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

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

A rifle shooting match between the Civil Service
and the 9th Surrey (Richmond) Rifle Volunteers
was shot at the range of the latter corps on Sheen-
common on Saturday, and terminated in favour of
the 9th Surrey, who obtained four points more than
their opponents, six of the members of the Richmond
also firing only four rounds at the last range in
consequence of the lateness of the hour. The ranges
shot were 200, 300, 500, and 600 yards, five rounds
being fired at each, and the following was the ag-
gregate number of points :-9th Surrey, 109 ; Civil
Service, 105. The highest scores were made by
Sergeant Plasket, 25, and Sergeant Mills, 19, of
the Civil Service; and Private Humphreys, 23,
and Colour-Sergeant Batty, 20, of the 9th Surrey.
The Civil Service sent one member from each
company of the battalion. The return match will
shortly be shot at the Civil Service range, on Wim-
bledon. common.

At the usual weekly battalion drill of the 4th
Middlesex Rifles, at Islington, on Saturday last,
the new Government Adjutant of the corps, Captain
Carrington Jones, late of the Ist Regiment of
Royal Staffordshire Militia, was introduced to the
men by their major, Lord Truro, and was received
by them with three cheers. His Lordship observed
that the corps was renowned for being in a high
state of discipline, that a very good feeling pre-
vailed among the members, and that he had great
pleasure in handing over the men in such excellent
order to their new adjutant, whose testimonials
were of the highest possible character, and who
had passed through severe and trying examinations
before his appointment to the post. A remarkably
handsome 'Silver bugle, subscribed for by the ladies
of Islington, will shortly be presented to the corps.
The Volunteer Guards (32d Middlesex), have the
opportunity to enrol a considerable number of new
members for the ensuing year, numerous applica-
tion to join having been received, in consequence
of a resolution that one company of 5 feet 11 inches,
to under 6 feet and one companp of 5 feet 10 inches
to under 5 feet 11 inches, shall be formed forthwith.
The friends of the 6th North York (Scarborough)
Volunteers continue to manifest their interest in
the welfare of the corps, especially with reference
to the coming rifle contest. In addition to the
prizes already presented, as recorded in The Sun,
Mr. Jefferson, of Scarborough, has presented a rifle,
and Lord Londesborough has increased his £lO
prize to a donation of £25, to be applied to the
purposes of the contest as the committee may see fit.
Yesterday afternoon the various corps constitut-

ing the 3d Battalion, Surrey Volunteer Rifles, were
inspected in Richmond-park by Colonel Luard,
Government Inspecting officer. Between 300 and
400 men assembled, consisting of members of the
Kingston corps,:commanded by Captain Cochrane;
the Richmond corps, under the command of Captain
Yateman ; the Wimbledon corps, commanded by
Lieutenant Richardson ; the Esher corps, under
the command of Lieut. Heginbotham ; the Chertsey
corps, commanded by Captain Murray; and the
Egham corps (sub-division), under the command of
Lieut. Booth. A large number of persons assem-
bled to witness the proceedings.

COURT OF INQUIRv ON A VOLUNTEER

OFFICER.

WESTON-SUPER-MARE, MONDAY

Yesterday a Court of Inquiry was held at the
Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare, before Colonel Sir
William Miles, of the North Somerset Yeomanry
Cavalry, of Leigh Court, near Bristol ; Col. Lut-
trell, of a battalion of the Rifles, of Badgworth
Court, near Weston-super-Mare; and Col. Graham,
of volunteers, residing near Bridgwater, to inquire
into allegations against Lieutenant John Hugh
Wadham Pigott Smyth Pigott, that he had been
guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gen-
tleman. Mr. Pigott is a magistrate and deputy-
lieutenant of the county and lord of the manor of
Weston-super-Mare. He was formerly the captain
of a corps of the North Somerset Yeomanry
Cavalry.
It may be as well here to narrate a few particu-
lars concerning Mr. Pigott's connexion with the
corps. Some ten or twelve months since he made
himself very active in raising the volunteer artil-
lery corps for the town and neighbourhood of Wes-
ton, and, owing in great measdre to his perseve-
rance, a good corps, consisting of two companies,
was enrolled, the understanding being that he was
to be a captain in the corps, and it was the wish of
the members that he should be so, but the lord-
lieutenant of the county (Lord Portman) merely
appointed him lieutenant. The members there-
upon assembled and on two occasions expressed their
wish that Mr. Pigott should be made a captain, and
it was understood by the deputation who waited
upon Lord Portman with a memorial from the mem-
bers on that behalf in August that his lordship in-
timated that, provided Mr. Pigott would accept the
commission of lieutenant, he would be within a few
days gazetted as captain of one of the companies.
He did so accept, but was not so gazetted, and, as
the result, much disappointment has been experi-
enced by members. Many of them have resigned,
while others have abstained from attending drill.
In short, matters are in an unsatisfactory state. So
recently as last week two of the privates were tried
by court-martial for having, at an inn in the town,
used unbecoming language towards the assistant
surgeon. The result of that investigation is not yet
known, but as they did not deem it worth their
while to make any defence, or even to put in an
appearance, it is more than probable that it will be
held that the charge made against them has been
proved, and that they will be dismissed the corps.
It is due to the officers, however, to state that they
have made strenuous efforts to keep the corps toge-
ther. Mr. Pigott had been requested to resign
altogether by. Mr. Lovell, the Secretary to the Lord-
Lieutenant in these matters ; but Mr. Pigott
peremptorily refused. The present was an inquiry
with reference to what took place four months
since at drill.

The corps was paraded under arms and in full
dress attended by the band, in front of the Town
Hall, to receive the respective colonels, upon whose
arrival, arms were presented, the band giving the
National Anthem. Much interest was evinced in
the proceedings, and a large number of the public
had congregated on the spot. None, however,
were admitted into the room in which the inquiry
was to take place except the respective colonels who
were to preside over it, the officers of the corps,
and the numerous witnesses who attended by sum-
mons, &c. _ _

Upon the opening of the court, Sir Wm. Miles,
the chairman, said that the present was a prelimi-
nary inquiry, and that all parties, excepting the
prosecutor and the defendant, would have to retire.
Mr. Stone, barrister•at-law, of the Western Cir-
cuit, instructed by Mr. T. Smith, then applied that
he might be heard on the part of Mr. Pigott, and
that the inquiry might be conducted in open court.
The Chairman intimated that there was an objec-
tion to such a course. It was`not allowed in volun-
teer inquiries for the defendant to be represented
by a professional man.
A conversation then took place in a low tone
between the Chairman and Mr. Stone. The con-
versation was almost inaudible, but it was whispered
in court that Sir William was recommending Mr.
Stone to advise his client to resign. Mr. Stone
then held a conference with Mr. Pigott, and Mr.
Jones (Mr. Pigott's steward), and subsequently
Mr. Stone announced that his client would not
resign, but would have the case investigated.
The Court was then cleared of all except General
Cox, the pro forma prosecutor, and the Captain
Commandant, and Mr. Pigott, the defendant. Even
the advocate, who was retained by the officers of
the corps (Mr. J. H. Clifton, of Bristol) loft the
court. The first witness examined was the hon.
surgeon (Mr. Stringfield) to whom the objection-
able remarks were alleged to have been used.
The depositions were taken by Mr. E. Lovell,
assisted by Mr. William Smith, solicitor, of Weston,
and the chairman stated that they wouldbe returned
to the convening officer—the lord-lieutenant who,
if necessary, would direct a more important inquiry.
There were four allegations against the defen-
dant, nd-
dant, to the following effect :—First, that huealf ailed
the corps generally, g, A lot of rogs and
swindlers." Second, that he said he would tear up
Lord Portman's commission, and send
get him back
Lord
the fragments. Third, that he would
Portman out of his office of Lord-Lieutenant. And
1 the fourth, the general charge, that he had been

guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gen-
tleman.
Several witnesses were examined for the prose
cution, but the commissioners declined to hear any
for the defence. The proceedings lasted several
hours.