The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-12 00:00:00

TEE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

The South Middlesex Rifles are fast returning
to London. No less than eight of the mem-
bers have been with Garibaldi, and three of them
were in the late action at Capua. Lord Ranelagh
recommences his Saturday drills at the end of this
month. In the meantime great activity prevails at
Beaufort-house. The butt, with its 22 targets, the
finest of the kind in Europe, is in daily use. Up-
wards of 25 or 30 prizes are to be shot for in the
months of November and December. A cadet corps
is in the course of formation, and a new company,
to be called the Experimental Service Company, is
about to be formed, to be armed with Westley
Richards's breech-loading rifle. The object of
forming this company is to bring together gentle-
men whose independent means will enable them to
try and adopt the wants, suggestions, and improve-
ments that have arisen out of the Volunteer move-
ment, and thus be an example of what a company
ought to be when fully prepared for active.service.
The uniform, whether Zouave or otherwise, will be
left to the decision of the members. On Saturday,
the 27th, at Beaufort-house, there will be.various
experiments with breech-loading rifles andatlectric
telegraph targets. One company of 100 men are
ordered to throw up a sandbag battery, with Capt.
Norton's late inventions, Lc.
Within the last few days the inhabitants of the
populous suburb of Stoke Newington, convened in
public meeting, have resolved that it is expedient
for them to take their share in support of the great
patriotic movement for the voluntary defence of
the country by contributing their contingent to the
national armament. A provisional committee has
been appointed to give practical effect to the wishes
of the meeting, consisting of the Rev. Thomas Jack-
son, the Rector, and Churchwardens, the Rev. J.
Spittal, Mr. W. R. Bell, Capt. Hamel and Ensign
Hamel, both of the Custom-house Volunteers, Mr.
R. W. C. Merrington, Mr. R. Moreland, Lieut. T.
Davies Sewell, and Mr. S. J. Rowscll, of the Lon-
don Rifle Brigade, Mr. Druitt, Mr. H. W. Sewell,
Mr. George Singer, and several other gentlemen
resident in the neighbourhood. Within a week 65
men have enrolled themselves as volunteers, and a
respectable sum has been placed in the bank of
Messrs. Spooner, Attwood, and Co. to meet the con-
tingent expenses. The management of the drill has
been delegated to Lieut. Sewell, Ensign Hamel, and
Mr. Rowsell ; the parochial school-room has been
placed at their disposal for that purpose by the autho-
rities. Mr. Wortley, an old inhabitant of the
neighbourhood, has offered them the use of a large
shed and an open space of ground sufficient to ex-
ercise 300 men ; and altogether the movement is
being sustained, as it has been begun, with com-
mendable spirit and energy.
The Crawley (Sussex) Volunteers have just held
two meetings for rifle practice for prizes. The tar-
gets were erected in the grounds at Buchan-hill,
the seat of Mr. J. J. Broad wood, lieutenant-com-
manding. On the first occasion a rifle, presented
by Mr. Broadwood, was shot for at 400 and at 650
yards, and was won by Mr. F. Russell, of Crawley,
and a meerschaum, offered by Mr. Mark Lemon,
was shot for at 150 and at 450 yards, and was won
by Mr. N. Miller, also of Crawley. On the second
occasion, Mr. Pepper, of Worth, was the successful
competitor, at 500 yards, for a medal presented, by
Mr. Shirley Brooks.

The first annual contest for prizes offered by the
Devon County Volunteer Association commenced at
Newton Abbot on Tuesday, and will be continued
for four days. The object of the association is
to encourage good rifle shooting in the county, and
with that view the council of the association have
determined to offer prizes annually to be competed
for by volunteers belonging to the various corps in
the county, and also a prize to he contested by
volunteers of other counties. It was resolved to
inaugurate the first meeting with a grand volun-
teer demonstration, and about 650 volunteers be-
longing to various rifle and artillery corps in the
county, and a number of men connected with
mounted volunteer troops, assembled, under the
command of Brigade Major Kirk of the western
district. Earl Fortescue, the Lord-Lieutenant of
the county, who has taken a great interest in the
Volunteer movement, and Lady Fortescue, and
Lord and Lady Ebrington, were present, and on
their appearance the volunteers, who were drawn
up in line, saluted. The Grand Duke Michael of
Russia and suite were present, and were introduced
to the Lord-Lieutenant. The Grand Duke expressed
his sense of the importance of the movement, and
took a great interest in the proceedings. Major-
General Hutchinson, commander of the western
district, assisted at the inauguration. The Earl of
Devon presented an address to Earl Fortescue, in
which his lordship expressed the thanks of the as-
sociation to the Lord-Lieutenant for the important
services he had rendered to the voluLer move-
ment. (Cheers.) Earl Fortescue, in reply, said—l
never believed in the hostile intentions of the ruler
of France—(hear, hear) —but when all Europe, and
France above all, was bristling witharms, I thought
it neither consistent with our security nor our hon-
our that we should be dependent on the goodwill of
our neighbours rather than on our own strength for
a continuance of the blessings of peace. (Hear.)
The Tenbury Rifle Corps was one of the first vo-
lunteer corps established in the ceunty of Worcester
and on Monday last the Hon. Miss Rushout pre-
sented colours to the corps. Lord Northwick was
also present. In presenting the colours the Hon.
Miss Rushout said—" I trust this flag will never be
waved in actual, but only in mimic war. As a sol-
dier's sister, I cannot but take the deepest interest
in military affairs, and the present movement
is one of the greatest examples of self-denial that
England has ever witnessed. The rifle volunteers
serve unpaid, and submit to discipline of their own
free will. Mighty events are progressing, and Pro-
vidence has assigned to our native land a special
sphere of action. We cannot look at the movement
as merely belonging to Great Britain; it affects all
European nations." Col. Lowe replied in a few
fitting remarks, and the ceremony ended.
'The Cotswold Company assembled at the police
barrack-yard, Cheltenham, on Wednesday morning,
under the command of Capt. Swiny, and marched to
Soi'utham, headed by the band of the company, to
compete for prizes. The prizes were a very hand-
some silver goblet presented by Mr. C. Andrews,
value £lO 10s., a silver subscription vase, value
£6 65., and two money prizes. The ranges were
200, 300, and 450 yards, five shots at each range,
and the fortunate winners were Sergeant Shirer,
Ist .prize, 16 points ; Corporal Packwood, 2d prize,
14 points; Private Taylor, 3d, 14 points, and Pri-
vate Darby, 14 points ; the last three being ties.
The, places were decided by the points made at 450
yards.

ffayerforciwest Volunteevi, under the COM.'