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

TILE VOLUNTEER 310VEM.ENT.

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THE LONDON SCOTTISH RIFLES.
On Saturday night the members of the London
Scottish Rifles were inspected officially by Lord
Elcho, M.P., Lieut.-Colonel commanding the corps,
in Westminster Hall. There werh in all eight

companies on the parade, comprising tl,c following :
—The Ist, or Kilted Company (Capt. Mackenzie) ;
the 2d, or City Company (Capt. Reach) ; the 3d,
or North Company (Capt. Conway); the 4th, or
Central Company (Capt. Macgregor) ; the sth, or
South Company (Capt. Carlisle) ; and the 6th, or
West Company (the Marquis of Abercorn, Cap-
tain). In addition to this there were about 100
recruits under the command of drillnergeants of
the Fusilier Guards in the two companies.
The men having been formed into square,
Lord ELCHO addressed them, and after referring
to some recent proceedings in a police-court which
had resulted in the expulsion of a volunteer from 1
the corps, said he would embrace that opportunity
of impressing upon all members of the corps
the absolute necessity of their being cir-
cumspect in their conduct, especially when in uni-
form, because upon that depended the honour and
credit of the corps and the movement in general.
If they went about to places of public amusement in
the uniform they did not know what might hap-
pen ; should they feel inclined to do so after attend-
ing parade or drill let them take off their uniforms ;
in fact, nothing was more injurious to the move-
ment than that system of parading &omit in their
dresses, and he hoped at least after this example
the members of the Scottish corps would abstain
from doing so. Having said so much as to the
general conduct of the corps, he would now tell
them the arrangements for the winter months.
As to the strength of the regiment there were 870
1 names on the books, and the numbers were increas-
ing, for at the last meeting of the council 21 re-
cruits joined and took the oaths. As the numbers
increased, the number of companies should also
increase, and with the sanction of the Lord Lieu-
tenant of the county they would next year make
up, he hoped, ten companies of 100 strong. They
would also increase the number of Highland com-
panies to four, and he should be happy to receive
the names of any gentleman who wished to wear
the kilt. As to the drills, he wished to impress
upon the members the necessity of attending. It
was proposed that the whole six companies should
join in drill, officers and all, and commence de novo
the same as in the line—going through their facings,
manual, and platoon in quick and slow time, com-
pany and battalion drill. He then gave a list of
the drills which it was proposed they should go
through, and proceeded to state that he intended to
give a cup to be shot for. That was to be a chal-
lenge cup, as he felt that it would then show that
it was won not by an individual good shot, but
1 by a corps who shoe well as a whole, and he pro-
posed that men from each company should shoot
for it. His lordship having announced his
intention of making one of the officers a musketry
instructor, said that he not only wanted volunteers
for the kilted companies, but he wanted volunteers
for pioneers. He wanted men to work like regular
navvies—he would not say to work like niggers.
He suggested that there should be a company of 20
good able-bodied:men ; men with time at their dis-
posal, and men who could grow good beards on
their chins. They would find it healthy exercise,
and they would be doing good service to the corps
in the erection of the butt. His lordship then read
the communication from the War Office as to the
tempering of the locks of rifles, to diminish or in-
crease the strength of the" pull," and having done
so, remarked that the subject was of great import-
ance, and he hoped they would regard it as such,
for he should like to see every volunteer as careful
of his rifle as a soldier was of his wife. (This con-
cluding remark called forth the hearty cheers of
the assembled spectators and volunteers.)
The square was then broke up, and the proceed-
ings, which were most animated throughout, then
of
terminated.
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