The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-15 00:00:00

Visit of the Volunteers to Belgium.

Last evening a meeting of the English Volunteer
Committee for conducting the proceedings connected
with the Belgian Tir National and visit of English
volunteers to Brussels, took place at the Vestry-
hall of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, to receive a re-
port as to the final arrangements for the fetes in
question.

Captain Dighton, of the London Rifle Brigade,
occupied the chair ; and amongst those present were
Major and Adjutant Charter (Queen's, Westmin-
ster); Capt. Irvine, Ist Surrey; Capt. Crossland, 3d
Middlesex Artillery; Capt. S. Mullens, Ist Middle-
sex Artillery; Capt. Scrivener, Queen's; Ensign
Starkie, Queen's; Majo.r Sanders, 48th Middlesex ;
Capt. and Adjutant Tyler, Queen's, &c. The first
point under discussion was in reference to ladies ac-
companying' the volunteers, and being admitted to
all the entertainments, as well as to travel at the
same fares as the volunteers themselves. In a long
discussion which ensued it was pointed out that in
the face of the large number of volunteers who had
sent in their names, it would be unjust for volun-
teers to seek to take friends with them and occupy
the places at the various balls and fetes, at the cere-
mony in St. Gudule, the visit to the Place des Mar-
tyrs, and the Theatre de la Alonnaie, all of which are
intended for volunteers alone, and any addition to
their numbers would be looked upon as an encroach-
ment upon the kindness and liberality of the Bel-
gians. In regard to ;the tickets issued by the com-
mittee for volunteers, in answer to questions, it was
explained that it was an understanding between the
companies that the holders of the ss. tickets
issued
the committee would be alone entitled to
railw
the volunteer railway tickets, or to participate in
any of the fetes or privileges at Brussels, being also
in uniform.

The next point of discussion was the command of
the British volunteers, and Lieutenant Furley, one
of the hon. secs., stated that Lord Spencer had
been invited to take the command, as such posi-
tion, if assumed by his lordship, would not only be
acceptable to the volunteers, but he had ascertained
through M. Van de Weyer, would be equally so to
the Belgians who were at Wimbledon, and who fully
hoped his lordship would accept the command. It
was also resolved to recognise Lieut. Furley's ser-
vices by requesting his appointment as aide-de-camp
to the commanding officer. Five lieutenant-Colonels
had signified their intention of being present at
Brussels. The Great Eastern Railway had made
excellent arrangements to take volunteers in uniform
the return journey, first class and saloon, at 155.,
and second class, 10s., trains running from Bishops-
gate-street every Wednesday and Saturday. This
line offers also the privilege of volunteers taking a
lady with them. The owners of the Albert Victor
(Steam Navigation Company) offered to take volun-
teers and their friends, if a certain number were
guaranteed, from London to Ostend, for 12s. 6d.
and 7s. 6d. return journey, allowing a week. The
General Steam Navigation Company have acted
very liberally, having issued tickets for the out and
home journey as low as 10s., with the option of re-
turning by Rotterdam, Antwerp, or Ostend. Cosa-
plaint was made of the South-Eastern, and London,
Chatham, and Dover charging 325. 6d. and 225., as
the fares upon the Great Eastern were so much less,
notwithstanding that the trains and boats of the
Belgian Government carry the volunteers free. A
resolution was adopted, that the volunteers be in-
vited to go to the Great Eastern route en masse, un-
less the South-Eastern and London, Chatham, and
Dover reduce their fares, and give facilities for
volunteers to reach Biussels before the Saturday ;
that is, on Thursday or Friday, the 20th and 21st
September.
After some further details had been gone through,
thanks to the authorities for the use of the hall, and
a similar compliment to the chairman, closed the
Roceedings.