The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-12 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

On Saturday a shooting match between the
members of the Hampstead (3d Middlesex) Volun-
teer Rifles came off at the practice-ground belong-
ing to the corps at Childs-hill, Hampstead. The
prizes to be shot for consisted cf a Whitworth rifle
given by Mr. Hoare, and a silver challenge medal
given by the officer commanding ; the medal to be
held until the conclusion of the class shooting next
year, when it will pass to the member who has
made the highest score in such shooting, and if
gained by the same member for two years succes-
sively it will become the property of such member.
The last prize was a Lancaster rifle given by En-
sign Holford and a sum of money to the next best
shots. The first prize (the Whitworth rifle) was
won by Private Donne, who made 14 points ; Cor-
poral Alexander also scored 14. The tie, on being
shot off, resulted in favour of Donne ; Alexander,
as the next best shot, was presented with three
guineas. The second prize was won by Private
Field, who scored 15. This prize was also tied for
by Private Field, Corporal Alexander, and Private
G. Scott. Alexander, who scored 13, was presented
with three guineas. The third prize was won by
Private G. Scott. The money prize of three guineas
was tied for by Corporal Poller and Private Sharp,
Poller king the winner.
On Friday evening, at a general parade of the
27th Corps (Deptford Dock and Victualling Yards),
Kent Rifle Volunteers, the following newly-ap-
pointed officers read their commissions—viz., Cap-
tain Fincham, Lieutenant Stubbing, Ensign Brown,
and Ensign. Sturgess. Captain Fincham (Master
Shipwright of the dockyard) congratulated the
corps on the reputation it had acquired for efficiency
in the battalion drill, and expressed the sense of
honour he felt in taking command of a company.
He said that the artisans composing the corps might
well feel proud of the patriotic cause they had
taken in hand, and he thought it highly creditable
to them that after the fatigue of a hard day's work
they should be content during the evening to go
through a laborious drill, with a view of becoming
efficient defenders of their country, should any dare
to invade it.

On Friday next the following corps of the Ist
Battalion Kent Rifle Volunteers, 7th, 13th, 21st,
25th, 27th, 28th, and 34th, will assemble on the
Parade, at the Royal Victoria-yard, Deptford, for
inspection by Colonel Luard, Assistant•luspector
of Volunteers.

The Wtst Middlesex Rifles mustered in consider-
able force on Saturday afternoon at Portman
barracks, Oxford-street, and proceeded thence to
Hyde Park, where they were inspected by Colonel
M'Murdo, who complimented them upon the state
of efficiency to which they had attained. The ground
was kept during the inspection by the South Mid-
dlesex Volunteers.

The 22d Surrey Rifles made their first appearance
in public on Saturday, under the command of
Captain Hinxman, M.D. Having assembled at
head-quarters (55, Westminster-bridge-road), they
marched to Clapham-common. Afrer being put
through various evolutions they returned,
highly satisfied with the day's proceedings.
The 22d Surrey is composed chiefly of
workmen, and has been accepted by Government.
The cost of uniform being moderate, and the
subscription merely nominal, a large increase in
their numbers may be expected.
The Earl of Hardwicke, Lord-Lieutenant of
Cambridgeshire; reviewed the Cambridgeshire or
Ely Rifle Volunteers on Wednesday last, in a large
field near the Littleport-road. The corps having
gone through an hour's manceuvres and concluded
with skirmishing and firing three volleys, his Lord-
ship addressed it in complimentary terms, remark-
ing that the universal feeling in respect to this
movement was one of great encouragement to the
Volunteers. That feeling was one of thankfulness,
and by the step which they had been pleased to
take they had given a sense of security to the fire-
sides of the country which did not exist 12 months
ago. At a dinner which took place after the review
the noble earl, in acknowledging the toast of his
health, said of what he had seen that day, and what
he had seen in other places in the country, he would
only remark that such was the character of the
various corps that they were eminently worthy of
the imitation of any corps in the united kingdom.
They must next turn their minds, not only to dis-
cipline and duty, but as to the mode in which, if
called upon, they were equipped to take the field.
If such a calamity were to arise it would be a sudden
call; there would be little or no notice. The re-
soured; of other nations in Europe were such that
no notice would be given in the event of a descent
upon these shores. Should this occur, they would
be at once called upon to rush to the railways,
and What comforts were they supplied with ?
They had no knapsacks, no greatcoats, and
without these their
position would be extremely
miserable indeed. They
linen, combs, brushes, andwoother elqi tutilee aaa changefa
rts ; ofa
greatcoat was an absolute necessity,
and he should
recommend it, with a knapsack, a ian •
ckintosh cloth
coat, which, if properly cut, would well wrap them
round, and in which they could sleep on the ground
in defiance of cold and rheumatism. The Volun-
teers had undertaken a noble duty, and nothing
connected with it
should be half done. Their
to the present time were next to
equipments up
useless. He should take en early opportunity of
adopting the proper steps for making her Majesty
had seen, and be should
acquainted with what he

likewise take advantage of the position in which
he was placed of putting all the county corps into
one battalion under the command of an adjutant
and paid offieer of the Crown. In the course of
the day a silver bugle, subscribed for by the ladies
of Ely, was presented to the corps.
The volunteer movement is spreading in the
borough of Leeds. A good number of riflemen and
artillerymen have been enrolled, including all classes ,
of the people, and efforts are being made to increase
the number, especially by enrolling persons in the
suburban parts of the borough. In furtherance of
this object a well-attended public meeting was held
at Kirkstall, on Thursday evening last, Mr. G. S.
B M.P., in the chair, who, in the course of
his ee
speechrof
in opening the proceedings said—" I ven-
turec to think that English patriotism, so far from
retrograding, outshines even that of our
heroic forefathers. It was the sublime motto of
yoffmerasn
htiomds
eolfhwisildliuntgyl.y"
folrVthheenservice
the valiant and immortal Nelson that " England
cshomeuvnaentrry there is no longer room for this ex-
eEoxfnphgeilcsits
pectation. We are not conscripts, but Volunteers
(Cheers.) We are prepared for contingencies and
the march of events, able and resolved to take
care of oureelves and hold our own, and if any rash
adventurer should dare to pop the question of an-
nexation we are ready primed to pop the answer,
and with our rifles to our shoulders once more to
prove before the world that Britons never will be
slaves.' " (Cheers.) The following resolution, on
the motion of Dr. Whittaker, seconded by Captain
Chamberlain, of the Ist West York (Leeds) Volun-
teer Artillery, was adopted unanimously :
"In the present agitated state of Europe it is
requisite that we should employ all available means
for resisting any aggression upon our trade, our
commerce, or our native shores ; and the most cer-
tain, and at the same time most economical rceans
of securing peace, is the encouragement of the Vo-
lunteer movement, and in furtherance of that ob-
ject—namely, the extension and encouragement of
the Yolunteer movement—we pledge ourselves to
use our utmost endeavours to promote the forma-
tion of a Volunteer corps for Kirkstall and the sur-
rounding district."
A committee was appointed to carry this resolution
into effect. It was resolved that the company to
be formed should be artillery, and upwards of 50
" good men and true" gave in their names as Volun-
teers before the meeting broke up.
Notwithstanding the lateness of the season a
good deal of activity continues to be displayed in
connexion with the movement in Suffolk. Ano-
ther shooting match has taken place at Finba-
rough-park, near Stowmarket, among the
members of the 6th Suffolk corps, the first prize (a
rifle given by Sergeant-Armourer Colson) having
been won by Private Oxer, who scored 19 points;
~the second by Sergeant Matthew, 16 points; and
the third by Corporal Matthew, 14 points. The
ranges were 200,300, and 400 yards, and the shoot-
ing was, on the whole, very creditable. A public
meeting has been held in the Bungay Corn Ex-
change to increase the interest felt in the movement
in that neighbourhood, and 25 additional men have
been obtained for the local corps. Colonel Shafto
Adair has offered £lOO towards the cost of equip-
ping an extra number of men, and a committee have
decided to pay half the cost of clothing for those
who cannot afford to purchase the whole.
On Saturday afternoon a meeting was held at
Norwich—Colonel Brett, commandant of the Nor-
wich battalion, in the chair—to consider the pro-
priety of organising a mounted corps in Norfolk.
Captain Hay Gurney stated that he had ascertained
that the opinion of the Government on the subject
of mounted Volunteers was that they should be
treated, not as cavalry, but as mounted infantry.
It was considered that cavalry were of no use unless
there were large and very highly-trained bodies of
them ; it was not likely that Volunteers would be-
come thus highly trained, but it was thought that
if expert riflemen could be moved quickly from place
to Place they might become extremely serviceable.
Thus mounted Volunteers would not be required
to fire from their horses, but they would have
to dismount and skirmish on foot. It was
suggested that the most suitable weapon would be a
Westly Richards' breech-loading carbine, cost-
ing £8 89., and the whole expense of the outfit was
estimated at £l5 per man, exclusive of a cloak,
which would be 30s. to .50s. more. Captain Gur-
ney stated that he thought from what had been said
by the Deputy-Assistant•Adjutant-General that the
Government would allow sabres. A committee of
five gentlemen was appointed to make the neces-
sary arrangements for the organisation of the pro-
posed corps, if the project receives sufficient sup.
port.

The members for King's Lynn—Lord Stanley
and Mr. S. IL Gurney—having offered three cups
for competition among the Volunteers of the town,
a contest took place in the course of last week.
The value of the first cup was £2O, the second £lO,
and third £5 ; and the successful competitors were
Privates Agger, Potter, and Elliot. The ranges
were two shots at 200 yards, two at 300 yards,
three at 500 yards, and three at 000 yards ; and
the highest number of points made by any of the
40 competitors was 11.
On Thursday afternoon the Ist Company of
Worcester Volunteers was inspected at Worcester
by Lieutenant-Colonel Scobell, colonel of the bat-
talion. The colonel on arriving on the ground was
received by the officers and men presenting arms.
He then made ascareful inspection of the company,
after which the men were put through various evo-
lutions by Captain M'Leod, the whole of which
were executed in a manner which showed how
much attention had been given to their exercises.
At the close of the evolutions Colonel Scobell ad-
dressed the company, complimenting them on their
manly and soldierlike bearing, and expressing a
hope that they would all meet next spring for firing
practice.

TILE DIPLOMATIC DISPUTE IVITII
PARAGUAY.

The Paris journal Le Pays, of Nov. 5, contains a long
article on the differences existing between this country and
the Republic of Paraguay, in which, after recapitulating
the opinions lately expressed by the leading English jour-
nals, it expresses a hope that Senor Calve, the Paraguayan
Minister, will be permitted to plead his cause personally, a
favour which the English Government, up to this moment,
has refused him, thereby presenting a rnarked contrast to
his recognition, with so much empressement, at the Court of
tho Tuileries. It doubts not that the English Cabinet will
follow some such precedent as that adopted by the United
States in a somewhat similar matter, namely, the claim of
Mr. Hopkinson, the American consul at Ascension, against
the Paraguayan Government. A mixed commission was
appointed, which carefully investigated the claims, and de-
cided in favour of Paraguay, the demands of Hopkinson
and his associates having been shown to be entirely without
foundation. That decision, continues Le Pays, affords a
gratifying instance of a strong Government protecting one
of loss strength, and it lays stress on the notable fact,
that in the difference between Paraguay and the United
States the parties were of each nation, whilst in the differ-
ence between England and Paraguay the claimant, Santiago
Coustall, is only the son of a pretended English or Belgian
subject, though a naturalised Monte Videan, and has un-
doubtedly conspired against the life of the Paraguay Presi-
dent. These views of the justice of the Paraguayan cause
are, it is observed, endorsed and affirmed by an eminent
English jurisconsult, Dr.Phillimore, of the Admiralty Court,
whose opinion being opposed to the view taken by the Eng •
lish Government, must be regarded as strictly impartial.
The French writer notices the great interest which both
countries have in a peaceful solution of the difference, and
is confident that the present misunderstanding will not be
of long continuance. Reference is made to the recent an-
p7ara.nce of a volume, containing all the official documents
relating to the mediation of Paraguay between Buenos
Ayres and the Argentine Confederation, the success of
which was mainly owing to the efforts made by General
Lopez (sea of the Paraguayan President), a man of
energy and of enlarged discernment, as well as of the
strongeet patriotic impulses. The Parisian journalist is
impressed with the rapid growth of Paraguay, which has
sprung into national existence within a comparatively
recent period, and now holds an honourable place in the
hierarchy of nations. As his excuse for calling the atten-
tion of the French public to the suisject, ha remarks the
flourishing condition of Paraguay, and considers it a mate-
rial guarantee for a prosperous future throughout that re-
gion, and for increasing commercial relations between France
and all the States of La Flat The writer concludes with

. ,e.
a strong encomium on the capacity and conciliatory de-
meanour of Senor Don C. Calvo, the Paraguayan plenipo-
tentiary. who appears to have created a most favourable im-
pression in all French circles, and to have begotten an
earnest hope that his mission to Europe, especially to Eng-
land, may be crowned by the results which he was so well
warranted in anticipating.