The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-03 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMEN2I

GREAT COUNTY MEETING AT CHESTER.
On Saturday, at noon, a public meeting of the
nobility and gentry of the county of Chester and
other gentlemen interested in the Volunteer move-
ment was held in the Shire-hall, Chester, for the
purpose of forming an association for promoting
rifle shooting in the county, in connexion with the
National Rifle Association.
The meeting, which was convened by the Lord-
Lieutenant of the county, was numerously attended,
several of the most influential gentlemen connected
with the county palatine being present. Among
those in attendance were the Marquis of West-
minster, Lord-Lieutenant of the' county; Lord
Eceerton, Sir Philip Egerton, M.P., the Hon. W.
Egerton, MX., Mr. G. Cornwall Legh, M.P., Mr.
W. Jackson, M.P., Sir C. Shackerley, Sir E. Cust,
&c.

The Marquis of WESTMINSTER presided, and in
opening the proceedings, congratulated those pre-
sent on the large attendance, notwithstanding the
unfavourable character of the day. They were met
together on a very important subject connected with
the county to which they belonged, it having been
considered desirable to establish upon a firmer basis
the machinery of the Volunteer forces in the county.
Thenoble marquis having in detail explained the
rules and the manner in which the county associa-
tion was proposed to be governed, said that it
was proposed to have one general meeting in
the month of September for rifle shooting, in
order to keep up the spirit of the county in for-
warding this measure. One great object of it
would be to bring people in all conditions of life
and in all states of society, into one harmonious
bond together. That was a most important point—
the union and good fellowship that would prevail
among them. He congratulated the country gene-
rally on the brightening prospects before us, which
the visits of our own Queen and other monarchs
from one country to another afforded. Under these
circumstances he trusted that the services of our
Volunteer forces might not be required ; but should
this country find it necessary to declare for war he
felt that the same gallant resistance which had ever
been offered would be given, and that we should
continue to be respected in peace, and always pre-
pared for war. (Cheers.)
Lord EGERTON, at the call of the Chairman, pro-
posed the first resolution, which was as follows :
" That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable
to promote the practice of rifle shooting as one of
the most important modes of extending and render-
ing permanent the Volunteer movement in this
country, and that in order to carry out this resolu-
tion an association be formed in connection with the
National Rifle Association, to be called the Cheshire
Rifle Association." His lordship observed that, as
was said by the Tinges, the Volunteer movement
had become a great fact. It arose among the
people, and had been supported by the people.
It owed nothing to Government, and he believed
a Cabinet Minister had recently stated in that
city that Government patronage would have been
injurious rather than otherwise. The great
thing now required was to give a permanent cha-
racter to it in the different counties, and the estab-
lishment of rifle shooting was calculated to effect
that. He should not be satisfied until rifle shoot-
ing had become as much a matter •f science as the
bow and archery were in former times.
Mr. J. LAIRD seconded the resolution.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Sir P. EGERTON, M.P., proposed the next reso-
tion, viz. :—" The county association shall consist,
first of annual subscribers of 10s. and £1 (sub-
scribers of £1 becoming members of the National
Rifle Association for the current year, one-half of
their subscription of £1 being paid to the funds of
the National Rifle Association ; secondly, of donors
of £5 to the county association ; and, thirdly, of
donors of prizes not less than £2O at the meetings
of the county association." He most cordially and
heartily supported the movement, and especially
this attempt to establish rifle shooting. They were
establishing by it an exciting and an innocent
amusement. They were now aiming at what their
ancestors did as to archery in former times. There
were no " Aunt Sallys" in those days. (Hear, and
laughter.)
The Mayor of MACCLESFIELD seconded the
motion, which, after some discussion, was unani-
mously adopted.
Mr. G. CORNWALL LEGII, M.P., moved the next
resolution—namely, the appointment of president,
vice-presidents, and a council of 21. The Marquis
of Westminster was named as president.
Colonel WILBRAHAM, in seconding the resolu-
tion, said that no part of the country had a greater
number of Volunteers in proportion to its numbers
than Cheshire. He was acquainted with about 47
companies in the north of England, and he might
say that, with the exception of Lancashire, there
were none of the Volunteers so efficient as the
Cheshire companies. (Hear, and cheers.) He ex-
pressed his warm approval of rifle associations for
shooting, and said they did well in not throwing them
open too wide, but confining them to their several
counties. He wished them to bear in mind that
the object of our rifle matches was not to create one
great crack shot, but to create a large number of
good shots among the entire body. (Cheers.) It
was undesirable that an accumulation of prizes
should fall into the hands of one person. He also
wished to guard them against making the value of
their prizes too high, because he was afraid it would
make men look more to the money value of the
prizes than the honour of wicning them. (Hear.)
The resolution was adopted, and a vote of thanks
to the chairman, moved by Major Legh, and seconded
by the Mayor of Chester, closed the proceedings.

The members of the Queen's (Westminster) `To
lunteers mustered on parade in very great strength
on Saturday evening last at Westminster-hall, for
the purpose of being inspected by Earl Grosvenor,
Lieut.-Col. Commanding. The men, who appeared
in full marching order, assembled at their respective
drill grounds, and marched down under the com-
mand of their officers to Westminster-hall, into
which they poured, company after company, until
they nearly filled the building. There were in all
16 companies, including two of recruits, and mus-
tering, without officers, 921 file. In addition, the
company of cadets were present, and had the
honour of keeping the ground, and the manner in
which they performed the duty created much
amusement ; for there were numerous cases of these
little fellows, not much more than eight or nine
years old, arguing most strenuously with stalwart
men the propriety of standing back; and indeed it
was no easy matter to keep room for the corps to
go through their evolutions, as the attendance of
the public was very great, and when the men were
formed in quarter distance column the ball pre-
sented a most imposing spectacle. The various
companies having been put through their manual
and other exercises, the rear rank took open order,
and the whole were called to attention. The noble
colonel then passed through the ranks, accompa-
nied by the adjutant, Major Mayne, and made a
minute inspection of the men and their arms and
accoutrements. Earl Grosvenor having passed
down the whole of the column, the inspection of
which occupied a very long time, the men were
formed into four squares of subdivisions, and his
Lordship addressed each body separately, congra-
tulating the officers upon the perfection to which
their companies had attained, and expressing his
admiration of the soldierlike and smart appearance
of the men. As it would have been a very tedious
matter to make four long addresses, the Lieutenant-
Colonel embodied most of his ideas in a regi.