were complied with the Volunteer force
would be very largely increased. (Cheers.)
Mr. MOORE, of Watford, acknowledged the toast.
The Hon. REGINALD CAPEL proposed " The
Ladies of the County."
The Rev. G. HASTINGS proposed " Our next
merry meeting at Panshanger."
The day's proceedings were closed by a gentle-
man proposing the health of Captain Parry Cust,
and the acknowledgment of the toast by that gal-
lant officer.