The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-19 00:00:00

The Burnage or 6th Company of the 2d Regi-
ment of Manchester Volunteers assembled on Sa-
turday afternoon in the grounds of Ensign Grundy,
Rushford-park, near Manchester, when a handsome
silver bugle was presented to them. The weather
proving fine a large concourse of people assembled
to witness the ceremony, including many fashionably
attired ladies. The brigade band was in attend-
ance. The Volunteers were paraded on the lawn in
front of the house, and after being put through
various evolutions, and firing several rounds, Mrs.
Grundy came forward on behalf of the ladies, and
said—" Officers and gentlemen of the Burnage
Volunteer Rifle Corps, I am honoured on this occa-
sion by being chosen as the representative of the
ladies of Burnage and the neighbourhood, and
in their name am commissioned to present to you
this bugle, and at the same time to assure you of
their earnest sympathy in the whole object you have
in view. This, gentlemen, is a time when the
wo-
men of England may well feel proud of their hus-
bands, brothers, and sons, for they well know that
in the hour of danger the defence of their Queen,
their country, and their beloved homes may safely
be intrusted to their hands. Earnestly hoping, how-
' ever, that it may never sound in real warfare, but
feeling assured that if it should it could not animate
a braver and more loyal body of men than the Bur-
nage Volunteers, I feel proud in being privileged
to present to you this token of our approval and
esteem." (Much cheering.) Lieutenant L'Estrange,
commanding the company, stepped forward to re-
ceive the bugle amid renewed cheering, and in a
expressive and well chosen sentences acknowledged
his sense of the high compliment paid to the Volun-
teers by this handsome testimonial. At the con-
clusion of the proceedings the members of the Rifle
Company and a great number of friends who had
been invited to witness the ceremony, were hos-
pitably entertained by their host, and the whole
affair passed off in a highly satisfactory manner.
The 14th Worcestershire company of Rifle Volun-
teers assembled at Worcester on Thursday after-
noon for inspection by the Lieutenant-Colonel of
the battalion. The officers present were Captain
Parkes, Lieutenant Tyrell, Quartermaster Bennett,
and Surgeon Woodward. The captain put the men
through a number of evolutions, which they executed
in a remarkably correct manner when the short time
they have been at drill is taken into consideration.
At the conclusion of the inspection the lieutenant-
colonel addressed the corps, complimenting them
highly on their efficiency, after which they were
dismissed. The two Worcester companies are very
regular and assiduous in their drill, and evince
much anxiety to be perfect in their exercises.
A circular distributed in reference to the Cam-
bride University Volunteer Corps states that a rifle
ground has been obtained which will give a range
of 1,400 yards, within a quarter of a mile of Trinity
College. It is proposed to admit the town corps to
the advantages of an increased range for rifle
practice, when it does not interfere with the prac-
tice of the University corps.
It has been determined, at a public meeting at
Bingley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, to take
steps for establishing a Volunteer Rifle Corps at
that town. The meeting was presided over by Mr.
W. Ferrand; and the Rev. James Cheadle, vicar of
Bingley, and Mr. Alfred Harris, banker, took part
in the proceedings.

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READING.
Captain Walter addressed a crowded meeting in
the Town-hall on Saturday evening. The appear-
ance of the gallant captain on the platform was the
signal for an outburst of hearty cheering, and a
number of commissionnaires who followed also met
with a most cordial reception. There were also on
the platform several highly respectable inhabitants
of the town and supporters of the hon. candidate.
Mr. R. Toomer was unanimously voted to the chair.
Capt. WALTER began his address by saying that
he came forward not only to solicit their suffrages,
but to defend the great principle of freedom of elec-
tion. His hon. opponent, Mr. Sergt. Pigott, had
told the constituency, in his first speech, that he
was a great opponent of nomination boroughs ; but
he (Capt. Walter) could not see any great difference
in the principle of large landowners recommending
a candidate to the suffrages of a constituency and a
small section of electors who took upon themselves
the responsibility of guiding the opinions of a large
body of voters. (Cheers.) In the first case there
was the responsibility which the single individual
could not avoid ; but in the other case that respon-
sibility was shifted from one person to a body, of
whom probably they knew little or nothing. It
had been said by Mr. Sergt. Pigott that he (Capt.
Walter) had no politicel principles. If it was meant
that he was not subservient to a party, it was quite
true. (Cheers.) He did not wish to go into Parlia-
ment as a party man. (Loud cheers.) For several
years past they had heard of two great political
parties in this country, and what had been the con-
sequence ? They had been promised a reform for
the last three years, but these two parties had been
so equally divided, and had fought so much with
each other as to the shadow, that they had lost the
substance. (Cheers.) He must say that he had much
reason to complain of the manner in which this
contest had been conducted, nor was he alone in
this cohviction , Mr. Shaw Lefevre,of whom they all
knew something, and whose family was well known
to the town, had complained bitterly of the treat-
ment he had received, and nothing showed more
fully the impolicy of a small number of people in
this borough being suffered to take upon themselves
to direct the opinions of the great body of the elec-
tors. He did not mean to say that the Liberal Asso-
ciation had not the right to take steps to obtain the
best candidate, but he thought it would only have
been fair and proper treatment to himself and other
candidates if the Liberal Association had given a
proper amount of time for the electors to decide as
to who should be the candidate for their suffrages.
In the borough of Southwark, where there were
nearly 20,000 electors, there was no Liberal Associa-
tion to bring forward a candidate before Sir Charles
Napier was buried, to say there was a candidate, and
that no one else was entitled to their confidence and
support, but each candidate came forward on his own
merits, and probably, should any necessity arise for
interference on the part of a Liberal Association,
they would agree in supporting him who was most
likely to represent the political ♦iews of the majority.
(Cheers.) Such a course, he submitted, ought, in
fairness to the constituency, to have been adopted
here. (Loud cheers.) One gentleman then on the
platform was present at the first meeting at the
George, and the proceedings were not so unanimous
as had been represented. If Mr. Sergeant Pigott
was the only man, and the best to serve the consti-
tuency, why was there such a hurry to get hire to
come there and obtain promises of support ? It had
been made a subject of complaint that he (Captain
Walter) had sent a telegram from Belfast announc-
ing his intention of being a candidate. He could
not help that. As soon as he heard of the vacancy,
he sent the message, because he had made up his
mind that on the first opportunity he would offer
himself as a candidate. He intended to have come
forward at the last election, but not having a long
purse he could not afford to oppose so rich a man
as was then elected. It had been alleged that he
(Captain Walter) sought the support of the Conser-
vatives. He was no party man. He had nothing to
ask for himself, and he did not believe that any man
there wanted anything for himself only. (Cheers.)
All he wanted was a fair field and no favour. (Loud
cheers.) He would not pledge himself to oppose a
Conservative Government in case one should be
formed, and therefore he was glad to receive the
support of the independent Conservatives, as well
as that of the Liberal party, and although the
agent of Sergeant Pigott had stated that he had
received 700 promises, the proof would be at the
poll. (Cheers.) Then it was alleged against him
that he was disturbing the unanimity of the
borough, but really he did not see, in these days of
free trade, why he should be debarred from the
opportunity of coming forward to solicit their suf-
frages. (Hear.) It was no reason because Mr.
Francis Pigott had represented the borough several
years that his brother should step into his place.
If that were the case, they would always find a
number of gentlemen of that name who would be
very glad to come forward and represent the
borough. He had no doubt of it. (Hear.) Well,
although of some of Mr. Pigott's supporters bad
I blamed him (Captain Walter) for courting the sup-
-1 port of the Conservatives, at the same time they
had taken every pains to gain that support for
themselves. He knew that Mr. Pigott's friends
had been most diligent and assiduous for some time
past in trying to get the ♦otes of the Conservatives,
and when they could not get them they tried to
get promises from them not to vete at all. (Cheers.)
Fault had been found with him because he had de-
clared that his political opinions corresponded with
those of his late father, who, his opponents said, had
no political opinions. There were many people in
the town of Reading who could recollect the con-
test which his father undertook in this county,
more than 30 years ago, en Liberal principles.
(Cheers.) His father was the first person who re-
presented this county on Liberal principles, and he
Captain Walter) considered it an honour to be the
son of a man who, although no political partisan,
might lay claim to the proud boast of having
been called " the poor man's friend." (Loud
cheers.) In spite of every discouragement he was
elected for Nottingham by all classes of the
people. He went down there as the opponent
of a law called the Poor Law, and his untiring
opposition resulted in great alterations and
improvements being made in that law.
(Cheers.) Now, if his father was elected by all
parties in such a great borough as Nottingham, there
was nothing dishonourable in his (Capt. Walter's)
pursuing a similar course and likewise seeking the
support of all parties in the borough of Reading.
(Cheers.) He was no party man, but free and un-
fettered, and he was proud to acknowledge it.
(Loud cheers.) He would now pass to the subject
of the franchise. It was not needful that he should
go into detail. There were many present who had
no votes, and he conceived it to be of much greater
consequence that the country should be well go-
verned than that each man should have an inde-
pendent vote. (Oh, oh !) He did not say this from
any want of regard for the working. classes. He
had shown his regard for the working-classes, and
he would point to those wounded men, the commis-
sionaires, behind him as a proof of his desire and
ability to assist them. (Cheers.) Although he was
a friend to the working man, he did not think it
would bo a.very great advantage if every man could
get the franchise without some trouble. (Cheers
and disapprobation.) There was nothing in this
England worth having without the trouble of get-
ting it. (Cheers.) They could not all be members
of Parliament even if they had votes, and the great
thing for them was to send men to Parliament who
would look to the general interests of the whole
country, and not to those of a mere party. (Loud
cheers, and " The £6 franchise.") He would tell
them that although he would not pledge himself to
oppose the extension of the franchise, he would not
promise to lower the franchise to £6. (Cr eers and
disapprobation.) There were doubtless many pre-
sent who were not householders, and yet held re-
sponsible positions in society, and to these he should
like to give the franchise. He thought the lodger
franchise, as proposed in the scheme of Mr.
Disraeli, would be a very great boon, and he
had no doubt• that it would inceease the voters
by many hundreds and thousands. (Cheers.)
Many of them might have enjoyed this suffrage
but, for the strong party feeling which existed.