The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-19 00:00:00

PUBLIC JotrnNALs. PRESENTATION OF TITE TV.II3thrEDOY
PRIZE'S.

- The Times, in surveying the efforts made by the friends
of the Irish Church in the Upper House, observes that
they could not hope to obtain terms which would, indeed,
hive stultified the whole measure, and made Mr. Gladstone
the most ridiculous of politicians. There was not a chance
but that the Lower House would immediately divest their
own measure of its cumbrous additions, and confine it to
the work originally assigned to it. The only altera-
tions allowed have been those which favour quicker
despatch, and the speedier deliverance of the State from
all hand in the affairs of the new Church of Ireland.
Well, then, it remains to be asked to what good this
last useless battle? It has done no good, except by
giving the opportunity of some minor improvements. It
has not obtained better terms, for better terms could not
be desired for the Irish Church. It has not done anything
to clear the Irish Church of the old imputation that it is
a Church of money and land, of benefices, sees and stalls,
and not of hearts and souls. It has left the spiritual
character of the Church much as it found it : so also its
place in political estimation. The Irish Church had a
certain marked character, which has, in truth, been fatal
to it. Unfortunately, its friends have started it on
its new career with that same character unchanged.
They have taken care that it shall still bear the
doubtful honours of the battle for temporal things,
the Largain for what it can get, and the readiness
to sacrifice even the higher for the lower considerations.
We may think this might have been avoided. But.people
Will still do as theydid before, and act on every new occa-
sion by the irresistible law of character. The Irish Church
would not have been the Irish Church if it had not shown
itself so ready to barter and haggle. Some of its friends, no
doubt, had souls above such a trade ; but every Church must
submit to be judged by those who speak and act for it.
We presume it to be satisfied with its bishops and lay
spokesmen. It is not too late to make some little repara-
tion. If the House of Lords cheerfully and promptly
accepts the popular voice which has spoken through the
Commons that will somewhat mend matters, and, at all
events, put an end to the discussion, which many will be
glad to forget if they can.
The Standard thinks that two remarks, made from op-
posite sides of the Houses by two of its most experienced
and influential members, aptly explain the position in
which the Commons now stand towards the Government
on one side and the House of Lords on the other. Mr.
Bright described Mr. Gladstone as the most powerful
Minister of recent times. Mr. Disraeli attributed the
wholesale and'ciiscourteutts rejection of the Lords' amend-
silents to the influence of "the imperious spirit which
guides our fortunes." Both observations were strictly
just and very significant. No Minister since the death of
Mr. Pitt has ever exercised over the House of Commons
_so despotic an authority as that now possessed by Mr.
Gladstone, or has ever used his authority in so tyran-
nical and imperious a spirit. There can be no
doubt that Mr. Bright's hint at a dissolution—and
we grant that it was only a hint—was not thrown out
without a distinct purpose. Whether the threat is
likely to be executed is quite another matter, and one on
twhich we are not inclined to give Mr. Bright credit for so
much serious intent. A majority of 110 is not likely to
be increased, and might be seriously damaged by a disso-
lution. But what other course is open to Mr. Gladstone,
if the Lords adhere to their amendments, we do not see;
for the talk of cleating peers enough to reverse majoritie
of 80 and 100 is mere passionate bluster. That the Lords
will adhere we can hardly doubt. The consequences of
so doing may be serious; but scarcely morn serious then
those of a submission which would destroy entirely the
constitutional balance of power, and leave us without a
single check or safeguard against the imperious
of one despotic statesman. The idea that a Minister
who can command a popular majority is to do what he
pleases with both the Administration and the Legislature
is not the doctrine of constitutional government, but of
French Imperialism ; a doctrine against which the depu-
ties of France have at last rebelled, and which, assured'e
the Peers of England are not likely to accept.
The Daily News thinks that Lord Granville made as
remark on Friday which betrayed a very lamentable state
of mind. As • a speaker,- he said, he "constantly
mumbled, and no one was more often stated to have
been `perfectly unintelligible in the gallery.'" His
lordship expressed no penitence or inattention to reform.
He spoke with something of the complacency with
which a very dexterous pickpocket might boast of his
criminal practices and recite the number of his pre-
vious convictions. The general accuracy with which
the debates are reported was alleged by the Peers as
a ground for declining to remedy the acoustical defects
of the House of Lords ; but that general accuracy
is secured by an expenditure of trouble and
attention, and by a degree of mental and physical
exertion, half of which would be saved in a better
constructed building. As to the seats immediately behind
those in which the reporters sit, there are not half-a-dozen
of the more eminent peers who can make themselves con-
tinously audible to the occupants of them. The Duke of
Argyll, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Cairns, and Lord
Salisbury almost exhaust the list of articulately speaking
men. The Peers indeed seem to care very little whether
they are heard or not. Perhaps the practidal estimate
thus implied of the value of their own debates is. correct.
They appear to regard the Reporters' Gallery as a sort of
Dionysius's ear, at which the tyrant Demos is constantly
listening; and that they are bound to defeat his jealous
curiosity by mumbling. Perhaps this is an application
of the theory of the irresponsibility of an hereditary
Legislature to any authority outside itself. The value of
a House of Mumblers is, however, very questionable. A
House of Mutes would do almost as well.

The PM says that the 'Wimbledon meeting was termi-
nated on Saturday by the most successful review, all
things considered, that has yet taken place there. True,
the numbers present did not come up to those of some
former years. But satisfactory reasons are assignable for
this falling off ; and, besides, the value of such displays is
more accurately appraised by means of tests other than
that of mere numbers. It must be remembered that the
metropolitan corps have attended so many field days of
various kinds that not only has the novelty of them
worn off, but the members have obtained a very
considerable knowledge of brigade movements. The
novelty of brigading regular troops with the
volunteers, introduced this year at Wimbledon
is one of such manifest advantage that it is to be
hoped it may be the inauguration of an established
annual custom. It is by means of combination or
this kind that the volunteers will be encouraged to turn
out in respectable numbers, and will most readily learn
something of the precision, steadiness, and discipline
bee scary for the efficient performance of field manrcuvres
on a large scale. Thus the Witnbledon meeting Las been
marked by distinguishing features that will not readily
be forgotten, and that testify to the wonderful perfection
to which ten years' steady practice and attention have
brought rifle shooting. It is to be hoped that this meeting
will continue in favour with the volunteers, for its effects
are plainly and distinctly to be seen ; and, so far as the
public are concerned, there has been on this occasion an
exceedingly gratifying attendance.

The Herald says that the Grenville Murray scandal has
entered upon a new stage of its history. For some hours
on Saturday Mr. Knox was engaged in hearing evidencz
in support of a summons against Mr. Murray for perjury
alleged to have been committed by him when giving
evidence in support of a charge of assault which made so
much talk a few days ago. A great part of Saturday's
sitting was taken up with a legal argument as to the
competency of the magistrate to hear the case at" all
under existing circumstances. It was urged that the
charges against Lord Carington were still undeter-
mined, as his lordship stands committed to take
his trial upon the one, and has been bound over in
his own recoguisances on account of the other, so that in
neither case has a final deliverance been pronounced, and
it is not usual to try for perjury until the proceeding in
which it is supposed to have been committed has come to
an end. Mr. Knox very properly declined to give effect
to the objection, on the ground that it was better for
everybody that the whole truth should come out as
speedily as possible.• If Mr. Grenville Murray be
innocent he ought not toremainunder the reflection which
being accused of such a crime casts upon him. If he be
guilty, justice, whether to individuals or to the public,
requires that such delinquency should not pass unexposed
or unpunished a single day longer than is absolutely
necessary. For these reasons we are glad that Mr. Knox
determined to enter upon this investigation, and shall
watch its subsequent stages with no little interest and
curiosity.

The Telegraph remarks that Wimbledon presents the
best of all opporttinities Un- seeing what the steady nerves
and sure eyes of Britons oan now effect with the best-
made rifles. To read about the shooting is one thing ;it
quite another and more surprising experience tc
watch C,rporid Cameron—or any other crack shot--
levelling at a black speck two-thirds of a mile off, and
to note bow the unerring Land and faultless sight at that
distance can put the bullet upon the bull's eye. The
feats of "Leather-stockings" or Drr l'reischutz, art
child's play compared with what has been done during
this past fortnight at Wimbledon ; and, truly, the "Deer
slayer" of Fenimore Cooper would have stared in envy
and amazement, if he had seen some of the breechloade
practice, and heard the bullets raining upon the butt,
while the marksman lay upon his back or stomach--a
sort of siege-train in himself. It is not a boas'
to sily that no marksman in the world can compare
with the flower of our riflemen. It is a, simple
fact V.hich Switzerland and Belgium, as well as
wouhl readily acknowledge ; and, although
much is Inc to the extraordinary perfection of manufac-
ture in the weapons now furnished by British manufac-
turers, the innate gift of the race counts f,r very much,
and tells in our favour as it did in the drys of the long
bow atsl tile cross-bow, or a. 4 it would do aver,
a bett,r arum invented than the rifled musket.
To make a perfect marksman demands a correla
tien of organs and senses, which cannot be
acquired by mere practice ; it is a gift, which nature
has bountifully bestowed upon Ow English people.
Such men as Mr. Boss—who is said to have killed twenty
swallows in succession with a duelling pistol—grow
naturally upon our soil ; and it is well for Britain that the
requisite conformation of nerve and muscle is ao plentiful
in these islands. Before a thousand marksmen picked
from the Wimbledon competition, it would be difficult fin
any mass of men to stand. Such wide-spread proficiency
with the "Snider "and the " ITenry-Martini " could give
a sad, Aemonstratipn of the possibilities wtti.o3 lie withir
991:01444, o f t.h4, git6f 11,2,00.0; ' • •

. The task of distributing the prizes was very unaf-
fectedly and gracefully performed by her Royal Highness
the Princess Christian on Saturday. Brilliant weather
brought down a fashionable company, though the number
of successful competitors who were able to muster
sufficient courage to receive a public recognition of
their honours was comparatively few. These were paraded
by Captain Mildrnay immediately in front of the two
tables containing the trophies and the raised dais upon
which the Princess Christian stood. The London Rifle
Brigade formed the guard of honour when the Princess
came on the ground. As the open carriage in which she
rode approached the dais, the guard presented arms, and
the band played a few strains of the National Anthem ;
but there was no cheering from the people in the Grand
Stand or in the little open pens in front of it, who hardly
seemed to recollect the fact that the rather petite lady,
dressed plainly in mourning black dress and
white bonnet was the daughter of England's
Queen. Her husband, in full uniform, accom-
panied her Royal Highness, Lady Elcho also occupying
a place in the royal carriage. On the dais Lord,
Elcho received the Princess, and an oversight on the part
of the authorities caused his first exclamation to take the
shape of ' Good Heavens, where is the chair ?" No sea!
had actually been provided, a defect which was remedied
at last by a couple of chairs being produced from a
tent, and covered with a Union Jack. Nut, however,
that seats were needed, for the Princess persisted in
standing. Gallantly assisted to the dais by the President
of the Association, who stood a step lower at
her right to read out the names of the winners,
the Princess at once commenced duty. The first for-
tunate marksman called to the front was Serjeant Nora-
worthy, of the 23rd Middlesex, who won the Gaiety Cup.
He was followed by King, of the same corps, who was
presented with a gold regulator, the gift of the editor of
Will o' the Wisp. Corporal Ingram, 3rd Lanarkshire,
came next, the Princess merely handing the trophies
to the men without saying a word. The Dudley
firing, it was stated by Lord Elcho, was not yet
adjudged. Some trivial protest, it is understood, has been
lcelged against the winners. Dr. Rae, of Newcastle, Cap-
tain Riven, Sergeant Abbott, Sergeant-Instructor Gilder,
Private Irfay, arid Sergeant Snelus passed forward in rota-
tion, and took their prizes from the hands of the
Princess, mention of which prizes will be found
in the list below. Ensign Boynton, of the sth
East York, was the next name called by Lord Elcho, and
the Yorkshireman appeared to receive the voucher for
£3O he had won in the first stage of the Albert with evi-
dent satisfaction. The first genuine cheer was raised for
Private Doe, let Middlesex, though why the spectators
selected him as the primary recipient of their tokens
of approVal did not clearly appear, seeing that
he only won £25. -It would be tedious to
reproduce the names of all the other prize-takers. Sufficent
to say of individuals, that Captain Fenton, of the 2.lth
Lancashire, whose shooting is, undoubtedly, of the first
order, for the £lOO Albert Prize, was also loudly cheered,
as was Sergeant Kirk, who did so well with the Inter-
national Irish Challenge and othercompetitions. Through-
out the whole proceedings, except in the case of Cameron,
the Queen's Prize man, nothing like an ovaticn was getup.
The nearest approach to it was when the representatives
of the winners of the Elcho Shield—a prize which the
President said it was impossible her Royal Highness could
handle—the Cambridge men, the Harrow lads, and the
Captain and two of the Scotch team passed in front
of the dais. Corporal Cameron—whose brother took
several prizes—was escorted, not by a detachment of
Volunteers, but by two comrades. His appearance was
the signal for a genuine outburst of applause, which
everyone who saw the corporal shoot will admit
he well deserved. Immediately the distribution was over,
the Princess and her husband reached their carriage, and
gracefully acknowledging the cheering of the spectators,
proceeded to Earl Spencer's cottage. By the time the
review commenced the Common was densely crowded.