The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-27 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The following important notice was issued yes-
terday;—

" Horse Guards, Nov. 26.
" The Competitive Examinations hitherto held of candi-
dates for the Artillery and Engineer services of the Indian
army will cease, and all candidates for the Artillery and
Engineer services generally will in future have to go through
a course of instruction at the Royal Military Academy,
Woolwich. a

" The next Competitive Examination in conformity with
the annexed regulations will commence on the 7th January,
1861.

" The number of vacancies to be competed for is 70. Ap-
plications of candidates, as required by Art. VIII. of the
regulations, will in this iistance be received until the 20th
of December next.

" The successful candidates will be admitted in the first
instance to the Royal Military College, Addiscombe, and
eventually transferred to the Royal Military Academy,
Woolwich.
" As in the prospectus formerly issued for admission to
Addiscombe College it was provided that candidates might
be examined in the use of astronomical and surveying in-
struments, there will be an examination in that subject for
such as uevire to take it up in January next ; after which
date, however, it will not be included among the subjects
of examination for admission to Woolwich ; 750 marks will
be allotted to this subject as heretofore.
" W. F. FORSIER, Military Secretary."

TEE VOLUNTEER M U VE.
MEN 2.

The Inland Revenue companies of the Civil Ser-
vice Regiment of Rifle Volunteers will parade at 4
o'clock every 'Wednesday afternoon at Somerset-
house, and will march to Westminster-hall for drill.
The 41st Middlesex Rifles, composed of officers
and artificers attached to the Royal Small-arms Fac-
tory, Enfield-lock, assembled on Saturday at half-
past 2 o'clock, and proceeded, headed by the band
of the corps, to a field in the neighbourhood, for the
purpose of being inspected by Cul. Ibbotson. On
the arrival of Col. Ibbotson he was received with a
general salute, and the corps afterwards marched
past in slow and quick time, in colimns of compa-
nies, then advanced in line and repeated the salute;
after which the corps was formed into three sides of
a square and addressed by Col. Ibbotson, who com-
plimented them highly on the progress they had
made, and added some advice as to their future pro-
ceedings. Major-Gen. Connop, Lieut.-Col. Dixon,
R.A., Major Baddely, R.A., Captain Goodliffe of the
11th Herts Volunteers, and a Humber of other pee-
sons were on the ground.
ll.Ae.onapetition took place on Saturday last, at the
ac
tlee ground of the West Middlesex Rifles,
Wormwood Scrubs, for a very handsome challenge
cup, value
£25, presented by Mr. F. H. Bridgman,
Captain Bridgman, and Ensign Phillips, the com-
petitors being the
four winners of the battalion
prizes and eight
of
re
next beet shots, each man
firing 10 rounds
0? yards' range, the target
being six feet sq.aftre
'with a two-feet centre, or half
Of regulation size.
Charles Hall, of the A cup was won by Mr.
C"'„,
hits in the 10 rounds. lmtpany, who made seven
had not previously fire 4
eynoyador the competitors
600 yards, and it
W
was found, after the contest as majority of the shots had struck the butt from one
nt over;
that the
g a
much strongeleva-
to four inches over the target, there
wind blowing up the range, and too
tion given to the rifle. The commanding
officer
(Lord Radstock) has signified his intention
of giving a prize of £5, to be competed for early in
the spring, by those members who attend the
greatest number of parades and drills during the
winter months. The Weetley Richards breech..
loader will also be competed for at the same time.
Yesterday afternoon the ceremony of presenting
prizes to the Bth Surrey Rifle Corps took place at
the King's Head, Marketplace, Epsom. The con-
tests had been decided some days since at the Ep-
som Rifle-ground, near the Downs, where there is
a range of 1,100 yards. The prizes were divided
into two classes of recruits, and two classes for the
other members of the corps, and the following re-
sults were obtained :—For recruits, five rounds at
150 yards, first prize, £2 10s., Mr. Sayers ; second
prize, £2, Mr. Tidey ; third prize, £l, Mr. W.
Keeling. At 200 yards, first prize, £3, Mr, Rasch;
second prize, £2 10s., Mr. Streadwick ; third prize,
£1 10s., Mr. Sawyer. There was also a second-
class prize, consisting of a silver cup, value £4, to
I awarded to the marksman making the greatest

number of points at the two above-mentioned
ranges. Mr. Streadwick won this prize. The first-
class prizes were—At 300 yards—first prize, /3
10s., Mr. Holland ; second prize, /2 10s., Mr. W.
Holland. At 400 yards—first prize, £3, Mr. G. R.
Keeling ; second prize, £2, Mr. Peake. At 600
yards—first prize, /3 10s., Sergeant W. Alexan-
der; second prize, £2 10s., Mr. Peake. At 700
yards—first prize, /3 10s., Mr. Hards ; second
prize, /2 10s., Mr. H. Andrews. A prize cuR for
the man making the greatest number of shots in
the aggregate at the four ranges collectively, won
by Mr. Keeling. There was also a cup, value five
guineas, for the greatest score at 900 yards, five
shots, the competitors being the best 10 men making
the greatest number of points at 300, 400, 600, and
700 yards collectively. This cup was the gift
of the Hon. Mrs. Greville Howard, of Ashtead-
park. Conjointly with this prize was a hand-
some silver challenge medal, presented by Mrs.
James Norris, of Epsom, the medal to be held for
one year, but if won for two consecutive years by
the same member to become his property. Mr.
Hards was successful in winning this prize, having
scored five points ; and Mr. Peake took a second
prize in cash, for the next best score, four points.
A cup, value /5 55., presented by Mr. E. W.
Northey, of Epsom, for the best shot and regular
attendance at drill, was given to Mr. Chutter. The
donor, in presenting this prize, announced his in-
tention of giving a similar prize under similar con-
ditions for 1861. Mr, Carter, of Epsom, also pre-
sented four medals, won at 200 yards' range by
Captain Hastie, at 300 yards by Mr. Radford,
and another by Mr. Wood, at the same range ; at
600 yards, Mr. Keeling. The several donors of
the special prizes having presented them to the
winners, and the general prizes having been given
by Mr. Stillwell, in the name of the subscribers,
Captain Hastie returned thanks on behalf of the
corps, and after three cheers for the Queen and the
ladies, the business terminated.
The Ist Surrey Rifles on Saturday last met at
head-quarters, and marched out, preceded by their
band, through Peckham, Camberwell, Denmark-
hill, to Brockwell Hall, Dulwich, the residence of
Mr. W, H. Cox. After going through a few evolu-
tions, and having partaken of the refreshments
kindly provided by Mr. Cox, the corps marched
through Half Moon-lane into Dulwich, and home
again to Camberwell-green, where they were dis-
missed, after giving three hearty cheers for Lieut.-
Colonel Macdonald, who congratulated the Ist Sur-
rey on having had a fine Saturday. On this occa-
sion the Cadet Company marched with the corps
for the first time. The number attending was over
300, and another march out will take place on
Saturday week.

In order to encourage the practice of the Ist
North York Rifle Volunteers, as shown by the
high scoring in their two recent shooting contests,
the Ven. Archdeacon Long (East Riding) has in-
timated his intention to present the corps with a
second silver cup, which, while being of as
great pecuniary value, will differ from the Fitz-
william Challenge Cup in becoming the abso-
lute property of the fortunate winner. Lieu-
tenant• General N. Norclife, of Langton-hall, York-
shire, is also to present the eorps with a rifle. The
competition for these extra prizes will, it is expected,
take place early in spring. Sir J. V. B. Johnston,
M.P., of Hackness-hall, Yorkshire, has also an-
nounced his intention to present the 6th North York
(Scarborough) Volunteers with a silver cup as a
prize for the best shot. Sir John has further in-
vited the corps to Haekness at Christmas, and has
promised to provide them an enemy to attack in
the shape of Old English Christmas cheer.
The Lord Lieutenant of the counties of Northum-
berland and Newcastle-upon-Tyne has co nmuni-
cated to Sir John Fife, Lieut.-Col. Commandant of
the Ist Newcastle Rifle Volunteers, the permission
of the Secretary of State to organise in Newcastle
a seeend battalion, the recruiting for which is going
on steadily. A fund is also being raised in the
town for the purpose of providing a covered drill-
house for the corps, which will, it is expected, afford
the space for both battalions of 700 men each. The
Right Hon. T. E. Headlam, M.P., has offered a
prize to be shot for by the members of the corps,
and several smaller prizes have been offered by gen-
tlemen in the town with a similar purpose.

STORM AT WICJ

Seldom has the coast of Caithness been visited by
a more severe storm than that which burst upon it
on Wednesday last, rivalling as it did any gale of
the present year, with the exception of the hurri-
cane of the 3d of last month. In the early part of
the week a considerable quantity of snow fell, ac-
companied by a strong north-westerly gale, and
followed by a fresh, under the influence of which
the snow disappeared, torrents of rain poured down,
and a hurricane of southeasterly wind threw such
a mass of sea ashore in tremendous columns as has
not been seen, even on this exposed coast, for many
years. Waves of terrific power dashed themselves
against the frowning rocks that protect our coast,
and threw immense masses of spray almost in-
credible distances into the interior of the coun-
try. The storm was in some small degree
presaged on Tuesday, when the Prince Consort
steamer, on her southern voyage, had a good
deal of difficulty in getting her cargo taken on
board. Next morning the bay was quite inaccessible,
and the Hamburg had to proceed to Ackergill. By
midday the storm had greatly increased, during
which a number of vessels were observed running
in the direction of the Orkneys, for the shelter
which could not be found on this dangerous and
refugeless coast ; among others one was a coal-laden
vessel for Wick, another was bound for Lybster,
and the other two were the Charles and Ann Flem-
ing of this port. A fifth, the Martha, of Wick,
John Cormack, master, with staves for Wick from
Perth, and which had sailed from Fraserburgh on
Tuesday, ran for Sinclair's Bay, where anchor was
cast on 1 Vednesday evening. In the morning she
was riding all right, but as the gale and sea in
creased, It was evident that she was critically
situated, and great anxiety was felt for the crew.
Some fishermen unsuccessfully attempted on the
previous evening to get an anchor on board, to
render her more safe, as it was evident, even then,
from her heavy pitchings and heavings, that the
moorings might prove insufficient. On Thursday
morning the dangerous position of the Martha be-
came known at Wick, and it was not long till con-
siderable anxiety was manifested throughout the
town. With his characteristic promptitude, Capt.
Tudor despatched a messenger to Ackergill to
ascertain the state of the vessel. On his return he
reported that both the Martha and her crew were
in imminent danger, upon which Captain Tudor
ordered that the lifeboat should at once be conveyed
to Ackergill, which was done with a readiness and
speed that cannot be too highly commended, Capt.
Tudor himself driving out in a gig, with lifelines
and lifebelts, to make the needed arrangements be-
fore the arrival of the lifeboat. On reaching the
locality Capt. Tudor found that a steamer's boat
had been conveyed along the beach from Ackergill
to opposite where the Martha lay at anchor ; and
he instantly prepared to have the steamer's boat
manned ; putting on a cork jacket, and setting his
customary example of daring and promptitude in
such cases of urgency; he was speedily accompanied
by the folio wing whose names deserve to be recorded :
—Finlay M.Lean,gamekeeper,Ackergill ; W.Thain,
fisherman, Ackergill ; David Taylor, fisherman,
Broadhaven; J.Donaldson,fisherman,Pultneytown ;
William Thain, jun., fisherman, Ackergill; Rode•
rick M'Leod, fisherman, Wick ; John Sutherland,
seaman, Pulteneytown ; John Oag, carpenter, Pul-
teneytown ; George Cormack, fisherman, Pulteney-
town. Launched under the farm of Shorelands,
the boat, steered by Capt. Tudor, proceeded on her
voyage of mercy, narrowly escaping being over-
whelmed by two tremendous billows, one of which
completely filled her, and the large mass of specta-
tors that had by this time lined the beach awaited
With intense anxiety the appearance of the boat
after the subsidence Of the wave. It was wonderful
how beautifully she emerged and mounted on the
summit of a smaller but still heavy billow, and with
iwiuhlaletd toperseverancearadas and energy the noble. crew
of water on board the
The heavier of the
two seas, in
over, but in a coupletht
of seconds injecting
a large quantity
boat, threw Capt. Tudor
was again at his post,
seconds the gallant captain
speeding away toward:ntdh the boat was rapidly
circumstance occurred till theeebo'rrernasyseeLereNwo reached
aoctk
tahned his com-
teheir ves_sel, now
the Martha's side, when Mr.
panion gratefully took advantag
nity afforded them. of leauing opportu-
'telling and rolling at a fearful rate.
pi
In a few
minutes the boat wasi once more on her voyage to
Guided by Capt. 'Tudor with great skill the
land.
more dangerous seas were avoided till she reached
the land breakers, when a scene of
.intense interest
was witnessed. The crowds
usdssopnfeanser
hues idsitig theirpeetators
stood gazing in agonised
breath as each successive wave burst upon the boat