The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-10 00:00:00

The National Rifle Association.

The real business of the National Rifle Associa-
tion's prize meeting commenced yesterday on Wim-
bledon-common, and it is to be hoped that fine and
congenial weather will continue at least during the
proceedings. Several additional tents were pitched,
and the numerous masts fixed in different parts of
the common displayed the distinguishing flags of all
nations. The large bell tent, designed for the ac-
commodation of visitors, in the event of a shower
coming on, has been erected, and everything pro-
mises a very satisfactory meeting. In addition to
the general arrangements it may be mentioned that
Colonel Johnson, of the 95th Regiment, will have
charge of the statistical department, in the place of
Colonel Bones, of the Hythe School of Musketry,
and it will be necessary to make a correction in the
description of the medical staff, which consists of
Surgeon-Major Wyatt, of the Coldstream Guards ;
Dr. Westmacott, of the London Scottish; and Staff
Assistant-Surgeon William Johnston, M.D.

The event fixed for yesterday's competition was
the All Corners' County Match, to be shot for with
any rifle, and in any position, 10 shots each, at 800
and 900 yards. For this prize representatives of the
Counties of Middlesex, Gloucester, and Lancashire
were the competitors.

The second item on the programme was the con-
test between Oxford and Cambridge and Middlesex,
and the Tower Hamlets and Middlesex. The other
contests consisted of the Enfield Association Cup,
the Swiss Carton Targets, Running Deer, Running
Prizes, Sighting, Sweepstakes„&c.
The business of the day had not long commenced
when it was announced that the volunteers from
Belgium, intending to take part in the pro-
ceedings of the meeting, were approaching
the common, and they shortly afterwards
were seen in the distance. It appeared that,
anticipating their arrival, the Ist Surrey, headed by
their band, and commanded by Captain Harrison
Weir, had proceeded to the Putney station, and on
the arrival of the train a most enthusiastic ovation
awaited thern. Hearty congratulations were given
on all sides, each volunteer was eager to seize the
hand of one of their visitors, and never during the
existence of the National Rifle Association has such
a scene been witnessed. The Belgian deputation
having been formed, the Surrey band struck up,
and they marched to the common, where another
hearty welcome awaited them. They proceeded to
the front of the Council Tent, where they were
ranged in line, and Earl Spencer, Lord Elcho,
Colonel Kennedy, Captain Mildway, and others,
were present to receive them. Lord Elcho advanced
to the front, and, addressing the Belgian volunteers
in French, gave them a hearty welcome, and called
upon the British volunteers to greet their Belgian
friends with cheers, which request was heartily re-
sponded to. Major de l'Eau d'Andremont, Com-
mandant des Chasseurs Eclaireurs Beiges, returned
thanks, and said—Our intention in responding to
your brotherly invitation is less for the purpose of
gaining laurels than in setting a great and favour-
able example. We come here being animated by a
sentiment of fraternity—we come to this England,
which we are accustomed to consider as the mother
of our national institutions—we come to re-echo our
The
feelings of liberty and love to your country.
reception which our much beloved sovereign_ has
received from the great city of England and from
the English nation has inspired us with feelings of
the liveliest gratitude. By our presence here we con-
firm the feelings of union and confraternity which

PRICE.... 4d.
STAMPED sd.

have emanated from his Majesty towards the Eng-
lish nation, and to return our respectful homage
to your much beloved Queen. (Loud cries of
" Hurrah, hurrah.") To you, my English
brethren, we say, " Friends, if ever some day dan-
ger should threaten us, we shall turn our looks
towards you as a free country, and great by its
liberty. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I propose to you
three cheers for the Council of the National Rifle
Association. At this request loud cheers were
raised, shakos were placed on the tops of the
bayonets and hoisted in the air, and accompanied
by marked demonstrations of enthusiasm. Major
de l'Eau d'Andremont then proposed three cheers
for her Majesty the Queen. This called forth re-
newed demonstrations, accompanied by loud cries
of " Vive la Reine." The deputation then, by spe-
cial invitation of Major Styan, of the Queen's West-
minsters, proceeded to the tent of that corps, where
refreshments were provided. The deputation were
then shown round the camp, and by every corps
they were received with the warmest demonstra-
tions. By a special invitation the Belgians visited
the camp of the Ist Surrey Volunteers, and were
handsomely entertained, and numerous appropriate
speeches were given and responded to. With a
view of throwing additional interest into the visit of
the Belgians Mr. Stenard, optician to the National
Rile Association, will give a prize of ten guineas to
be shot for exclusively by Belgians. It will con-
sist of a Lord Bury telescope, with stand, fittings,
tchaseem, &c.,m b
anedgoit up duringtisexp theectedthmateetiotuhg.er prizes for

111, AA L•11.14/..ii 6 - 4 [ln 0: VPI V natronised
during the day, and the following bull's eyes were
made at it :—Lieutenant Burt, Ist Warwick, 2 ;
Mr. Lucas, 9th Surrey, 1; Ensign Hutton, 19th
North Yorkshire, 1 ; Captain Harrison, 19th West
Yorkshire, 1; Captain Bland, 76th Regiment, 2.
The bands of thelst London Scottish and Ist Surrey
played on the common during the day. The fol-
lowing are the official scores of the different con-
tests which took place yesterday :

WINNERS.
COUNTY MATCH.
800 900
yds. yds. Total.
Lancashire
Middlesex
Gloucester
MIDDLESEX BRONZE MEDAL.
Ensign Starkie, 22d Middlesex.. 4O
TOWER HAMLETS BRONZE MEDAL.
Private Berkley, Tower Hamlets: 4l
OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BRONZE MEDAL
Ensign Weld, Oxford

Origin and History of the Needle Gun.

----~--

The Paris correspondent of the Liverpool Journal
narrates as follows the toils and disappointments of
the inventor of this gun :--" If the Peace Society
had offered a reward for the invention of the best
means of putting a speedy end to war, the prize
might certainly be claimed by the inventor of the
needle gun, which evidently proves to be the secret
possessed by Bismarck, and to which he has so often
alluded as insuring a successful termination of the
struggle with Austria. The news of the complete
defeat of the latter, after a terrible combat in which
the whole forces of both parties were engaged, has
filled with dismay even those who had hoped for
this very result ; for it is owned that neither to
superior bravery nor skill, neither to superior num-
bers nor advantage in ground, is the victory owing,
but simply to the employment of the needle gun.
This arm, which has shown itself equal to the tfuk
attempted in vain by philosophy and religion, that
of staying the combatants and arresting the progress
of war, has a history exactly similar in all points to
that of every other invention. It is well known to be
the produce of the long study and perseverance of an
English officer who, while stationed at a solitary out-
post in Canada, amused his leisure hours with expe-
riments in the rough construction of a substitute for
the rifle which he had damaged by letting it drop
down a precipice while in pursuit of a bear. It was
almost by accident that the discovery became pal-
pable to the solitary hunter in the woods. But no
sooner did it become manifest to his senses than he
resigned his commission in the army, returned to
Europe, and, as a matter of course, hurried to the
War-office with his invention, certain of its adop-
tion in the English army, from its evident supe-
riority over the old-fashioned weapon in use. For
more than a year was the inventor kept in suspense.
The Enfield rifle met him at every turn. He was
bandied about from one official to another during
all this time merely to he told at last that Govern-
ment did not feel disposed to alter the principle of
the arms employed. It was then that in disgust he
brought his invention to Paris, and by even a more
bitter mockery of fate than in London he obtained
an interview with the Emperor, who listened with
the greatest apparent interest to the description of
the gun, examined the plans and sections brought
by the officer, much questioned the superiority of the
invention over others which had been laid before
him, declared it seemed to him liable to the great
objection of being too delicate for field use, and
abruptly sounded the little gong which stands upon
his bureau, and slightly rising when the usher
entered at the summons, dismissed the visitor to
admit other importunates. It was then that, with
the undaunted perseverance of inventors in general,
he betook himself, with his needle gun, to Holland,
whose Sovereign had always manifested great inte-
rest in the advancement of gunnery, and who had
first become the purchaser of a steel caulker to re-
pair instantaneously the damaic caused by the
enemy's shot in ships' sides,which, being the inven-
tion of a poor carpenter's journeyman, had never-
theless found its way into the royal presence, and
been accepted without the smallest attempt at bar-
gaining. But, when arrived at the Hague, he found
that his resources had dwindled away to such an ex-
tent that he was compelled to delay his presenta-
tion to the King for want of proper costume to ap-
pear in. Meanwhile, he became accidentally ac-
quainted with one of the gentlemen attached to the
Prussian Legation at the Hague, and to whom he
recounted his bitter grievances. This time he was
listened to with interest. The brother-in-law of his
new friend held some appointment at the Court of
Berlin. War and revolution were already floating
through the air. He saw at once all the advantage
which might accrue from being the first to present
a new and valuable instrument of destruction to
Bismarck, so determined to destroy, and he lost no
time in repairing with the Englishman to Berlin.
Here the way was open—the hour had come, the
needle gun was tried, examined, and accepted in the
shortest possible space of time, the inventor hand-
somely rewarded, and encouraged to establish him-
self.terrible encounter with the Austrians, where courage,
in Prussia. We have seen the result in this
avail against
period served as
skill, prudence, and valour were of no.
the needle gun, which for a long pep
to all.
and which has now become an obi t
the laughing-stock to every etat
cheer intrepidity
which by s
The Austrian cavalry,
of the Prus-
sianor two squares
managed to break one
of the needle gun, did so at
majorof
einavEyurope,
infantry in spite
life,
all
and. proved beyond
cavalry and infantry have found
doubt that both
weapon
Pon employed by the
their master in the terrible an enormous risk of
Prussians
in this war. The odds in favour of the
needle gun are easy enough to calculate. The
Prussians can fire six rounds a minute ; if four
minutes' march be the usual time allotted for a
bayonet charge, the Austrian foot soldier must have
stood four-and-twenty shots before he could have a
chance of meeting the enemy hand to hand ; and,
should he give way to take his full springforward,
he must of necessity have been struck down. With
such certainty of destruction as that provided by the
needle gun all question of right and justice becomes
unnecessary."

A man in California has made preparations to
hatch sixteen thousand chickens by steam during the
coming season.

74; 1,4
l!;toWv.l4-+7,tr;
4.1"
tyrw .
PONTEFRACT RACES.— m2eAT. n
The LONDESBOROUGH STAKES of 5 SOPS eaclr4tvithAk
added; for 2-Yr-olds ; colts, Bst 101 b; fillies, Bst 6th ; cer-
tain penalties and allowances ; three-quarters of a mile.
Mr. W. E. Hobson'sNewland, by Lambtou—Lady Louisa,
9st 31b (includ;ng 71b extra) (J. Snowdon) 1
Mr. J. Osborne's Rabbit Trap, Bst 101 b (J. Osborne) 2
Bett;ng-5 to lon Newland. Woa by a neck,
THE PONTEFRACT BOROUGH Cur, value 50 sovs, added to
a Sweepstakes of 5 sows each; :miffs oxtra. Three-
quarters of a mile.
Mr. Martineau's f by Lord Fauconberg—Coleraine, 3 yrs,
6st 121 b (Lawrence) 1
Mr. G. Carr's Elvire, 2 yrs, Oat 51b (Cradock) 2
Mr. W. Bowes's Claros, 3 yrs, 7st 71b (Dunbar) 3
Mr. J. Scott's Cora, 3 yrs; ist 91b
Mr. G. Simpson's Nelly Gray (h b), 4 yrs, 7st (R. Chal-
loner)
Mr. Matsoa's Miss Dora, 5 yrs, 7st Sib (Downes) G
Betting-6 to 4 agst Claros, sto 2 agst Elvrre,B to 1 agst
Coleraine filly. Won by a length; bad th;rd.
The SPECULATION PLATE of 25 sovs, added to a Sweep-
stakes of 3 sovs each, for two-yr-olds and upwards, sell-
ing and other allowances. Three-quarters of a Inge.
Mr. Watson's Yarrow, by Tadmore—Lady Wilson, 4 yrs,
Bst (£2O) (Carroll) 1
Mr. W..lludson's Peg Fife, 2 yrs, sst 111 b (£4O) (Walker) 2
Mr. Clayton's Mite, 2 yrs, sst 71b ...... (Kitchen) 3
Mr. G. Simpson's The Choker, 3 yrs, est 31b (£2O)
(11. Challoner) 4
Betting-6 to 5 agst Peg Fife, 2to 1 agst Yarrow, 4to 1
any other. Won by a length ; two lengths between second
and third; the winner was sold to Mr. Nicholson for 40 gs.
The GREAT WEST RIDING HANDICAP Of 10 SOVS each, with
100 added ; winners extra. One mile and a half.
Mr. Goodlass's Begum, by Guicowar—Pretty Girl, 3 yrs,
7st 51b (Cameron) 1
Mr. W. Nicholls's Missile, 4 yrs, 7st 51b...(R. Challoner) 2
Major Elwon's Douro, 3 yrs, Gst 131 b (Cradoek) 3
Mr. Murland's Archeiy, 3 yrs, Est 121 b (Dunbar) 4
Mr. W. Cowen's Lady Durham, 4 yrs, 7st 131 b
(W. Martin) 5
Betting-5 to 4on Begum, 4to 1 agst Lady Durham.
Won by a length ; bad third.
The WEST YORK NURSERY HANDICAP PLATE of 70 SOITS,
for two-yr-olds ; winners extra. Three-quarters of a
mile.
Mr. C. Wintringham's Slap Bang, by Arthur Welles-
ley—Saxony, Bst (Carroll) 1. 1
Mr. G. Carr's Elvi-e, Bst 21b (J. Snowden t 2
Mr. J. Osborae's Tidy, 7st (R. Challoner 3
Mr. W. Bowes's Rondinella, Bst (Oram 4
Mr. Thirkell's Pea Blossom, ist 81b (Whiteley 5
+„ Elvire, 5 to 2 each agst Slap Bang
Dead beat ; Ttayt, 4mra_ Doeid'ng heat.
—G to 5 on Slap Bang, who won by a length.
The YORKSHIRE WELTER Our, value 50 sovs, added to a
sweepstakes of 5 sovs each ; winners extra ; gentlemen
riders ; professionals 51b extra. One mile.
Mr. Ringrose's Lady Sykes, by Colsterdale—Sister to the
Lawyer's dam 4 yrs, Ifist 51b (Mr. Boynton) 1
Mr. Milbank's Antique, 3 yrs, 9st 111 b (inc. 51b extra)
(J. Snowden) 2
Mr. Robinson's Hanover, 3jyrs, 9st 101 b (inc. 51b extra)
(Ashman) 0
Betting-5 to 4on Lady Sykes, sto 2 agst Hanover, 4to
1 agst Antique. Won by six lengths. Hanover did not
pass the post.

AQUATICS•

PRESENTATION TO HARRY KELLEY.

On Thursday evening last a handsome gold medal, with
an appropriate inscription, was presented to Harry Kelley,
in tho Tyne Concert Hall, by Mr. J. C. Anderssohn, in the
presence of a largo number of spectators. In acknowledging
the compliment, Kelley took the opportunity of contra-
dicting a statement which had appeared in a London daily
contemporary, to the effect that ho had not been well re-
ceived among the people of Newcastle. So far from this
being the case, ho could say that he had always had the
best treatment from the inhabitants of that town. It was
not to be expected that if he came to oppose a man of their
own that he could have their wishes for success altogether
but so far as the conduct of the Newcastle people towards
him was concerned, ho wished to toll thorn that it had been
of the kindest description.

Kelley arrived in London at 9.35 p.m. on Saturday, and
on the route home ho and his party, consisting of Mr. C.
Bush, S. Parker, G. Drewitt, J. Sadler, E. Patrick, and
several gentlemen, at once drove to the Oxford Music Hall,
where they stayed a short time, and then to the Canterbury
Music Hall, at which place it had been mooted ho would
call. The hall was crowded to suffocation. On Kelley
entering the multitude of people would not allow the per-
formance to go on until he had made his appearance on,
the stage. He was led on by Mr. C. Morton and Mr. C.
Bush, Kelley's principal backer, on which the audience
rose en ntasse and cheered to the echo. Kelley, in a few
words, returned his grateful thanks, stating that he had
never in the whole course of his life felt such pleasure as
at that moment. Ho had always done his best, and now
that he had the proud satisfaction of calling himself cham-
pion of the world, he should retire from public life, at
which announcement the audience took off their hats and
waved their handkerchiefs ; in fact, such a scene had never
before been witnessed in the Canterbury Hall.
On Kelley's arrival at Putney again there was a tremen-
dous crowd to meet him, amongst which wore many of the
fair sex, one of whom tendered Kelley a laurel wreath en-
twined with the champion's colours.

THE QUORN C.OUNTRY.—Mr. S. W. Clews, the
late-ina-iter-offbe Quern houndS, -has received-a handsome
testimonial, which was presented to him at a public dinner
held at the Bell Hotel, Leicester, on Wednesday evening last.
The testimonial consists of a largo epergne abd a silver-gilt
claret jug, and was presented by the occupiers of land hunt-
ing in the Quorn country. The epergne bears the following
inscription -" Presented by the occupiers of land to S. W.
Clowes, Esq., as a mark of esteem for his kindness and
coui Lev during his mastership of the Quern hounds.-July
4, 1866." On the obverse side i' an embossed representation
of a celebrated sporting incident connected with the Duke
of Rutland's hounds. On the base are the full heraldic
beatings of Mr. Clowes's family. The claret jug bears the
same inscription on one side, and the crest of Mr. Clowes
on the other. According to a long report of the probeedings
which appears in the Leicester Journal, Mr. Clews, in ac-
knowledging the presentation, said he wanted to explain
how it was he came to give up. He thought if ho had so
many subscriptions he could manage the rest without detii-
ment to his private prosperity, or without taking more of his
income than he ought to spend on an amusement; but when
ho came to look into it he found it was costing him so much
more than he ought to spend on such an object that he de-
termined to give it up. It was a mistake to suppose that
ho was not properly supported ; the first year he got nearly
£2,000, and the nest ho got a little short; but they must
de
aunndhrsethaandd
all tl et
hr the wasi
nne os
sb oo df yt
hteo
mgaent
ai
gn
etmh
ee
nstuobfs
tchr iep
et
oi ount
try, as well as the hounds. However, when he undertook
it, it was with a full knowledge of the difficulties there were
in the way of getting subscriptions, but the expense was too
much for him, and he found the bother of the country and
covers so great that it was too much for one man. There
had been insinuations in many quarters that he had been
badly used, but he never was treated otherwise than well
by anybody with the single exception of a half-witted
fellow who lived in the forest. These were his reasons
for taking the country and for giving it up. In conclusion,
Mr. Clowes proposed the health of the nobleman, who
was to succeed him-the Marquis of Hastings, whom they
all knew as an energetic promoter of the turf, and he
hoped he would carry the same energy into the more
noble, but not less profitable, pursuit of foxhunting both
for mind and body.—Pall Mall Gazelle.
RESULTS OF MODERATION IN DlET.—Health and
longevity are not the only result of moderation in diet.
Its influence is far from being limited to the body; its effect
on the mind is still more important. Julius Caesar, con-
stitutionally addicted to excess, when resolved on some
great exploit, was accustomed to diminish his diet to an
extent truly marvellous, and to this diminution he ascribed
the clearness and energy of mind which distinguished
him in the hour of battle. When extraordinary mental
vigour was desired by the first Napoleon, ho used the
same means to attain it. To his rarely-equalled modera-
tion in diet Dr. Franklin ascribed his "clearness of ideas"
and "quickness of perception," and considered his progress
i
rigteidmwpeasrantehee
whicha
b t
ho practised. While Sir Isaac Newton was composing his
" Treatise on Optics " ho confined himself to bread and
a
D'Aubigne relates of Luther, on the
i-
cthon, that a "little bread and a single
nonce of Leibnitz, when preparing some parts of his tuth_
after he hfeaeddf,ouanndd,
herringwas often his only food for d
andw with he even
ne
a ay. Indeed he was
out that heaven was not to be purchased by •
abstinence
would continue for a considerable t.
drinking." Dr. Cheyne, V. celebratedlme without eating or
physician, reduced
himself from the enormous weight of 4481 b. to 1401 b., by
confining himself to a •
imited quantity of vegetables, milk,
and water, as his only food and drink. The result was a
.restoration of health and mental vigour, and, amid profes-
sional and literary labours, uninterrupted health and pro-.
tractede
life. An eminent man once made the remark
constitutionally
hssst
tattoi
often l ietdu; ayty:
onepeoln: Language
Inamialtnygeedruei
abstemiousa
nt. oadnt ea proportionate to
o himself Scarcely
th ; d degree
rl
ee
es
s of
" that nobody ever repented of having eaten too little."
ICEBERGS.—The Echunga, Captain Cooper, ar-
rived in the river from Otago, New Zealand, reports that'
in lat. 61 S., long. 97 W., she saw about 90 large icebergs,
which formed a complete barricade across the ship's way
as far as the eye could reach from the masthead ; she
stood to the N.W. for two days, then tacked and stood to
the eastward, and saw no more ice.
The richest church in Boston is the Old South,
which is taxed this year for 8435,000 worth of real estate.
ADTERTISEMENT —Holloway's Ointment andd
Effectual Aid.--In the sad time of sicknessit is cheering
to know that a remedy does exist, and that it can be. pro-
duced at a little cost. Holloway's Ointment and Pills are
invaluable in relieving pain, reducing inflammation, and
regulating disordered actions. They never can be misap-
plied, nor can they, under any circumstances, cause mis-
chief. Taken in appropriate doses they are a blessing to
the rich, when suffering from indigestion, gout, skin
dis-
eases, &c., and a boon_to the poor when struck down by
illness. Holloway's medicines should be in the possession
of all soldiers, sailors, and emigrants, who will then be in
a position to relieve pain and cure disease when medical
assistance cannot be obtained.