The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-10 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER FORCE.

The 'following communication relative to the
recent volunteer display at Liverpool has been
forwarded to us for publication :
WAR OFFICE, Oct. 8, 18G7.
Sir,—l am directed by Secretary Sir John
Pakington to transmit to you a copy of a letter
addressed to him by his Royal Highness the Field
Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, and containing the
expression of his Royal Highness's approval of the
general appearance and efficiency of the Volunteer
Force which was assembled at Liverpool on the
sth inst., and of which the corps under your com-
mand formed a part.—l have the honour to be, sir,
your obedient servant,
GEORGE ERSKINE, Colonel.
The Officer Commanding.

KNOWSLEY, PRESCOT, OCt 7, 1867.
Sir,—l have great satisfaction in informing you
that I inspected on Saturday at Sefton Park, near
Liverpool, between 10,000 and 12,000 Volunteers,
belonging chiefly to Lancashire and the adjacent
counties, and that nothing could have been more
satisfactory than the general appearance and effi-
ciency of the corps assembled. The battalions were
strong in numbers, the marching was good, and the
drill seemed all that could be wished. A very fine
regiment of yeomanry, the Lancashire Hussars,
under Sir Robert Gerard, was present on the occa-
sion and made a most creditable appearance, as did
also a body of Lancashire Volunteer Cavalry. Tho
batteries of field artillery were admirably horsed and
well handled, and some heavy guns of position were
well servel during the operations of the day.
The ground selected for the review was remark•
ably good for the evolutions intended to be per-
formed, but unfortunately after the marching past
the crowds of spectators broke through the bar-
riers, and thus greatly impeded the movements of
the several corps. This is the more to be regretted,
as a very good field-day had been planned by
Major-Gen. Sir John Garvock, K.C.8., who was in
command of the whole force on the ground, which
had been divided into two attacking divisions under
Brigadiers Sir Alexander Horsford and Brownrigg ;
while the defending division was in charge of Major-
General Renny. lam glad to be able to remark on
the punctuality with which the several corps had
reached their ground, which deserves my warmest
commendation, as on other similar occasions I have
been compelled to remark on the want of punc-
tuality in the arrival of volunteer corps. Nothing
would more lead to the efficiency of the force than a
strict attention to this point, as otherwise it too
frequently happens that the day's intended evolu-
tions must be greatly curtailed from the want of
time and daylight for carrying them out.
Having been prevented from assembling com-
manding officers after the conclusion of the day's
operations, as is my wont, in consequence of the dif-
ficulty of collecting them from the dense crowds sur-
rounding the corps and myself in every direction, I
am extremely anxious that my high appreciation of
the merits of the several corps may be conveyed to
them at as early a period as possible, and I should
feel greatly obliged if you would direct Colonel
Erskine to undertake this duty in my name.
I beg to subscribe myself, Sir, yours, &c.,
GEORGE.
The Right llon. Sir John Pakington, &e.

TEN I ANISM.-V OLU.NI EER ARMOURIES•

The following circular from the War Office was
issued last evening, addressed to commanding
officers of volunteers :

" War Office, Oct. 9, 1867.
" Sir,—l am directed by Secretary Sir J. Faking•
ton to inform you that, in consequence of the fre-
quent representations which have been made to him
respecting the insecure state of the armouries and
magazines of volunteer corps, he deems it expedient
to direct your attention to the following points :
" It is necessary that a volunteer corps should
be provided with an armoury of sufficient size to
contain all its arms ; and it is the duty of the
commanding officer to see that the armoury is kept
at all times as safe against attack as circumstanceg
will permit ; but if, with a view of increasing the
security of the arms, he deems it advisable to give
them into the custody of individual members, instead
of keeping them collected in ono place, he is at
liberty to do so, on the condition, however, of their
being periodically inspected, as prescribed in Article
147 of the Volunteer Regulations, and Volunteer
Circular No. 27, and with the understanding that
the adoption of this course will not affect his respon-
sibility to the Secretary of State for the arms which
have been issued by the Government to the corps.

" If circumstances arise which render it desirable
that the arms of a corps should be returned into a
Government store as a temporary measure of
security, the commanding officer will represent the
particulars of the case to the Secretary of State,
who, if he considers it necessary, will authorise the
arms being thus disposed of, either at once, or when
the commanding officer may deem it expedient. If
sanction be given for the removal of the arms, the
corps will be supplied by the War Department with
arm-chests for the purpose.
" Commanding officers will be careful not to
demand at one time a greater quantity of practice
ammunition than that which they are prepared to
keep in safety until it shall have been expended.--
I have the honour to be Sir, your obedient servant,
" EDWARD LUGARD.
"To Commanding Officers of Volunteers."

A MAGNIFICENT PHOTOGRAPH of the Victoria
Tower, at Westminster, has just been produced hY
Mr. Stephen Ayling, of 493, Oxford-street—and it
is certainly a masterpiece, which at once places bi°
in the very front rank, and in one of the very fire
places of that front rank, among architectural photo'
graphers. Towering to the skies, overshadow"
ing the grand old Abbey beside it, almost to the
dwarfing, by contrast, of the twin towers of that
noble edifice—the Victoria Tower, that loftiest Oa
grandest portion of the ornate pile of the Nell/
Palace of the Legislature, has ever since its CO;
pletion been the " cynosure of neighbouring eyes',
not only in its immediate vicinity, but far
wide all round Westminster. It is one of those
exquisitely proportioned as well as colossal stone'
tures which are pre-eminently worthy of testiog
to the uttermost the skill of the photographe°.
And it has tested now—not in vain, but, on
th
contrary, with the happiest result well possible--t 11:
ingenuity of one of the ablest amongst them. 1:
photograph, which is one of noble dimensions, is 2
superb tribute to the genius—Was it Pugin
was it Barry's ?—from which emanated pne of tbe
grandest buildings in the Ilictropolie.