The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-24 00:00:00

TIE VOLUNTEE.R MOVEMENT.

On Tuesday last at 5 p.m., the 26th Middlesex
(Her Majesty's Customs) Rifle Volunteers, left the
quay of the Custom-house and marched to the
Tower, under the command of Major Ralph Wm.
Grey, their commandant, where by direction of the
Secretary of State for War they were inspected by,
Major A. A. Nelson, assistant inspector of the dis-
trict. He stated that, although an old inspecting-
officer in Scotland, this was the first volunteer
corps he had inspected in England, and that he
should be perfectly satisfied if he found the other
corps of his district equal in appearance and effi-
ciency to the 26th Middlesex.
On Monday last, the 20th Middlesex, five com-
panies, and 39th Bloomsbury, two companies, went
to St. Alban's, where they were joined by the
Watford, St. Alban's, Ashridge, and Berkham-
stead (Hertfordshire) Corps. They formed 11
companies, and were put through battalion and
light infantry exercise by Lieut.-Col. Bigge, com-
manding the two former corps. A field of 20 acres
was kindly placed at his disposal for that purpose.
A variety of manoeuvres were executed with admi-
rable precision by the volunteers, and elicited great
applause from the thousands of persons assembled.
rhe drill, which commenced at 5.30, terminated
soon. after 8 o'clock. The London and North-
Western Railway Company took the London corns
to St. Alban's and back for ls.per head.
The 3d Manchester Rifle Corps, which already
musters about 750 rank and file, has received ano-
ther strong company, and a tenth is being rapidly
formed. One of the chief characteristics of this
regiment is, that its ranks are filled by both wealthy
merchants and mechanics, who attend their drills
with equal regularity. The regiment, under the
command of Lieut.-Col. the Hon. A. Egertoh,
has already gained a high state of efficiency. Be-
sides the regular evening drills, there is always a
strong muster for battalion drill once a week.
Captain Brooks is now arranging a grand rifle con-
test, which is to take place in Lancashire about the
25th September and the following days. As there
is a large sum (the surplus of the fund received at
the Newton review) to offer for prizes, and the plans
are already very complete, it is fully expected that
the meeting (which is intended to be an annual one)
will be second to none but that at Wimbledon.
There will be liberal prizes offered to " All
Corners."

The Ist, 3d, 4th, sth, and Bth companies of Wor-
cestershire Rifle Volunteers, under Lieut.-Colonel
Knight, M.P., commanding the Ist battalion, were
assembled on Saturday in the grounds of Spring-
grove, the seat of Mr. Walter C. Hemming, late
High Sheriff of the county, for battalion drill
and inspection by Lord Lyttleton, Lord Lieute-
nant of the county. Each company was ancompa-
flied by its band, and upwards of 400 men were
under arms. The battalion, having gone through
the manual and platoon exercise and marched
past, went through several manoeuvres with
great steadiness and precision. At the conclusion
of the review Lord Lyttelton and the Lieutenant-
Colonel addressed the men, and expressed their
great gratification at the efficiency of the battalion.
An official inspection of the 2d Hampshire Volun-
teer Rifle Corps took place on Wednesday evening,
in the Western Park at Southampton, by Lieute-
nant-Colonel Luard, district inspector of Volun-
teers. In pursuance of a battalion order, the corps
paradedv at half-past six o'clock, and went through
In ariety of evolutions, which were all performed
in. a, highly
the ins satisfactory manner. At the close of
satisfaellieoetion the gallant officer expressed his
attained, :111,1.t the efficiency to which the corps had
The ground ~,,,Nvas loudly cheered by the Volunteers.
oriata_kept by the members of the Bth
Hampshire
u) Volunteer Rifles, who attended
for the purpose
under their commanding officer,
Capt. Robert Richardson, accompanied by their
splendid band. , The band of the Southampton
was o,lso, In attendance, and the inspection
corps
was witnessed by several thousands of spectators.
Col. Luard was: assisted by
eapt. Rodne-O'Shea,
the Adjutant of the 2d Hampshire,
and Major
Lacy.
On Wednesdory eight silver bugles were presented
by, the ladies of Portsmouth to the sth Hants
Volunteer Rifle Corps. The garrison Parade-ground
had been name d as the scene of the Presentation,
and the corps I were ordered to parade there at 4.30
P.m., and eza ctly at that time the sth Hants,

headed by their band, and under the command of
Major J. P. Vallancey, marched on the ground and
took up position, followed by the 2d Hants Artil-
lery, and detachments of Rifle Volunteers from
Gosport, Havant, Fareham, &c. The 51 h Hants
then formed three sides of a square with a pile of
drums in the centre, on which were placed the
bugles about to be presented. Major• General Lord
W. Paulet, C. 8., commanding the south-west dis-
trict, and Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth,
accompanied by Colonels Somerset, C. 113., and
Thaekwell, Captain Milligan, aide-de-camp, Major
Breton, &c., soon after wards arrived .on the
ground, and was received by the Volunteers with a
general salute. Mrs. Vallancey, the wife of the gal-
lant commandant, was then led forward by the R,ev.
J. P. M'Ghie, and having addressed the corps i❑
appropriate terms, delivered the bugles to the cap-
tains of the respective companies. Major Vallancey
replied on behalf of the corps. Marching past in
open columns of companies and quarter distance
column, wheeling into line, advancing, halting, and
presenting arms closed the proceedings. Lord
Paulet, in addressing the men, impressed upon
them the necessity of a strict attention to the de-
tails of drill, and said that he witnessed the 'move-
ments of the various metropolitan and other corps
at the late review in Hyde-park, but he had seen
no corps that could in any way excel the sth Hants,
and he should feel proud, if at any time their ser-
vices should be required for the defence of their
country, to have the aid of such a body of men to
cover the movements of any regular troops he might
have under his command. His lordship then rode
along the front end rear of the different corps on
the ground, and closely inspected each.
The 2d or Wycomb sub-division of Buckingham-
shire Rifle Volunteers were inspected by Lieut.-Col.
lbbetson on Wednesday last, when, in spite of the
unfavourable state of the weather, the rain pouring
during the great part of the time, the corps executed
their movements most creditably. The general
efficiency and soldierlike bearing of the members
elicited high encomiums from the gallant colonel.
The inspection took place in the park of Wycombe
Abbey, the seat of Lord Carington, the Lord Lieu-
tenant of the county, who has, from the first for-
mation of the corps, most liberally granted its use
for the drill of the members, together with a prac-
tice range in the grounds of 600 yards. A large
gathering of the county Volunteers will take place
at Wycombe early in October to compete for three
silver cups, of the aggregate value of 50 guineas,
offered as prizes by his lordship, as well as to wit-
ness the presentation of a silver bugle, the gift of
Lady Carington. Lieut. Williams, the commanding
officer of this corps, was the sole representative of
the county in the contest at Wimbledon, and had
the honour of being placed third in the competition
for her Majesty's prize.
Mr. Barnard, the successful competitor for Mr.
Daw's prize, has since presented to the members of
the Victoria Rifles, who have provided themselves
with rifles of Mr. Daw's manufacture, a Jacob's
rifle, of the value of 25 guineas, to be shot for by
them. After the preliminary trial, 20 rounds and
400 yards, to elect the three best shots, it was de-
cided in favour of Mr. Badeley, Mr. Braithwaite,
and Mr. Tomkins, who accordingly met at the
Victoria Rifle grounds at Kilburn on Wednesday
for the final contest. Notwithstanding the incle-
mency of the weather the gentlemen were at their
posts at the time appointed—viz., 4 o'clock. The
number of rounds was 10, to be fired at 400 yards
distance; the target being 6 feet square with a 2
feet centre. After some good shooting the prize
was awarded to Mr. Joseph Braithwaite of Notting-
hill.